And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell Illustrated by Henry Cole
Approaching And Tango Makes Three, I was prepared to find all kinds of ways to defend the viewpoint that it presents, as it is one that I happen to agree with. But, after some thought, I realized that, as a librarian, I neither needed to defend the viewpoint nor was it my place to express an opinion. My job is to select quality books on a variety of subjects for my library. Following the guidelines for quality children's literature as presented in Children's Literature, Briefly, I believe that And Tango Makes Three is a quality children's picture book.
The characters in the book are both unique (who has heard of gay penguins???) yet believable (crazy thing is, it's a true story!!!). The reader hasn't seen these characters a million times before but they have traits with which most people can identify. The desire to have a family, be a parent and the nurturing instinct are some of the first human emotions to which we are introduced through our parents and family.
The plot is engaging and elicits the reader's sympathy. Two super-cute beings falling in love are hard to resist and we tend to root for their success. Tension is introduced as they start to desire a family but realize that they cannot reproduce. The reader wonders, "will they ever get to be parents?" "will they be disappointed?" "how will they find a way to get what they want?". Finally, there is a satisfying conclusion as they become surrogate/adoptive parents who hatch an egg, parent the baby and become a fully formed family.
As a picture book, the book more than succeeds. The paintings of Central Park and the penguins are lovely. A reader is hard pressed to not love the round black & white penguins who always seem to be smiling. The paintings are not only enjoyable to look at, but also play an important part in the story. On the page in which the penguins sit on the rock, we know from the expressions of the penguins in the painting that the penguins go from curious to bored to tired to anxious as the rock fails to become a baby penguin, though the text never mentions how they felt about the failed experiment.
And Tango Makes Three is understandably controversial as it addresses one of today's hottest issues -- equal rights for same sex couples. However, it is a book that would be an important addition to a school library both in light of the quality of the book and the creation of a collection that represents many sectors of the population.
The book is most appropriate for Pre-K through 2nd grade students.
Work Cited: Tunnell, Michael O., Jacobs, James S., Young, Terrell A., Bryan, Gregory. Children's Literature, Briefly. Boston: Pearson, 2012. Print.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
The Agony of Alice
The Agony of Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
As I read The Agony of Alice, being 12 and 13 came rushing back to me -- the acute embarrassment of the slightest social mishap, the conviction that minor slights meant the end of friendship, the drama produced by every situation. Ms. Naylor writes about this age so convincingly, I felt as if I was back there, at Park Forest Elementary, feeling the exactly same way as Alice (How did I miss this book anyway? I was 12 in 1985, the year of its publication). The Agony of Alice portrays so perfectly that age at which girls are no longer children and not yet teenagers. Uncertainty and insecurity are the predominant feelings of that age, ironically coupled with the feeling that no one ever must know that you are anything but perfect.
The growth of the character Alice through the book is represented by her relationship with her teacher, Mrs. Plotkin. Completely disappointed that she got frumpy, middle aged Mrs. Plotkin instead of young & pretty Miss Cole, Alice is convinced that her sixth grade year will be disastrous. Alice's mother died when she was 4 and she thinks that she needs Miss Cole to act as her surrogate mother. However, she gets to know Mrs. Plotkin through after school activities, she sees past the surface of both her and Miss Cole to come to realize that Mrs. Plotkin is a special person who becomes her friend. Mrs. Plotkin has very good insight into girls at that age. After Alice attempts to sabotage the performance of a rival in the class pageant, Mrs. Plotkin says to her, "It seems that you are angry at Pamela for wanting the very things that you want. Its not so horrible to want to be special Alice." She takes on the role of Alice's surrogate mother as Alice navigates the tricky waters of early adolescence.
As a side note, this is a fun book for local readers, as it references areas of suburban D.C.
This would be a wonderful book for 5th through 7th grade girls who will surely see themselves in Alice.
As I read The Agony of Alice, being 12 and 13 came rushing back to me -- the acute embarrassment of the slightest social mishap, the conviction that minor slights meant the end of friendship, the drama produced by every situation. Ms. Naylor writes about this age so convincingly, I felt as if I was back there, at Park Forest Elementary, feeling the exactly same way as Alice (How did I miss this book anyway? I was 12 in 1985, the year of its publication). The Agony of Alice portrays so perfectly that age at which girls are no longer children and not yet teenagers. Uncertainty and insecurity are the predominant feelings of that age, ironically coupled with the feeling that no one ever must know that you are anything but perfect.
