Module 15: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

SLIS 5420.002
Module 15
December 6 – 9


Summary:

This book is really a collection of letters by Charlie, as he writes them to an anonymous person. In his letters, Charlie recounts the events of his days in high school and the things he just doesn't understand about people. Through his letters, we learn more about Charlie's past and how he learns to actually participate in his life instead of leaning on the wall and letting it pass him by.


Citation:

Chbosky, S. (1999). The perks of being a wallflower. New York: Pocket Books.


My Impressions:

I have read other books written in letters, but none really compare to this one. I truly felt, as I read, the confusion and heartbreak that Charlie encounters as he's learning to make new friends and survive high school without his friend. I know several adults now who had the perspective of their life in high school as just getting by without being noticed. It seems to me like Charlie is okay with that, but if someone offers him something different, he'd be okay with that also. This is a very interesting coming-of-age story that will have you wondering who is he writing to and how will he survive the rest of high school.


Reviews:

From Booklist:
" Dear friend, I am writing to you because she said you listen and understand." In his letters to a never-identified person, 15-year-old Charlie's freshman high-school year (1991-92) and coming-of-age ring fresh and true. First-novelist Chbosky captures adolescent angst, confusion, and joy as Charlie reveals his innermost thoughts while trying to discover who he is and whom he is to become. Intellectually precocious, Charlie seems a tad too naive in many other ways, yet his reflections on family interactions, first date, drug experimentation, first sexual encounter, and regular participation in Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings are compelling. He vacillates between full involvement in the crazy course of his life and backing off completely. Eventually, he discovers that to be a whole person who knows how to be a real friend rather than a patsy, he must confront his past--and remember what his beloved, deceased Aunt Helen did to him. Charlie is a likable kid whose humor-laced trials and tribulations will please both adults and teens. ((Reviewed February 15, 1999)) -- Sally Estes

Estes, S. (1999 February 15). [Review of The Perks of Being a Wallflower]. Booklist.


From Publisher's Weekly:
A trite coming-of-age novel that could easily appeal to a YA readership, filmmaker Chbosky's debut broadcasts its intentions with the publisher's announcement that ads will run on MTV. Charlie, the wallflower of the title, goes through a veritable bath of bathos in his 10th grade year, 1991. The novel is formatted as a series of letters to an unnamed "friend," the first of which reveals the suicide of Charlie's pal Michael. Charlie's response--valid enough--is to cry. The crying soon gets out of hand, though--in subsequent letters, his father, his aunt, his sister and his sister's boyfriend all become lachrymose. Charlie has the usual dire adolescent problems--sex, drugs, the thuggish football team--and they perplex him in the usual teen TV ways. He hangs out with a group of seniors, among whom are Patrick and Samantha. Patrick is gay, and Charlie learns about gay. Sam is pretty, and Charlie learns about heartbreak. Sam is, alas, going out with Craig. Charlie goes out with the uppity Mary Elizabeth. Patrick goes with Brad but breaks up with him when Brad's father discovers their relationship. Into these standard teenage issues Chbosky infuses a droning insistence on Charlie's supersensitive disposition. Charlie's English teacher and others have a disconcerting tendency to rhapsodize over Charlie's giftedness, which seems to consist of Charlie's unquestioning assimilation of the teacher's taste in books. In the end we learn the root of Charlie's psychological problems, and we confront, with him, the coming rigors of 11th grade, ever hopeful that he'll find a suitable girlfriend and increase his vocabulary. (Feb.)

[Review of The Perks of Being a Wallflower]. (n.d.) Publisher's Weekly.


Library Setting Uses:

For this book, I would have teens (preferably an older group) write a letter to anonymous person about a typical day at school or write a letter anonymously about the weirdest thing they've seen at school. Have the adult running the group read aloud to the group some of the letters in order to keep anonymity, but to stimulate discussion about what really goes on at school and their perceptions of their peers.

Module 14: Crank

SLIS 5420.002
Module 14
November 29 – December 5


Summary:

Every sad story has to start somewhere. Meet Kristina as she leaves her mother's safe house to go spend a summer with her father in Arizona. Unfortunately for Kristina and her family, her father isn't the other person she meets there. She also meets a boy and "The Monster" (crystal meth). Told in verse, this story unfolds the chain of events that lead Kristina down the dark path of becoming her alter-ego Bree.


Citation:

Hopkins, E. (2004). Crank. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.


My Impressions:

I thought this was going to be a depressing book. I was right. I thought I might have a hard time getting into a book written in poems. I was wrong. I loved how Hopkins tied the poems to the story by their structure and hidden messages for the reader. She brings Kristina's story forward in such a no-nonsense way that you can see how easy it is to fall into bad habits and addictions with simply one or two bad decisions. I think this is a wonderful cautionary tale for any teen thinking about experimenting with drugs, because it shows the real possibility that once is enough to get you hooked for life.


Reviews:

From Publisher's Weekly:
Nonfiction author Hopkins pens her first novel, written in verse, introducing 15-year-old narrator Kristina, who reveals how she became addicted to crank, and how the stimulant turned her from straight-A student to drug dealer, and eventually a teen mom. On a court-ordered visit to see her slimy and long-absent dad, she meets—and is instantly attracted to—Adam, who sports a "tawny six pack,/ and a smile." Soon, Adam introduces her to "the monster" (there, she also unleashes a new personality, id-driven Bree). Her addiction grows, as does Bree's control. Readers get a vivid sense of the highs and lows involved with using crank ("I needed food, sleep,/ but the monster denied/ every bit of it"). Her life changes quickly: Soon she's dating two guys, both of whom use crank; says "Fuck you" to her mom, can't keep up with school, and loses her old friends. There are plenty of dramatic moments: The first time she does crank, for example, her dad joins her. That same night, she stumbles into a bad area and is almost raped, and Adam's girlfriend tries to kill herself. Later in the book, she does get raped and starts selling the drug for the Mexican Mafia. Readers will appreciate the creative use of form here (some poems, for instance, are written in two columns that can be read separately or together), and although the author is definitely on a mission, she creates a world nearly as consuming and disturbing as the titular drug. Ages 14-up. (Oct.) --Staff (Reviewed November 1, 2004)

[Review of Crank]. (2004 November 1). Publishers Weekly, 251(44), 63.


From Booklist:
Gr. 8-12. Like the teenage crack user in the film Traffic, the young addict in this wrenching, cautionary debut lives in a comfortable, advantaged home with caring parents. Sixteen-year-old Kristina first tries crank, or crystal meth, while visiting her long-estranged father, a crank junkie. Bree is Kristina’s imagined, bolder self, who flirts outrageously and gets high without remorse, and when Kristina returns to her mother and family in Reno, it’s Bree who makes connections with edgy guys and other crank users that escalate into full-blown addiction and heartrending consequences. Hopkins tells Kristina’s story in experimental verse. A few overreaching lines seem out of step with character voices: a boyfriend, for example, tells Kristina that he’d like to wait for sex until she is “free from dreams of yesterday.” But Hopkins uses the spare, fragmented style to powerful effect, heightening the emotional impact of dialogues, inner monologues, and devastating scenes, including a brutal date rape. Readers won’t soon forget smart, sardonic Kristina; her chilling descent into addiction; or the author’s note, which references her own daughter’s struggle with “the monster.” -- Gillian Engberg (BookList, 11-15-2004, p595)

Engberg, G. (2004 November 15). [Review of Crank]. Booklist, pp 595.


