Book Review #6: THE UNDERNEATH

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Appelt, Kathi. The Underneath. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2008. ISBN: 9781416950585

Small, David. The Underneath. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2008. ISBN: 9781416950585

SUMMARY

The Underneath written by Kathi Appelt was a fantasy novel about a young cat who had kittens after being abandoned in a forest near Louisiana and Texas. This cat ended up befriending a dog named Ranger, and they raised the cat's two kittens by themselves in the forest. They tried to protect them from the man, Gar Face, who would want to kill them if he knew they lived under the porch. Unfortunately, for the cat and the dog, as time went along, the kittens became more curious, and one day one of them escaped from underneath the porch. This resulted in a sequence of events happening in the forest and near the Bayou Tartine, which led to the animals having to discover hatred and the importance of loving others.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The Underneath was a fantasy novel with elements of a low fantasy. At the beginning of the novel, the reader automatically felt a kinship with the cat who was looking for a new home, since she was carrying kittens and had been abandoned. As time moved forward, the reader continued to care for other characters, such as the dog, Ranger, because he had an abusive owner, Gar Face. Readers wanted to see him be loved and cared for, which seemed to be a drawing factor for the plot of this novel.

Many different creatures were met and transformed in this novel that took place in the forest near the Bayou Tartine between Texas and Louisiana. Some creatures followed logical and believable events. For example, the kittens grew more curious as they got older and eventually wanted to leave their safe place underneath the porch and go out into the forest, which led Puck, one of the kittens, to get caught in the process. Other events weren't as believable, but were creative, because humans can't change into animals and vice versa in reality. However, all of the events and obstacles made the reader want to keep reading, because it was an interesting story that had vivid details and imagery that helped the reader imagine the world inside the forest.

As the novel progressed, the reader was introduced to many different creatures who all seemed to have the same dilemma, do we hate and have unforgiveness, or do we love and forgive all the wrongs against us? These questions seemed to be asked over and over throughout the novel, and at times, it was obvious that the characters were going to choose love and forgiveness, but then, there were other times when the reader wasn't sure, such as in the case of the Grandmother, the water moccasin, who had been trapped in a jar for a thousand years. She had loved many years before, but had been betrayed and didn't want to forgive and love, again. She had wanted revenge and sought ways to have it throughout most of the novel. In the end, she made a surprising choice, which reflected the framework of the author's story and helped the reader believe that animals were similar to humans and had just as much love and power as them.

AWARDS, REVIEWS, AND RECOGNITIONS

*Cybil Award, 2008 Finalist Middle Grade Novels
*Heart of Hawick Children's Book Award, 2010 Shortlist United Kingdom
*John Newbery Medal, 2009 Honor Book
*National Book Award, 2008 Finalist Young People's Literature
*PEN Center USA Literary Award, 2009 Winner Children's Lit
*School Library Journal Battle of the Kids' Books, 2009 Nominee
*Teddy Children's Book Award, 2009 Winner Texas

Jennifer Mattson (Booklist, May 15, 2008 (Vol. 104, No. 18))
Starred Review* Appelt's impressive novel (her first) entails animals in crisis a topic of enduring popularity. But the author, whose path from picture books to fantasy is discussed in the adjacent feature, breathes new life into the sentient-animals premise, introducing strong currents of magic realism into a tale as rich and complex as the gumbo-like waters of the bayous. Chained and starved by cruel trapper Gar Face, lonely hound Ranger finds companions in a stray cat and her two kittens. When Mother Cat falls victim to Gar Face's abuse, the surviving animals, especially sensitive kitten Puck, struggle to keep their makeshift family together. The animals' caring, generous bonds juxtapose with the smothering love of an ancient shape-shifter in a moving parallel story. Joining Natalie Babbitt's Tuck Everlasting as a rare example of youth fantasy with strong American underpinnings, Appelt's novel folds in specific traditions of the Caddo peoples of east Texas, and casts the bayous as a kind of enchanted forest laden with spirits and benign, organic presences. Some readers may struggle with Appelt's repeated phrases and poetic fragments, and wish the connections and conflicts in the story came to a faster boil. But most children will be pulled forward by the vulnerable pets' survival adventure and by Small's occasional, down-to-earth drawings, created with fluid lines that are a perfect match for the book's saturated setting and Appelt's ebbing, flowing lyricism. Grades 4-8

Jennifer Wood (Children's Literature)
An abandoned calico cat finds unlikely shelter under a porch with Ranger, an old hound. Once the calico gives birth to twin kittens, the foursome bond tightly as a family. However, Ranger's owner, Gar Face, is an abusive alcoholic. Both Ranger and the calico warn kittens Puck and Sabine never to wander from the safety of the place they call The Underneath. The adults tell the kittens about the dangers of getting caught in front of Gar Face's gun, as the human is a cold-hearted trapper who skins the animals he kills and then trades their pelts for alcohol. One morning, Puck follows his playful young instincts and plays with the sun's rays. This leads to the capture and attempted drowning of both Puck and his mother by Gar Face. The hunter's obsession with capturing the Alligator King, an ancient resident of the bayous near his home eventually places Sabine in danger when the human decides to use the tiny kitten as bait. The Alligator King has a long history, one that is connected to the shape-shifting Grandmother Moccasin, her daughter Night Song, and other lives from a thousand years ago, including the Caddo people, Night Song's husband Hawk Man, and their unnamed daughter. Although this long circular narrative's complex, sometimes-overlapping character histories could prove to be difficult for younger readers and the events are sometimes quite ugly, the prose is breathtakingly beautiful. Many characters make seemingly wrong choices, but all are presented with chances to redeem themselves--and make amends for their past choices to follow paths of hate--by choosing to trust in and/or act through love. Possible themes for discussion include parental abuse, animal abuse, conservation, history, mythology, alternative families, and bullying. 2008, Atheneum Books for Younger Readers/Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing. Ages 8 to 12.

