Speak
Laurie Halse Anderson
Anderson, Laurie H. 2006. Speak. (Platinum Edition). New York: Penguin Group. ISBN: 0142407321.
A teenage girl. A tragic event. These two should never have to go together, but when they are brought together in Speak, a powerful and life changing story is the result. Melinda Sordino starts her story in the weeks before her first day of high school. Everyone hates her because she called the police during a party in the woods. Told in a form of stream of consciousness, the reader discovers that Melinda has a secret and cannot tell anyone why she called the police. As the story goes forward, told in quarters of a semester, the reader finds that Melinda is slowly losing her grip on reality, suffering depression, anxiety, thoughts of suicide, and selective mutism. It is halfway through the book that Melinda tells the reader she was raped in the woods. Living with this guilt has sent Melinda into a tailspin. Art class seems to be her only reprieve and the reader can see her transformation through her art as the story progresses. It is only after being confronted with her rapist again that she regains her voice and attempts to pull her life back together from the ruins she has left it. With an ending that exudes hope and deliverance, Melinda is finally able to do something about her situation: SPEAK.
Melinda is quite possibly one of the strongest characters a reader can come across in any genre of fiction. This young girl pulls at the heartstrings in the first sentence of the book, “It is my first morning of high school. I have seven new notebooks, a skirt I hate, and a stomachache” (Anderson, 3). There are very few people who cannot relate to that thought. Young adult readers see the story through her eyes and can relate to her situations and problems, as this is how they think and act too. Melinda takes a horrible journey in this book, however she comes out stronger and smarter and her growth as a fictional character leaves the reader satisfied that she will turn out all right.
The plot of this story might make some uncomfortable, which is good because it will start them thinking and make them more aware of the world that exists outside of their box. This story reads like something one might find on the nightly news or an expose in a newspaper. The plot is so engaging that one will find themselves turning the pages faster than they can be read. The “what happens next” aspect of the book leads to twists and turns that keep the reader on edge. The climax of the story comes near the end and is exactly what the reader can hope for. While then ending can be characterized as happy, it is better characterized as optimistic. The narrator, Melinda, has a chance to put her past behind her and make her future bright.
High school, a contemporary setting that most can relate to. From the hallways, bells, and hall passes to the cliques, lunchtime, and buses. It is a part of growing up that most readers will have experienced in their life. This setting is believable because it is real. The great thing about the setting in this book is that it goes beyond the high school. The setting could almost be Melinda’s mind. It is here that the reader spends the majority of the book. This setting tells more to the reader then description of the high school.
An important topic or theme of this book is the high school experience. Growth and inner strength play a large part in the latter part of the book. These emerge in the book at the rate Melinda lets them. Her growth can go no faster then what she thinks and over the course of her freshmen year of high school the reader realizes this. This may resonate with the readers of Speak as it will help them understand that things cannot be rushed when they have no place to go.
As mentioned before the text of the book takes on a type of stream of consciousness. The reader reads what Melinda thinks and sees and nothing more. The point of view of the story is appropriate as Melinda is the only one that can tell this story. The emphasis on narration over dialogue is also important. All of these aspects lead to the style the book is written in as the only appropriate way. Third person would detract from the story and leave much to be desired. It is obvious that the author wanted to tell this story. Written so eloquently and with such emotion it is hard to believe this is not a true story. It reads with such raw and blatant emotion.
When speaking to the gender and culture of this book it is hard to get away from typecasting and stereotyping. Those two words can quite possibly explain the whole high school experience. However, Anderson never lets those characteristics touch her main character. Never once does the main character become sugarcoated to appeal to an audience. She is real. She has a real problem and real emotions and she tells the story of many young women who may have had her real experiences touch their lives. She is a real to the point that the reader reaches out to her in their mind’s eye, they cry for her, feel for her, and perhaps are her.
Speak has become a modern classic and has won many awards to prove this. Starting with the Michael L. Printz Honor in 2000 it has also been honored with being a National Book Award Finalist, a Junior Library Guild Selection, and a School Library Journal best book of the year.
From Publishers Weekly
“The book's overall gritty realism and Melinda's hard-won metamorphosis will leave readers touched and inspired.”
From Booklist (starred review)
“Melinda's sarcastic wit, honesty, and courage make her a memorable character whose ultimate triumph will inspire and empower readers.”
From School Library Journal
“This powerful novel deals with a difficult yet important topic-rape. Melinda is just starting high school. It should be one of the greatest times in her life, but instead of enjoying herself, she is an outcast. She has been marked as the girl who called the police to break up the big end-of-the-summer party, and all the kids are angry at her. Even her closest friends have pulled away. No one knows why she made the call, and even Melinda can't really articulate what happened. As the school year goes on, her grades plummet and she withdraws into herself to the point that she's barely speaking. Her only refuge is her art class, where she learns to find ways to express some of her feelings. As her freshman year comes to an end, Melinda finally comes to terms with what happened to her-she was raped at that party by an upperclassman who is still taunting her at school. When he tries again, she finds her voice, and her classmates realize the truth. The healing process will take time, but Melinda no longer has to deal with it alone. Anderson expresses the emotions and the struggles of teenagers perfectly. Melinda's pain is palpable, and readers will totally empathize with her. This is a compelling book, with sharp, crisp writing that draws readers in, engulfing them in the story.” Dina Sherman, Brooklyn Children's Museum, NY.
Art is one of the things that helps to bring Miranda back to life. Her struggles and frustrations are seen in her art and reflect the different moods of her freshman year. The art teacher Mr. Freeman starts his class by making each student pick a subject out of a box. This is their subject for the entire semester. This might be a good introduction for beginning discussion of the book with a classroom. Each student or group member can choose a scrap of paper out a hat and then create a work of art on that subject. This can be an icebreaker to begin discussion about a book with a sensitive subject. After completion of this project then discussion can be opened and students or group members can begin to speak themselves.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
When You Reach Me
Rebecca Stead
Stead, Rebecca. 2009. When You Reach Me. New York: Random House Children’s Books. ISBN: 9780385737425.
Defying the laws of time and space, Miranda is caught in a web of confusion as she receives notes that seem to come from the future, predicting events in her life. Growing up in 1970’s New York City, Miranda is the average pre-teen with friends, fights, and teenage angst. Miranda starts to receive notes in odd places about events that are going to happen in her life. The one that frightens her most talks about saving lives from disaster. After her best friend, Sal, decides to take a break from their friendship Miranda sets out to make new friends. One of these new acquaintances is a boy named Marcus, who unbeknownst to her also happens to be the crazy man that lives under the mailbox on their street. This is where the laws of time and space unravel and at the end when the crazy man saves Sal from being hit by a bus by sacrificing himself, Miranda realizes the impossible truth. Marcus and the crazy man were one and the same. Using her copy of Madeline L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time as her basis of understanding time travel, Miranda tries to piece it all together.
Part mystery, part fantasy, and part realism, the characters in this book are as realistic as they come. Teenage angst is a trait that most people can relate to and in this book the characters have it down to an art form. Miranda is the quintessential New Yorker; she is able to take care of herself but sometimes needs a mother’s touch. Her friends all come from different backgrounds and fill the proverbial melting pot of which the country is. By the end of the book the reader feels as if they are part of the book, identifying with the characters and feeling their pain is the mark of a good author. You care and you want to see them persevere.
With the small element of the fantastical present, this plot is still believable and the “what if” quality makes one wonder is time travel could be possible and should we look more carefully around us. This original plotline involves a quest of sorts. Miranda wants to figure out why Sal has decided to push himself away from her, and on this quest she is able make different friends and unravel the mystery of the notes she finds placed strategically for her to find.
Since the setting for this story is New York City, the visualization is easy to see in the mind’s eye. It is a place that is easily pictured; however the author does a fantastic job of describing Miranda’s apartment with the “lobby with the cigarette smell and the ugly ceiling light full of dead bugs” (Stead, 119.) Those small details give a bigger picture of what the world Miranda lives in looks like. Friendship is an overarching theme in When You Reach Me. All of the characters are dealing with how to keep and let go of friends. This requires some of them to sacrifice themselves while some are sacrificing others. This theme is perfect for the age group of the book, since this theme is also central in young adult’s lives. How the characters navigate their friendships could help readers understand what might work in their own lives.
