The Sisters Grimm

The Sisters Grimm
Book Two - The Unusual Suspects

Michael Buckley (2005)

Fairy tale characters in the real world, where kids have problems like giant spiders and Rumpelstiltskin (sp?)... adventure/mystery with lots of humor, but also some serious angst over missing parents... reminded me of the HP emotional anger and magical loss of the folks, tone of the story reminded me of that movie with LRRHood and the X-games Grandma (and a singing Goat?) from a few years ago (I liked it, no one else did, but can't remember the name)...

gets the "race" tag for some racial profiling involving fictional vs real characters... could be an interesting discussion...

Dear America

I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly

The Diary of Patsy, a Freed Girl

by Joyce Hansen (1997)

Coretta Scott King Award Honor

So far these books have all impressed me, they don't seem too hokey or preachy; they must get good writers who know the historical period, although in this one the language was sometimes a bit much* for a slave girl who secretly learned to read and write from children's books... but I liked it, cared about the character, complex/believable storyline, great message of determination, self-awareness, personal strength...

*I started reading Flowers for Algernon this morning and thought of this book, in that it must be hard for a writer to present the story as if coming from a 6 or 10 or 15 year old, or a retarded man, and have the voice adhere strictly to how that person would be able to communicate... unless you're Faulkner, you have to bend the rules (suspend disbelief) to communicate to your readers through your characters, but not exclusively by/from your characters...

hmmm, not sure that makes sense...

Tuck Everlasting

Tuck Everlasting

by Natalie Babbitt (1975)

Someone has found the fountain of youth... the spring of eternal life, actually, which leads to a kidnapping, blackmail and real estate deals, and a jailbreak... I liked the beginning of the book better than the end, it seems some of the potential from the first half was lost -- the issue of living forever, as well as the mystery surrounding the man in the yellow suit, was washed over in the safe conclusion...

back from vacation, but forgot to take any of the books I'd started...

Here, There Be Dragons

Here, There Be Dragons

by James A. Owen (2006)

came highly recommended, I just started it... fantasy adventure starring the young Oxford lads Tolkien, Lewis, and Dodgson (were they alive at the same time? -- suspend disbelief?) saving our world and Arthur's... fully expected the allusions and references to the classic works, but so far way too much borrowing: Capt Nemo (League of Extraordinary Gents)? viciously evil dog-men (Book of Lost Things)? c'mon...

>apparently, this is a popular title for all kids of stuff...

>and this one too is a movie, or will be soon...

The Journal of James Edmund Pease

The Journal of James Edmund Pease

from the Dear America series

by Jim Murphy (1998)

A Civil War Union soldier keeps a journal chronicling his troops' personalities and activities, and his fears regarding fighting and leadership... very well done, historically accurate and reads authentic, great sense of the confusion and senselessness of battle ...reads like a much longer/deeper book...

connections: Civil War, Red Badge of Courage, Harriet Tubman, The Valley of the Shadow (civil war letters)

Only You Can Save Mankind

Only You Can Save Mankind

(If Not You, Who Else?) The Johnny Maxwell Trilogy

by Terry Pratchett (1992)

The first book in Pratchett's trio, although having already read the 2nd book they aren't connected story wise... Johnny enters a video game to help the aliens reach safety, all while dealing with his tough home life and the Gulf War on tv... many pop culture and "Stormin' Norman" references, but they're not as awkward as in the next book... a little confused in parts, but so is Johnny -- dreaming, dieing, going crazy? -- but ends with strong anti-war/violence message, and good for discussion of who and when is it right to fight? And just who will save mankind?

the thrid book is Johnny and the Bomb (1996)

connections: video games, un-popular kids, divorce, perception of reality, pacifism vs war

Here Lies the Librarian

Here Lies the Librarian

by Richard Peck (2006)

Peck's editor must have gone on vacation: the title and the book's beginning have nothing to do with the story... maybe he started writing when spooky stories were all the rage, hoping to capitalize with a graveyard scene, but unless I missed something, the tombstones (in the book or the title or the cover) have nothing at all to do with this tale of an orphaned girl who likes working on them new-fangled automobiles and some of her issues/adventures growing up... cute story, spunky female characters, but...

connections: female roles, cars, libraries, WWI

A Friend Called Anne

A Friend Called Anne

by Jacqueline van Maarsen (2004)

Recollections from a childhood friend of Anne Frank... good story for the closeness of friends, the decisions families must make, with an insight into of the passive helplessness surrounding the Nazi Occupation...

