Module Ten - Graphic Novels and Censorship Candidates

Graphic Novel - The Babysitters Club: The Truth About Stacey


Summary
Poor Stacey. She's moved to a new town. She's still coming to terms with her diabetes. She's facing baby-sitting problems left and right. And her parents are no help. Luckily, Stacey has three new, true friends -- Kristy, Claudia, and Mary Anne. Together they're the BSC, and they will deal with whatever's thrown their way -- even if it's a rival baby-sitting club!

Reviews

Gr 5-7 — Stacey is the new girl in town, She has made three good friends in a babysitters club but her memories of her old friends still haunt her. Many of them, including Her best friend, Laine, ditched her after she was diagnosed with diabetes. Her parents aren't much help; they keep dragging her from doctor to doctor looking for a miracle cure. All Stacey wants to do is manage her condition on her own terms. An impending trip back to New York and a rival babysitting club has Stacey confused and nervous. Will she be able to reconcile with Laine? Will this new group, complete with sitters who can stay up late, end the club for good? The graphic adaptation of the hugely popular series has as much heart as the original. The girls" dedication to the kids they care for and to their friendship never comes off as hokey. The black-and-white cartoons capture each character's personality; the facial expressions say a lot. Each girl has her own style. The outfits have been updated but the skirts haven't gotten shorter. A solid purchase for both school and public librarics.~~  Sadie Mattox

Kristy's great idea (978-0-439-73933-7), The truth about Stacey (978-0-439-73936-8), and Mary Anne saves the day (978-0-439-88516-4). Ann M. Martin and Raina Telgemeier. Scholastic (Graphix), 2006-2007. $8:99. Grades 4-7. Raina Telgemeier, who is adapting the Baby-Sitters Club stories into graphic novels, first earned a reputation by self-publishing her own comics. Those little books about her life and memories of her childhood already featured crisp inking and confident lines that made every panel hum. The vibrancy of her early work continues in the tales of Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey.

The strengths of the original stories remain in their new graphic life. Each of the girls has her own insecurities and goofy quirks, but those never run to cliché. In fact, each girl's problems and strengths blend in a refreshing way. Stacey, for example, is the thin, pretty, mildly boy-crazy new girl at school, and her initial shyness and refusal to eat the other girls' sweet snacks make it possible to write her off at first as a stereotype of girly femininity. But as the second volume reveals, Stacey is doing her best to overcome an illness that she has been told she must keep secret. Furthermore, she has learned from harsh experience that her secret can cost her friends, and trusting these new friends will take time. As the series continues, all the characters deepen, and Telgemeier's style portrays their growth lovingly. - Joe Sutiff Sanders

And so...

This series will be a great introduction to graphic novels and appeal especially to young girls in upper elementary. The artwork adds to the words on the page, deepening the story, but don't necessarily have the sinister look and hidden meanings that are in graphic novels for YA. Remaining true to the original series, this book will help young readers face problems in their lives by learning that others have the same or similar difficulties.

Use this book to...

Librarians can use this book to introduce graphic novels to upper elementary or middle school. There can be literature circles and discussion groups held to analyze the problems faced by characters and how they are handled in health classes and book clubs. Language teachers can use this as a writing lesson about storyboards and graphic novels.

References
Martin, Ann M. The Truth about Stacey: A Graphic Novel. Art by Raina Telgemeier. New York : Graphix, 2006.
Summary retrieved from Syndetic Solutions, Inc., Richardson Public Library Online Catalog, August 8, 2011.
Mattox, Sadie. School Library Journal, Mar2007, Vol. 53 Issue 3, p238-238, 1/5p
Sanders, Joe Sutliff. Teacher Librarian, Apr2008, Vol. 35 Issue 4, p19-19, 1/3p
Photograph retreived from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=FL1317750795S.132920&profile=rpl&uri=full%3D3100001%7E%21384256%7E%210&ri=1&term=The+truth+about+Stacey&index=.TW&uindex=&aspect=subtab26&menu=search&ri=1&view=SUMMARY&aspect=subtab26&menu=search&source=~!horizon&enhancedcontentdata=true%0A%09%09#focus



Censorship Candidates - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian


Summary
In his first book for young adults, bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by acclaimed artist Ellen Forney, that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.

Reviews
Screenwriter, novelist and poet, Alexie bounds into YA with what might be a Native American equivalent of Angela's Ashes, a coming-of-age story so well observed that its very rootedness in one specific culture is also what lends it universality, and so emotionally honest that the humor almost always proves painful. Presented as the diary of hydrocephalic 14-year-old cartoonist and Spokane Indian Arnold Spirit Jr., the novel revolves around Junior's desperate hope of escaping the reservation. As he says of his drawings, "I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats." He transfers to a public school 22 miles away in a rich farm town where the only other Indian is the team mascot. Although his parents support his decision, everyone else on the rez sees him as a traitor, an apple ("red on the outside and white on the inside"), while at school most teachers and students project stereotypes onto him: "I was half Indian in one place and half white in the other." Readers begin to understand Junior's determination as, over the course of the school year, alcoholism and self-destructive behaviors lead to the deaths of close relatives. Unlike protagonists in many YA novels who reclaim or retain ethnic ties in order to find their true selves, Junior must separate from his tribe in order to preserve his identity. Jazzy syntax and Forney's witty cartoons examining Indian versus White attire and behavior transmute despair into dark humor; Alexie's no-holds-barred jokes have the effect of throwing the seriousness of his themes into high relief. Ages 14-up. (Sept.)

Gr 8 Up --Arnold Spirit, aka Junior, is an unlikely hero in Sherman Alexie's semiautobiographical, National Book Award-winning novel (Little, Brown, 2007). Born with "water on the brain," Junior lives in poverty on an Indian reservation near Spokane, WA. When a teacher recognizes that the boy has hopes for his future, he encourages Junior to leave the reservation. At Rearden, an all-white school he commutes to daily, Junior becomes known as Arnold, but acceptance comes slowly. Through tenacity and humor, the teen tries to balance his school life with his life on the reservation. Narrated by the author.

And so...
This book shows the hard life of a teen-ager who wants better for himself than his family had, but who doesn't blame his family for the poverty in which they live. He is rejected by the other Indians because he goes to school off the reservation, and works so hard to better himself. He is rejected by the white people he goes to school with, because he is of Indian descent. The story is told with lots of humor, and the drawing that appear on at least every other page add to the irony of of his situation.

Use this book for...
Since this book is for older students, this book could be used in history studies for how Native Americans were, and in some instances, still are treated as lower class citizenry. Literature circls will be able to discuss issues of bullying, self respect, and self-improvement.