The style of writing that the author chooses to use in her book is clear and concise with emphasis on dialogue versus narrative. Written in the first person, Miranda narrates her life and how it is seen through her eyes. She is straightforward and to the point with only a little trepidation in her thoughts. Miranda seems wise beyond her years and her speech reflects that. It has been only her and her mother for most of her life and the relationship appears symbiotic, they rely on each other and let each other’s strengths prevail.
Rebecca Stead won the Newbery Medal for When You Reach Me plus many other awards including: Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book of the Year (2009), Parents’ Choice Gold Award (2009), and New York Times Notable Book (2009). Winning these awards goes hand in hand with the starred reviews the book also received.
From School Library Journal, Starred Review.
Sixth-grader Miranda lives in 1978 New York City with her mother, and her life compass is Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. When she receives a series of enigmatic notes that claim to want to save her life, she comes to believe that they are from someone who knows the future. Miranda spends considerable time observing a raving vagrant who her mother calls the laughing man and trying to find the connection between the notes and her everyday life. Discerning readers will realize the ties between Miranda's mystery and L'Engle's plot, but will enjoy hints of fantasy and descriptions of middle school dynamics. Stead's novel is as much about character as story. Miranda's voice rings true with its faltering attempts at maturity and observation. The story builds slowly, emerging naturally from a sturdy premise. As Miranda reminisces, the time sequencing is somewhat challenging, but in an intriguing way. The setting is consistently strong. The stores and even the streets–in Miranda's neighborhood act as physical entities and impact the plot in tangible ways. This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers.–Caitlin Augusta, The Darien Library, CT
From The Horn Book Magazine, Starred Review.
"Closing revelations are startling and satisfying but quietly made, their reverberations giving plenty of impetus for the reader to go back to the beginning and catch what was missed."
From Booklist, Starred Review.
"[T]he mental gymnastics required of readers are invigorating; and the characters, children, and adults are honest bits of humanity no matter in what place or time their souls rest."
Readers who enjoyed this book might also enjoy Stead’s other book, First Light. For those that have never read A Wrinkly in Time, reading it will give some insight into Miranda as a character. For other books with a twist like time travel readers might enjoy: Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool, Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech, and Skellig by David Almond.
Time travel is an interesting subject as it allows the imagination to open up and make anything possible. A fun activity to try with a group of classroom is to pair students off and have them pick a place they would travel back in time to if it were possible. Have one student write as if they were in the present traveling back, and the other to write as if they were in the back traveling forwards. Their stories can then be combined and they can share what they learned about their “trips” while time traveling.
Rebecca Stead
Stead, Rebecca. 2009. When You Reach Me. New York: Random House Children’s Books. ISBN: 9780385737425.
Defying the laws of time and space, Miranda is caught in a web of confusion as she receives notes that seem to come from the future, predicting events in her life. Growing up in 1970’s New York City, Miranda is the average pre-teen with friends, fights, and teenage angst. Miranda starts to receive notes in odd places about events that are going to happen in her life. The one that frightens her most talks about saving lives from disaster. After her best friend, Sal, decides to take a break from their friendship Miranda sets out to make new friends. One of these new acquaintances is a boy named Marcus, who unbeknownst to her also happens to be the crazy man that lives under the mailbox on their street. This is where the laws of time and space unravel and at the end when the crazy man saves Sal from being hit by a bus by sacrificing himself, Miranda realizes the impossible truth. Marcus and the crazy man were one and the same. Using her copy of Madeline L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time as her basis of understanding time travel, Miranda tries to piece it all together.
Part mystery, part fantasy, and part realism, the characters in this book are as realistic as they come. Teenage angst is a trait that most people can relate to and in this book the characters have it down to an art form. Miranda is the quintessential New Yorker; she is able to take care of herself but sometimes needs a mother’s touch. Her friends all come from different backgrounds and fill the proverbial melting pot of which the country is. By the end of the book the reader feels as if they are part of the book, identifying with the characters and feeling their pain is the mark of a good author. You care and you want to see them persevere.
With the small element of the fantastical present, this plot is still believable and the “what if” quality makes one wonder is time travel could be possible and should we look more carefully around us. This original plotline involves a quest of sorts. Miranda wants to figure out why Sal has decided to push himself away from her, and on this quest she is able make different friends and unravel the mystery of the notes she finds placed strategically for her to find.
Since the setting for this story is New York City, the visualization is easy to see in the mind’s eye. It is a place that is easily pictured; however the author does a fantastic job of describing Miranda’s apartment with the “lobby with the cigarette smell and the ugly ceiling light full of dead bugs” (Stead, 119.) Those small details give a bigger picture of what the world Miranda lives in looks like. Friendship is an overarching theme in When You Reach Me. All of the characters are dealing with how to keep and let go of friends. This requires some of them to sacrifice themselves while some are sacrificing others. This theme is perfect for the age group of the book, since this theme is also central in young adult’s lives. How the characters navigate their friendships could help readers understand what might work in their own lives.
The style of writing that the author chooses to use in her book is clear and concise with emphasis on dialogue versus narrative. Written in the first person, Miranda narrates her life and how it is seen through her eyes. She is straightforward and to the point with only a little trepidation in her thoughts. Miranda seems wise beyond her years and her speech reflects that. It has been only her and her mother for most of her life and the relationship appears symbiotic, they rely on each other and let each other’s strengths prevail.
Rebecca Stead won the Newbery Medal for When You Reach Me plus many other awards including: Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book of the Year (2009), Parents’ Choice Gold Award (2009), and New York Times Notable Book (2009). Winning these awards goes hand in hand with the starred reviews the book also received.
From School Library Journal, Starred Review.
Sixth-grader Miranda lives in 1978 New York City with her mother, and her life compass is Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. When she receives a series of enigmatic notes that claim to want to save her life, she comes to believe that they are from someone who knows the future. Miranda spends considerable time observing a raving vagrant who her mother calls the laughing man and trying to find the connection between the notes and her everyday life. Discerning readers will realize the ties between Miranda's mystery and L'Engle's plot, but will enjoy hints of fantasy and descriptions of middle school dynamics. Stead's novel is as much about character as story. Miranda's voice rings true with its faltering attempts at maturity and observation. The story builds slowly, emerging naturally from a sturdy premise. As Miranda reminisces, the time sequencing is somewhat challenging, but in an intriguing way. The setting is consistently strong. The stores and even the streets–in Miranda's neighborhood act as physical entities and impact the plot in tangible ways. This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers.–Caitlin Augusta, The Darien Library, CT
From The Horn Book Magazine, Starred Review.
"Closing revelations are startling and satisfying but quietly made, their reverberations giving plenty of impetus for the reader to go back to the beginning and catch what was missed."
From Booklist, Starred Review.
"[T]he mental gymnastics required of readers are invigorating; and the characters, children, and adults are honest bits of humanity no matter in what place or time their souls rest."
Readers who enjoyed this book might also enjoy Stead’s other book, First Light. For those that have never read A Wrinkly in Time, reading it will give some insight into Miranda as a character. For other books with a twist like time travel readers might enjoy: Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool, Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech, and Skellig by David Almond.
Time travel is an interesting subject as it allows the imagination to open up and make anything possible. A fun activity to try with a group of classroom is to pair students off and have them pick a place they would travel back in time to if it were possible. Have one student write as if they were in the present traveling back, and the other to write as if they were in the back traveling forwards. Their stories can then be combined and they can share what they learned about their “trips” while time traveling.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale
Rapunzel’s Revenge
Shannon and Dean Hale
Hale, Shannon & Dean. 2008. Rapunzel’s Revenge. Illus. by Nathan Hale. New York: Bloomsbury, U.S.A. ISBN: 9781599900704.
The story of Rapunzel is a well-known classic brought to the present by the genius of the brothers Grimm. Shannon and Dean Hale bring it to graphic novel form in a spaghetti western fractured fairy tale book. In this retelling Rapunzel is a cowgirl at heart. She finds out that her “mother” Gothel, is not really her mother at all, but a magical witch. After discovering her real mother and many other secrets, she is locked in a taller than natural magical tree, with no way to escape until her hair grows long enough to lasso down. Along her escape route she meets up with an outlaw named Jack who travels with her on their adventures. Among other adventures Rapunzel and Jack are kidnapped, locked in jail, attacked by wild beasts and a sea serpent, and battle the evil sorceress Gothel. Since Rapunzel is a fairy tale at heart, the ending of this tale is a happy one with evil vanquished, love found, and family reunited.