The growth of the character Alice through the book is represented by her relationship with her teacher, Mrs. Plotkin. Completely disappointed that she got frumpy, middle aged Mrs. Plotkin instead of young & pretty Miss Cole, Alice is convinced that her sixth grade year will be disastrous. Alice's mother died when she was 4 and she thinks that she needs Miss Cole to act as her surrogate mother. However, she gets to know Mrs. Plotkin through after school activities, she sees past the surface of both her and Miss Cole to come to realize that Mrs. Plotkin is a special person who becomes her friend. Mrs. Plotkin has very good insight into girls at that age. After Alice attempts to sabotage the performance of a rival in the class pageant, Mrs. Plotkin says to her, "It seems that you are angry at Pamela for wanting the very things that you want. Its not so horrible to want to be special Alice." She takes on the role of Alice's surrogate mother as Alice navigates the tricky waters of early adolescence.
As a side note, this is a fun book for local readers, as it references areas of suburban D.C.
This would be a wonderful book for 5th through 7th grade girls who will surely see themselves in Alice.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Barack Obama & Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope
Barack Obama by Jennifer Zeiger
Part of the Scholastic "Cornerstones of Freedom" - "Bringing History to Life" series
AND
Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope by Nikki Grimes Illustrated by Bryan Collier
I read two biographies for young readers that focus on Barack Obama. Though the books shared the same subject, each approach was different and make for an interesting comparison.
The first book is Barack Obama by Jennifer Zeiger. Written in 2012 prior to the election, this book covers Obama's life leading up to his involvement in politics as well as his ascent to become the first African American president. Zeiger draws the reader in from the first page, which focuses on the excitement of election night 2008. She describes the crowds in Chicago, waiting for results, wearing shirts and buttons with the words "hope" and "change" -- as she says, "He called himself a "skinny guy with a funny name". Could he win the presidency?" (p.7) The author continues to tell Obama's story in an engaging but straightforward fashion that brings the president's story alive to young readers.
Barack Obama contains several features that are very helpful for young readers who are new to a subject. There are many photos that support each section of the book which allows youth to see history as real occurrences rather than made up or (worse!) boring stories. At the end of the book there is a timeline, a short description of individuals that influenced Obama's life and a great "Living History" section which provides links to primary sources that are mentioned in the text.
Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope is a picture book written in the months prior to the 2008 election, focusing on the character of Barack Obama and the forces that formed it. Told from the perspective of an African American mother who is telling her son about Obama, the book traces Obama's life story from his beginnings as the child of a multi-racial couple to a young man determined to bring people together. The book is an extremely positive representation of Obama, showing him as a man full of hope and a desire for equity and healing. The author attempts to look into Obama's psyche (in a way that is understandable to young readers) to show that he is both a product of his diverse background and his determination to find his own way. By the end of the book, readers will be very excited by the hope that Obama represented to the people in 2008 and the excitement and pride that accompanied the upcoming election of the first African American president.
Biographies are a genre in which an author's bias may easily be expressed, even if the bias is not obvious. The trend in biographies for youth tends towards a positive representation of the subject except in the case of clearly evil people such as Hitler. Keeping this in mind, I'd say that most children's biographies are biased in that fashion. In the case of these two books, we must look at the authors and sources to determine if they are among the best resources. Barack Obama lists several print, online and primary sources as the resources used in the writing of the book. This would support using this book as a good source in research. In Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope, the author mentions one source (Obama's memoir, Dreams from My Father) and admits to "artistic license" in the text. This does not exclude the latter book as a good book, but does exclude it as a book that might be used in a research project.
Barack Obama by Jennifer Zeiger would be appropriate for readers in grades 3-5 and would be a great resource for a research project.
Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope is most appropriate as a Pre-K/Kindergarten read-aloud or for 1st and 2nd graders to read to themselves.
Part of the Scholastic "Cornerstones of Freedom" - "Bringing History to Life" series
AND
Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope by Nikki Grimes Illustrated by Bryan Collier
I read two biographies for young readers that focus on Barack Obama. Though the books shared the same subject, each approach was different and make for an interesting comparison.
The first book is Barack Obama by Jennifer Zeiger. Written in 2012 prior to the election, this book covers Obama's life leading up to his involvement in politics as well as his ascent to become the first African American president. Zeiger draws the reader in from the first page, which focuses on the excitement of election night 2008. She describes the crowds in Chicago, waiting for results, wearing shirts and buttons with the words "hope" and "change" -- as she says, "He called himself a "skinny guy with a funny name". Could he win the presidency?" (p.7) The author continues to tell Obama's story in an engaging but straightforward fashion that brings the president's story alive to young readers.
Barack Obama contains several features that are very helpful for young readers who are new to a subject. There are many photos that support each section of the book which allows youth to see history as real occurrences rather than made up or (worse!) boring stories. At the end of the book there is a timeline, a short description of individuals that influenced Obama's life and a great "Living History" section which provides links to primary sources that are mentioned in the text.
Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope is a picture book written in the months prior to the 2008 election, focusing on the character of Barack Obama and the forces that formed it. Told from the perspective of an African American mother who is telling her son about Obama, the book traces Obama's life story from his beginnings as the child of a multi-racial couple to a young man determined to bring people together. The book is an extremely positive representation of Obama, showing him as a man full of hope and a desire for equity and healing. The author attempts to look into Obama's psyche (in a way that is understandable to young readers) to show that he is both a product of his diverse background and his determination to find his own way. By the end of the book, readers will be very excited by the hope that Obama represented to the people in 2008 and the excitement and pride that accompanied the upcoming election of the first African American president.
Biographies are a genre in which an author's bias may easily be expressed, even if the bias is not obvious. The trend in biographies for youth tends towards a positive representation of the subject except in the case of clearly evil people such as Hitler. Keeping this in mind, I'd say that most children's biographies are biased in that fashion. In the case of these two books, we must look at the authors and sources to determine if they are among the best resources. Barack Obama lists several print, online and primary sources as the resources used in the writing of the book. This would support using this book as a good source in research. In Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope, the author mentions one source (Obama's memoir, Dreams from My Father) and admits to "artistic license" in the text. This does not exclude the latter book as a good book, but does exclude it as a book that might be used in a research project.
Barack Obama by Jennifer Zeiger would be appropriate for readers in grades 3-5 and would be a great resource for a research project.
Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope is most appropriate as a Pre-K/Kindergarten read-aloud or for 1st and 2nd graders to read to themselves.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow
Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
2006 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book & 2006 Newberry Honor Book
Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow is a fascinating account of the youth of Germany under Hitler, both those who supported and those who opposed the Third Reich. Through first person interviews of German youth of the 1930s, examination of archives, and use of primary sources, Susan Campbell Bartoletti exposes how Hitler preyed on the most idealistic of his citizens, luring them into fanatical allegiance.
Bartoletti arranges the text by subject in chronological order which allows the reader to see the development of Nazism and the culture that led to the horrors of the Second World War. She examines the discipline and organization of the Hitler Youth group, the changes in education under Nazism and the anti-Semitism that brought about devotion from young people yearning for strong leadership and a cause in which they could believe. From first person accounts we learn that children would report their own parents for anti-Nazi beliefs, despite that they were aware that it would lead to imprisonment. One of the most upsetting chapters of the book concerns the end of the war, at which time the Nazi army was so desperate for replacement soldiers that they called up the youngest members of Hitler Youth. Boys as young as 13 or 14 fought fanatically as the Allies invaded, even after the death of Hitler.
Bartoletti also discusses the Resistance movement which existed in Germany. Many youth either were never convinced of Hitler's ideas or grew disillusioned by the Nazis. Bartoletti uses the example of a brother and sister, Hans and Sophie Scholl, who distributed leaflets expressing anti-Nazi views. For their actions, they were both executed. By reading about personal stories that Bartoletti presents(rather than dry textbooks), readers can make connections and understand the true human toll of the regime.
Hitler Youth very effectively makes the Nazi era come alive for young readers. By focusing on youth, Bartoletti shows students how people of their own age became involved in Nazism or bravely fought against it. In addition to text full of first-hand details, there are over 100 photographs that portray the individuals and events discussed, bringing them to life. The book includes a lengthy bibliography which notes sources of particular interest to young readers in addition to an index. Bartoletti is the author of several books for young people including another Sibert award winning book on the Great Irish Famine.
This book is appropriate for upper elementary students and older. The text is written simply enough for a fifth grader to understand, but the depth of the information would be useful for a high school research project. As with most books dealing with the subject of Nazism, the subject matter is often disturbing and the maturity of the student must be kept in mind.
2006 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book & 2006 Newberry Honor Book
Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow is a fascinating account of the youth of Germany under Hitler, both those who supported and those who opposed the Third Reich. Through first person interviews of German youth of the 1930s, examination of archives, and use of primary sources, Susan Campbell Bartoletti exposes how Hitler preyed on the most idealistic of his citizens, luring them into fanatical allegiance.
Bartoletti arranges the text by subject in chronological order which allows the reader to see the development of Nazism and the culture that led to the horrors of the Second World War. She examines the discipline and organization of the Hitler Youth group, the changes in education under Nazism and the anti-Semitism that brought about devotion from young people yearning for strong leadership and a cause in which they could believe. From first person accounts we learn that children would report their own parents for anti-Nazi beliefs, despite that they were aware that it would lead to imprisonment. One of the most upsetting chapters of the book concerns the end of the war, at which time the Nazi army was so desperate for replacement soldiers that they called up the youngest members of Hitler Youth. Boys as young as 13 or 14 fought fanatically as the Allies invaded, even after the death of Hitler.
