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
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
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
Review of THE VOICE THAT CHALLENGED A NATION by Russell Freedman
Biography
Freedman, Russell. 2004. The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 9780618159765
Plot Summary
On Easter Sunday 1939, a large crowd gathered along the Mall in Washington in anticipation of hearing the voice of the nation’s finest contralto float across the chilly Potomac breeze. But this crowd had shown up for more than a brilliant vocal performance; it was silently demonstrating support for our country's civil rights. Marian Anderson did not consider herself to be a crusader, yet as she stood in the watchful shadow of the Lincoln Memorial, she shone as a beacon for racial justice everywhere. The Voice that Challenged the Nation is a biographical account of the inspiring life of classical vocalist, Marian Anderson. It tells of her humble beginnings in one of Philadelphia’s many multicultural neighborhoods, and it follows her rising career as she travels extensively throughout the Jim Crow infected South: “The Anderson’s bags were taken to the first coach on the train headed south—the Jim Crow coach reserved for blacks. As Marian recalled, the car was dirty inside and out, the windows were badly in need of washing, and the ventilation and lighting were poor.” Unwavering in her musical pursuits, Anderson became a heavily sought-after vocalist and was esteemed by European royalty as well as President Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor. So when Anderson was racially spurned by The Daughters of the American Revolution, the public backlash peacefully came to a head on that fateful and historic Easter morning.
Critical Analysis
Russell Freedman paints a beautiful portrait of Marian Anderson. Using precision and a thorough presentation, Freedman details the famed vocalist’s life and the events that led to one of the most poignant moments in our nation’s turbulent history. He opens the book with a nearly poetic account of Anderson’s performance at the Lincoln Memorial: “Clouds, which had shadowed the monument, skittered away to the north, and the late-afternoon sun broke through to bathe the reflecting pool and shine on the gaily dressed Easter crowd.” He continues the book in chronological order of her life, borrowing from Anderson’s autobiography and other first-person accounts. Written for a youthful (ages 12 and up) audience, Freedman succeeds in presenting a richly simplified rendition of Anderson’s bounteous life. He also includes an ample cornucopia of photos that seem to animate the text. A selected bibliography for further reading and a discography of Anderson’s available releases complete this inspiring and historically relevant work.
Review Excerpts
2005 Newbery Honor Book
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award
School Library Journal: “This inspiring work once again demonstrates Freedman’s talent for showing how a person’s life is molded by its historical and cultural context.”
Kirkus Review: “Well-chosen, well-placed archival photographs, clear writing, abundant research, and careful documentation make an outstanding, handsome biography.”
Connections:
*Excellent choice for required reading at the junior high level.
*Other books about Marian Anderson:
Anderson, Marian. My Lord, What a Beautiful Morning: An Autobiography. ISBN 9780252070532
Keiler, Allan. Marian Anderson: A Singer's Journey. ISBN 9780252070679
Freedman, Russell. 2004. The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 9780618159765
Plot Summary
On Easter Sunday 1939, a large crowd gathered along the Mall in Washington in anticipation of hearing the voice of the nation’s finest contralto float across the chilly Potomac breeze. But this crowd had shown up for more than a brilliant vocal performance; it was silently demonstrating support for our country's civil rights. Marian Anderson did not consider herself to be a crusader, yet as she stood in the watchful shadow of the Lincoln Memorial, she shone as a beacon for racial justice everywhere. The Voice that Challenged the Nation is a biographical account of the inspiring life of classical vocalist, Marian Anderson. It tells of her humble beginnings in one of Philadelphia’s many multicultural neighborhoods, and it follows her rising career as she travels extensively throughout the Jim Crow infected South: “The Anderson’s bags were taken to the first coach on the train headed south—the Jim Crow coach reserved for blacks. As Marian recalled, the car was dirty inside and out, the windows were badly in need of washing, and the ventilation and lighting were poor.” Unwavering in her musical pursuits, Anderson became a heavily sought-after vocalist and was esteemed by European royalty as well as President Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor. So when Anderson was racially spurned by The Daughters of the American Revolution, the public backlash peacefully came to a head on that fateful and historic Easter morning.