The protagonist Rapunzel is easy to identify with for young girl readers. She is a strong, smart female out to right the wrongs that have been perpetrated against her. As the story goes on the reader begins to root for her and care that she gets out of the sticky situations that seem to be creeping up on her. As the main character Rapunzel has her namesake to live up to. Unlike the traditional tale, here Rapunzel takes matters into her own hands and rescues herself. Rapunzel’s ability to use her hair as a weapon in no way takes away from the believability of the character herself.
The plot of this graphic novel centers around the genre of bildungsroman, or psychological growth, of the main character. Here Rapunzel is tested mentally, physically, and emotionally as she tries to regain a life that was lost. Her journey takes her from what was once the comfort of home to jungles, deserts and oceans that hold no familiarity. In a graphic novel there are two ways to describe the setting, through the comic strip illustrations and the dialogue bubbles. In the case of Rapunzel’s Revenge the setting is mainly set through the illustrations. Vivid color and a mix of different sized squares allow for set up and take down of each individual scenario that the characters are engaged in. The details of the graphic novel illustrations are an integral part of the story as there is little narrative to accompany the spoken dialogue of the characters. Since this setting is a fictional fantastical place the illustrations have to show that, and here they do. There are elements of familiarity mixed with mythological to create a place that readers can identify with on the lip of their imaginations.
The theme, by and large, in Rapunzel’s Revenge is good versus evil. Righting wrongs and putting good back on top are the main themes. Rapunzel has to do these things not because she is the hero, but because she is innately good and her true nature knows nothing different. Her life has been a sacrifice, all though she does not realize this until she finds her real mother. She is now done with sacrificing and the story can center on the hope that exists for her regain what she had previously sacrificed. The style of writing for a graphic novel has to be succinct and clear as there is less time for character development and background. The Hale’s do an excellent job of this by using a character, like Rapunzel, that reader’s might already be familiar with. Written in first and third person, the reader gains a perspective of how the characters think and act by their thoughts and spoken words. Each character also has a very distinctive voice. Rapunzel’s voice changes over the course of the graphic novel. Beginning with an obedient and careful voice, as Rapunzel encounters more in her life her voice begins to change and the reader can see the transformation of the character.
Review for Rapunzel’s Revenge tend to focus on the combination of illustrations and words that work together to create a story that is larger then life.
From Booklist“This graphic novel retelling of the fairy-tale classic, set in a swashbuckling Wild West, puts action first and features some serious girl power in its spunky and strong heroine. Young Rapunzel lives a lonely life, never knowing what lies beyond the high garden walls of her mother’s royal villa until one day she climbs the wall to see what’s on the other side. When she finds that the world outside is a dark place oppressed by her mother’s greed for power and uncovers the real secret of her own birth, she is imprisoned in a magic tree tower. In her years of captivity, she learns a lot about self-reliance and care for her exceptionally long hair, and eventually she is able to escape, vowing to bring down her mother’s cruel empire. Hale’s art matches the story well, yielding expressive characters and lending a wonderful sense of place to the fantasy landscape. Rich with humor and excitement, this is an alternate version of a classic that will become a fast favorite of young readers.” Tina Coleman
From School Library Journal Starred Review
“This is the tale as you've never seen it before. After using her hair to free herself from her prison tower, this Rapunzel ignores the pompous prince and teams up with Jack (of Beanstalk fame) in an attempt to free her birth mother and an entire kingdom from the evil witch who once moonlighted as her mother. Dogged by both the witch's henchman and Jack's outlaw past, the heroes travel across the map as they right wrongs, help the oppressed, and generally try to stay alive. Rapunzel is no damsel in distress–she wields her long braids as both rope and weapon–but she happily accepts Jack's teamwork and friendship. While the witch's castle is straight out of a fairy tale, the nearby mining camps and rugged surrounding countryside are a throwback to the Wild West and make sense in the world that the authors and illustrator have crafted. The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive. Knowing that there are more graphic novels to come from this writing team brings readers their own happily-ever-after.” Cara von Wrangel Kinsey, New York Public Library
Awards won for this graphic novel are: an ALA Notable Children’s Book, a Cybils Award, an Indiebound Next Pick, YALSA Great Graphic Novel for Teens, and YALSA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults. Many other awards have also been given to this graphic novel.
For those that really enjoyed Rapunzel's Revenge, there is a second one in what looks to be a series called Calamity Jack. This time the story is told from Jack's perspective, with Rapunzel along for the ride.
With the burgeoning of graphic novels as a serious form of literature there are many ideas for classrooms and groups to do as activities. Using a well-known fairy tale character and giving her a new lease on life in graphic novel form is a trendsetting idea. There are many fairy tale characters to go around so each person could pick one and make an alternate tale and put it into graphic novel form. On large cardboard each person (or group) could animate a scene from their work.
Shannon and Dean Hale
Hale, Shannon & Dean. 2008. Rapunzel’s Revenge. Illus. by Nathan Hale. New York: Bloomsbury, U.S.A. ISBN: 9781599900704.
The story of Rapunzel is a well-known classic brought to the present by the genius of the brothers Grimm. Shannon and Dean Hale bring it to graphic novel form in a spaghetti western fractured fairy tale book. In this retelling Rapunzel is a cowgirl at heart. She finds out that her “mother” Gothel, is not really her mother at all, but a magical witch. After discovering her real mother and many other secrets, she is locked in a taller than natural magical tree, with no way to escape until her hair grows long enough to lasso down. Along her escape route she meets up with an outlaw named Jack who travels with her on their adventures. Among other adventures Rapunzel and Jack are kidnapped, locked in jail, attacked by wild beasts and a sea serpent, and battle the evil sorceress Gothel. Since Rapunzel is a fairy tale at heart, the ending of this tale is a happy one with evil vanquished, love found, and family reunited.
The protagonist Rapunzel is easy to identify with for young girl readers. She is a strong, smart female out to right the wrongs that have been perpetrated against her. As the story goes on the reader begins to root for her and care that she gets out of the sticky situations that seem to be creeping up on her. As the main character Rapunzel has her namesake to live up to. Unlike the traditional tale, here Rapunzel takes matters into her own hands and rescues herself. Rapunzel’s ability to use her hair as a weapon in no way takes away from the believability of the character herself.
The plot of this graphic novel centers around the genre of bildungsroman, or psychological growth, of the main character. Here Rapunzel is tested mentally, physically, and emotionally as she tries to regain a life that was lost. Her journey takes her from what was once the comfort of home to jungles, deserts and oceans that hold no familiarity. In a graphic novel there are two ways to describe the setting, through the comic strip illustrations and the dialogue bubbles. In the case of Rapunzel’s Revenge the setting is mainly set through the illustrations. Vivid color and a mix of different sized squares allow for set up and take down of each individual scenario that the characters are engaged in. The details of the graphic novel illustrations are an integral part of the story as there is little narrative to accompany the spoken dialogue of the characters. Since this setting is a fictional fantastical place the illustrations have to show that, and here they do. There are elements of familiarity mixed with mythological to create a place that readers can identify with on the lip of their imaginations.
The theme, by and large, in Rapunzel’s Revenge is good versus evil. Righting wrongs and putting good back on top are the main themes. Rapunzel has to do these things not because she is the hero, but because she is innately good and her true nature knows nothing different. Her life has been a sacrifice, all though she does not realize this until she finds her real mother. She is now done with sacrificing and the story can center on the hope that exists for her regain what she had previously sacrificed. The style of writing for a graphic novel has to be succinct and clear as there is less time for character development and background. The Hale’s do an excellent job of this by using a character, like Rapunzel, that reader’s might already be familiar with. Written in first and third person, the reader gains a perspective of how the characters think and act by their thoughts and spoken words. Each character also has a very distinctive voice. Rapunzel’s voice changes over the course of the graphic novel. Beginning with an obedient and careful voice, as Rapunzel encounters more in her life her voice begins to change and the reader can see the transformation of the character.
Review for Rapunzel’s Revenge tend to focus on the combination of illustrations and words that work together to create a story that is larger then life.
