Module 15

Alexie, S. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. NY: Little, Brown and Company.

Book Summary

Arnold Spirit, called Junior by his family lives on "poor ass Spokane Indian Reservation. Despite having serious health problems, hydrocephalus and seizures, Junior looks around at life on the reservation and decides he wants more. A teacher urges him to go to a white school, and he does. Even though he is despised by his friends and community, he knows he must do it in order to escape the curse of living on a reservation--alcoholism, poverty, second-rate education. When he goes to the white school in a nearby town he meets racism, but he eventually wins the students over with his good nature and determination. It doesn't hurt that he is smart-very smart. He enlists the aid of another bright student to help him fill in the gaps in his education. Junior even makes the varsity basketball team and discovers he is a great athlete. Even through the deaths of his beloved grandmother and older sister, he grieves but refuses to give up. Junior meets life with humor and wit. His cartoons help him express himself  and escape the reality around him.

My Impressions

If I could just once have a student like Arnold Spirit, Junior, I could die satisfied. He is so hungry for knowledge that he is willing to let go of the familiarity and comfort of his rez life and pursue something better. I think Arnold has what many Native Americans don't--a view of the big picture and what it means. He would laugh to think about it, but I believe he wants to show other people on his reservation that there is still hope. Junior is a well-developed character. He is funny; he says, "During one week when I was little, Dad got stopped three times for DWI: Driving While Indian. He really thought about things; "So waht was I doing in racist Reardan, where more than half of every graduating class went to college?....Reardan was the opposite of the rez.It was the opposite of my family. It was the opposite of me." Alexei created a lovable, but realistic character in Arnold Spirit, Junior. I'd like to meet him.

Professional Review

Book Review. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. Publishers Weekly, 254(33), 70-71.

Screenwriter, novelish and poet, Alexie bounds into YA with what might be a Native American equivalent of Angela's Ashes, a coming-of-age story so well observed that is very rootedness in one specific culture is also what lends it universality, and so emotionally honest that the humor almost always proves painful. Presented as the diary of hydrocephalic 14-year-old cartoonist and Spokane Indian, Arnold Spirit, Jr., the novel revolves around Junior's desperate hope of escaping the reservation. As  he says of his drawings, "I think the  world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are little lifeboats." He transfers to a public school 22 miles away in a rich farm  town where the only other Indian is the team mascot. Although his parents support his decision, everyone else on the rez sees him as a traitor, an apple ("red on the outside and white on the inside"), while at school most teachers and students project stereotypes onto him: "I was half Indian in one place and half white in the other." Readers begin to understand Junior's determination as, over the course of the school year, alcoholism and self-destructive behaviors lead to the deaths of  close relatives. Unlike protagonists in many YA novels who reclaim or retain ethnic ties in order to find their true selves, Junior must separate from his tribe in order to preserve his identity. Jazzy syntax and Forney's witty cartoons examining Indian versus White attire and behavior transmute despair into dark humor; Alexie's no-holds-barred jokes have the effect of throwing the seriousness of his themes into high relief.

Library Uses

1. Create a book club for students and discuss this book in depth.

2. Ask students to create cartoons representing their part-time-ness. (part time Irish, part time Italian, part time Laotian, etc...)

Module 14

Scieszka, J. ed. (2011). Guys read thriller. NY: Walden Pond Press.

Book Summary

Jon Scieszka has pulled short-stories by well-known authors and created a perfect reading playground for boys and probably girls. The main characters in the book are all males and this may make girls feel uncomfortable. Some of the stories are downright scary, like "Nate Macavoy, Monster Hunter." Nate has to rescue a friend from the clutches of the pukwudgies. There are benign ghost stories like "The Old Dead Nuisance" and "Thad, the Ghost, and Me." The first one takes place in an old house where a reality television show about paranormal activity is being filmed. A young boy, Paul, is the only one who can really see the ghost and understand the background of the story. The second is supposed to be in a haunted house on Halloween, but the narrator makes a mistake. He intended to scare his cousin, Thad, to prepare him for middle school next year. Instead, he is terrified wdAmont the others, Anthony Hordts him superpowers. be torn down. The boys have to face down a gang and an arch-enemy, but they manage to save the house. Some of them are silly like "The Double Eagle Has Landed," a story about the world's worst (dumbest) detective. Others are serious like "Pirate" by Walter Dean Myers. It is a realistic story about a young Somalian boy who embarks on his first pirating expedition. Boys will find something to please their taste in this book.

