Review of THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak (Audiobook)

1. Bibliography 
Zusak, Markus. (Author) and Corduner, Allan (Narrator). 2006. THE BOOK THIEF [CD]. Unabridged version: Cover to cover. ISBN 0739337270

2. Plot Summary

Narrated by Death, The Book Thief is a story about a girl, Leisel Meminger, who loses her mother and brother in a train accident and has to go live with Rosa and Hans Huberman, her new foster parents just outside of Munich in Nazi German. As a way of adjusting to her new life, Leisel begins stealing books, and she finds it to be thrilling. She steals from the lonely mayor's wife, Nazi book-burning sessions, a graveyard, and anywhere else she can get her hands on them. Her painter/accordion-playing foster father helps her learn how to read, and she shares her readings with crabby neighbors, down in basements during bomb raidings, and the Jewish man in her own basement. This is a story of coping with loss and grief, finding friendship in the unlikeliest of places, and learning that the power of words just might save you.

3. Critical Analysis

This audio book is narrated by Mr. Allan Corduner, British actor, and is listened to in eleven compact disks (13 hours and 50 minutes). The suggested audience is young adult, 9th grade and above, more than likely because of its heavy content regarding death and language. It is the unabridged version, so listeners get the benefit of hearing book in its entirety, cover to cover. The other information included on the backmatter are a short summary of the novel and mini biographies about the author and the narrator. The sound quality of the audio was very crisp and clear. There was no music or other background noise during the reading except for the fitting accordion sounds at the very beginning and the very end; the narrator's voice was more than sufficient throughout the rest. Listeners will be completely engaged in this rich audiobook experience. 

The tone and delivery of Allan Corduner complimented Markus Zusak's brilliant writing very well. The fact that Corduner was able to capture each German in the story, even the ladies, was astounding. The list of characters in this thick novel is extensive. Zusak writes Leisel as a quick-tongued, stubbornly intelligent girl, and the narrator captures her attitude perfectly with her coin curse words and comebacks. The listening experience was hard to break away from with Death as the somber but sentimental narrator. The reader captured Death's feelings well with his pauses and sighs and annunciations. 

This book is part part contemporary realistic fiction, and part fantasy, with a little historical fiction mixed in. There are many events described about World War II and its devastating effects on the Germans and the Jewish race and the punishment that comes with trying to help a Jew during Hitler's reign. Death describes these events with sorrow in his voice and an urgency to take care of the souls as gently as he can once they pass away. As Leisel loves and loses many people throughout the course of the story, she never gives up on writing and reading words. The words of books and of writing help the Book Thief stay strong and focused on her greatest task - survival. Themes of budding romance, love between a parent and child, loss and grief, friendship, being strong, and finding oneself through the power of words all resonate within this beautifully read story. I highly recommend listening to the audio book. I would like to go back and look through the pages at some of the German words and phrases used to get a better feel for those. 

Death's final message, "I am haunted by humans" will leave you reeling with thoughts long after this masterpiece is finished. 

4. Review Excerpts and Notable Awards/Honors:

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL STARRED REVIEW: "An extraordinary narrative."

BOOKLIST STARRED REVIEW: "...the astonishing characters, drawn without sentimentality, will grab readers. More than the overt message about the power of words, it's Leisel's confrontation with horrifying cruelty and her discovery of kindness in unexpected places that tell the heartbreaking truth."

USA TODAY: "It seems poised to become a classic."

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY STARRED REVIEW: "Elegant, philosophical, and moving...Beautiful and important. This hefty volume is an achievement...a challenging book in both length and subject..."

HORN BOOK MAGAZINE STARRED REVIEW: "Exquisitely written and memorably populated, Zusak's poignant tribute to words, survival, and their curiosity inevitable entwinement is a tour de force to be not just read but inhabited."

Winner of/Honored by:

• 2006- Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best Book (South East Asia & South Pacific)

• 2006 - Horn Book Fanfare

• 2006 - Kirkus Reviews Editor Choice Award

• 2006 - School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

• 2006 - Daniel Elliott Peace Award

• 2006 - Publishers Weekly Best Children Book of the Year

• 2006 - Booklist Children Editors' Choice

• 2006 - Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book

• 2007 - Boeke Prize

• 2007 - American Library Association’s Best Books for Young Adults

• 2007 - Michael L. Printz Honor Book

• 2007 - Book Sense Book of the Year (Indie’s choice)

• 2009 - Pacific Northwest Young Readers Choice Master List

• Winner of the National Jewish Book Award

5. Connections
A. Research a bit about Nazi Germany in 1939-1943 in order to get a better feel for the setting. 

B. Discuss the effects of having Death narrate the story versus someone else. 
C. This novel and audio recording would be excellent for literature circles at the high school level to use with other novels of related topics. 

*Other novels with related themes:

Wiesel, Elie. NIGHT. ISBN 9780374500016
Coelho, Paulo. THE ALCHEMIST. ISBN 9780061122415
Hughes, Dean. SOLDIER BOYS. ISBN 9780689860218

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(Graphic Novel) Review of THE ODYSSEY by Gareth Hinds based on Homer's Epic Poem

1. Bibliography
Hinds, Gareth. 2010. THE ODYSSEY. Based on Homer's epic poem. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. ISBN 978076364268

2. Plot Summary
An ancient classic comes back to life through this vivid graphic retelling and 250 pages of watercolor illustration. The same adventures and antics of Odysseus with a few added twists and turns will take readers on an updated version of the epic poem by Homer.Odysseus, who is returning home from his battles and triumphs in the Trojan War, desires more than anything to see his wife and son and his homeland, Ithaca. However, the king angers the god of the sea, Poseidon, and blows his ship off course, forcing him to face years of violent storms, tempting sirens and spells, monsters and sea creatures only to come home to fight off greedy suitors that are trying to take his wife and his kingdom. This is the classic fantasy story of good versus evil told in a fresh new way by Gareth Hinds.

3. Critical Analysis
Gareth Hinds' beautiful watercolor illustrations bring the classic tale of The Odyssey to life in a very new way. Epic poems are extremely long because of the long journeys and quests the hero must take, and with this book, because of its vibrant and expressive illustrations, the pages seem to fly by quickly. The detail that Hinds was able to get into each picture, each facial expression of the characters, is astounding. Readers will be able to get a clear picture of each event in detail; not one thing was left to the imagination. The watercolors seem to jump off of the page and into your living room. The background colors are strategically planned out as well - from more grays and blues when there is great contemplation from Odysseus or another character to burnt oranges and reds when there is more dire action occurring such as the showdown with the cyclops, Polyphemus. The fantasy genre is at its best here with vivid depictions of sea creatures and unearthly monsters, a powerful sorceress, wrathful gods, beautiful sirens, and lands and places that can only be seen within the imagination.