References:
Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York: Little Brown, 2007
Summary retrieved from Syndetic Solutions, Inc., Richardson Public Library Online Catalog, August 8, 2011.
 School Library Journal, Oct 2008 Curriculum Connections, Vol. 54, p61-61, 1/8p
Publishers Weekly, 8/20/2007, Vol. 254 Issue 33, p70-71, 2p
Photograph retrieved from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1O13T7904R562.133453&profile=rpl&uri=full%3D3100001%7E%21399801%7E%210&ri=5&&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&ri=5&view=AUTHOR_NOTES&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&fullmarc=true&source=~!horizon&#focus

Module Nine - Poetry, Verse Novels, and Short Stories - August 1-7, 2011

Poetry - Once I Ate a Pie

Summary
Gus herds his people like sheep. Abby loves borrowing slippers. And once, Mr. Beefy ate a pie. It's a dog's life. Filled with squeaky toys, mischief, and plenty of naps. Every dog has a tail to wag and a tale to tell. Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest asked this collection of canines to speak up with their own words, barks, and yips.

Reviews
PreS-Gr 3-Free-verse poems about 14 individual dogs sprawl across oversize spreads accompanied by large oil illustrations. The poems and paintings together delightfully capture each distinct personality in few words and with broad strokes of the brush. The fonts change often and reflect the poet's words-rising and falling, sometimes in bold type, growing larger and smaller and dancing over the pages. The format allows for plenty of white space, emphasizing the postures and personalities of the pups and helping the playful fonts to stand out. The overall result is an entertaining visit with some very appealing canines, and a book that perhaps could serve as an inspiration in the classroom for young poets trying to describe their own pets. One wishes that the breeds were listed somewhere, but all in all, this title is still a real treat.-Judith Constantinides

An appealing cover image of a charming pug invites the reader into this ode to canine companions by the mother-and-daughter team. Fourteen short, non-rhyming poems introduce a variety of highly individualistic dogs, with the personality of each one captured in just a few revealing lines. The poems are written in first person with an innocent viewpoint appropriate to a dog's egocentric perspective on the world. Abby "borrows" bones, balls and slippers (and doesn't give them back); Mr. Beefy the pug steals butter (or even a cherry pie) from the table; and Lucy, adopted from a shelter, sleeps between her owners with her own pillow and teddy bear. Schneider's expressive paintings add to each dog's character, skillfully capturing distinctive breed characteristics, with expressive eyes and playful postures that indicate thorough knowledge of canine behavior. Thoughtful design elements include a trail of paw prints leading from the cover through the front matter into the text, varying type treatments and a mixture of illustration perspectives. (Poetry. 4-9) - Kirkus Reviews

And so...
This book is filled with colorful drawings of dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes. Each spread has a title, not necessarily the name of the dog but definitely related to the dog or dogs pictured. Each poem is printed very sytlistically the words flying across pages, stair stepping, or curving. Some of the words are even separated letter by letter. This makes it that much more interesting to many young readers, who have not yet begun to "play" with their words.

Use this book for...
This book is a great way to introduce poetry, the 800 section of the library, writing stylistically, or to discover voice of a writer.

References
MacLachlan, Patricia. Once I Ate a Pie. New York : Joanna Cotler Books, 2006.
Summary retrieved from Syndetic Solutions, Inc., Richardson Public Library Online Catalog, August 8, 2011.
 Constantinides, Judith. School Library Journal, May2006, Vol. 52 Issue 5, p114-115, 2p
Kirkus Reviews, 5/1/2006, Vol. 74 Issue 9, p462-462, 1/4p
Photograph retrieved from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1313N75D86W62.132221&profile=rpl&uri=link=3100007~!289428~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&ri=1&source=~!horizon&term=Once+I+ate+a+pie+%2F&index=PALLTI#focus



Verse Novel - Crossing Stones


Summary
In their own voices, four young people, Muriel, Frank, Emma, and Ollie, tell of their experiences during the first World War, as the boys enlist and are sent overseas, Emma finishes school, and Muriel fights for peace and women's suffrage.

Reviews
Gr 6-10-The children of the Norman and Jorgensen families have grown up together, with their family farms located on either side of Crabapple Creek. In 1917, the outbreak of World War I shatters their idyllic lives: strong-willed Muriel opposes it, but the two young men, Frank and her brother, Ollie, enlist and are soon sent overseas. Muriel's lively personality comes alive in free-verse poems that roam across the page like the free-flowing waters of the creek. "My mind sets off at a gallop/down that twisty road, flashes by 'Young Lady,'/hears the accusation in it-as if it's/a crime just being young, and 'lady'/is what anyone can see I'll never be/.." The poems of Ollie and friend Emma are written in "cupped-hand" sonnets; their rounded shapes resemble the crossing stones of the creek and record their growing love. While the young men find themselves amidst the horrors of trench warfare, their families attempt to cope with their absence. Muriel travels to Washington, DC, to be with her aunt Vera, a suffragist who is recovering from a hunger strike; joins picketers at the White House; and helps out in a settlement house. Back home, youngest sister Grace comes down with influenza. Frost's warmly sentimental novel covers a lot of political, social, and geographical ground, and some of the supporting characters are not fully fleshed out. But this is Muriel's story, and her determined personality and independence will resonate with readers, especially those who've enjoyed the works of Karen Hesse. - Marilyn Taniguchi

Gr 6-10--This gripping story (Farrar, Straus, 2009) by Helen Frost about two neighboring families during the Great War relates personal perspectives on the war, the struggle for women's suffrage in the U.S., the Spanish flu, and the day-to-day hardships of a small farming community in Minnesota in 1918. A son from each of the two families enlisted to fight the war in Europe, and one was killed and the other was maimed. The main character, Muriel, is against the war, but has learned to moderate her opinion to keep peace in her home and with her neighbors. When Muriel's Aunt Vera takes part in a hunger strike in support of women's suffrage, the girl is sent to bring Vera back home. However, instead of returning home, Vera introduces her niece to suffragettes and the art of demonstration. Muriel, who has been wondering what to do with her life after graduating from school, finds purpose in speaking her mind and teaching children in the slums. Unlike the facts and figures memorized for history class, this story brings the people and the issues to life. The heartfelt personal narratives related by four voice actors involve listeners from the very beginning of the book. This is historical fiction at it best. - Ann Weber

And so...
This book is written for the experienced reader. It is seemingly short, divided into months and told by three of the four main characters in verse form. There are patterns within patterns in the verse, as each character shares whats in their minds and hearts as the world they knew changes during World War I. The switching of differing viewpoints throughout the story, and the way they all intertwine together, will be difficult for some readers.

Use this book to...
This book would be a great companion to a history study of World War I, looking deeper into how all the battles and strategies that are normally studied effected the every day lives of people not on the battlefield.


References
Frost, Helen. Crossing Stones. New York : Frances Foster Books, 2009.
Summary retrieved from Richardson Public Library Online Catalog, August 8, 2011.
Taniguchi, Marilyn. School Library Journal, Oct2009, Vol. 55 Issue 10, p126-126, 1/5p
Weber, Ann. School Library Journal, Nov2010, Vol. 56 Issue 11, p56-57, 2p,
Photograph retrieved from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1313177D24T5B.132760&profile=rpl&uri=link=3100007~!398101~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&ri=1&source=~!horizon&term=Crossing+stones+%2F&index=PALLTI#focus

Module Eight - Mystery and Series Books - July 25-31, 2011

Mystery - The Dark Stairs : a Herculeah Jones mystery

Summary - The intrepid Herculeah Jones helps her mother, a private investigator, solve a puzzling and frightening case.