Library Setting Uses:

During National Poetry Month, this book would be great to use along with others in a book display of books written in verse and for a series of programs. Program ideas include (but are not limited to) a poetry slam where people can come present their works, poetry workshops where people can learn new ways of presenting their thoughts (like how Hopkins uses the shape of her poems to convey different messages), and/or exploring the ideas conveyed in Crank via a discussion about the book and drug use.

Module 13: Amulet: Book 1, The Stonekeeper

SLIS 5420.002
Module 13
November 15 – 21


Summary:

Emily, Navin, and their mom move into an old family estate after the sudden death of their father. When exploring their new home, Emily discovers a stone and other mysterious secrets that pull the three of them into another world where Emily is the only one who can wield the power of the stone and help save that world from the Elf King, who is bent on destroying all that is good.


Citation:

Kibuishi, K. (2008). Amulet: Book 1, the stonekeeper. New York: Graphix.


My Impressions:

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. The illustrations and panel sizes were just right for the feel of the story. Kibuishi does such a wonderful job of capturing all the details in each panel in order to give you a feeling of total immersion in the story, so you don't question what anything is supposed to look like or be. I think this is a must-read for any lover of graphic novels and comics.


Reviews:

From VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates Magazine):
Grade. M G. Popularity. 4P. Tragedy leads to high adventure in Kibuishi's latest creation, which is guaranteed to follow in the footsteps of his previous award-winning title, Daisy Kutter (Viper, 2005). The artist's use of color, moving from the poignant warm blues and whites of comfort and family to the smoky browns and blacks of tragedy and mystery, is subtle but highly effective. This artwork, coupled with Kibuishi's distinctive onomatopoeia and tight frames, help to lock the reader into the action and keep pages rapidly turning toward protagonist Emily's fate. Initially when Emily is forced to move with her mother and brother, Navin, to a dilapidated home in the 'middle of nowhere,' she fears a future filled with mind-numbing tedium, yet she quickly discovers the legacy of her forefather, Silas Charnon, hidden in an upstairs room-a mesmerizing amulet that opens the gates to a perilous alternate world. Readers will identify with Emily, who struggles to make good choices as all people do. Emily's bravery- her choice to confront evil at the risk of her own life-helps to reveal her intense love of family, but her refusal to relinquish the amulet reveals her more vulnerable, selfish side. Fans of Happy Bunny will love family-friendly and incredibly skilled bunny-bot, Miskit, companion in the fight against evil. Transformer fans will love the surprise development mid-novel. This classic quest begs for the next installment-one can only hope that book two of Amulet is not long in coming.-Erin Kilby. 208pg. VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES, c2007.

Kilby, E. (2007 December). [Review of The Stonekeeper]. VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates Magazine), pp 446.

From School Library Journal:
Gr 4 Up-Hurrying to pick up her brother, Emily and her parents have a tragic accident, and her father dies. After this dark beginning, the story skips forward two years to when the remaining family members are forced to move to an ancestral house in a small town. Rumored to be haunted, it is unkempt and forbidding. The first night there, Emily's mother goes down to the basement to investigate a noise and doesn't return. The kids search for her and discover a doorway into another world, where their mother has been swallowed by a monster and is being taken away. An amulet that Emily found in the house tells her that together they can save her, but her brother isn't so sure that this voice can be trusted. Still, what other choice do they have in this strange place? Gorgeous illustrations with great color bring light to this gloomy tale. Filled with excitement, monsters, robots, and mysteries, this fantasy adventure will appeal to many readers, but it does have some truly nightmarish elements.-Dawn Rutherford, King County Library System, Bellevue, WA. 208pg. CAHNERS PUBLISHING, c2008.

Rutherford, D. (2008 January 1). [Review of The Stonekeeper]. School Library Journal, pp 152.


Library Setting Uses:

During Free Comic Book Day, coordinate with a local comic book store to get an artist to offer a workshop for students interested in drawing. Have them create a cartoon panel using drawings and magazine cutouts at the end of the session to display the different techniques they have learned.

Module 12: Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl

SLIS 5420.002
Module 12
November 8 – 14


Summary:

This book tells the true story of Maritcha, a young African-American girl growing up in post-Civil War New York. The book not only details parts of Maritcha's life (as written in her memoir), but it also contains historical facts and photos of New York during that time period.


Citation:

Bolden, T. (2005). Maritcha: A nineteenth-century American girl. New York: Harry N. Abrams.


My Impressions:

I really enjoyed the perspective that the visual layout of the book contributed to my reading experience. I found it most enjoyable that the author tried to pull as much information as possible from memoirs actually written by Maritcha herself. And the added historical information lent me more perspective regarding what it was like growing up during that time period.


Reviews:

From School Library Journal:
Gr 4 Up. Readers met Maritcha Rimond Lyons in Bolden's Tell All the Children Our Story (Abrams, 2002), in a one-page entry that included an excerpt from her unpublished memoir. The author has now expanded her use of Lyons's memoir, family archival materials, and other primary sources to tell the story of this free black child before, during, and after the Civil War. Maritcha's achievements were extraordinary for her time, gender, and race. During her youth in lower Manhattan, she was exposed to many strong, well-educated adults. Her parents, their friends (some well known), and her own determination carried her through difficult times, including the Draft Riots of 1863, the destruction of the family home and business, and a fight for public education. Strength of family and education were the driving forces in this girl's life. Bolden emphasizes these themes as she skillfully presents interesting facts and a personal view of an often-overlooked segment of history. While the book focuses on Maritcha's childhood, a concluding note discusses her adulthood. (Lyons spent close to 50 years as an educator, including a term as assistant principal of Brooklyn's Public School No. 83.) A number of family documents and photographs are included; period sketches and paintings complete the picture of 19th-century life in New York City. The high quality of writing and the excellent documentation make this a first choice for all collections.Carolyn Janssen, Children's Learning Center of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH. 47pg. CAHNERS PUBLISHING, c2005.

Janssen, C. (2005 February 1). [Review of Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl]. School Library Journal, pp 145.


From VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates Magazine):
Grade. M. Popularity. 3P. In 1928, an eighty-year-old retired school official, Maritcha Remond Lyons, left behind an unpublished manuscript, Memories of Yesterdays. Within its neatly typed pages were revelations of a remarkable woman's life and a firsthand account of what it was like to be a free black woman in nineteenth-century America. The author takes this memoir and scraps of research from museums, special collections, and family keepsakes to assemble a fascinating re-creation of Maritcha's life. New York City-born Maritcha and her family ran a boardinghouse, often used as a safe house on the Underground Railroad. Her extended family included a famous actor who used his influence to establish black churches, ignite an early civil rights movement, and bring celebrities like Frederick Douglass into their midst. Although blacks were free, many rights were still restrictive and prejudice was rampant. She recalls having to walk to school because the coaches would not stop for her. When the Civil War draft riots broke out, blacks were sought out, beaten, and their businesses destroyed. Maritcha moved to Providence, Rhode Island, where she became the first black to enter high school after having to address the state legislature for permission. She dedicated the next fifty years to education and women's rights. A gifted writer and orator during her lifetime, Maritcha is a worthy topic for women's studies or for a black history profile. This book, with its excellent illustrations, engaging text, and primary resources, is also a pleasure to read.-Kevin Beach. 48pg. VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES, c2005.

