Contemporary Realistic and Modern Fantasy Review #3

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Johnson, Angela. 2003. THE FIRST PART LAST. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689849222

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Angela Johnson’s THE FIRST PART LAST is the story of Bobby, a 16-year old teenage father. “With powerful language and keen insight, Johnson looks at the male side of teen pregnancy as she delves into one young man's struggle to figure out what ‘the right thing’ is and then to do it. No matter what the cost” (Excerpt taken from inside flap of book).

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
THE FIRST PART LAST is the winner of the Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature and the Coretta Scott King Award. This is a powerful, well-written novel that addresses the issues of teenage sex and pregnancy. The author takes the title of the book from a passage in the very first chapter in which Bobby says “But I figure if the world were really right, humans would live life backward and do the first part last. They’d be all knowing in the beginning and innocent in the end” (pg. 4).

THE FIRST PART LAST is set in the New York neighborhoods in present times. The author mentions having to ride buses, changing subways, and catching cabs. Bobby and his friends hang out at Mineos and eat pizza. In addition, the plot also reflects events that are “true-to-life”: Bobby fears and anxieties about taking care of a baby, worrying about what parents and friends will think, etc. The story gradually builds to a climax when the reader learns how Bobby came to keep Feather. In addition, the author does not just wrap up the story with a nice pat ending, but shows that Bobby’s journey as a father is just beginning: “I can tell you how it is to feel as brand new as my daughter even though I don’t know what comes next in this place called Heaven” (p. 131).

The way the author chose to write this book is interesting. It is divided into five parts. Each chapter is labeled “now” and “then”. The story first begins “now” with Bobby up at night with his 11-day-old daughter lying on his chest. The next chapter, “then”, goes back in time to his 16th birthday and the day that his girlfriend, Nia, tells him that she is pregnant. The story continues this way, going back and forth until time meets and “then” is “now”. This makes for a dramatic effect because the reader knows that Bobby ends up with Feather, but doesn’t know how or why until later in the book. There is also one chapter entitled “Nia”, which is written in all italics and the reader gets a glimpse inside of Nia’s thoughts. In addition, the last chapter is entitled “heaven” when Bobby decides to move.

The story is written in the first-person point-of-view and we see the events happen through the eyes of the young protagonist, Bobby. The words are directed to the reader, as if Bobby is standing there talking to us. We learn of his thoughts and feelings as he learns of the pregnancy, having to tell his family and friends, and the struggle he goes through while trying to decide what to do: “I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Nothing ever is, anymore" (pg. 27). The author uses poetic words to describe Bobby’s turmoil. Johnson also uses many short, single lines to make powerful statements: “I forgot Feather and left her all alone” (pg. 23). Another interesting twist, is that Bobby turns his life into a fairy tale and tells as about what would be a good day: “So here’s a good day/We’ll call it a fairy tale day/Once upon a time, really right now, there was this hero (I always wanted to be one) who lived in the city…”

This book contains characters that seem like “real” people that have both flaws and strengths. The reader learns about Bobby and the other people in his life through his thoughts and interactions with them. For example, “color and sound is what my parents were always about” (pg. 21). We see Bobby growing more mature as he comes to understand that another life now depends on him. He has a moment of clarification when he realizes “I know what she does when she just needs me” (pg. 15). However, there are also moments where the reader is reminded that Bobby is still a 16-year-old kid. For example, he and his friends turn a teacher’s room upside-down. A young reader can relate to his character and understand why Bobby was more afraid of what his friends would say than about what his parents would say when they found out about the pregnancy. Friends are important to teenagers and they value their opinions more than the opinions of their parents sometimes.

Teenagers can also relate to how hard it is to express one’s thoughts and feelings. Bobby best expressed himself when drawing and painting. At one point in the story, he paints his life on a wall. He expresses his emotions and feelings when painting himself as a ghost and Feather as a faceless baby. He’s struggling to understand who he is, who she is, and what his new role is in life. Finally, other teenagers know what it’s like to feel alone. Toward then end of the book, the reader is introduced to Bobby’s older brother Paul: “I like having him here. All of a sudden I don’t feel so alone” (pg. 90).

There are some powerful themes, including making the right decision and becoming a man, taking responsibility for your actions, and learning to love someone. Bobby talks about a man called “Just Frank”, who used to ask if he was being a “man”. The main conflict of the story is that Bobby’s girlfriend gets pregnant and they have to decide what to do with the baby and then, once Bobby brings the baby home, he has to learn to take care of her. Bobby’s relationship with Feather grows and develops until he tells his brother: “I’ve never been closer to or loved anybody more than I love Feather” (pg. 95).