Critical Analysis
Russell Freedman paints a beautiful portrait of Marian Anderson. Using precision and a thorough presentation, Freedman details the famed vocalist’s life and the events that led to one of the most poignant moments in our nation’s turbulent history. He opens the book with a nearly poetic account of Anderson’s performance at the Lincoln Memorial: “Clouds, which had shadowed the monument, skittered away to the north, and the late-afternoon sun broke through to bathe the reflecting pool and shine on the gaily dressed Easter crowd.” He continues the book in chronological order of her life, borrowing from Anderson’s autobiography and other first-person accounts. Written for a youthful (ages 12 and up) audience, Freedman succeeds in presenting a richly simplified rendition of Anderson’s bounteous life. He also includes an ample cornucopia of photos that seem to animate the text. A selected bibliography for further reading and a discography of Anderson’s available releases complete this inspiring and historically relevant work.
Review Excerpts
2005 Newbery Honor Book
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award
School Library Journal: “This inspiring work once again demonstrates Freedman’s talent for showing how a person’s life is molded by its historical and cultural context.”
Kirkus Review: “Well-chosen, well-placed archival photographs, clear writing, abundant research, and careful documentation make an outstanding, handsome biography.”
Connections:
*Excellent choice for required reading at the junior high level.
*Other books about Marian Anderson:
Anderson, Marian. My Lord, What a Beautiful Morning: An Autobiography. ISBN 9780252070532
Keiler, Allan. Marian Anderson: A Singer's Journey. ISBN 9780252070679
Review of SHIPWRECK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD by Jennifer Armstrong
Biography
Armstrong, Jennifer. 1998. Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World. New York, NY: Crown Publishers. ISBN 9780517800133
Plot Summary
Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World chronicles the inconceivable true events of Captain Ernest Shackleton and his crew as they are trapped by the perilous glacial grasp of Antarctica’s frozen wasteland. Shackleton and his men set sail from England in the summer of 1914 on an urgent quest to become the first explorers to sail Antarctica from tip to tip. But, just as they neared the southern most continent, their ship Endurance, became entrapped by large masses of ice. Stranded with no means of outside communication, Shackleton and his 27 men hunkered down for a long winter aboard Endurance. Several months passed, and the warming air of spring blew hope for a yielding sea to carry them home. In unanticipated horror, the melting glaciers shifted and crushed the hardy ship “like a walnut.” What followed was to become history’s most remarkable feats of survival that have ever been recorded. In the end, Captain Shackleton and all of his men miraculously survived unrelenting blizzards, subzero temperatures, a monstrous hurricane, and dangerous treks across unmapped regions of the Southern Hemisphere.
Critical Analysis
Jennifer Armstrong takes the reader on an icy voyage with the captain and crew of the explorer ship Endurance. Written in form like a suspenseful novel, Armstrong presents a factual blow-by-blow account of Captain Ernest Shackleton and his team’s harrowing decent to the frozen Antarctic Ocean and the staggering events that followed. Miraculously salvaged photos of the Endurance crew are strategically placed throughout the book, adding depth and chilling reality to this extraordinary story. In one such photo, we see first officer Lionel Greenstreet donning a mustache of icicles while draped in remnants of soggy, waterlogged wool. What is most telling of this portrait is the warm smile that is peering from beneath its frosty frame. This is the pervading theme of this true tale—optimism in the face of mind-blowing peril.
Although written for adolescents, Armstrong uses graphic suspense that is strong enough to intrigue adults young and old. The narration reads smoothly as Armstrong utilizes descriptions that are vivid and beautifully effective: “Killer whales cruised the open leads, blowing sprouts of icy spray. The tricks of the Antarctic atmosphere brought mock suns and green sunsets, and showers of jewel-colored crystals.” The narration also has a feel of intimacy due to Armstrong’s ample use of quotes taken directly from Captain Shackleton and his crew’s diaries. Shackleton had ordered his men to keep diaries chronicling their expedition. Even through the most turbulent of situations, Shackleton managed to keep a maticulous account of his journey. Referring to the crushing of his beloved Endurance, Shackleton wrote, “Mighty blocks of ice, gripped between meeting floes, rose slowly until they jumped like cherry and stones squeezed between thumb and finger.”
