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.
Friday, July 22, 2011
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.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Bodies From the Ice by James M. Deem
Bodies From the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past
James M. Deem
Deem, James M. 2008. Bodies From the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Bodies from the Ice takes the reader on a picturesque journey through the glaciers of the world and the treasures they have been hiding. Written chronologically and geographically, James Deem starts in the Alps with perhaps the most significant find in glacial archeology, Otzi. Otzi was found by a couple hiking in the mountains and their discovery of 5,300 year old mummy led to a burst of interest in the field of glacial archaeology. Deem then takes the reader to discoveries of frozen children in the Andes, George Mallory and his quest to climb Mt. Everest, and the first man found in a North American glacier. He ends with a PSA concerning the state of the melting glaciers and what we can do to help keep the planet clean and green.
James Deem is a retired college professor who has written many other fiction and nonfiction books for children. In Bodies from the Ice he lays out the stories in an easy to read and understand format with lots of photos, captions, and sidebars. The table of contents has catchy titles such as "Dragons in the Ice", and "Iceman of the Alps", for those readers that want to skip around instead of reading right through. The end of the book holds a plethora of other sources for the avid reader. A list of glaciers to visit, websites to explore and a bibliography are just a few of the things he made sure to include. The text and photos on each page correspond to each other and each photo has a caption for those that want smaller chunks of information.
The organization of this nonfiction book is laid out so seamlessly that all the stories seem tied together. The basic text of the book is simple and follows complete thoughts. Sidebars exist on pages that follow up on more complex features such a sidebar for Otzi's ax, or the father of glaciology. Unfamiliar words or concepts are also italicized with a short definition. As mentioned before there is a table of contents, but there is also an index to take readers to a particular person or thing.
The layout and design of this book are meant to entice to reader both visually and physically. With pictures of mountains and glacier place strategically throughout the book, and stories of climbers and avid nature enthusiasts, it makes the reader want to visit and plan a hike to see the beauty that exists in the pictures. The graphics are large and take a lot of page space, but instead of detracting they tend to impact the words on page and illuminate the written narrative.
The style of the writing is better for older children and adults. Some of the subject matter can be gruesome and some of the pictures could be disturbing. Aside from those facts the author is very interested in what he writes and it is visible in his writing. He uses vocabulary that is understood on a general level and if an unfamiliar word is used he places it in italics and offers a two or three word explanation. As mentioned before the author makes great use of extended study suggestions. He makes it very easy to find more information about the subject.
Bodies from the Ice has won numerous awards, some of which include the 2009 Robert F. Sibert Informational Award Honor Book, 2009 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12, and the 2009 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People. The reviews have also been fast and furious and include reviews from:
School Library Journal, starred review (12/2008)
“With its extensive bibliography, suggested Web sites, and a listing of glaciers to visit, Bodies is a fantastic resource. Deem superbly weaves diverse geographical settings, time periods, and climate issues into a readable work that reveals the increasing interdisciplinary dimensions of the sciences."
Booklist (12/2008)
“Perhaps most fascinating to kids will be the chapter on recently discovered Incan children sacrificed to the gods. The pictures of these children, looking as though they might be sleeping, are arresting. Heavily illustrated with historical memorabilia as well as photos of bodies, scenery, artifacts, and rather simplistic maps, this offers a lot to look at and learn about."
Horn Book Magazine (1-2/2009)
“As the book concludes, a striking irony becomes evident: glaciers continue to melt at an alarming rate, warranting caution and concern for the global environment, yet even as they dwindle they offer up more clues to our human past. The book design, with its variety of photographs, captions, and sidebars, seals the appeal. A bibliography and index are appended."
Other books that children and adults might enjoy are Discovering the Inca Ice Maiden by Johan Reinhard, Mystery on Everest: A Photobiography of George Mallory by Audrey Saukeld, and Icebergs and Glaciers by Seymour Simon.
There are also lots of activities that can be done concerning glaciers. Photographic journeys are a good way to see how something has changed. Use time lapsed pictures students or group members can sort them from start to finish and visually measure how much melting has occurred over the time the pictures were taken. Another activity could be using Google Earth to view pictures of glaciers as the look from the satellites that took the pictures. Students or group members can try to guess what part of the world the glaciers are in.
