Biography
Gaiman, Neil. (2008) The Graveyard Book. Ill. by Dave McKean. New York, NY: Harper Collins. ISBN 978006053921
Plot Summary
Nobody Owens is a good-natured boy who is being raised in the most unnatural of circumstances. In fact, you may call them the most supernatural of circumstances, for Nobody Owens is growing up in a graveyard and is learning his life lessons from the dead. When Nobody, or Bod, is a baby, his family is brutally murdered. In a miraculous feat, Bod manages to totter into a graveyard where the ghosts adopt him as their own. Ignoring the admonishments of his guardian, Bod faces many dangers, which oddly enough reside beyond the safe boundaries of the graves. The most pressing danger of all is “the man Jack” who killed Bod’s family and has an undying vendetta to make sure Nobody Owens is dead.
Critical Analysis
Neil Gaiman, who is the famed author of Coraline, presents a dark fantasy tale about a young boy who is raised among the dead. Nobody Owens, known as Bod, is the protagonist of the story, and he is accompanied by his two adoptive parents, his guardian, and a plethora of friends and neighbors, all of whom are dead. His only living companion is Scarlett. They meet as young children and later reconnect as teens. Gaiman seems to have a new life lesson for Bod with every character he comes to know, from the Indigo man in the graveyard hill to the witch ghost in the Potter’s Field, no encounter is in vain.
The primary setting is an ancient graveyard tucked away in a modern time. Although the year is not explicitly given, Gaiman does not fail to give us clues: “She (Scarlett) pulled out her LED light and turned it on.” Such a glimpse of modern civilization is rarely revealed within the confines of the graveyard where the atmosphere is frozen in times that have long passed. Yet, whenever Bod steps into the land of the living, the reader may find it surprising that a technologically advanced world is whirling around the peaceful dead.
Gaiman has written this book for young adults and children, and although it begins with a rather gruesome murder scene, the rest of the book enlists tried-and-true favorite themes among youth. There is humor, albeit gloriously dark. In an instance of mild correction, Bod’s guardian says, “You aren’t allowed out of the graveyard—it’s aren’t, by the way, not amn’t, not these days.” There are suggestions of gore: “The knife had done everything it was brought to that house to do, and both the blade and the handle were wet.” And there is action and suspense: “He pulled his black silk cord tight between his hands. It had been stretched around many necks, over the years, and had been the end of every one of the people it had embraced.” And oddly enough, there is warmth and kind displays of love, even if these prove to be a paradox to our cold and fearful perceptions of death and cemetaries.
Dave McKean lends to the magically morbid ambience of the story through his haunting illustrations. He sketches black and white images of shadowy spirits, a coldblooded killer, and crumbling tombstones. The beginning of each chapter is accompanied by McKeon’s drawings, and they give that extra ounce of creepiness that will ensure the children will be ducking under their covers.
Review Excerpts
2009 Newbery Award Winner
The Washington Post: “Like a bite of dark Halloween chocolate, this novel proves rich, bittersweet and very satisfying.”
Kirkus Review: “Wistful, witty, wise-and creepy. Gaiman's riff on Kipling's Mowgli stories never falters, from the truly spine-tingling opening, in which a toddler accidentally escapes his family's murderer, to the melancholy, life-affirming ending.”
Connections
*Would be a fun and unique required reading for junior high school students.
*This book has excellent examples of foreshadowing, plot climax, plot twist, hidden meaning, and prediction. Students would have a memorable time dissecting this book.
*Look for other books and audio recordings from Neil Gaiman:
The Graveyard Book on CD. ISBN 9780061551895
Coraline. ISBN 9780380807345
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Review of MIDDLE SCHOOL IS WORSE THAN MEATLOAF by Jennifer L. Holm
Holm, Jennifer, L. 2007. Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf. Ill by Elicia Castaldi. New York, NY: Antheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780689852817
Plot Summary
Ginny Davis is entering the 7th grade, and has a to-do list that will ensure a year full of accolades, higher social status, and above all fun! Unfortunately, pink hair, plummeting grades, and a new stepfather who “forgets to pick you up after school” are not on the list.
Told through a collage of Ginny’s “stuff,” she maintains a sense of humor as her life unfolds before her. After all, with your delinquent brother in military school and your mother bringing a new dad into her life, what’s a ruined sweater or your dog eating your science project? It’s nothing that horse riding lessons paid by Grandpa Joe can’t cure.
Critical Analysis
Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf is as fun and quirky as it’s title suggest. Jennifer Holm brilliantly patches together a complete story told through items such as post-it notes, diary entries, ticket stubs, and newspaper clippings of 7th grader, Ginny Davis. The plot centers around Ginny’s “to-do” lists which include goals like: “Get a dad”, “Look good in the school photo for once!!”, and “Win something. Anything.” The story begins with Ginny’s “Back-to-school Shopping List” and ends with her “Ginny’s Summer List.” The pages between document the most embarrassing moments and fleeting triumphs during her 7th grade school year.
Elicia Castaldi illustrates the book with an eclectic collage that brings Ginny’s life into full color and focus. On one page, we see a chewed up pencil carelessly lying atop Ginny’s graph paper tablet that contains her hand-written “budget.” To remind the reader that Ginny is a young adolescent girl, a candy-pink lip gloss is placed beside the tablet. Another page depicts a computer screen, showing the instant messaging boxes full of dialog between Ginny and her best friend, Becky. Becky, whose screen name is beckysooboo 1 writes, “I can’t believe u didn’t get the part!! BTW did u hear that Mary Catherine Kelly is having a slumber party on Friday??” Ginny, screen name GinnyGirl, writes back, “no. r. u invited?” To which Becky response, “yes. r u?” We soon find out that Ginny is definitely not invited.
