Module 7 - Brutal

Summary

Poe Holly lives with her surgeon mother in Los Angeles.  One day, Poe’s mother decides to spend a year in South America helping the poor, so she ships Poe off to Benders Hallow to live with the father she has not seen in sixteen years.  Upon arriving at her new home, Poe meets her neighbor, a boy called “Velveeta.”  On her first day of school, Poe meets Theo, a boy who is a bit of a rebel like she is.  Despite the school’s firm stand that there be no cliques and everyone be seen as the same, Poe realizes that the school, itself, through its rules and policies, creates a division between the students, dividing them into the cool kids and the “losers.”  The division is so strong that after a student sis nearly beaten to death by some jocks, the school addresses the issue with the “losers,” those who are bullied instead of with the bullies themselves.  Angered by what she sees, Poe tries to fight all of the “stupid” rules, but she goes about it in such away that it just alienates those around her.  She must learn to fight effectively in order to change the system, but, by doing this, she puts herself, Velveeta and Theo in danger.

Bibliography

Harmon, M. (2009).  Brutal.  New York, NY:  Random House.

My Impression

I LOVED this book so much that I am going to use it in my classroom with my students.  It is a powerful book with a great message.  In the book, Poe comes to realize something that so many young adults need to learn: there is a proper way to fight for and achieve what you want to accomplish.  Poe is a totally likeable, dynamic character.  There are many facets to her personality. She is not afraid to be different in appearance and attitude. She is both strong and vulnerable.  She is a flawed character.  However, as she discovers what her flaws are, she takes steps to fix them.  She is a strong girl who is not afraid to act when she sees something that she thinks is wrong, even if her actions are a bit misguided at first.  I actually liked all of the major characters in this book.  I was immediately able to empathize with Velveeta and was properly appalled by the bullying he must deal with.  I liked Theo’s sarcasm and view of the world.  I even liked Poe’s seemingly weak father.  I also felt that this was a pretty accurate portrayal of a high school (minus the microchips in the student ids), with its condoned conformity and the separation of some students from the rest of the group.

To Read or Not to Read:  I definitely think that you should read this book.

Professional Reviews

School Library Journal
 "Poe Holly's mother has left for South America, obviously caring more about healing sick strangers in the jungle than being a parent to her own daughter. Sixteen-year-old Poe is sent off to live with her long-absent father in her mother's absence. Starting a new school, making new friends, and getting to know the man who is her father would be enough for any teen, but not for Poe. After meeting her much-picked-on neighbor, a misfit boy nicknamed Velveeta, she also takes on the crusade to change the school's unfair policies and end the reign of the bully making Velveeta's life miserable. Poe is a likable teen who speaks her mind and stands up for what she believes. The bullying and the strong language are realistic, and the author does not shy away from the violence of Velveeta's situation. Brutal can be just that, but teens who pick up this book will discover well-developed characters and a plot that seizes their attention at the very beginning and holds it captive throughout the story." - Heather Miller
Miller, H. E. (2009, June). [Book review of the book Brutal, by M. Harmon]. School Library Journal, 55(6), 126. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com.

Kirkus Reviews

"An angry 16-year-old shakes up her school when she challenges its social order. When Poe moves from Los Angeles to suburban California to live with her father, a man she has no relationship with, she's furious: furious at her dynamo doctor of a mother for deserting her to take a year's sabbatical to care for the poor and furious at her dad for his neglect and emotional passivity. The focus of this highly charged novel is not Poe's dysfunctional family, however, but a question that has dogged high-school students from time immemorial. Why is it that the more socially elite students get to prey upon the less so? And the rather savvy answer Harmon comes up with is that it's because the adults who run the school allow it. A mention of Columbine at a faculty-student meeting somewhat negates this premise, as it reverses the power dynamic in readers' minds, and some of the characterizations, such as Poe's perfect boyfriend, seem more functional than fully human. Still, strong medicine with a strong message. (Fiction. 14 & up)"

[Book review of the book Brutal, by M. Harmon]. (2009, February 1). Kirkus Reviews, 77(3), 172.  Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com

Library Uses

• This would be an excellent book for a young adult book club through the library.
• Also, the library could hold a bullying awareness day in which information regarding bullying and the prevention of bullying could be shared with all patrons, children and adults, as it is a topic that affects us all.

Image retrieved from:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/brutal-michael-harmon/1100291061?ean=9780440239956

Module 5 - American Born Chinese

Summary
American Born Chinese is actually three tales in one. First is the story of the Monkey King and his quest to be accepted as a powerful celestial being.  The Monkey King faces many challenges on his quest, including being stuck under a mountain of rocks for centuries. Second is the story of Jin Wang, a Chinese-American who seeks to fit in with his American classmates. He gains and looses a best friend as a result of some of the poor choices that he makes.  Third is the tale of Danny, a white American boy who is ashamed of Chin-Kee, his Chinese cousin. Everytime Danny's cousin has come to stay with him, Danny changes schools because he is so ashamed of Chin-Kee.  As the stories of each are told, they slowly meld into one story.

Bibliography
Yang, G. L. (2006). American Born Chinese. New York, NY: First Second Books.

My Impression
While I enjoyed this book, it did not live up to my expectations. As an award-winning graphic novel, I expected to be blown away by it, but I was not. I found the story line to be rushed, as the end seemed to be too sudden.  I find that it did not contain as much depth as I had hoped. I went into reading it hoping that it would make a good piece to use in my classroom, but I did not think it so once I finished it. Perhaps, as an avid reader of manga and graphic novels, my expectations were skewed. I think that the story line would have been better served had it been split into two volumes. Then, I think that we could have learned more about Jin Wang, who seemed to be a fairly flat, one-dimensional character.  I did like the inclusion of the over the top, racially stereotyped character of Chin-Kee in that he provided a bit of comic relief as well as acting a character foil to the sterotypical all-American boy that "Danny" sought to be.  He was the represntation of how Danny was thought others would see him if he embraced his culture, and I found that interesting.

To Read or Not to Read:  If you have some spare time and enjoy graphic novels, pick this one up.  It is worth a read.

Professional Reviews
Library Journal
"A National Book Award finalist and ALA's Printz Award winner, this fable stars the mythological Monkey King, realistic youngster Jin Wang of Taiwanese parentage, and TV sitcom teen Danny. All three are dogged by an unwanted identity and humiliated by others' prejudice. The Monkey King trains to be a god but is unceremoniously bounced out of heaven and urged by "he who is" (the great god) to be what he is: a monkey. Jin tries to be accepted and romance a fellow student but gets picked on by classmates. Danny does well with friends until Chinese cousin Chin-Kee, a bitingly funny bundle of racist stereotypes, makes his annual visit and behaves so offensively that Danny must change schools. Finally, the three stories suddenly merge, to center on Jin coming to terms with his minority experience and moving beyond his own fear and hostility. Coalescence comes almost too quickly, but the trivision approach and treatment are unique and moving. The art is simple, colorful, and both attractive and effective. Some potty humor; recommended for teen and adult collections." - Martha Cornog
Cornog, M. (2007, October 15).  [Review of the book American born Chinese, by G. Yang].  Library Journal, 132(5), 54.  Retrieved from http://lj.libraryjournal.com.