The Wall

The Wall

by Peter Sis (2007)

nothing to do with Pink Floyd... an artist's story of growing up in Communist Czechoslovakia, the suppression of individual rights and the government's efforts at mind control... I found it strange that it's out now, 10-15 years after it would be more timely/relevant, and that it's designed like a children's story ("oh look Timmy, here's a pretty book about a baby suffering from ideological crimes")... but the art and the info inside is very cool, and it would be a nice quick companion to a history or art lesson... also talks about 60's rock and roll...

connections: Adolf, Anne Frank, The Giver, the Berlin Wall, contemporary government/race issues (E. Europe, Africa), artistic freedom of expression

Adolf: A Tale of the Twentieth Century

Adolf: A Tale of the Twentieth Century

by Osamu Tezuka (1995)*

A real graphic novel, not just a thick comic book... just started reading, son #1 found the whole series at the library and snagged 'em for me... serious war/race thriller/drama set in Japan and Germany, mostly 1936-45 (the chapter tacked on to the end showing the characters still fighting each other in the Middle East 10 years later was a little contrived...)

It's fictional, the search for and hiding of secret documents showing Hitler was Jewish, and a circle of Japanese and German characters that continuously stretch the limits of "Hey, it's you again, whatta small world!" but very realistic in the historical events surrounding WWII and the treatment of the Jews... the characters are very passionate and sometimes quite torn by twisted loyalties, such as the half German-Japanese boy who falls for a Jewish girl...

Interesting to talk about divided loyalties in a classroom, explore the different messages the students get from parents vs teachers vs coaches vs pop culture vs the playground... who do you listen to? who do you follow? how could you possibly know what is right?

from the introduction to book 5, by Gerard Jones:

(discussing the lies/reasons we have wars): "...Nation -- the deadly sentiment that an arbitrary and invisible political definition has some bearing on human relationships and is worth killing and dying for..."

Hmmm...

connections: Anne Frank, Number the Stars, All Quiet on the Western Front, the Middle East, Viet Nam war

*originally serialized/published in Japan 1983-85

Red Badge of Courage

Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage

adapted by Wayne Vansant (1895/2005)

The text is sometimes too late 1800's for basic readers, but the images keep the story flowly smoothly and clearly... appendix in the back shows some "behind the scenes" how it's done details, good for those kids interested in the art angle...

connections: Civil War, war, Brother Sam is Dead

In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson

In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson

Bette Bao Lord (1984)

A girl goes straight from China to Brooklyn in 1947, with no stops in between to learn how to speak english or play baseball... autobiographical, told sweetly but not too cute, I had a real sense of the lonliness and lost-ness of the girl thrust into a strange new culture...

connections: ESL, Bat 6

The Girl Who Chased Away Sorrow

The Girl Who Chased Away Sorrow
from the Dear America series

Ann Turner (1999)

A story of the Navajo people forced from their homes, as told from a young girl's view; tragic, but not harsh, some danger but with the book beginning as the girl a grandmother telling her story, we know it has a "happy" ending... strong on family values and respect for elders, also with encouraging journal writing...

the folks at Oyate ( http://www.oyate.org/books-to-avoid/theChased.html ) don't like the book, because it doesn't adhere to Navajo storytelling tradition, but it seems like nitpicking -- it's more important to get the story told and sometimes changes need to be made to appeal/communicate to the intended audience; although this could be brought into a discussion with students, as well as reviewing historical accuracy...

connections: Native Americans, southwest US, origin myths, Sing Down the Moon, diary/journal writing, oral storytelling

Horton Hatches the Egg

Horton Hatches the Egg

by Dr. Seuss

We have invited a special guest reviewer for this book: Son #3, age 6...