Beach, K. (2005 October 1). [Review of Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl]. VOYA, pp 332.


From Booklist:
Gr. 4-7. 'Born free in a nation stained by slavery, where free blacks had few rights and rare respect, here was a girl determined to rise, to amount to something.' In this captivating biography, Bolden introduces Maritcha Reymond Lyon, born in the mid-1800s into a family of free blacks in Manhattan. Lyon found fame as a teenager in Providence, Rhode Island, when she sued the state to gain admission to the all-white high school--the only high school in town. Bolden's succinct text focuses on Lyon's growing-up, and the attractive spreads feature well-chosen archival photographs and engravings that offer a fascinating glimpse of Lyon's world of 'New York City's striving class of blacks.' Lyon had a distinguished family, and Bolden shows how its members inspired her to succeed against formidable odds, even when she felt that 'the iron had entered my soul.' Bolden supplements quotes from Lyon's accounts with extensive research and enthralling detail, and the result is both an inspirational portrait of an individual and a piercing history about blacks in the nineteenth and early- twentieth centuries--subjects rarely covered in books for youth. An author's note describes Lyon's adult achievements and lends insight into Bolden's research. Notes and a selected bibliography conclude this powerful volume. ((Reviewed February 1, 2005)). Gillian Engberg. 48pg. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2005.

Engberg, G. (2005 February 1). [Review of Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl]. Booklist, pp 970.


Library Setting Uses:

For any age, have students make a biography scrapbook about their life and what their hometown and the United States are like today. You can provide newspaper clippings, maps, etc. to help the students feel like their pages look similar to those in the book.

Module 11: The Day-Glo Brothers

SLIS 5420.002
Module 11
November 1 – 7


Summary:

This is the story of the Switzer brothers and how they discovered bright new colors. Meet Joe and Bob, two brothers who start out with different dreams for their future, but end up uniting over their passion to discover a way to make glow-in-the-dark colors come to life during the day. This nonfiction book explains the basic mechanics of fluorescence and how it has been used in the world since the brothers became famous for their Day-Glo colors.


Citation:

Barton, C. (2009). The Day-Glo brothers. Watertown, Mass.: Charlesbridge.


My Impressions:

I absolutely loved the use of fluorescent colors in the illustrations. I have to admit that at first I was tempted to try holding the book up in the dark to see if maybe they tossed some glow-in-the-dark elements, but I was able to hold myself back. I really was impressed with Barton's dedication to getting this story as accurate as possible by his thorough communications with the surviving Switzer family and their mementos from Joe and Bob. I actually learned a lot about how fluorescent colors work.


Reviews:

From Kirkus Reviews:
The Switzer brothers were complete opposites. Older brother Bob was hardworking and practical, while younger brother Joe was carefree and full of creative, wacky ideas. However, when an unexpected injury forced Bob to spend months recovering in a darkened basement, the two brothers happened upon an illuminating adventure--the discovery of Day- Glo colors. These glowing paints were used to send signals in World War II, help airplanes land safely at night and are now found worldwide in art and advertisements (not to mention the entire decade of 1980s fashion). Through extensive research, including Switzer family interviews and Bob's own handwritten account of events, debut author Barton brings two unknown inventors into the brilliant light they deserve. Persiani, in his picture-book debut as well, first limits the palette to grayscale, then gradually increases the use of color as the brothers' experiments progress. The final pages explode in Day-Glo radiance. Rendered in 1950s-cartoon style, with bold lines and stretched perspectives, these two putty-limbed brothers shine even more brightly than the paints and dyes they created. (author's note, endnotes) (Picture book/biography. 4-8). 44pg. VNU EMEDIA, c2009.

[Review of The Day-Glo Brothers]. (2009 June 15). Kirkus Reviews, pp 653.


From Publishers Weekly:
Ages 7-10. In this debut for both collaborators, Barton takes on the dual persona of popular historian and cool science teacher as he chronicles the Switzer brothers' invention of the first fluorescent paint visible in daylight. The aptly named Day-Glo, he explains, started out as a technological novelty act (Joe, an amateur magician, was looking for ways to make his illusions more exciting), but soon became much more: during WWII, one of its many uses was guiding Allied planes to safe landings on aircraft carriers. The story is one of quintessentially American ingenuity, with its beguiling combination of imaginative heroes ('Bob focused on specific goals, while Joe let his freewheeling mind roam every which way when he tried to solve a problem'), formidable obstacles (including, in Bob's case, a traumatic accident), a dash of serendipity and entrepreneurial zeal. Persiani's exuberantly retro 1960s drawings--splashed with Day-Glo, of course-- bring to mind the goofy enthusiasm of vintage educational animation and should have readers eagerly following along as the Switzers turn fluorescence into fame and fortune. (July). 44pg. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, c2009.

[Review of The Day-Glo Brothers]. (2009 June 29). Publishers Weekly, pp 129.


From School Library Journal:
Gr 4-6--Before 1935, fluorescent colors did not exist. Barton discusses how two brothers worked together to create the eye-popping hues. Joe Switzer figured out that using a black light to create a fluorescent glow could spruce up his magic act, so the brothers built an ultraviolet lamp. They began to experiment with various chemicals to make glow-in- the-dark paints. Soon Joe used fluorescent-colored paper costumes in his act and word got around. Through trial and error, the brothers perfected their creation. The story is written in clear language and includes whimsical cartoons. While endpapers are Day-Glo bright, most of the story is illustrated in black, white, gray, and touches of color, culminating in vivid spreads. Discussions on regular fluorescence and daylight fluorescence are appended. This unique book does an excellent job of describing an innovative process.--Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI. Unpg. SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2009.

Callaghan, A.C. (2009 August 1). [Review of The Day-Glo Brothers]. School Library Journal, pp 118.


Library Setting Uses:

For this book, I recommend a program for older elementary school children where after talking about the book, the adult facilitator will show the students the demonstration on fluorescence from the website provided in the back of the book (http://www.charlesbridge.com/day-glo-animation.html). Then, allow the students to use blacklight/glow-in-the-dark paints to draw pictures and designs on pieces of poster board.

Module 10: Fever, 1793

SLIS 5420.002
Module 10
October 25 – 31


Summary:

The year is 1793, the location is Philadelphia, the event is a yellow fever epidemic. Meet Matilda Cook, a teen girl growing up in a time when Washington lived in town and often rode up and down the street. Her mother runs a coffeehouse with her grandfather, so when the epidemic hits, Matilda is reluctant to leave and wants to stay to help her mother out. However, when her mother falls ill, she orders Matilda to leave the city and take refuge in the country. This is a story of self-discovery, survival, and love. Will Matilda be able to see all of her dreams come true?


Citation:

Anderson, L.H. (2000). Fever, 1793. New York: Aladdin Paperbooks.


My Impressions:

I like reading historical fiction books like this when they are based on historical events that seemed to catch the country off guard, especially with last year's swine flu panic. This book made me start to think about what it would be like to just get sent away with no immediate means of checking on loved ones and relying only on hope for their survival. I definitely had a strong appreciation for our modern conveniences at the end of this story, but it made me start to wonder if maybe we're a bit too dependent on them.