Reviews

Move over, Encyclopedia, Sherlock, and Nancy - Herculeah is on the case. Byars's new heroine reminds the reader a bit of Bingo Brown as she finds herself in one tight spot after another. After all, with a police detective and a private eye for parents, Herculeah finds that curiosity and sleuthing come naturally. When Herculeah and her intrepid (if somewhat inept) sidekick, Meat, become intrigued by one of her mother's clients, a fast-paced mystery develops that doesn't require much effort from the reader to deduce or enjoy the puzzle. A welcome entry into the field for young mystery fans. ~ Elizabeth S. Watson

Gr 5-7. Move over Nancy Drew, Herculeah Jones has arrived! Strong and agile, she lives up to her name and seems capable of solving any case that comes her way; with a private investigator mother and police detective father, she has a natural interest in mysterious situations. In this first volume of what is sure to be a popular series, Herculeah becomes fascinated with a forbidding estate and a frightening-looking client of her mother's. She capitalizes on her contact in the police department (her father) and listens to her mother's recorded interviews with her client; by refusing to follow rules set by her parents when she is driven to get closer to the truth, she succeeds in closing a case. She escapes after being locked in a dark and musty basement and discovers a hidden staircase, at the bottom of which lays the long-missing dead owner of Dead Oaks. Byars has created a likable cast of main characters, Herculeah's friend Meat serves as the perfect comic foil for her intensity; he seems as if he could be a first cousin to Bingo Brown. There is plenty to laugh at in this book, including classic chapter headings guaranteed to cause shivers for the uninitiated; practiced mystery readers may feel that they are in on a bit of a joke and appreciate the hint of parody. This is a page turner that is sure to entice the most reluctant readers. - Ellen Fader

And so...
I found this to be an intriguing book, if not a bit formulaic. Young readers just beginning their foray into chapter books will enjoy this young mystery solver and the pen and ink drawing included with each chapter will assure they won't go into withdrawals from books including art. The protagonist may be a young girl but even reluctant male readers will find her antics enticing.

Use this book for...
Introductions to literacy circles and book reports would be a good way to use this book. Librarians could read a chapter of this and another Herculeah Jones book to begin a study of series books, discussing how the two book are similar and different.

References

Byars, Betsy Cromer. The Dark Stairs : a Herculeah Jones Mystery. New York : Viking, 1994.
Summary retrieved from Syndetic Solutions, Inc., Richardson Public Online Catalog, August 6, 2011.
E.S.W.; Silvey, Anita. Horn Book Magazine, Nov/Dec94, Vol. 70 Issue 6, p730-730, 1/4p
Fader, Ellen. School Library Journal, Sep94, Vol. 40 Issue 9, p214, 1/6p
Photograph retrieved from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=13131695CRX71.129516&profile=rpl-kids&uri=link=3100007~!10333~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=basic&menu=search&ri=7&source=~!horizon&term=The+dark+stairs+%3A+a+Herculeah+Jones+mystery+%2F&index=PALLTI#focus



Series books - Hank the Cowdog #1 and #56
                          

Summary

When Loper puts him on Cheapo brand dog food and he gets in trouble for eating out of Sally May's birdfeeder, Hank the Cowdog hopes that he can get back in their good graces by thwarting the coyotes' plan to go after the chickens.  Reviews Hank the Cowdog, the humorously self-important "Head of Ranch Security" who was first introduced in 1983, reappears in The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog: Deluxe Edition by John R. Erickson. Gerald Holmes has added color to his original illustrations and supplied  four new ones; the book also includes a map of Hank's ranch and an author's preface. those who would like to join Hank's Security Squad fan club can recieve a boxed membership kit for $10.95. Ages 9-up. - Publishers Weekly And So...  I read the first and the latest books in this humourous series of easy to read chapter books. While there wasn't much  of a case for the "Head of Security" to solve, it was at the least entertaining. However, the dialect may be difficult for some urban readers to comprehend, as Hank is definitely a "cowdog". It is great way to get young readers to look into the meaning of what is written, to look past the speech patterns of the storyteller. Use this book for... This book would be a good model piece for writing dialect. It also would be great for teaching young writers about voice. In the library, you can introduce easy reader chapter books, or explain the shelving of series books using this titles from this prolific series.

References
Erickson, John R. The Case of the Coyote Invasion. New York : Viking, 2010.
Erickson, John R. Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog. Perryton, Tex. : Maverick Books, 1983
Roback, Diane; Brown, Jennifer M.. Publishers Weekly, 11/10/97, Vol. 244 Issue 46, p76, 3/4p
Book #1 photograph retrieved from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=G313G71426656.130499&profile=rpl&uri=full=3100001~!51962~!69&ri=2&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&source=~!horizon&ipp=20&spp=20&staffonly=&term=Hank+the+Cowdog+%3B&index=PSERIES&uindex=&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&ri=2#focus
Book 56 photograph retrieved from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=G313G71426656.130499&profile=rpl&uri=link=3100007~!411774~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&ri=6&source=~!horizon&term=The+case+of+the+coyote+invasion+%2F&index=PALLTI#focus

Module Seven - Information Nonfiction and Biography - July 17-24, 2011

Informational Picture Books - An Egg is Quiet


Summary-
Award-winning artist Sylvia Long has teamed with up-and-coming author Dianna Aston to create this gorgeous and informative introduction to eggs. From tiny hummingbird eggs to giant ostrich eggs, oval ladybug eggs to tubular dogfish eggs, gooey frog eggs to fossilized dinosaur eggs, it magnificently captures the incredible variety of eggs and celebrates their beauty and wonder. The evocative text is sure to inspire lively questions and observations. Yet while poetic in voice and elegant in design, the book introduces children to more than 60 types of eggs and an interesting array of egg facts. Even the endpapers brim with information. A tender and fascinating guide that is equally at home being read to a child on a parent's lap as in a classroom reading circle.