CONNECTIONS

*Examine the themes in the novel and the evidence that supports them.

*Understand personification and how it is used in the novel.

*Write a story from an animal's point of view.

*Research about the different animals in the novel.

*Other great fantasy novels:

Selznick, Brian. The Invention of Hugo Cabret. ISBN 9780439813785

Selznick, Brian. Wonderstruck. ISBN 9780545027892

Book Review #6: A STEP FROM HEAVEN

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Na, An. "An Unabridged Production." A Step from Heaven. Recorded 2002. Random House Audio Publishing Group. 2001. compact disc ISBN: 0807216127

SUMMARY

A Step from Heaven written by An Na was a novel about a young girl and her family who immigrated from South Korea to the United States, specifically San Diego. As the story progressed, the little girl, Young Ju, told her family's story and how they adapted to life in the United States. The story followed her journey from four years old to her getting ready for college. It was a bittersweet novel, since it was filled with many struggles as the mother and father fought to stay afloat and understand their new culture. It was also filled with some happiness, especially for Young Ju, as she succeeded in school and was able to make friends and develop into a confident, intelligent, and mature young lady.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

A Step from Heaven was a contemporary realistic fiction novel with some authentic language from South Korea. The novel followed the journey and emotional growth of Young Ju and her family who were all born in South Korea and moved to the United States when she was four years old. Throughout the novel, Young Ju told the story from her own first person narrative as a young child until she ready for college. Young Ju told about her family's life in San Diego with all the true to life events of a young family and used their dialogue to help the reader understand all of the family members. The reader learned that Young Ju experienced going to school, making friends, and not getting along with her little brother, and even some unexpected twists in her journey, such as when Young Ju's grandmother passed away in South Korea, and her father got a DUI, and beat her mother. Every few years, Young Ju's voice changed and as her voice changed, the mood and the tone of the novel also changed for the reader.

Readers weren't expecting some of the events that took place in the novel, but weren't surprised as they followed Young Ju and her family's life. Times were hard for them, since Young Ju's father and mother didn't understand English and were forced to work and have the family live in poverty. They struggled living in an apartment in the present fast-paced life of San Diego while trying to get green cards and gain the rights to become U.S. citizens. It was a struggle, but throughout the novel, the reader was able to understand the importance of hard work and never giving up on dreams and an education. These themes were portrayed through Young Ju's life at the end of the novel, since she became one example of the American dream. Readers felt a bittersweet feeling in the end, because they knew that life was harder and had completely changed for Young Ju, but that it was also going to be better in the future. 

AWARDS, REVIEWS, AND RECOGNITIONS

*Asian Pacific American Award for Literature, 2001-2003 Winner Text
*Bay Area Book Reviewers Association Award, 2002 Winner Children's Literature
*Children's Book Award, 2002 Winner Young Adult-Fiction
*Cuffies: Children's Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 2001 Winner Most Promising New Author
*IRA Children's and Young Adult's Book Award, 2002 Winner Young Adult Fiction International
*Kiriyama Prize, 2001 Notable Book Fiction
*Michael L. Printz Award, 2002 Winner
*National Book Award, 2001 Finalist Young People's Literature
*White Ravens Award, 2002 Winner

Hazel Rochman (Booklist, Jun. 1, 2001 (Vol. 97, No. 19))
Young Ju's parents don't want her to become too American, and Young Ju is ashamed of them. It's the classic immigrant child conflict, told here in the present tense with the immediacy of the girl's voice, from the time she's a toddler in a small Korean village wondering why the adults talk about America as "heaven." Then there's her bewilderment as a first-grader in the U.S. trying to learn the rules and understand the words and the accents. Each chapter is a story in itself, with dramatic surprise or quiet reversal. The tales blend together into a beautiful first novel that takes Ju through her teenage years until she's an A-student ready to leave for college. The focus is on family and what happens at home. Her father, furious at having to work two laboring jobs and grief-stricken at his mother's death in Korea, becomes an increasingly violent alcoholic. He forbids Young Ju from seeing her best friend. She disobeys him, but she's careful never to bring her friends to her shabby home. Most moving is the chapter about her visit with her father to the Immigration Office. He's distrustful, enraged that he's so helpless and that she's in control; she's embarrassed by his behavior even as she feels his anguish. Young Ju's mother is a strong figure in the background until the girl suddenly sees her as a person, who tells her, "In America, women have choices." This isn't a quick read, especially at the beginning when the child is trying to decipher American words and customs, but the coming-of-age drama will grab teens and make them think of their own conflicts between home and outside. As in the best writing, the particulars make the story universal. Steer teens who like this on to Amy Tan's adult book The Joy Luck Club (1989). Category: Books for Older Readers--Fiction. 2001, Front Street, Gr. 9-12. Starred Review

Jeanne K. Pettenati, J.D. (Children's Literature)
A young Korean girl and her family immigrate to America, hoping to create a better life. This poignant story begins when Young Ju is four years old and ends when she is going off to college. Despite her age, Young Ju is old beyond her years. Unlike many of the American classmates she meets, this child of immigrants deals with poverty, abuse and living up to an ideal expected by her elders. Sadness permeates her short life--her father's alcoholism, her parents' disintegrating marriage, incomplete friendships and trying to make sense of an incomprehensible world. There are moments where light shines in her bleak world, but not many. After enduring many, many disappointments, Young Ju's life brightens when her parents separate. Her mother becomes a friend, an ally. Together with her younger brother, they make a new beginning. There is the promise of a better world, after all. This book enriches readers' understanding of Korean culture and of the immigrant experience shared by many. 2001, Front Street. Ages 12 and up.

