Module 15 - Forever by Judy Blume

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Book Summary:
This is a story about a 17 year old girl who is experiencing a real relationship for the first time. This book hits on several important points about sex and the risks. Katherine starts dating Michael fairly soon in the book and we are following her on her journey with waiting until she's ready to have sex and then her having sex, and then the concept of making promises that are not easy to keep. This book also deals with depression and other matters that are important, but mostly it features the struggles in a relationship, especially when the couple is young.

APA Reference of Book:
Blume, J. (1975). Forever... New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division.

Impressions: This is a book I have heard about for a long time with the topic of being challenged and banned often. I read the book fairly quickly in one sitting, and it was easy to get through. I did not like it as much as I thought I would. I felt that the events were very realistic and they made sense. I liked how the characters romanticized their relationship at such a young age and promised each other forever. Forever sounds nice and possible, but that is not something you can promise. I think it is very important that this book touched on that, she told Michael that she was making promises she could not keep, or she was going to say it in those words before she ripped up that letter. I thought it was very sad how it ended. I felt really bad for Michael, but it was all very realistic. This book left me thinking about what I expect out of relationships, and how I want that promise of forever. Forever can't be promised, but it can be hoped for. I felt sad at the end of this book. I wish it had ended differently, but it was appropriate to show that not all relationships last even if you think they will.

Professional Review:
 "YA - Katherine and Michael find each other, and it's first love for both of them. Katherine loses her virginity, finds out about contraceptives, and learns about VD with lectures inserted as needed. Actually, both kids are so kind and considerate, so understanding, so everything, that readers may wonder what's wrong with them. Finally, she realizes that first love isn't always Forever, that she is growing and accepting changes. Sniff, sniff. Obviously it's not a quality book, but that fact won't bother the many girls who will read it, identify, cry happily, and recommend it to their friends. Librarians buying for junior high schools should be aware that the sexual scenes, while not at all explicit compared to the run of adult novels, may be more than parents of young teens bargain for."

Minudru, R. (1975). [Review of the book Forever, by J. Blume]. School Library Journal, 22(3), 95. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com

Library Uses:  Featured book for banned books week.

Module 14 - Lemonade and Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word

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Book Summary:
A collection of poems, each one is a single word and letters from the word make up a poem.

APA Reference of Book:
Raczka, B. (2011). Lemonade and other poems squeezed from a single word. New York, NY: Roaring Books Press. 

Impressions:
When I read the first poem I was confused. I looked at it and was trying to see if it was a shape, but I realized its the word line after line omitting letters to create new words. Each page after a poem has the poem written out which was a good choice as some of them are hard to read trying to figure out where one word ends and another begins. For instance, the 'minivan' poem was hard to tell what they were saying for me until I read the page and found out there were a lot of names. I think this was a very creative way to write and display poetry, and it is interesting, but it is not my favorite way to read poetry.

Professional Review:

Gr 3–8--Raczka credits Andrew Russ for inspiring him to try his hand at creating poems by rearranging the letters of a single word. The letters that make up each word in the 22 selections are placed directly under the matching letters of the original word, which is used as the poem's title. The resulting odd spacing of letters and words adds an element of puzzlement to the deciphering of some words and requires a certain facility with the English language, along with the capability for recognizing words whose letters are placed horizontally, vertically or diagonally; backwards or forwards; separated by one space or six, or an entire line with no punctuation included. Each poem is printed on the verso of the following page with words in correct order. A clever, catchy, and challenging collection.


PHOTO (COLOR): Lemonade (Raczka)

Scheps, S. (2011). [Review of the book Lemonade: And other poems squeezed from a single word, by B. Raczka]. School Library Journal, 57(5), 137. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com

Library Uses: Teen poetry night, for readings and original poetry as well as show unorthodox ways to create poetry and inspire teens to think outside the box.

Module 13 - Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale

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Book Summary:
Similar to other Rapunzel stories, there is a girl trapped by someone who claims to be her mother. However, this story has a western theme and she isn't trapped in a tower, but there are walls separating her villa from the rest of the world. She lives in a rich environment and is well cared for, but she feels like something is missing and not right in her life, she wants to know what is happening beyond the walls to make sense of these dreams she keeps having that shake her. She scales the wall and finds an environment she did not expect, one that is very different from the place she lives. She meets her real mother and finds out her real story and

APA Reference of Book:
Hale, D. & Hale, S. (2008). Rapunzel's revenge. New York, NY: Bloomsbury Children's Books.