Publishers Weekly

"As alienated kids go, Jin Wang is fairly run-of-the-mill: he eats lunch by himself in a corner of the schoolyard, gets picked on by bullies and jocks and develops a sweat-inducing crush on a pretty classmate. And, oh, yes, his parents are from Taiwan. This much-anticipated, affecting story about growing up different is more than just the story of a Chinese-American childhood; it's a fable for every kid born into a body and a life they wished they could escape. The fable is filtered through some very specific cultural icons: the much-beloved Monkey King, a figure familiar to Chinese kids the world over, and a bucktoothed amalgamation of racist stereotypes named Chin-Kee. Jin's hopes and humiliations might be mirrored in Chin-Kee's destructive glee or the Monkey King's struggle to come to terms with himself, but each character's expressions and actions are always perfectly familiar. True to its origin as a Web comic, this story's clear, concise lines and expert coloring are deceptively simple yet expressive. Even when Yang slips in an occasional Chinese ideogram or myth, the sentiments he's depicting need no translation. Yang accomplishes the remarkable feat of practicing what he preaches with this book: accept who you are and you'll already have reached out to others."

[Review of the book American born Chinese, by G. Yang]. (2006, June 12). Publishers Weekly, 253(24), 36-37. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/home/index.html.

Library Uses

• The library could host a small cultural fair and provide information about various enthicities that populate the city in which the library is located.
• The library could hose a graphic novel contest.  Patrons could create short graphic novels about a myth, legend or tale associated with their culture.

Image Retrieved from:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/american-born-chinese-gene-luen-yang/1100351546?ean=9780312384487

Module 15 - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Summary
Arnold "Jr." Spirit makes a life changing decision after discovering that his textbook is the same, exact textbook that his mother used nearly thirty years before when she was in high school. In an effort to find "hope," he decides to transfer from his poverty-stricken school on the Spokane Reservation to the all white Reardan High School, leaving behind his only friend, Rowdy. Throughout the course of the school year, Arnold overcomes prejudice, becomes a basketball star, deals with nearly overwhelming grief caused by several tragic deaths and makes new friends.

Bibliography
Alexie, S. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

My Impression
I think this is an AMAZING book. It is one of the best books that I have read in a long time. I found it to be reminiscent of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Arnold's authentic voice in the novel draws the reader in, and the reader becomes invested in what happens to him. As I read, I laughed, cried and raged right along with him. He is a very relatable, real character. Readers can identify with his struggles.  Readers can relate to the tough choices he has to make and to the grief he has to face.  As this piece is autobiographical fiction, his story serves to act as a beacon of hope.  If the narrator (modeled after Sherman Alexie's real childhood) can overcome such seemingly overwhelming obstacles, anyone can. Also, the cartoons throughout the novel added depth to Arnold's character and to the storyline.

To Read or Not to Read:  I definitely think that you should read this book.  Hey, I think that everyone should read this book.

Professional Reviews
Publisher's Weekly
"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."
[Book review of the book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by S. Alexie]. (2007, August 20). Publishers Weekly, 254(33), 70-71.  Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/home/index.html.

Kirkus Reviews

"The Spokane Indian reservation of Sherman Alexie's first venture into young-adult literature, which won the National Book Award, meets the very definition of "dead-end." When Junior's beloved dog Oscar gets sick, there's no trip to the vet, just a bullet, because a "bullet only costs about two cents, and anybody can afford that." Junior puts all his love for his family and his people into the difficult decision to go to high school off the reservation. Kirkus noted Alexie's "fluid narration [that] deftly mingles raw feeling with funny, sardonic insight." Indeed, the virtuoso control keeps the reader teetering between tears and laughter, and often both simultaneously. It's an achingly clear-eyed look at the realities of reservation life, where it's not unusual for a 14-year-old to have gone to some 42 funerals in his brief life. "[W]hat I love most about this book, and Sherman's storytelling, is that it celebrates being your individual self, no matter what external or internal pressure you come against," says Jennifer Hunt, a senior editor at Little, Brown. "It isn't always pretty or easy but pursuing it can open up the world to you. At a pivotal point in the book Junior comes to the realization that he belongs to many tribes…not just the one he was born into. And while the things we are 'born into' are important--family, race, sexuality, gender--it's equally important to figure out the other things that make up who we really are."

[Book review of the book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. by S. Alexie]. (2007, December 1). Kirkus Reviews, 75(23), 4.  Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com

Library Uses

• Along with a group of other books, such as Born Confused, The Skin I'm in, and American Born Chinese, this book could be used in a multi-cultural book talk.
• The library could host a cultural day focusing on Native Americans.  Other than stereotypes, most people do not know a lot about Native Americans.   This would be a great opportunity to share knowledge, history and artifacts of various tribes.

Image retrieved from:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/absolutely-true-diary-of-a-part-time-indian-sherman-alexie/1100163889?ean=9780316013697

Module 14 - Geektastic: Stories From the Nerd Herd

Summary

Geektastic:  Stories from the Nerd Herd is a collection of 15 short stories.  Preceding each story is each story is a short, humorous comic.  The stories deal with a variety of aspects of nerdom, including conventions, online gaming and nerd lessons.  The stories are written by well-known YA authors, including Scott Westerfeld, Libba Bray, David Levithan, Garth Nix and John Green.  Following each story is a brief blurb about the author.  

 

Bibliography

Black, H. (Ed.). (2009).  Geektastic:  Stories from the nerd herd.  New York, NY:  Little, Brown and Company.

 

My Impression

I found this collection of short stories to be hit or miss.  Some of the stories I really enjoyed, such as “One of Us,” a short story about a popular girl who takes lessons on all things nerdy from the members of the AV club as a way to impress her boyfriend.  Some stories I did not really like, such as “Definitional Chaos,” about two people on a train, one doing a secret mission for a convention, and one slipping the other a roofie.  Not all of the stories or cartoons in this book will appeal to everyone as not everyone will understand the references.  Some of it went right over my head and out of my scope of knowledge because, while I’ve seen things like Star Wars and Star Trek and am a little familiar with things like Dungeons and Dragons, I do not have the detailed knowledge of all of these topics that is sometimes required while reading this book.  This hampered my enjoyment of some of the pieces. 