With an uncanny eye for detail, Armstrong brilliantly captures the humor and passionate spirit of Shackleton and his team. She includes stories of the crew putting on plays and comical productions while confined to a frozen ship. Accompanied by photos of the men dressed in costumes and holding props, the reader is transported to a cozy little room within the heart of Endurance. There she tells of the team’s Christmas aboard as they jokingly toasted “To our sweethearts and wives—may they never meet!” Just as the reader is lulled into a sense of refuge, Armstrong ominously adds, “Outside in the darkness, the endless mass of pack ice was grinding against itself like a restless giant breaking mountains in its sleep.” Boldly honest, beautifully told, and elegantly designed, Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World is an exceptionally artful work of nonfiction.
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal: “This is a very effective presentation of not only how the disaster occurred, but of the toll it took on the crew and how they rose to the challenge.”
Boston Globe-Horn Honor Book
Kirkus Review: “This unbelievable story is enhanced by the vigorous prose; from the captivating introduction through the epilogue, it is the writing as much as the story that will rivet readers."
Starred Review in Publisher’s Weekly: "Armstrong's absorbing storytelling, illustrated with dramatic black-and-white photographs, makes this an enthralling adventure."
Connections
*Can be used within the context of a thematic unit in the classroom.
*Due to the books heavy use of scientific and mathematical references, it would provide a concrete example for math and science classes.
*Would make a perfect selection for assigned reading for junior high and high school students.
*Could be used as an opening to conversations about the human spirit and the fight for survival as well as the value of strong leadership.
*For additional reading:
Alexander, Caroline. Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition. ISBN 9780375404030
Armstrong, Jennifer. 1998. Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World. New York, NY: Crown Publishers. ISBN 9780517800133
Plot Summary
Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World chronicles the inconceivable true events of Captain Ernest Shackleton and his crew as they are trapped by the perilous glacial grasp of Antarctica’s frozen wasteland. Shackleton and his men set sail from England in the summer of 1914 on an urgent quest to become the first explorers to sail Antarctica from tip to tip. But, just as they neared the southern most continent, their ship Endurance, became entrapped by large masses of ice. Stranded with no means of outside communication, Shackleton and his 27 men hunkered down for a long winter aboard Endurance. Several months passed, and the warming air of spring blew hope for a yielding sea to carry them home. In unanticipated horror, the melting glaciers shifted and crushed the hardy ship “like a walnut.” What followed was to become history’s most remarkable feats of survival that have ever been recorded. In the end, Captain Shackleton and all of his men miraculously survived unrelenting blizzards, subzero temperatures, a monstrous hurricane, and dangerous treks across unmapped regions of the Southern Hemisphere.
Critical Analysis
Jennifer Armstrong takes the reader on an icy voyage with the captain and crew of the explorer ship Endurance. Written in form like a suspenseful novel, Armstrong presents a factual blow-by-blow account of Captain Ernest Shackleton and his team’s harrowing decent to the frozen Antarctic Ocean and the staggering events that followed. Miraculously salvaged photos of the Endurance crew are strategically placed throughout the book, adding depth and chilling reality to this extraordinary story. In one such photo, we see first officer Lionel Greenstreet donning a mustache of icicles while draped in remnants of soggy, waterlogged wool. What is most telling of this portrait is the warm smile that is peering from beneath its frosty frame. This is the pervading theme of this true tale—optimism in the face of mind-blowing peril.