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
School Library Journal
“Brief, poetic, and absolutely riveting, this gem of a novel tells the story of a young father struggling to raise an infant…Bobby's parents are well-developed characters, Nia's upper-class family somewhat less so. Flashbacks lead to the revelation in the final chapters that Nia is in an irreversible coma caused by eclampsia. This twist, which explains why Bobby is raising Feather on his own against the advice of both families, seems melodramatic…However, any flaws in the plot are overshadowed by the beautiful writing. Scenes in which Bobby expresses his love for his daughter are breathtaking.”

Booklist
“Bobby, the teenage artist and single-parent dad in Johnson's Coretta Scott King Award winner, Heaven (1998), tells his story here…There's no romanticizing…But from the first page, readers feel the physical reality of Bobby's new world: what it's like to hold Feather on his stomach, smell her skin, touch her clenched fists, feel her shiver, and kiss the top of her curly head. Johnson makes poetry with the simplest words in short, spare sentences that teens will read again and again.”

5. CONNECTIONS
* Kid’s Reviews
Jawon: “I think that the book was great. It had my attention the whole book, and it is not a lot of books that can do that. He was so young and he had a child and I wanted to know how he dealt with it.”

Anthony: “I think that this book was very good. I say this because it was very emotional. Another thing is that it was full of details. When I heard this book, it made me think about why you should not have a baby at a young age.

"I really enjoyed the book, The First Part Last. While I was reading this book, I felt like the author was really talking to me…The setting was in a rough city neighborhood, which really made it seem real. The idea of the book really related to a lot of teenagers, which made a great theme."

"This is probably one of the best books I have ever read…It's haunting in its honesty. It's beautiful in its brevity.”

*Activities with this book:
-If appropriate and the person is willing, have someone come in that has personally experienced teenage parenting to talk to the class.
-Have the children paint a mural of their own lives on a poster board and encourage them to share it with the rest of the class.
-THE FIRST PART LAST is actually a prequel to another book, that the class might also enjoy reading: Johnson, Angela. 2000. HEAVEN. Simon Pulse. ISBN: 0689822901

Happy Reading!
Lonnie

Contemporary Realistic and Modern Fantasy Review #2

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lowry, Lois. 1993. THE GIVER. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395645662

2. PLOT SUMMARY
THE GIVER is the story of Jonas, who, when given his lifetime assignment as The Receiver, discovers that his perfect community in which he lives is not so perfect after all.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This 1994 Newbery Award-winning novel is a gripping look at a futuristic ideal world where there is no pain, no suffering, and no emotions. This book would fall under the category of scientific fantasy, because of the use of advance technology and genetic scientists to create a world of Sameness. More specifically, this would be a dystopian fantasy, “a perfect world gone awry.”

The main protagonist, Jonas is the only fully developed character in the book. All of the other characters seem like perfect people, devoid of feelings and emotions. Children will be able to relate since this story because it told through the eyes of a young boy. They can relate to Jonas’s apprehension of what he will be doing as an adult, his need for the freedom to make choices, and feeling different from others: “Now, for the first time in his twelve years of life, Jonas felt separate, different” (pg. 65).

Lois Lowery does a great job at creating a new world of Sameness and providing the reader with enough detail to be able to visualize this made-up place. Jonas lives in a world full of strict rules that govern every aspect of his life. It is set some time in the future, in a nameless community where everything is orderly and where a person has to apply for and be approved for a spouse and children: “Two children-one male, one female-to each family unit” (pg. 8). However, this society is a world without colors, without animals, and without music. According to The Giver, “…We gained control of many things. But we had to let go of others” (pg. 95).

Children will be drawn into this compelling coming-of-age story. The plot is both believable and “internally consistency.” Jonas comes to learn that there used to be more to life than what he is currently experiencing. The reader joins Jonas as he discovers feelings of joy and pain for the first time. He starts to change and he yearns to be able to make choices in his life.

The first half of the book takes place in a single month in which Jonas is anxiously awaiting The Ceremony of the Twelve. When the day finally arrives, everyone is surprised to learn that he has been selected as the new Receiver. The rest of the book covers the span of a year, as The Giver transmits memories to Jonas: “It’s the memories of the whole world” that he must transmit to Jonas. Finally, the last few chapters are devoted to Jonas’s journey in which he actually experiences the things he learns about through the memories. He sees animals, it rains, it snows, and he experiences pain when he twists his ankle.

Lowry sets the mood at the very beginning of the book with Jonas feeling apprehensive. The mood continues to be bleak, shifting to a sense of forbidding, that something is not quite right. There is an especially powerful scene in which Jonas learns what Releasing really is: “He killed it! My father killed it!” (pg. 150). Lowry also does a good job of balancing narration and dialogue, especially between The Giver and Jonas.