James M. Deem
Deem, James M. 2008. Bodies From the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Bodies from the Ice takes the reader on a picturesque journey through the glaciers of the world and the treasures they have been hiding. Written chronologically and geographically, James Deem starts in the Alps with perhaps the most significant find in glacial archeology, Otzi. Otzi was found by a couple hiking in the mountains and their discovery of 5,300 year old mummy led to a burst of interest in the field of glacial archaeology. Deem then takes the reader to discoveries of frozen children in the Andes, George Mallory and his quest to climb Mt. Everest, and the first man found in a North American glacier. He ends with a PSA concerning the state of the melting glaciers and what we can do to help keep the planet clean and green.
James Deem is a retired college professor who has written many other fiction and nonfiction books for children. In Bodies from the Ice he lays out the stories in an easy to read and understand format with lots of photos, captions, and sidebars. The table of contents has catchy titles such as "Dragons in the Ice", and "Iceman of the Alps", for those readers that want to skip around instead of reading right through. The end of the book holds a plethora of other sources for the avid reader. A list of glaciers to visit, websites to explore and a bibliography are just a few of the things he made sure to include. The text and photos on each page correspond to each other and each photo has a caption for those that want smaller chunks of information.
The organization of this nonfiction book is laid out so seamlessly that all the stories seem tied together. The basic text of the book is simple and follows complete thoughts. Sidebars exist on pages that follow up on more complex features such a sidebar for Otzi's ax, or the father of glaciology. Unfamiliar words or concepts are also italicized with a short definition. As mentioned before there is a table of contents, but there is also an index to take readers to a particular person or thing.
The layout and design of this book are meant to entice to reader both visually and physically. With pictures of mountains and glacier place strategically throughout the book, and stories of climbers and avid nature enthusiasts, it makes the reader want to visit and plan a hike to see the beauty that exists in the pictures. The graphics are large and take a lot of page space, but instead of detracting they tend to impact the words on page and illuminate the written narrative.
The style of the writing is better for older children and adults. Some of the subject matter can be gruesome and some of the pictures could be disturbing. Aside from those facts the author is very interested in what he writes and it is visible in his writing. He uses vocabulary that is understood on a general level and if an unfamiliar word is used he places it in italics and offers a two or three word explanation. As mentioned before the author makes great use of extended study suggestions. He makes it very easy to find more information about the subject.
Bodies from the Ice has won numerous awards, some of which include the 2009 Robert F. Sibert Informational Award Honor Book, 2009 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12, and the 2009 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People. The reviews have also been fast and furious and include reviews from:
School Library Journal, starred review (12/2008)
“With its extensive bibliography, suggested Web sites, and a listing of glaciers to visit, Bodies is a fantastic resource. Deem superbly weaves diverse geographical settings, time periods, and climate issues into a readable work that reveals the increasing interdisciplinary dimensions of the sciences."
Booklist (12/2008)
“Perhaps most fascinating to kids will be the chapter on recently discovered Incan children sacrificed to the gods. The pictures of these children, looking as though they might be sleeping, are arresting. Heavily illustrated with historical memorabilia as well as photos of bodies, scenery, artifacts, and rather simplistic maps, this offers a lot to look at and learn about."
Horn Book Magazine (1-2/2009)
“As the book concludes, a striking irony becomes evident: glaciers continue to melt at an alarming rate, warranting caution and concern for the global environment, yet even as they dwindle they offer up more clues to our human past. The book design, with its variety of photographs, captions, and sidebars, seals the appeal. A bibliography and index are appended."
Other books that children and adults might enjoy are Discovering the Inca Ice Maiden by Johan Reinhard, Mystery on Everest: A Photobiography of George Mallory by Audrey Saukeld, and Icebergs and Glaciers by Seymour Simon.
There are also lots of activities that can be done concerning glaciers. Photographic journeys are a good way to see how something has changed. Use time lapsed pictures students or group members can sort them from start to finish and visually measure how much melting has occurred over the time the pictures were taken. Another activity could be using Google Earth to view pictures of glaciers as the look from the satellites that took the pictures. Students or group members can try to guess what part of the world the glaciers are in.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Lincoln Tells A Joke by Kathleen Krull
Lincoln Tells a Joke: How Laughter Saved the President (and the Country)
Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer
Krull, Kathleen, & Brewer, P. 2010. Illustrator: Stacy Innerst. Lincoln Tells a Joke: How Laughter Saved the President (and the Country). New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. ISBN: 9780152066390.