Deborah Stevenson

(The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, July/August2001 (Vol. 54, No. 11))
Even as a little girl, Young Ju understands that there are family tensions, that her father is an unhappy man, and that his wife and his mother are hoping for better things. Young Ju's parents hope to find it by taking their daughter and moving from Korea to Mi Gook, the United States, which is a step from heaven. That step is farther than anticipated, as the hoped-for financial success isn't forthcoming and Young Ju's father continues his abusive ways. As the years go by, Young Ju grows more Americanized, becoming, along with her brother, the translator of English and of America for her family and resenting more and more her father's rigidity and abuse. This is a quietly but effectively told story, with the first-person present-tense narration broken up into brief titled sections that are more vignettes than chapters; they're sufficiently connected to create a poignant overview of a life undergoing extraordinary change as Young Ju loses a country, a grandmother, and, ultimately, a father (her father, after being arrested for assaulting Young Ju's mother, leaves her for another woman). Na has a streamlined, unaffected style that offers childlike focus without being babyish (after wishfully telling her second-grade classmates that her very-much-alive younger brother is dead and reveling in the attention, Young Ju says, “I play with my fuzzies, scratch and sniff my stickers, and think about how nice it is that my brother is dead”). A contemporary and personal immigrant tale, this will make an affecting counterpoint to well-worn stories of Ellis Island. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2001, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2001, Front Street, 156p. Grades 6-9.

CONNECTIONS

*Review the phrase made by Young Ju's father about her being “too American” and explain its meaning in the novel, using examples.

*Discuss the authenticity of the language in the novel and why it is important to the reader.

*Research about the author and compare and contrast An Na's life to Young Ju's life in the novel using a graphic organizer.

*Perform research about South Korea and write short reports in groups about the country's history, religion, art and culture, etc.

*Other great books about overcoming adversity and adapting to new environments:

Flake, Sharon. The Skin I'm In. ISBN 9781423103851

Farmer, Nancy. A Girl Named Disaster. ISBN 9780140386356

Book Review #6: LUNCH LADY AND THE AUTHOR VISIT VENDETTA

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Krosoczka, Jarrett J. Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. ISBN: 9780375960949

SUMMARY

Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta by Jarrett Kroscozka's followed the continuing saga from other books in the series about Lunch Lady. In this particular graphic novel, an author visited the school, and after he left, the gym teacher disappeared from the school and didn't return the next day. This led the Lunch Lady and her sidekick, Betty, on a search for the gym teacher, and along the way, they discovered that other gym teachers had disappeared across the country after the same author had visited other schools. After this discovery, the Lunch Lady, Betty, her sidekick, and three students who accidentally came to her aid, set out on a quest to the author's house to try and rescue the gym teachers.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

CHARACTERS

Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta written by Jarrett Kroscozka was a graphic novel, which falls under the fantasy genre. Before the start of the novel, the reader was introduced to Lunch Lady, the main character, as she captured some thieves in an introduction similar to a TV show. Since she was a person and a lunch lady, the reader automatically felt a kinship with her and wanted to know what would happen next in the novel. In the first set of graphic panels, the reader was taken inside a school cafeteria to see other students and Lunch Lady at work. At this point, readers of all ages could identify with the characters and wanted to follow their saga outside of the school and cafeteria walls.

PLOT AND SETTING

As the story unfolded, it followed a logical and believable sequence of events with an author visiting the school. After the author left the school, the next day Lunch Lady discovered that the gym teacher hadn't been at school since the author had been there. This created a mystery for Lunch Lady that she needed to solve with her sidekick, Betty. A series of events followed with Lunch Lady scouting out the gym teacher's and author's homes in a fast-paced set of graphic panels that showed details to help the reader follow the plot and visualize the setting in which the story took place.

THEME AND STYLE

A normal criteria for a fantasy novel has a theme of good overcoming evil or a task that requires sacrifice. For this specific graphic novel, the theme was good vs. evil, because Lunch Lady, who was considered good, had to overcome the “author visit vendetta.” She accomplished this through a series of comedic and creative stunts that were filled with onomatopoeia, metaphors, and other figurative language. Three students from her school accidentally went to her aid when she discovered all of the gym teachers were being held hostage at the author's house. The students helped the lunch lady and the gym teachers by throwing sock bombs to help the gym teachers get out of their hypnosis, since the strongest sense for memory was smell. It worked, and the gym teachers used their dodge balls to attack the bunnies, and eventually, the author. The end of the novel had Lunch Lady, Betty, and her students with their lives back to normal, for now anyways, and one of the students playing soccer for the gym teacher.

AWARDS, REVIEWS, AND RECOGNITIONS

Best Book- Choices, 2010; Cooperative Children's Book Center

Francisca Goldsmith (Booklist)
The kids at the supersmart Lunch Lady's school anticipate a visit from a favorite author, but when he asks for an autograph he seems a bit odd, and the next day their gym teacher goes missing. Dee, Hector, and Terrence under the watchful tutelage of the investigatory-instrument-creating Lunch Lady unravel the mystery in this third entry in the three-tone graphic-novel series. Krosoczka has created a clever diversion this round, with appeal not just for kids but also for other children's authors. Grades 3-5