Reviews
K-Gr 2-- An exceptionally handsome book on eggs, from the delicate ova of the green lacewing to the rosy roe of the Atlantic salmon to the mammoth bulk of an ostrich egg. Aston's simple, readable text celebrates their marvelous diversity, commenting on size, shape, coloration, and where they might be found. The author occasionally attributes sensibilities to eggs ("An egg is clever," for example). Still, her quiet descriptions of egg engineering and embryo development (no mention of mating) are on the mark, and are beautifully supported by Long's splendid watercolor depictions of a wide variety of eggs. (One teeny carp--Steller's jays are not spelled with an "ar," though they are stellar performers when wheedling for your lunch at a campsite!) A beautiful guide to the unexpected panoply of "the egg." ~ By Patricia Manning

Like the subject matter it describes, this book packages with understated elegance the substantive matter found within it. "An egg is quiet. It sits there, under its mother's feathers… on top of its father's feet… buried beneath the sand," Aston (When You Were Born) begins, as spot illustrations zero in on a hummingbird, emperor penguin and sea turtle, respectively. The narrative then launches into a kind of survey about the characteristics of eggs, which follows a simple format. In most spreads, different adjectives (colorful, shapely, textured, etc.) complete the sentence, "An egg is.…" This repetitive rhythm contrasts with the visual variety of the illustrations. Long's (Sylvia Long's Mother Goose) skilled use of contrast and compositional balance prevent monotony. For example, a border that resembles a color test pattern runs down the outer edges of a spread of nearly 40 carefully placed "colorful" examples, set against a white background, which dazzle the eye. The main text appears in large, flowery cursive, while a smaller printed typeface serves as labels and brief factual captions. "An egg is clever," in fancy script, for instance, sits alongside examples of camouflage: "An egg might be speckled to resemble the rocks around it." The letters' dramatic curlicues mimic curvy grasses and vines dappled with tiny insect eggs. Long introduces breathtaking color into the final spreads, as a concluding scene "hatches from" this peacefulness, reminding readers of an egg's purpose. This attractive volume pleases on both an aesthetic and intellectual level. Ages 5-10. (Apr.)
Publishers Weekly
And so...
This is one of the best books I've read during the 5420 class. The repetitive pattern will appeal to young readers, the pictures are colorful and well labeled for use as an informational text. More advanced readers will be intrigued with matching all of the eggs to the animals on the inside covers of the book. Definitely a great book for public, school, or classroom libraries!

Use this book for...
Librarians can use this book to introduce non-fiction to students, classroom teachers could use this for a unit on life cycles. Writing teachers will use this for a repetative pattern book, an example of narrative non-fiction, or an idea starter after discussing how the different parts of an egg are explored in both text and pictures.

References
Aston, Dianna. An Egg is Quiet. San Francisco : Chronicle Books, 2006.
Summary retrieved from Syndetic Solutions, Richardson Public Library Online Catalog, July 22, 2011.
Manning, Patricia. School Library Journal, Jun2006, Vol. 52 Issue 6, p104-104, 1/6p
Publishers Weekly, 3/6/2006, Vol. 253 Issue 10, p74-101, 1/4p
Photograph retrieved from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1B1316W919I18.127246&profile=rpl&uri=full%3D3100001%7E%21376157%7E%210&ri=2&&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&ri=2&view=SUMMARY&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&source=~!horizon&enhancedcontentdata=true%0A%09%09#focus





Biography - Knuckleheads: Tall Tales and Almost True Stories of Growing Up Scieszka

Summary
How did Jon Scieszka get so funny, anyway? Growing up as one of six brothers was a good start, but that was just the beginning. Throw in Catholic school, lots of comic books, lazy summers at the lake with time to kill, babysitting misadventures, TV shows, jokes told at family dinner, and the result is Knucklehead . Part memoir, part scrapbook, this hilarious trip down memory lane provides a unique glimpse into the formation of a creative mind and a free spirit.

Reviews
Gr 3-6--Jon Scieszka is well-known for his quirky sense of humor and ability to connect with adolescent readers, especially boys, and was named the first National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. His autobiography (Viking, 2008) is clearly aimed at his target audience and it hits an easy bulls-eye. Scieszka reads his book, explaining about growing up in a family of six boys in Flint, Michigan. Growing boys and common sense don't usually go together, and the author's tales from his boyhood offer plenty of evidence. Peppering the nativity scene with army soldiers, peeing on the space heater, dealing with vomiting cats on car trips, being required to write a list of bad words for his teacher (a nun), and explosions both small and large clearly explain how Scieszka turned out the way he did. There's plenty of bathroom humor here as well as wanton destruction. More than one of the many short chapters quickly overwhelms listeners with a feeling of impending doom as the boys come up with yet another "good idea." Yet through it all, there's the unmistakable feeling of togetherness, unity, and a sense of the security felt as part of a large and very forgiving family. There's even a short addendum where Scieszka talks about his writing. Listeners will laugh out loud and feel an uncontrollable urge to repeat bits of these stories to anyone who happens in range. Isn't that the best recommendation? - Teresa Bateman

Gr 3-6 --Just try to keep kids away from this collection. Inspired book design makes the volume look like an old-school comic. The front cover features an elementary-aged Scieszka popping up out of a military tank, surrounded by explosions and bombers, while the back advertises a "Treasure Chest of Fun" and displays chapter titles and excerpts along with nostalgic graphics. Scieszka answers the oft-asked question, "Where do you get your ideas?" with a slew of childhood anecdotes and his family's escapades that have given him plenty of material from which to draw. Born in 1954, the second of six brothers, he writes about Catholic and military schools, buying gifts, chores, and hand-me-downs-all familiar experiences related with a specific Scieszka twist. His mother, a nurse, insisted that her sons use proper terms for anatomy ("rectum" rather than "butt") and bodily functions ("urinate" rather than "pee"), making way for several laugh-out-loud moments. Some stories are just amiably funny, such as wearing recycled Halloween costumes, while others help readers understand more about how the author developed his unique sense of humor. Although it includes the car trip story from Guys Write for Guys Read (Viking, 2005), Knucklehead is aimed at a younger audience. Family photographs and other period illustrations appear throughout. Entertaining and fast-moving, silly and sweet, this homage to family life is not to be missed. - Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst

And so...
While many students will find it difficult to connect with some of these stories of growing up in the 60s, they will laugh out loud at the antics these boys play. Many of the experiences make the reader want to try them, thankfully there are warnings to "do not try this at home, or anywhere else"! While this was a walk down memory lane for me as I connected with a lot of the phrases, having also grown up in this time period,  many readers will experience this lighter look at life in the past with fresh and wondering eyes.

Use this book for...
A librarian can easily pick a chapter to read aloud during a lesson on autobiographies, as the chapters are short and the language is easy to read. It would be a great way to discuss the differences between autobiographies and biographies. This could also be a good opening for an author study, introducing Jon Scieszka and having students read two or more of his books to find elements of his childhood within those stories.

References
Scieszka, Jon. Knucklehead : Tall Tales & Mostly True Stories of Growing Up Scieszka. New York: Viking, 2008.
Summary retrieved from Syndetic Solutions, Richardson Public Library Online Catalog, July 22, 2011.
Bateman, Teresa. School Library Journal, Dec2009, Vol. 55 Issue 12, p66-66, 1/9p,
Whitehurst, Lucinda Snyder. School Library Journal, Oct2008, Vol. 54 Issue 10, p174-175, 2p
Photograph retrieved from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1313I675288OX.128400&profile=rpl&uri=full%3D3100001%7E%21421958%7E%2125&ri=6&term=Scieszka%2C+Jon&index=PAUTHOR&uindex=&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&ri=6&view=SUMMARY&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&source=~!horizon&enhancedcontentdata=true%0A%09%09#focus

Module Six - Historical Fiction - July 11-16, 2011

Picture Books - Tomas and the Library Lady


Summary -
Tomas is a son of migrant workers. Every summer he and his family follow the crops north from Texas to Iowa, spending long, arduous days in the fields. At night they gather around to hear Grandfather's wonderful stories. But before long, Tomas knows all the stories by heart. "There are more stories in the library," Papa Grande tells him. The very next day, Tomas meets the library lady and a whole new world opens up for him. Based on the true story of the Mexican-American author and educator Tomas Rivera, a child of migrant workers who went on to become the first minority Chancellor in the University of California system, this inspirational story suggests what libraries--and education--can make possible. Raul Colan's warm, expressive paintings perfectly interweave the harsh realities of Tomas's life, the joyful imaginings he finds in books, and his special relationships with a wise grandfather and a caring librarian.