As hard as she tries, Ginny just cannot seem to catch a break. For example, she longs for a particular yellow sweater. After months of begging her mother, babysitting, and doing chores, her mother finally buys her the sweater. But, her good fortune is not to last. Ginny loses the lead role in the big ballet recital to her ex-best friend and new rival, Mary Catherine Kelly. Depressed, Ginny consults her “Five ways to shake the blues!” list and decides to buy some items of comfort, including “Pink Dream Lipstick.” On the next page, we see a sticky note safety pinned to a “Pink Dream” stained yellow sweater: “Ginny, I did my best but I think it’s ruined. You should always check your pockets before washing anything. Sorry, Mom.” Holm and Castaldi do an outstanding job at capturing the essence of pre-teen angst while the collage-style story makes it fun to piece together the puzzle of Ginny’s life.
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal: “Not quite a graphic novel but not a traditional narrative either, Holm's creative book should hook readers, especially girls who want something out of the ordinary.”
Publishers Weekly: “The punchy visuals and the sharp, funny details reel in the audience and don't let go.”
Connections
*This would be a perfect back-to-school gift for preteen and teenage children.
*Could be used to open up a discussion about serious issues that adolescence may face.
*Students could make a book about their own life using a collage of their “stuff.”
*This book is a perfect example for illustrating to students to not limit their creativity when writing or developing a concept for a book, project, etc.
Plot Summary
Ginny Davis is entering the 7th grade, and has a to-do list that will ensure a year full of accolades, higher social status, and above all fun! Unfortunately, pink hair, plummeting grades, and a new stepfather who “forgets to pick you up after school” are not on the list.
Told through a collage of Ginny’s “stuff,” she maintains a sense of humor as her life unfolds before her. After all, with your delinquent brother in military school and your mother bringing a new dad into her life, what’s a ruined sweater or your dog eating your science project? It’s nothing that horse riding lessons paid by Grandpa Joe can’t cure.
Critical Analysis
Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf is as fun and quirky as it’s title suggest. Jennifer Holm brilliantly patches together a complete story told through items such as post-it notes, diary entries, ticket stubs, and newspaper clippings of 7th grader, Ginny Davis. The plot centers around Ginny’s “to-do” lists which include goals like: “Get a dad”, “Look good in the school photo for once!!”, and “Win something. Anything.” The story begins with Ginny’s “Back-to-school Shopping List” and ends with her “Ginny’s Summer List.” The pages between document the most embarrassing moments and fleeting triumphs during her 7th grade school year.
Elicia Castaldi illustrates the book with an eclectic collage that brings Ginny’s life into full color and focus. On one page, we see a chewed up pencil carelessly lying atop Ginny’s graph paper tablet that contains her hand-written “budget.” To remind the reader that Ginny is a young adolescent girl, a candy-pink lip gloss is placed beside the tablet. Another page depicts a computer screen, showing the instant messaging boxes full of dialog between Ginny and her best friend, Becky. Becky, whose screen name is beckysooboo 1 writes, “I can’t believe u didn’t get the part!! BTW did u hear that Mary Catherine Kelly is having a slumber party on Friday??” Ginny, screen name GinnyGirl, writes back, “no. r. u invited?” To which Becky response, “yes. r u?” We soon find out that Ginny is definitely not invited.
As hard as she tries, Ginny just cannot seem to catch a break. For example, she longs for a particular yellow sweater. After months of begging her mother, babysitting, and doing chores, her mother finally buys her the sweater. But, her good fortune is not to last. Ginny loses the lead role in the big ballet recital to her ex-best friend and new rival, Mary Catherine Kelly. Depressed, Ginny consults her “Five ways to shake the blues!” list and decides to buy some items of comfort, including “Pink Dream Lipstick.” On the next page, we see a sticky note safety pinned to a “Pink Dream” stained yellow sweater: “Ginny, I did my best but I think it’s ruined. You should always check your pockets before washing anything. Sorry, Mom.” Holm and Castaldi do an outstanding job at capturing the essence of pre-teen angst while the collage-style story makes it fun to piece together the puzzle of Ginny’s life.
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal: “Not quite a graphic novel but not a traditional narrative either, Holm's creative book should hook readers, especially girls who want something out of the ordinary.”
Publishers Weekly: “The punchy visuals and the sharp, funny details reel in the audience and don't let go.”
Connections
*This would be a perfect back-to-school gift for preteen and teenage children.
*Could be used to open up a discussion about serious issues that adolescence may face.
*Students could make a book about their own life using a collage of their “stuff.”
*This book is a perfect example for illustrating to students to not limit their creativity when writing or developing a concept for a book, project, etc.
Review of THE LAST PART FIRST by Angela Johnson
Biography
Johnson, Angela. 2005. The First Part Last. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing. ISBN 9780689849237
Plot Summary
Bobby is a typical teenager moving to the rhythms in the urban heart of New York City. He is restless, impulsive, and growing in the wonderment of life. Just as he is approaching home to celebrate his sixteenth birthday, he finds his girlfriend, Nia, sitting on his stoop, “Just sittin’ there with a balloon, looking all lost.” It is on this day that Bobby’s typical teenage life becomes anything but ordinary; he learns that he will soon become a father. In a tragic and heartbreaking moment, Nia experiences grave health complications that leave Bobby as a single parent. Bobby must now cope with his ever changing and complex emotions while bearing the responsibilities of hastened adulthood.