Finally, THE GIVER contains some universal truths such as having strength and courage, the power of love, and the importance and power of memories. The themes emerge naturally from the story as Jonas starts to question the world around him. For example, there comes a moment where he expresses a selfless act of love, by taking Gabriel and running away: “For a fleeting second he felt that he wanted to keep it for himself…But the moment passed and was followed by an urge, a need, a passionate yearning to share the warmth with the one person left for him to love” (pg. 177)

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Amazon.com
“…With echoes of Brave New World…Lowry examines the idea that people might freely choose to give up their humanity in order to create a more stable society. Gradually Jonas learns just how costly this ordered and pain-free society can be, and boldly decides he cannot pay the price.”

Kirkus Reviews
“Lowry creates a chilling, tightly controlled future society where all controversy, pain, and choice have been expunged, each childhood year has its privileges and responsibilities, and family members are selected for compatibility…Jonas sets out with the baby on a desperate journey whose enigmatic conclusion resonates with allegory: Jonas may be a Christ figure, but the contrasts here with Christian symbols are also intriguing. Wrought with admirable skill--the emptiness and menace underlying this Utopia emerge step by inexorable step: a richly provocative novel.”

Publishers Weekly
“Lowry's development of this civilization is so deft that her readers, like the community's citizens, will be easily seduced by the chimera of this ordered, pain-free society…With a storyline that hints at Christian allegory and an eerie futuristic setting, this intriguing novel calls to mind John Christopher's Tripods trilogy and Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Match Girl. Lowry is once again in top form--raising many questions while answering few, and unwinding a tale fit for the most adventurous readers.”

School Library Journal
“Lowry has written an intriguing story set in a society that is uniformly run by a Committee of Elders…The tension leading up to the Ceremony, in which children are promoted not to another grade but to another stage in their life, and the drama and responsibility of the sessions with The Giver are gripping. The final flight for survival is as riveting as it is inevitable. The author makes real abstract concepts, such as the meaning of a life in which there are virtually no choices to be made and no experiences with deep feelings. This tightly plotted story and its believable characters will stay with readers for a long time.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Kids’ Reviews
“In the book The Giver, the main character Jonas lives in a utopian community…Jonas is the only child who is honored with the job "Receiver of Memories". He meets with a man known as "The Giver" every day. This man transfers memories of the past to Jonas. These memories give Jonas the power to know and understand feelings. Jonas uses this new knowledge to help him when a family member is in danger. Read the book to find out what is in store for Jonas.”

Frank, November 14, 2006
“When I read the book The Giver it made me think about different things. For instance, how would I feel about living in an utopia?...This is a good book you should read it.”

* Activities
-Have the children write what their own ideal world would be like and then share with the class.
-Have the children discuss what they would miss the most if we choose to live in Sameness: color, music, animals, and the freedom to make choices, ect.
-Have the children write their own story of what happens to Jonas next, after where the book leaves off: Does he join a new family, is the place like our world today, etc.
-Read the companions to THE GIVER:
Lowery, Lois. 2000. GATHERING BLUE. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 0618055819
Lowery, Lois. 2004. MESSENGER. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 0618404414

Happy Reading!
Lonnie

Contemporary Realistic and Modern Fantasy Review #1

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sachar, Louis. 1998. HOLES. New York: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 0439244196

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Do you believe in curses? Well, Stanley Yelnats does and he blames it on his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing great-great-grandfather. Stanley has been wrongly accused of a crime and sent to Camp Green Lake. There he joins other boys in digging holes, but what are they digging for? “Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment--and redemption” (Back Cover).

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Louis Sachar’s HOLES is the 1999 Newbery Medal winner. It has also won numerous other awards and honors including the National Book Award, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, and the Christopher Award for Juvenile Fiction. This amazing book is both funny and profound.

The only fully developed character in HOLES is the main protagonist, Stanley Yelnats. Young readers will relate to this typical teenager that faces the challenges of not having friends and being overweight. Stanley feels like he’s “defective” and that he cannot do anything right. He is happy when the other boys give him the nickname Caveman, because “It meant they accepted him as a member of the group” (pg. 54). The reader sees Stanley change in the story, has he learns and grows and becomes more mature.