Reviews -
Gr 2-4--Tomas Rivera, who at his death in 1984 was the Chancellor of the University of California at Riverside, grew up in a migrant family. Here, Mora tells the fictionalized story of one summer in his childhood during which his love of books and reading is fostered by a librarian in Iowa, who takes him under her wing while his family works the harvest. She introduces him to stories about dinosaurs, horses, and American Indians and allows him to take books home where he shares them with his parents, grandfather, and brother. When it is time for the family to return to Texas, she gives Tomas the greatest gift of all--a book of his own to keep. Colon's earthy sun-warmed colors, textured with swirling lines, add life to this biographical fragment and help portray Tomas's reading adventures in appealing ways. Stack this up with Sarah Stewart and David Small's The Library (Farrar, 1995) and Suzanne Williams and Steven Kellogg's Library Lil (Dial, 1997) to demonstrate the impact librarians can have on youngsters. --Barbara Elleman

Gr 1-4-- Mora's slice-of-life account tells of the son of migrant workers (inspired by the boyhood of Hispanic author and educator Tomás Rivera) whose horizons and linguistic skills are thrown wide open by the guidance of a friendly librarian. The hardships of migrant life and the dreams that books and learning provide are carefully delineated in both text and muted illustrations. - Coop Renner

And so...
This is a feel good book all the way around. The descriptions of working hard in the heat of summer made me sweat, but the pleasant coolness of the library and the water from the fountain cooled me right down again. Tomas learns so many things about reading and people as he forms his friendship with the library lady that you wish he never had to go back to Texas.

Use this book for
A great read aloud the first of school to get the students interested in what the librarian can do to help them. There are many writing lessons that can be learned from reading this as well, with its great descriptive passages.

References
Mora, Pat. Tomas and the Library Lady.  New York: Knopf, 1997.
Summary retrieved from Sendetc Solutions, Inc.; Richardson Public Library On-line Card Catolgue July 14, 2011.
Renner, Coop. School Library Journal, Jul2005, Vol. 51 Issue 7, p44-44, 1/9p
Elleman, Barbara. School Library Journal, Oct97, Vol. 43 Issue 10, p105, 1/8p
Photograph retrieved from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=131310F73J64R.107559&profile=rpl&uri=full%3D3100001%7E%21196159%7E%210&ri=2&&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&ri=2&view=SUMMARY&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&source=~!horizon&enhancedcontentdata=true%0A%09%09#focus


Novels - Elijah of Buxton


Summary -
Master storyteller Christopher Paul Curtis lends his trademark humour and vibrant narrative style to the gripping tale of eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman. The first child born into freedom in Buxton, Ontario, a settlement of runaway slaves just over the border from Detroit, Elijah is best known in his hometown as the boy who threw up on Frederick Douglass. Not on purpose, of course — he was just a baby then! But things change when a former slave calling himself the Right Reverend Zephariah W. Connerly the Third steals money from ElijahÂ’s friend Mr. Leroy, who has been saving to buy his family out of captivity in the South. Elijah joins Mr. Leroy on a dangerous journey to America in pursuit of the disreputable preacher, and he discovers firsthand the unimaginable horrors of the life his parents have fled — a life from which he’ll always be free, if he can find the courage to get back home. Exciting yet evocative, heart-wrenching yet hilarious, Elijah of Buxton is Christopher Paul Curtis at his very best — and an unforgettable testament to the power of hope.

Reviews -
Elijah Freeman, 11, has two claims to fame. He was the first child "born free" to former slaves in Buxton, a (real) haven established in 1849 in Canada by an American abolitionist. The rest of his celebrity, Elijah reports in his folksy vernacular, stems from a "tragical" event. When Frederick Douglass, the "famousest, smartest man who ever escaped from slavery," visited Buxton, he held baby Elijah aloft, declaring him a "shining bacon of light and hope," tossing him up and down until the jostled baby threw up--on Douglass. The arresting historical setting and physical comedy signal classic Curtis (Bud, Not Buddy), but while Elijah's boyish voice represents the Newbery Medalist at his finest, the story unspools at so leisurely a pace that kids might easily lose interest. Readers meet Buxton's citizens, people who have known great cruelty and yet are uncommonly polite and welcoming to strangers. Humor abounds: Elijah's best friend puzzles over the phrase "familiarity breeds contempt" and decides it's about sexual reproduction. There's a rapscallion of a villain in the Right Reverend Deacon Doctor Zephariah Connerly the Third, a smart-talking preacher no one trusts, and, after 200 pages, a riveting plot: Zephariah makes off with a fortune meant to buy a family of slaves their freedom. Curtis brings the story full-circle, demonstrating how Elijah the "fra-gile" child has become sturdy, capable of stealing across the border in pursuit of the crooked preacher, and strong enough to withstand a confrontation with the horrors of slavery. The powerful ending is violent and unsettling, yet also manages to be uplifting. Ages 9-12. - Publishers Weekly

Gr 4-8 Labeled "fragile" ever since infancy, Elijah, the first child born free in a Canadian community of escaped slaves, longs to be "growned" up. When circumstances force him to cross the U.S. border, the sensitive boy comes face-to-face with the horrors of slavery and matures in ways that would have been unimaginable just days before. - School Library Journal

And so...
There are many "growing up" stories in Elijah's book, from going fishing with "Ole Flapjack" to learning lessons about tricking people with frogs and snakes. These stories give a sense of the personality of Elijah and the other members of his community, include "The Preacher" who does some interesting figuring when it comes to tithing. Many students will put the book down before they ever reach the central conflict, but the dialect and humor will reward those who perservere.

Use this book for...
History lessons about slavery, dialogue writing lessons, Black History month, and voice in compositions. A great book club selection to read and discuss, making comparisons of how character portraits are drawn between the upstanding, hard-working Mr. Leroy and The Preacher.


References -
Curtis, Christopher Paul. Elijah of Buxton. New York: Scholastic Press, 2007.
Summary retrieved from Sendetc Solutions, Inc.; Richardson Public Library On-line Card Catolgue July 14, 2011.
Publishers Weekly, 9/10/2007, Vol. 254 Issue 36, p61-62, 2p
School Library Journal, Apr2008 Curriculum Connection, Vol. 54, p54-54, 1/8p
Photograph retrieved from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=YN131044635W6.108130&profile=rpl&uri=link=3100007~!321166~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&ri=1&source=~!horizon&term=Elijah+of+Buxton+%2F&index=PALLTI#focus

Module Five - Fantasy and Science Fiction - July 4 - 10, 2011

Fantasy - Eragon


Summary
In Alagaesia, a fifteen-year-old boy of unknown lineage called Eragon finds a mysterious stone that weaves his life into an intricate tapestry of destiny, magic, and power, peopled with dragons, elves, and monsters.