Impressions:
I wonder if my impressions of this story are silly, but there are a couple of instances where I thought: that's not good to teach children! like when Jack threw scissors to Rapunzel and she caught them, I was thinking: she could have been stabbed! Of course there were a lot of dangerous situations in this book, so it may be okay to throw scissors in a dangerous situation. I mean, there's magic involved, so... other than things like that I always enjoy fantasy adaptations. I love that Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel kind of collided and worked together. I feel as though everything was rather quick at some points, like with the pick axe they were rewarded 'Inga' and said it breaks unbreakable things, and then they said 'thanks' and moved along. Also, in the end, as they were trying to wrap it up I suppose. Rapunzel just mentioned to the townspeople something like 'hey Gothel's gone now so...' and there was a bit of cheering. I like how she decides to keep Rapunzel as a name she is called by even though she learned her real name, Anna. She decides to keep her past instead of run away from it even though it was negative, which is something I have issues with, so that actually left a really good impression for me. The action happened rather early in this book, they did not hesitate. It is hard for me to not compare this to Disney's Tangled. I like how this Rapunzel handled the 'prince' who came to 'save' her. Jack is similar to Flynn Ryder, and Rapunzel's tower was similar. Her hair and nails grew only because she was in that tower and the 'growth magic' Gothel had. Also, this Rapunzel being able to lasso her hair when she braids it makes more sense than Disney's. I think this was an interesting graphic novel, just not my favorite.

Professional Review:

* Rapunzel's Revenge
Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illus. by Nathan
Hale. Bloomsbury, $14.99 (144p) paper ISBN
978-1-59990-288-3; $18.99 hc ISBN 978-1-59990-070-4

The popular author of Princess Academy teams with her husband and illustrator Hale (no relation) for a muscular retelling of the famously long-haired heroine's story, set in a fairy-tale version of the Wild West. The Hales' Rapunzel, the narrator, lives like royalty with witchy Mother Gothel, but defies orders, scaling villa walls to see what's outside--a shocking wasteland of earth-scarring mines and smoke-billowing towers. She recognizes a mine worker from a recurrent dream: it's her birth mother, from whom she was taken as punishment for her father's theft from Mother G.'s garden. Their brief reunion sets the plot in motion. Mother G. banishes Rapunzel to a forest treehouse, checking annually for repentance, which never comes. Rapunzel uses her brick-red braids first to escape, then like Indiana Jones with his whip, to knock out the villains whom she and her new sidekick, Jack (of Beanstalk fame), encounter as they navigate hostile territory to free Rapunzel's morn from peril. Illustrator Hale's detailed, candy-colored artwork demands close viewing, as it carries the action--Rapunzel's many scrapes are nearly wordless. With its can-do heroine, witty dialogue and romantic ending, this graphic novel has something for nearly everybody. Ages 10-up. (Sept.)

[Review of the book Rapunzel's Revenge, by S. Hale & D. Hale]. (2008). Publishers Weekly, 255(31), 63. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/ 

 
Library Uses: For creative writing or a create your own graphic novel story to show an adaptation of a classic tale.

Module 12 - Bill, the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-creator of Batman by Marc Nobleman

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Book Summary:
This is a biography about Milton, Bill, Finger and his journey co-creating Batman. A lot of the ideas that makes batman great came from Bill, but he was an anonymous writer and was kept behind the scenes for most of his career. It tells the story of how Bill died, but also how he was recognized after his death. Bill did not push during his career, but fans pushed for him. He is now widely known and there is even a Bill Finger Awards to honor him and given out to those who write comics.

APA Reference of Book:
Nobleman, M. T. (2012). Bill the boy wonder: The secret co-creator of Batman. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.

Impressions:
This book was well done created like a comic book to match the person it was about. I liked the style for example on the first page where it stated his chosen name Bill was 'Secret Identity 1', and again later in the story 'Secret Identity 2'. The illustrations helped tell the story. The text told a great deal of the story, but the illustrations successfully enhanced it. Nobleman successfully transitioned between fact and opinion with his word choices. This book was very enjoyable. I enjoyed learning about this history of Batman's creation, and I think Bill Finger has a great story to tell. It seems that he was content with being in the background and letting Bob get all the credit, but credit should go where credit is deserved. Bill Finger has done amazing work and his creation remains popular to this day. It really is impressive.