The text that appears in the book is cleverly placed, helping readers get a further, clear picture of the adventures of Odysseus. Hinds has added a modern feel to the words of Homer's epic poem without taking away from the meaning of the original text. Such as when Poseidon sees Odysseus when Odysseus is able to leave Calypso's island, Poseidon says, "So I go off to Ethiopia for a few days and the other gods decide to release Odysseus?" Hinds has a knack for making the characters seem as though they could be here in the modern world versus the ancient world in which they reside. The element of fantasy is not forsaken, and even with the modern twists with the words, the illustrations still take the reader to another place and time that cannot exist in the real world. Readers will feel sorry for Odysseus at times and then at other times feel that he needs to suffer for his stubbornness and overly-confident attitude. Even the non-human, one-eyed Polyphemus will receive a few sympathy votes when readers realize the way his father, Poseidon, treats him. Through all of Odysseus' character flaws, his ability to never give up is what gets him home to his family. Readers will quickly pick up on this theme of perseverance, as well as messages of love can conquer all and good reigns over evil.

4. Review Excerpts and Notable Awards/Honors:
THE HORN BOOK STARRED REVIEW: "Accessible and effective...A timeless long-ago past comes alive."

BOOKLIST STARRED REVIEW: "A lavish retelling...a grand example of Hinds' ability to combine historical adventure with human understanding."

Winner of/Honored by:

• Junior Library Guild Selection
• An American Library Association Great Graphic Novel for Teens
• Best-of 2010 lists including Booklist, Kirkus, Roger Sutton, Monica Edinger, and by many libraries.  

5. Connections and Personal Connection

A. Watch movie versions (clips) of The Odyssey. There are many clips of different versions on YouTube. Clips of more modern-day versions of stories such as The Lotus Eaters and others can be seen in such movies as Perseus Jackson and The Lightning Thief. 
B. Students could research a mythological character or creature of their choosing and present their finding to the class using a Web 2.0 tool.
C. Most of the time, epic poems seem suitable for middle school and beyond, but because this is a graphic novel, the story of Odysseus and others could be introduced to children as young as ten.
C. Look at Gareth Hinds' website http://www.garethhinds.com/aboutme.php for further information.

I had never read a graphic novel before, even though many of my students have tried to get me to read one over the last few years. I was presently surprised that I enjoyed it! I guess my apprehension before was that I would be bored because I "just wasn't into that type of book," but the pictures took me away, and even though the book was 250 pages, I finished it within a few bedtime sessions. It was a rich experience to get lost in the pictures and illustrations of another world and to not be over-whelmed with text. I can see why young adults love this type of book.


*Other graphic novels to explore by the same author:
Hinds, Gareth. BEOWULF. ISBN 9780763630232
Hinds, Gareth. GIFTS FROM THE GODS. ISBN 9780547152295
Hinds, Gareth. KING LEAR. ISBN 9780763643447

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Contemporary Realistic Fiction - A Review of AFTER TUPAC & D FOSTER by Jacqueline Woodson

1. Bibliography
Woodson, Jacqueline. 2008. AFTER TUPAC & D FOSTER. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN 97803999246548

2. Plot Summary
In the mid 1990s in New York, before Tupac's death, two eleven-year-old friends meet a mysterious, third friend, D Foster, and embark on a journey to find their Big Purpose. D's circumstances are slowly revealed, and the friends carry each other through family hardships, double-Dutch the summers away, and explore new territories. The three bond over the messages in Tupac's music and learn to look at life in new ways as they grow older together until D's real mother comes back into her life.


3. Critical Analysis
Jacqueline Woodson tells a story of finding friendship and learning to accept things that you cannot control, using some life events of Tupac and his music lyrics as a link for the three girls to explain things in their own lives. The plot line is very simple and easy to follow as is the author's style of writing. Woodson's writing is best described as normal and easy-flowing; it is very conversational and captures the age and attitudes of the pre-teen girls. D's life is slowly revealed, bit by bit, which will keep readers wanting to read and find out more. Her story is not completely filled in since she does not know all of it herself. The main narrator's name is never revealed, which may leave readers wondering why that is, but it does give the novel an authentic feel - someone simply telling her story. The events that are included regarding Tupac line up with events in the girls' lives within the way the narrator tells their stories. The narrator explains her own growth and journey of "finding herself" through the telling of the other girls' lives. Readers will be drawn in by the simplicity and easiness of the girls' friendship and the way they are just there for each other. The main theme is about growing through friendship, with other realistic sub-themes such as over-coming prejudices (a gay brother wrongly serving time in prison) and being strong through loss (D's absent mother). The book is composed of a variety of every-day conflicts but always comes back to the main theme of friendship. This book will gain readers' attention, (as it did mine), if they are interested in Tupac, as his face is on the front cover. However, potential readers should know that the book is about much more than Tupac, so there could be disappointment if they are looking for more about the rap artist within the read.

4. Review Excerpts and Notable Awards/Honors:
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL STARRED REVIEW: "...will immediately appeal to teens...the emotions and high-quality writing make it a book well worth recommending."

BOOKLIST: "Beautifully capturing the girls' passage from childhood to adolescence, this is a memorable, affecting novel about the sustaining power of love and friendship and each girl's developing faith in her "Big Purpose.

Winner of/Honored by:

• Newberry Honor Award (2009)

5. Connections

A. Reviewing some of the songs mentioned in the book written by Tupac (watch out for inappropriate lyrics) could be discussed and related to themes and events within the novel. Teachers could also use Tupac's book of poetry (listed below) for discussions. 
B. Students could choose their own realistic fiction book that has similar themes and write a review of the book on a class wiki to share with their peers. 

*Other books about Tupac Shakur:
Shakur, Tupac. THE ROSE THAT GREW FROM CONCRETE. ISBN 9780671028459 (Poetry)

Other great contemporary fiction books:
Halse Anderson, Laurie. TWISTED. ISBN 9780670061013
Hubbard, Kristin. WANDERLOVE. ISBN 9780525478188
Sonnenblick, Jordan. AFTER EVER AFTER. ISBN 9780439837064

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(Historical Fiction) Review of Audiobook - Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt, Narrated by Lincoln Hoppe

1. Bibliography

Schmidt, Gary D. (Author) and Hoppe, Lincoln (Narrator). (2011). OKAY FOR NOW [CD]. Unabridged version: Cover to cover. ISBN 978030791598

2. Plot Summary

Doug Swieteck is a soon-to-be eighth grade boy who moves from Long Island to stupid Marysville, New York in the late 1960s because his father, a man who uses his fists to communicate, loses his job. Doug's main joy is following  Joe Pepitone's career with the Yankees, and he is even given a signed ball by the man himself; however, his jerk of a brother takes it from him and loses it. After the move, Doug forms an unlikely friendship with assertive and quick-witted Lil Spicer, the daughter of the owner of a deli who becomes Doug's boss. Doug often has to deal with many hardships and trials such as his jerk brother's acts, his abusive father, a mother who barely speaks, (but oh, when she smiles...), troubles at school, especially with the so-called gym teacher, and an older brother who returns from Vietnam forever changed and scarred. Doug also has triumphs and hits milestones. With the help of a librarian, he discovers he has a great talent and passion for drawing after he sees an Audubon original painting. An English teacher helps him become a better reader with, and I'm not lying, Jane Eyre! A teacher finally stops labeling Doug as a criminal master mind and a trouble-maker and starts listening and discovers what Doug is going through at home and actually tries to help. There are many times that he thinks things are going perfectly, and then something happens to mess the perfectness all up. But though Doug seems a pessimist many times throughout this work of historical fiction, he is actually stronger and more resilient than he ever thought, proving he can take on whatever is put in front of him and come out okay for now.