From Booklist“This graphic novel retelling of the fairy-tale classic, set in a swashbuckling Wild West, puts action first and features some serious girl power in its spunky and strong heroine. Young Rapunzel lives a lonely life, never knowing what lies beyond the high garden walls of her mother’s royal villa until one day she climbs the wall to see what’s on the other side. When she finds that the world outside is a dark place oppressed by her mother’s greed for power and uncovers the real secret of her own birth, she is imprisoned in a magic tree tower. In her years of captivity, she learns a lot about self-reliance and care for her exceptionally long hair, and eventually she is able to escape, vowing to bring down her mother’s cruel empire. Hale’s art matches the story well, yielding expressive characters and lending a wonderful sense of place to the fantasy landscape. Rich with humor and excitement, this is an alternate version of a classic that will become a fast favorite of young readers.” Tina Coleman
From School Library Journal Starred Review
“This is the tale as you've never seen it before. After using her hair to free herself from her prison tower, this Rapunzel ignores the pompous prince and teams up with Jack (of Beanstalk fame) in an attempt to free her birth mother and an entire kingdom from the evil witch who once moonlighted as her mother. Dogged by both the witch's henchman and Jack's outlaw past, the heroes travel across the map as they right wrongs, help the oppressed, and generally try to stay alive. Rapunzel is no damsel in distress–she wields her long braids as both rope and weapon–but she happily accepts Jack's teamwork and friendship. While the witch's castle is straight out of a fairy tale, the nearby mining camps and rugged surrounding countryside are a throwback to the Wild West and make sense in the world that the authors and illustrator have crafted. The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive. Knowing that there are more graphic novels to come from this writing team brings readers their own happily-ever-after.” Cara von Wrangel Kinsey, New York Public Library
Awards won for this graphic novel are: an ALA Notable Children’s Book, a Cybils Award, an Indiebound Next Pick, YALSA Great Graphic Novel for Teens, and YALSA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults. Many other awards have also been given to this graphic novel.
For those that really enjoyed Rapunzel's Revenge, there is a second one in what looks to be a series called Calamity Jack. This time the story is told from Jack's perspective, with Rapunzel along for the ride.
With the burgeoning of graphic novels as a serious form of literature there are many ideas for classrooms and groups to do as activities. Using a well-known fairy tale character and giving her a new lease on life in graphic novel form is a trendsetting idea. There are many fairy tale characters to go around so each person could pick one and make an alternate tale and put it into graphic novel form. On large cardboard each person (or group) could animate a scene from their work.
Friday, July 22, 2011
The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages
The Green Glass Sea
Ellen Klages
Klages, Ellen. 2006. The Green Glass Sea. New York: Viking Publishers. ISBN: 9780670061341.
World War II was a time of love and loss, strife and empowerment. Throughout the course of The Green Glass Sea, protagonist Dewey Kerrigan experiences all of those emotions, plus many more. Her story starts when she is reunited with her father in Los Alamos, NM, where he is a scientist. Dewey is a smart, shy, keeps to herself teenage girl with a penchant for building gadgets. The antagonist of this story, Suze Gordon, makes it point to make life miserable for Dewey on a fairly regular basis. It is only after Dewey’s father has to go to Washington D.C., and Dewey has to move in with the Gordon’s that we see a change come over both of them. The story ends with the death of Dewey’s father and her eventual integration into the family of the Gordon’s. It is here that she finds her place and voice in the world she lives.
The characters of this novel are very well rounded and versatile. The character of Dewey is the strongest and the reader grows with her as the story moves. She (and Suze) exhibit the typical emotions and characteristics on any pre-teen or teenage girl regardless of what decade they are living in. Reader will find it very easy to identify with Dewey, regardless of her self-imposed gawkiness. She has had to grow up fast and she is comfortable with herself and has no wish to change. Suze is also a character that is easy to identify with. Opposite of Dewey she wants nothing more than to fit in and be liked. She finds it hard to discover her real self, while constantly trying to be someone she is not. It is through her and Dewey’s friendship that she finds who she is supposed to be and not be afraid of it.
Plot and setting are very similar in this young adult historical novel. Living during WWII was both a time and a place. The plot centers on Los Alamos, NM and the secrecy of the Manhattan Project. The setting is exactly the same. Not overwhelmed with details, the reader has a sense of what it might have been like to live in a place that was not supposed to exist. With vivid descriptions of the Santa Fe area and the blast site, the reader can picture in their minds eye what it may have been like during this time. The time and place are very explicit as this was a huge part of the end of WWII.
The themes in The Green Glass Sea center on family and its importance in a young person’s life. Dewey only had her father to lean on and when he dies she is left an orphan. Suze has a strong family unit with both parents present and loving. When Dewey’s father dies she has no place else to turn. After running away because she fears no one wants her, she is found and invited to join the Gordon’s as a member of their family. This restores some of the faith that Dewey has lost, and also makes for an important theme of the book. Another theme that runs through the book is the universal theme of right and wrong. Many of the characters struggle with this, both Suze for her bullying, and her parents for taking part in a scientific discovery that could destroy the world. They are constantly struggling with their inner demons and how to avoid letting them rule their lives.
Ellen Klages has a very strong style of writing. Her characters are bold and her descriptions are vivid. She is able to capture the feelings that existed during WWII completely in her characters. She weaves a tale that is an important part of history into fictional characters and makes you believe they actually existed. Using real people and events in her fictional account also helps the validity of the story. She thoroughly researched her facts and left nothing to be desired in her balance between fact and fiction. Including a bibliography and authors note lend to the historical nature of her book.
This book was nominated and won many awards. Some of those include winner of the 2007 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, winner of the 2007 New Mexico State Book Award, finalist for the 2007 Locus Award, and Finalist for the 2007 Quill Awards. The reviews are also stacked in favor of this historical novel.
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“The two outcasts reluctantly come together when Dewey's father is called away to Washington, D.C., and Dewey temporarily moves in with Suze's family. Although the girls do not get along at first (Suze draws a chalk line in her room to separate their personal spaces), they gradually learn to rely on each other for comfort, support and companionship. Details about the era-popular music, pastimes and products-add authenticity to the story as do brief appearances of some historic figures including Robert Oppenheimer....the author provides much insight into the controversies surrounding the making of the bomb and brings to life the tensions of war experienced by adults and children alike.”
School Library Journal
“After the atomic bomb test succeeds, ethical concerns of both youngsters and adults intensify as the characters learn how it is ultimately used. Many readers will know as little about the true nature of the project as the girls do, so the gradual revelation of facts is especially effective, while those who already know about Los Alamos's historical significance will experience the story in a different, but equally powerful, way.”
Being such a well thought out and provoking novel, it lends itself naturally to extra activities. One of the great traits of both Dewey and Suze is their ability to express themselves through art and inventions. Using scraps found in the junkyard they both create things that speak to their inner selves. This type of activity is great for a classroom. Using objects found either at craft stores or from a junkyard allow children or group members to create their own objects using only their imaginations. Writing a story or poem about their creation will give the project wings and allow children to express themselves however they see best.
Ellen Klages
Klages, Ellen. 2006. The Green Glass Sea. New York: Viking Publishers. ISBN: 9780670061341.
World War II was a time of love and loss, strife and empowerment. Throughout the course of The Green Glass Sea, protagonist Dewey Kerrigan experiences all of those emotions, plus many more. Her story starts when she is reunited with her father in Los Alamos, NM, where he is a scientist. Dewey is a smart, shy, keeps to herself teenage girl with a penchant for building gadgets. The antagonist of this story, Suze Gordon, makes it point to make life miserable for Dewey on a fairly regular basis. It is only after Dewey’s father has to go to Washington D.C., and Dewey has to move in with the Gordon’s that we see a change come over both of them. The story ends with the death of Dewey’s father and her eventual integration into the family of the Gordon’s. It is here that she finds her place and voice in the world she lives.
The characters of this novel are very well rounded and versatile. The character of Dewey is the strongest and the reader grows with her as the story moves. She (and Suze) exhibit the typical emotions and characteristics on any pre-teen or teenage girl regardless of what decade they are living in. Reader will find it very easy to identify with Dewey, regardless of her self-imposed gawkiness. She has had to grow up fast and she is comfortable with herself and has no wish to change. Suze is also a character that is easy to identify with. Opposite of Dewey she wants nothing more than to fit in and be liked. She finds it hard to discover her real self, while constantly trying to be someone she is not. It is through her and Dewey’s friendship that she finds who she is supposed to be and not be afraid of it.