Reviews:

From Book Report:
This coming-of-age novel resounds with the voices of ordinary people who endured a tragedy now relegated to a footnote in American history. The idyllic life of 14-year-old Mattie Cook changes dramatically during a yellow fever outbreak in Philadelphia during the late summer of 1793. In the course of four months her mother contracts the disease and is separated from the family, Mattie's grandfather dies of the fever, and Mattie becomes responsible for maintaining the family's business, a coffeehouse. The Philadelphia of George Washington and Charles Willson Peale lives in the vibrant word pictures the author creates. Members of the Free African Society are accurately credited with providing food, nursing the sick, and caring for children orphaned during the epidemic. Each chapter begins with quotes from books, diaries, and journals from the period. An afterword provides additional insight into to the people and events of the period. The story features a strong female protagonist and well-defined characters. The plot moves at a fast pace as the horrors of the unexplained pestilence grip the city. This well-researched novel provides a fascinating view of those tragic months in Philadelphia history; it would coordinate well with historical fiction units or thematic units on the resilience of human nature in adversity. This book should be part of every library collection. Highly Recommended. 252 pages LINWORTH PUBLISHING, c2001.

[Review of Fever, 1793]. (2001 January 1). Book Report, pp 54.


From School Library Journal:
Gr 6-10 The sights, sounds, and smells of Philadelphia when it was still the nation's capital are vividly re-created in this well-told tale of a girl's coming-of-age, hastened by the outbreak of yellow fever. As this novel opens, Matilda Cook, 14, wakes up grudgingly to face another hot August day filled with the chores appropriate to the daughter of a coffeehouse owner. At its close, four months later, she is running the coffeehouse, poised to move forward with her dreams. Ambitious, resentful of the ordinary tedium of her life, and romantically imaginative, Matilda is a believable teenager, so immersed in her own problems that she can describe the freed and widowed slave who works for her family as the 'luckiest' person she knows. Ironically, it is Mattie who is lucky in the loyalty of Eliza. The woman finds medical help when Mattie's mother falls ill, takes charge while the girl is sent away to the countryside, and works with the Free African Society. She takes Mattie in after her grandfather dies, and helps her reestablish the coffeehouse. Eliza's story is part of an important chapter in African-American history, but it is just one of many facets of this story of an epidemic. Mattie's friend Nathaniel, apprentice to the painter Master Peale, emerges as a clear partner in her future. There are numerous eyewitness accounts of the devastation by Dr. Benjamin Rush and other prominent Philadelphians of the day. Readers will be drawn in by the characters and will emerge with a sharp and graphic picture of another world.-Kathleen Isaacs, Edmund Burke School, Washington, DC; 256pg. CAHNERS PUBLISHING, c2000.

Isaacs, K. (2000 August 1). [Book Review of Fever, 1793]. School Library Journal, pp 177.


Library Setting Uses:

Ask the nearby schools for cooperation if possible, but this would make a great essay contest for middle school and/or high school students. Possible prompt: If there was a sudden outbreak of a disease in the United States, what would you and your parents do and how do you think your cell phones and other modern devices would impact communication during this time period.

Module 9: Maze of Bones

SLIS 5420.002
Module 9
October 18 – 24


Summary:

The Cahills have the longest, most mysterious family history of any other family in the world. At least, that's what Dan and Amy come to discover about their heritage when they embark on their search for clues. As a part of her will, their relative Grace Cahill left a series of clues behind (for those bold enough to try) that will lead one family member to the most important Cahill family secret of all time. Join Dan and Amy as they learn to trust no one but each other and travel the world on their search for the 39 clues.


Citation:

Riordan, R. (2008). Maze of bones. New York: Scholastic Books.


My Impressions:

As a fan of Riordan's work, I was excited to be able to start reading this series. The story flowed really well and I found myself not wanting to stop reading. I can easily see how for younger readers (with a lot more free time than myself) would want to take part in the online search for clues, collect the trading cards, and any other activities out there I may have missed. And I think encouraging children in pursuing the clues is a wonderful idea for teaching them how to reason and figure things out.


Reviews:

From Publishers Weekly:
Ages 9-12. Built around a ripe conceit--wealthy matriarch scatters cryptic clues to a mysterious fortune around the globe--this first installment in a projected 10-book series is tons of fun. Lead-off hitter Riordan (The Lightning Thief) mixes just the right proportions of suspense, peril and puzzles in a fast-paced read (Riordan mapped the narrative arc for all 10 volumes, but other high-profile authors will be writing for the series, too). Likable orphans Amy and Dan Cahill have moxie (plus Dan can memorize numbers instantly) and frailties (Amy hates crowds). As the siblings compete with less honorable members of the Cahill clan, all distantly related to Benjamin Franklin, to win the fortune by collecting all 39 clues (only two are found in this first book), they learn about their dead parents, each other and world history. The humor is spot on--one uncle is credited with inventing the microwave burrito. The only flaw? The story does not end so much as drop off a cliff. (The second book, One False Note by Gordon Korman, is set to arrive in December.) While waiting, readers can collect cards, each of which contains evidence, and play the online game (www.the39clues.com), for which Scholastic is offering over $100,000 in prizes. This ought to have as much appeal to parents as it does to kids--it's Webkinz without the stuffed animals, and a rollicking good read. (Sept.). 220pg. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, c2008.

[Book Review of Maze of Bones]. (2008 September 22). Publishers Weekly, pp 58.


From Booklist:
Gr. 4-8. In a bold leap forward in marketing strategy, this first book in the 39 Clues series introduces readers to what promises to be a sensational mix of reading, online gaming, card-collecting, and even a grand-prize sweepstakes. The premise of the book: Grace Cahill, matriarch of the world's most powerful family, dies and leaves behind a challenge to her descendants. They can either inherit one million dollars, or forgo the money and receive the first of 39 clues that will lead them on an around-the-world adventure in search of, well, that's a secret. But it's an earth-shattering secret, and with 10 books planned for the series (each by a different author), it had better pay off in the end. Riordan, who has plotted the main arc for the series, gets the ball rolling nicely with likable brother-and-sister heroes, a cast of backstabbing relatives, and a smattering of puzzles and clues to decipher in the quest for the ultimate secret. Whether this intriguing book represents the first major event in a shifting world of publishing, or is simply a clever money- and attention-grabbing ploy remains to be seen, but it will be fascinating to see what kids make of it. (Library edition does not include game cards). Ian Chipman. 224pg. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2008.

Chipman, I. (2008 October 15). [Book Review of Maze of Bones]. Booklist, pp 39.


Library Setting Uses:

I think a great activity for this series would be to gather the students and go to http://www.the39clues.com/. After giving them each their own composition book to keep track of the clues, students could use the book club to keep track of their clues, share amongst each other and try to figure it out! I also think it would be a fun group activity to watch the author webcasts together.

Module 8: Unwind

SLIS 5420.002
Module 8
October 11 – 17


Summary:

America as we know it has changed. Parents may now 'unwind' their teenagers and reuse their body parts and 'stork' their unwanted newborns. In this story, we meet three teens who are selected for unwinding and follow them on their fight to stay alive (as complete wholes) in this dark tale of survival.