Critical Analysis
Angela Johnson gives us an insider’s look into the true grit and raw emotions that come with teenage pregnancy. Interestingly, Johnson’s novel focuses on the male’s point of view, one that is often discredited or too easily dismissed as irrelevant. Bobby is a sixteen-year-old father whose girlfriend unexpectedly dies of pregnancy complications. His character is well-rounded, and Johnson allows us to see his wide range of emotions, his fears, and his stark humanity. She gives him a balance of concurrently possessing paternal instincts and pangs for “just being a kid.”
Nia’s character is pivotal to the plot as she changes the tone of the book on two distinct occasions: revealing her pregnancy and slipping away due to eclampsia. It is not until one of the final chapters, entitled Nia, that we get an intimate feel of Nia and her inner thoughts. Johnson releases the narration from Bobby and hands it over to Nia. Nia gives us a punctuated glimpse into her hopes and fears: “When I was five I wanted to be a firefighter. All of my uniforms would have Nia on them…I wanted my arms to be the arms that carried out babies and kids, safe.” The reader is able to make an instant connection with a character that has previously been somewhat elusive. Johnson intuitively uses this chapter to satisfy the readers’ need to feel Nia as well as Bobby.
Bobby and Nia’s baby is a critical component in the book. Johnson is able to capture the power that exudes from this tiny infant as her presence permeates every thought and action of the books’ characters. The baby is named Feather, and the significance of her name is hidden from the reader until the book begins its concluding chapters. “She came to me so slow, and it was just like somebody brushed the air with a feather.”
The setting of the novel is in New York City. Johnson displays inclusive perspectives as she takes us on a well-rounded tour of the city. Bobby bounces between the Bed-Stuy housing project of Brooklyn and a lower middle-class brownstone on the Lower West Side of Manhattan. His girlfriend, Nia, resides in an upscale, modern loft on the Upper East Side where “Every wall in their loft is so white it almost hurts my eyes."
Johnson toggles the chapters back and forth from Now and Then, giving a balanced account of present and background information. Full of romance, drama, and suspense, The First Part Last is a must-read for teens and adults alike.
Review Excerpts
Winner of the 2004 Coretta Scott King Award
Winner of the 2004 Michael L. Printz Award
School Library Review: "It will also be instantly popular for leisure reading outside of school."
Connections
*Would make an excellent book for required reading for junior high school students.
*Can be used to open a discussion about teen pregnancy.
*Look for the audio version, available on CD and MP3 format:
Johnson, Angela. ISBN 9781400090679
Johnson, Angela. 2005. The First Part Last. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing. ISBN 9780689849237
Plot Summary
Bobby is a typical teenager moving to the rhythms in the urban heart of New York City. He is restless, impulsive, and growing in the wonderment of life. Just as he is approaching home to celebrate his sixteenth birthday, he finds his girlfriend, Nia, sitting on his stoop, “Just sittin’ there with a balloon, looking all lost.” It is on this day that Bobby’s typical teenage life becomes anything but ordinary; he learns that he will soon become a father. In a tragic and heartbreaking moment, Nia experiences grave health complications that leave Bobby as a single parent. Bobby must now cope with his ever changing and complex emotions while bearing the responsibilities of hastened adulthood.
Critical Analysis
Angela Johnson gives us an insider’s look into the true grit and raw emotions that come with teenage pregnancy. Interestingly, Johnson’s novel focuses on the male’s point of view, one that is often discredited or too easily dismissed as irrelevant. Bobby is a sixteen-year-old father whose girlfriend unexpectedly dies of pregnancy complications. His character is well-rounded, and Johnson allows us to see his wide range of emotions, his fears, and his stark humanity. She gives him a balance of concurrently possessing paternal instincts and pangs for “just being a kid.”
Nia’s character is pivotal to the plot as she changes the tone of the book on two distinct occasions: revealing her pregnancy and slipping away due to eclampsia. It is not until one of the final chapters, entitled Nia, that we get an intimate feel of Nia and her inner thoughts. Johnson releases the narration from Bobby and hands it over to Nia. Nia gives us a punctuated glimpse into her hopes and fears: “When I was five I wanted to be a firefighter. All of my uniforms would have Nia on them…I wanted my arms to be the arms that carried out babies and kids, safe.” The reader is able to make an instant connection with a character that has previously been somewhat elusive. Johnson intuitively uses this chapter to satisfy the readers’ need to feel Nia as well as Bobby.
Bobby and Nia’s baby is a critical component in the book. Johnson is able to capture the power that exudes from this tiny infant as her presence permeates every thought and action of the books’ characters. The baby is named Feather, and the significance of her name is hidden from the reader until the book begins its concluding chapters. “She came to me so slow, and it was just like somebody brushed the air with a feather.”
The setting of the novel is in New York City. Johnson displays inclusive perspectives as she takes us on a well-rounded tour of the city. Bobby bounces between the Bed-Stuy housing project of Brooklyn and a lower middle-class brownstone on the Lower West Side of Manhattan. His girlfriend, Nia, resides in an upscale, modern loft on the Upper East Side where “Every wall in their loft is so white it almost hurts my eyes."
Johnson toggles the chapters back and forth from Now and Then, giving a balanced account of present and background information. Full of romance, drama, and suspense, The First Part Last is a must-read for teens and adults alike.
Review Excerpts
Winner of the 2004 Coretta Scott King Award
Winner of the 2004 Michael L. Printz Award
School Library Review: "It will also be instantly popular for leisure reading outside of school."
Connections
*Would make an excellent book for required reading for junior high school students.
*Can be used to open a discussion about teen pregnancy.