Although written for adolescents, Armstrong uses graphic suspense that is strong enough to intrigue adults young and old. The narration reads smoothly as Armstrong utilizes descriptions that are vivid and beautifully effective: “Killer whales cruised the open leads, blowing sprouts of icy spray. The tricks of the Antarctic atmosphere brought mock suns and green sunsets, and showers of jewel-colored crystals.” The narration also has a feel of intimacy due to Armstrong’s ample use of quotes taken directly from Captain Shackleton and his crew’s diaries. Shackleton had ordered his men to keep diaries chronicling their expedition. Even through the most turbulent of situations, Shackleton managed to keep a maticulous account of his journey. Referring to the crushing of his beloved Endurance, Shackleton wrote, “Mighty blocks of ice, gripped between meeting floes, rose slowly until they jumped like cherry and stones squeezed between thumb and finger.”
With an uncanny eye for detail, Armstrong brilliantly captures the humor and passionate spirit of Shackleton and his team. She includes stories of the crew putting on plays and comical productions while confined to a frozen ship. Accompanied by photos of the men dressed in costumes and holding props, the reader is transported to a cozy little room within the heart of Endurance. There she tells of the team’s Christmas aboard as they jokingly toasted “To our sweethearts and wives—may they never meet!” Just as the reader is lulled into a sense of refuge, Armstrong ominously adds, “Outside in the darkness, the endless mass of pack ice was grinding against itself like a restless giant breaking mountains in its sleep.” Boldly honest, beautifully told, and elegantly designed, Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World is an exceptionally artful work of nonfiction.
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal: “This is a very effective presentation of not only how the disaster occurred, but of the toll it took on the crew and how they rose to the challenge.”
Boston Globe-Horn Honor Book
Kirkus Review: “This unbelievable story is enhanced by the vigorous prose; from the captivating introduction through the epilogue, it is the writing as much as the story that will rivet readers."
Starred Review in Publisher’s Weekly: "Armstrong's absorbing storytelling, illustrated with dramatic black-and-white photographs, makes this an enthralling adventure."
Connections
*Can be used within the context of a thematic unit in the classroom.
*Due to the books heavy use of scientific and mathematical references, it would provide a concrete example for math and science classes.
*Would make a perfect selection for assigned reading for junior high and high school students.
*Could be used as an opening to conversations about the human spirit and the fight for survival as well as the value of strong leadership.
*For additional reading:
Alexander, Caroline. Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition. ISBN 9780375404030
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Review of OUT OF THE DUST by Karen Hesse
Bibliography
Hess, Karen. 1977. Out of the Dust. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780590360807
Plot Summary
Out of the Dust is a novel about a young girl and aspiring pianist named Billie Jo. Written in free-verse poems, Billie Jo narrates the tumultuous story of her life. Raised in the Oklahoma Panhandle during the Dust Bowl Era, we follow Billie Jo from the time she was “born at home, on the kitchen floor.” As a series of unfortunate events unfold, Billie Jo begins to wonder if life will ever afford her a break. Left with the scars of losing her mother, Billie Jo begins to lose what she holds most dear in life, playing the piano. Billie Jo’s adventures take her on a journey of self-discovery where she learns that true strength lies in perseverance.
Critical Analysis
Karen Hesse’s novel about fourteen-year-old Billie Jo transports the reader to the Oklahoma Panhandle during the Great Depression. Hesse’s poetry wraps us in the sandy gusts of the bleak Dust Bowl. Engulfed in stark images of perpetual desolation and dust-carrying winds, readers may find themselves taking a deep breath for unadulterated oxygen: “It wasn’t until the dust turned toward the house, like a fired locomotive, and I fled, barefoot and breathless, back inside, it wasn’t until the dust hissed against the windows, until it ratcheted the roof, that Daddy woke.”
Hesse writes the novel in free-form verse, and each poem is crafted in succession to tell the chronological story of Billie Jo. The voice of the novel is given to Billie Jo, and she begins her story with her mother giving birth to her on the kitchen floor: “Ma crouched, barefoot, bare bottomed over the swept boards.” Hesse quickly gives the impression that Billie Jo’s world consist of Billie Jo, her mother, her father, …and dust. Hesse writes with eloquent prose that is rich in imagery: “The wind snatched the snow right off the fields, leaving behind a sea of dust.” The use of free-form verse allows Billy Jo to tell her story with an artful beauty that only poetry can convey.