Plot and setting are very similar in this young adult historical novel. Living during WWII was both a time and a place. The plot centers on Los Alamos, NM and the secrecy of the Manhattan Project. The setting is exactly the same. Not overwhelmed with details, the reader has a sense of what it might have been like to live in a place that was not supposed to exist. With vivid descriptions of the Santa Fe area and the blast site, the reader can picture in their minds eye what it may have been like during this time. The time and place are very explicit as this was a huge part of the end of WWII.
The themes in The Green Glass Sea center on family and its importance in a young person’s life. Dewey only had her father to lean on and when he dies she is left an orphan. Suze has a strong family unit with both parents present and loving. When Dewey’s father dies she has no place else to turn. After running away because she fears no one wants her, she is found and invited to join the Gordon’s as a member of their family. This restores some of the faith that Dewey has lost, and also makes for an important theme of the book. Another theme that runs through the book is the universal theme of right and wrong. Many of the characters struggle with this, both Suze for her bullying, and her parents for taking part in a scientific discovery that could destroy the world. They are constantly struggling with their inner demons and how to avoid letting them rule their lives.
Ellen Klages has a very strong style of writing. Her characters are bold and her descriptions are vivid. She is able to capture the feelings that existed during WWII completely in her characters. She weaves a tale that is an important part of history into fictional characters and makes you believe they actually existed. Using real people and events in her fictional account also helps the validity of the story. She thoroughly researched her facts and left nothing to be desired in her balance between fact and fiction. Including a bibliography and authors note lend to the historical nature of her book.
This book was nominated and won many awards. Some of those include winner of the 2007 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, winner of the 2007 New Mexico State Book Award, finalist for the 2007 Locus Award, and Finalist for the 2007 Quill Awards. The reviews are also stacked in favor of this historical novel.
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“The two outcasts reluctantly come together when Dewey's father is called away to Washington, D.C., and Dewey temporarily moves in with Suze's family. Although the girls do not get along at first (Suze draws a chalk line in her room to separate their personal spaces), they gradually learn to rely on each other for comfort, support and companionship. Details about the era-popular music, pastimes and products-add authenticity to the story as do brief appearances of some historic figures including Robert Oppenheimer....the author provides much insight into the controversies surrounding the making of the bomb and brings to life the tensions of war experienced by adults and children alike.”
School Library Journal
“After the atomic bomb test succeeds, ethical concerns of both youngsters and adults intensify as the characters learn how it is ultimately used. Many readers will know as little about the true nature of the project as the girls do, so the gradual revelation of facts is especially effective, while those who already know about Los Alamos's historical significance will experience the story in a different, but equally powerful, way.”
Being such a well thought out and provoking novel, it lends itself naturally to extra activities. One of the great traits of both Dewey and Suze is their ability to express themselves through art and inventions. Using scraps found in the junkyard they both create things that speak to their inner selves. This type of activity is great for a classroom. Using objects found either at craft stores or from a junkyard allow children or group members to create their own objects using only their imaginations. Writing a story or poem about their creation will give the project wings and allow children to express themselves however they see best.
A House of Tailors by Patricia Reilly Giff
A House of Tailors
Patricia Reilly Giff
Giff, Patricia R. 2004. A House of Tailors. Read by Blair Brown. New York: Random House, Inc. ISBN: 1400094917.
The midst of the Franco-Prussion War is no place for a 13 year old German girl, but that is exactly where Dina Kirk finds herself. Based loosely on the author’s great grandmother, Giff creates a story that makes Dina’s memory live on. Accused of being a spy for the French, Dina must take her sister’s place on a boat to America to her Uncle’s house in Brooklyn. Dina and her family are tailors and seamstresses and Dina, while good, does not care for sewing. On arrival in Brooklyn, she finds herself having to do just that in order to help earn her keep (and to earn money to go home). Fighting sewing all the way, Dina soon has bigger problems to work through as smallpox and a fire threaten to destroy everything she has begrudgingly come to accept as her home and family. When the decision is made to send her home, Dina realizes that while she wants to go home, she can’t, she is home. Overcoming her grudges and learning to love her new life, Dina finds friends, a boyfriend, Johann, and a family to go through the rest of her new life with.
The characters in this story are vibrant and real. Their emotions are as transparent as if they were standing in the room. Dina is an easily identifiable character, she embodies all the aspects of a 13 year old girl that are unchanging over time. She is forthright, stubborn, loving, and impetuous. Her mother, sister, and brother embody all the aspects of a tightknit family, and her relatives in Brooklyn are the typical immigrant family, working hard while barely making ends meet. Their stories are realistic and easy to relate to, despite their being 140 years apart.
The story reads like an adventure story. It has action and peril, love and understanding. It is presented in a way that is easy to understand and easy to infer from. The plot is simple and not overwhelmed by details, the story flows from idea to idea with ease. It is realistic for the time period and the descriptions of the smallpox and fires are very real and can be imagined in the mind’s eye with little trouble at all. The setting of this story takes place in two places. First is Germany, with Dina’s house on the Rhein River. The descriptions of the homes, streets, and people are based on stories and research that the author received from first and second hand individuals. The same can be said for the setting in Brooklyn, tenement houses were scary places to live and Giff represents them like she had lived there herself.
The themes of this story are universal but at times might be hard to understand as most children these days do not understand the trials of European countries and the want to come to America. Immigration and living conditions have changed tremendously since the timeframe of the book. The one theme that can resonate strongly with readers is family. Dina has two family’s that are oceans apart and she wants to be with both of them. She ultimately has to make a decision that is right for her. Choosing her new family is one of the hardest decisions she has to make in her young life, but it is accepted unconditionally by all parties.
Listening to this book as an audiobook led to two very different styles of the book. Giff’s words and Brown’s voice bring together a very powerful narrative. Giff writes with a very strong sense of purpose and her narrative’s speak to the reader in a very colorful format. Combining the words with the voice of Brown, leads to a very interesting experience. Brown has a very strong melodious voice that embraces the narrator and people she is portraying. At times, the German accent sounds forced but it helps to differentiate the characters from the narrative. She does capture the speech of the era though, and it makes for an easy listening experience. Her reading speed is almost metronomic and her inflections correspond to the action in the book.
The author based this book on her own great-grandmother so her facts and fiction are closely aligned. At the end of the audiobook, the author reads the afterward and authors note. The audiobook does not include any sources or recommended reading. Since the book is a tribute to her great-grandmother who was the character of Dina, it can be inferred that she has her facts correct and that she just fictionalized the characters.
The audiobook won the ALSC Notable Children’s Recording Award. The book itself won the 2005 Maine Student Book Master List. Reviews are wide and diverse for the book. These reviews are based on the paperback edition of the book.
School Library Journal
“This novel is rich with believable, endearing characters as well as excitement and emotion. Dina, 13, can't wait to leave Germany and begin her new life in America with Mama's rich brother and his family. She longs to finally escape the drudgery of her mother's sewing shop, even though she is often reminded, "As much as you hate sewing, Dina, that's how much the needle and thread love you." As soon as she arrives at the cramped, five-story walk-up, however, she knows that she has entered a house of tailors, "no different from my own, except that it was poorer." Though she helps Aunt Barbara with the house and baby Maria, Uncle Lucas views her as a burden. She has no choice but to sew for him, her only consolation being the 40 cents he will give her each day toward her passage home. Gradually, Dina grows to love her new family, meets another "greenhorn" with whom she can reminisce and trade new American words, and becomes a promising hat and dressmaker. She also nurses Barbara and Maria through smallpox and carries the child to safety during a devastating fire. Readers get a glimpse into life in Brooklyn in the 1870s, especially the dreaded Health Department inspections during the epidemic. Sprinkled with letters from home, the story captures the universal immigrant dilemma, "we would always have a longing to go back, and a longing to stay."–Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools
Booklist
“In 1870, 13-year-old Dina is forced to flee Germany after being mistaken for a spy, and she takes her sister's place on a ship to America, where she will live with Uncle, his young wife, Barbara, and baby Marie. After arriving, Dina finds herself in Brooklyn, sleeping in a stifling closet. Worst of all, she must earn her room and board by sewing. Although talented, Dina despises the work, but sewing is part of Uncle's plan to improve their situation, so Dina finds herself either at the machine or doing the endless work of a tenement life. There are many books about immigrants in the U.S; the strengths of this one are its profuse details and its cranky heroine. And a heroine Dina is, sometimes exaggeratedly so, as when she saves both Barbara and Marie from a fire. Yet, Dina is not a stock character; she's a real child, who works hard, literally and figuratively, to find her way. When she realizes that designing dresses is something she loves, readers will cheer her perseverance, and the happy ending seems well deserved.” Ilene Cooper
Books similar to House of Tailors that readers might like are: Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata, and Lord of Nutcracker Men by Iain Lawrence. Activities that might be good for classrooms or reading groups center around family. Children have a grandparent whether they know them or not. Provided that there would not prove too much consternation, children could write a short story about an event in their recent ancestors lives. Another project could involve sewing since that is the focus of the book. Using safer instruments students could knit, crochet, sew, or macramé a project.