3. Critical Analysis

This audio book is narrated by Mr. Lincoln Hoppe, American writer, actor, and producer, and is listened to in eight CDs (9 hours and 30 minutes). The suggested audience is young adult. It is the unabridged version, so listeners get the benefit of hearing book in its entirety, cover to cover. The other piece of information included on the backmatter is a short summary of the novel. The sound quality of the audio was flawless and perfectly clear. Listeners will be completely engaged in this rich audiobook experience. The narrator enunciated his words very well, and his accents of the characters were entertaining and differentiated. There were no background effects or music; just the narrator's words, which added to the seriousness of the themes within the book and also helped me focus on the characters' personalities. The pace of the book varied - slow when something very detailed and disappointing to the main character was occurring, faster when the main character was excited or engaged in something. The narrator was flawless in his ability to draw me in the entire time; his readings were very natural, invested, and personal. I could not stop listening and went through with drawls when my car trips would come to an end, thinking about the tracks I had just listened to long after they were over.

The tone and delivery of Lincoln Hoppe brought the author's words and intentions to life. I feel like I know Doug Swieteck better because I listened to this book rather than read it. Gary Schmidt's writing is beautiful, especially the parts where Audubon's works are incorporated into the story as analogies and metaphors for the things that are happening in Doug Swieteck's life. The narrator's interpretation of how a fourteen-year-old boy would speak his typical phrases, such as, "I'm not lying" and "You know what that feels like?" brought the character to life non-stop. This book is geared towards the middle grades, and the author's writing combined with the narrator's reading are sure to capture listeners' ears and hearts from cover to cover.

Gary Schmidt knows the 1960s and the Vietnam War well. His extensive research shone through his literary details of the effects of the war on soldiers, through the descriptions of Doug's brother's injuries, and through the feelings of the gym teacher. The mentionings and excitement of the first man on the moon were accurate and seemed to truly express the sentiments of the emerging technologies and advancements of the time period. There are themes of loss and recovery, and love, discovery, creativity, and finding one's identity to just surviving the day. The messages within the book are timeless, and people of all ages will be captivated with the happenings of this work of art. One of the most interesting features of the book is that the chapters are titled after Audubon's painting plates, and those painting titles have significant meaning within each chapter, seamlessly interweaving history with metaphorical writing.

4. Review Excerpts and Notable Awards/Honors:

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL STARRED REVIEW: "Readers will miss Doug and his world when they’re done, and will feel richer for having experienced his engaging, tough, and endearing story."

BOOKLIST STARRED REVIEW: "Reproductions of Audubon plates introduce each chapter in this stealthily powerful, unexpectedly affirming story of discovering and rescuing one’s best self, despite family pressure to do otherwise."

KIRKUS STARRED REVIEW: "This is Schmidt's best novel yet—darker than The Wednesday Wars and written with more restraint, but with the same expert attention to voice, character and big ideas"

Winner of/Honored by:

• 2012 Odyssey Award Honor
• 2012 Nomination for an Audie Award
• 2011 Sonderbooks Standout: #3 Audio Rereads
• 2011 National Book Award Finalist: Young People's Literature
• 2012 AudioFile Earphones Award

5. Connections
A. Use the following photograph lesson plan by The National Archives http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/vietnam-photos/

B. A few of the scenes could be dramatized and acted out, especially the ones between Doug and Lil, Doug and Mrs. Windermere, and Doug and the so-called gym teacher.

*Other books with related themes:

Schmidt, Gary D. THE WEDNESDAY WARS. ISBN 9780547237602

Gantos, Jack. DEAD END IN NORVELT. ISBN 9780374379933

*Other historical fiction books about the Vietnam War:

Whelan, Gloria. GOODBYE, VIETNAM. ISBN 9780679823766

Lynch, Chris. VIETNAM #1: I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE. ISBN 9780545270298

Dean Myers, Walter. FALLEN ANGELS. ISBN 9780590409438

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(Historical Fiction) Review of Alchemy and Meggy Swan by Karen Cushman

1. Bibliography
Cushman, Karen. 2010. ALCHEMY AND MEGGY SWANN. New York: Clarion Books.  ISBN 9780547231846
Book jacket by Leah Palmer Preiss - hand lettering


2. Plot Summary
This book is about a young, teenage girl, Meggy, who in 1573 comes to London from a country village where she was raised to live with a father whom she does not know, who believes her to be a boy, and who, upon arriving and seeing her crippled legs and walking stick, basically ignores her. With her beloved grandmother dead and a mother who could easily let her go, Meggy has no choice but to stay with her absent father in London. The historical fiction novel is set during Queen Elizabeth I's reign but before Shakespeare. Meggy's father is an alchemist, trying to discover the secret to immortality with his potions, and Meggy is to be his help. When Meggy finds her father is up to some devious acts, she sets out on a mission to make her and her father's situation better. She discovers during her journey that she is stronger than she ever imagined and meets some friends along the way to bring into her once lonely and unforgiving world.

3. Critical Analysis
Karen Cushman's expertise on the subject of the Elizabethan Era shines through in this novel of self-discovery. Her "Author's Note" section at the back of the book is particularly helpful in understanding the background of playwrights before Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth I, the study of alchemy, and the times and language of the late 1500s in London. Also adding to the author's authority on the subjects within the novel is the list of references in the back. There are websites and books for further exploration of the historical setting. Cushman also explains the concept of broadsides and singing ballads to spread news - the precursor to newspapers and television newscasts. She used actual text from historical ballads in the novel.