Michael Jung, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
Jarret J. Kroscozka's offbeat super heroine, Lunch Lady, returns in this short graphic novel that pits her against visiting author, Lewis Scribson. While Mr. Scribson seems like your average millionaire, bestselling author, Lunch Lady becomes suspicious when the school's gym teacher Coach Birkby disappears shortly after the author's visit. When an investigation reveals Mr. Scribson has been brainwashing gym teachers to work as servants in his mansion, it is up to Lunch Lady--armed with her Taco-Vision Night Goggles and Fancy Ketchup Pocket Laser--to serve up some justice to the author. Kroscozka offers many funny scenes inspired by superhero story cliches, including a silly scene where the villain reveals his motivation for kidnapping gym teachers and a fight scene where Lunch Lady battles a roomful of the villain's evil stuffed bunny dolls. That said, considering Lunch Lady fought a league of evil librarians in her first graphic novel and an evil author in her latest adventure, one has to wonder if author Kroscozka is indulging in some personal fantasies through these books. 2009, Alfred A. Knopf/Random House Children's Books. Ages 6 to 9.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, November 1, 2009 (Vol. 77, No. 21))
Lunch Lady and Betty serve up another action-filled adventure in the third installment of the Lunch Lady series. It is the long-awaited author-visit day for the students at Thompson Brook School, and Lewis Scribson, author of the beloved Flippy Bunny books, is scheduled to appear. When Mr. Scribson shows up, there's something not quite right about the surly, bespectacled author, and mysteriously, on the same day, Coach Birkby goes missing. It's up to Lunch Lady and the Breakfast Buddies to save the day once again. Their fight to uncover the truth reveals Scribson's secret plot, complete with an entire army of attack Flippy Bunnies, all equipped with cute bow ties and deadly fangs. This episode dishes out more of the same rampant silliness in its trademark gray-and-yellow palette. Those who have followed the series will be pleased with its consistency, though those looking for more development may be disappointed. Although not particularly substantial, this is another helping of hijinks for Lunch Lady fans. 2009, Knopf, 96p. Category: Graphic novel. Ages 7 to 10. © 2009 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

CONNECTIONS

*Discuss the elements of a story.

*Review how to create cartoons and graphics in a story.

*Develop a short graphic novel about the Lunch Lady.

*Review words from the novel and discuss their definitions

*Other related books by Jarrett J. Krosoczka:

Krosoczka, Jarrett J. Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown.

ISBN 9780375860959

Krosoczka, Jarrett J. Lunch Lady and the Field Trip Fiasco ISBN 9780375867309

Book Review #5: LILY'S CROSSING

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Giff, Patricia Reilly. Lily's Crossing. New York: Delacorte Press, 1997.

ISBN: 0385321422

PLOT SUMMARY

Lily's Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff was about a girl named Lily who went to Rockaway Beach, New York every summer with her family. Only the summer of 1944 was different, because World War II had changed everything. Lily's best friend moved away, so her father could work in a factory, and Lily's own father was sent off to war. As the story unfolded, there was only one other person her age living in Rockaway, and they became friends. Through the course of their friendship, they rescued a kitten and discovered they had both told lies that could potentially harm those around them. They also learned about the importance of saying goodbye to loved ones, so they wouldn't have any regrets in the future.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Throughout the reading of this novel, readers didn't question the believability or the authenticity of the characters. All the main characters had problems that everyday people deal with, such as having family members going off to war or dealing with changes, but the characters continued their journeys in growing up. Readers were able to follow and believe the plot was accurate, because the author provided just enough historical detail without overwhelming them, and the author also wrote a letter to her readers at the end of the book to add to her credibility about the things that happened in the story. For instance, the setting took place in 1944 in the town of Rockaway Beach, which is an actual place. In this town, the war was talked about and people were constantly aware of it, but it didn't interfere with their daily lives too much. Instead, this story focused on Lily and her ability to make friends with Albert and her life while she was in Rockaway Beach for the summer.

One of the major themes in this novel involved the importance of friendship. Lily's friendship with Albert helped her not be lonely, but also helped her to focus on someone else besides her, which was a great lesson for readers. Another theme was on the importance of telling the truth, which was an important lesson for children of all ages to learn. Lily and Albert each had to learn about the dangers of lying and were changed because of their experiences. In the end, all of these elements worked together to capture the style of the novel. The style reflected the author's voice and manner about life during World War II, magnified her views to the readers about the importance of friendship and telling the truth, even when it's tough.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Hazel Rochman (Booklist, February 1, 1997 (Vol. 93, No. 11))
With wry comedy and intense feeling, and without intrusive historical detail, Giff gets across a strong sense of what it was like on the home front during World War II. Lily makes up stories about her involvement with spies, submarines, and anti-Nazi plots in her small seaside town in 1944, but underlying her melodrama and lies is grief for her dead mother. When Lily's father has to leave to fight in France, she is so hurt and furious that she refuses even to say good-bye to him. As she gets to know Albert, an orphaned Hungarian refugee, she learns about his secret anguish: he is guilt-stricken about the younger sister he left behind (he, also, didn't say good-bye), and he is determined,

somehow, to cross the ocean and find her. The happy ending, when Lily's father finds Albert's sister in France, is too contrived, but the reunion scenes at home are heartbreaking. The friendship story is beautifully drawn: both Lily and Albert are wary, reluctant, and needy; they quarrel as much as they bond, and in the end, they help each other to be brave. Category: Middle Readers. 1997, Delacorte, $14.95. Gr. 5-8.

Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
Set during WW II, Lily's life with her beloved Poppy is disrupted when he is sent overseas. Lily, left with her grandmother, meets a Hungarian refugee named Albert. He too is suffering a separation from his loved ones. Gradually they become friends and eventually Lily, who has encouraged Albert in his scheme to return to Europe, realizes the danger. The story has a happy ending and Lily comes to understand herself and Albert. The story is filled with believable characters and historical details that make it real and relevant. Newbery Honor book. 1997, Delacorte, $14.95. Ages 8 up.