Patricia Reilly Giff
Giff, Patricia R. 2004. A House of Tailors. Read by Blair Brown. New York: Random House, Inc. ISBN: 1400094917.
The midst of the Franco-Prussion War is no place for a 13 year old German girl, but that is exactly where Dina Kirk finds herself. Based loosely on the author’s great grandmother, Giff creates a story that makes Dina’s memory live on. Accused of being a spy for the French, Dina must take her sister’s place on a boat to America to her Uncle’s house in Brooklyn. Dina and her family are tailors and seamstresses and Dina, while good, does not care for sewing. On arrival in Brooklyn, she finds herself having to do just that in order to help earn her keep (and to earn money to go home). Fighting sewing all the way, Dina soon has bigger problems to work through as smallpox and a fire threaten to destroy everything she has begrudgingly come to accept as her home and family. When the decision is made to send her home, Dina realizes that while she wants to go home, she can’t, she is home. Overcoming her grudges and learning to love her new life, Dina finds friends, a boyfriend, Johann, and a family to go through the rest of her new life with.
The characters in this story are vibrant and real. Their emotions are as transparent as if they were standing in the room. Dina is an easily identifiable character, she embodies all the aspects of a 13 year old girl that are unchanging over time. She is forthright, stubborn, loving, and impetuous. Her mother, sister, and brother embody all the aspects of a tightknit family, and her relatives in Brooklyn are the typical immigrant family, working hard while barely making ends meet. Their stories are realistic and easy to relate to, despite their being 140 years apart.
The story reads like an adventure story. It has action and peril, love and understanding. It is presented in a way that is easy to understand and easy to infer from. The plot is simple and not overwhelmed by details, the story flows from idea to idea with ease. It is realistic for the time period and the descriptions of the smallpox and fires are very real and can be imagined in the mind’s eye with little trouble at all. The setting of this story takes place in two places. First is Germany, with Dina’s house on the Rhein River. The descriptions of the homes, streets, and people are based on stories and research that the author received from first and second hand individuals. The same can be said for the setting in Brooklyn, tenement houses were scary places to live and Giff represents them like she had lived there herself.
The themes of this story are universal but at times might be hard to understand as most children these days do not understand the trials of European countries and the want to come to America. Immigration and living conditions have changed tremendously since the timeframe of the book. The one theme that can resonate strongly with readers is family. Dina has two family’s that are oceans apart and she wants to be with both of them. She ultimately has to make a decision that is right for her. Choosing her new family is one of the hardest decisions she has to make in her young life, but it is accepted unconditionally by all parties.
Listening to this book as an audiobook led to two very different styles of the book. Giff’s words and Brown’s voice bring together a very powerful narrative. Giff writes with a very strong sense of purpose and her narrative’s speak to the reader in a very colorful format. Combining the words with the voice of Brown, leads to a very interesting experience. Brown has a very strong melodious voice that embraces the narrator and people she is portraying. At times, the German accent sounds forced but it helps to differentiate the characters from the narrative. She does capture the speech of the era though, and it makes for an easy listening experience. Her reading speed is almost metronomic and her inflections correspond to the action in the book.
The author based this book on her own great-grandmother so her facts and fiction are closely aligned. At the end of the audiobook, the author reads the afterward and authors note. The audiobook does not include any sources or recommended reading. Since the book is a tribute to her great-grandmother who was the character of Dina, it can be inferred that she has her facts correct and that she just fictionalized the characters.
The audiobook won the ALSC Notable Children’s Recording Award. The book itself won the 2005 Maine Student Book Master List. Reviews are wide and diverse for the book. These reviews are based on the paperback edition of the book.
School Library Journal
“This novel is rich with believable, endearing characters as well as excitement and emotion. Dina, 13, can't wait to leave Germany and begin her new life in America with Mama's rich brother and his family. She longs to finally escape the drudgery of her mother's sewing shop, even though she is often reminded, "As much as you hate sewing, Dina, that's how much the needle and thread love you." As soon as she arrives at the cramped, five-story walk-up, however, she knows that she has entered a house of tailors, "no different from my own, except that it was poorer." Though she helps Aunt Barbara with the house and baby Maria, Uncle Lucas views her as a burden. She has no choice but to sew for him, her only consolation being the 40 cents he will give her each day toward her passage home. Gradually, Dina grows to love her new family, meets another "greenhorn" with whom she can reminisce and trade new American words, and becomes a promising hat and dressmaker. She also nurses Barbara and Maria through smallpox and carries the child to safety during a devastating fire. Readers get a glimpse into life in Brooklyn in the 1870s, especially the dreaded Health Department inspections during the epidemic. Sprinkled with letters from home, the story captures the universal immigrant dilemma, "we would always have a longing to go back, and a longing to stay."–Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools
Booklist
“In 1870, 13-year-old Dina is forced to flee Germany after being mistaken for a spy, and she takes her sister's place on a ship to America, where she will live with Uncle, his young wife, Barbara, and baby Marie. After arriving, Dina finds herself in Brooklyn, sleeping in a stifling closet. Worst of all, she must earn her room and board by sewing. Although talented, Dina despises the work, but sewing is part of Uncle's plan to improve their situation, so Dina finds herself either at the machine or doing the endless work of a tenement life. There are many books about immigrants in the U.S; the strengths of this one are its profuse details and its cranky heroine. And a heroine Dina is, sometimes exaggeratedly so, as when she saves both Barbara and Marie from a fire. Yet, Dina is not a stock character; she's a real child, who works hard, literally and figuratively, to find her way. When she realizes that designing dresses is something she loves, readers will cheer her perseverance, and the happy ending seems well deserved.” Ilene Cooper
Books similar to House of Tailors that readers might like are: Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata, and Lord of Nutcracker Men by Iain Lawrence. Activities that might be good for classrooms or reading groups center around family. Children have a grandparent whether they know them or not. Provided that there would not prove too much consternation, children could write a short story about an event in their recent ancestors lives. Another project could involve sewing since that is the focus of the book. Using safer instruments students could knit, crochet, sew, or macramé a project.
Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm
Turtle in Paradise
Jennifer L. Holm
Holm, Jennifer L. 2010. Turtle in Paradise. New York: Random House. ISBN: 9780375836886.
Life is hard in every generation, but the Depression era is hard to beat. Turtle, the courageous main character in Turtle in Paradise, shows the reader how to live life to the fullest no matter what your circumstances may be. Turtle is an 11 year old girl living in the Great Depression era, specifically 1935. Her mother, a housekeeper, has dreams of being a Hollywood actress and is always looking for love in the wrong places. At the start of a new job that does not allow children, Turtle’s mother has no choice but to send Turtle to live with her Aunt Minerva in Key West. Slightly scared and sometimes lonely, Turtle has to adjust to life with cousins, family, and new acquaintances. Every day sees Turtle becoming more outgoing and forward as she adjust to her new life. Treasure hunting leads to Turtle and her cousins being trapped on a small island during a hurricane, but this same hurricane also brings her mother back to her. With a con man feigning love for Turtle’s mother, he steals the Turtle’s share of the treasure and leaves Turtle and her mother to start their life over together on Key West, this time with the love and help of an extended family.