Meggy Swann is a quick-witted and sharp-tongued girl who does not show much self-restraint in her words or exhibit much patience. Cushman characterizes her to be a typical teenage girl who readers will quickly identify with, even though her language may include some very unfamiliar phrases and language, such as her coin phrase of disgust and irritation, "Ye toads and vipers!" The language in the book could be confusing for the suggested reader's age, 10 and up, so it may be important for educators to have a vocabulary conversation prior to diving in to the novel. The author notes at the back of the book that she leaves thou and thee out of her writing and replaces those pronouns with you because enough of the true Elizabethan dialog and language is already complicated and heavy. The chapters are short and easy to read, giving the reader a chance to process some of the heavy language and concepts; however, a glossary at the back of the book would be a helpful quick reference and tool. There were certain portions of the plot line that moved very slowly, but that may have been a way to describe and develop Meggy's feelings of loneliness due to her absent father and the seclusion she felt at times because of people's attitudes towards disabilities during this time period. The author does an excellent job in her author's note of describing Meggy's disability (hip dysplasia) and the prejudices and stereotypes that people felt towards the disabled. She also explains how times were changing and that people's attitudes were becoming more sympathetic towards the less-abled. All of these notes and research show how enthusiastic and invested Karen Cushman is towards this time period.

 4. Review Excerpts and Notable Awards/Honors:
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL STARRED REVIEW: "Cushman adds another intrepid, resourceful, courageous girl to her repertoire in this tale set in 16th-century London."

BOOKLIST STARRED REVIEW: "Writing with admirable economy and a lively ability to re-create the past believably, Cushman creates a memorable portrayal of a troubled, rather mulish girl who begins to use her strong will in positive ways."


KIRKUS STARRED REVIEW: "Readers can hear and see and smell it all as if they are right beside Meggy. She employs the syntax and vocabulary of the period so easily that it is understood as if it’s the most contemporary modern slang. A gem."

Winner of/Honored by:

• Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production Honor (2011)

5. Connections
A. A vocabulary gallery walk or other activity would be particularly helpful before reading this novel. 
B. Teachers could set up a traveling museum exhibit to show artifacts from the Elizabethan Age and documents such as ballads. 

*Other books of interest by Karen Cushman:
Cushman, Karen. THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE. ISBN 9780547722177
Cushman, Karen. CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY. ISBN 9780547722184
Cushman, Karen. WILL SPARROW'S ROAD. ISBN 9780547739625

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(Historical Fiction) Review of One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

1. Bibliography
Williams-Garcia, Rita. 2010. ONE CRAZY SUMMER. New York: Harper Collins Children's Books.  ISBN 9780060760885


2. Plot Summary
Set in the summer of 1968 and narrated by eleven-year-old Delphine, she and her two younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern, travel from Brooklyn, New York to Oakland, California to see a mother they know. Their mother, Cecile, goes by the name Nzilla, because she is a poet and printer, and is a member of the Black Panthers. She does not have much need for her children, and they are treated coldly, having to find their own food and their own way. Cecile has them attend a Black Panther summer camp to keep them out of her hair while she writes poetry and prints them on her machine. The three girls are immersed in a foreign world, but they learn much about the world and what it means to be proud, black women in this coming-of-age story.

3. Critical Analysis
Told through the eyes of the eldest sister, Delphine, who is very mature for her eleven years is able to tell a very believable story and gives information about this period in history in a non-biased way. Even though the story is told though Delphine's viewpoint, the other two sisters' voices are not to be dismissed. The plot includes information about the Black Panthers and the events surrounding the arrest of its founder, Huey Newton, during the 1960s. The story line does include enough information about this historical time since it is told from a child's perspective, but leaves just enough missing so that readers will have questions about certain organizations, historical figures, and places. The book could be made even stronger and more credible if it had sections in the back, such as an "Author's Note" describing some of the history of the Black Panthers and the setting during the 1960s, a glossary, or any resource aid of that nature. The chapters were not too long, making it easy to hold a reader's interest. The issues with the girls' mother are never fully brought to the surface, but enough is resolved in order for readers to understand that progress has been made in their relationship and that some sort of void has been filled for all parties. The setting takes us from Brooklyn to Alabama to California, and the author does a wonderful job of describing major events during this time in American history. Through Delphine, Williams-Garcia gives us information about Black Panther summer camps, which many children will not understand, so this book can create some very deep conversations about racial issues. Readers will also get a "first account" of San Francisco happenings in the 1960s. Younger readers to older readers will be able to grasp the author's theme of being strong in very tough situations and that being strong does not always mean being tough all of the time. Letting go and living is just as important.


4. Review Excerpts and Notable Awards/Honors:
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL STARRED REVIEW: "Emotionally challenging and beautifully written, this book immerses readers in a time and place and raises difficult questions of cultural and ethnic identity and personal responsibility."

BOOKLIST STARRED REVIEW: "Set during a pivotal moment in African American history, this vibrant novel shows the subtle ways that political movements affect personal lives; but just as memorable is the finely drawn, universal story of children reclaiming a reluctant parent’s love."


KIRKUS STARRED REVIEW: Delphine is the pitch-perfect older sister, wise beyond her years, an expert at handling her siblings...while the girls are caught up in the difficulties of adults, their resilience is celebrated and energetically told with writing that snaps off the page."


HORN BOOKS STARRED REVIEW: “The setting and time period are as vividly realized as the characters, and readers will want to know more about Delphine and her sisters after they return to Brooklyn...” 

Winner of/Honored by:

• Coretta Scott King Award Winner
• Newberry Honor Book
• Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
• 2010 National Book Award Finalist, Young People's Literature
• Junior Library Guild Selection
• Texas Library Association Best Book for 2010

5. Connections
A. Students could research background information about the Black Panthers, Huey Newton, San Francisco, racial issues in the 1960s, etc. before reading. A follow-up activity after reading could be to research further questions children have. They could collaboratively create a timeline of events during this time period using a Web 2.0 tool. 
B. Teachers could invite an African American guest speaker that grew up around the happenings of the Black Panthers and/or that could discuss personal accounts of racial issues in the late 1960s. 
C. A gallery walk of images found by the teacher could be taken prior to reading this novel in order to create conversations about the time period to tap into background knowledge.

*Other historical fiction novels related to the themes in One Crazy Summer:
Holm, Jennifer L. TURTLE IN PARADISE. ISBN 9780375836909
Dean Myers, Walter. MOUSE RAP. ISBN 9780064403566

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(Non-fiction) Review of THEY CALLED THEMSELVES THE KKK by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

1. Bibliography
Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. 2010. THEY CALLED THEMSELVES THE KKK: THE BIRTH OF AN AMERICAN TERRORIST GROUP. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. ISBN 9780618440337


2. Plot Summary
This thoughtful, in-depth nonfiction social history book is a collection of primary source documents, first account personal stories, and archival photographs about the history and effects of the Ku Klux Klan within our American history. Beginning with six disgruntled Southern men full of hate for the reconstruction taking place in the South, They Called Themselves the KKK, tells the story of the powerful organization, from its birth up until 2008, when the first African American was placed into the presidential office. Through first accounts from former slaves, (about 70 years later after the Civil War), Bartoletti allows others to tell their stories of their struggles and triumphs over oppression in the South.