Jan Lieberman (Children's Literature)
Lily, 10, spins yarns or what some might label "lies." It's her way of protecting herself. But during that summer of 1944 at Rockaway Beach, her favorite place, nothing is the same. She is so angry at her father who is going overseas that she refuses to say goodbye. Her best friend has moved away and to make matters worse, her grandmother introduces her to a refugee boy from Hungary. At first she is rude to him, but later they rescue and care for a kitten. Each child tells stories, but the tale Lily tells puts Albert in danger. This story is engrossing as Lily crosses over from self-absorption to being empathetic. 1997, Delacorte, $14.95. Ages 9 to 11.

*Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for PreK-Grade 6, 12th Edition, 1999; National Council of Teachers of English
*Best Children's Books of the Year, 1998; Bank Street College of Education
*Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson
*Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006; H.W. Wilson
*Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000; H.W. Wilson
*Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson
*Notable Children's Books, 1998; ALSC American Library Association

*Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, 1997 Honor *Book Fiction and Poetry United States
*Winner Best Bet to Win Newbery Medal United States
*Jefferson Cup Award, 1998 Honor Book United States
*John Newbery Medal, 1998 Honor Book United States
*M. Jerry Weiss Book Award, 2000 Winner Grades 4-6 New Jersey

CONNECTIONS

*Identify and research with students information about World War II

*Discuss and define the different vocabulary words from the novel

*Write about the important role of friends and family to Lily, Albert, and Margaret in the novel

*Compare and contrast the friendships Lily has with Albert and Margaret

*Other books about World War II:

Burg, Ann. Rebekkah's Journey: A World War II Refugee Story (Tales of Young Americans) ISBN 9781585362752

Judge, Lita. One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World

War II. ISBN available 1423100085

Book Review #5: CHAINS

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Chains: Seeds of America.. New York: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2008. ISBN: 9781416905851

PLOT SUMMARY

The historical fiction novel, Chains, was about a young thirteen year old girl named Isabel who was a slave growing up at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. As the story unfolds, she and her sister, Ruth, who was five, were promised their freedom after the death of their mistress, however, they were sold to another couple in New York City, the Locktons, instead, to be their slaves. The couple treated Isabel and Ruth horribly, and eventually, Isabel decided to spy on her owners, with the encouragement of another slave, Curzon, since the Locktons' knew information about the potential plans for British invasion. The novel followed all of Isabel's misfortunes and triumphs as she went seeking out freedom for her and her sister, but the story continues in the novel, Forge.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Throughout the reading of this historical fiction novel, the reader didn't question the believability of the characters, particularly, Isabel, because of all the research provided in the appendix, along with other historical information in the book. Isabel was a smart, determined, and brave thirteen year old girl. Readers could relate to her, because she had problems to overcome, and she was willing to fight for her and her sister.

History was presented accurately and in a way that children could understand the events throughout the story. Many slaves during the Revolutionary War who were supposed to be set free, but were kept as slaves, were prone to run away. This is exactly what Isabel did, and she ended up facing many trials and losses because of it. Readers could imagine the British army marching down the street and see the rage Isabel had when she found out Mrs. Lockton had “supposedly” sold Ruth. Readers could also visualize the daily life in New York City in 1776 and 1777 and what it was like for Isabel as a slave during that time. The story maintained the authenticity to the time period and made the reader feel like they were a part of the story.

Major themes that ran throughout the novel had to do with freedom, power, and the strength of the human spirit. Isabel faced many trials with one of them involving the loss of her sister through the course of her master's “supposed” selling of her and the loss of her own freedom that she thought she had attained after her first mistress died. Power was definitely represented in the novel, and it was used for good and evil. The Lockton's used it for evil, along with many others, but then, there was Lady Seymour who used her power and influence for good within the Lockton household and tried to support Isabel. The strength of the human spirit was demonstrated by Isabel, because no matter what happened, she never gave up on life and the pursuit of freedom and seeing her sister, again. Readers of all ages could relate to these themes, since people have the same struggles today.

The historical novel kept the reader's attention, and the sentences flowed together in a smooth and fast pace, since the sentences were kept short and in a conversational tone. Most readers could imagine the characters walking down the street in New York City and see the soldiers in their uniforms. They could also imagine the speech patterns of the characters and tell the difference between the characters from New York and elsewhere.  Everything worked together in the novel to keep the reader's attention for the continued

story, Forge.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Janet Fisher (Books for Keeps No. 176, June 2009)
There are some outstanding historical novels for young people about slavery including Paula Fox’s Slave Dancer and Barbara Smucker’s Underground to Canada. Chains is of equal merit. Isabel and her sister Ruth, who is only five, are sold to a Loyalist couple, the Locktons, after the death of their mistress, and taken to the New York of 1776. Each chapter is prefaced with quotes from the documents of the time, giving the reader a snapshot of the historical background which is that of the American War of Independence or Revolution depending which side you were on. The Locktons are Loyalists but try to play each side for monetary gain. Mrs Lockton is a particularly vicious woman. At first Ruth is her pet but when she finds out that Ruth has epileptic fits, she tells Isabel she has sold her on to a plantation owner on Nevis. Isabel has been approached to spy for the Patriots by Curzon. At first she refuses but events persuade her to take this dangerous path. She flees to General Regan who has promised her safe passage but finds he cannot deliver this. She is beaten, tried, branded on the cheek and returned to her mistress. The war rumbles on – the British take New York thinking themselves victorious, New York burns and the Patriots begin to win some battles. Isabel wonders which side will give her freedom and help her to find her sister and the story ends on a cliffhanger with promise of a sequel. While the reader becomes absorbed in the story of Isabel and Ruth, the vivid and authentic historical background is imperceptibly conveyed. Isabel has hope and memories of her parents carry her through, although even those ‘rememberys’ are so painful. The prose catches the rhythm and pattern of her speech exactly, so that the reader can almost hear her talking. Isabel realizes that her soul cannot be taken from her and that gives her strength to make her bid for freedom amid the turmoil of war. This is one of those stories you hope will not end too soon! A sequel is promised. Category: 10-14 Middle/Secondary. Rating: 5 (Unmissable). ...., Bloomsbury, 320pp, D10.99 hbk. Ages 10 to 14.