To Read or Not to Read:  Read with caution.  I wouldn't recommend this to everyone.  If you do not know a lot the world of the nerd (Dungeons and Dragons, Star Wars, Star Trek, comic conventions ...etc.), you will not find much to enjoy in this book.

Professional Reviews

Publishers Weekly
"One needn't already know that "Qapla!" is Klingon for success or be a weekend LARPer to appreciate this mostly entertaining collection of 15 short stories from authors John Green, Scott Westerfeld, Lisa Yee and M.T. Anderson among others, as well as numerous illustrated interludes (final art not seen by PW). The offerings cover a range of nerdy terrain: tensions within geek communities (the coeditors' story about a Star Wars fan who hooks up with a Star Trek fan at a convention; Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith's piece involving a divisive Buffy character); the gulf between online personalities and real-life interactions ("I Never" by Cassandra Clare; Kelly Link's cautionary tale about a 15-year-old girl waiting at a hotel for the 34-year-old she met online); and academic rivalries (Wendy Mass's "The Stars at the Finish Line" follows two intellectuals vying for the top spot at school; David Levithan inserts a closeted gay character into a national trivia competition in a quietly touching, layered story): Beyond the Stargate and MMORPG references, the stories often hit at the insecurities, camaraderie and passions at the heart of geekdom. Ages 12-up."
[Book review of the book Geektastic: Stories from the nerd herd, edited by H. Black]. (2009, August 3). Publishers Weekly, 256(31), 45.  Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/home/index.html.

School Library Journal

"Gr 9 Up--From Trekkers to science geeks, Buffy fanatics to Dungeon Masters, nerds of all persuasions are sure to find themselves in the pages of this anthology. It contains fun reads such as Black and Castellucci's "Once You're a Jedi, You're a Jedi All the Way" in which a Klingon wakes with a Jedi in her hotel room while at a sci-fi convention, and Tracy Lynn's "One of Us," in which a cheerleader enlists the school nerds to teach her the basics of geekdom so she can impress her Trekker boyfriend. The collection also includes more profound fare such as Kelly Link's moving and masterful "Secret Identity" about a 15-year-old girl who has pretended to be her 32-year-old sister on an online RPG. She must face the consequences of her lies when she arranges to meet the man with whom she has developed a relationship. Also included are stories by YA lit greats such as John Green, Libba Bray, Scott Westerfeld, and M. T. Anderson. Each story is followed by a comic-book-style illustration offering information or advice such as "What Your Instrument Says About You" and "How to Look Cool and Not Drool in Front of Your Favorite Author." Simultaneously addressing the isolation and loneliness that geeks can feel as well as the sense of camaraderie and community that can be found when one embraces a world or ideology in which he or she can completely invest, Geektastic is a completely dorky and utterly worthwhile read." - Heather M. Campbell

Campbell, H. M. (2009, August). [Book review of the book Geektastic: Stories from the nerd herd, edited by H. Black]. School Library Journal, 55(8), 98.  Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com.

Library Uses

This book could be used as part of a book display of short story anthologies for young adults, as many young adults are unaware that such collections exist in the library.

Image retrieved from:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/geektastic-holly-black/1100268641?ean=9780316008105

Module 13 - Naruto Volume 1

Summary

Naruto Uzamaki is a young boy who wants desperately to be the Hokage of the Leaf Village.  In order to do this, he first has to become a ninja.  Initially, however, he is not a very talented ninja, so he fails his exam.  A traitorous sensei (teacher) at the school, Mizuki convinces Naruto to steal a secret school in order to become a ninja.  Naruto learns an advanced technique, the Shadow Clone Technique.  Eventually, his mastery of this technique takes him one step closer to his ultimate goal.  He is then placed in a squad with the girl of his dreams, Sakura, and the boy he dislikes the most, Sasuke.  His sensei is the gifted ninja Kakashi.  Naruto has the spirit of the Nine Tailed Fox within him, which causes the village to keep him at arms length, so Naruto must also learn to cope and deal with this estrangement that he suffers for reasons that are unbeknownst to him.

Bibliography

Kishimoto, M. (2003).  Naturo.  San Francisco, CA:  Viz Media.

My Impression

I really liked this manga.  Naruto is a spunky little boy with never give up attitude.  “Believe it!” He is very likable, and I felt sympathy for his plight.  I was able to empathize with Naruto and feel anger and saddness at his outcast status.  The manga drew me in and never let me go. Reading the book made me want to enter this world of ninja; it was so exciting. I liked the artwork. The pictures were crisp and detailed.  I enjoyed the first volume so much that I read more and plan to finish reading the series.  This is an exciting manga that my students and my niece love.  I am really glad that I gave it a chance.

To Read or Not to Read:  I recommend this manga, especially if you like a lot of action and ninjas.  Who doesn't like ninjas?

Professional Reviews

Amazon.com
"'With a richly detailed background, complex, sympathetic characters, superb action and a main character who somehow balances tragedy with comedy, this is a series that delivers in every way. So strap on your leaf headband and join the oddest ninja in town. You won't regret it. 4/5' NEO magazine"
[Book review of the book Naruto, by M. Kishimoto].  (2003).  Editorial Reviews.  Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com.

Library Uses

This book would be perfect for a ninja day.  Ninja are very popular right now.  Patrons could be provided with factual information and history about ninjas.  They could also make an origami shuriken.

Image retrieved from:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/naruto-volume-1-masashi-kishimoto/1100816119?ean=9781569319000

Module 12 - Nevermore: A Photobiography of Edgar Allen Poe

Summary

Nevermore:  A Photobiography of Edgar Allen Poe tells the story of Edgar Allen Poe’s life from birth to death.  The author begins with his birth on January 18, 1809, in Boston Massachusetts, to Elizabeth Hopkins Poe and David Poe, Jr., who were both actors.  It follows him after his mother’s death from tuberculosis to the home of Francis and John Allen, where he was educated as a gentleman’s son.  The book then takes us through the ins and outs of Poe’s adulthood, including his struggles with his foster father, alcohol and grief, as well as his literary success and achievements.  It then ends with the bit of mystery surrounding his death.  Throughout the book are images to illustrate Poe’s life.

 

Bibliography

Lange, K. E. (2009).  Nevermore:  A photobiography of Edgar Allen Poe.  Washington, D.C.:  National Geographic.

 

My Impression

I enjoyed the book.  I like Poe’s stories and poems, so I found it interesting to learn more about his life.  I learned new things that I had never heard before, such as Poe being the originator of the detecitve mystery genre.  I also really appreciated the author’s depiction of Poe.  She presents him as a well-rounded person with both strengths and flaws, unlike the stereotypical portrayal of Poe as a dark, brooding alcoholic.  The pictures and images used throughout the book are a great addition.  They add depth and interest to an already interesting topic.  It was neat to see pictures of Poe, his family and various places that he lived, as well as images of original manuscripts written in his handwriting.