My Impressions

I think Scieszka has done every school teacher and librarian a great favor by concentrating on bringing good literature for boys which will actually be read. Short stories have always been one of my favorite genres, because-well- they are short. You can finish a story in one sitting. You don't have to read for 400 pages only to discover the wrong person wins a.nd it just makes you sick. All of the authors are well-known excellent writers in their own right. They include Margaret Peterson Haddix, James Patterson, and Walter Dean Myers. I would like to have the whole series of Guys Read in my library.

Professional Review

Cart, M. (2011). Guys read: thriller. Booklist, 108(2), 66.

Scieszka serves up the second volume in his Guys Read Library, and the spotlight this time is on thrillers. As he did in Guys Read: Funny Business (2010), Scieszka has commissioned new stories from 10 luminaries, such as Margaret Peterson Haddix, Walter Dean Myers, Gennifer Choldenko, and other including Krosoczka, who has contributed a graphic story about a boy whose snack of fried pudding grants him superpowers. Among the others, Anthony Horowitz offers a witty story about a boy whose older brother is the worst detective in the world, and Matt de la Pena supplies a moving tale about a wishing machine. Although six of the stories find their thrills in the real world, three are ghost stories. There are more frissons than thrills her, yet boys will surely find these stories to be compelling reads, and that's the point, isn't it?

Library Uses

1. Challenge students to read the novels written by these authors and report on them.

2. Take time to collect and put in one place books with a special appeal to boys (not just sports books).

Module 13

Hale, S. (2008). Rapunzel's revenge. NY: Bloomsbury.

Book Summary

Rapunzel's Revenge is a graphic book which encompasses more than just he Rapunzel fairy tale. The setting is in the old west. Rapunzel is held in Mother Gothel's castle unable to enjoy all there is to see. Mother Gothel has a secret for growing things, but she has withheld it from farmers and stolen all their land. After seeing the devastation outside the castle and the Gothel's enslaved miners, Rapunzel meets her real mother. She demands that her mother be set free, but instead Mother Gothel puts her in a tree so high that no one can get in or out. After years, Rapunzel refuses to go back to the way things used to be, so Gothel makes the tree start closing up around her. Luckily, Rapunzel's hair is so long she is able to lasso branches and swing from them. When she gets out she also meets a young man, rides a wild boar, fights a sea monster, and out does stealing varmints. She eventually returns to Gothel's and wreaks her revenge. She discovers Gothel's secret for growing and gives it to the farmers. While this is not a traditional fairytale, there is a happy ending for Rapunzel, her love, and her mother.

My Impressions

Like most graphic novels,  this one is driven by the pictures as much as it is the text. The duo of Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, and the illustrations by Nathan Hale make this a fun, twisted fairy tale. On the old Rocky and Bullwinkle show, there was a segment called "fractured fairy tales." This one is definitely fractured. Using the old west as the setting allows Rapunzel to use her hair like a lasso and whip. She is not a damsel in distress at all. I appreciate seeing another strong woman who takes her fate in her own hands.

Professional Review

Coats, Karen. (2008). Rapunzel's revenge. Bulletin of the center for children's books, 62(1), 18.

In this oversized full-color graphic novel, Mother Gothel is using her growth magic to build an empire by  limiting the areas where crops will grow, exacting excessive taxes, and consigning peasants to back-breaking labor in her mines. Her adopted daughter is oblivious to her mother's cruelty until the day when she finally climbs the wall that surrounds her home and sees the wasteland that exists beyond and meets her real mother. Outraged at her disobedience, Mother Gothel locks her up in a special tree she has grown for the purpose. After five years, Rapunzel uses her growth-accelerated red hair to escape, and, determined to rescue her real mother, she eventually teams up with a colorful, harmless thief. Adventure after adventure reveals to her the extent of Mother Gothel's cruel reach, and she decides she must set her to rights as well. Using her whippy, ropelike braids and a few athletic fighting tricks, she has picked up along the way, she battles sea monsters, wild coyotes, bandits, and henchmen on her way to her righteous revenge. Shannon Hale's comic wit and romantic sensibilities translate well to this format, which blends fairy tale revision, journey quest, Wild West shoot-'em-up, and action adventure into one wild ride. The easy to follow panel arrangements with their multicultural cast of characters guide even reluctant graphic novel readers seamlessly through the fast-paced narrative. Readers with a high degree of empathy will appreciate the attention given to the small details of the way she manages her hair so as to never pull it straight from her head when she's using it to wrangle outlaws and varmints. The surprising character revelation at the end provides a perfect climactic pivot and slides elegantly into the light-hearted comedic structure of a romantic happily ever after for Rapunzel, her mother, and her man.