Jenny Blanch (Carousel 41, March 2009)
Written with the horrific background of buying and selling human flesh, this novel reveals that one person can change their life if they are prepared to fight for it. Isabel and her sister are orphans and when their owner dies Isabel, the older and stronger of the two, fears for their future as the new owner sells them to a supposedly Loyalist, wealthy but spiteful, New York couple. They take them home just as the Americans are fighting for independence and the English are struggling to maintain control. A vicious and cruel act by the lady of the house triggers awful repercussions and Isabel has to draw on her inner strength to fight for their freedom. There is an undertone of menace, alongside the anger and danger, but lightened by a tenuous relationship with Curzon, a fellow slave boy in a red hat, which develops through adversity. Although reckless at times, Isabel is a feisty heroine and the story moves swiftly with the energy of indignation ... and hope.

Alicia Collura (Inis -The Children’s Books Ireland Magazine, Fall 2009 No. 28))
Chains is a classic American story about the fight for freedom -- a slave girl battles for her rightful freedom as American rebels struggle for their nation’s independence from England. Laurie Halse Anderson fittingly begins each chapter with an historical quote

relating the narrative in the chapter to a greater theme or story at that point in history. While Halse Anderson could have taken the somewhat obvious allegorical route of equating the experiences of Isabel, the slave girl, to those of the American rebels, she instead allows Isabel to evolve as any young girl would; Isabel’s political views change according to her own experiences and her greatest concerns lie, not in the politics of a nation which refuses to accept her as fully human, but in her own well-being and that of her loved ones. Halse Anderson succeeds in creating believable, three-dimensional characters and a genuinely intriguing tale, but at times the vocabulary and voice of Isabel as the narrator seem somewhat contrived. When Isabel, generally well spoken and intelligent, uses words like ‘conversating’ and, only every so often, ‘et’ rather than ‘ate,’ the reader is left to wonder at what level Isabel is actually an uneducated slave and to what extent does Halse Anderson simply feel that this is the way a slave should talk. The action in the plot moves along nicely, but the ending, or lack thereof, is disappointing to say the least. Halse Anderson, unimaginatively and in what can only be assumed to be a marketing ploy, ends the story, not at the end, but in the middle and informs the reader that the story will ‘be continued in the Forthcoming Volume Forge.’ Overall, a captivating read, but be prepared to invest in the second volume to, potentially, reach the story’s end. 2009, Bloomsbury, D10.99. Ages 12 and up.

*Notable Books for a Global Society, 2009 ; Children's Literature Special Interest Group IRA

*Charlotte Award, 2010 ; Nominee; Young Adult; New York
*Golden Sower Award, 2010-2011; Nominee; Young Adult; Nebraska
*Grand Canyon Reader Award, 2011; Nominee; Tween; Arizona

CONNECTIONS

*Explore characteristics of people before the creation of the United States

*Discuss slavery and its role in America's history

*Identify and research important people and events during the Revolutionary War

*Compare and contrast the lives of slaves and free people in the American colonies

*Other books by Laurie Halse Anderson:

Anderson, Laurie Halse Forge: Seeds of America. ISBN 9781416961444

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Fever 1793. ISBN 9780689848919

Book Review #5: MOON OVER MANIFEST

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Vanderpool, Clare. Moon Over Manifest. New York: Delacorte Press, 2010.

ISBN: 9780385738835

PLOT SUMMARY

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool was about a 12 year old girl named Abilene Tucker who was sent to live in Manifest, Kansas during the summer of 1936 by her father, Gideon. Wanting to learn more about her father and why he sent her to Manifest to live with a man named Shady, Abilene set out on a journey to learn more about him, but was initially disappointed to not be able to attain much information at her request. As the story unfolded, however, Abilene made new discoveries that involved secrets and mysteries that had been hidden in the town since 1918. These mysteries and secrets helped Abilene and her friends become spy hunters. As a result, Abilene learned a lot about the people and the town of Manifest while weaving her own story which included the town, her father, and her own life.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Moon Over Manifest was a historical fiction novel that represented the genre well. The characters were authentic to the 1918 and 1936 time periods and were also able to be identified with by the reader. Abilene Tucker was a grounded girl who lived in 1936 and was curious about the past and present while wanting to understand the world around her and the life her father had lived as a child.

As for the plot and setting, the reader was able to follow the two different stories that were woven throughout the novel easily, because the author created a clear pattern of events and labeled each specific time period and setting. This was helpful to all readers, young and old, and the author also integrated a clear distinction between the two settings for the readers with 1918 having prohibition and World War I, while 1936 had the Great Depression. Throughout the novel, the author provided many facts, along with a list of suggested readings to support the authenticity of the time period to keep the reader's attention.

Major themes in the novel had to do with loss and redemption, which are universal themes. Many characters lost loved ones through death or separation, but the reader was able to identify the redemptive characters by the end. The whole town of Manifest was restored with the characters moving forward with the times and not hanging onto the past, like it was going to come after them and harm them, which seemed to be the concern at the beginning of the novel.