An accidental fire that leads to the crippling of Billy Jo’s hands and the death of her mother is a pivotal point in the story. A deep despair falls heavy upon the characters as Billie Jo notes that “It rained a little everywhere but here.” Hesse lets the reader know that the drought has withered up more than the landscape. The limits of the human spirit are taunted, and Billy Jo must choose to stand strong or blow away with the Oklahoma winds.
Review Excerpts
Newbery Medal Winner
Starred review in Publishers Weekly: "This intimate novel, written in stanza form, poetically conveys the heat, dust and wind of Oklahoma."
Children's Literature Review: "The novel is harsh and ugly, strong stuff that made my eleven-year-old cry when read aloud."
Kirkus Review: "Hesse presents a hale and determined heroine who confronts unrelenting misery and begins to transcend it."
Connections
*Would make an excellent required reading for older students.
*Could be used to in association with a history lesson about the Great Depression or the Dust Bowl.
*Could be used as an introduction to novels and to poetry novels.
*Students could think of a trying time in their lives and write a poem or series of poems about it.
Hess, Karen. 1977. Out of the Dust. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780590360807
Plot Summary
Out of the Dust is a novel about a young girl and aspiring pianist named Billie Jo. Written in free-verse poems, Billie Jo narrates the tumultuous story of her life. Raised in the Oklahoma Panhandle during the Dust Bowl Era, we follow Billie Jo from the time she was “born at home, on the kitchen floor.” As a series of unfortunate events unfold, Billie Jo begins to wonder if life will ever afford her a break. Left with the scars of losing her mother, Billie Jo begins to lose what she holds most dear in life, playing the piano. Billie Jo’s adventures take her on a journey of self-discovery where she learns that true strength lies in perseverance.
Critical Analysis
Karen Hesse’s novel about fourteen-year-old Billie Jo transports the reader to the Oklahoma Panhandle during the Great Depression. Hesse’s poetry wraps us in the sandy gusts of the bleak Dust Bowl. Engulfed in stark images of perpetual desolation and dust-carrying winds, readers may find themselves taking a deep breath for unadulterated oxygen: “It wasn’t until the dust turned toward the house, like a fired locomotive, and I fled, barefoot and breathless, back inside, it wasn’t until the dust hissed against the windows, until it ratcheted the roof, that Daddy woke.”
Hesse writes the novel in free-form verse, and each poem is crafted in succession to tell the chronological story of Billie Jo. The voice of the novel is given to Billie Jo, and she begins her story with her mother giving birth to her on the kitchen floor: “Ma crouched, barefoot, bare bottomed over the swept boards.” Hesse quickly gives the impression that Billie Jo’s world consist of Billie Jo, her mother, her father, …and dust. Hesse writes with eloquent prose that is rich in imagery: “The wind snatched the snow right off the fields, leaving behind a sea of dust.” The use of free-form verse allows Billy Jo to tell her story with an artful beauty that only poetry can convey.
An accidental fire that leads to the crippling of Billy Jo’s hands and the death of her mother is a pivotal point in the story. A deep despair falls heavy upon the characters as Billie Jo notes that “It rained a little everywhere but here.” Hesse lets the reader know that the drought has withered up more than the landscape. The limits of the human spirit are taunted, and Billy Jo must choose to stand strong or blow away with the Oklahoma winds.
Review Excerpts
Newbery Medal Winner
Starred review in Publishers Weekly: "This intimate novel, written in stanza form, poetically conveys the heat, dust and wind of Oklahoma."
Children's Literature Review: "The novel is harsh and ugly, strong stuff that made my eleven-year-old cry when read aloud."
Kirkus Review: "Hesse presents a hale and determined heroine who confronts unrelenting misery and begins to transcend it."
Connections
*Would make an excellent required reading for older students.
*Could be used to in association with a history lesson about the Great Depression or the Dust Bowl.
*Could be used as an introduction to novels and to poetry novels.
*Students could think of a trying time in their lives and write a poem or series of poems about it.
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