Library Uses

1. Have students search for more fractured fairy tales. If they can't find any, have them write one of their own. 

2. Help students create a trailer for Rapunzel's Revenge.

Module 12

Krull, K. (2005). The boy on Fairfield Street: how Ted Geisel grew up to become Dr. Seuss. NY: Random House.

Book Summary

Ted Geisel was not born being Dr. Seuss. He developed his interesting perspectives even as a child. He read voraciously and was just as voraciously interested in people. When he was in school, he doodled instead of paying attention. His mother and father were disappointed because his sister was such a good student. In the atmosphere of World War I, people in his town looked suspiciously on his family because they spoke German and their father owned a brewery. When he was seventeen, an English teacher (hurray! I am an English teacher) encouraged his to apply to Dartmouth and he was accepted. At Dartmouth, Ted came into his own as a wit and a writer. It is during this time Geisel began using the name "Seuss", his mother's maiden name. Ted spent time at Oxford and began experimenting with drawing fantastical animals and other creatures. His parents did not think he would ever amount to anything until his pictures were published in various magazines and newspapers. Geisel finally moved out on his own, away from Fairfield Street to Greenwich Village in New York City. And the rest is history.

My Impressions

At first glance, it would seem that Ted Geisel led an ideal life on Fairfield Street, but nothing is ideal if you don't think you fit in. In addition to his speaking German, Geisel realized at an early age that he looked at things differently than most people. He continuously suffered comparisons with his studious sister. There is no way he could escape knowing how disappointed his parents were in him. But like other gifted individuals, he found his voice as an artist and then as a writer. He didn't fit the mold on Fairfield Street, and he still doesn't. Much to the world's delight, he left Fairfield Street and gave us characters such as Cat in the Hat, Sneetches, Horton, and Barnaby Muggins, etc...He is a hero because he has drawn so many children into reading.

Professional Review

Manczuk, S. (2004) The boy on Fairfield Street: how Ted Geisel grew up to become Dr. Seuss. Library Media Connection, 23(2), 73.

Kathleen Krull presents a touching view of the life of Ted Geisel from early childhood visiting the zoo to his young adult years at Dartmouth College, as well as the poignant events that shaped his life. Geisel's unique view of the world while growing up in Springfield, Massachusetts marked him by many members of the community as a dreamer, but his imagination and supportive German-immigrant parents enabled him to create fanciful creatures that reflected positive and negative human behaviors. Although most teachers and peers considered him a mediocre student, he proved to his detractors that he could be a successful author and illustrator, which encouraged children to read. The book is liberally peppered with illustrations of the whimsical characters found in many of his children's books, as well as beautifully soft images portraying Geisel's personal life. At the book's conclusion, and addenda includes a biographic sketch providing additional information for older readers who want more detail about Seuss' life. A list of  books by Dr. Seuss is provided as well as a brief bibliography and six pertinent Web sites featuring this beloved author. This book would be a wonderful addition to a library celebrating the "Seussentennial" and beyond.

Library Uses

1. Use the book when celebrating Seuss' birthday in March.

2. Take pictures of students with their favorite Seuss books and display them in the library.

Module 11

Davis, J. & Grubman, S. (2010). Orangutans are ticklish. NY: Random House.

duBook Summary

Steve Grubman is a famous wildlife photographer who gathered adorable pictures of animals for this book. With each photograph, Davis includes one special fact about the animal, such as "Orangutans are ticklish." You can also learn that when a hippo yawns, it doesn't mean he is sleepy; it means he is angry and read to attack. It is a great book for young children who will enjoy the pictures and giggle about the facts. All of the photos are in bright colors that also will attract the eye if a pre-schooler.

Professional Review

Peters, J. (2010). Orangutans are ticklish: fun facts from an animal photographer. Booklist, 106(22), 50.

"Kangaroos can't hop backward, but they can hop forwards as fast as 30 miles per hour!" The artfully selected facts and observations in this handsomely produced photo gallery are practically guaranteed to rivet budding naturalists, and Grubman's 13 sharply detailed studio portraits of large wild animals against plain, pale backgrounds put on a show that's every bit as engaging as the accompanying commentary. Grubman brings the challenges of animal photography to the fore by leading off with a nontechnical description of how the indoor shots were set up and by adding amusing comments on every spread about each photo session. A section of additional pictures and facts caps this broadly appealing introduction to a photographer and his sometimes unpredictable subjects.

Library Uses

1. Students may take pictures of animals, post them in the library and add a funny fact about them.

2. Collaborating with a science teacher, a librarian can lead students on a research project about wild animals.

Module 10

Ryan, P. (1999). Amelia and Eleanor go for a ride. NY: Scholastic.