3. Critical Analysis
Susan Campbell Bartoletti tells the story of the Ku Klux Klan through elaborate, but not an over-whelming amount of text, first account quotations and stories, archival photographs, newspaper clippings, and drawings that are captioned with explanation. Her style and choice of words are extremely accessible and clearly written for her audience of tweens and teens and beyond. The chapter titles are engaging, drawing readers in, and seem reminiscent of a chapter title in a fiction book, versus a nonfiction book. However, the chapter titles still allow readers to understand what the chapter will be about so that they may pick and choose what they would like to learn. The book is organized in chronological order, beginning with the KKK's conception in Tennessee through its current happenings, but most chapters contain prior years' information, allowing the reader to still find the facts they need without reading the book cover to cover.  The photogaphs' and drawings' captions not only grab the reader's attention and add to the text of the writer, but they also add additional information for the reader to absorb. The photos are mainly from a newspaper of the time period, Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, or from Harper's Weekly, adding to the book's credibility.  The timeline at the back of the book contains years beginning with 1863 and ending with 2008 states important dates regarding how the KKK affected people and society, including information about laws and amendments to the constitution that were passed regarding African American rights.  Adding the personal accounts of former slaves adds a personal quality to this social history. Without the interwoven accounts and quotations from these freed people, the book would not be nearly as effective in making the reader understand the effects of the Ku Klux Clan. These accounts helped show Bartoletti's interest and compassion for the stories of those who could tell about the Klan's actions best - those who had experienced them. This book will spur critical thinking, further interest in the subject of the Klan and all of the sub-topics that are mentioned in the book, as well as an understanding for the violence and persecution that the freed people of America had to face - strictly from facts.

4. Review Excerpts and Notable Awards/Honors:
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Bartoletti effectively targets teens with her engaging and informative account that presents a well-structured inside look at the KKK, societal forces that spawn hate/terrorist groups, and the research process."

BOOKLIST STARRED REVIEW: Like the individual stories, the powerful archival images on every page will leave an indelible impression on young readers, who will want to move on to the extensive annotated resources. The adjacent Story behind the Story feature fills in more details about this lucid, important title, which should be required reading for young people as well as the adults in their lives.

Winner of/Honored by:

• 2011 ALA Notable Children’s Books, Older Readers
• Booklist 2011 Top 10 Books for Youth, Black History
• 2011 NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended
• IRA Notable Books for a Global Society 2011
• Booklist 2010 Editor’s Choice, Books for Youth, Nonfiction, Older Readers
• Booklist Lasting Connections of 2010, Social Studies; Horn Book Fanfare, Best Books of 2010, Nonfiction
• Kirkus Reviews 2010 Best Books for Teens
• Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Books 2010, Nonfiction; School Library Journal Best Books 2010: Nonfiction
• YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Finalist, 2011
  

5. Connections
A. Students could research other sources about the Ku Klux Klan, including modern day resources, articles, and first person accounts in groups and then create a synthesis product based on their discoveries.
B. Students could compare and contrast the KKK to other terrorist organizations of today. 
C. A gallery walk of the images inside the book or found through other sources by the teacher could be taken prior to looking at this text in order to create conversations about the organization and to tap into background knowledge.

*Other informational books about climbing the Ku Klux Klan or other terrorist groups:
Various authors. THE ROOTS OF TERRORISM SERIES. 2003-2006.
MacLean, Nancy K. BEHIND THE MASK OF CHIVALRY: THE MAKING OF THE SECOND KU KLUX KLAN. ISBN 9780195098365
Based on true events picture book about the Klan to discuss with students:
Stauffacher, Sue. BESSIE SMITH AND THE NIGHT RIDERS. Ill. John Holyfield. ISBN 9780399242373

Poetic novel about the people who bear witness to the KKK's actions:
Hesse, Karen. WITNESS. ISBN 978-0439272001

A fictional book about the Ku Klux Klan to spur conversations with students:
Vander Zee, Ruth. MISSISSIPPI MORNING. ISBN 978-0802852113




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(Non-fiction) Review of Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest by Steve Jenkins

1. Bibliography
Jenkins, Steve. 1999. THE TOP OF THE WORLD: CLIMBING MOUNT EVEREST. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395942187


2. Plot Summary
In this beautifully illustrated concept picture book, Steve Jenkins brings every aspect of Mount Everest to life. He begins with basic facts about the tallest mountain on earth and goes through the history of climbers, the equipment needed to survive the climb, and what happens when you reach the summit. Also included are facts about the people of Nepal and Tibet since Mount Everest borders these two countries. Readers will be taken on a journey of in-depth facts, collaged pictures, and diagrams of the world's tallest peak.

3. Critical Analysis
Steve Jenkins' Everest book is organized as a climber's journey to the top of the treacherous mountain. The first few pages help the reader understand basic facts about the mountain, including the height, people's fascination with the peak, the location, and its namesake. Then, the reader is immersed in facts about the people of Tibet and The Sherpas of Nepal, helping him or her to understand how an attempt to climb to the top can take place. The illustrations are cut-paper collages, reproduced in full, vivid color, drawing the reader's eyes in right away. A picture walk could be taken initially and much knowledge could be gained that way. The illustrations are very detailed and realistic for paper collage, but they still have a whimsical quality of something creative and fun. The text and illustrations blend seamlessly together, creating a rich experience for the reader who wants to learn what it is like to climb the beast that is called Everest.

Every page has related sections labeled well so that readers can look for the information they need versus reading the entire book cover to cover. All of the topics do flow one into another, especially when Jenkins' writes about the actual trek, necessary gear and equipment, and mountain life and conditions, so this portion of the book would benefit the reader more so by reading those sections in order. Everything is labeled clearly on the images, and there is a bibliography and diagram of the world's tallest summits on each of the seven continents, adding to the accuracy and credibility of the book. There are no page numbers, table of contents, glossary, or index, which would be an added benefit for readers needing to find specific information.  The font is set in Frutiger, and it is a very readable and straight-forward lettering. Jenkins used black font on the white of the mountains and white font on darker images, making the words extremely easy to see. Each section has just enough text to give the reader an in-depth view of the topic at hand but to also entice readers to think critically about the information and to ask inquisitive, further questions. Jenkins' style is easy to understand but very technical at the same time, and he engages the reader through his knowledge of the topic and through fun, extra facts, as well as his excitement for the subject through his phrasing and illustrations.

4. Review Excerpts and Notable Awards/Honors:
PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "Addressing readers as would-be Everest explorers, Jenkins's book is a compendium of historical info and practical tips, illustrated with stunning cut-paper collage, wrote PW. Ages 6-10."

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Grade 2-6-A windfall of facts about Everest and the daring mountaineers who have attempted to reach its summit. Breathtaking cut-paper collages capture the dramatic vistas and the frightening realities of high-altitude climbs."