Professional Review:



CHILDREN'S & TEEN


BILL THE BOY WONDER The Secret Co-Creator of Batman Nobleman, Marc Tyler Illus. by Templeton, Ty Charlesbridge(48 pp.) $17.95 $9.99 e-book Jul. 1, 2012 978-1-58089-289-6 978-1-60734-446-9 e-book


It turns out that Batman--the orphaned, shadowy, well-heeled defender of an embattled Gotham--had another embarrassment of riches: two fathers.


Spend any time with Batman in DC Comics and you will have seen it: "Created by Bob Kane." Only half true. Cartoonist Bob did come up with a prototype, but it was writer Bill Finger who fashioned Batman into the night-tripping, class-and-trash, hero-and-villain intimidator in the pointy-eared cowl whom we have come to love, the superhero without superpowers. This testament to credit due from Nobleman is seriously researched--as the six-page author's note attests--yet light on its feet, and the artwork from Templeton has all the lush, emotive brushwork one expects from Batman. But what makes this sketch of Finger so memorable is its intimacy with the characters, the way in which it coaxes out an engaging vulnerability in Finger and, by association, with Batman. "Bob's greatest talent may have been the ability to recognize other talent. His greatest flaw may have been the inability to honor that talent. Bill's greatest flaw may have been the inability to defend his talent. His greatest talent was the ability to forge legends."


Though Finger has been a known commodity to comics cognoscenti for years, this salute in his own format will make the lasting impression he deserves. (Graphic biography. 8 & up)

[Review of the book Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman by M. Nobleman]. (2012). Kirkus Reviews, 80(12), 1271. Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com

Library Uses: Graphic Novel club, talking about creators of famous superheroes and maybe working on creating a superhero of our own.

Module 11 - All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon

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Book Summary:
This book describes where water comes from, where it goes, and where it does not. It shows a couple of different climates to contrast. Rain and then desert. It encourages the reader to keep the water clean. It shows a mom and child as if she is telling the story of her water to her kid.

APA Reference of Book:
Lyon, G. E., & Tillotson, K. (2011). All the water in the world. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Impressions: 
The illustrations in this book are very creative how they line up with the text. The text jumps around and is very eye catching. It seems like it is a poem and it is very lyrical, especially near the end of the book. I like how the book appears to be told by a mother. Often a line uses the word 'honey' and the first time I saw that '...till cool air bumps through and honey, those clouds just let it go...' I was confused thinking of the honey that bees make and was not sure of the connection. Perhaps it was lacking punctuation as the pattern of these words on this page is important. Overall, this book has a good message detailing the importance of water and how it helps the earth. I think this is a good book to share with kids.

Professional Review:

Children's Books

Picture Books

IT'S EASY READING GREEN

All the Water in the World
George Ella Lyon, illus. by Katherine Tillotson.
S&S/Atheneum/Jackson; $15.99 (40p)
ISBN 978-1-4169-7130-6

Pattern-driven digital illustrations pair with concrete verse to express water's cyclical nature: "Thirsty air/licks it from lakes/sips it from ponds/guzzles it from oceans/and this wet air/swirls up." In a bone-colored landscape in another part of the world, a child in a hut and wild animals in a barren tree await a gray storm cloud. When a torrent comes, a lullaby-like line assures: "Honey,/living things dream/of water," and a mother with long, brunette hair embraces her child, droplets from her hair coalescing into tiny animal silhouettes. A lyrical and bighearted outpouring. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)

[Review of the book All the Water in the World, by G. Lyon]. (2011). Publishers Weekly, 258(9), 54. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/

Library Uses: Good for introducing an earth day program

Module 10 - Rose Blanche by Roberto Innocenti

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Book Summary:
This story follows a naive German school girl as she experiences the time during WWII, but is unaware of the implications. She lives a normal life with normal struggles until her curiosity leads her to discover what struggling really is.

APA Reference of Book:
Innocenti, R., & McEwan, I. (1985). Rose Blanche. Mankato, MN: Creative Editions.