Bartoletti also discusses the Resistance movement which existed in Germany. Many youth either were never convinced of Hitler's ideas or grew disillusioned by the Nazis. Bartoletti uses the example of a brother and sister, Hans and Sophie Scholl, who distributed leaflets expressing anti-Nazi views. For their actions, they were both executed. By reading about personal stories that Bartoletti presents(rather than dry textbooks), readers can make connections and understand the true human toll of the regime.
Hitler Youth very effectively makes the Nazi era come alive for young readers. By focusing on youth, Bartoletti shows students how people of their own age became involved in Nazism or bravely fought against it. In addition to text full of first-hand details, there are over 100 photographs that portray the individuals and events discussed, bringing them to life. The book includes a lengthy bibliography which notes sources of particular interest to young readers in addition to an index. Bartoletti is the author of several books for young people including another Sibert award winning book on the Great Irish Famine.
This book is appropriate for upper elementary students and older. The text is written simply enough for a fifth grader to understand, but the depth of the information would be useful for a high school research project. As with most books dealing with the subject of Nazism, the subject matter is often disturbing and the maturity of the student must be kept in mind.
Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon
Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon by Catherine Thimmesh
2007 Robert F. Sibert Medal Winner
Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon gives readers an "up close and personal" view of what it was like to get the first men onto the moon through interviews of the people that did it. What sets apart Team Moon from other books on the subject is that the focus is on the people in the background that made the mission happen -- the engineers, scientists, builders and even seamstresses -- rather than the astronauts with whom we are already familiar.
Through the interviews, Thimmesh relays each step in the launch and mission in a manner that makes one want to hold one's breath. The mission controller tells the story of dealing with program alarms blasting as the astronauts grow close to the moon. The engineers relate the panic of a possibly disasterous fuel line problem once the landing had been accomplished. We hear from the leader of the Atmospheric Descent System, who for the entire mission had few responsibilities -- except to get the astronauts back into the atmosphere alive. The tension and excitement of the 8 days of the mission are palatable.
In addition to providing an exciting first person account of a true life story, this book has several very practical features, which I was happy to see. The author lists her main sources, additional sources and suggested websites which readers may use for further information and exploration. In addition, the book contains a glossary to assist with unfamiliar terms. Finally, Team Moon contains an index, which I have found to be invaluable when assisting students in their research projects in the school library.
Both From Cover to Cover: Evaluating and Reviewing Children's Books and Children's Literature, Briefly point out that authors of informational texts require more scrutiny than those of fiction when it comes to assessing the quality of the book. In the case of Thimmesh, she is not an expert on NASA or space travel. However, she has written several award winning books of non-fiction for young audiences which presumably proves her excellence in this particular genre. As mentioned above, her source list (which includes first person interviews) is extensive, showing that she has done thorough research.
The only addition to Team Moon I would like to see is more information on the time from 1961 to 1969 which preceeded the actual mission. What did they have to go through to get to the point that they could launch? Where do you start a project like "Lets send a man to the moon"? I think that including that information would give important contextual information and make the story of the actual mission all that more impressive.
This book best suited for high level readers in upper elementary, middle & high school students. Although it won a children's literature award, much of the language and information contained in the book is quite complex and sophisticated.
2007 Robert F. Sibert Medal Winner
Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon gives readers an "up close and personal" view of what it was like to get the first men onto the moon through interviews of the people that did it. What sets apart Team Moon from other books on the subject is that the focus is on the people in the background that made the mission happen -- the engineers, scientists, builders and even seamstresses -- rather than the astronauts with whom we are already familiar.
Through the interviews, Thimmesh relays each step in the launch and mission in a manner that makes one want to hold one's breath. The mission controller tells the story of dealing with program alarms blasting as the astronauts grow close to the moon. The engineers relate the panic of a possibly disasterous fuel line problem once the landing had been accomplished. We hear from the leader of the Atmospheric Descent System, who for the entire mission had few responsibilities -- except to get the astronauts back into the atmosphere alive. The tension and excitement of the 8 days of the mission are palatable.
In addition to providing an exciting first person account of a true life story, this book has several very practical features, which I was happy to see. The author lists her main sources, additional sources and suggested websites which readers may use for further information and exploration. In addition, the book contains a glossary to assist with unfamiliar terms. Finally, Team Moon contains an index, which I have found to be invaluable when assisting students in their research projects in the school library.