This biographical survey picture book tells the story of Abe Lincoln from a very unique perspective, laughter. Krull tells the story of Lincoln’s entire life through one little known fact about him, his love of jokes and humor. Born in in 1809, Lincoln started telling jokes and humorous anecdotes at an early age. His subject was often himself, as he got older he used jokes as a way to identify with people and when running for office. When elected President 1860 he would keep joke books in his desk drawer at the White House. His death by murder in 1865 cut his life short, but the little known fact that his life was filled with laughter makes a good ending to this biographical sketch.
Kathleen Krull is a well-known author of children’s non-fiction books. She has written many biographies of famous people for children. She made sure to include in the back of this book a note about accuracy and sources she used when researching the subject matter of the book. By acknowledging that some of the anecdotes and jokes she uses are from eyewitnesses and people several times removed it lends credence to her story as she is not trying to misrepresent facts. The sources she cites are wide and cover many areas of Lincoln’s life. The illustrations are caricatures of the real people which lends a storybook quality to the picture book.
Lincoln Tells a Joke is organized chronologically, hitting all of the big points of Lincoln’s life: birth, army, marriage to Mary Todd, elected president, and death. There is a very clear sequence and the author keeps the story moving along on each page with another part of his life. The design of the book is heavily influenced by the organization.
Designed like a story book but filled with information, the text is one of the most visible markers of the book. Everything that Lincoln is supposed to have said or written is in quotes and typed in cursive. The graphics of the book are clear and tell the story that the words have written. They communicate to the reader what the biographical story is meant to convey.
The style of this biography is meant to tell a story about a person that most people think they know about. By telling a story using a personality trait is opens up a new perspective to what people think about one of our earliest presidents. Krull uses appropriate language for the age group and encourages those reading to look at someone from a different perspective then they are used to. By hitting the big points of Lincoln’s life, as mentioned earlier, Krull does not throw too much information at the reader, instead focusing on how humor made the most the bigger situations in his life.
From School Library Journal
“Krull is an expert at teasing out the fun, quirky sides of her subjects and sharing them in a way that is both genuine and engaging. This take on Lincoln is no exception. He is portrayed as an accessible, endearing, and sympathetic figure, not just another president. Children will be drawn in by the straightforward prose, and librarians will enjoy sharing the book aloud.”
Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA
From Booklist
“Laughter is not only good medicine. It can also be a political tool, human motivator, and saving grace, as the authors show in this upbeat overview of Lincoln’s life. Moving through the sixteenth president’s many challenges, from family deaths to lost elections to fighting slavery, the text emphasizes how Lincoln coped with a joke on his tongue and a smile on his lips.” --Andrew Medlar
Lincoln Tells a Joke has also won several awards: a School Library Journal Starred review and nomination for a Cybil’s award 2010.
Jokes are a great way to integrate this story into a classroom or storytime. Starting off with jokes about Lincoln or sharing some his jokes are a good way to get this story started. After reading the book it might be good to have children come up with jokes of their own to share.
Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer
Krull, Kathleen, & Brewer, P. 2010. Illustrator: Stacy Innerst. Lincoln Tells a Joke: How Laughter Saved the President (and the Country). New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. ISBN: 9780152066390.
This biographical survey picture book tells the story of Abe Lincoln from a very unique perspective, laughter. Krull tells the story of Lincoln’s entire life through one little known fact about him, his love of jokes and humor. Born in in 1809, Lincoln started telling jokes and humorous anecdotes at an early age. His subject was often himself, as he got older he used jokes as a way to identify with people and when running for office. When elected President 1860 he would keep joke books in his desk drawer at the White House. His death by murder in 1865 cut his life short, but the little known fact that his life was filled with laughter makes a good ending to this biographical sketch.
Kathleen Krull is a well-known author of children’s non-fiction books. She has written many biographies of famous people for children. She made sure to include in the back of this book a note about accuracy and sources she used when researching the subject matter of the book. By acknowledging that some of the anecdotes and jokes she uses are from eyewitnesses and people several times removed it lends credence to her story as she is not trying to misrepresent facts. The sources she cites are wide and cover many areas of Lincoln’s life. The illustrations are caricatures of the real people which lends a storybook quality to the picture book.