The author also realistically describes the other characters in the book through Stanley thoughts and observations. The reader gets a vivid image of the boys in the camp just from the nicknames they are given: Squid, X-Ray, Magnet, Armpit, and ZigZag. Zero, thus called because everybody thinks he is a nobody, has a smile that is too big for his face. Then, there is Mr. Sir, who wears a cowboy hat and sunglasses, eat a bag of sunflowers seeds a week, and is fond of saying, “This isn’t a Girl Scout camp” (ironically enough, that’s exactly what it becomes). Next, is Mr. Pendanski, whom all the boys call “Mom”. He has some great words of wisdom to share, but no one takes him seriously. Finally, there is the Warden, who wears turquoise-studded black boots (that belonged to Kissin’ Kate) and says, “Excuse me” when anyone questions her authority.

In the very first paragraph, the author hooks the reader and establishes the setting of the story: “There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. There once was a very large lake here, the largest lake in Texas. That was over one hundred years ago. Now it is just a dry, flat wasteland” (pg. 3). In addition, the reader knows that the story is set in contemporary times because the author refers to famous authors and pop culture: a nursery rhyme, Sesame Street, cyberspace, and BMWs.

The plot is full of twists and turns, but everything comes together at the end. The story shows how we are all connected to each other, how we are connected to our pasts, and how destiny, or fate, can change our circumstances. It all started when Clyde Livingston’s sneakers fell from the sky. This sets off a chain of events that will alter Stanley’s life forever. He knew “It was too much of a coincidence to be a mere accident” (pg. 24). Stanley is arrested, sent to the camp, where he meets Zero. Zero turns out to be Madame Zeroni’s great-great-great-grandson, Hector Zeroni. The turning point in the story is when Stanley carries Zero up the mountain and sings him the Pig Lullaby. The curse is lifted from Stanley and his family. They start to have some good luck. His father invents a new product and Stanley digs up his great-grandfather’s suitcase.

Holes in divided into 3 parts and exactly 50 chapters. Part One: You Are Entering Camp Green Lake. Part Two: The Last Hole. Part Three: Filling In The Holes (both literary and figuratively). The story does not go in strict chronological order. The author uses short, dramatic chapters to move the reader from scene to scene. For example, there is one 2-page chapter in which the author just describes the deadly yellow-spotted lizards: “If you’ve ever been close enough to see the yellow spots, you are probably dead” (pg. 41). In addition, we do not learn why Stanley is sent to the camp until he is digging holes. The past is woven into the present through the use of flashbacks. The reader learns about Stanley’s great-great grandfather, Elya Yelnats, and how he becomes cursed. Then there are separate chapters where the reader learns the story behind Kissin’ Kate Barlow and how the lake dried up. The book also contains three sketches. Two are the initials KB written inside a heart, and the third is a diagram that Zero sketches to find their way back to camp. The author also acknowledges the reader several times in the book. “The reader is probably asking: Why would anyone go to Camp Green Lake?” (p.5). Finally, Sachar ties things up nicely, but allows the reader to use their imagination about the actual details of the events: “You will have to fill in the holes yourself” (pg. 240).

There are many universal themes found in HOLES: having hope, never giving up, having confidence in yourself, everybody is somebody, appreciating the little things in life, the importance of friends, and taking responsibility for your own actions. Stanley and his family have awful luck, but they remain hopeful. As his father so aptly puts it, “I learn from failure.” The reader also learns from Stanley how to get through the tough times. He thought about quitting, but he did not: “He took it one shovelful at a time and tried not to think of the awesome task that lay ahead of him” (pg. 49). This is true whether digging a hole or climbing a mountain or doing anything that seems impossible.

At the beginning of the story, we learn that “Whenever anything went wrong, they always blame Stanley’s no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather” (pg. 7). However, Stanley comes to realize that he cannot blame everything on someone else. When he stole the truck and ran it into a how, he realized that “This time it was his own fault, one hundred percent” (pg. 148). Finally, Stanley learns about being loyal to friends. At first, Stanley “…didn’t care what Zero thought. Zero was nobody” (pg. 81). Then, they start helping each other out and they become friends. Three times, he refuses to leave Zero. First, Stanley goes to find Zero when he wanders off and everyone thought he was dead. Then, he does not leave him when Zero collapses, but carries him all the way up the mountain. Finally, Stanley refuses to leave Camp Green Lake without him. He learns how to be a true friend.

The issue of race is also brought up. We learn, when Miss Katherine kisses Sam, that “It’s against the law for a Negro to kiss a white woman” (pg. 113). Sam is killed and Miss Katherine becomes the outlaw, Kissin’ Kate Barlow. In the present, Stanley says they have no racial problems between the boys because “On the lake they were all the same reddish brown color-the color of dirt” (pg. 84). However, the black boys get upset when Zero starts helping Stanley dig his hole: “The white boy sits around while the black boy does all the work” (pg. 117).