Reviews

In the kingdom of Alagaesia, there once roamed a group of warriors called the Dragon Riders who kept the

peace among the elves, dwarves, and humans. Then Galbatorix grabbed power for himself, slaughtering those riders and their dragons who would not join him. Eventually there were only three dragon eggs left. They were closely guarded in Galbatorix’s stronghold until the Varden, a rebel group determined to overthrow Galbatorix, stole one. Fifteen-year-old Eragon is hunting in the mountains near his home in a remote part of the kingdom when he finds a strange stone. Everyone agrees it is valuable but no one knows what it is worth. To Eragon’s surprise, a dragon hatches from it. This begins a series of adventures for the youth, as he and Saphira, his dragon, become the focus of a search by Galbatorix’s men. This is the first volume in a trilogy by a young author. As in any fantasy series, Christopher Paolini creates a different reality to which his characters must conform. To assist the reader, a map, pronunciation guide, and glossary are provided. A list of characters would have been helpful. The story is a sweeping epic in which the forces of good fight against evil. Fantasy fans who are caught up in the adventures of Eragon and Saphira will eagerly await the next installment. - Library Media Connection

This solid, sweeping epic fantasy crosses vast geography as it follows 15-year-old Eragon from anonymous farm boy to sword-wielding icon on whose shoulders may rest the fate of Alagaësia. Dragon Riders have died out over the years, leaving the Empire under the iron fist of King Galbatorix; but hunting in the forest one day, Eragon finds a blue stone that soon hatches into his very own dragon. The next months find him learning magic, sword skills, and bits of his land's history. A slight tone of arrogance running through the narrative voice will hardly bother readers busily enjoying the reliable motifs of elegant immortal elves, mining dwarves, a wise elderly man, and a hero of mysterious birth. Replete with histories, names, and languages, this high fantasy with visible Tolkien influence ends with Eragon's first battle and a tempting pointer towards the second installment, when Eragon will visit the unseen elven city and plunge headlong into his destiny. (map, pronunciation key, glossaries of three created languages) (Fantasy. YA)- Kirkus Reviews

And so...
Truly epic in size, many middle school readers will be put off by the sheer volume. Older readers will find it an easy read, it flows quickly through the background material and into the story of Eragon and Saphirra. The fantasy world is very similar to ours, mountains and deserts, and streams so readers will feel very familar with the scenery and long for the fantasy of the dragon in flight.

Use this book for
Activities that compare and contrast our world to the fantasy world will improve descriptive writing. Character development can truly be studied as Eragon is given a full range of growth and some characters remain undeveloped until later volumes n the trilogy.


References
Paolini, Christopher. Eragon. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2003.
Summary retrieved from Richardson Public Library Online Catolog, July 7, 2011

Library Media Connection, Mar2004, Vol. 22 Issue 6, p68-68, 1p,
Kirkus Reviews, 7/15/2003, Vol. 71 Issue 14, p967, 1/5p
Photograph retrieved from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=131D0X832Q015.84142&profile=rpl&uri=link=3100007~!4128~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&ri=1&source=~!horizon&term=Eragon+%2F&index=PALLTI#focus


Science Fiction - Among the Hidden
 

Summary
In a future where the Population Police enforce the law limiting a family to only two children, Luke has lived all his twelve years in isolation and fear on his family's farm, until another "third" convinces him that the government is wrong.

Reviews-
Gr 4-7-- This first title in Margaret Peterson Haddix's Shadow Children series (S & S, 1998) introduces listeners to a time in the not-so-distant future when having more than two children is illegal. Luke Garner is a third child, a shadow child, whose existence is punishable by death. Luke has spent his whole life hiding until one day he catches a glimpse of another third child in a new house near his home. Luke discovers Jen, a bold girl who makes him dream of freedom. Jonathan Davis's narration of this futuristic thriller draws listeners in and makes the story come alive. School and public libraries will want to add this well-produced title to their audio collections.
~~~~~~~~

By Shauna Yusko, St. Monica School, Mercer Island, WA and Phyllis Levy Mandell, Editor

---

Gr 5-8 --Born third at a time when having more than two children per family is illegal and subject to seizure and punishment by the Population Police, Luke has spent all of his 12 years in hiding. His parents disobeyed once by having him and are determined not to do anything unlawful again. At first the woods around his family's farm are thick enough to conceal him when he plays and works outdoors, but when the government develops some of that land for housing, his world narrows to just the attic. Gazing through an air vent at new homes, he spies a child's face at a window after the family of four has already left for the day. Is it possible that he is not the only hidden child? Answering this question brings Luke greater danger than he has ever faced before, but also greater possibilities for some kind of life outside of the attic. This is a near future of shortages and deprivation where widespread famines have led to a totalitarian government that controls all aspects of its citizens' lives. When the boy secretly ventures outside the attic and meets the girl in the neighboring house, he learns that expressing divergent opinions openly can lead to tragedy. To what extent is he willing to defy the government in order to have a life worth living? As in Haddix's Running Out of Time (S & S, 1995), the loss of free will is the fundamental theme of an exciting and compelling story of one young person defying authority and the odds to make a difference. Readers will be captivated by Luke's predicament and his reactions to it.

~~~~~~~~

By Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA

And so...
This book is thought provoking to all who read it. It was a title I couldn't put down until I finished, and I followed up with some of the remaining titles in the series. Some students will find it disturbing, some will be unable to relate to such strict control over their lives. The time period is unidentified, but is similar enough to today that with limited scaffolding the students will be able to make the connections needed to comprehend the plot.


Use this book for
This is a good book to build social studies lessons on discussing historical totalitarian governments and even today's rule in China of only one child per family. Great for writing exercies, the librarian could use a book trailer of this book to  introduce a research project on family structure or government oppression. A comparison of  the hiding of the runaway slaves during the Civil War, or Jews during World War II could lead to analysis of what it would take to keep a person completely hidden and a writing assignment of what it would be like to be "among the hidden."

References
Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Among the Hidden. New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1998.
Summary retrieved from Richardson Public Library Online Catalog, July 7, 2011.
 Yusko, Shauna; Mandell, Phyllis Levy. School Library Journal, May2005, Vol. 51 Issue 5, p66-66, 1/9p
Rogers, Susan L.. School Library Journal, Sep98, Vol. 44 Issue 9, p203, 1/6p
Photograph retrieved from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=OV130W0799578.84613&profile=rpl&uri=link=3100007~!171531~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&ri=1&source=~!horizon&term=Among+the+hidden+%2F&index=PALLTI#focus

Module Four - Realistic Fiction - June 27- July 3, 2011

Upper Elementary - Hatchet


Summary-
After a plane crash, thirteen-year-old Brian spends fifty-four days in the wilderness, learning to survive initially with only the aid of a hatchet given him by his mother, and learning also to survive his parents' divorce.