*Look for the audio version, available on CD and MP3 format:
Johnson, Angela. ISBN 9781400090679
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Review of THE RIVER BETWEEN US by Richard Peck
Bibliography
Peck, Richard. 2003. The River Between Us. New York, NY: Dial Books. ISBN 9780803727359
Plot Summary
The River Between Us is a hauntingly beautiful story about 15-year-old Tilly Pruitt coming of age on the banks of the Mississippi River. She is living in a nation boiling with strife whose rage is bubbling over the lives of the inhabitants of the sleepy Illinois town called Grand Tower. Tilly is consumed with helping her mother around the house and caring for her clairvoyant sister who is “like a soul in torment.” Even with whispers of impending war floating along the breeze, life feels rather common to Tilly until the fateful night when “the steamboat whistle splits the air”. Descending the steps of the Rob Roy are two mysterious figures, a young woman donning petticoats and hoop skirts and a darker woman with her hair wrapped in a bandana. The strangers decide to take room and board with Tilly’s family. It is through the lives of these southern visitors that the Pruitts learn to withstand the fires of life. Instead of shriveling in the wake of the Civil War, Tilly and her family are transformed and rise from the heat stronger than they ever imagined.
Critical Analysis
Richard Peck takes an interesting approach to the setting of his historical fiction novel, The River Between Us. He sets the first and last chapters in the “present tense” of 1916. Here we meet the grandson of Tilly Pruitt Hutchings, a woman whose youth was formed during the Civil War. Young Howard Hutchings narrates these two chapters as he describes the road trip to visit his father’s side of the family. The bulk of the novel begins in the second chapter where Tilly Pruitt rewinds the narration to the dawn of the Civil War. Peck introduces his characters through Tilly, and it is her voice that transports the reader to a hilltop beside the Mississippi River: “Even though Tower Rock was over in Missouri, with the river between us, it gave our town its name: Grand Tower. Nobody wanted to live in a town named after the devil.” Living atop the hill with Tilly are her mother, her brother Noah, and her sister Cass. Noah is bound to join the ranks under General Ulysses S. Grant; Mama is determined to stop him; and Cass is haunted by ghost and violent visions.
The main theme of the novel is transformation, specifically the transformation that comes from the people in our lives. When two enigmatic strangers arrive in Grand Tower from New Orleans, the transformation of Tilly and her family begins to take form. Peck cloaks the character of Delphine Duval in a mystery of hoop skirts, corsets, and oversized bonnets. Her even more perplexing companion, Calinda, hides herself in silence; people find complexity in her stark simplicity: “I saw this other one only in silhouette at first. She was narrower, darker, shrouded in a long plain cloak.” The events that wait ahead for the Pruitts, Delphine, and Calinda bring out an inner strength that none knew they possessed. Time also reveals a secret that eventually sets everyone free: “’I am the gens de couleur, madame,’ she said, calmly proud. ‘The free people of color, if you speak no French.’”
Peck gives special attention to details, lending the story an authentic feel. His poetic decriptives of clothing, scenery, and people help the reader to visualize the text: “The railings were jammed tight with dark figures. I saw the firefly glow of the gentlemen’s seegars. I imagine I saw diamonds within the ladies’ flowing cloaks, and emeralds in their hair.” He also mixes an effective cocktail of fiction and fact that blur the line between the imagination and reality:
“’We drove ‘em back through the woods, past their cap. I’d lost my musket by then. It never would fire. When we fell to looting the camp, Grant made us torch the place to learn us not to steal. The smoke drew Polk’s fire from across on the Kentucky side. That’s when I lost this.’ He touched his sleeve.”
Through authenticity and honesty, Peck drives home the fact that each life connects with the other, and that the actions of one can have a lifelong affect on many. In the final chapter, Peck hands the narration back to Howard Hutchings. Howard has absorbed the stories told by an aging Tilly. He is left reeling with pride when it is revealed that his true grandmother is not Tilly afterall, but is the beautiful Southern Belle who fatefully exited the Rob Roy so many years ago. Howard realizes that Delphine and Calinda's arrival has also transformed his own life: "I was older now too, a lot older than when this trip began, older and looking ahead."
Review Excerpts
2004 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction
USA Today: “The book is rich in detail about life along the Mississippi and the limited, late war news that further splits communities.”
The Washington Post: “This unusual Civil War novel really boosts Peck’s credentials as
America’s best living author for young adults.”
Connections
*This would be a superb choice for required reading (ages 12 and up).
*Could be used to help construct meaning of the Civil War in a history class.
*Audio version available, ISBN 9780307282507
Peck, Richard. 2003. The River Between Us. New York, NY: Dial Books. ISBN 9780803727359
Plot Summary
The River Between Us is a hauntingly beautiful story about 15-year-old Tilly Pruitt coming of age on the banks of the Mississippi River. She is living in a nation boiling with strife whose rage is bubbling over the lives of the inhabitants of the sleepy Illinois town called Grand Tower. Tilly is consumed with helping her mother around the house and caring for her clairvoyant sister who is “like a soul in torment.” Even with whispers of impending war floating along the breeze, life feels rather common to Tilly until the fateful night when “the steamboat whistle splits the air”. Descending the steps of the Rob Roy are two mysterious figures, a young woman donning petticoats and hoop skirts and a darker woman with her hair wrapped in a bandana. The strangers decide to take room and board with Tilly’s family. It is through the lives of these southern visitors that the Pruitts learn to withstand the fires of life. Instead of shriveling in the wake of the Civil War, Tilly and her family are transformed and rise from the heat stronger than they ever imagined.