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Publishers Weekly (Starred review)
“A dazzling blend of social commentary, tall tale and magic realism.”

School Library Journal (Starred review)
“The author's ability to knit Stanley and Zero's compelling story in and out of a history of intriguing ancestors is captivating. Stanley's wit, integrity, faith, and wistful innocence will charm readers. A multitude of colorful characters coupled with the skillful braiding of ethnic folklore, American legend, and contemporary issues is a brilliant achievement. There is no question, kids will love Holes.”

The New York Times Book Review
“Sachar inserts humor that gives the suspense steep edges; the tone is as full of surprises as the plot.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Kids Reviews
Read Holes, November 20, 2006 I think that Holes is a great book for people that like realistic fiction. This is a great book for anyone ages eight and older. Holes is a great book because it is funny, scary, and sad. If you have any free time read Holes.

*Activities with this book:
-Do a “Brown Bag” book report. The following items can be included: a picture of Texas, a toy shovel, an orange hat, an onion, a peach, and a rubber lizard.
-Have the children create bookmarks depicting different scenes from the book.
-Read the sequel to HOLES. (This book tells the story of Armpit)
Sachar, Louis. SMALL STEPS. 2006. New York: Delacorte Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0385733143

Happy Reading!
Lonnie

Historical Fiction Review #3

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Curtis, Christopher Paul. 1995. THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM—1963. New York: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 0590690140

2. PLOT SUMMARY
THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM—1963 is a story of the Watson Family, their life in Flint, Michigan and their trip to Birmingham, Alabama in 1963.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM—1963 is a multiple award-winning book. It is a Newbery Honor Book, a Coretta Scott King Honor Book, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and an ALA Notable Book. This is a well-written work of historical fiction. It is highly authentic, with a well-established setting. The story is set in 1963, first in Flint, Michigan, where the author Christopher Paul Curtis grew up, then traveling on I-75, “a road that runs all the way from Flint to Florida,” and finally in Birmingham, Alabama, during the unsettling times of the Civil Rights Movement.

Each chapter has a title, taken from a phrase somewhere within the chapter. They are fun and imaginative, such as “The World’s Greatest Dinosaur War Ever” (Ch. 3). The title of the book comes from Momma’s notebook, detailing the plans for their road trip. Curtis vividly recreates the times by referring to the 60’s pop culture. The reader learns about the shows and movies of the times (The Great Carp Escape, Lawrence Welk Show and “the worst cartoon ever made, Clutch Cargo”) and famous people (Sugar Ray Robinson, the fighter Joe Louis, and singers Nat King Cole and Dinah Washington). We also learn about the hairstyles of the times: “Byron had gotten a conk! (pg. 87). Finally, the reader learns about the new technology, such as the TT AB-700 Ultra-Glide -“a drive-around record player” that plays 45s. Cutis has also included expressions of the times, such as “cut up” and “being cool or square.”

The reader is able to identify with the story’s main protagonist, 10-year-old Kenny, and other members of his family. They come alive as we learn about each other their personalities. For example, we learn that Kenny’s favorite expression, when there are troubles, is “tied me to a tree and said, “Ready, aim, fire!” and his favorite record to listen to is “Yakety Yak.” Children can relate to the story because they get a sense of how events were perceived by other children. The reader can also tell that the story is told by a child because of some of the expressions used, such as “It was one of those super-duper-cold Saturdays" (pg. 1). Kenny’s character also uses some great comparisons that allow the reader to visualize the situation. My favorite is the visual I get when I read, “Brown Bomber must look like a bug lying on its back with four skinny brown legs kicking and twitching to try to put it back on its feet” (pg. 148).

The storyline runs smoothly and the plot is easy to follow. The turning point in the story is when the Wastons go to Birmingham. Everything changes while the Watsons are in Birmingham. Bryson becomes nice, saying, “yes ma’am” and not getting in trouble. Kenny, on the other hand, does get in trouble when he disobeys his grandma and goes swimming at Collier’s Landing. He is caught in a whirlpool and almost drowns.

There are many universal themes found in this book: the importance of family, friendship, how it is okay to be different and accepting differences in other people, and racial prejudice. For example, Kenny meets Rufus Fry, a new kid from Arkansas, who is different from the other kids. Kenny learns that they shoot and eat squirrels and they are poor and cannot afford a lot of clothes or food. While other people make fun of him, (the kids laugh at his “country style of talking”) Kenny learns what it means to be a friend. He shares his food, his toys, and his leather gloves with Rufus. The reader also learns about forgiveness from the characters. Kenny laughs about Cody’s jeans and Rufus gets upset, but then forgives him when Kenny apologizes.