Reviews
Gr 5-8-- This model survival story of a plane crash in a lake strands 15-year-old Brian alone in the Canadian wilderness for 54 days. Emotional wounds are healed as he struggles to overcome hunger, wild animals, and a tornado. Paulsen's visual writing style and attention to detail are drawn from his own experience and affinity for the woods. Audiobook available from Listening Library.

Gr 8-12-- Brian Robeson, 13, is the only passenger on a small plane flying him to visit his father in the Canadian wilderness when the pilot has a heart attack and dies. The plane drifts off course and finally crashes into a small lake. Miraculously Brian is able to swim free of the plane, arriving on a sandy tree-lined shore with only his clothing, a tattered windbreaker, and the hatchet his mother had given him as a present. The novel chronicles in gritty detail Brian's mistakes, setbacks, and small triumphs as, with the help of the hatchet, he manages to survive the 54 days alone in the wilderness. Paulsen effectively shows readers how Brian learns patience - to watch, listen, and think before he acts--as he attempts to build a fire, to fish and hunt, and to make his home under a rock overhang safe and comfortable. An epilogue discussing the lasting effects of Brian's stay in the wilderness and his dim chance of survival had winter come upon him before rescue adds credibility to the story. Paulsen tells a fine adventure story, but the sub-plot concerning Brian's preoccupation with his parents' divorce seems a bit forced and detracts from the book. As he did in Dogsong (Bradbury, 1985), Paulsen emphasizes  character growth through a careful balancing of specific details of survival with the protagonist's thoughts and emotions. - Barbara Chatton

And so...
This is a great book to give urban students a look at life in the wilderness. There are some parts that our world savvy students will not just accept as readers did when the book was first published in 1987, but the graphic descriptions of choke berries, fishing spears, and porcupine quills will keep readers enthralled.

Uses for this book
This is a good book to study character development and descriptive narrative. It could be used to meet the TEKS requiring a compare contrast knowledge between the written work and film if you allow students to watch "A Cry in the Wild" and write the comparison. An activity that will help assess comprehension would be to have students write about one tool they would want to have with them if they were lost in the wilderness and why.

References
Paulsen, Gary. Hatchet. New York : Simon Schuster, 1987.
Summary retrieved from Richardson Public Library Online Catalog, July 2, 2011.
Reutter, Vicki. School Library Journal, May2004, Vol. 50 Issue 5, p64-64, 1/9p,
Chatton, Barbara. School Library Journal, Dec87, Vol. 34 Issue 4, p103, 2p
Photograph retrieved from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=A31301552M0C5.83669&profile=rpl&uri=link=3100007~!27078~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&ri=1&source=~!horizon&term=Hatchet+%2F&index=PALLTI#focus


Middle School - Anything but Typical


Summary-
An acclaimed writer delivers an eye-opening depiction of an autistic boy's daily life and lifelong struggles to exist in a neurotypical world, in a groundbreaking novel told from the boy's perspective. Jason, a twelve-year-old autistic boy who wants to become a writer, relates what his life is like as he tries to make sense of his world.

Reviews
Baskin. (All We Know of Love) steps into the mind of an autistic boy who, while struggling to deal with the "neurotypical" world, finds his voice through his writing ability. Though Jason initially seemed a prodigy, by third grade he had fallen behind academically, and his parents reluctantly had him tested CA year later the only letters anybody cared about were ASD, NVLD, and maybe ADD or ADHD, which I think my mom would have liked better. BLNT. Better luck next time"). Now in sixth grade, Jason still has behavioral difficulties, but is passionate about his writing and actively posts stories in an online forum. There he strikes up a friendship with (and develops a crush on) a fellow writer, though he becomes distraught when he discovers they will both be attending the same writing conference. The first-person narration gives dramatic voice to Jason's inner thoughts about his family and his own insecurities, even as he withholds details (usually about incidents at school) from readers. Jason's powerful and perceptive viewpoint should readily captivate readers and open eyes. Ages 10-14. (Mar.)

Gr 4-7--As if adolescence isn't difficult enough by itself, 12-year-old Jason Blake is not a "neurotypical" (NT), he's autistic and interprets the world differently from other children. As a result, kids at school make fun of him and no one seems to understand him, including his family. Writing stories is one of Jason's few escapes, the one place where he can really be himself. After Jason begins a tentative relationship with Rebecca (PhoenixBird) on Storyboard, an online writing forum, he struggles with the fear of meeting her in person. Simultaneously, he narrates his past, giving listeners a glimpse of what life is like growing up as an autistic child. Tom Parks gives a near perfect performance of this eye-opening novel (S & S, 2009) by Nora Raleigh Baskin told from Jason's viewpoint. Always using just the right tone, he liberates the story's apprehension and wit. Poignant and real, the novel's honesty will bring tears to listeners' eyes. Recommended to fans of the Joey Pigza series.

And so...
This book gives an eye-opening look at the other side of Autism for an adolescent. The language is mostly simple, but periodically a word "pops" into Jason's brain that not only gives insight into the way he deals with his autism, but builds vocabulary for the middle school reader. I could possibly recommend all students with an autistic child in their mist read this to gain understanding of those relationships. It also deals with kids who bully Jason, and the one boy who respects his differences and still remains his friend.

Uses for this book
This book would work wonderfully in small literature circles where differences and similarities between the protagonist and the readers could be compared and build understanding of others and self awareness in adoliscent readers.

References
Baskin, Nora Raliegh. Anything But Typical. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2009.
Summary retrieved from Richardson Public Library Online Catalog, July 2, 2011.
 Publishers Weekly, 2/9/2009, Vol. 256 Issue 6, p48-50, 2p
Lawler, Terry Ann. School Library Journal, Sep2009, Vol. 55 Issue 9, p61-61, 1/6p
Photograph retrieved from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=C3130164T91X9.83774&profile=rpl&uri=link=3100007~!376900~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&ri=1&source=~!horizon&term=Anything+but+typical+%2F&index=PALLTI#focus

Module Three - Prize Winning Literature - June 20-26, 2011

Newbery Award 2011 - Moon Over Manifest


Summary - Twelve-year-old Abilene Tucker is the daughter of a drifter who, in the summer of 1936, sends her to stay with an old friend in Manifest, Kansas, where he grew up, and where she hopes to find out some things about his past.