Impressions: I am not much for historical fiction, but this book really drew me in. The art was realistic as well which is good for a historical fiction story. I really saw the truth in this story, how children who were not directly involved in the war may not notice what is happening around them. Parents choose to keep their children innocent if possible. Her curiosity led her to find a camp and she gave children her food. I think it is interesting the shift of perspective halfway through the book. At first Rose Blanche is talking in first person but then it becomes third person after she first saw the people at the camp. Maybe it is because of the end of the story so we could see a slightly different perspective, but if I were to look at it deeper, Rose Blanche began caring less about her problems and life, and more about what she could do for those who were suffering. The end of the book left me sad for the little girl, and I don't know what the authors intention was there. She came on the desolate camp, destroyed and no more people, and that was a sad picture in itself. But when the realization came that she was going to die, I felt even sadder, I wonder what makes the feeling of following this one character who dies compared to all of the people who died in the camp stronger. Maybe because I was able to see her heart and her personality, while those in the camp we did not get to know.

Professional Review:

"Rose Blanche (Book)
Roberto Innocenti, Author-Illustrator
32 pp. Stewart, Tabori & Chang ISBN 1-55670-207-8 15.95 (Younger,
 Intermediate)

This powerful, disturbing, and unforgettable book is based on the artist's experiences during World War II. A little girl who has been drawn by curiosity to follow the trucks and tanks rumbling through her small German town finds children standing behind a barbed wire fence and begins to bring them food. Although she is finally killed by soldiers, the book's final image of a springtime landscape suggests the promise of resurrection and hope."

[Review of the book Rose Blanche, by I. Roberto]. (1991). Horn Book magazine, 67(3), 362. Retrieved from http://www.hbook.com/

 
Library Uses: During a holocaust remembrance day this book would be good to start with. I think they can relate to the innocence of the girl and may start with an understanding. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry is also a good one for this subject. It does not detail the gruesome story of the holocaust, but can be used as an introduction to this portion of history.

Module 9 - The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney

Book Cover



Book Summary:
Janie believes she lives an ordinary life with her parents in her town, but one day she sees a milk carton with her younger self in a polka dot dress on the back claiming that she was a missing child. It described that this girl was taken when she was three years old. She was confused and tried to forget about it, but she began remembering things that were unfamiliar to her. After she finds the polka dot dress from the picture in the attic and things belonging to someone named Hannah she confronts her 'parents' and they explain to her that their daughters name is Hannah and that Janie is her daughter and their granddaughter. Hannah left her with them and went back to the cult and the Johnson's changed their names and moved to another state with Janie to make sure the cult did not come back for her. Janie believed her parents but felt the need to research the kidnapping story and found a family with red hair that matched hers. She wrote a letter to this family but did not send it because she still loved the parents that have raised her. She loses the letter and decides to talk to her parents about it and they are shocked and believe that Hannah must have kidnapped her without them realizing that was a possibility and they agreed that it was necessary to contact this family who have been missing their daughter.

APA Reference of Book:

Cooney, C. B. (1990). The Face on the Milk Carton. New York, NY: Delacorte Press. 

Impressions:
This book was surprising to me, it was a mystery but not in the scary sense. I enjoyed the points in between about her relationship with Reeve and her friendships at school. It showed that this book had more to it than the mystery. This book made you feel things for the parents (Johnsons) as well as the family that lost Janie. The Johnson's were unaware that Janie was a victim of kidnapping and they thought of her like a daughter. They raised her from 3 years old through her high school years. It is amazing that the Mrs. Johnson was strong enough to tell Janie that they needed to contact her real family even though Janie was unsure if she wanted to. Even though it meant that they may lose another daughter. Cooney really drew the reader in even with the cult thrown in there, it is an interesting perspective of a kidnapee who never realized that she was a victim.

Professional Review:
"Gr 7-10 -- The message on the milk carton reads, "Have you seen this child?" Three-year old Jennie Spring was kidnapped 12 years earlier, but Janie Johnson, looking at the photo, suddenly knows that she is that child. Fragments of memory and evidence accumulate, and when she demands to know about her early childhood years, her parents confess what they believe to be true, that she is really their grandchild, the child of their long-missing daughter who had joined a cult. Janie wants to accept this, but she cannot forget Jennie's family and their loss. Finally, almost against her will, she seeks help and confides in her parents. Her mother insists that she call the Spring family, and the book ends as she calls them. Many young people fantasize about having been adopted or even kidnapped, but the decisions Janie must face are painful and complex, and she experiences denial, anger, and guilt while sorting her way toward a solution. Janie's boyfriend -- sensible, funny, with problems of his own -- is an excellent foil for her intensity. Their romance is natural and believable. Cooney again demonstrates an excellent ear for dialogue and a gift for protraying responsible middle-class teenagers trying to come to terms with very real concerns. A good choice for readers of Norma Fox Mazer's Taking Terri Muller (Morrow, 1983) -- Tatiana Castleton, Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library, CA"