Critical Analysis
Richard Peck takes an interesting approach to the setting of his historical fiction novel, The River Between Us. He sets the first and last chapters in the “present tense” of 1916. Here we meet the grandson of Tilly Pruitt Hutchings, a woman whose youth was formed during the Civil War. Young Howard Hutchings narrates these two chapters as he describes the road trip to visit his father’s side of the family. The bulk of the novel begins in the second chapter where Tilly Pruitt rewinds the narration to the dawn of the Civil War. Peck introduces his characters through Tilly, and it is her voice that transports the reader to a hilltop beside the Mississippi River: “Even though Tower Rock was over in Missouri, with the river between us, it gave our town its name: Grand Tower. Nobody wanted to live in a town named after the devil.” Living atop the hill with Tilly are her mother, her brother Noah, and her sister Cass. Noah is bound to join the ranks under General Ulysses S. Grant; Mama is determined to stop him; and Cass is haunted by ghost and violent visions.
The main theme of the novel is transformation, specifically the transformation that comes from the people in our lives. When two enigmatic strangers arrive in Grand Tower from New Orleans, the transformation of Tilly and her family begins to take form. Peck cloaks the character of Delphine Duval in a mystery of hoop skirts, corsets, and oversized bonnets. Her even more perplexing companion, Calinda, hides herself in silence; people find complexity in her stark simplicity: “I saw this other one only in silhouette at first. She was narrower, darker, shrouded in a long plain cloak.” The events that wait ahead for the Pruitts, Delphine, and Calinda bring out an inner strength that none knew they possessed. Time also reveals a secret that eventually sets everyone free: “’I am the gens de couleur, madame,’ she said, calmly proud. ‘The free people of color, if you speak no French.’”
Peck gives special attention to details, lending the story an authentic feel. His poetic decriptives of clothing, scenery, and people help the reader to visualize the text: “The railings were jammed tight with dark figures. I saw the firefly glow of the gentlemen’s seegars. I imagine I saw diamonds within the ladies’ flowing cloaks, and emeralds in their hair.” He also mixes an effective cocktail of fiction and fact that blur the line between the imagination and reality:
“’We drove ‘em back through the woods, past their cap. I’d lost my musket by then. It never would fire. When we fell to looting the camp, Grant made us torch the place to learn us not to steal. The smoke drew Polk’s fire from across on the Kentucky side. That’s when I lost this.’ He touched his sleeve.”
Through authenticity and honesty, Peck drives home the fact that each life connects with the other, and that the actions of one can have a lifelong affect on many. In the final chapter, Peck hands the narration back to Howard Hutchings. Howard has absorbed the stories told by an aging Tilly. He is left reeling with pride when it is revealed that his true grandmother is not Tilly afterall, but is the beautiful Southern Belle who fatefully exited the Rob Roy so many years ago. Howard realizes that Delphine and Calinda's arrival has also transformed his own life: "I was older now too, a lot older than when this trip began, older and looking ahead."
Review Excerpts
2004 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction
USA Today: “The book is rich in detail about life along the Mississippi and the limited, late war news that further splits communities.”
The Washington Post: “This unusual Civil War novel really boosts Peck’s credentials as
America’s best living author for young adults.”
Connections
*This would be a superb choice for required reading (ages 12 and up).
*Could be used to help construct meaning of the Civil War in a history class.
*Audio version available, ISBN 9780307282507
Review of KIRA-KIRA by Cynthia Kadohata
Bibliography
Kadohata, Cynthia. 2004. Kira-Kira. New York, NY: Atheneum Books. ISBN 9780689856396
Plot Summary
Lying on their backs and gazing into an endless star-studded sky, Katie and Lynn dream of their brightly lit futures. Lynn envisions herself and Katie attending college, living by the sea, and buying their parents big houses. Katie just wants everything to stay kira-kira, which is Japanese for “glittering.” Soon, sisters Katie and Lynn find themselves moving from rural Iowa to a sleepy southern town in 1950’s Georgia. As their parents put in copious amounts of time at a poultry plant, Lynn becomes the glue that holds this young Japanese-American family together. Katie idolizes her older sister and settles on the fact that Lynn is smarter, wiser, and bound for greatness. But, when Lynn becomes fatally ill, the family is torn at the seams. It is only after Lynn’s death that Katie finally understands the biggest lesson in life; no matter what fate may befall you, savor each day and sprinkle it with plenty of kira-kira.
Critical Analysis
Cynthia Kadohata sets her historical fiction novel in Chesterfield, Georgia during the 1950’s. Told from the perspective of Katie, the younger sister in a Japanese-American family, Kira-Kira explores racism, civil-rights, and the unshakable strength of family bonds. Katie adores her older sister, Lynn. In fact, it is Lynn who teaches Katie her very first word, kira-kira, which means "glittering" in Japanese. Katie becomes utterly mesmerized by the word and calls everything she sees, from midnight stars to colored Kleenex, kira-kira. Her fragile mother becomes exasperated by Katie’s fanciful disposition and depends on Lynn to lead Katie through life’s many trials and disappointments; Katie is a willing follower: “Lynn was the bravest girl in the world. She was also a genius. I knew this because one day I asked her, ‘Are you a genius?’ And she said, ‘Yes.’ I believed her because the day my father taught her how to play chess, she won her first game. She said she would teach me how to play if I wanted. She always said she would teach me everything in the world I needed to know.”
Kadohata manages to show the warmth of Katie and Lynn’s bond while letting the reader feel the effects of a story laced with the poison of racism. Before Katie’s first day of school, Lynn sits down with her to prepare Katie for the bigotry that will inevitably find her:
“Have you noticed that sometimes people won’t say hello to Mom when we’re out shopping?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Well, some of the kids at school may not say hello to you, either.”
"You mean because they don’t know me?”
“No, I mean because they don’t want to know you.”