HORN BOOK STARRED REVIEW: "...The cut-paper collage illustrations manage to show the grandeur of the world's tallest mountain with an immediacy that few photographs can. The book follows a logical sequence, beginning with the statistics and continuing with a virtual climbing experience for the reader. Exceptional design handles these bits of text remarkably well...the deft execution of the illustrations brings the whole package to a higher level."

NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW: "The book teaches children about the thrills and risks of big mountains without frightening them."

Winner of/Honored by:

• 1999 Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards Winner, Nonfiction
• 2000 Orbis Pictus Honor Book
• School Library Journal Best Books of 1000
• Notable Books for Children, 2000, American Library Association, ALSC
• Horn Book Fanfare 2000 List

5. Connections
A. Students could go through an inquiry model for researching a question or questions they have after reading The Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest. This could be a collaborative project where students work in groups to ask questions, find answers, and create a project using a Web 2.0 tool such as Prezi or Animoto.
B. Students could create a, "What's in My Backpack" activity, where they tell what things should go in their backpack with descriptions of the items as well as the importance of each item.
C. Read more stories of people who survived the climb of Mount Everest, in particular, THE BOY WHO SURVIVED EVEREST: THE JORDAN ROMEO STORY (listed below). Then, create a lesson based on the importance of goal-setting and living out your dreams.

*Other informational books about climbing Mount Everest:
Krakauer, John. INTO THIN AIR. ISBN 9780613663618 FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY.

Borgenicht, David and Bill Doyle. WORST CASE SCENARIO ULTIMATE ADVENTURE: EVEREST: YOU DECIDE HOW TO SURVIVE! ISBN 9780811871235

Graham, Ian. YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO CLIMB MOUNT EVEREST: A DEADLY JOURNEY TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD. ISBN 9780531137857

Blanc, Katherine and Jordan Romero. THE BOY WHO CONQUERED EVEREST: THE JORDAN ROMEO STORY. ISBN 9781401931179


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(Non-fiction) Review of What To Do About Alice? by Barbara Kerley, Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham

1. Bibliography
Kerley, Barbara. 2008. WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE?. New York: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 9780439922319

2. Plot Summary
In this biographical picture book, Barbara Kerley paints a picture of a young Alice Roosevelt, daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt, and how her exploits and antics leave her father often frustrated and wondering, "What to do about Alice?" The story begins with a small journey of Theodore Roosevelt's conquests and accomplishments, leading up to the reasons why he has issues with Alice's "running riots." The president becomes concerned about Alice "eating up the world," especially as she becomes older and the reflection it will have on him as a leader and as a father. Besides being a dreamer and a socialite, Alice was a lover of knowledge and read as much as she could. The story leads the reader through Alice's adventures up until right after she marries a congressman. Even after marrying the congressman, Alice still had the drive to entertain, to travel, to learn, and to live life to the fullest.

3. Critical Analysis
Barbara Kerley's biographical picture book of Theodore Roosevelt's eldest daughter, Alice, is a story of light-hearted adventurousness. The reader learns on the first few pages of how Alice lost her mother as an infant which probably led to her desiring to "eat up the world." While the sources at the back of the book indicate research well done and many accuracies, older readers may want to delve deeper into the Roosevelt's and Alice's stories. They will find a much darker story of Alice and the disapproval she felt from her family and the after-math of that as she grew older. This story is suited for young audiences but would be an excellent book to share with older/teenage children in order to discuss how stories change as we grow older.

Since this book is organized as a children's book, it is meant to be read from cover to cover. It is organized from Alice's young childhood to early adulthood. There is a bit more of information at the very back of the book under the "Author's Note" and a small article entitled, "The Other Washington Monument." This will give readers a more expository version of the author's story. The text is organized in interesting ways, laid out to fit the illustrations, not the other way around. Many times, the picture is larger than the font, keeping the reader's interest all the way through. The writer's style manages to include factual information while maintaining a lightness in the writing, adding fun tips here and there, such as Alice's love for quick meals of scrambled eggs, in order to keeping drawing the young reader in.

Edwin Fotheringham's drawings replicate the words on the pages bringing them to life. The front cover depicts a young Alice Roosevelt on a bicycle with her feet off of the pedals. Even though the clothing looks older, children will be drawn to the book because most of them have tried this bicycle trick. While the illustrator maintains a cartoon-like quality in his drawings using vivid colors and wispy lines and proportions, he maintains the authenticity of the time period (the early 1900s) and the known physical traits of the characters, such as Alice's grey-blue eyes and ringlets as a child and Theodore Roosevelt's glasses and rotund shape. The illustrator also captures Alice's vivid imagination and whimsical adventures through his portrayal of backgrounds, facial expressions, and vignettes.

4. Review Excerpts and Notable Awards/Honors:
BOOKLIST STARRED REVIEW: "Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was....The large format gives Fotheringham, in his debut, plenty of room for spectacular art."

KIRKUS STARRED REVIEW:"Theodore Roosevelt's irrepressible oldest child receives an appropriately vivacious appreciation in this superb picture book.... Kerley's precise text presents readers with a devilishly smart, strong-willed girl who was determined to live life on her own terms and largely succeeded."

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL STARRED REVIEW: "Kerley's text gallops along with a vitality to match her subject's antics, as the girl greets White House visitors accompanied by her pet snake, refuses to let leg braces cramp her style, dives fully clothed into a ship's swimming pool, and also earns her place in history as one of her father's trusted advisers. Fotheringham's digitally rendered, retro-style illustrations are a superb match for the text."

Winner of/Honored by:

*Sibert Honor Book
*Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book
*Irma Black Award Honor Book
*Parents Choice Award
*Washington State Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award
*California Collections
*A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
*A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
*A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
*An ALA Notable Book
*Capitol Choices
*New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
*Nominated for Young Reader awards in Texas, Illinois, Utah and Tennessee

5. Connections
A. Invite younger and older children to ask their questions about Alice and the Roosevelt family. Research this. Older children may wonder how the Roosevelt family compares and contrasts with another presidential family, such as the Kennedy's. Inquiry could take place in groups.
B. This books invites readers to create a scrapbook of Alice's adventures.

*Other books about Theodore Roosevelt and his family:
Editors of Time for Kids. TIME FOR KIDS: THEODORE ROOSEVELT: THE ADVENTUROUS PRESIDENT. ISBN 9780060576042.