Castleton, T. (1990). [Review of the book The Face on the Milk Carton, by C. Cooney]. School Library Journal, 36(2), 109. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com


Library Uses:
Book club discussion

Module 8 - Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Book Cover




Book Summary

Finn is a prisoner of Incarceron the sentient Prison seemingly with a mind of its own. He can't remember anything from before his days of Incarceron which leaves him missing quite a few years of his life. Claudia is the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron who set her up for an arranged marriage to which she fully does not want any part of. She was originally betrothed to Prince Giles who supposedly died when they were young.Finn is trying to escape the Prison with his oath brother Keiro, Gildas, and Attia whom they met along the way. He has a key that can contact Claudia and she is trying to help them reach their goal. Of course there are complications on both ends and after an unexpected twist or two the truth about Prince Giles, Incarceron, and the other characters comes out.
 
APA Reference of Book:

Fisher, C. (2007). Incarceron. New York, NY: Penguin Group Inc.

Impressions:

  I was really impressed with this book. To me this story was very unique and interesting. I feel as though a lot of novels follow the same type of storyline but I was surprised by this one. I was interested in the characters throughout the story and that includes the Prison. Which is alive. I appreciated the chapters being from different points of view and understanding the perspective of certain situations through characters besides Finn and Claudia. I also thought it was interesting that they blended old with new, so they are advanced and pretty far in the future, but they are to use the technology they have to make everything look as if they were in an older era, besides items that they really are not supposed to have according to the Protocol set. Often the intensity of what was happening in the Prison was a page turner and it was matched with Claudia's story as the daughter of the warden of Incarceron, and her relationship with Jared, however confusing that may be to us as the reader. I really enjoyed how their stories connected to each other by a key and I appreciate the authors imagination for creating this book. I was really not expecting the twists in this book such as where Claudia came from and the truth about the Prison itself. It's not a perfect book, I'm not completely sure about the supporting characters and the background of the story, but it definitely has a special quality to it and I definitely will read the sequel.

Professional Review:

"FISHER, Catherine. Incarceron. 448p. CIP. Dial. Feb. 2010. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3396-1. LC 2008046254.

Gr 7 Up--Finn is a denizen of Incarceron, a sentient prison in which generations of inmates struggle and fight for survival. Finn, however, is certain he comes from somewhere else. A strange tattoo and vague memories have convinced him that he comes from Outside. Claudia is the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron. Technology has been outlawed and society returned to a feudal time replete with rules, including arranged marriages. When the Queen and Claudia's father conspire to have her impending marriage to the heir moved forward, Claudia vows to do whatever it takes to avoid her fate. Finn and Claudia both acquire mysterious crystal keys that allow them to communicate, and it begins to be clear that each may be the other's way out. On the surface, Incarceron is a fast-paced if dense adventure that pits Finn against the prison and his fellow prisoners and Claudia against her father, her fiancé, and her society. If that were all, it would be a truly excellent fantasy novel. By delving into the philosophy of imprisonment and the development of society; discussing how history informs the present; and exploring self-awareness and sentience in nonhuman characters, Incarceron becomes something of a tour de force. The history of both Incarceron and Era are explored through excerpts from imagined legends and archival documents at the start of each chapter. The novel's length and complex plot may be daunting to some, but fans of steampunk and epic fantasy alike will be anxiously flipping pages and awaiting the sequel, already released in the U.K."