In Horton's life, he asked a bird if he could sit on the egg ("he cohd siht an thi eeg") and the bird said yes. Horton did go on the egg but he got caught by the hunters. My favorite part is when the egg cracks and out came a bird mixed with an elephant. Regular people would love this book because it's a little funny and the elephant hatches the egg not the bird.

and yes, he is that ugly. must get it from an uncle or somethin'...

Lemony Snicket's The End

The End

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Book the 13th

"Lemony Snicket"

I liked these... got a little much at the end, glad I took a year or 2 break since reading my last installment... I think this book was half recap of the preceding 12 and half attempting to wrap it all up, and in this case the phrase "wrap it up" means make it up as you're typing and when you run out of paper, send in to the publisher...

Chasing Vermeer

Chasing Vermeer

Blue Balliett (2004)

special guest reviewer Son #2:

"I think that Chasing Vermeer was one of the best mystery books I have ever read.The boy uses pentominoes to tell the future because if he pulls out the P pentomino he finds a word that starts with p to predict whats going to happen
next.the two main characters are trying to find out who stole a lady writing , a famous picture by Vermeer.they notice small things like a code in a grocery list .i think that people who love mysteries should like this book."

(he's the one in green)

"find the art" : pgs 31, 36, 46, 80 ("everyday items as art"); pentaminoes

Gossamer

Gossamer

Lois Lowry (2006)

I know, I know -- so I have a little crush on Ms. Lowry. It's not like I'm hoping her next Newbery winner is titled "TeacherDad" or includes a special dedication to her #1 fan...

I think one of her talents is making the reader feel a part of the story right away; within the first few pages I feel as if I'm in the room with her characters, actually turning my head to hear one speak. Gossamer is about dream-fairies, and I found myself being quiet, holding still and listening carefully as I read of them sneaking into a house at night while people slept. When her characters are concerned or hurt, or in danger, I'm not only apprehensive because it's a good story, I'm emotionally invested, I care for them...

Lowry also uses very precise language, both as a plot device and as an art form; her characters are often named for their job or personality, or become "named" as a rite of passage. Especially in Gossamer her characters discuss the proper word for a situation or an emotion, making sure it expresses the correct tone and conveys the correct meaning to those hearing the word used. Perfect for vocabulary lessons!

This book is also about a boy from a broken home, abused by his father, shuttled around foster homes while his mom puts her life back together. He's taken in by a retired teacher and her dog, and we see how their memories and dreams help them to cope with life.

connections: divorce, foster care, Dear Mr. Henshaw

Number the Stars

Number the Stars

Lois Lowry

Newbery Medal 1990

A story of WWII in Denmark and helping Jews escape to Sweden, tense at times but not over-dramatic or preachy. Mention of the food and supply shortages, the resistance fighters, strong bonds of family and faith. Historically accurate.

connections: Anne Frank, Holocaust, Zlata's Diary, current event examples of oppression/genocide

Messenger

Messenger

Lois Lowry (2004)

The continuing story from The Giver and Gathering Blue, but different than the others by the more supernatural element throughout. I think the book suffers some for this, especially the weak ending; unlike her others, where the conclusion comes too soon because you want to read more, this ending comes at the point when she just can't add anything else or it will really get strange... adding the magic takes away from the strong characters, from the personalities and wills that were special in the other books.