The reader also gets a sense of the racial discrimination against African Americans during these times. Throughout the book, the reader gets little glimpses that lead up to the bombing at the church in Birmingham. For example, when Momma says that Birmingham is a good place and Dad said, “Oh yeah, they’re a laugh a minute down there. Let’s see, where was that ‘Coloreds Only’ bathroom downtown?” (pg. 5). Finally, this book demonstrates that we can all be heroes. Byron was a hero when he saved Kenny from drowning. Kenny was a hero when he somehow saved Joetta from the church bombing.

The reader knows that this is a work of historical fiction because the author includes an Epilogue at the end of the book, in which he explains that at the time of the story, the Civil Rights Movement was happening. Curtis explains how African Americans were segregated and that “the worst sections of public facilities were set aside for “Coloreds Only’” (pg. 207). Curtis comes right out and says, “The characters and events in this novel are fictional” (pg. 208). However, there were bombings in Birmingham in 1963. He dedicates the book in memory of four teenagers that were killing in one such bombing on September 15, 1963. By including a church bombing involving the Watsons in his story, the reader experiences what it may have been like to be there. We see how the event traumatizes Kenny and how he works through his feelings of anguish and uncertainty.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Publishers Weekly (Starred, Boxed Review)
“An exceptional first novel.”

The Horn Book Magazine (Starred Review)
"Superb . . . a warmly memorable evocation of an African American family.”

The New York Times Book Review
“Marvelous . . . both comic and deeply moving.”

School Library Journal (Starred Review)
“Ribald humor . . . and a totally believable child's view of the world will make this book an instant hit.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Kids’ Reviews
October 27, 2006
"Christopher Paul Curtis brings his characters to life with his outstanding writing. I found myself falling into another world as I began to read each and every night.”

The greatest book in the world! October 19, 2006
“The book Watsons go to Birmingham 1963 is the coolest book ever. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like this book. I love this book, its soooo funny, except the true part that was sooo sad.”

*Activities
-Have the children pick their favorite scene from the book and make their own Readers Theater Script from it. Then, have different groups read their scripts.
-Read Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream…” speech and discuss how things have changed for African Americans since the Civil Rights Movement.

Happy Reading!
Lonnie

Historical Fiction Review #2

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Park, Linda Sue. 2001. A SINGLE SHARD. New York: Dell Yearling. ISBN 0440418518

2. PLOT SUMMARY
A SINGLE SHARD is about Tree-ear, an orphan in 12th Century Korea. He goes to work for a potter, Min, and learns about making pottery. As the story unfolds, Tree-ear sets off on a journey to deliver some vases Songdo. This is a story of his experiences, his journey, and how he comes to have a family.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
A SINGLE SHARD is the 2002 Newbery Medal winner. It is also a part of the Dell Yearling Series, which are designed “especially to entertain and enlighten young people.” This is exactly what this book does.

The author, Linda Sue Park establishes the setting of the book right up front: “A small village on the west coast of Korea, mid-to late twelfth century.” The time and place is recreated beautifully as the reader learns about Korean culture and customs, a little bit of the history of Korea, and the process of producing Celadon pottery. For example, we learn that a person bows their head and holds out their hands, palms up and together when accepting something. We also learn that the people wear tunics and the poor were allowed to glean the rice fields. The reader also learns some Korean words and phrases, such as a jiggeh (“an open-framed back pack made of branches”), kimchee (“pickled cabbage vivid with seasonings of red pepper, green onions, and garlic”), and Ajima (“a term of great affection reserved only for older kinswomen).

The reader meets most of the main characters in the first chapter, including the young protagonist Tree-ear, his friend Crane-man, and the Master potter Min. We learn of the characters personalities and see how they grow and change over time. The plot evolves naturally as Tree-ear experiences and learns new things: becoming Min’s apprentice, learning the art of pottery, and his journey to Songdo to see the Royal Emissary. For example, the reader learns about pottery and the process of creating celadon pottery that has the “radiance of jade, clarity of water.” The writing flows smoothly, with the author inserting historical information right into the storyline, such as the legend behind “Rock of the Falling Flowers.”

Common themes emerge, including the value of work, family, courage, and respect. Family is those who take care of you and Crane-man cared for Tree-ear. He bandaged his wounds, made shoes for him, and taught him lessons of life. Some of Crane-man’s words of wisdom include: “I think it a waste for either of us to spend too much time in sorrow over something we cannot change” and “The same wind that blows one door shut often blows another open.” The potter’s wife also cared for Tree-ear and became Ajima to him, feeding him food and giving him warm clothes. Finally, Min taught him about the process of pottery. Tree-ear learned how to cut wood for the kilns, cut clay from the shore, drain the clay, model, etc.