Both From Cover to Cover: Evaluating and Reviewing Children's Books and Children's Literature, Briefly point out that authors of informational texts require more scrutiny than those of fiction when it comes to assessing the quality of the book. In the case of Thimmesh, she is not an expert on NASA or space travel. However, she has written several award winning books of non-fiction for young audiences which presumably proves her excellence in this particular genre. As mentioned above, her source list (which includes first person interviews) is extensive, showing that she has done thorough research.
The only addition to Team Moon I would like to see is more information on the time from 1961 to 1969 which preceeded the actual mission. What did they have to go through to get to the point that they could launch? Where do you start a project like "Lets send a man to the moon"? I think that including that information would give important contextual information and make the story of the actual mission all that more impressive.
This book best suited for high level readers in upper elementary, middle & high school students. Although it won a children's literature award, much of the language and information contained in the book is quite complex and sophisticated.
Inside Out & Back Again
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
2011 Newberry Honor Book & National Book Award Winner
2011 Newberry Honor Book & National Book Award Winner
Based upon the author’s own childhood experiences, Inside Out & Back Again is the story
of 10-year old Ha and her family’s heart-wrenching journey from war-torn Saigon
to America and their subsequent settlement in Alabama. Told through poems, Ha’s story relates her dealings
with intolerant and sometimes antagonistic community members, exposure to new
food and the difficult curiosities of American language and culture. Ha finds
that her excellent marks in Vietnamese school leave her poorly equipped to deal
with American school and she struggles to apply her previous knowledge to the
new culture. Slowly, Ha finds allies at school and in the community who assist
her in becoming comfortable in her new life.
I really enjoyed the first-person narrative and the perspective of a young girl. So many of the stories of that time are told from the perspective of an adult or boy, so it is refreshing to see it from Ha's point of view. This book would be a wonderful read for upper elementary kids for either a social studies or poetry unit. Jocelyn mentioned in her book review that this would be a great pairing with The Wednesday Wars, which I think is a fabulous idea. I think that kids would really get a lot out of seeing the war from a Vietnamese vs American viewpoint.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Return To Sender
Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez
The award winning adult's author Julia Alvarez turns her attention to a younger audience in Return to Sender, a tale of two children -- one an American farm boy and the other an illegally immigrated young Mexican girl -- who lives collide and change one another.
Tyler's family makes their living through their dairy farm in Vermont until their livelihood is threatened by an accident that seriously injures his father. In order to survive, they must find affordable help to keep the farm going. The solution is a group of Mexican workers who come to live at their farm. The Mexican family includes not just workers but also 3 young girls, including Mari, an 11 year old who is in Tyler's grade. Tyler's family suspects that they are not legally in the country, but chooses make the difficult decision to keep them on.
Through letters that Mari writes to relatives and third person observations, we learn of how Mari & her family came to the U.S., the fear that they live with and the disappearance of her mother over the past year. Tyler's fears for his family and farm are revealed as well, as he worries that they must sell the farm. Tyler & Mari become close friends and find that their similarities are far greater than their differences.
Alvarez does a wonderful job in putting "faces" to the issue of immigration and helping readers understand that the people that they hear about on the news are real human beings with individual stories. Through her story, one may learn about the reasons that immigrants often feel that they have few choices as well as the reasons that people in the United States may support their choice. Ms. Alvarez clearly feels strongly about the issue and unfortunately, the book is very biased towards one point of view. In my opinion, the book would have been strengthened by more attention being given to both sides of the story, making it clear to the reader that the issue has many complexities in which all parties must make hard choices. (I should add that I do not personally hold a strong opinion one way or the other on the immigration issue -- I am attempting to look at this regarding the strength of the story)
The book is made compelling by an exciting plot. Will the Mexicans be caught by the immigration authorities? If so, will they be deported? Will Tyler's family be punished for hiring them? And, where is Mari's mother? What happened to her? All of these questions are answered in a realistic but exciting manner that keeps the reader engaged.
I would like to read an adult book by Ms. Alvarez to make a comparison between her writing style for adults and children. In some sections, I felt that she used over simplistic language and expressions for her audience, which I would judge to be 9-13 year olds. In other cases, the young characters make statements that seem to be unlikely to come from an 11 year old. For instance, when Mari is surprised at the cost of a cup of coffee in a local cafe, she says "please believe me, those two dollars are not reaching my family" (p.61). I am not sure if some of this is because of Alvarez' writing style or an attempt to reach young readers while also imparting serious information.
This book would be good a good choice for 4th through 7th graders learning about different cultures or about modern issues in America. Because of the bias of the book, it would also be a good choice for a lesson on reading critically.