Hollihan, Kerrie Logan. THEODORE ROOSEVELT FOR KIDS: HIS LIFE AND TIMES, 21 ACTIVITIES (FOR KIDS SERIES). ISBN 9781556529559

*Other biography picture books for children:
Adler, David A. and John C. Wallner. THE PICTURE BOOK OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN (PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHY). Ill. Alexandra Wallner. ISBN 9780823408016 

Kerley, Barbara. THOSE REBELS, JOHN AND TOM. Ill. Edwin Fotheringham. ISBN 9780545222686




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Review of Here in Harlem: poems in many voices by Walter Dean Myers

1. Bibliography
Myers, Walter Dean. 2004. HERE IN HARLEM: POEMS IN MANY VOICES. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 978-0-8234-2212-8 (paperback)

2. Plot Summary

In this beautifully written book of fifty-four poems, Walter Dean Myers manages to cover a variety of voices from Harlem that he grew up with in the 1940s-1960s. He shows his audience that life is life, whether it be beautiful or difficult. The poems are written in “first person” point of view from actual people that Myers encountered while living in this part of New York. People are identified by their names, ages, and occupations. He collects their voices through verse, leaving the reader to interpret many of the phrases within the poignant poetry. The book covers testimonies from the twelve-year-old student to the mailman to the retired old man who has watched life pass him by. Beginning and ending with Clara Brown’s testimonies in Parts I-IV, the author captures every profession and a multitude of ages. In between these testimonies are everyday life stories of triumphs and disappointments, and Myers also covers simple encounters the people of Harlem experience that change them for better or for worse.

3. Critical Analysis

Walter Dean Myers captures the voices of the people of Harlem crisply and clearly. Some poems are written in free verse with a hint of a pattern; some are written in the form of a jazzy blues song or a fiery Sunday sermon, and others are written with clearly defined rhyme schemes, stanzas, repetition, and parallelism. Myers' use of figurative language allows readers to view the poems from different angles and grants open interpretations. Phrases such as, "prison of my skin" and "sap poisoned prison," are highly emotional and create opportunities for many deep conversations regarding the author's words and themes. Names such as Marcus Garvey and Langston Hughes and places such as Sugar Hill may leave students and readers confused if they have not heard of them. So, both the detailed table of contents with characters' names, ages, professions, and page numbers and the glossary of people, places, and names at the back of the book are particularly helpful resources in navigation and comprehension.  Clara Brown's testimonies are written mostly in prose form until the very end, adding a richness and variety (contrast) to the poetry voices in verse.


Myers does an excellent job of capturing Harlem's heritage and stories. There black and white photographs throughout the book that enhance the reading experiencing by adding an authenticity to the stories of the people of Harlem. The photographs are not depictions of the actual people in the poetry; they are simply images Myers chose to represent any particular voice. The front cover photograph is an image of Duke Ellington and two well-dressed ladies, creating an opportunity for a first discussion and/or prediction. The inside pages of the book are "yellowed" and have "tattered" edges giving it the feel of something classic, vintage, and personal - much like a diary. Here in Harlem is best suited for middle school and beyond because the ideas and language run deep, and most of the content and figurative language would be difficult for younger audiences to grasp. This collection of poems is an invitation for readers to see a very personal and up-close side of Harlem. This stunning book of verse will be an excellent addition to the classroom and library classroom and creates excellent opportunities for collaborating across the curricula.


Review Excerpt(s) and Notable Awards:

--SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (starred review): "The rich and exciting text will give readers a flavor of the multiplicity of times and the peoples of Harlem."
--KIRKUS REVIEWS (starred review): "One of Myers' best - and that's saying a lot. Sure to be a classic."

Winner of/Honors:
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Notable Children's Book
Capitol Choices, the de Grummond Medal
the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award
CCBC Choices
Chicago Public Library
Best of the Best Books for Great Kids
IRA Notable Book for a Global Society
Claudia Lewis Award (Bank Street College)

5. Connections

A. The figurative language in this poetry book could be used to help students understand the meaning of the poems. Students could draw out the literal meaning of the phrase and then write out what Walter Dean Myers meant in a particular poem.
B. This book could be used during Black History Month in February to compare to other works by African American authors. The imagery, repetition, and figurative language lends itself to being compared to works such as Martin Luther King Jr.'s, "I Have a Dream" speech.
C. A poem such as, "Ann Carter/32 and Benjamin Bailey, 38, Switchboard Operator/Building Maintenance," could be read in two voices and discussed.

Other books of verse by Walter Dean Myers:
Myers, Walter Dean. HARLEM. Ill. Christopher Myers. ISBN 9780590543408
Myers, Walter Dean. BROWN ANGELS: AN ALBUM OF PICTURES AND VERSE. ISBN 9780064434553
Myers, Walter Dean. WE ARE AMERICA: A TRIBUTE FROM THE HEART. Ill. Christopher Myers. ISBN 978-0060523084
Myers, Walter Dean. JAZZ. Ill. Christopher Myers. ISBN 9780823421732

Other books of poetry about Harlem:
Muse, Daphne. THE ENTRANCE PLACE OF WONDERS: POEMS OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE. Ill. Charlotte Riley-Webb. ISBN 9780810959972


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Review of Stop Pretending: Went What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy by Sonya Sones

1. Bibliography
Sones, Sonya. 1999. STOP PRETENDING: WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MY BIG SISTER WENT CRAZY. New York: Harper Collins Children's Books. ISBN 9780064462181

2. Plot Summary
Sonya Sones writes a poignant, emotionally raw novella in verse based on the true story of when her older sister was committed on Christmas Eve and diagnosed with manic depression when Sones herself was about to turn thirteen. Written from a young teen's perspective, the main character Cookie takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster journey of discovering how she deals with absent of mind parents, a sister who becomes a stranger, friends that abandon her, and a new love that makes her feel alive again.

3. Critical Analysis
The novella begins with a poem entitled, "My Whole Family," which helps the reader understand just how close this family is until the second poem, "My Sister's Christmas Eve Breakdown," rapidly changes the tone from warm and fuzzy to confused and foreign. The author approaches her writing in a "no holds bar" manner in which she captures the reader's attention simply by being real and completely exposed. The narrator, Cookie, is brought to life in the poems through the use of the author's figurative language and intermittent dialogues. Most poems are written in free verse with very specific punctuation marks, pauses and spaces embedded within them. The poems that are written with any sort of rhyme such as, "Sister's Voices" or "Hospitalized," are very purposeful. The rhymes correlate to words that are very emotional and need great stress. Most of the poems do not even have a specific rhyme scheme; only certain words are rhymed to send a message to the reader - mainly one of distress and confusion Cookie feels over the hospitalization of her sister. The poems about John, the new kid at school who only has eyes for Cookie, give the reader a much needed hope and a sense of relief from the serious themes in the book. The poems interweave in a way that help readers comprehend the story as a whole and the message that different people deal with messy situations in different ways. All of the elements of plot come cleverly together with the climax being about three quarters of the way in, and the resolution is not an ending but rather a new beginning, leaving the reader with a sense of satisfaction.