There are some reoccurring symbols in the book. One is a monkey, Crane’s pet name for Tree-ear. He calls him “monkey friend” and “stubborn monkey.” He tells the story of how the monks came to get him, and Tree-ear clung to Crane like a monkey and would not let go. Tree also molds a clay monkey for Crane so he won’t forget him while he’s on his journey. The monkey symbolizes the affection and love between the two friends. Another symbol is the plum tree. It is used to show the passage of time, when it bloomed and when its leaves turned gold. The plums are also a source of food for Crane-man and Tree-ear. Finally, the image of the plum trees and branches symbolized peace for Tree-ear. Tree-ear had a dream of making a prunus vase, which is “designed for one purpose-to display a single branch of flowering plum.” Looking at this gave him a feeling of peace, that nothing could go wrong in the world.

At the end of the last chapter, the author includes information about a prized Korean prunus vase called the “Thousand Cranes Vase.” Its maker is unknown, but it is implied that the book is a possible story of its creator. This book is highly authenticity. In the Author’s Note, Park explains about Korea and its history, that there were very few homeless people because families took care of each other or the monks at the temples took the poor in. She also discusses the Korean celadon potters of the Koryo era (A.D. 918-1392). Park points out that every piece of pottery mentioned in the book actually exists. The reader also learns that the law requiring “potters’ sons to follow the trade of the fathers” was not actually instituted until 1543, but in Tree-ear’s time, it was definitely a custom. Finally, the reader learns about some of the resources used by the author, including Simon Winchester’s book KOREA: A WALK THROUGH THE LAND OF MIRACLES.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Horn Book Guide
“Park's story is alive with fascinating information about life and art in ancient Korea.”

Kirkus Reviews, Starred
“Intrigues, danger, and the same strong focus on doing what is right turn a simple story into a compelling read. . . . A timeless jewel.”

Booklist
“This quiet, but involving, story draws readers into a very different time and place. Though the society has its own conventions, the hearts and minds and stomachs of the characters are not so far removed from those of people today. Readers will feel the hunger and cold that Tree-ear experiences, as well as his shame, fear, gratitude, and love. A well-crafted novel with an unusual setting.”

5. CONNECTIONS
This is a great book to share when learning about different cultures, since it is set in Korea.

*Activities with this book:
This book contains valuable information for further class discussions. “What’s So Special About Celadon” can be read to learn more about pottery and the special features of celadon stoneware.

Learn more about the author:
There is also “An Interview with Newbery Award Winner Linda Sue Park” is which the author discusses where she got the idea for the book, how long it took to write the book and the research she does for her books. Park also talks about her favorite books, becoming a writer, and what it was like to win the Newbery Award.

Read other books by Linda Sue Park:
SEESAW GIRL-Illustrated by Jean and Mou-Sien Tseng
THE KITE FIGHTERS
WHEN MY NAME WAS KEOKO

*Kids Reviews
Stefan's Review, September 26, 2006
“I thought this book was one of the best books I have ever read, even though the beginning is very slow, the journey becomes the most exiting and suspenseful part of the book. I recommend this book to people who like books that are a little suspenseful and sad.”

Happy Reading!
Lonnie

Historical Fiction Review #1

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Paulsen, Gary. 1998. SOLDIER’S HEART: BEING THE STORY OF THE ENLISTMENT AND DUE SERVICE OF THE BOY CHARLEY GODDARD IN THE FIRST MINNESOTA VOLUNTEERS: A NOVEL OF THE CIVIL WAR. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 0385324987

2. PLOT SUMMARY
SOLDIER’S HEART is the story of Charley Goddard and his experiences while fighting in the Civil War. “Battle by battle, Gary Paulsen shows one boy’s war through one boy’s eyes and one boy’s heart, and gives a voice to all the anonymous young men who fought in the Civil War” (Excerpt taken from inside flap of book).

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
SOLDIER’S HEART is a fictionalized account of an actual person, during actual events in history. The book begins in June 1861, when Charley Goddard enlists in the First Minnesota volunteers, highlights four major battles, and ends in June 1865, after Charley came home from the war. This is an authentic historical novel, told through the eyes of a 15-year-old boy. The first chapter sets up the story, where the reader learns that Charley’s father was kicked to death by a horse and Charley wants to be man and go earn money for the family by fighting in the war.