The award winning adult's author Julia Alvarez turns her attention to a younger audience in Return to Sender, a tale of two children -- one an American farm boy and the other an illegally immigrated young Mexican girl -- who lives collide and change one another.
Tyler's family makes their living through their dairy farm in Vermont until their livelihood is threatened by an accident that seriously injures his father. In order to survive, they must find affordable help to keep the farm going. The solution is a group of Mexican workers who come to live at their farm. The Mexican family includes not just workers but also 3 young girls, including Mari, an 11 year old who is in Tyler's grade. Tyler's family suspects that they are not legally in the country, but chooses make the difficult decision to keep them on.
Through letters that Mari writes to relatives and third person observations, we learn of how Mari & her family came to the U.S., the fear that they live with and the disappearance of her mother over the past year. Tyler's fears for his family and farm are revealed as well, as he worries that they must sell the farm. Tyler & Mari become close friends and find that their similarities are far greater than their differences.
Alvarez does a wonderful job in putting "faces" to the issue of immigration and helping readers understand that the people that they hear about on the news are real human beings with individual stories. Through her story, one may learn about the reasons that immigrants often feel that they have few choices as well as the reasons that people in the United States may support their choice. Ms. Alvarez clearly feels strongly about the issue and unfortunately, the book is very biased towards one point of view. In my opinion, the book would have been strengthened by more attention being given to both sides of the story, making it clear to the reader that the issue has many complexities in which all parties must make hard choices. (I should add that I do not personally hold a strong opinion one way or the other on the immigration issue -- I am attempting to look at this regarding the strength of the story)
The book is made compelling by an exciting plot. Will the Mexicans be caught by the immigration authorities? If so, will they be deported? Will Tyler's family be punished for hiring them? And, where is Mari's mother? What happened to her? All of these questions are answered in a realistic but exciting manner that keeps the reader engaged.
I would like to read an adult book by Ms. Alvarez to make a comparison between her writing style for adults and children. In some sections, I felt that she used over simplistic language and expressions for her audience, which I would judge to be 9-13 year olds. In other cases, the young characters make statements that seem to be unlikely to come from an 11 year old. For instance, when Mari is surprised at the cost of a cup of coffee in a local cafe, she says "please believe me, those two dollars are not reaching my family" (p.61). I am not sure if some of this is because of Alvarez' writing style or an attempt to reach young readers while also imparting serious information.
This book would be good a good choice for 4th through 7th graders learning about different cultures or about modern issues in America. Because of the bias of the book, it would also be a good choice for a lesson on reading critically.
Lizzie Bright and The Buckminster Boy
Lizzie Bright and The Buckminster Boy by Gary Schmidt
2005 Newberry Honor Book
Lizzie Bright and The Buckminster Boy is the moving tale of an unlikely friendship that develops against a backdrop of racism and self-serving interests that result in a de facto ethnic cleansing. The protagonist, 12 year old Turner Buckminster, has just moved with his family to Phippsburg, Maine. The year is 1912 and the town's fortunes are changing. The shipbuilding trade that once supported the town is in decline and the townspeople are searching for another means of support. Many see tourism as the way to go, but believe that the presence of the predominantly Negro community on the ajacent Malaga Island will deter tourists.
As in many of Schmidt's books, the protaganist is a boy who is not quite an adolescent but not still a child. He is in a new situation which challenges all that he has known before. He is starting to form his own opinions and discovering that he may not be the person that others expect him to be. In Lizzie Bright, the new situation is that Turner is new to town and not fitting in with the other children. He befriends a Negro girl (Lizzie Bright) from Malaga Island, which is met with strong disapproval from both his minister father and community members. He finds that Lizzie and her family are good people with whom he wants to spend time, despite the opinions of others. However, the townspeople want Lizzie and her people off of Malaga Island, no matter what they must do to accomplish this. A struggle of wills results, with Turner and his family being set against the townspeople.
What I have loved about each of the three Gary Schmidt that I have read is the artful way in which he constructs a personal struggle against the backdrop of a larger world struggle. Real life circumstances are woven with fictional situations in a manner that avoids preachy-ness or heavy-handed history lessons but instead allow us to view the events as a person living in that time might have experienced them. Each personal struggle leads to emotional independence on the part of the young person, but they do not achieve this independence without the assistance of an influential adult. I see this as a difference from most true "YA" books, thus placing his books in a middle category of neither books for young children nor older teenagers. In typical YA books, adults have a very small role and have relatively little influence on the growth of the character. In some ways, I find the influence of adults to be more true to reality, though many teenagers may not agree with this statement!