The characters in the young adult historical novel are vibrant and colorful. Turtle, the main character, is witty, bold, and much older than her 11 years. She is easy to identify with as a person and her personality traits transcend time to be relevant to today’s readers. The people that live on Key West are a close knit community and look out for one another’s interests. However, they do not at any time seem unbelievable. The reader can feel the tides of the time in how they act, talk, and move; everything is meant to save resources. The plot of this story is very dependent on the characters. Each character brings something to the plot and without them something would be lost. It is also presented accurately to the reader. There was no money and this is very apparent on Key West where favors are traded for food, and people work for items versus money.
The setting of this story is described and envisioned in perfect detail. Descriptions are vivid and paint a picture that can be imprinted on the reader’s imagination. For this story Key West is the major setting and Turtle’s descriptions are masterful. “The place looks like a broken chair that’s been left out in the sun to rot” (pg. 13), and “It’s the green peeping out everywhere that catches my eye…like Mother Nature is trying to pretty up the place” (pg. 14). Since the setting is based on the author’s great-grandmother’s life there the author has first and second hand knowledge of the environment from which her characters emerge.
The theme of this novel centers around family and what it means to different people. To Turtle it is her mother until she meets all her relatives on Key West. These people become her world even though she has only known them a short time. This is a timeless theme in children’s literature. The need to know where you’ve come from and where you may be going is prevalent through the character of Turtle.
This story is written in first person through Turtle. It captures how an 11 year old girl might feel, think, and act during the Depression era. The speech patterns are like any group of children would talk, which makes it easy to identify with the characters. The style reflects perceptions of the time and how a close knit group invents its own language and syntax that is familiar only to them.
One of the greatest aspects of this story is that it is based on the author’s ancestors. This can lead to a bias but also an authenticity that a researcher cannot duplicate. Holm includes in her author’s note a biography and pictures of her great grandmother and Key West. She also includes resources and websites that she used when writing her book. Stereotyping is minimal as she wrote what she knew not what she thought she knew. Basing her characters on those that really existed leads to a fine balance of fact and fiction.
Starred Review in Booklist
“Holm uses family stories as the basis for this tale, part romp, part steely-eyed look at the Depression era. Reminiscent of Addie in the movie Paper Moon, Turtle is just the right mixture of knowingness and hope; the plot is a hilarious blend of family dramas seasoned with a dollop of adventure. The many references to 1930s entertainments (Terry and the Pirates, Shirley Temple) will mostly go over kids' heads, but they'll get how much comics and movies meant to a population desperate for smiles. An author's note (with photos) shows Holm's family close-up. --Ilene Cooper
School Library Journal, April 2010:
"This richly detailed novel was inspired by Holm’s great-grandmother’s stories. Readers who enjoy melodic, humorous tales of the past won’t want to miss it."
Along with stellar reviews, Turtle in Paradise has also won many awards. It is a Newbery Honor Book, an ALA-ALSC Children’s Notable Book, and a nominee for a Cybil Award.
Since Jennifer Holm is also an author of graphic novels a fun project for a class or group would be to put Turtle in Paradise into graphic novel form. Graphic novels are becoming more prevalent for readers of all ages, reluctant readers might find this form of expression easier to read. The book has 18 chapters, depending on class or group size, each group can take a chapter and turn it into a graphic novel chapter. At the end of the project the chapters can be bound and reprinted so each person can have their own copy.
Jennifer L. Holm
Holm, Jennifer L. 2010. Turtle in Paradise. New York: Random House. ISBN: 9780375836886.
Life is hard in every generation, but the Depression era is hard to beat. Turtle, the courageous main character in Turtle in Paradise, shows the reader how to live life to the fullest no matter what your circumstances may be. Turtle is an 11 year old girl living in the Great Depression era, specifically 1935. Her mother, a housekeeper, has dreams of being a Hollywood actress and is always looking for love in the wrong places. At the start of a new job that does not allow children, Turtle’s mother has no choice but to send Turtle to live with her Aunt Minerva in Key West. Slightly scared and sometimes lonely, Turtle has to adjust to life with cousins, family, and new acquaintances. Every day sees Turtle becoming more outgoing and forward as she adjust to her new life. Treasure hunting leads to Turtle and her cousins being trapped on a small island during a hurricane, but this same hurricane also brings her mother back to her. With a con man feigning love for Turtle’s mother, he steals the Turtle’s share of the treasure and leaves Turtle and her mother to start their life over together on Key West, this time with the love and help of an extended family.
The characters in the young adult historical novel are vibrant and colorful. Turtle, the main character, is witty, bold, and much older than her 11 years. She is easy to identify with as a person and her personality traits transcend time to be relevant to today’s readers. The people that live on Key West are a close knit community and look out for one another’s interests. However, they do not at any time seem unbelievable. The reader can feel the tides of the time in how they act, talk, and move; everything is meant to save resources. The plot of this story is very dependent on the characters. Each character brings something to the plot and without them something would be lost. It is also presented accurately to the reader. There was no money and this is very apparent on Key West where favors are traded for food, and people work for items versus money.
The setting of this story is described and envisioned in perfect detail. Descriptions are vivid and paint a picture that can be imprinted on the reader’s imagination. For this story Key West is the major setting and Turtle’s descriptions are masterful. “The place looks like a broken chair that’s been left out in the sun to rot” (pg. 13), and “It’s the green peeping out everywhere that catches my eye…like Mother Nature is trying to pretty up the place” (pg. 14). Since the setting is based on the author’s great-grandmother’s life there the author has first and second hand knowledge of the environment from which her characters emerge.
The theme of this novel centers around family and what it means to different people. To Turtle it is her mother until she meets all her relatives on Key West. These people become her world even though she has only known them a short time. This is a timeless theme in children’s literature. The need to know where you’ve come from and where you may be going is prevalent through the character of Turtle.
This story is written in first person through Turtle. It captures how an 11 year old girl might feel, think, and act during the Depression era. The speech patterns are like any group of children would talk, which makes it easy to identify with the characters. The style reflects perceptions of the time and how a close knit group invents its own language and syntax that is familiar only to them.
One of the greatest aspects of this story is that it is based on the author’s ancestors. This can lead to a bias but also an authenticity that a researcher cannot duplicate. Holm includes in her author’s note a biography and pictures of her great grandmother and Key West. She also includes resources and websites that she used when writing her book. Stereotyping is minimal as she wrote what she knew not what she thought she knew. Basing her characters on those that really existed leads to a fine balance of fact and fiction.
Starred Review in Booklist
“Holm uses family stories as the basis for this tale, part romp, part steely-eyed look at the Depression era. Reminiscent of Addie in the movie Paper Moon, Turtle is just the right mixture of knowingness and hope; the plot is a hilarious blend of family dramas seasoned with a dollop of adventure. The many references to 1930s entertainments (Terry and the Pirates, Shirley Temple) will mostly go over kids' heads, but they'll get how much comics and movies meant to a population desperate for smiles. An author's note (with photos) shows Holm's family close-up. --Ilene Cooper
School Library Journal, April 2010:
"This richly detailed novel was inspired by Holm’s great-grandmother’s stories. Readers who enjoy melodic, humorous tales of the past won’t want to miss it."
Along with stellar reviews, Turtle in Paradise has also won many awards. It is a Newbery Honor Book, an ALA-ALSC Children’s Notable Book, and a nominee for a Cybil Award.
Since Jennifer Holm is also an author of graphic novels a fun project for a class or group would be to put Turtle in Paradise into graphic novel form. Graphic novels are becoming more prevalent for readers of all ages, reluctant readers might find this form of expression easier to read. The book has 18 chapters, depending on class or group size, each group can take a chapter and turn it into a graphic novel chapter. At the end of the project the chapters can be bound and reprinted so each person can have their own copy.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine by Sally M. Walker
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine
Sally M. Walker
Walker, Sally M. 2005. Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mystery of the H.L. Hunley. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, Inc. ISBN: 1575058308.
Resting on the ocean floor for 131 years, the H.L. Hunley has finally resurfaced in Sally Walker’s award winning book, Secrets of a Civil War Submarine. With original photos and dialog, Walker recreated the Hunley’s last days and eventual resurfacing. The H.L. Hunley got its name from Horace Hunley, a financial contributor, Confederate, and inventor of the new vessel. The Hunley had a rough start from the beginning. It was never thought to be safe, but men were willing to keep trying if it meant loosening the Union blockade. While the Hunley became the first submarine to sink an enemy ship, it also disappeared with no one knowing what happened to it until 1995. Famed author Clive Cussler was one of the men to help make that discovery and bring the ship back to life. Over the course of the next several years, the submarine was lifted from the sea floor, excavated by many different types of professionals, and the men who died on board were identified and buried with full military honors.
