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.

Module 4: The Tale of Despereaux

SLIS 5420.002
Module 4
September 13 – 19


Summary:

When Despereaux is born, he is most unlike any of the other mice. He has very large ears which help him to hear better and he would rather read words in a book instead of eating them! Above all, he wants to be a knight and rescue his fair princess. In a story that reveals how difference choices tie all of these characters together, we learn how a rat became bad, how an innocent girl turns mean, and how a king learns to love soup again.


Citation:

DiCamillo K. (2003). The tale of Despereaux. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press.


My Impressions:

I really enjoyed how DiCamillo tied all of the individual story lines together throughout the novel. I thought it was interesting to see how a series of different decisions affected each of the other characters. It's a great story that teaches children about the importance in believing in yourself and being kind to others. I think it really is a modern fairy tale.


Reviews:

From Booklist:
Gr. 3-6 Forgiveness, light, love, and soup. These essential ingredients combine into a tale that is as soul stirring as it is delicious. Despereaux, a tiny mouse with huge ears, is the bane of his family's existence. He has fallen in love with the young princess who lives in the castle where he resides and, having read of knights and their ladies, vows to 'honor her.' But his unmouselike behavior gets him banished to the dungeon, where a swarm of rats kill whoever falls into their clutches. Another story strand revolves around Miggery, traded into service by her father, who got a tablecloth in return. Mig's desire to be a princess, a rat's yen for soup (a food banished from the kingdom after a rat fell in a bowl and killed the queen), and Despereaux's quest to save his princess after she is kidnapped climax in a classic fairy tale, rich and satisfying. Part of the charm comes from DiCamillo's deceptively simple style and short chapters in which the author addresses the reader: 'Do you think rats do not have hearts? Wrong. All living things have a heart.' And as with the best stories, there are important messages tucked in here and there, so subtly that children who are carried away by the words won't realize they have been uplifted until much later. Ering's soft pencil illustrations reflect the story's charm. - Ilene Cooper; 272pg. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2003.

Cooper, I. (2003 July 1) [Review of The Tale of Despereaux]. Booklist. pp 1886


From School Library Journal:
Gr 3 Up A charming story of unlikely heroes whose destinies entwine to bring about a joyful resolution. Foremost is Despereaux, a diminutive mouse who, as depicted in Ering's pencil drawings, is one of the most endearing of his ilk ever to appear in children's books. His mother, who is French, declares him to be 'such the disappointment' at his birth and the rest of his family seems to agree that he is very odd: his ears are too big and his eyes open far too soon and they all expect him to die quickly. Of course, he doesn't. Then there is the human Princess Pea, with whom Despereaux falls deeply (one might say desperately) in love. She appreciates him despite her father's prejudice against rodents. Next is Roscuro, a rat with an uncharacteristic love of light and soup. Both these predilections get him into trouble. And finally, there is Miggery Sow, a peasant girl so dim that she believes she can become a princess. With a masterful hand, DiCamillo weaves four story lines together in a witty, suspenseful narrative that begs to be read aloud. In her authorial asides, she hearkens back to literary traditions as old as those used by Henry Fielding. In her observations of the political machinations and follies of rodent and human societies, she reminds adult readers of George Orwell. But the unpredictable twists of plot, the fanciful characterizations, and the sweetness of tone are DiCamillo's own. This expanded fairy tale is entertaining, heartening, and, above all, great fun.-Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Public Library, NY; 272pg. CAHNERS PUBLISHING, c2003.

Budin, M.L. (2003 August 1). [Review of The Tale of Despereaux]. School Library Journal. pp 126.


Library Setting Uses:

Since the movie came out recently, I think it would be a great holiday break program to show the movie and then have students who have also read the book discuss the differences. At the very least, it would be a fun movie to show for all children. But it is nice in a library setting to show movies based upon novels. Often I've noticed that children will get excited and interested in the story and will want to read the book on their own.