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Book Summary

In 1933, Amelia Earhart, already known for her skill as a pilot, is a guest of Eleanor Roosevelt at the White House. That evening, Amelia offers to take the First Lady for a ride in her airplane. Eleanor is dazzled by the views of Washington, D.C. The next day, Eleaonor returns the favor by taking Amelia on a drive in her new car.

My Impressions

First of all, seeing these two accomplished women together is amazing. Brian Selznick does a wonderful job of illustration and captures the liveliness of the two characters. According to my sources, the ride actually did occur. One of the sources suggested that the two of them nieces of Teddy Roosevelt.

Professional Review

Engelfried, S. (1999). Amelia and Eleanor go  for a ride. School Library Journal, 45(9), 202.

Gr 1-4--Ryan imaginatively expands on a true historical event in this intriguing picture book. While dining at the White House in 1933, Amelia Earhart convinces Eleanor Roosevelt to join her on a night flight to Baltimore. The two women marvel at the sights and the excitement from the air. After landing, they sneak away for one more adventure, as this time, the First lady treats her friend to a fast ride in her new car. The fictionalized tale is lively and compelling, and the courage and sense of adventure that these individuals shared will be evident even to children who know nothing about their lives. Without belaboring the message, the author clearly conveys how the "feeling of independence" that both women treasured was a crucial part off their personalities. Selznicks larger-than-lie pencil drawings add considerable to the spirit to the tale. He captures the glorious beauty of the night flight and the beauty of the city below. Varied perspectives ad background details consistently draw readers' eyes. An author's note clearly defines which elements of the story are factual. The women were actually accompanied by two male pilots, but the author decided that it made it "much more exciting" to imagine that they were alone. "Almost all" of the dialogue comes from historical accounts. The title stands well on its own, but will also work as an excellent inspiration for further reading about the lives of Eleanor Roosevelt and Amelia Earhart.

Library Uses

1. In collaboration with a language arts or social studies teacher, use this as a jumping off point for researching famous women and their exploits.

Module 9

Adler, D. (2007). Cam Janson and the summer camp mysteries. NY: Penguin Group.

Book Summary

Cam Jansen is a young girl with a photographic memory (that is why she is called "Cam" for camera). All she has to do is "click," and she can recall even the smallest detail of something she has seen. When Cam is at Camp Eagle Lake for three weeks, the young girl find three mysteries to solve. On the first day of camp, the campers' snack money is stolen. With her photographic memory, Cam is able to give the police what they need to find the man. Of course, the man is nabbed, and everyone gets their snack money back. The next mystery is who raided the girls' cabin and messed it up. The girls know they are supposed to keep their cabin neat and are very upset. Using her deductive and photographic memory skills, Cam identifies the culprit as Fran, their camp counselor. Fran explains that she just wanted everyone to get excited and build team spirit. The third mystery at camp concerns missing sports equipment. The shed where it was kept was locked according to the athletic director. With the help of her friends and using deductive reasoning, Cam finds the sports equipment in a freezer locker in the kitchen. A worker for the kitchen had stolen them. Cam looks forward to returning to Camp Eagle Lake again.

My Impressions 

To me the mysteries were easy to solve, but to a new chapter book reader, they will be just right. Young readers will enjoy the book because it is part of a series, and they can get to know Cam and her friends well. I think it is significant that a girl is the main character, and a boy, willingly, her second banana. I think it will help girls to understand that they can be smart and still be fun to be around. I am wondering if these have ever been turned into videos. It sounds like something the Disney Channel might do. 

Professional Review

Rosenfeld, S. (2007). Cam Jansen: the summer camp mysteries. Booklist, 103(18), 45-47.

This entry in a popular beginning-chapter-book series finds 10-year-old Cam Jansen and best friend Eric attending Camp Eagle Lake, where Cam finds fun, friends--and tree unexpected mysteries. In the fist, the campers' snack money disappears; next, Cam and her bunk mates try to find out who wreaked havoc in their cabin; the third concerns stolen sports equipment. Cam's photographic memory is instrumental in solving each mystery, and throughout, the lively story features humor, familiar camp activities, and diverse youth and adult characters. The mysteries are chronological but distinct, in separate sections with short chapters and black-and-white illustrations. First-time campers will appreciate the camaraderie that develops through the sleep-away session; new and returning readers will enjoy following Cam's recall process--accompanied by her characteristic verbal "click."

Library Uses 

1. Organize a mystery and make all of the students sleuths.  Hide someone's lunch money, a watch and a favorite book. If you like, some of the students can play the part of the thief.

2. Create a memory game. Place groups of objects on a tray. Students should try to remember what is on the tray. Remove one item and see if the children can identify what is missing.