The book accurately rewrites disturbing accounts from a pre-unionized workforce, scenes that shake us from the lull of historical amnesia. One such account takes place after Katie and her baby brother spend the entire day in the hot car outside of her mother’s place of work. Riding home from the poultry processing plant, Katie remembers, “My mother smelled funny. The factory workers weren’t allowed to take unscheduled breaks, so they all wore pads in case they needed to use the bathroom. It smelled like my mother had used her pad.”
Kadohata moves the plot along with the help of Lynn’s diary. In fact, her diary is such an integral part of the story that it nearly becomes a character itself. Kadohata introduces the diary in the first chapter as Katie tells us, “I know a lot about when I was a little girl, because my sister used to keep a diary. Today I keep her diary in a drawer next to my bed.” Throughout the book, excerpts of the diary are revealed, but we see its ultimate significance in Lynn’s final entry: “To Katie I leave my diary, my dictionary, and my encyclopedia, which she had better use.” Katie proceeds to read every page of the diary and discovers that she is “the only person mentioned every single day.” Kadohata allows the words of the diary to strengthen Katie and to remind her how to paint the world with kira-kira.
Review Excerpts
Newbery Medal Winner
A New York Times Bestseller
An ALA Notable Children’s Book
Starred Review in Publisher’s Weekly: “The family’s devotion to one another, and one sister’s ability to teach the younger sister to appreciate the ‘kira-kira’, or glittering, in everyday life makes this novel shine.”
Connections
*After explaining the term kira-kira, teachers could ask students to write about something that is kira-kira to them.
*Could be used to discuss racism, discrimination, and poor working conditions in the context of the 1950’s and how it relates to today's society.
*Would make an excellent required reading for ages 10 to 14.
*Would be an ideal addition to a multicultural library within a classroom.
Kadohata, Cynthia. 2004. Kira-Kira. New York, NY: Atheneum Books. ISBN 9780689856396
Plot Summary
Lying on their backs and gazing into an endless star-studded sky, Katie and Lynn dream of their brightly lit futures. Lynn envisions herself and Katie attending college, living by the sea, and buying their parents big houses. Katie just wants everything to stay kira-kira, which is Japanese for “glittering.” Soon, sisters Katie and Lynn find themselves moving from rural Iowa to a sleepy southern town in 1950’s Georgia. As their parents put in copious amounts of time at a poultry plant, Lynn becomes the glue that holds this young Japanese-American family together. Katie idolizes her older sister and settles on the fact that Lynn is smarter, wiser, and bound for greatness. But, when Lynn becomes fatally ill, the family is torn at the seams. It is only after Lynn’s death that Katie finally understands the biggest lesson in life; no matter what fate may befall you, savor each day and sprinkle it with plenty of kira-kira.
Critical Analysis
Cynthia Kadohata sets her historical fiction novel in Chesterfield, Georgia during the 1950’s. Told from the perspective of Katie, the younger sister in a Japanese-American family, Kira-Kira explores racism, civil-rights, and the unshakable strength of family bonds. Katie adores her older sister, Lynn. In fact, it is Lynn who teaches Katie her very first word, kira-kira, which means "glittering" in Japanese. Katie becomes utterly mesmerized by the word and calls everything she sees, from midnight stars to colored Kleenex, kira-kira. Her fragile mother becomes exasperated by Katie’s fanciful disposition and depends on Lynn to lead Katie through life’s many trials and disappointments; Katie is a willing follower: “Lynn was the bravest girl in the world. She was also a genius. I knew this because one day I asked her, ‘Are you a genius?’ And she said, ‘Yes.’ I believed her because the day my father taught her how to play chess, she won her first game. She said she would teach me how to play if I wanted. She always said she would teach me everything in the world I needed to know.”
Kadohata manages to show the warmth of Katie and Lynn’s bond while letting the reader feel the effects of a story laced with the poison of racism. Before Katie’s first day of school, Lynn sits down with her to prepare Katie for the bigotry that will inevitably find her:
“Have you noticed that sometimes people won’t say hello to Mom when we’re out shopping?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Well, some of the kids at school may not say hello to you, either.”
"You mean because they don’t know me?”
“No, I mean because they don’t want to know you.”
The book accurately rewrites disturbing accounts from a pre-unionized workforce, scenes that shake us from the lull of historical amnesia. One such account takes place after Katie and her baby brother spend the entire day in the hot car outside of her mother’s place of work. Riding home from the poultry processing plant, Katie remembers, “My mother smelled funny. The factory workers weren’t allowed to take unscheduled breaks, so they all wore pads in case they needed to use the bathroom. It smelled like my mother had used her pad.”
Kadohata moves the plot along with the help of Lynn’s diary. In fact, her diary is such an integral part of the story that it nearly becomes a character itself. Kadohata introduces the diary in the first chapter as Katie tells us, “I know a lot about when I was a little girl, because my sister used to keep a diary. Today I keep her diary in a drawer next to my bed.” Throughout the book, excerpts of the diary are revealed, but we see its ultimate significance in Lynn’s final entry: “To Katie I leave my diary, my dictionary, and my encyclopedia, which she had better use.” Katie proceeds to read every page of the diary and discovers that she is “the only person mentioned every single day.” Kadohata allows the words of the diary to strengthen Katie and to remind her how to paint the world with kira-kira.
Review Excerpts
Newbery Medal Winner
A New York Times Bestseller
An ALA Notable Children’s Book
Starred Review in Publisher’s Weekly: “The family’s devotion to one another, and one sister’s ability to teach the younger sister to appreciate the ‘kira-kira’, or glittering, in everyday life makes this novel shine.”
Connections
*After explaining the term kira-kira, teachers could ask students to write about something that is kira-kira to them.