To Read or Not to Read:  Read it.  You'll learn some interesting things about an American classic.

Professional Reviews

School Library Journal

"Gr 6-10-- The drama of Poe's tortured life unfolds in accessible prose. Textual information is interspersed with photos, artistic interpretations, and revealing quotations presented in script. Though not as extensive in scope as Milton Meltzer's Edgar Allan Poe (21st Century, 2003) or Tristan Boyer Binns's Edgar Allan Poe: Master of Suspense (Watts, 2005), this volume offers a fairly complete and thoroughly readable description of Poe's life and his importance to literature. His writing is shown to have grown from his troubled, largely dark, lifetime experiences and the constant longing for connection and love. In addition to his creative writing, Lange discusses popular psychological interpretations of Poe's work and credits him with creating new literary genres such as the detective story and the horror story. The book's brevity and format render it a good addition for reports and background for an author study." - Renee Steinberg

Steinberg, R. (2009, April). [Book review of the book Nevermore: A photobiography of Edgar Allan Poe, by K. Lange]. School Library Journal, 55(4), 149.  Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com.

Booklist
“This very readable biography introduces Edgar Allen Poe.  Effectively orphaned before the age of two by his father’s abandonment and his mother’s death, Poe was taken in by a foster family and educated well.  As an adult, he lived in poverty and struggled with alcoholism and emotional instability, but wrote well-crafted, original stories and poems that profoundly affected those who followed him, particularly mystery and horror writers.  Illustrated with many period photographs as well as pictures of Poe-related places and artifacts, the book has varied, spacious page layouts in which shade of turquoise add color to some of the illustrations and backgrounds.  The jacket art, which features a photo of Poe’s face, overlaid with lines of manuscript, peering outward with haunted eyes, will draw both fans of Poe and a new audience.  A chronology and lists of quote sources, books, articles, Internet sites, and historical sites conclude this handsome introduction to an American original.” – Carolyn Phelan

Phelan, C. (2009, April 1). [Book review of the book Nevermore: A photobiography of Edgar Allan Poe, by K. Lange]. Booklist, 105(15), 35.  Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com.

Library Uses

On Janurary 19, Edgar Allen Poe's birthday, the library could use the information in this book to create a book display and a visual timeline of Poe's life.  There could also be readings of some of his works to celebrate his birthday.

Image retrieved from:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nevermore-karen-lange/1012582875?ean=9781426303982

Module 11 - Baseball Saved Us

Summary

This book is about a young boy who is forced to go to a Japanese internment camp in the middle of the desert during World War II.  After noticing the toll being in the camp was taking on the people, the boys father decides to build a baseball field.  The little boy, who had always been picked last for being the smallest, is excited to play baseball.  While playing at the camp, he improves and eventually amazes his team, the opposing team and the spectators at the championship game.  After returning home from the camp, the boy is an outsider due to his race.  Through baseball, he is, again, able to cope and to eventually find friends.

Bibliography

Mochizuki, K. (1993). Baseball saved us.  New York, NY:  Lee & Low Books Inc.

My Impression

I really liked this picture book.  It was moving portrayal of a group of oppressed individuals finding a way to cope with a bad situation.  Instead of losing all hope, the people of the camp use baseball as a way to save themselves from hopelessness.  I also like the fact that it was about a subject that many kids know very little about, as it is not generally addressed in history classes.  The artwork really fit the mood of the book.  The predominate use of organge mimicks the desert that defines this portion of the narrator's life.  Everything is shades of the same oranges until they begin playing baseball when, figuratively speaking, some color begins to reenter the lives of those in the internment camp.

To Read or Not to Read:  If you have elementary aged children, read it.  It will be worth your time and their time.

Professional Reviews

Kirkus Reviews
"Drawing on his Japanese-American parents' experiences, a new author uses his narrator's struggle to become a better, and more accepted, ballplayer to portray a WW II internment camp. Quietly, ``Shorty'' describes his family's sudden removal to the camp in 1942, the grim surroundings, the restiveness his dad hopes to counter by building a baseball diamond. Materials are improvised (uniforms are made from mattress ticking), but the game soon thrives. Still, Shorty is usually an ``easy out'' until anger at the perpetually watching guard inspires him to hit a homer-- whereupon he sees the guard give him thumbs-up and a grin. But the real focus here is the camp and the prejudice that caused it. Back home after the war, Shorty finds friendly teammates but still hears racist taunts when he plays--and still uses the anger he feels to strengthen his resolve and do his best. Using scratchboard overlaid with oils, Lee (who grew up in Korea) provides splendidly evocative art whose somber tones are enriched with luminous color; he's a keen observer of baseball and the camp milieu. Fine debuts for author, illustrator, and publisher."
[Review of the book Baseball saved us, by K. Mochizuki]. (1993, March 1).  Kirkus Reviews.  Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com.

Library Uses

• This book could be used for storytime, leading into a discussion of descrimination.
• The library could create an informational display about Japanese internement camps.  Through the use of writings, images and other artifacts, the library could share information about an aspect of American history that very few people know anything about.

Image retrieved from:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/baseball-saved-us-ken-mochizuki/1102423807?ean=9781880000199

Module 10 - What I Saw and How I Lied

Summary

It is the end of the summer of 1947, and Evie is a typical teenage girl.  She longs to wear lipstick with matching nail polish and smoke.  She lives with her mother, stepfather, who recently returned from World War II, and his mother.  Someone keeps calling the house, looking for Joe, her stepfather, and eventually talks to him.  Joe insists he’s got the wrong soldier.  Then, Joe decides to take a sudden vacation and whisks Evie and her mother off to Palm Beach.  While staying at La Mirage, the only hotel they find open, the family becomes friends with the Graysons, with whom Joe hopes to make a big business move.  Shortly after arriving in Palm Beach, an old military “buddy” of Joe’s arrives named Peter.  Joe does not like Peter, and Peter seems to know secrets about Joe.  Evie falls in love with Peter.  During a hurricane, there is a death, which leads to an inquest in which Evie plays the starring role.

 

Bibliography

Blundell, J. (2008).  What I saw and how I lied.  New York, NY:  Scholastic.