Sally Walker is an avid writer and researcher of non-fiction books for children. In researching this book she corresponded with experts who had direct or indirect knowledge of the work done to bring the Hunley back to life. The facts are very clear in this book, and if something is not clear it is stated as such. No assumptions are made and the material is as close to authentic as it can be. The book includes source notes, selected bibliography, photo acknowledgments, glossary and an index for those that may be interested in learning more. Using actual photos and transcripts from the past and present lends to the credibility of the information being presented.
The organization of the book is laid out like a mystery novel. Starting with the history and building of the Hunley, the author then leaves the reader to speculate while the story moves on to the discovery. What happened? is a huge question throughout the book and the reader will have fun fleshing out theories with the author. There are many reference aids in this text heavy book. A table of contents at the beginning of the book and heading within the chapter help to break up the information and make it readable in small chunks.
The design of this book is probably more attractive to older readers. There is a lot of story to tell and the text is heavier than the pictures. The graphics, which are original copies of photos and drawings lend to the believability of the story. They are clear and present what the text is saying by being visually stimulating. They are also captioned with small amounts of information that also assist in telling the story. The pictures are large and just sporadic enough that the reader looks forward to them. They do not take over the page or detract from the story.
The style of this book clearly captures the authors fascination with the subject. She writes a captivating true life mystery with ease and poise. She encourages readers to question the mystery surrounding the sinking of the Hunley. Her vocabulary at times is quite scholarly, which is why a glossary was included in the back. With technical math, computer, and science speak a large part of this book the reader might have to slow down their reading and absorb the information before moving on. There is a lot of information to digest, especially after the Hunley is recovered and excavation begins. Overall, a great piece of non-fiction literature for children and adults.
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine has won numerous awards (justly so) such as: Robert F. Sibert Medal 2006, ALA Notable Book 2006, 2006 Orbis Pictus Recommended Book, and 2007 New Mexico Battle of the Books. Reviews of the book also depict the hard work and dedication that went into this book.
Starred review in School Library Journal
“This is a finely crafted account of the Hunley from its inception to the modern archaeological quest to exhume her from the water. It is divided into chronological chapters complete with pictures, maps, and primary sources. Half of the book discusses the construction and design of the submarine, in addition to its practice runs and its first and only mission. The second half consists of the process of locating and excavating the Hunley, as well as piecing together the puzzle of exactly what happened on that fateful night in 1864. The archaeological process is well documented in both words and pictures, and the conclusions are interesting and even surprising. Highly recommended for school and public libraries.” –Anna M. Nelson, Collier County Public Library, Naples, FL
Starred review in Booklist
“Walker begins with the history of the Hunley's design and construction as well as its place in Civil War and naval history. She really hits her stride, though, in explaining the complex techniques and loving care used in raising the craft, recovering its contents, and even reconstructing models of the crewmembers' bodies. Back matter includes a detailed author's note, source notes, a bibliography, and recommended Web sites. Thoroughly researched, nicely designed, and well illustrated with clear, color photos, the book will serve as an informative guide to anyone interested in the hunley or intrigued by archaeology.” Carolyn Phelan
This book lends itself heavily to other activities for individual readers or classrooms. Near the end of the book there is a section titled “Coming to Life”. This section tells about the work of a facial reconstructionist who gave faces to the men who perished so long ago. In groups or alone depending on class size, these 8 men who gave their lives for their cause can have a new lease on life. Students can create a biography for each of these men and what their life might have been like if they had survived. Alternate history is always fun to imagine and this project could be long or short.
Sally M. Walker
Walker, Sally M. 2005. Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mystery of the H.L. Hunley. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, Inc. ISBN: 1575058308.
Resting on the ocean floor for 131 years, the H.L. Hunley has finally resurfaced in Sally Walker’s award winning book, Secrets of a Civil War Submarine. With original photos and dialog, Walker recreated the Hunley’s last days and eventual resurfacing. The H.L. Hunley got its name from Horace Hunley, a financial contributor, Confederate, and inventor of the new vessel. The Hunley had a rough start from the beginning. It was never thought to be safe, but men were willing to keep trying if it meant loosening the Union blockade. While the Hunley became the first submarine to sink an enemy ship, it also disappeared with no one knowing what happened to it until 1995. Famed author Clive Cussler was one of the men to help make that discovery and bring the ship back to life. Over the course of the next several years, the submarine was lifted from the sea floor, excavated by many different types of professionals, and the men who died on board were identified and buried with full military honors.
Sally Walker is an avid writer and researcher of non-fiction books for children. In researching this book she corresponded with experts who had direct or indirect knowledge of the work done to bring the Hunley back to life. The facts are very clear in this book, and if something is not clear it is stated as such. No assumptions are made and the material is as close to authentic as it can be. The book includes source notes, selected bibliography, photo acknowledgments, glossary and an index for those that may be interested in learning more. Using actual photos and transcripts from the past and present lends to the credibility of the information being presented.
The organization of the book is laid out like a mystery novel. Starting with the history and building of the Hunley, the author then leaves the reader to speculate while the story moves on to the discovery. What happened? is a huge question throughout the book and the reader will have fun fleshing out theories with the author. There are many reference aids in this text heavy book. A table of contents at the beginning of the book and heading within the chapter help to break up the information and make it readable in small chunks.
The design of this book is probably more attractive to older readers. There is a lot of story to tell and the text is heavier than the pictures. The graphics, which are original copies of photos and drawings lend to the believability of the story. They are clear and present what the text is saying by being visually stimulating. They are also captioned with small amounts of information that also assist in telling the story. The pictures are large and just sporadic enough that the reader looks forward to them. They do not take over the page or detract from the story.
The style of this book clearly captures the authors fascination with the subject. She writes a captivating true life mystery with ease and poise. She encourages readers to question the mystery surrounding the sinking of the Hunley. Her vocabulary at times is quite scholarly, which is why a glossary was included in the back. With technical math, computer, and science speak a large part of this book the reader might have to slow down their reading and absorb the information before moving on. There is a lot of information to digest, especially after the Hunley is recovered and excavation begins. Overall, a great piece of non-fiction literature for children and adults.
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine has won numerous awards (justly so) such as: Robert F. Sibert Medal 2006, ALA Notable Book 2006, 2006 Orbis Pictus Recommended Book, and 2007 New Mexico Battle of the Books. Reviews of the book also depict the hard work and dedication that went into this book.
Starred review in School Library Journal
“This is a finely crafted account of the Hunley from its inception to the modern archaeological quest to exhume her from the water. It is divided into chronological chapters complete with pictures, maps, and primary sources. Half of the book discusses the construction and design of the submarine, in addition to its practice runs and its first and only mission. The second half consists of the process of locating and excavating the Hunley, as well as piecing together the puzzle of exactly what happened on that fateful night in 1864. The archaeological process is well documented in both words and pictures, and the conclusions are interesting and even surprising. Highly recommended for school and public libraries.” –Anna M. Nelson, Collier County Public Library, Naples, FL
Starred review in Booklist
“Walker begins with the history of the Hunley's design and construction as well as its place in Civil War and naval history. She really hits her stride, though, in explaining the complex techniques and loving care used in raising the craft, recovering its contents, and even reconstructing models of the crewmembers' bodies. Back matter includes a detailed author's note, source notes, a bibliography, and recommended Web sites. Thoroughly researched, nicely designed, and well illustrated with clear, color photos, the book will serve as an informative guide to anyone interested in the hunley or intrigued by archaeology.” Carolyn Phelan
This book lends itself heavily to other activities for individual readers or classrooms. Near the end of the book there is a section titled “Coming to Life”. This section tells about the work of a facial reconstructionist who gave faces to the men who perished so long ago. In groups or alone depending on class size, these 8 men who gave their lives for their cause can have a new lease on life. Students can create a biography for each of these men and what their life might have been like if they had survived. Alternate history is always fun to imagine and this project could be long or short.
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