*Could be used to discuss racism, discrimination, and poor working conditions in the context of the 1950’s and how it relates to today's society.
*Would make an excellent required reading for ages 10 to 14.
*Would be an ideal addition to a multicultural library within a classroom.
Review of ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS by Scott O'Dell
Bibliography
O’Dell, Scott. 1990. Island of the Blue Dolphins. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 9780395536803
Plot Summary
San Nicolas Island is a tiny rock of an island off of the coast of California. It is the early 1800’s, and there lives an American Indian tribe called the Ghalas-at. Karana is the daughter of the Chief of Ghalas-at, and she enjoys a happy life with her younger brother and fellow tribes people. Her home seems to dance with the dolphins as it is calmly tickled by the waving arms of kelp rising from the sea. All is well until the day a red ship is seen on the horizon. The ship carries Russian hunters and a fate that will change Karana’s life forever. After a devastating string of unimaginable events, Karana finds herself in complete isolation. Alone she must grieve the loss of her family; alone she must fight and learn survival; and alone she remains for the next eighteen years.
Critical Analysis
Scott O’Dell brings to life the true story of Karana, a young Indian girl who is left behind on an isolated island for eighteen years. He sets the story on the island of San Nicolas, a mere oversized rock off of the California coast. He opens the story with Karana, and her younger brother noticing a distant object gliding through the smooth sea: “At first it seemed like a small shell afloat on the sea. Then it grew larger and was a gull with folded wings.” They soon discover that it is a Russian ship teeming with unscrupulous hunters. The hunters are in pursuit of sea-otters, and San Nicolas Island harbors a bountiful supply.
Karana’s father, the Chief of Ghalas-at, makes a deal with the Russians for a percentage of their catch; however, the deceitful Russians attempt to steal away the sea-otters. A fatal exchange of fighting ensues. It is at this point that O’Dell jerks the reader from curiosity of the foreign hunters and throws them into the unstoppable whirl of devastation that forever alters the life of Karana.
Narrated by Karana, O’Dell moves the plot along nicely, and manages to present events in a suspenseful order. The reader wonders what the red ship holds, wonders how Karana will be deserted, wonders how she will live through her family’s death, and so it goes throughout the book. However, I would have liked to have felt Karana’s emotions on a deeper level. For example, after her young brother is mauled and killed by a pack of wild dogs, Karana narrates the series of events as if it is a play-by-play of a distant memory: “I carried Romo back to the village, reaching it when the sun was far down. The dogs followed me all the way, but when I had laid him down in the hut, and came out with a club in my hand, they trotted off to a low hill.” There seems to be a disconnect between the horrific events of Karana’s life and the raw emotions that she must have felt.
A prevailing theme in the book is the uncanny ability that people have to adapt in the worst of conditions. Karana is not only isolated for eighteen years, she is relentlessly faced with horrors, dangers, and adversities that would logically destroy even the strongest of people. Yet, Karana manages to find solace in her solitude: “By the time winter was over and grass began to show green on the hill my house was comfortable. I was sheltered from the wind and rain and prowling animals. I could cook anything I wished to eat. Everything I wanted was there at hand.”
In the 1990 reprint of Island of the Blue Dolphins, Ted Lewin lends his illustrations to illuminate the writing of Scott O’Dell. Chosen directly by O’Dell, Lewin depicts the book’s most poignant events with muted tones of soft watercolor paints. Each chapter contains one painting, and each painting appears to be a snapshot of frozen animation. Because the illustrations authentically capture the spirit of the novel, they enhance the reading experience, which of particular value in children’s literature.
Review Excerpts
Newbery Medal Winner of 1961
School Library Journal: “It is not only an unusual adventure of survival, but also a tale of natural beauty and personal discovery.”
Children’s Literature: “Her survival story-fighting the wild dogs and loneliness, hunting for food, and hoping to be rescued-is spell binding.”
Connections
*Excellent required reading for ages 9 to 12.
*Could be used in a themed unit that encompasses history, science, and art.
*Students could imagine themselves deserted on an island, and they might write a page describing their adventure and how they feel.
O’Dell, Scott. 1990. Island of the Blue Dolphins. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 9780395536803
Plot Summary
San Nicolas Island is a tiny rock of an island off of the coast of California. It is the early 1800’s, and there lives an American Indian tribe called the Ghalas-at. Karana is the daughter of the Chief of Ghalas-at, and she enjoys a happy life with her younger brother and fellow tribes people. Her home seems to dance with the dolphins as it is calmly tickled by the waving arms of kelp rising from the sea. All is well until the day a red ship is seen on the horizon. The ship carries Russian hunters and a fate that will change Karana’s life forever. After a devastating string of unimaginable events, Karana finds herself in complete isolation. Alone she must grieve the loss of her family; alone she must fight and learn survival; and alone she remains for the next eighteen years.
Critical Analysis
Scott O’Dell brings to life the true story of Karana, a young Indian girl who is left behind on an isolated island for eighteen years. He sets the story on the island of San Nicolas, a mere oversized rock off of the California coast. He opens the story with Karana, and her younger brother noticing a distant object gliding through the smooth sea: “At first it seemed like a small shell afloat on the sea. Then it grew larger and was a gull with folded wings.” They soon discover that it is a Russian ship teeming with unscrupulous hunters. The hunters are in pursuit of sea-otters, and San Nicolas Island harbors a bountiful supply.
Karana’s father, the Chief of Ghalas-at, makes a deal with the Russians for a percentage of their catch; however, the deceitful Russians attempt to steal away the sea-otters. A fatal exchange of fighting ensues. It is at this point that O’Dell jerks the reader from curiosity of the foreign hunters and throws them into the unstoppable whirl of devastation that forever alters the life of Karana.