 

My Impression

As I like historical fiction, especially dealing with the 1940s, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  Evie as the main character was likeable and believable.  As an adult, I found myself sometimes rolling my eyes at her naivety regarding Peter and what she believes his feelings to be.  I had to remind myself that she was a fairly innocent fifteen year old girl from 1947 without any experience in matters of romance other than what she saw in movies.  I liked how Evie bgrew up and changed in the book, even if those changes were forced on her by circumstance.  I also like how Evie dealt with the anti-Semitism in the book in the end, though it did leave me wondering how her family would react.  One thing I was not crazy about was Evie’s mom.  Through most of the book she was indignant about others seeing her beauty and making false assumptions about her reputation.  Because of this, it was disappointing and seemed out of character for her to tarnish her own reputation they way that she does.  My only caution to other readers is that the pacing of the book may be slow for some readers.

To Read or Not to Read:  If you like historical fiction, pick this up.  It is a worthwhile read, just don't expect a lot of excitement.

Professional Reviews

School Library Journal

"Gr 9 Up-- A 15-year-old revels in the attentions of an older man who is really interested in her mother; when her stepfather is accused of his murder, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Set in 1947 Florida, this riveting coming-of-age story delves into the heart of a naive teen coming to terms with her own perceptions, those of the adults around her, and the prejudices of the larger society. Winner of the 2008 National Book Award."

[Review of the book What I saw and how I lied, by J. Blundell].  (2009, May). School Library Journal, 55, 56.  Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/.

Kirkus Reviews
"Spontaneously moving to Florida seems like a dream come true to 15-year-old Evie, her mother, Beverly, and her stepfather, Joe, newly home from World War II. They move into a mostly abandoned hotel in Palm Beach, where Evie meets her first crush, Peter, a war buddy of Joe's. After a deal with a New York hotel owner falls through, Peter dies, and Joe and Beverly become murder suspects. What Evie sees turns out not to be much at all, and how she lies about it takes up a grand total of ten pages. In fact, what she sees are only small, deceptive fragments of a larger scandal involving money that Joe and Peter stole during the war, fragments left for the reader to piece together. Awkward Evie, slowly gaining worldliness through her new surroundings, is interesting to follow, but the book falls prey to too many conventions: The first major plot twist comes at exactly the halfway point, a second plot twist around the three-quarter mark, and the denouement contains just the required amount of symbolism. Disappointing."
[Review of the book What I saw and how I lied, by J. Blundell].  (2008, November 1).  Kirkus Reviews, 76(19), 1066.  Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com/.

Library Uses

This book could be used as an inspiration for a 1940s popculture event.  In the book, they make a lot of references to what is fashionable as well as old movies and movie stars.  Young adults know very little of popular culture at this time.  At this event, there could be screenings of old movies.  Books, images and magazines depicting fashion and leisure activities of the time period.  Music of the period could be played in the background. 


Image retrieved from:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-i-saw-and-how-i-lied-judy-blundell/1100294786?ean=9780439903486

Module 9 - Something Rotten

Summary

Something Rotten is a young adult mystery novel closely modeled after Shakespeare’s Hamlet.  In the story, Horatio Wilkes agrees to help his best friend, Hamilton Prince, discover who murdered his father, Rex Prince.  Horatio has a long list of suspects to weed through, including: Olivia, Hamilton’s on-and-off-again environmentalist girlfriend; Claude, Hamilton’s ne’er-do-well uncle and new stepfather; his mother; and Ford N. Branff, a media mogul wanting to buy Elsinore Paper Plant, the Prince family’s prosperous paper factory.  After an incident at a performance of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and Hamiltion’s near death in a fiery car crash, Horatio is able to solve the mystery.

 

Bibliography

Gratz, A. (2007).  Something rotten.  New York, NY:  Speak.

 

My Impression

I really, really wanted to like this book, but I only found it to be O.K. I liked the concept of using one of Shakespeare’s plays as a model for a mystery, but the execution was so-so.   My problem with it was that it followed the play too closely.  Because I am familiar with Hamlet, it was obvious from the beginning who the guilty party was.  The author did not do enough to make it seem as though all of the suspects could be guilty.  His focus seemed to be on the guilty party.  Also, there was a little plot twist when Horatio obtained a crucial piece of evidence that I found to be totally unbelievable.  I did, however, enjoy the character of Candy, the cowboy, who was an employee of the Prince’s He was entertaining.  Horatio was also a fairly likeable character.

To Read or Not to Read:  Meh, it's hard to say.  If you have some time, pick it up and enjoy it.  If you don't have time, it won't be a big loss in the whole scheme of things.

Professional Reviews

School Library Journal

"Gr 10 Up --This contemporary reworking of Hamlet is told through the voice of quick-witted Horatio Wilkes, who is visiting his boarding-school friend Hamilton Prince. Hamilton's father has been knocked off, and Horatio resolves to solve the crime. Denmark, TN, serves as the mill-town backdrop to the story, and the winking nods to Shakespeare's characters-including Olivia, Roscoe, and Gilbert-are mildly fun to observe. The author tries to remake the protagonist as a sexy Everyman who passes easily through town and into the good graces of its inhabitants, but it feels forced and unrealistic. Women can't resist the teen, apparently, and they all exist merely as a foil for his cad-like ways. When he tires of leering at Olivia and moves on, she has nothing else to do but wait until the end of the novel to kiss him. The fun quotient quickly dissolves for a conceit that had potential." - John Leighton

Leighton, J. (2008). Something Rotten: A Horatio Wilkes Mystery. School Library Journal, 54(1), 118.  Retrieved from EBSCOhost. 

Kirkus Reviews
"Gratz is cornering the niche market of novels containing dissimilar topics. Here he combines Hamlet and hardboiled detective pulp. During a vacation from their academy, Horatio Wilkes accompanies his buddy Hamilton Prince to Denmark, Tenn. Just two months after his father passed away under suspicious circumstances, Hamilton's Uncle Claude has married Hamilton's mother. Claude now controls the Elsinore Paper Plant, a multibillion dollar company blatantly polluting the Copenhagen River. Horatio, with a knack for investigating, is determined to expose Claude's corruption while Hamilton, dismayed by what he believes is his mother's betrayal, drowns himself in alcohol. Ultimately, Horatio relies on environmentalist protester Olivia to reveal secrets about Elsinore. The many parallels to Hamlet are interesting, but Gratz wisely avoids producing a carbon copy of the tragedy. Horatio admirably plays the loyal friend but has a cocky voice that is too self-assured and as a teen rings unauthentic. However, this well-crafted mystery has appeal for readers familiar with both Raymond Chandler's novels and Shakespeare's masterpiece."
Something rotten: A Horatio Wilkes mystery. (2007). Kirkus Reviews, 75(17), 929.  Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Library Uses

The library could host a murder mystery evening for young adults.  The library could either purchase a kit fairly inexpensively or could write a script that goes along with the novel.   