Citation:

Shusterman, N. (2007). Unwind. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.


My Impression:

Intense. This book was really intense. I found myself not able to stop reading, yet not wanting to know any more. I think this book explores something that has been a bit of a fascination of teens over a long period of time: dystopian societies. It's books like these that allow teens to explore what could be, but at the same time there is the comfort that our lives are not like this at all.


Review:

From Publishers Weekly:
Ages 13-up. Shusterman (Everlost) explores one of the most divisive of topics--abortion--in this gripping, brilliantly imagined futuristic thriller. After a civil war waged over abortion has almost destroyed America, completely new laws are in effect. Human life can never be 'terminated,' but between the ages of 13 and 18, a child can be 'unwound' by his parents, an irrevocable decision that leads to every single bit of his body being harvested for medical use. As the novel opens, 16-year-old Connor has secretly discovered his parents' copy of his unwind order, and decides to 'kick-AWOL,' or run away. Connor's escape inadvertently sweeps up two other Unwinds: a ward of the state who is not quite talented enough to merit her place in a state home any longer, and the 10th son of religious parents, who gave birth to him just to 'tithe' him. Beyond his pulse-pounding pace, the cliffhangers and the bombshells, Shusterman has a gift for extrapolating the effects of alien circumstances on ordinary people and everyday behavior. He brings in folklore, medical practices, and slang that reflect the impact of unwinding, creating a dense and believable backdrop. Characters undergo profound changes in a plot that never stops surprising readers. The issues raised could not be more provocative-- the sanctity of life, the meaning of being human--while the delivery could hardly be more engrossing or better aimed to teens. (Nov.). 352pg. CAHNERS PUBLISHING, c2007.

[Book Review of Unwind]. (2007 November 26). Publishers Weekly, pp 54.


From School Library Journal:
Gr 9 Up-An unsettling futuristic novel set after the Second Civil War. Connor Lassiter, age 16, runs away from his suburban Ohio home after discovering that his parents have scheduled his 'unwinding.' His body parts will go to other people who need them. He will be both terminated and 'technically' kept alive, only in a separated state. The constitutional amendments known as 'The Bill of Life' permit parents to choose 'retroactive' abortion for children between the ages of 13 and 18. Connor meets another Unwind, Risa, and they kidnap Lev, who is a Tithe (the 10th child born to a single family with the express purpose of being unwound). Their escape and survival stories interweave as they struggle to avoid harvest camps. Luckily, an underground network is helping Unwinds escape to safety. There is evenhanded, thoughtful treatment of many issues, including when life starts and stops, consciousness, religion, free will, law, trust and betrayal, suicide bombers, and hope. Initially, the premise of parents dismantling their children is hard to accept; however, readers are quickly drawn into the story, which is told in a gripping, omniscient voice. Characters live and breathe; they are fully realized and complex, sometimes making wrenchingly difficult decisions. This is a thought-provoking, well- paced read that will appeal widely, especially to readers who enjoy Scott Westerfeld's Uglies (2005), Pretties (2005), and Specials (2006, all S & S).-Amy J. Chow, New York Public Library. 352pg. CAHNERS PUBLISHING, c2008.

Chow, A.J. (2008 January 1). [Book Review of Unwind]. School Library Journal, pp 126.


Library Setting Uses:

I recently used this book in a book talk with teens about dystopian societies. As depressing as this grouping of books can be, most teens will either have read or will want to read these books. Presenting them with other similar stories is a great way to build individual reader's advisory and will give them a preview of each book in order to decide if they want to read it themselves.

Module 8: The Lightning Thief

SLIS 5420.002
Module 8
October 11 – 17


Summary:

Percy Jackson thinks he's a normal kid, just like his other classmates. Until he gets attacked by a teacher on a school field trip and discover that his professor's pen is really a sword. Strange things keep happening to him, so when his mom explains that she is mortal and his father is a god, it seems to sort of make sense. Percy is a demigod and all demigods are monster-bait. The only safe place for him to go is Camp Half-Blood, which is pretty much like a year-round summer camp where demigods can go and be protected by their parents from the monsters that would like to see them killed. It's at Camp Half-Blood that Percy makes new friends and finds himself embarking on his very first quest: to find Zeus's missing lightning bolt and return it safely back to him.


Citation:

Riordan, R. (2005). The lightning thief. New York: Disney/Hyperion Books.


My Impressions:

I could not put the book down! Let me rephrase, the first time I tried to read the book I wasn't very into it and didn't get past the second chapter. On a second try, however, I found it absolutely riveting and went back to my library to get the rest of the series to read! I can't remember any other time where I actually learned about cool things while reading a book of fiction. I think I can now name all the Greek gods and goddesses. Riordan did such a great job of interweaving elements of suspense, mystery, humor, action, and maybe a little romance so that it is a must-read for all ages.


Reviews:

From Kirkus Reviews:
Edgar Award-winning Riordan leaves the adult world of mystery to begin a fantasy series for younger readers. Twelve-year-old Percy (full name, Perseus) Jackson has attended six schools in six years. Officially diagnosed with ADHD, his lack of self-control gets him in trouble again and again. What if it isn't his fault? What if all the outrageous incidents that get him kicked out of school are the result of his being a 'half-blood,' the product of a relationship between a human and a Greek god? Could it be true that his math teacher Mrs. Dodds transformed into a shriveled hag with bat wings, a Fury, and was trying to kill him? Did he really vanquish her with a pen that turned into a sword? One need not be an expert in Greek mythology to enjoy Percy's journey to retrieve Zeus's master bolt from the Underworld, but those who are familiar with the deities and demi-gods will have many an ah-ha moment. Along the way, Percy and his cohort run into Medusa, Cerberus and Pan, among others. The sardonic tone of the narrator's voice lends a refreshing air of realism to this riotously paced quest tale of heroism that questions the realities of our world, family, friendship and loyalty. (Fantasy. 12-15) 384pg. VNU EMEDIA, c2005.

[Review of The Lightning Thief]. (2005 June 15). Kirkus Reviews, pp 690.


From School Library Journal:
Gr 5-9. An adventure-quest with a hip edge. At first glance, Perseus Jackson seems like a loser (readers meet him at a boarding school for troubled youth), but he's really the son of Poseidon and a mortal woman. As he discovers his heritage, he also loses that mother and falls into mortal danger. The gods (still very active in the 21st- century world) are about to go to war over a lost thunderbolt, so Percy and sidekicks Grover (a young satyr) and Annabeth (daughter of Athena) set out to retrieve it. Many close calls and monster-attacks later, they enter Hades's realm (via L.A.). A virtuoso description of the Underworld is matched by a later account of Olympus (hovering 600 floors above Manhattan). There's lots of zippy review of Greek myth and legend, and characters like Medusa, Procrustes, Charon, and the Eumenides get updates. Some of the Labors of Heracles or Odysseus's adventures are recycled, but nothing seems stale, and the breakneck pace keeps the action from being too predictable. Percy is an ADHD, wise-cracking, first-person narrator. Naturally, his real quest is for his own identity. Along the way, such topics as family, trust, war, the environment, dreams, and perceptions are raised. There is subtle social critique for sophisticated readers who can see it. Although the novel ends with a satisfying conclusion (and at least one surprise), it is clear that the story isn't over. The 12-year-old has matured and is ready for another quest, and the villain is at large. Readers will be eager to follow the young protagonist's next move.Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RI. 377pg. CAHNERS PUBLISHING, c2005.