4. Review Excerpt(s) and Notable Awards

-THE BOSTON GLOBE: "Stop Pretending is a tour de foce debut. It celebrates truth-telling, and has a purity and passion that speaks to the heart."
-ALA BOOKLIST (starred review):  "The poems have a cumulative emotional power. They record the personal and translate it into the universal."
-SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Unpretentious. Accessible. Deeply felt."
-THE HORN BOOK: "Sensitively written."
-KIRKUS REVIEWS: "The poems take on life and movement, the individual frames of a movie that in the unspooling become animated, telling a compelling tale."

Winner of:
Christopher Award
Claudia Lewis Award for Poetry
Myra Cohn Livingston Poetry Award
Gradiva Award for Best Poetry Book
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
IRA/CBC Young Adults' Choice
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
Teen People Book Club selection
Los Angeles Times Book Prize nomination
ALA Top Ten Quick Pick
ALA Popular Paperback for Young Adults

5. Connections

A. This book can be read independently with selected poems read aloud by the teacher and students in class for deeper discussion. Small group and whole class literature circle discussions would be beneficial in understanding the novel's themes.
B. Grammar lessons - Poetry imitation could take place. Sentence and punctuation imitation would be excellent here also. Discussions over why Sones writes one poem this way and the next one another way.
C. This book could be used in a psychology or child development class at the high school level as a bridge for research projects on mental diseases and/or how families cope when a member is diagnosed.

Other books in verse by Sonya Sones for teens:
Sones, Sonya. WHAT MY GIRLFRIEND DOESN'T KNOW. ISBN 9780689876035
Sones, Sonya. WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN'T KNOW. ISBN 9780689855535
Sones, Sonya. ONE OF THOSE HIDEOUS BOOKS WHERE THE MOTHER DIES. ISBN 9781416907886

Other poetry novels with serious themes:
Smith, Kirstin. THE GEOGRAPHY OF GIRLHOOD. ISBN 0316017353
Hopkins, Ellen. CRANK. ISBN 978-1416995135

On a side note: I have read most of Sonya Sones' other publications, and I loved them. Never having read this book until now was quite a treat! I absolutely loved this novel of poetry and want to buy multiple copies for my collection at school. So many teenagers go through some sort of depression or know someone who has, and this emotionally heartfelt book of verse is so real, so raw, it has to be read....and aloud! I was deeply touched by this book. Having a father who was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder when I was a bit younger than Sones really hit home and made me think back to a time similar to the author's experience.


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Poetry Review of Aneesa Lee and the Weaver's Gift by Nikki Grimes, Illustrated by Ashley Bryan

1. Bibliography
Grimes, Nikki. 1999. ANEESA LEE AND THE WEAVER'S GIFT. Ill. Ashley Bryan. New York: Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Books. ISBN 0-688-15998-2

2. Plot Summary
Nikki Grimes tells readers the story of Aneesa Lee in this heart-warming book of short poems. Each poem tells a different aspect of Aneesa's life as a weaver - how she creates her pieces to how she feels about her days as a weaver. The author weaves a tale of multi-culturalism and family love through Aneesa's rich heritage - white, black, and Japanese all rolled into one person. Aneesa uses the colors of her yarn to express the importance of the fact that many different colors can combine to make one masterpiece.

3. Critical Analysis
Grimes does an excellent job of joining each individual poem together to create a complete picture of Aneesa's life and perspectives. This picture poem book could be enjoyed at even the youngest of ages. Older children will understand the symbolism of the different colors of yarn coming together to represent the aspects of multi-culturalism. She uses the subject of weaving as a metaphor for understanding how cultures blend together and how the love of a family is about acceptance and coming together. Not only does the book fall in the picture poem book category, but it also has a topical quality to it. Some of the poems and figurative language within those poems are simply to explain the intricate process of weaving, which is a craft that is near and dear to Grimes' heart. The author's use of punctuation within the poetry - a comma here, a hyphen there, is purposeful and adds emphasis just where she wants it, and the deep reader can understand the meanings behind these syntactical efforts.

There is a mixture of rhyming and non-rhyming poems, each one feeling natural and fitting the author's themes and purposes. Two favorites of a certain five-year old that I shared the book with were, "Family Gathering" and "Love is Purple" because she noticed the pictures first, commenting, "All of the colors melt together," or "Everyone is together," understanding the author's message of "bringing all kinds of people together." Reading the pages occurred after these initial reactions and observations. Figurative language such as "wispy hairs of hope" and "feelings laced or knotted" is sure to bring about emotional and intuitive conversations about Grimes' poetry. The vocabulary reference aid of weaving words at the beginning of the collection enhances what students will get out of the poems.

Ashley Bryan's illustrations of tempera and gouache paints are simply stunning. They are in full, vibrant, wispy colors of abstract and concrete images blended to create complete compliments to the also very colorful poetry of Nikki Grimes.The expressive emotions of "anger and gladness" and hope and worry are evident in the plethora of colors that Bryan uses to showcase the words in the book. The illustrations are vital to express Aneesa's weaving story fully and definitely articulate the themes and ideas of the human condition, family, and the blending of cultures further than just the words alone.

4. Review Excerpt(s)

-KIRKUS REVIEWS "The poems describe the art and craft of weaving including gathering natural materials for making dyes, spinning yarn, warping the board, dressing the loom, and completing the tapestry. Then there is Aneesa Lee, “a weave/of black/and white/and Japanese/a blend that sometimes/led to teasing,” in a poem that exhibits the poet’s larger theme, of how love weaves families together and how the craft of weaving links the past and present, connecting people in “a community of cloth.”

-PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "In a series of thoughtful, interlocking poems, Grimes (Meet Danitra Brown) skillfully uses the metaphor of weaving to explore the world of a talented girl. The young weaver's strands of black, white and Japanese heritage have "produced a pleasing,/ living, breathing tapestry/ christened Aneesa Lee."

-SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "The variegated colors of the yarn and the various textures of the woven tapestries express her shifting emotions of sadness, hurt, anger, worry, joy, and love. Each spread features a poem on the left facing a full page of art. Bright, folk-style illustrations in tempera and gouache explode with color. Decorative borders reflect the artistic unity of words and illustrations."

-My five-year-old daughter Makena, "The colors are so beautiful! Look at all of the different people." "I think we should look at the pictures first and tell about them and then read the story." (Well said, Kena girl!)

5. Connections

A. The vocabulary section at the beginning of the book is all weaving words, and those words are a great way to introduce the concepts in the book and to cover a vocabulary lesson.Children could draw pictures of the words with a partner, guessing what they think the terms look like before ever reading the book.
B. This book lends itself to viewing the pictures first and letting younger children tell each other what they think the story will be about so that they understand the strong connections the illustrations have to the text.

Other books of poetry about multi-culturalism:
Woodson, Jaqueline. THE OTHER SIDE. Ill. E.B. Lewis ISBN 9780399231162
Gillian, Maria Maziotti and Jennifer Gillian, Ed. UNSETTLING AMERICA: AN ANTHOLOGY OF CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN MULTI-CULTURAL POETRY. ISBN 9780140237788

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