Image retrieved from:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/something-rotten-alan-m-gratz/1100474414?ean=9780142412978

Module 8 - Goose Girl

Summary

This novel is a retelling of the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale, “Goose Girl.”  It is the story of Anidori-Kildra Talianna Isilee, or Ani, the Crown Princess of Kildnree.  Ani is a shy quiet girl who is not comfortable with her role as the Crown Princess.  Unbeknownst to her, Ani’s mother, the Queen of Kildnree, had arranged for Ani to be married to Prince Geric of Bayern as a means of protecting Kildnree’s borders and planes to make her brother the heir to the thrown in her stead.  On the way to Bayern, Selia, Ani’s lady in waiting, uses her gift of people speak to convince the majority of the soldiers that she should be the princess instead of Ani and leads the men in rebellion.  Ani runs away and escapes.  With the help of some new friends, she makes it to the capital of Bayern, where she takes a job as a goose girl.  Eventually, she discovers Selia’s plot to start a war between Bayern and Kildnree.  With the help of her new friends, Ani must figure out a way to stop the war and expose Selia as a fake and save Kildnree.

 

Bibliography

Hale, S.  (2003).  The goose girl. New York, NY:  Bloomsbury U.S.A.

My Impression

I really enjoyed this book.  I have read other things by Shannon Hale, such as Princess Academy, which is why I decided to pick this book up.  Once I started reading it, I could not stop.  I enjoyed seeing Ani transform from this meek, overly shy person into a confident, strong female character.  I like how she does not make excuses for what she can or cannot do but, instead, finds ways to do what she needs to do.  I found the characters in the book to e realistic and believable.  I fully intend to read the remainder of the series.

To Read or Not to Read:  Definitely read it and discover the awesomeness that is Shannon Hale.

Professional Reviews

School Library Journal
"A magical retelling of the Grimms's fairy tale of the princess who became a goose girl before she could become queen. Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree, is born with the ability to speak to animals, a gift that is nurtured by her aunt. When the king dies, the queen announces that Ani's younger brother, not the crown princess, will succeed her on the throne. Unbeknownst to anyone, the queen has promised Ani in marriage to the prince of neighboring Bayern. The devastated teen is sent with a retinue over the mountains to Bayem and is betrayed by Selia, her lady-in-waiting, and most of her guards during the journey. Ani escapes, takes the name "Isi," disguises her distinctive blonde hair, and becomes a tender of geese to survive until she can reveal her true identity and reclaim her crown from the imposter, Selia. Ani meets and falls in love with Geric, who is, conveniently, the prince she is to marry. She is able to convince him and the king of her identity, marry, become queen, and stop a war between the kingdoms. This retelling retains many similarities to the original tale, including the gruesome punishment for treason. Hale's retelling is a wonderfully rich one, full of eloquent description and lovely imagery, and with a complex plot, a large cast of characters, and a strong female protagonist. Fans of high fantasy will be delighted with this novel, the first in a planned trilogy, and impatiently await those to follow."
Jones, T. E., Toth, L., Charnizon, M., Grabarek, D., Larkins, J., & Tyrrell Burns, C. (2003, August). [Book review of the book The goose girl, by S. Hale]. School Library Journal, 49(8), 160. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com.

Kirkus Reviews
"A beautifully textured and deeply re-imagined version of the Grimm Brothers Goose Girl, Hale's first novel is too long by a fair amount, but ensorcelled teen readers, swept up in the romance and the luscious language, probably won't notice. All the elements are here: a princess called Ani is born with the gift of heating and understanding the birds, the wind, and her beautiful horse, Falada. But Ani's mother, the queen, who has the gift of people-speaking, is so disappointed that Ani's gifts are in another direction that she sends Ani off to marry a prince of the next kingdom. On the road, Ani's serving maid Selia and her cohorts kill her guard and Selia takes Ani's place. Ani is cared for by a forest woman, becomes a goose herd in the town, and sees Falada's head hung in the town square. When Ani rallies her gaggle of friends to try to stop the war that Selia is instigating to hide her treachery, it leads to a gorgeous, dramatic climax where stories "tell us what they can. The rest is for us to learn."
[Bood review of the book The goose girl, by S. Hale]. (2003, July 1). Kirkus Reviews, 71(13), 910.  Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com.

Library Uses

The library could host a fairytale evening for older children.  A few of the traditional Grimm Brother fairtales could be shared.  Then, the children could create an illustration for their favorite tale.


Image retrieved from:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/goose-girl-shannon-hale/1100390273?ean=9781582349909

Module 7 - Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes

Summary  

 Sarah Byrnes and Eric "Moby" Calhoun have been each others only friends for many years due to their similar status of being an outcast.  Sarah Byrnes is outcast due to disfiguring burns on both her hands and her face.  Moby was outcast due to his weight.  In the book, it is there senior year, and Sarah Byrnes is in the mental ward of a hospital.  One day, she just stopped talking or reacting to anything.  Moby desperately wants to help her, so he visits her in between school and practicing for the school swim team.  As he delves deeper into her problem and it reasons, he puts himself in grave danger.  Moby has to also deal with a Mark Brittan, an extremely judgemental boy who uses Christianity as a way to condem everyone who does not share the same beliefs. 

 

Bibliography

 Crutcher, C.  (1993).  Staying fat for Sarah Byrnes.  New York, NY:  Harper Tempest.

 

My Impression

I thought that this was a very good book.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.  I found Moby to be a very likeable, if sometimes too perfect, character.  I liked his loyalty to Sarah Byrnes and his determination to help her no matter what problems might arise from his endeavours.  As he was supposed to, Mark Brittan really made me angry at points.  I liked that I was able to get involved, emotionally, with the book.  Also, Elleby was a fantastic character.  I enjoyed his humor and loved his car.  While this book dealt with some serious topics, such as shame and abuse, it had enough humor to make it not be too heavy and too serious.  While reading it, there were several places where I literally laughed out loud. 

To Read or Not to Read:  Read it.  Read it.  Read it.  You won't regret it.