Brooks-Reese, K. E. (2010). [Review of the book Incarceron, by C. Fisher]. School Library Journal, 56(2), 110. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com

Library Uses:
Activity - build your own board game to escape Incarceron (complicated activity)

Assignment B - Book Trailers

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky Book Trailer

Music:
Typewriter Sample -

Doxent Zsigmond / CC BY 3.0

 

Song -
Sunset (Kai Engel) / CC BY 4.0

Looking for Alaska by John Green Book Trailer

 

Music:

Database of Problems, Rolodex of Lies (Doctor Turtle) / CC BY 4.0


The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen Book Trailer

Music:

I Will Wait For You (Scott Gratton) / CC BY-NC 4.0

Module 7 - Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Book cover image:
 

Book Summary: (May contain spoilers as I am bad at summarizing without giving things away) This story centers around Annabel Greene "the girl who has everything". So it appears in the ad she modeled in; however, she had a rough summer before her junior year of high school. She and her best friend, Sophie, got in a fight due to a situation that made it look like she was hooking up with Sophie's boyfriend. There is really some darker undertones to what really happened but Annabel kept it to herself and now she is isolated from anyone she was once friends with. She begins eating lunch with, near, Owen, a loner that is always listening to music. Eventually they begin talking, arguing, about his strange taste in music that he plays during his radio show. They develop a friendship and start to have some more than friends feelings for each other. Anabel also has some family problems at home with her sister who has an eating disorder. Emily, one of Anabel's mutual friends with Sophie, comes out saying that she was raped by Sophie's boyfriend. She asks Anabel to testify as she assumes that the same thing happened to her. This throws Anabel off and for a while she stops talking to Owen. She talks to Owen eventually about her experience and testifying and things begin to turn around for her. She  even starting to become friends with her childhood best friend Clarke. 




APA Reference of Book: Dessen, S. (2006). Just Listen. New York, NY: Penguin Group Inc.

Impressions: This book has very intense topics, but I love that there is a sweet undertone with the relationship Annabel has with Owen. I also read The Truth About Forever by the same author and it seems that there is a bit of a formula she follows when writing her books. I enjoyed them both a lot, but this book specifically I appreciated the friendship theme. She was friends with Clarke when she was a kid and then chose Sophie over her, and I understood that feeling from both sides. I can not relate with Annabel as much and I do not know how easy it will be for other readers to relate to her. The situation with Sophie's boyfriend might be something people relate to and understand, but I have never been in a situation like that. Then her family problems I personally have never met someone who suffers from an eating disorder. So there is a lot going on in this book, and maybe everything in this book can be related to. I firmly believe every book has someone that can relate to at least an aspect in it, and that is what makes books powerful. This book is powerful in its own way, it deals with rape, anorexia, loneliness, etc. There is a lot this book can do for a young adult and I think it is definitely worth the read. It has romance, but I do not believe that is the biggest take away from this book. Great read.

Professional Review: "An easily digestible tale about a 17-year-old model who, despite her recent back-to-school clothing commercial, isn't really "[t]he girl who has everything." Annabel secretly wants to quit modeling; one of her sisters has an eating disorder; and their mother's past depression makes expressing any unhappiness feel risky. Underneath Annabel's silence is a secret from the previous spring, a secret that astute readers will decode early on. It's the reason she's a social outcast and it makes her cling extra hard to fake cheerfulness. Oddball schoolmate Owen cracks her shield with candor and music, and Annabel learns to speak her own truth. Readers may be disappointed that after so much buildup to the moments of truth-telling (one to her family, one to Owen), we're not privy to the scenes. Despite dark issues, the overall tone is mild. Dessen's characterizations are glib, each metaphor and major point made explicit. Not deep, but absorbing and enjoyable. (Fiction. YA)"

[Review of the book Just Listen, by S. Dessen]. (2006). Kirkus Reviews, 74(5), 228. Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com


Library Uses: This would be a good book talk, I think maybe paired with Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, talks about important issues.

Module 6 - Oliver by Birgitta Sif

Book Cover



Book Summary:

This picture book centers around Oliver who is a little different than everyone else. Oliver enjoys playing with his friends, which are his puppets, and going on adventures with them in his imagination. However, Oliver feels lonely, and when he ends up playing tennis with himself he finds someone else who is a bit different too.

APA Reference of Book:

Sif, B. (2012). Oliver. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. 

Impressions:

I loved this book. It is possibly my favorite picture book I have ever read. It is such a simple message but I felt that it was very well done. The illustrations matched the book in color as well as character design. The message to me is it is okay to be different, and that does not mean you are alone. I like that in the end he met a girl who was a little different, but she was in all of the illustrations where Oliver is in public places. I feel like I could look at these illustrations for hours with all of the little details that you may not have noticed the first read through. For instance, in the library illustration there is a mouse reading a book in one of the book shelves, and with another reading you notice the mouse is in all of the other illustrations. I also liked the creative way the text was written when the tennis ball bounced. This was a lovely book and I definitely want my own copy. It is a very sweet book.