Lincoln Tells a Joke is organized chronologically, hitting all of the big points of Lincoln’s life: birth, army, marriage to Mary Todd, elected president, and death. There is a very clear sequence and the author keeps the story moving along on each page with another part of his life. The design of the book is heavily influenced by the organization.
Designed like a story book but filled with information, the text is one of the most visible markers of the book. Everything that Lincoln is supposed to have said or written is in quotes and typed in cursive. The graphics of the book are clear and tell the story that the words have written. They communicate to the reader what the biographical story is meant to convey.
The style of this biography is meant to tell a story about a person that most people think they know about. By telling a story using a personality trait is opens up a new perspective to what people think about one of our earliest presidents. Krull uses appropriate language for the age group and encourages those reading to look at someone from a different perspective then they are used to. By hitting the big points of Lincoln’s life, as mentioned earlier, Krull does not throw too much information at the reader, instead focusing on how humor made the most the bigger situations in his life.
From School Library Journal
“Krull is an expert at teasing out the fun, quirky sides of her subjects and sharing them in a way that is both genuine and engaging. This take on Lincoln is no exception. He is portrayed as an accessible, endearing, and sympathetic figure, not just another president. Children will be drawn in by the straightforward prose, and librarians will enjoy sharing the book aloud.”
Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA
From Booklist
“Laughter is not only good medicine. It can also be a political tool, human motivator, and saving grace, as the authors show in this upbeat overview of Lincoln’s life. Moving through the sixteenth president’s many challenges, from family deaths to lost elections to fighting slavery, the text emphasizes how Lincoln coped with a joke on his tongue and a smile on his lips.” --Andrew Medlar
Lincoln Tells a Joke has also won several awards: a School Library Journal Starred review and nomination for a Cybil’s award 2010.
Jokes are a great way to integrate this story into a classroom or storytime. Starting off with jokes about Lincoln or sharing some his jokes are a good way to get this story started. After reading the book it might be good to have children come up with jokes of their own to share.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Your Own, Syliva by Stephanie Hemphill
Your Own, Sylvia
Stephanie Hemphill
Hemphill, Stephanie. 2007. Your Own, Sylvia. New York: Random House, Inc. ISBN:9780375937996.
An emotional journey through the life of Sylvia Plath is the basis of this verse novel by Stephanie Hemphill. Hemphill takes the life of Plath and creates a moving piece of fiction through poetry, both hers and Plath’s. Chronologically written from Plath’s beginnings to after her death, the poems invoke raw emotion from the people in her life who knew her best. Based on real events, people, and conversations, the fictionalized account could very well hold some truth. With the outline of the book similar to the way Plath’s own poetry was published, the author also includes biographical sketches and end notes for each poem to put them into perspective for the reader.
Long, short, rhyming, and terse, the poetry is wide and varied in this verse novel. As each poem has its own subject or author the poems are written to reflect that. At the beginning the poems are lilting and full of life, as the book progresses and real life takes over the poems become short and clipped. Events including Sylvia’s pregnancies, divorce, and descent into mental illness become the focal point and the reader can sense the shift in the life of the poet through Hemphill’s poetry. At the end the poetry shifts again to remorse and remembrance as the characters struggle to move on.
The language of the poetry in this book is meant to portray the sad and tragic life of a celebrated poetess. The poems are carefully arranged to gain a circular perspective to Plath’s life through her friends and family. Using very vivid words the reader can see and feel the raw emotion on the page:
Sylvia’s eyes burn crimson,
no tears, but she look like she might cry. (Hemphill, 213)
&
Her poetry cuts me to the spine,
Beautiful and brutal.
Her words startle my eyes.
She has etched down parts of me,
of us, of her. (Hemphill, 238)
These short examples of the poems in the book show the way language can convey so many different meanings.
This book, character, and format are meant to evoke emotion of the deepest kind. For those that are familiar with Plath and her work it may cut deeper, but the new reader will feel the emotional decrepitude of the subject. This very heavy subject is not for the feint of heart, very real depiction of suicide, death, and scarring are very real and may only be suited for older teens and young adults.