[Review of The Lightning Thief]. (2005 August 1). School Library Journal, pp 134.


Library Setting Uses:

I think it would be great to have an after-hours pajama Percy Jackson party for teens. The activities should relate to Camp Half-Blood and have a summer camp feel to them. Arriving students should spin a dial, draw a name out of a hat, or complete a quiz to determine who their immortal parent is in order to divide them up into cabins. And as souvenirs they can take home a necklace (made with hemp and pony beads) just like the ones the campers get at the end of each summer.

Module 7: The Sweetheart of Prosper County

SLIS 5420.002
Module 7
October 4 – 10


Summary:

Austin wants to ride on the hood of a car in the Christmas Parade. In order to do that she has to become FFA Sweetheart. In order to that, she's got to find an animal and raise it and then show it at the FFA competition. Oh, and it's her FFA classmates that get to decide if she's voted in as Sweetheart. And so, with all this in mind, Austin launches into her spring semester at school with a new rooster and sights on the following year's parade. Along the way, she discovers friendship and a special new connction with her mom.

Citation:

Alexander, J. (2009). The Sweetheart of Prosper County. New York: Feiwel and Friends.


My Impressions:

Based in a small Texas town, this story touches on the delicate balance people living in places like this must reach. Austin's mother has her own issues to deal with (advances from the mayor and dealing with her grief over her deceased husband), but she now has to cope with her daughter turning into a young woman looking for independence. I think that it is really important for teen readers of this book to understand and see this adult perspective and her motivations for constantly trying to shelter and protect her daughter. This is a good story about discovering who you are and what you want.

Reviews:

From Kirkus Reviews:
More than anything, Austin Gray, a ninth-grade girl who lives in a tiny Texas town, wants to ride on the hood of a car, smiling and waving to the crowd during the Christmas Parade. But to win the coveted spot of 'hood ornament' in the parade, she's got to do something worthy. So Austin decides to get a chicken, join the Future Farmers of America, enter and win the poultry division of the livestock competition and become the FFA Sweetheart, who, not incidentally, rides in the parade. It's an ambitious plan and wins points for originality as well. How Austin puts her scheme into motion and how it transforms her from onlooker on the outskirts to contender in the center is the heart and soul of this novel. It's a bold and charming idea, but the story, which drags in spots, is more intriguing in concept than execution. Austin fails to captivate, and she's surrounded by secondary characters who don't generate enough feeling to keep readers engaged. A pity, but this debut author shows promise. (Fiction. 12 & up). 224pg. VNU EMEDIA, c2009.

[Book Review of Sweetheart of Prosper County]. (2009 August 1). Kirkus Reviews, pp 817


From Booklist:
Gr. 7-10. Fourteen-year-old Austin Gray has a goal to be in next year's No-Jesus Christmas Parade, and she has a plan to get there: she will win the Prosper County Fair Poultry Competition next summer and become the Future Farmers of America Sweetheart. First, though, she has to convince her mother that her Christmas present must be a bantam rooster. First- time novelist Alexander offers a delightful, funny story about teenagers living in a West Texas farming community. The memorable characters include reigning FFA Sweetheart Sundi Knutt; Austin's archnemesis, Dean Ottmer; gorgeous farm-boy and possible boyfriend Josh Whatley; and best friend Maribel, a Mexican American dynamo filled with ethnic pride and joie de vivre. The adults in the book are equally rich and authentic, from Austin's capable but grieving widowed mother to the sleazy Big Wells mayor to bighearted Cajun Lafitte Boudreaux. Austin's year of added responsibility and independence make for a substantive, enjoyable coming-of-age novel that will speak to rural and urban readers alike. Frances Bradburn. 224pg. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2009.

Bradburn, F. (2009 August 1). [Review of Sweetheart of Prosper County]. Booklist, pp 61.


From School Library Journal:
Gr 8 Up. Fifteen-year-old Austin Gray has not had an easy life. Her father died one rainy Christmas Eve when his car skidded off a bridge into a lake. Since then Austin's mother has kept her close, not allowing her to experience life for fear of another tragedy. Dean Ottmer has been Austin's worst nightmare since fourth grade, tormenting her mercilessly. So when Dean harasses her at the No-Jesus Christmas Parade about her flat chest ('Austin, Texas, the no-hill country'), she decides that now is the time to change her life or spend the rest of it as the butt of his jokes. As she sets her plan in motion, joining Future Farmers of America and making new friends, she realizes that it is not friends or popularity that will protect her from Dean, but the confidence to stand up for herself. Filled with quirky characters, including Charles Dickens, the rooster she decides to raise, this is a warm, humorous story that touches on bullying and politics in a small town. Austin is a study in contradiction. On the one hand she is strong-willed and goes after what she wants, and on the other she shows little confidence, allowing Dean to torment her time after time. But it's Austin's mother who quietly steals the show. She is a tough, no-nonsense woman who believes in her daughter but rarely shows her emotional side. A refreshing picture of teen angst, with realistic dialogue and memorable characters.--Kelley Siegrist, Farmington Community Library, MI. 224pg. SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2009.

Siegrist, K. (2009 September 1). [Review of Sweetheart of Prosper County]. School Library Journal, pp 150.


Library Setting Uses:

Since this title was on the 2010 Lone Star Reading List, I think it would have made a great project to use this book and the other titles on that list to make book trailer with the teens. This would have been a great way to market the reading list and get other teens interested in reading the titles. This would be a fun project for Teen Read Week or even a project for Teen Tech Week (if you allow the students to do the filming and editing while you supervise). I would like next year to be able to do something like this with the new Lone Star list.

Module 7: Schooled

SLIS 5420.002
Module 7
October 4 – 10



Summary:

Have you ever felt like you just didn't belong? Cap Anderson has never felt that in his whole life! That is, until he is made to go to a regular middle school when his grandmother has to go into the hospital. Cap grew up on a farming commune where, back in the 60s, several people stayed and lived in an alternative lifestyle without all the distractions of mainstream society. Which means when he shows up to his new school, there is an instant target put on his back by the most popular guy in school (who also doubles as a bully). Can Cap overcome the pranks pulled by his peers?


Citation:

Korman, G. (2007). Schooled. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.


My Impressions:

Young teens everywhere will love Cap. I think the idea that he has lived on a farm commune his whole life is something that blows most teens away. When I brought up the book at a teen meeting at my library, they all looked at me in shock. It was almost like they were saying, "Who could live without cell phones and tv?" Regardless of where he came from, though, this is another story of fitting in when you're really different. I think it's great that Cap tries to understand his new classmates and how they live and even takes to liking some of it, but above all stays true to who he really is and what he believes. It was very entertaining to see how everyone's lives were effected Cap's presidency and how they all came to depend on him.