Lizzie Bright and The Buckminister Boy would be an excellent book for students in grades 5th through 7th or 8th. The treatment of the residents of Malaga Island is shocking but provides an important lesson for more mature elementary and middle school students.
NOTE: I refer to African Americans in this journal entry as "Negros" as that is the word used in the book.
2005 Newberry Honor Book
Lizzie Bright and The Buckminster Boy is the moving tale of an unlikely friendship that develops against a backdrop of racism and self-serving interests that result in a de facto ethnic cleansing. The protagonist, 12 year old Turner Buckminster, has just moved with his family to Phippsburg, Maine. The year is 1912 and the town's fortunes are changing. The shipbuilding trade that once supported the town is in decline and the townspeople are searching for another means of support. Many see tourism as the way to go, but believe that the presence of the predominantly Negro community on the ajacent Malaga Island will deter tourists.
As in many of Schmidt's books, the protaganist is a boy who is not quite an adolescent but not still a child. He is in a new situation which challenges all that he has known before. He is starting to form his own opinions and discovering that he may not be the person that others expect him to be. In Lizzie Bright, the new situation is that Turner is new to town and not fitting in with the other children. He befriends a Negro girl (Lizzie Bright) from Malaga Island, which is met with strong disapproval from both his minister father and community members. He finds that Lizzie and her family are good people with whom he wants to spend time, despite the opinions of others. However, the townspeople want Lizzie and her people off of Malaga Island, no matter what they must do to accomplish this. A struggle of wills results, with Turner and his family being set against the townspeople.
What I have loved about each of the three Gary Schmidt that I have read is the artful way in which he constructs a personal struggle against the backdrop of a larger world struggle. Real life circumstances are woven with fictional situations in a manner that avoids preachy-ness or heavy-handed history lessons but instead allow us to view the events as a person living in that time might have experienced them. Each personal struggle leads to emotional independence on the part of the young person, but they do not achieve this independence without the assistance of an influential adult. I see this as a difference from most true "YA" books, thus placing his books in a middle category of neither books for young children nor older teenagers. In typical YA books, adults have a very small role and have relatively little influence on the growth of the character. In some ways, I find the influence of adults to be more true to reality, though many teenagers may not agree with this statement!
Lizzie Bright and The Buckminister Boy would be an excellent book for students in grades 5th through 7th or 8th. The treatment of the residents of Malaga Island is shocking but provides an important lesson for more mature elementary and middle school students.
NOTE: I refer to African Americans in this journal entry as "Negros" as that is the word used in the book.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Dead End in Norvelt
Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos. Winner of the 2012 Newberry Award
You've got a small town with a lady who soaks her hands in boiling wax, the Hells Angels, a guy who keeps a small plane in his garage, and a kid who shoots bullets at the Drive In screen. Welcome to Norvelt.
Jack Gantos' laugh out loud semi-audiobiographical book follows the adventures of the eponymous twelve year old Jack during the summer of 1962. Jack has gotten himself in trouble again -- this time for the Drive In shooting incident, amongst other mischief. His punishment is to be loaned out as a transcriber by his mother to Miss Volker, the local obituary writer. Things start to get interesting.
Norvelt is a town in decline and getting smaller by the minute. Old people seem to be dropping like flies and there seems to be something suspicious about the way that it is happening. Jack tries to figure out what is going on while dealing with his parents, who are in a battle over whether to leave Norvelt.
The characters are what makes the book shine. Jack's "it seemed like a good idea at the time" antics get him into constant trouble, which is further complicated by his inclination to have violent nose bleeds every time he is the least bit excited. Miss Volker is a stubborn old lady with a mind of her own who is fighting off the advances of a suitor who has been waiting 50 years for her attentions. She sees no problem having Jack not only assist her in her obituary duties but also drive her around town in her Plymouth Valiant as she tracks down the most recently deceased citizen of Norvelt. Jack's mom is dedicated to the ideals of Norvelt, as established by Eleanor Roosevelt, to give "hardworking poor people a helping hand."(p. 54), even as most of the people around her abandon those ideals. Finally, his father, frustrated by the same "do nothing day here over and over" (p.55), has decided to build a runway in their backyard by mowing down his wife's prized corn.
Dead End in Norvelt echos many of the same characteristics as Gary Schmidt's The Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now. The small town setting full of interesting characters, a boy who is simultaneously dealing with family and outside issues, growing up into an independent person and the historical context - all told with humor - will ring as familiar to readers of Schmidt's work.
This is a wonderful book for students from 4th to 7th grade. The humor will appeal to all readers, especially reluctant boys. This is also a perfect book to suggest to lovers of The Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now.
You've got a small town with a lady who soaks her hands in boiling wax, the Hells Angels, a guy who keeps a small plane in his garage, and a kid who shoots bullets at the Drive In screen. Welcome to Norvelt.