From School Library Journal:
"Form is of paramount importance, just as it was to Plath herself. Many of the selections were created "in the style of" specific Plath poems, while others are scattered with Plath's imagery and language. While the book will prove an apt curriculum companion to Plath's literary works as touted on the jacket, it will also pull the next generation of readers into the myth of Sylvia Plath."—Jill Heritage Maza, Greenwich High School, CT
In conjunction with glowing reviews this book has also won several awards, the 2008 Printz Honor and the 2008 Myra Cohn Livingston Award. For those that appreciate a novel the verse form the author has two more verse novels in the works and should be published in the next couple of years. Other authors that write verse novels include Call Me Maria by Judith Ortiz Cofer, Crank by Ellen Hopkins, and The Geography of Girlhood by Kristen Smith.
To bring this book alive, teachers or educators might have students pick a poet and have them write poetry about that poet from a biographical standpoint. Another way to teach about poetry from this book would be to have students or members of the group pick a poem from the book and write a short paper based on the period in Plath's life from which the poem comes from, using the poem as the center of the paper.
Stephanie Hemphill
Hemphill, Stephanie. 2007. Your Own, Sylvia. New York: Random House, Inc. ISBN:9780375937996.
An emotional journey through the life of Sylvia Plath is the basis of this verse novel by Stephanie Hemphill. Hemphill takes the life of Plath and creates a moving piece of fiction through poetry, both hers and Plath’s. Chronologically written from Plath’s beginnings to after her death, the poems invoke raw emotion from the people in her life who knew her best. Based on real events, people, and conversations, the fictionalized account could very well hold some truth. With the outline of the book similar to the way Plath’s own poetry was published, the author also includes biographical sketches and end notes for each poem to put them into perspective for the reader.
Long, short, rhyming, and terse, the poetry is wide and varied in this verse novel. As each poem has its own subject or author the poems are written to reflect that. At the beginning the poems are lilting and full of life, as the book progresses and real life takes over the poems become short and clipped. Events including Sylvia’s pregnancies, divorce, and descent into mental illness become the focal point and the reader can sense the shift in the life of the poet through Hemphill’s poetry. At the end the poetry shifts again to remorse and remembrance as the characters struggle to move on.
The language of the poetry in this book is meant to portray the sad and tragic life of a celebrated poetess. The poems are carefully arranged to gain a circular perspective to Plath’s life through her friends and family. Using very vivid words the reader can see and feel the raw emotion on the page:
Sylvia’s eyes burn crimson,
no tears, but she look like she might cry. (Hemphill, 213)
&
Her poetry cuts me to the spine,
Beautiful and brutal.
Her words startle my eyes.
She has etched down parts of me,
of us, of her. (Hemphill, 238)
These short examples of the poems in the book show the way language can convey so many different meanings.
This book, character, and format are meant to evoke emotion of the deepest kind. For those that are familiar with Plath and her work it may cut deeper, but the new reader will feel the emotional decrepitude of the subject. This very heavy subject is not for the feint of heart, very real depiction of suicide, death, and scarring are very real and may only be suited for older teens and young adults.
From School Library Journal:
"Form is of paramount importance, just as it was to Plath herself. Many of the selections were created "in the style of" specific Plath poems, while others are scattered with Plath's imagery and language. While the book will prove an apt curriculum companion to Plath's literary works as touted on the jacket, it will also pull the next generation of readers into the myth of Sylvia Plath."—Jill Heritage Maza, Greenwich High School, CT
In conjunction with glowing reviews this book has also won several awards, the 2008 Printz Honor and the 2008 Myra Cohn Livingston Award. For those that appreciate a novel the verse form the author has two more verse novels in the works and should be published in the next couple of years. Other authors that write verse novels include Call Me Maria by Judith Ortiz Cofer, Crank by Ellen Hopkins, and The Geography of Girlhood by Kristen Smith.
To bring this book alive, teachers or educators might have students pick a poet and have them write poetry about that poet from a biographical standpoint. Another way to teach about poetry from this book would be to have students or members of the group pick a poem from the book and write a short paper based on the period in Plath's life from which the poem comes from, using the poem as the center of the paper.
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