Reviews:

From Kirkus Reviews:
Thirteen-year-old Capricorn 'Cap' Anderson has only left the Garland Farm Commune (founded 1967) with his grandmother ('Rain') a few times for supplies. He doesn't know what TV is like, and he's never held money in his hand. When Rain falls from a plum tree and has to spend two months in the hospital, Cap gets his first real taste of the confusing, 'real' world of 2007. Fortunately, his caseworker Mrs. Donnelly spent a few of her childhood years at Garland, and she knows what he's in for. Unfortunately, there's this tradition at Claverage (C-average) Middle School in which the eighth-grade class elects the strangest kid and biggest nerd to be Class President. They don't come any stranger than Cap, and Zach Powers and his clique do their level best to make Cap's life hell. Claverage gets a taste of peace, love and understanding it won't soon forget. Korman's novel narrated by the good, the bad and the only slightly involved is his usual smart, funny, slightly skewed realism. Tweens will definitely identify and could view their grandparents in a whole new light. (Fiction. 9-14). 224pg. VNU EMEDIA, c2007.

[Book Review of Schooled]. (2007 July 15). Kirkus Reviews, pp 730


From Booklist:
Gr. 6-9. Homeschooled on an isolated 'alternate farm commune' that has dwindled since the 1960s to 2 members, 13-year-old Cap has always lived with his grandmother, Rain. When she is hospitalized, Cap is taken in by a social worker and sent--like a lamb to slaughter--to middle school. Smart and capable, innocent and inexperienced (he learned to drive on the farm, but he has never watched television), long-haired Cap soon becomes the butt of pranks. He reacts in unexpected ways and, in the end, elevates those around him to higher ground. From chapter to chapter, the first-person narrative shifts among certain characters: Cap, a social worker (who takes him into her home), her daughter (who resents his presence there), an A-list bully, a Z-list victim, a popular girl, the school principal, and a football player (who unintentionally decks Cap twice in one day). Korman capably manages the shifting points of view of characters who begin by scorning or resenting Cap and end up on his side. From the eye-catching jacket art to the scene in which Cap says good-bye to his 1,100 fellow students, individually and by name, this rewarding novel features an engaging main character and some memorable moments of comedy, tenderness, and reflection. Pair this with Jerry Spinelli's 2000 Stargirl (the sequel is reviewed in this issue) for a discussion of the stifling effects of conformity within school culture or just read it for the fun of it. Carolyn Phelan. 224pg. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2007.

[Book Review of Schooled]. (2007 August 1). Booklist, pp 0071.

From VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates Magazine):
Grade. M. Popularity. 4P. Capricorn Anderson is different from other thirteen-year-olds. He has never watched television, never heard of a Starbucks, and never attended a public school, but he knows how to drive a car. Cap and his hippie grandmother Rain's lifestyle is reminiscent of a 1960s farm commune. Rain is Cap's only family, friend, and teacher until a tragic accident lands Rain in the hospital, forcing Cap to live with strangers. Before Cap can blink, he is enrolled at Claverage Middle School with students who make him a target for their ridicule. Cap's strange appearance and naive ways encourage students to nominate him for class president, which at this school is not an honor or sign of popularity but instead an age-old joke. The in crowd sets out to ensure that Cap fails at every endeavor, especially the Halloween dance, but the joke is on them. Students stop laughing at him and begin revering Cap because of his pure heart and immeasurable patience. Before long, the roles are reversed, but Cap is no longer there to witness the change in his peers. Korman creates an intricate novel in which goodness and strength of character prevail over the shortsightedness of others. Readers are reminded that the underdog can win without conforming to the constraints of society. Through chapters that alternate characters' points of view, readers gain insight into the turmoil that each person is experiencing as Cap influences their lives. Teens will relate to these characters whether it is the jock, the nerd, or the outcast.-Laura Panter. 224pg. VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES, c2007.

Panter, L. (2007 October). [Review of Schooled]. VOYA, pp 332.


Library Setting Uses:

This would make a fun summer program: have a tie-dying party for the teens! There are several safe tie-dying kits and paints available now, so you wouldn't have to worry about boiling the water and the liability of doing that with several teens around. Everyone should get to do at least one object (shirt, bandana, book tote, etc.) that they bring from home, then if there are enough leftover supplies allow for other stuff to be dyed. Then while the objects are drying out, have a popsicle party or fun (and safe) outdoor games to play until the objects are safe to touch without tie-dying your hands!

make tie-dye shirts, bandannas, or book bags

Module 6: Moving Day

SLIS 5420.002
Module 6
September 27 – October 3



Summary:

There are some things you absolutely need to do and some things you must positively never do, at least, according to Allie Finkle. She has a rule for everything life can hand you. But what happens when even she starts to break her own rules after finding out her family is going to move to the other side of town (which means a new school and friends for Allie)?


Citation:

Cabot, M. (2008). Moving Day. New York: Scholastic Press.


My Impressions:

I actually bought this book for my niece for her 10th birthday. I had never gotten around to reading it prior to this class, but it is a book series that is often requested at my library. I think every child fears the day when their parents say, "We're moving!" This was something I never had to experience, but through conversations with friends I've learned that Allie's and her brother's different reactions to the move are typical of most children. However, I can completely identify with Allie's rules. I think everyone has a set of rules that they hold other people accountable for following, although most of the time we don't know we're expected to follow them! I liked how Allie finally learned some important things about herself and her rules during her transition from her old school to her new school.


Reviews:

From Kirkus Reviews:
Like every other kid lately, nine-year-old Allie Finkle is developing her list of rules for friendships, school situations, family and overall life. Dos and don'ts for any newly minted tween can get pretty complicated when an already unsettling relationship with a so-called best friend is augmented by one's parents' decision to sell their comfortable suburban dwelling and move to an un-renovated Victorian- style, 100-year-old gloomy and possibly haunted house in the city. And, what about the new (really old and crowded) school and a fourth grade filled with unfriendly faces? Allie is stressed but decides to take charge by hatching a scheme to prevent the sale of her suburban house and thus, the move. Cabot's endearing, funny and clever protagonist will have readers simultaneously chuckling and commiserating as succeeding chapters introduce individual 'rules' for Allie to contemplate and accept. Lessons on friendship and fickleness, sneaky behavior, lying, animal cruelty and theft (although paying for a 'rescued' pet turtle that was never for sale may raise some eyebrows) merge to create a humorous and heartwarming story. Allie's first-person voice is completely believable with just the right amount of tongue-in- cheek wit. Despite the now-overdone rules concept, readers will eagerly await Allie's next installment in her new home, school and neighborhood. (Fiction. 8-11). 240pg. VNU EMEDIA, c2008.

[Review of Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls: Moving Day]. (2008 January 1). Kirkus Reviews, pp 38.