Professional Review:

"The Book Review: Preschool to Grade 4: Fiction

Oliver SIF, Birgitta. illus. by author. 40p. Candlewick. 2012. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6247-9.

PreS-Gr 1-A rhythmic narrative introduces bespectacled Oliver, a child who "felt a bit different" and prefers the company of his stuffed animals, puppets, and a mouse to that of other children. He and his "friends" have grand, imaginary adventures together, often oblivious to the many other people around them. Even so, his solitude is underscored when he swims in the pool alone and when he discovers that his pretend companions aren't necessarily interested in listening to him play the piano. Then, Oliver's tennis ball, which he hits against the wall of his house, bounces into the neighbor's yard where he meets Olivia, also "a bit different." The two children discover the pleasure of lobbing the tennis ball to each other over a clothesline-and the "best adventure" of Oliver's new friendship begins. Whimsical pencil illustrations, digitally colored in a palette of subdued greens, blues, lavenders, and browns, evoke Oliver's surroundings and his own idiosyncrasies in humorous detail. While the story line starts out engagingly enough, Oliver's development into a more companionable youngster is thin and rather arbitrary. Still, paired with Peter Reynolds's I'm Here (S & S, 2011), this picture book could be a useful tool to engender discussion about human differences and the satisfaction of friendship, especially for those who are shy or feel "a bit different." "

 (Finn, 2012

Finn, K. (2012). [Review of the book Oliver, by K. Finn]. School Library Journal, 58(11), 84. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com

Library Uses:

I think this would be a great story to read to a classroom. I think it is important for children to know that it is okay to be different.

Module 5 - Mango, Abuela, And Me by Meg Medina

Book Cover:




Book Summary:
This book is about a young girl (Mia) and her grandma (Abuela) that has come to live with her. Her Abuela does not speak English very well, and Mia does not speak Spanish very well either. Mia and her Abuela are learning each others languages together to better communicate. When they buy Mango the parrot for Mia's Abuela, he also is learning both languages and helps them learn as well.

APA Reference of Book:

Medina, M. (2015). Mango, Abuela, and Me. Somerville: MA: Candlewick Press.

Impressions: 

I liked that this book was written from the perspective of Mia and that the language used in the book is appropriate for her age. This book received an honor in the Pura Belpré awards for both the author and illustrator. I think this is a great book that bilingual children can relate to. I appreciate when books are published that can contribute to experiences children have with their extended family and other languages. I think the illustrations accompany this book very well and the overall story is inspiring. The connection between Abuela and Mia, the effort to learn another language, and the friendship all from the perspective of a young girl is wonderful. I appreciated how the language was appropriate for Mia's age and really allowed us to believe it was completely from her perspective.

Professional Review:

8/15 

"When her "far-away grandmother" arrives, Mia worries. Her grandmother doesn't speak English, and Mia's "espaüol is not good enough to tell her the things an abuela should know." Mia can't talk about herself or about what happens at school; her abuela can't share with Mia stories of her grandfather and their house nestled between two rivers. What Mia knows of her grandmother comes from the items she unpacks from her suitcase, among them the red feather of a parrot that lived in her mango trees. Mia engages her grandmother in games of Hear and Say, Oyey Di, and they begin to understand each other. But it isn't until Mia spies a parrot in a pet-store window and persuades her mother to buy it, naming it Mango for its brightly colored feathers, that Mia and her abuela truly connect. With Mango, they learn each other's languages until their "mouths are full of things to say." Medina ( Tia Isa Wants a Car, rev. 7/11) tells a heartwarming story about intergenerational relationships, finding common ground, and adapting to change. Dominguez's (Maria Had a Little Llama, rev. 11/13) digitally adjusted ink, gouache, and marker illustrations capture the various emotions and moods of the characters, from shyness to frustration to happiness. The subtle tones of the wintry city, complemented by splashes of bright tropical colors throughout, convey the feeling of clashing worlds. Young readers will enjoy seeing the relationship between Mia and her grandmother develop—with the help of Mango. "

(Celia C. Pérez, 2015)

Pérez, C. C. (2015). [Review of the book  Mango, abuela, and me, by C. Pérez]. Horn Book Magazine, 91(5), 85. Retrieved from http://www.hbook.com

Library Use: 
I would like to use this book as a part of a display for Hispanic American Heritage month. I think it is a lovely addition to any collection and can help children learn.