Professional Reviews

School Library Journal
"Gr 8 Up-- Best friends Eric (emerging from obesity) and Sarah Byrnes (horribly scarred from burns and caustically tough) save one another on many levels throughout this breathtakingly complex and harrowing story of emotional heroism and growth. Outstanding on so many levels, it speaks about abuse, loyalty, brutality, and hypocrisy, with some surprising saviors along the way. High school students everywhere, many of whom carry scars of some sort, will immediately relate." - Mary Hofmann
Hofmann, M. (2005, November).  [Review of the book Staying fat for Sarah Byrnes, by C. Crutcher].  School Library Journal, 51(11), 59.  Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/

Horn Book Magazine
"At eighteen Eric Calhoune is an overweight swimmer whose nickname is Moby, though he's not as fat as he used to be and would be even thinner were it not for his friendship with Sarah Byrnes. Eric's success on the swimming team and the weight loss that is the by-product of his strict physical regimen are so threatening to that longstanding relationship, however, that he forces himself into gluttony in order not to jeopardize it. The author has created one of his strongest female characters to date in the physically maimed Sarah Byrnes, who at the age of three was severely burned on the face and hands when her father pushed her into a wood stove. These two teenagers form a close bond based on much that they have in common. In addition to the "terminal uglies," they both have parents -- Sarah's mother and Eric's father -- who left their families, and they both have been granted a larger than normal allotment of intelligence and courage. They share a great deal of anger, too, repressed in Eric but smoldering and quick to surface in Sarah Byrnes. In their last year in high school, she has an apparent catatonic episode and is institutionalized. Eric's attempts to help his friend find her way back into the world make up the bulk of the narrative. Although the central issue of the novel is the insidious and far-reaching effects of child abuse, minor characters introduce several other topics of current interest, such as abortion and religious fundamentalism -- perhaps too superficially and a bit sensationally given the serious nature of these issues. As is usually the case in this author's novels, the book's strength lies in the characterizations. Crutcher possesses a novelist's greatest asset: an ability to create people who are real and believable and about whom the reader can care deeply."
N. V. (1993, May/June).  [Review of the book Staying fat for Sarah Byrnes, by C. Crutcher].  Horn Book Magazine, 69(3), 336.  Retrieved from http://hbook.com/.

Library Uses

• This book, along with a few others, such as The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Speak and Brutal, could be used in a book talk dealing with books about either outcasts or teen violence.
•  This book could also be used in a book display of good YA in order to tempt young adults to read.

Image retrieved from:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/staying-fat-for-sarah-byrnes-chris-crutcher/1100616086?ean=9780060094898

Module 6 - The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs

Summary
This book tells the story of the three little pigs from the wolf's point-of-view. In this version, the book the wolf is just a misunderstood creature with a cold in search of a cup of suger to bake a cake for his granny. While on his search he has several sneezing mishaps which happen to work out in his advantage.

Bibliography
Scieszka, J. (1989). The true story of the 3 little pigs! New York, NY: Puffin Books.

My Impression
I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be humorous and entertaining. I liked the spin on the storyline and the portrayal of the wolf as misunderstood as opposed to the malicious creature he is in more traditional tellings of the story. I also really like the art work in the book. It was different from many picture books I have seen in the past.

To Read or Not to Read:  Read this book.  It is fun for all ages.

Professional Reviews
"One of life's more important lessons is that a second view of the same events may yield a story that is entirely different from another but equally "true." As Alexander Wolf tells his story, he was innocently trying to borrow a cup of sugar from a little pig when he sneezed so hard that the pig's obviously inadequate straw house fell down and killed him, so--rather than let all that good ham go to waste--the wolf ate him. But when the third little pig, safe in his brick house, not only refused to discuss loaning sugar but was rude about the wolf's Granny, the wolf tried to force the door, the pig called the cops, and the wolf was jailed--complaining that reporters blew the story all out of proportion and that he was framed. Scieszka carries off this revision with suitably mordant humor, ably reflected in Smith's dark, elegantly sophisticated illustrations. Not for little children, but middle grades and up should be entertained while taking the point about the unreliability of witnesses."
[Book review of the book The true story of the 3 little pigs, by J. Scieszka].  (1989, August 15).  Kirkus Reviews.  Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com.

Library Uses

• This would be an excellent book to use for storytime.
• The library could also have a screening of the DVD based on this book.
• The library could host a contest in which patrons create a picture book rewrite of a favorite fairytale from the point of view of the antagonist.

Image retrieved from:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/true-story-of-the-3-little-pigs-jon-scieszka/1100189814?ean=9780140544510

Module 5 - Ninth Ward

Summary

Ninth Ward is the story of Lanesha, her adopted parent, Mama Ya-Ya, and TaShon as they experience Hurrican Katrina and her aftermath in New Orleans. Lanesha is a young orphan, rejected by her uptown relatives, who posses the special ability to see and talk to ghosts. She lives with Mama Ya-Ya, the old midwife who birthed her. TaShon, another child birthed by Mama Ya-Ya, and Lanesha are brought together as friends by the discovery of Spot, a stray dog. Unlike many in her neighborhood, Lanesha and Mama Ya-Ya chose to remain at home instead of go to the Superdome to wait out Hurricane Katrina. After being seperated from his parents at the Superdome, TaShon makes his way to Lanesha's home. Together, they must use the skills and knowledge they posses to remain safe during the aftermath of Katrina and the flooding that devestates the Ninth Ward.

Bibliography

Rhodes, J. P. (2010). Ninth ward. New York, NY: Little, Brown Books.

My Impression

I enjoyed this book. I have had it on the shelf in my classroom and have had several students read it and enjoy it. I enjoyed the little touch of fantasy that was created by Lanesha's ability to see and talk to ghosts. I also really like the relationship between Mama Ya-Ya and Lanesha. Mama Ya-Ya was extremely supportive and loving woman who helped Lanesha find her inner strength. I also really enjoyed the fact that the book was told in first person. This really drew me into the story as it enabled me to experience Hurricane Katrina with Lanesha.

To Read or Not to Read:  I think that you should read this book.  It is magical and enjoyable.

Professional Reviews

School Library Journal
"Hurricane Katrina is whirling toward New Orleans in this touching novel (Little, Brown, 2010) by Jewell Parker Rhodes. Twelve-year-old Lanesha is a confident loner in her Ninth Ward neighborhood. Other kids tend to avoid her because she has the sight--she sees ghosts--and casually ignores them. Lanesha concentrates on her studies. She loves math, words, her teachers, and above all things, midwife Mama Ya-Ya who took her in when her mother died giving birth. Lanesha has snooty light-skinned uptown relatives, but they abandoned her to the loving care of Mama Ya-Ya. Lanesha watches in amazement as her beloved Ninth Ward prepares for the storm of the century. Fortitude, a vocabulary word Lanesha relishes, will be necessary to see her through the storm. After Mama Ya-Ya dies, Lanesha must be brave and save herself and her best friend when the water begins to rise. Sisi Aisha Johnson, a gifted narrator, brings richness and texture to each character and her performance emanates with the humor, warmth, and grace of this fine story. This 2011 Coretta Scott King Honor Book is not to be missed." - Tricia Melgaard
Melgaard, T.  (2011, March).  [Review of the book Ninth Ward, by J. Rhodes].  School Library Journal, 57(3), 77.  Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/.