The style of the novel represented the historical times well and was woven together to create an interesting and informative read. Newspaper clippings were shown throughout the novel, and the readers were constantly reminded of the times, because of the listed dates on each page. Some of the things talked about in the novel: the Ku Klux Klan, prohibition, the Model T Ford, milkmen, use of letter writing, telegraphs, cigar boxes, etc also added to the early 1900s style of writing. Readers were also introduced to the fact that people in Kansas generally don't say “y'all,” but “you all.” All of these things helped add to the authenticity of the story and were well documented with suggested readings and author's notes.

As an end result, this historical fiction novel was a well-written balance of fact and fiction. It demonstrated the times through the life of each character and kept the reader's attention, to the point that they wanted to keep reading until the end.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Kathleen Isaacs (Booklist, Oct. 15, 2010 (Vol. 107, No. 4))
Starred Review* After a life of riding the rails with her father, 12-year-old Abilene can’t understand why he has sent her away to stay with Pastor Shady Howard in Manifest, Missouri, a town he left years earlier; but over the summer she pieces together his story. In 1936, Manifest is a town worn down by sadness, drought, and the Depression, but it is more welcoming to newcomers than it was in 1918, when it was a conglomeration of coal-mining immigrants who were kept apart by habit, company practice, and prejudice. Abilene quickly finds friends and uncovers a local mystery. Their summerlong “spy hunt” reveals deep-seated secrets and helps restore residents’ faith in the bright future once promised on the town’s sign. Abilene’s first-person narrative is intertwined with newspaper columns from 1917 to 1918 and stories told by a diviner, Miss Sadie, while letters home from a soldier fighting in WWI add yet another narrative layer. Vanderpool weaves humor and sorrow into a complex tale involving murders, orphans, bootlegging, and a mother in hiding. With believable dialogue, vocabulary and imagery appropriate to time and place, and well-developed characters, this rich and rewarding first novel is “like sucking on a butterscotch. Smooth and sweet.” Grades 5-8

Heather N. Kolich (Children's Literature)
Like the rocking of the train twelve-year-old Abilene Tucker rides into town, the motion of this story never stops. Uncoupling her from his vagabond life on the road, Abilene's father has sent her to spend the summer of 1936 in Manifest, Kansas, a place she knows only from his descriptions, with a shady character from his past. Through the hot, dry days, Abilene searches for traces of her father in the town's history, some old letters, and a stack of newspapers from 1917. At the same time, she and her two new friends, Lettie and Ruthanne, search for clues to the identity of a spy from World War I days--whenever Abilene is not working off a debt to the mysterious and reclusive town diviner, Miss Sadie. As the days spin out, so do Miss Sadie's stories of the past, bringing Abilene closer to knowing her father, even as her suspicions grow that he does not plan to come fetch her at the end of the summer. Abilene works some magic on the townspeople, bringing them together as they try to embrace her and convince her to stay on. But Abilene desperately wants to be with her father. Can she work a little magic--or pull off enough of a con--to convince him to come to Manifest? The story weaves easily from present to past and back again, gripping the reader in both stories. Alternately set between World War I and The Great Depression, the story is sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, and sometimes poignantly sad, but page after page, it is hard to put down. 2010, Delacorte Press/Random House, $16.99. Ages 10 and up.

Annette M. Mills (Library Media Connection, June 2011)
Twelve-year-old Abilene is determined to figure out the many mysteries of Manifest, Kansas, the town in which her father, Gideon, grew up. He sends Abilene to spend the summer of 1936 with a friend in this small town. It doesn’t take Abilene long to make friends and discoveries. She does this with the help of the diviner, Miss Sadie, and the “interim pastor,” Shady. All of the characters are well defined, unique, and mysterious. They include the evil owner of the coal mine, Sister Redempta (teacher and midwife), and Hattie Mae, who has been writing a gossip column since 1918. Abilene finds a box of

treasures and letters, and through them readers learn about World War I, the influenza epidemic, prohibition, coal mining, and the Ku Klux Klan. The 1918 portion of the story is told by Miss Sadie, who seems to know more than she should about these events. Jinx, our main character from 1918, is a drifter as well as a con artist, who mysteriously ends up in Manifest. Abilene’s and Jinx’s antics are entertaining and amusing. Anyone interested in historical fiction would be mesmerized by this story, even students who enjoy stories about adventurous kids will be satisfied. Recommended. 2010, Delacorte Press (Random House), 368pp., $16.99 hc. Ages 11 to 16.

*Best Children's Books of the Year, 2011; Bank Street College of Education
*Booklist Book Review Stars, Oct. 15, 2010
*Booklist Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth, 2011; American Library Association
*Kirkus Best Children's Books, 2010
*Kirkus Book Review Stars, September 15, 2010
*Notable Children's Books, 2011; ALSC American Library Association
*Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, September 27, 2010

*John Newbery Medal, 2011 Winner United States

CONNECTIONS 

*Create storyboards for the two stories that take place in the novel

*Identify and research with students information about World War I

*Discuss the lessons Abilene learned about family and friends with students

*Explore the characteristics of the United States during the early 20^th Century

*Other books related to Moon Over Manifest:

MacDonald, Betty. Nancy and Plum. ISBN 9780375859861

Houston, Jeanne Wakatsuki. Farewell to Manzanar: A True Story of Japanese American Experience During and After the World War II Internment.