Module 4 - The Giver by Lois Lowry

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Book Summary:

This story centers around a boy named Jonas who is coming of the age where it will be decided what his occupation will be. The Elders control the outcome of everything by censoring and deciding everything from their assignment (job), to who they will marry, and which children they will receive. They even control color. Jonas has been selected to be The Receiver. He is to be trained by the Giver who gives him memories from all of history before the world as they knew it was made. Seeing the world how it was is too much for Jonas, and this life pales in comparison, so he and The Giver plan for Jonas to go elsewhere, so when he leaves the memories will be released to the community and they will be allowed to feel again.

APA Reference of Book:

Lowry, L. (1993). The Giver. New York: NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Impressions: (My impressions usually contain spoilers)

I thought this book was very interesting, I have always been interested in books that feature a Utopian or Dystopian view and the ideas these authors have of the future. Like other novels in this genre, this one has to do with control. The control of color, love, families, assignments (jobs), everything. That is the secret to a peaceful civilization. I thought it was interesting that they were not even allowed to have their own children, or sex for that matter. They had children chosen for them to be in their family. Biological mothers gave birth but would not keep their babies. The story between The Giver and his daughter also struck a chord with me. She wished to be released because of what she knew and did not want to live in this world. I thought the love Jonas had for Gabriel was moving, especially when he went to such measures to save him when he was to be released. The end of the book was left ambiguous and I thought that was a really good, and frustrating, way to end it. I am the type of person who feels I need to know what happens afterwards, and after that, and after that. When something is left up to the reader as The Giver is, it frustrates me because my imagination is good, but I want to know what the author thought. I really enjoyed this book, even though I do not know what the fate of Jonas and Gabriel was in the end. (Edit: I have recently discovered that there is a continuation of this book with three other installments that apparently clear up the ending of The Giver. After my slight vent about the ending, I am unsure if I am totally happy that the answer was given to us by these other books. As much as I like that it is cleared up, I respected the authors decision to leave the ending up to the reader,)

Professional Review:

In a departure from her well-known and favorably regarded realistic works, Lois Lowry has written a fascinating, thoughtful science-fiction novel. The story takes place in a nameless community, at an unidentified future time. The life is utopian: there is no hunger, no disease, no pollution, no fear; old age is tenderly cared for; every child has concerned and attentive parents. Each aspect of life has a prescribed rule: one-year-olds — "Ones" — are Named and given to their chosen family; "Nines" get their first bicycles; Birthmothers give birth to three children and then become Laborers, "family units" get two children, one male, one female. In Jonas's family, his father is a Nurturer, one who cares for the "newchildren" before they go to a family unit; his mother is in the Department of Justice, and he has a younger sister, Lily. But although their life seems perfect, the reader somehow becomes uneasily aware that all is not well. Young Jonas is eagerly waiting his Ceremony of Twelve, the time when all the twelve-year-olds in the community receive their Assignments for their lifelong professions.He can guess that his playful, jolly friend Asher will work in Recreation and that gentle Fiona will be Caretaker of the Old but he is astonished to be selected to be trained to be the new Receiver of Memories, the most respected of the Elders. As he begins his training by the old Receiver, whom he calls the Giver, he discovers that the community is spared all memories of pain and grief, which are lodged in the mind of the Giver, and now transmitted to Jonas. He learns about war, starvation, neglect, misery, and despair. He learns, to his horror, the truth about the happy release given to old people and newchildren who do not thrive. But he learns also about joys that the community never experiences: they do not see color, or hear music, or know love. In a cliffhanger ending which can be construed as allegory or reality, he asserts his new wisdom and knowledge. The story is skillfully written; the air of disquiet is delicately insinuated. And the theme of balancing the values of freedom and security is beautifully presented.

Flowers, A. A. (1993). The Giver [Review of the book The Giver, by L. Lowry]. Horn Book Magazine, 69(4), 458. Retrieved from http://www.hbook.com

Library Use: This would be a good book to discuss with a group of kids in a book club, how they see the future heading and if they believe this society was correct with their limitations.