Publishers Weekly
"With a mix of magical and gritty realism, Rhodes's (Voodoo Dreams) first novel for young readers imagines Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent flooding through the eyes of resourceful 12-year-old Lanesna. Lanesna lives with Mama Ya-Ya, an 82-year-old seer and midwife who delivered Lanesha and has cared for her since her teenage mother died in childbirth. Living in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Lanesha is viewed as an unusual child (she was born with a caul and is able to see ghosts) and is ostracized at school. Lanesha finds strength in Mama Ya-Ya's constant love and axioms of affection and reassurance ("When the time's right… the universe shines down love"). The story becomes gripping as the waters rise and Lanesha, with help from a young neighbor and her mother's ghostly presence, finds a way to keep body and soul together. The spare but vivid prose, lilting dialogue, and skilled storytelling brings this tragedy to life; the powerful sense of community Rhodes evokes in the Ninth Ward prior to the storm makes the devastation and the hardships Lanesha endures all the more powerful. Ages 10-up."
[Review of the book Ninth Ward, by J. Rhodes].  (2010, August 2).  Publishers Weekly, 257(30), 46.  Retrieved from  http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/home/index.html.

Library Uses

• This would be an excellent book to use as a read aloud.
• The library could create an emergency preparedness display.  It could provide patrons with important information on preparing for and handling various emergencies, especially hurricane.  This display could be set up at the beginning of hurricane season.

Image retrieved from:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ninth-ward-jewell-parker-rhodes/1100163909?ean=9780316043083

The library could create a display and provide information and pamphlets about emergency preparedness, especially at the beginning of hurricane season.

Module 4 - Jacob Have I Loved

Summary
Jacob Have I Loved is the story of Sara Louise "Wheeze" Bradshaw and her struggle to find her identity seperate from her twin, Caroline. In the book, Caroline is the golden child, a talented singer who is adored by everyone while Sara Louise is the "forgotten" child. Sara Louise struggles throughout the book with the favortism that she sees begin directed towards her sister. She must also learn to deal with her spiteful, somewhat crazy grandmother. For a time being, she shuts herself of from others while she works as a man with her father on his boat, the Poria Sue. She eventually leaves Rass, and finds herself.

Bibliography
Patterson, K. (1980). Jacob have I loved. New York, NY: Harper Trophy.

My Impression
I chose to reread this book because I read it for the first timenearly twenty-five years ago, when I was eleven or twelve. There were only two things that I remembered about the book: I remember the extreme anger I felt about Sara Louise's treatment, and I remember enjoying the book. It was very interesting to read it again as an adult. The book did not inspire in me the same type of anger it did as a child. As a child, I identified with Sara Louise and how her family treated her versus how they treated her younder sister. As an adult, I, like Sara Louise, have grown to understand who I am and am comfortable with myself. I really enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it to others.

To Read or Not to Read:  If you have time, pick up this book.  It is a good solid read.


Professional Reviews
School Library Journal
"Gr 5-9-Katherine Paterson's acclaimed novel (HarperCollins, 1980) tells of Sara Louise, a girl with a twin so beautiful, talented, and charming that Sara can find no real place or identity for herself either with her family or on the small island in the Chesapeake Bay which is her home. While Sara Louise spends her days in the shadows helping her father with the crabs and oysters that are their livelihood, Caroline becomes a star performer in island concerts, wins a scholarship to Julliard, and eventually claims Sara Louise's fishing buddy as her adoring fiancee. Set during World War II, the story builds slowly to a powerful and believable climax in which Sara Louise realizes that she can come out of the shadows by leaving her family and the island behind. Narrator Christina Moore is more than equal to the difficult task of telling the story from Sara Louise's viewpoint by sounding resentful at times, but never resorting to an unbroken bitterness that would become grating. Her Sara Louise is understandably human with energy, intelligence, and wit that causes listeners to side with and believe in her. The island setting has more than its share of salty, Bible pounding characters, and Moore is able to capture them. All libraries will benefit from owning this outstanding telling of a remarkable tale." - Carol R. Katz
Katz, C. R. (1998, October 1).  [Review of the book Jacob have I loved, by K. Patterson].  School Library Journal, 44(10), 80-81.  Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com.

Library Uses

This book could be used as a read aloud or in a book display.


Image retrieved from:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jacob-have-i-loved-katherine-paterson/1100616181?ean=9780064403689

Module 4 - The High King

 Summary
The High King is the final chapter of The Chronicles of Prydain. In this book, Taran, the Assistant Pigkeeper, is made into a warlord. As a result, he travels to Caer Cadarn in order to gain the support of the craftsmen who live their. They willingly follow Taran as their leader due to the time he spent there as Taran Wanderer. Taran leads the men and his companions-Fflewddur Flam, Eilonwy, Gurgi and Doli- on a perilous journey to the heart of evil, Annuvin, in an attempt to stop the Cauldron-Born from interferring in Gwydion's attempt to regain the sword Dyrwyn and defeating Arawn.

Bibliography
Alexander, L. (1968). The High King. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company.

My Impression
It will be hard for me to address this book alone, as I read the entire series in the past two weeks. I thoroughly enjoyed the series as a whole. I found The High King to be an excellent ending to the series. It was nice to see the transformation of Taran throughout the series. In this book, Taran finally comes into his own. At the end, he chooses the destiny that I hoped he would choose.  This choice demonstrates the maturity that he has achieved over the course of the series. While this novel can be read as a stand alone novel, I do not think that the reader would appreciate Taran's transformation as much. The transformation from the immature, inexperience Assistant Pig Keeper in The Book of Three into the man he is at the end of The High King would not be as evident, nor would it be as meaningful. I also thoroughly enjoyed the action and excitement in the battles that occur throughout the book.

To Read or Not to Read:  To all you fans of fantasy, read this series.  It is a classic.

 
Professional Reviews
Book Links

“The last of the five-volume Chronicles of Prydain series, this good-versus-evil adventure is set in an ancient land reminiscent of medieval Wales.  The books trace the growth of Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper, whose struggles, failures, and eventual successes mold him into the kind of human we all with to become.  

            The characters and the journey are so complex yet so satisfyingly complete that I cried at the end.  But so did Alexander, when he finished the draft.” – James S. Jacobs

Jacobs, J. S. (2006, July). 15 favorite fantasy classics. Book Links, 15(6), 22-24.  Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/BookLinks .

 

Library Uses

• The library could host a hero day. On that day, there could be story time with hero picture books that have heroes who go on a journey, like Taran.  There could be an art contest (for various age groups) in which the patrons could draw and color a picture of what they think the cauldron-born look like.
• This book could also be used as a read aloud.  It is a very exciting book, and many would find it interesting.

Image retrieved from:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/high-king-lloyd-alexander/1100649615?ean=9780805080520