ISBN 9780553272581

Book Review #4 KAKAPO RESCUE: SAVING THE WORLD'S STRANGEST PARROT

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Montgomery, Sy. Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot. New York: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2010. ISBN: 9780618494170

Bishop, Nic. Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot. New York: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2010. ISBN: 9780618494170

PLOT SUMMARY

This book was about the endangered kakapo parrot in New Zealand and the mission of a fourteen person team to save the last of the ground-dwelling birds. As the story unfolds, the team takes turns watching over different kakapo parrots, specifically one named Lisa and eventually, one named Cyndy, and their chicks. The team experienced wonderful times as they watched baby chicks stay healthy and grow, and they experienced some sadder moments as they watched one of the older kakapo parrots, Bill, die as a grandfather. They also had the joy of learning that the endangered parrot is growing in number, and there is hope for the future of the species.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Kakapo Rescue was an accurately written book, because the author did most of their research on-site with their photographer and consulted with colleagues who were kakapo conservationists in New Zealand. The author also conducted background research about the kakapo parrots and documented their research in a bibliography at the back of the book. Through these forms of research, the author and photographer demonstrated their credibility in writing this book.

As for the organization of the book, the author started the story at an interesting point in the conservationists' work, which involved them watching over a baby kakapo parrot while the mother went out to forage in the middle of the night, which is normal for this kind of parrot. The story continued chronologically from that point with relevant information about the birds mentioned throughout the story. At the end, the reader had learned about all the highs and lows of watching over these parrots and about the different kakapo parrot families that had been developed over the years in New Zealand. They had also been introduced to other information about the parrots that was provided through pictures of specific kakapo parrots, along with the conservationists' reasons for protecting them.

The author was able to keep the reader's attention through the readable layout of each page. Pictures and supplemented information were placed in strategic places throughout the book to keep the reader's attention and help them follow the story with the different character kakapo parrots that were a part of a large family. Through this book design, the style of the book was also interesting to the reader and revealed the author's passion, since the author had spent years researching and waiting to write and share with the world about the kakapo parrots. The author also encouraged questions to be asked throughout the book, since there were chapters that made the reader want to keep reading and find out more answers and information about the kakapo parrots. This was also demonstrated through the last chapter, “P.S.: The Story Continues,” because the author mentioned a website that is devoted to the recovery program of the kakapo parrots, which is updated on a regular basis.

Because of these elements, the reader was able to enjoy the story about the kakapo parrots. They believed it was an accurate portrayal, and its organization, design, and style were interesting and relevant to the kakapo parrots and to those reading about them.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Gillian Engberg (Booklist, Apr. 15, 2010 (Vol. 106, No. 16))
Starred Review* Montgomery and Bishop, whose highly lauded titles include two Sibert Honor Books, offer yet another winning entry in the Scientists in the Field series. This time, the intrepid duo heads to a remote island off the southern tip of New Zealand, where they join a local government-sponsored research team that is working to save the Kakapo parrot from extinction. Weighing in at nearly nine pounds, these beautiful, honey-scented, once-ubiquitous creatures, named “the most wonderful of all living birds” by a nineteenth-century naturalist, have become a symbol of human civilization’s devastating effects on indigenous life, and the New Zealand government is directing significant resources to try to ensure the species’ survival. As usual, Montgomery’s delight in her subject is contagious, and throughout her enthusiastic text, she nimbly blends scientific and historical facts with immediate, sensory descriptions of fieldwork. Young readers will be fascinated by the incredible measures that the passionate workers follow to help the new birds hatch, and many will share the team’s heartbreak when some chicks die. Bishop’s photos of the creatures and their habitat are stunning; an awe-inspiring, closing image of the world’s eighty-seventh known Kakapo emerging from its shell captures the miracle of birth, for any species. Like many of the team’s previous titles, this offers excellent support for units about animal conservation. Grades 4-7

Barbara L. Talcroft (Children's Literature)
What’s a kakapo? It is a heavy, flightless parrot with moss-green feathers and a smell like that of honey that is on the brink of extinction. Author Montgomery and photographer Bishop have a ten-day pass to visit Codfish Island--just south of New Zealand--to report on the devoted rangers, technical support officers, and volunteers of the National Kakapo Recovery Team, who are attempting to save these unique birds that have dwindled down to a population of only eighty-seven. Since humans and introduced predators have devastated New Zealand’s native wildlife, few people are allowed to visit the isolated island; every item taken there must be disinfected. Distressingly, no one knows exactly when the parrots will decide to breed. The writer and photographer share the recovery team’s daily life, watch the careful preparation of feed, tracking of the birds by telemetry, and the meticulous weighing and data-keeping of precious eggs when they appear. Each parrot has its own personality; the reporters are privileged to observe several of them closely, to help track a female. They share not only the team’s sorrow when one chick and an adult male die unexpectedly, but also their exultation when an egg cracks and a new chick hatches. Bishop’s lushly beautiful photographs help readers explore the island’s trees, ferns, and mosses as well as other birds and wildlife. Teens hoping for a career in conservation science will surely find this well-designed “Scientists in the Field” volume appealing, as will any reader susceptible to the poignancy of a fascinating species so vulnerable and so irreplaceable. 2010, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Ages 11 and up.

*Booklist Book Review Stars, Apr. 15, 2010
*Booklist Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth, 2010; American Library Association
*Booklist Top 10 Books on the Environment for Youth, 2011; American Library Association
*Booklist Top 10 Sci-Tech Books for Youth, 2010; American Library Association

*School Library Journal Book Review Stars, June 2010; Cahners

*Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal, 2011 Winner
*SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science, 2011 Finalist Middle Grades Science Books

CONNECTIONS

*Research endangered species in groups

*Use this story to learn about kakapo parrots

*Compare and contrast the kakapo parrot to other parrots

*Explore conservation

*Other books in the Scientist in the Field Series:

Burns, Loree Griffin. The Hive Detectives: Chronicle of a Honey Bee Catastrophe.

ISBN 9780547152318

Carson, Mary Kay. The Bat Scientists ISBN 9780547199566