Jack Gantos' laugh out loud semi-audiobiographical book follows the adventures of the eponymous twelve year old Jack during the summer of 1962. Jack has gotten himself in trouble again -- this time for the Drive In shooting incident, amongst other mischief. His punishment is to be loaned out as a transcriber by his mother to Miss Volker, the local obituary writer. Things start to get interesting.
Norvelt is a town in decline and getting smaller by the minute. Old people seem to be dropping like flies and there seems to be something suspicious about the way that it is happening. Jack tries to figure out what is going on while dealing with his parents, who are in a battle over whether to leave Norvelt.
The characters are what makes the book shine. Jack's "it seemed like a good idea at the time" antics get him into constant trouble, which is further complicated by his inclination to have violent nose bleeds every time he is the least bit excited. Miss Volker is a stubborn old lady with a mind of her own who is fighting off the advances of a suitor who has been waiting 50 years for her attentions. She sees no problem having Jack not only assist her in her obituary duties but also drive her around town in her Plymouth Valiant as she tracks down the most recently deceased citizen of Norvelt. Jack's mom is dedicated to the ideals of Norvelt, as established by Eleanor Roosevelt, to give "hardworking poor people a helping hand."(p. 54), even as most of the people around her abandon those ideals. Finally, his father, frustrated by the same "do nothing day here over and over" (p.55), has decided to build a runway in their backyard by mowing down his wife's prized corn.
Dead End in Norvelt echos many of the same characteristics as Gary Schmidt's The Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now. The small town setting full of interesting characters, a boy who is simultaneously dealing with family and outside issues, growing up into an independent person and the historical context - all told with humor - will ring as familiar to readers of Schmidt's work.
This is a wonderful book for students from 4th to 7th grade. The humor will appeal to all readers, especially reluctant boys. This is also a perfect book to suggest to lovers of The Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now.
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Okay for Now
Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt
In his follow up to The Wednesday Wars, Gary Schmidt has created another appealing book about growing up and finding yourself when the odds don't appear to be in your favor.
Doug Swieteck has had to move from Long Island to the upstate New York town of Marysville because of his dad's new job. The town is small and everyone seems to have known each other forever. Doug's home life is no better. His father is hateful and abusive to both the children and his mother. His one brother is in Vietnam and the other has quickly earned a reputation as a juvenile delinquent.
Quite by accident, Doug discovers the local public library and it's treasure -- an original copy of John James Audubon's Birds of America. He is entranced by the artwork and is soon befriended by one the librarians, Mr. Powell, who teaches him about the hidden nuances in the paintings. Doug, who never has drawn before, finds himself drawing the birds and becoming very interested in Mr. Audubon's work.
Doug gets a delivery job with the local deli and befriends the daughter of the owner, Lil. Although he has made two allies in Marysville, all is not smooth sailing. Doug has what one would call an "attitude problem" at school, his rudeness and defiance covering up his insecurity and low literacy level. Slowly, he finds a teacher who recognizes his problem and reassures him that he knows that "...you are not your brother."(p. 102)
As in The Wednesday Wars, young readers will identify with Doug's everyday struggles to grow up and create relationships. This book is also a great choice for 5th through 7th graders, especially for boys who may be reluctant readers.
In his follow up to The Wednesday Wars, Gary Schmidt has created another appealing book about growing up and finding yourself when the odds don't appear to be in your favor.
Doug Swieteck has had to move from Long Island to the upstate New York town of Marysville because of his dad's new job. The town is small and everyone seems to have known each other forever. Doug's home life is no better. His father is hateful and abusive to both the children and his mother. His one brother is in Vietnam and the other has quickly earned a reputation as a juvenile delinquent.
Quite by accident, Doug discovers the local public library and it's treasure -- an original copy of John James Audubon's Birds of America. He is entranced by the artwork and is soon befriended by one the librarians, Mr. Powell, who teaches him about the hidden nuances in the paintings. Doug, who never has drawn before, finds himself drawing the birds and becoming very interested in Mr. Audubon's work.
Doug gets a delivery job with the local deli and befriends the daughter of the owner, Lil. Although he has made two allies in Marysville, all is not smooth sailing. Doug has what one would call an "attitude problem" at school, his rudeness and defiance covering up his insecurity and low literacy level. Slowly, he finds a teacher who recognizes his problem and reassures him that he knows that "...you are not your brother."(p. 102)
As in The Wednesday Wars, young readers will identify with Doug's everyday struggles to grow up and create relationships. This book is also a great choice for 5th through 7th graders, especially for boys who may be reluctant readers.
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