Reviews-
Gr 5-8--History and fiction marry beautifully in this lively debut novel. It's as if readers jump off the train in Manifest, KS, in 1936 with Abilene Tucker, 12, the feisty, likable, and perceptive narrator. She is there to live with Pastor Shady Howard, her father's friend, while her father works on the railroad back in Iowa. An equally important story set during World War I is artfully intertwined. Since her mother went off on her own 10 years earlier, Abilene and Gideon have been alone. Though their life together is unsettled, their bond is strong. Shady's place is shabby, but he is welcoming. The mystery about Manifest and Gideon unfolds after Abilene finds a box filled with intriguing keepsakes. It includes a letter dated 1917 to someone named Jinx from Ned Gillen that has a warning, "THE RATTLER is watching." This starts Abilene, with the help of new friends Ruthanne and Lettie, on a search to learn the identity of the pair. The story cleverly shifts back and forth between the two eras. Abilene becomes connected to Miss Sadie, a "diviner" who slowly leads her through the story of Ned and Jinx. Though the girl is lonely, she adjusts to her new life, feeling sure that her father will come for her at summer's end. The Ku Klux Klan and its campaign against the many immigrants working in the coal mines and the deplorable conditions and exploitation of these men provide important background. This thoroughly enjoyable, unique page-turner is a definite winner. - Renee Steinberg

Set in 1936, this memorable coming-of-age story follows 12-year-old Abilene Tucker's unusual summer in her father's hometown of Manifest, Kans., while he's away on a railroad job. Having had an itinerant upbringing, Abilene is eager to connect to her father's childhood, a goal that proves difficult. The immigrant town has become rundown, but is populated with well-developed, idiosyncratic characters and has a dynamic past involving the KKK, an influenza scare, and a bootlegging operation. Manifest's history emerges in stories recounted by Miss Sadie (a Hungarian medium) and in news columns written in 1917 by Hattie Mae Harper, "Reporter About Town." With new friends Lettie and Ruthanne, Abilene pieces together the past, coming to understand, as Miss Sadie says, that "maybe what you're looking for is not so much the mark your daddy made on this town, but the mark the town made on your daddy." Witty, bold, and curious, Abilene is as unforgettable as the other residents of Manifest, and the variety of voices allows the town's small mysteries to bloom. Replete with historical details and surprises, Vanderpool's debut delights, while giving insight into family and community. Ages 9-12. (Oct.) -

And so...
I found this to be a slow starter, even for a voracious historical fiction reader. It covers two different time periods and many young people will find it difficult to keep track of the jumping back and forth between 1918 and 1936.  The book entwines the story of two generations, and once accustomed to the time warps, both stories are intriguing and help the reader to understand both the time of the Great War (WW I) and the depression era.

Uses for this book
 In the library you could include this selection in a book talk to introduce historical fiction, reading a portion of the opening and having students draw or discuss the time period covered. It is also an excellent study in dual plots and time periods.

References
Vanderpool, Clare. Moon over Manifest. New York: Delacorte Press, 2010.
Summary retrieved from Richardson Public Library Online Catalog, June 22, 2011.
Steinberg, Renee. School Library Journal, Nov2010, Vol. 56 Issue 11, p131-131, 1/4p
Publishers Weekly, 9/27/2010, Vol. 257 Issue 38, p60-60, 1/5p
Photograph retreived from: http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=13T30M0064T09.83103&profile=rpl&uri=link=3100007~!424375~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&ri=4&source=~!horizon&term=Moon+over+Manifest+%2F&index=PALLTI#focus


Printz Award 2004 - The First Part Last


Summary-
Bobby is your classic urban teenaged boy -- impulsive, eager, restless. On his sixteenth birthday he gets some news from his girlfriend, Nia, that changes his life forever. She's pregnant. Bobby's going to be a father. Suddenly things like school and house parties and hanging with friends no longer seem important as they're replaced by visits to Nia's obstetrician and a social worker who says that the only way for Nia and Bobby to lead a normal life is to put their baby up for adoption. With powerful language and keen insight, Johnson looks at the male side of teen pregnancy as she delves into one young man's struggle to figure out what "the right thing" is and then to do it. No matter what the cost.

Reviews -
Feather's birth has completely changed sixteen-year-old Bobby's life. He and his girlfriend, Nia, had planned to put up the baby for adoption, but Feather becomes impossible to relinquish after, as the reader learns at book's end, pregnancy-related eclampsia leaves Nia in an irreversible coma. What elevates this scenario above melodrama is Johnson's unique storytelling strategy: she follows the arc of Bobby's consciousness in alternating short chapters labeled "then" (before Feather's birth) and "now." This allows the reader to measure how far sleep-starved single dad Bobby has fallen, psychically--and how far he's come. While this prequel to the Coretta Scott King Award-winning Heaven isn't bereft of humor (Nia's parents' home is "so neat and clean you could probably make soup in the toilet"), what resonates are the sacrifices Bobby makes for Feather's sake.

In this companion novel, Johnson's fans learn just how Bobby, the single father for whom Marley baby-sits in Heaven, landed in that small town in Ohio. Beginning his story when his daughter, Feather, is just 11 days old, 16-year-old Bobby tells his story in chapters that alternate between the present and the bittersweet past that has brought him to the point of single parenthood. Each nuanced chapter feels like a poem in its economy and imagery; yet the characters--Bobby and the mother of his child, Nia, particularly, but also their parents and friends, and even newborn Feather--emerge fully formed. Bobby tells his parents about the baby ("Not moving and still quiet, my pops just starts to cry") and contrasts his father's reaction with that of Nia's father ("He looks straight ahead like he's watching a movie outside the loft windows"). The way he describes Nia and stands by her throughout the pregnancy conveys to readers what a loving and trustworthy father he promises to be. The only misstep is a chapter from Nia's point of view, which takes readers out of Bobby's capable hands. But as the past and present threads join in the final chapter, readers will only clamor for more about this memorable father-daughter duo--and an author who so skillfully relates the hope in the midst of pain. Ages 12-up. (June)

And so...
This book is written in a style that jumps from "then" to "now" and written in the language of the characters. That is to say, some of them speak like they are on the streets all the time, though all of them are educated adults or students at a prominent high school where proper English is expected. The book does a good job of fleshing out the multiple relationships of a young man who has just become a father and how he deals with his mom, stepdad, dad, the parents of the baby's mother, and his friends. Multifaceted, this book will make connections for a lot of YA readers.

Uses for this book
Lessons on writing dialogue, on multiple plot lines, a book trailer project or book club discussion would all be ways this book could be utilized by a teacher librarian. It also lends itself to studies of different cultures as the familes are of Hispanic and African American descent. A high school health education teacher could use the book trailer to introduce discussions on sexual responsibility or risks of pregnancy.

References
Johnson, Angela. The First Part Last. New York: Simon & Schuster
Summary retrieved from Syndetic Solutions, Inc, Richardson Public Library Online Catalog, June 22, 2011
Beram, Nell. Horn Book Magazine, Jul/Aug2003, Vol. 79 Issue 4, p459-459, 1/3p
Roback, Diane; Brown, Jennifer M.; Bean, Joy; Zaleski, Jeff. Publishers Weekly, 6/16/2003, Vol. 250 Issue 24, p73, 1/7p
Photograph retrieved from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=13T30M0064T09.83103&profile=rpl&uri=link=3100007~!195393~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&ri=1&source=~!horizon&term=The+first+part+last+%2F&index=PALLTI#focus