Narrated by Karana, O’Dell moves the plot along nicely, and manages to present events in a suspenseful order. The reader wonders what the red ship holds, wonders how Karana will be deserted, wonders how she will live through her family’s death, and so it goes throughout the book. However, I would have liked to have felt Karana’s emotions on a deeper level. For example, after her young brother is mauled and killed by a pack of wild dogs, Karana narrates the series of events as if it is a play-by-play of a distant memory: “I carried Romo back to the village, reaching it when the sun was far down. The dogs followed me all the way, but when I had laid him down in the hut, and came out with a club in my hand, they trotted off to a low hill.” There seems to be a disconnect between the horrific events of Karana’s life and the raw emotions that she must have felt.
A prevailing theme in the book is the uncanny ability that people have to adapt in the worst of conditions. Karana is not only isolated for eighteen years, she is relentlessly faced with horrors, dangers, and adversities that would logically destroy even the strongest of people. Yet, Karana manages to find solace in her solitude: “By the time winter was over and grass began to show green on the hill my house was comfortable. I was sheltered from the wind and rain and prowling animals. I could cook anything I wished to eat. Everything I wanted was there at hand.”
In the 1990 reprint of Island of the Blue Dolphins, Ted Lewin lends his illustrations to illuminate the writing of Scott O’Dell. Chosen directly by O’Dell, Lewin depicts the book’s most poignant events with muted tones of soft watercolor paints. Each chapter contains one painting, and each painting appears to be a snapshot of frozen animation. Because the illustrations authentically capture the spirit of the novel, they enhance the reading experience, which of particular value in children’s literature.
Review Excerpts
Newbery Medal Winner of 1961
School Library Journal: “It is not only an unusual adventure of survival, but also a tale of natural beauty and personal discovery.”
Children’s Literature: “Her survival story-fighting the wild dogs and loneliness, hunting for food, and hoping to be rescued-is spell binding.”
Connections
*Excellent required reading for ages 9 to 12.
*Could be used in a themed unit that encompasses history, science, and art.
*Students could imagine themselves deserted on an island, and they might write a page describing their adventure and how they feel.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Review of BIG BUGS by Seymour Simon
Biography
Simon, Seymour. 2005. Big Bugs. San Francisco, CA: SeaStar Books. ISBN 9781587172656
Plot Summary
Seymour Simon gives young children an up-close look at some of the world’s most intriguing bugs. From the hard and cumbersome body of the goliath beetle to the dainty iridescent wings of a dragonfly, insects swarm the pages of Big Bugs. Accompanied by simple informational text, Big Bugs is sure to be a hit with the crayon-toting crowd.
Critical Analysis
Big Bugs is a slim informational picture book that is geared towards early readers. The turn of each page presents a different strange and wondrous bug that is certain to grab the attention of a young audience. Written in large bold print, Seymour Simon provides text that gives two or three facts about each insect. He cleverly compares the size or weight of the bugs to common objects. This helps to link a child’s background knowledge to the new information, giving them a clear point of reference: “The bulldog ant of Australia is about 1 ½ inches long, about the size of your pinky.” Each picture is large, often spanning the width of two pages and contains a small box exposing the insect’s actual size. The photos are slightly dim, giving the sensation that someone needs to flip the light switch to clearly see the details of the insects. None the less, the target audience will appreciate the unusual creeping little creatures.
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal: “The information is better organized and offers limited but solid introductions to the giant water bug, the goliath beetle, and robber flies.”
Booklist: “Some of the photos are eye-catching and dramatic. In others, the form of the animal is hard to discern.”
Connections
*Could be used to introduce children to key facts about insects.
*Could be used for reading practice with early intermediate readers.
* Other books about insects:
Winner, Cherie. Everything Bug: What Kids Really Want to Know about Bugs. ISBN 9781559718912
Greenaway, Theresa. Big Book of Bugs. ISBN 9780789465207
Simon, Seymour. 2005. Big Bugs. San Francisco, CA: SeaStar Books. ISBN 9781587172656
Plot Summary
Seymour Simon gives young children an up-close look at some of the world’s most intriguing bugs. From the hard and cumbersome body of the goliath beetle to the dainty iridescent wings of a dragonfly, insects swarm the pages of Big Bugs. Accompanied by simple informational text, Big Bugs is sure to be a hit with the crayon-toting crowd.
Critical Analysis
Big Bugs is a slim informational picture book that is geared towards early readers. The turn of each page presents a different strange and wondrous bug that is certain to grab the attention of a young audience. Written in large bold print, Seymour Simon provides text that gives two or three facts about each insect. He cleverly compares the size or weight of the bugs to common objects. This helps to link a child’s background knowledge to the new information, giving them a clear point of reference: “The bulldog ant of Australia is about 1 ½ inches long, about the size of your pinky.” Each picture is large, often spanning the width of two pages and contains a small box exposing the insect’s actual size. The photos are slightly dim, giving the sensation that someone needs to flip the light switch to clearly see the details of the insects. None the less, the target audience will appreciate the unusual creeping little creatures.
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal: “The information is better organized and offers limited but solid introductions to the giant water bug, the goliath beetle, and robber flies.”
Booklist: “Some of the photos are eye-catching and dramatic. In others, the form of the animal is hard to discern.”
Connections
*Could be used to introduce children to key facts about insects.
*Could be used for reading practice with early intermediate readers.
* Other books about insects:
Winner, Cherie. Everything Bug: What Kids Really Want to Know about Bugs. ISBN 9781559718912
Greenaway, Theresa. Big Book of Bugs. ISBN 9780789465207
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