Gary Paulsen includes many aids to help the reader get the most out of the book. First, he includes a picture of Charley Goddard from the Minnesota Historical Society Collections, both on the cover of the book and on the page facing the title page. This way the reader can visualize Charlie while reading about his experiences during the war. Then, there is a double-paged map entitled “Charley Goddard’s Civil War,” with the paths he traveled and stars marking where the battles were fought, including Bull Run and Gettysburg. Next, there is a Content page listing the chapter numbers, titles, and page numbers. At the beginning, there is also a Foreword, in which the reader learns the origins of the book’s title. Paulsen discusses the mental damage sustained by people who fight in wars. Post-traumatic stress disorder was not always a recognized as a syndrome and it had did names at different times. For example, it was known as battle fatigue in WWII and shell shock in WWI. During the time of the Civil War, the syndrome was not recognized at all. “These men were somehow different from other men. They were said to have soldier’s heart.”

At the end of the book is an Author’s Note, where Paulsen states that the book is partly a work of fiction, but that Charley Goddard really existed. The reader learns what is fact and what is fiction. First, Paulsen states that every event is factual. On the other hand, he took minor liberties with timing. For example, Charley did not really fight in Bull Run. However, Charley did fight at Gettysburg and was severely wounded. Those wounds, as well as mental anguish, lead to Charley’s early death in December 1868, when he was just 23 (pg. 104). Finally, there is also a Selected Sources section in which Paulsen lists some of the resources he used for this book.

The reoccurring themes of the book include war and death: “The dead all looked alike. Broken. Like broken toys or dolls” (pg. 37). The reader learns of Charley’s thoughts and feelings as he fights in battles and witnesses horrible acts of humanity. “If it was left up to the men who did the killing and dying there would be no war” (pg. 64). History is definitely not sugarcoated is this book. Battle scenes are vividly described, almost to the point of overwhelming the reader. For example, Charley’s character describes the bodies falling and the sound of bullets: “like a blade cutting grain…like horizontal hail” (p. 26).

Each chapter, each battle, ends with a single dramatic sentence: “First battle.” “Second battle.” “Third battle.” etc. The writing style also includes some dialogue between Charley and other soldiers. There is one scene is the book when Charley trades with a Reb, who calls him “blue belly,” and the Reb says, “This is right stupid ain’t it?” when talking about fighting.

The author includes some historical information into the story line, such as the reputation of the Minnesota regiment: “cool under fire” and “well disciplined” (pg. 44). We also learn about the food they ate (salt pork and beans) and about the costs of food: “Pies for the outrageous sum of twenty-five cents each.” In addition, the reader learns about the men “farming”-stealing food as they marched through towns. Finally, we learn that Confederate revolvers were wanted as souvenirs.

The turning point in the Civil War was the Battle of Gettysburg. The reader gets a sense of what it would have been like through Charley’s thoughts. He said that what was different about this battle is that they were above the Rebs, in a sheltered position, “with all the guns in the world behind him” (pg. 91). We see the conflicting emotions and thoughts of the people expressed when Charley said that he “nearly felt sorry for them. They were so brave, he thought-or foolish” (pg. 93). The last chapter in the book takes place after the war, when Charley in twenty-one. Charley says that he is old. “Old from too much life, old from seeing too much, old from knowing too much” (pg. 98). The ending leaves the reader hanging, wondering if Charley ends up committing suicide. However, we learn of his fate in the Author’s Notes.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
“Paulsen's storytelling is so psychologically true that readers will feel they have lived through Charley's experiences.”

The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
“The brevity, power, and deceptive simplicity of this novella again demonstrate why young adult readers greet Paulsen titles with unabashed enthusiasm.”

The New York Times
“A stark, utterly persuasive novel of combat life in the Civil War that may well challenge generations of middle-school readers.”

Booklist (Starred List, Starred Review)
“The novel's spare, simple language and vivid visual images of brutality and death on the battlefield make it accessible and memorable to young people.”

5. CONNECTIONS
* Kid’s Reviews
Interest, but only interesting..., June 5, 2006
“This is a book of action and survival and not a bad read.”
Great! June 5, 2006
“A person should read this book because this book is full action and the action is non-stop.”

*Activities with this book:
-Plan a visit to an American History Museum that has a section on the Civil War era
-Watch documentaries on the Civil War, such as SMITHSONIAN'S GREAT BATTLES OF THE CIVIL WAR, VOL. 1: 1861-1862 (1992)

*Read Other Books about the Civil War:
-BULL RUN by Paul Fleischman
-THE BOYS' WAR: CONFEDERATE AND UNION SOLDIERS TALK ABOUT THE CIVIL WAR by Jim Murphy
-THE LAND by Mildred D. Taylor

Happy Reading!
Lonnie