From Publishers Weekly:
Signature Reviewed by Rachel Vail. In Cabot's (the Princess Diaries) first foray into novels for kids who are still in single digits, her trademark frank humor makes for compulsive reading--as always. The first installment of a new series presents a nine-year-old girl attempting to impose rules for living on her increasingly complex world. Allie is funny, believable and plucky (of course; all girls are plucky, at least in books), but most of all, and most interestingly, Allie is ambivalent. As the book starts, Allie learns that her family is moving across town. It is a mark of Cabot's insight to understand that, to a nine-year-old, a car ride's separation from the world she has known makes that distance as vast as the universe. Allie will be enrolled in a different elementary school, and will therefore be that most hideous thing: the new kid. To make matters worse, the Finkle family will be moving to a dark, old, creaky Victorian, which, Allie becomes convinced, has a zombie hand in the attic. Moving will mean leaving behind not only her geode collection but also her best friend. And here is where the story deepens. Allie's best friend is difficult. She cries easily and always insists on getting her own way. To keep the peace, Allie makes rules for herself, often after the fact, to teach herself such important friendship truisms as Don't Shove a Spatula Down Your Best Friend's Throat. Mary Kate is the kind of best friend anybody would want to shove a spatula down the throat of, is the thing. As Allie marshals her energies to fight the move in increasingly desperate ways, sophisticated readers may well conclude ahead of Allie that the friends she is meeting at the new school are more fun and better for her than spoiled Mary Kate and the cat-torturer, Brittany Hauser. Coming to this realization on their own, however, is part of the empowering fun. Told from the distinctive perspective of a good- hearted, impulsive, morally centered kid, this is a story that captures the conflicted feelings with which so many seemingly strong nine-year- olds struggle. Ambivalence is uncomfortable. It is also a sign of growing up. Early elementary school is all about primary colors, where rules, imposed by adults, are clear guidelines to good behavior and getting along. The more complex hues of the second half of elementary school, when complicated friendship dynamics begin to outpace the adult-imposed rules of home and school, leave many kids floundering and confused. In the character Allie Finkle, Cabot captures this moment of transition and makes it feel not just real, but also fun, and funny. Rachel Vail's forthcoming novel, Lucky (HarperTeen, May), is the start of a trilogy about three sisters. 240pg. CAHNERS PUBLISHING, c2008.

[Review of Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls: Moving Day]. (2008 February 18). Publishers Weekly, pp 154.


Library Setting Uses:

Since most kids are starting to establish their own opinions of what is right and what is wrong at Allie's age, I think it would be interesting and fun to have older elementary aged children write out 10 rules they think everyone should follow. Then have them read their questions out loud to get the reactions of their peers.

Module 5: Scaredy Squirrel

SLIS 5420.002
Module 5
September 20 – 26



Summary:

Life can be pretty good when you have a routine that you stick to every single day. That's exactly how Scaredy Squirrel feels about life in his tree. He has it all figured out, including emergency plans for every scenario, until one day when he is forced to leave his tree! Anything can happen when Scaredy Squirrel is pushed out of his comfort zone.


Citation:

Watt, M. (2006). Scaredy Squirrel. Toronto: Kids Can Press.


My Impressions:

This is such an adorable book! I think that Watt's style of illustration really draws children into the story. And I like how the narration is basically that she's speaking to us on behalf of Scaredy Squirrel. From a child's perspective, Scaredy Squirrel is silly, but I'm sure they can see the big questions behind the story: what are you afraid of, why are you afraid, and/or how will you deal with your fear when you see it? As a grown up who enjoys categorizing things, I especially was fond of Watt's means of categorizing Scaredy Squirrel's fears and his plan for the emergency kit.


Reviews:

From Publishers Weekly:
Ages 4-8. It's an indication of how well Watt (Leon the Chameleon) knows her helicopter-parented audience that she's able to turn the phrase 'antibacterial soap' into a bona fide punchline. Fearing attack by Martians, sharks, poison ivy, killer bees, tarantulas and/or germs, Scaredy Squirrel decides 'he'd rather stay in his safe and familiar tree than risk venturing out into the unknown.' But just in case something goes awry, this most anxious rodent also has an extensive emergency kit that includes sardines (to distract the sharks), the aforementioned antibacterial soap and a parachute. Then one day, Scaredy's unvarying and admittedly boring routine is thrown for a loop (it's the emergency kit's fault), and he discovers he's a flying squirrel--an epiphany so momentous that it garners the book's only gatefold spread. Will Scaredy's life be changed forever now that new vistas have opened up to him? Well, sort of. Watt largely dispenses with conventional visual storytelling; instead, she tells the hero's story through a series of boldly graphic and endearingly goofy charts and diagrams (one outlines the anxious rodent's 'top secret,' four- option plan for exiting the tree in case of emergency). Funny in their own right, the pages also spoof all the sincerely inane worksheets that are the staple of elementary school homework. Youngsters will go nuts over this one. (Mar.). 40pg. CAHNERS PUBLISHING, c2006.

[Review of Scaredy Squirrel]. (2006 March 13). Publisher's Weekly, pp 64.

From Booklist:
Gr. 1-3. In a tongue-in-cheek tale that may help to prod anxious readers out of their hidebound routines, a squirrel discovers the pleasures of leaping into the unknown. As the world's a scary place, what with the killer bees, green Martians, tarantulas, germs, and sharks that might be lurking about, Scaredy Squirrel keeps to his tree, and to a precise, minute-by-minute daily schedule--until a supposed 'killer bee' actually wanders by, causing Squirrel to dislodge his suitcase-size emergency kit. A wild lunge to rescue it turns into a long glide (portrayed in a gatefold), as Squirrel discovers to his astonishment that he is a flying squirrel. Eventually, Squirrel returns in triumph to his tree and from then on adds a daily glide to his accustomed rounds. Despite the simply drawn cartoons and brief text, this is more sophisticated in tone than Martin Waddell's 'Tiny's Big Adventure' (2004), though the message is similar. ((Reviewed May 1, 2006)). John Peters. 40pg. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2006.

Peters, J. (2006 May 1). [Review of Scaredy Squirrel]. Booklist, pp 94.

From Horn Book:
(Primary) How do you avoid tarantulas, poison ivy, Martians, killer bees, germs, and sharks? If you're Scaredy Squirrel, you stay put in your oak tree and keep an emergency kit close at hand. Day in and day out, Scaredy follows the same routine--'wake up / eat a nut / look at view / eat a nut / look at view'--never, ever setting a paw on the ground. Sure, there are drawbacks--'same old view / same old nuts / same old place'--but at least 'everything is predictable. All is under control.' Watt's casual, child-friendly illustrations and tongue-in- cheek text have a lot of fun with Scaredy and his story. The bold, inviting compositions feature simple shapes, black crayonlike outlines, and paint-box colors; varied layouts and perspectives add energy. (One design quibble: the decision to conclude the story on the back endpapers may be a problem for libraries.) When a smiling, roly-poly bee (more bumble- than 'killer') drifts by, Scaredy panics and knocks his emergency kit out of the tree: 'NOT part of the Plan.' He jumps to try to catch it and--lo and behold--discovers he's 'no ordinary squirrel. He's a FLYING squirrel!' As Scaredy Squirrel would tell you: if you take a flying leap into the unknown once in a while, you may learn something new about yourself. 40pg. THE HORN BOOK, c2006.

[Review of Scaredy Squirrel]. (2006 May 1). Horn Book, pp 305.


Library Setting Uses:

I think this would be a fun activity for an after-school activity intended for elementary students. The librarian running the program could read out loud the story and then afterwards, hand each of the students two coloring sheets. One coloring sheet will have different pictures of things that may or may not go into an emergency kit (it's all about perspective). The other coloring sheet that the children can fold in half so it looks like a first aid kit. Then, after coloring, they can cut out and paste different things into their kits for whatever emergency they want to prepare for. And then on the top of the "first aid kit" they should fill in the end to this prompt: "Do Not Open Unless __________". I also think this activity would make a great felt board that can be used while reading the story out loud.