But it's still good, worth the read. Family relationships, societal relationships and responsibilities, thinking for yourself vs. crowd mentality, materialism, use of talents and "gifts" for the greater good, or for personal gain?

connections: any of Lowry's other books I've read, gardening, healing

Gathering Blue

Gathering Blue

Lois Lowry (2000)

I believe this is a "companion" to The Giver, but it's not technically a sequel; there's another book that somewhat ties the two together... futuristic dystopian society, very primitive, cold hearted in its treatment of the ill and children, unless you have artistic abilities, then you get indoor plumbing! There's a clear sense (the theme?) that basically without art, we rot. The "Gathering" scenes remind me of long and boring, especially for children, holiday church services, where the tradition and the message is irrelevant and un-spiritual. With Lowry the ending isn't always an ending -- should she stay or go? -- but this one satisfied me (not that I don't want to read more)... Very well done; I'm starting to rank Ms. Lowry higher and higher on my list of best authors around...

connections: artists and culture in society, disabilities, ethical dilemmas, Shayamalan's "The Village"

http://loislowry.typepad.com/lowry_updates

Jimi & Me

Jimi & Me

Jamie Adolf (2005)

Coretta Scott King New Talent Award 2006

written in free verse, sometimes very rhythmic and lyrical, makes yer head bob while reading... a boy loses his dad suddenly and then learns some hard truths about him, and about life. Not preachy, good surprise at the end, many music references.

Good to use for poetry/music, even for younger kids (some parts)...

connections: music, Jimi Hendrix, poetry, race relations

Small Steps

Small Steps

Louis Sachar (2006)

A "follow-up" to the immensely popular Holes, putting a couple of characters into a new predicament... not up to Holes level, a much lighter story/quicker read, but enjoyable. I was concerned at first because the main character wasn't exactly exemplifying excellent ethics (say that 3x fast!), which even given the setting and personalities of Holes, it seemed to be missing the redeeming tone of the first book. But by the second half all is well, and the story brings up quality points and is worth the read.

connections: Holes, career plans, pop music, writing lyrics, seizures, ethical dilemmas

Bat 6

Bat 6

Virginia Euwer Wolff (1998)

6th grade girls playing softball after WWII, and the racial tension that ensues... told as recollections from the girls, some a sentence or two, some a few pages long, as they tell about getting to play in the traditional town game and deal with the reverberations from the just-ended world war, including the Japanese family returning to the home they were

forced to leave and the girl whose father died at Pearl Harbor.

Some of the reflection/perception is too mature to come from 10 year old girls, but a lot of it does capture the fragile and confusing emotions of the age, and of learning harsh realities of the adult world and relationships.

connections: WWII, japanese internment, race relations, softball

but seriously, have you ever heard a worse title?

this is cool, all the places I've lived/visited...
(scroll aaaaaallllllll the way down this page for mine)

make your own at http://douweosinga.com/projects/visitedstates

Higher Power of Lucky

The Higher Power of Lucky

by Susan Patron

Newbery Medal 2007

Probably best known for the "scrotum" passages, otherwise the story of an orphan and her French caretaker abd the cast of characters in a very small town... not too cohesive, it seemed to want to go in 2 or more directions, but cute/clever characters and a happy ending...

The Adventures of Rabbi Harvey

Bestest graphic novel ever. Absolutely hilarious, even the parts I didn't get the first time and had to go back and read carefully, because I'm laughing too hard and can't read through the tears in my eyes and because I'm nowhere near as smart as Rabbi Harvey.

Call It Courage

Call It Courage

Armstrong Sperry

Newbery Medal 1941

Coming of age, overcoming fears and challenges, a Polynesian boy survives on an island and returns home a man. Good story, nice action and drama, rich descriptions and use of metaphor (or is it simile?)... minor peeve of mine, when the illustrations don't match the action on the page: after telling how the mast snapped and was lost, next page has full sail, etc....

connections: island life, sailing, oceanography, Robinson Crusoe, Swiss Family Robinson (prob next on my list, #2 is reading it now), cannibalism, The Cay

I didn't include the "violence" tag since it was fights against sharks and octopuses...

The Well

The Well

Midred D. Taylor (1995)

Another in the Logan family saga, this one is from when the adults in Roll of Thunder... were kids. Racism, compassion, justice, accountability, using violence to solve problems... Discussions of slavery, Reconstruction, and why didn't the Logan family just move somewhere else?

connections: Slavery, Civil Rights, Dr. King/Pacifism, Pink and Say by P. Polacco, the other Taylor books...

Stargirl

Stargirl

Jerry Spinelli (2000)

Two great reads in a row... "Stargirl" is the hippie-chick non-conformist new kid in school, and no one understands her weird ways. Lots of popularity, acceptance, and fitting in issues, and fighting for who you are/who you want to be... also caring for others, and missed oportunities -- I kept rooting for the guy to wake up, be strong, don't let her go!

connections: the sequel Love, Stargirl, A Walk To Remember (YA?), the X-Men

Onion John

Onion John

Joseph Krumgold

Newbery Medal 1960*

Fathers and sons, boys and mentally challenged homeless immigrants, small town vs. the space race... smooth, clear writing, dated references but still resonates as a story of a boy learning to make his own decisions and facing the prospect of growing up...

For older students, the role of the US in the world (back then it was communism, now...) and facing career/life choices; for all, caring for others, respecting beliefs/cultures, communication...

Plenty of excitement, different events to keep the reader interested -- a solid 5 stars for this one...

* (in hushed, deep Oscar-telecast voice:) Mr. Krumgold has previously won the Newbery in 1954 for ...And Now Miguel

The Tale of Despereaux

The Tale of Despereaux

Kate DiCamillo (2003)
Newbery Medal 2004

Our hero is the runt of the litter, but has magical gifts. He falls in love with the Princess and finds the honor and bravery within himself to save her, and restore soup to the kingdom. I thought the portrayal of the rats as spiteful filthy creatures was uncalled for, and this book should be banned. The fat, deaf, slow servant girl was hilarious though.

Autobiography of My Dead Brother

Autobiography of My Dead Brother

by Walter Dean Myers (2005)

National Book Award Finalist

Inner city boys, struggling to stay out of gang/crime life, unsure of how to stand up and act like a man, and unsure how art and music and childhood friendship meshes with the violent world they're faced with. Contains drawings and cartoons by narrator/1st person lead, a graphic novel feel. Music of gospel & jazz.

Worldview/Teaching Philosophy I need to work out: I think kids (and adults) of all race/culture/socio-economic backgrounds should read a wide variety of points of view, but not just to say "see, black people write books too..." or "some kids grow up this way..." -- I want to remind kids of the common bond they shared in kindergarten, the commonality of daily life that goes under skin color...

I'll have to come back to this...

Adolf Volume 3: The Half-Aryan

Adolf, The Half-Aryan

by Osamu Tezuka

I usually have quite the battle with the boys over limiting the comics/manga stuff they can read -- otherwise it might be all they read. I'm sure we'll have similar battles when they're older and try to drink light beer, and I take very seriously the father's responsibility to guide them and steer them towards the good stuff. No Budweiser for my boys, and no crappy comics either...

The issue with the manga art is of course the number of bare bottoms and pairs of frilly panties that appear every couple of pages, plus the fact that they need to check out 15 -20 books at a time just to read half the series! Are they churning this stuff out, or what? Anyway...

I checked this one out, and will go back for the rest of the story. There is some violence and the usual love story melodrama, but that's to be expected. The key is the WWII/Jewish persecution storyline, and how the young protagonists experience being thrust into the dangerous confusing adult world.

Explorations of worldview, questioning authority, cultural/religious differences, as well as how to tell a story in a different medium (or, when is a comic book not just a comic book?)...

connections: Maus by Art Spiegelman, Anne Frank, The Hiding Place, Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad...

A Year Down Yonder

A Year Down Yonder

by Richard Peck (2000)

Newbery Medal 2001

A city girl goes to live with her country Grandma during the Depression; hilarity ensues. Lots of personality and humor, believable narrator voice and many episodes to explore (hunting/stealing, Halloween, high school cliques, neighbors, 193o's, radio...)

This is the sequel to A Long Way to Chicago, Peck's 1999 Newbery Honor book.

http://eduscapes.com/newbery/01a.htm

The Journal of Biddy Owens

The Journal of Biddy Owens / the Negro Leagues

by Walter Dean Myers (2001)

Part of a series, "life as it was" through diaries of people in America, Biddy Owens is the clubhouse attendant for a Negro League baseball team in 1948. Not fluff, very well written; poignant in touching on race, family, and even the realization of not being good enough to make the team. It helps to know baseball for this one, to follow the action (reminds me of those old-time sports stories for boys) and for the real world characters that populate the book (Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, the new center fielder Willie Mays)... there are even photos of baseball in the 40's, and historical notes on baseball integration and the Negro Leagues. I did not like the "Epilogue" detailing the fictional lead and his family's life after the story, it rang false, almost like trying to trick me into thinking Biddy was real, and unnecessary.

(some comments and an interview with the author here)

The Looking Glass Wars

The Looking Glass Wars
by Frank Beddor

A retelling of the Alice in Wonderland stories (does L. Carroll get any royalty checks?) in a more fantasy-battle tone... Alice in the Matrix, with Keanu Reeves as the Mad Hatter. Despite the lead character being a princess, boys will enjoy this book -- plenty of action and weapons to recreate on the playground.

Quick read, a good page-turner, and leads into re-reading the original Alice books next (which I haven't done in a looooong time); one thing I'm going to try with my boys and our library visits this year is to "connect the dots" with their reading choices. This book leads to Alice in Wonderland, a Lewis Carroll bio, or another book with Queens and Kings, or maybe "How to shuffle cards like a Vegas dealer" -- well, I might not allow that last one in case I get busted for teaching gambling, but I want them to keep track of what they read and see how the books/authors are connected in a "six degrees of..." way.

We'll see if it works...

Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil...

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenweiler

by E.L. Konigsburg

Newbery Medal 1968*

Good story, gets my recommendation as one to read... a lot in here to discuss with a class/reader: kids running away from home (where would you eat, sleep, bathe?), museum treasures, art history, parents and family, generational relationships...

"...you should want to learn one new thing every day."

"No...some days you must learn a great deal. But you should also have days when you allow what is already in you to swell up inside you until it touches everything."

*beat out Scott O'Dell's The Black Pearl and Nobel prize winner Isaac Bashevis Singer!

The Westing Game

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (1978)

Newbery Medal 1979

It must have been a down year for children's literature, 'cause if this was the top book I would hate to read anything else... too many characters, some very similar, some nonsensical, some stereotyped; abrupt changes in setting and dialogue, so the reader doesn't know who is it what room talking to whoever (whom and whomever?); and no character(s) to really invest in and care about, they were either cardboard fill-ins or spoiled and rude.

This book did spark a little curiosity, a couple of questions after "I still have how many pages til the end?" -- what else was published that year? when was the game Clue invented?

5 minutes later update: Apparently, some people really liked this book enough to create a website, or some people were so baffled by this book they had to create a website to sort it all out...



Johnny and the Dead by Terry Pratchett

As a huge fan of Pratchett's Discworld books, I wanted to introduce him to the Boys; he has several YA titles, including The Wee Free Men and some about magic rats. This one is good, funny and clever, and part of a series (The Johnny Maxwell Trilogy), so don't expect everything ironed out in the end. It's also a caution to authors that use current event/pop culture references in their work: Michael Jackson?!?!?

Mary Poppins

...had a big time crush on the mysterious and magical Nanny, comes from Son #1 watching the movie DAILY when he was wee... thanks to my affection for the young Miss Andrews and for the clown girl from Big Comfy Couch, he and I probably watched waaaay too much tv... but it's all part of the father/son bonding process, right?


Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

Ah, but this Mary, this Original Nannsta, is old school and quite different from Disney's version: she's sassy and rude, looks down her not-so-adorable nose, and is very fond of admiring herself and how cool she is... this Poppins doesn't take any crap, and no silly, syrupy songs either...

A curious point -- I have a 1981 copyright "revised edition" and there actually is a chapter titled Bad Tuesday (revised version). What's that all about? The chapter is mainly Michael's bad day where he goes around kicking and abusing the house staff... maybe he felt up the cook or smoked a doobie (or whatever they were called in the 1930's) behind the tool shed... anyone know why it was edited/altered/rewritten?