the graveyard book written by neil gaiman and illustrated by dave mckean

Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book, Illustrated by Dave McKean. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2010. ISBN: 9780060530945

Plot Summary:

     Bod Owens is a boy whose parents got murdered when he was a baby. During the murders, Bod managed to crawl out of his crib into the safety of a graveyard where he was protected and adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Owens; a ghost couple. The Owens' take in Bod as their own and with the assistance Bod's guardian. As Bod continues to grow, he befriends a mortal girl named Scarlett Perkins. Together Scarlet and Bod explore the graveyard embarking on a journey to locate the graveyard's oldest occupant. 

Critical Analysis:

     The Graveyard Book is a Newbery Medal winning high fantasy work of fiction attributed by its incorporation of dark and supernatural forces while retaining literary qualities. The author, Neil Gaiman, introduces the protagonist, Nobody Owens, as he provides readers with the story how Bod's family was murdered and he escaped to safety where two ghosts adopted and raised him. Not only does Gaiman easily depict the protagonist, but he vividly describes the roles that each character plays in Bod's life and the plot of the story. The plot is introduced in the beginning of the novel as the description of how Bod grew up in a graveyard, thus providing the main setting for this novel, the graveyard. The growing themes of community, death, and good versus evil are depicted as the graveyard community raise a small mortal child together. Throughout the story, the author continually incorporates elements that encompass a high fantasy novel that appeal towards young adults. 

Awards Won:

John Newbery Medal (2009), Hugo Award for Best Novel (2009 & 2002), Carnegie Medal (2010), Locus Award for Best Young-Adult Book (2009), Cybils Awards for Fantasy & Science Fiction (2008), SFX Award for Best Novel (2010)

Review Excerpts:

"This is an utterly captivating tale that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of ghostly characters. There is plenty of darkness, but the novel’s ultimate message is strong and life affirming….this is a rich story with broad appeal." - Booklist

"A lavish middle-grade novel, Gaiman's first since Coraline, this gothic fantasy almost lives up to its extravagant advance billing. The opening is enthralling: "There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife." Evading the murderer who kills the rest of his family, a child roughly 18 months old climbs out of his crib, bumps his bottom down a steep stairway, walks out the open door and crosses the street into the cemetery opposite, where ghosts take him in. What mystery/horror/suspense reader could stop here, especially with Gaiman's talent for storytelling? The author riffs on the Jungle Book, folklore, nursery rhymes and history; he tosses in werewolves and hints at vampires-and he makes these figures seem like metaphors for transitions in childhood and youth. As the boy, called Nobody or Bod, grows up, the killer still stalking him, there are slack moments and some repetition-not enough to spoil a reader's pleasure, but noticeable all the same. When the chilling moments do come, they are as genuinely frightening as only Gaiman can make them, and redeem any shortcomings." - Publishers Weekly

"Gaiman, famous for his creepy and often scary tales, Coraline and The Wolves in the Wall, has created in his new novel something that is neither creepy nor scary, despite its chilling first chapter and spectral cast of characters. This is a story about the power of family—whatever form it takes—and the potential of a child who is raised with love and a sense of duty. Nobody Owens (Bod) is adopted by a couple of ghosts after narrowly escaping death at the hands of the mysterious man who murdered the rest of his family. After much debate, he is granted the "Freedom of the Graveyard" by its long dead inhabitants. His guardian, Silas, who is neither dead nor alive, brings him food and ensures he is educated in the ways of the dead and the living. Of course, life for young Owens is not all smooth sailing. Bod must face the ghoul gate, the ancient force that waits in the oldest grave, and the mysterious man who still searches for the boy he failed to kill. The story of an orphaned boy being hunted down by a secret society and protected by magic sounds familiar, but while the story of Harry Potter resonates here, the sympathetic, flawed, and ultimately very human character of Bod saves this from being merely a reshaping of Rowling's epic tale. In fact, Gaiman's title is an homage to Kipling's The Jungle Book. I cannot help thinking, however, that this novel should be the first in a series. There are too many questions unanswered. While I never really believed that Bod was ever in any real danger in the graveyard, a boy who sets off in to the world of the living with his "eyes and heart wide open" can only be headed for uncertainty." - Children's Literature

"Wistful, witty, wise-and creepy. Gaiman's riff on Kipling's Mowgli stories never falters, from the truly spine-tingling opening, in which a toddler accidentally escapes his family's murderer, to the melancholy, life-affirming ending. Bod (short for Nobody) finds solace and safety with the inhabitants of the local graveyard, who grant him some of the privileges and powers of the dead-he can Fade and Dreamwalk, for instance, but still needs to eat and breathe. Episodic chapters tell miniature gems of stories (one has been nominated for a Locus Award) tracing Bod's growth from a spoiled boy who runs away with the ghouls to a young man for whom the metaphor of setting out into the world becomes achingly real. Childhood fears take solid shape in the nursery-rhyme-inspired villains, while heroism is its own, often bitter, reward. Closer in tone to American Gods than to Coraline, but permeated with Bod's innocence, this needs to be read by anyone who is or has ever been a child." - Kirkus Reviews 

 "Somewhere in contemporary Britain, "the man Jack" uses his razor-sharp knife to murder a family, but the youngest, a toddler, slips away. The boy ends up in a graveyard, where the ghostly inhabitants adopt him to keep him safe. Nobody Owens, so named because he "looks like nobody but himself," grows up among a multigenerational cast of characters from different historical periods that includes matronly Mistress Owens; ancient Roman Caius Pompeius; an opinionated young witch; a melodramatic hack poet; and Bod's beloved mentor and guardian, Silas, who is neither living nor dead and has secrets of his own. As he grows up, Bod has a series of adventures, both in and out of the graveyard, and the threat of the man Jack who continues to hunt for him is ever present. Bod's love for his graveyard family and vice versa provide the emotional center, amid suspense, spot-on humor, and delightful scene-setting. The child Bod's behavior is occasionally too precocious to be believed, and a series of puns on the name Jack render the villain a bit less frightening than he should be, though only momentarily. Aside from these small flaws, however, Gaiman has created a rich, surprising, and sometimes disturbing tale of dreams, ghouls, murderers, trickery, and family." - School Library Journal 

Connections:

Customers who purchased this title also bought the following novels: Dead End in Norvelt, A Wrinkle in Time, and The Cross of Lead. 

Interactivity:

• Introduce this title during Halloween.
• Ask what are some of the benefits of being raised by ghosts.
• Have children draw what a house in a graveyard would look like.

the book thief written by markus zusak

Zusak, Markus. The Book Thief. New York: Random House Children's Books, 2007. ISBN: 9780375842207

Plot Summary:

     Liesel Meminger is a 10 year old young girl who lives in Nazi Germany during Adolph Hitler's reign. Liesel travels by train to a small town outside of Munich, Germany. During this voyage, Liesel's little brother dies. Despite Liesel's inability to read, she steals her first book from the grave digger's coat while in attendance of her brother's funeral. From this point, Liesel embarks on a journey and an arising anger towards Adolf Hitler due to the celebration of his birthday through the acts of organized book burnings.  

Critical Analysis:

      The Book Thief is a young adult award winning novel that incorporates elements of historical fiction while grasping the interest of young adult readers. The author, Markus Zusak, introduces the story line by the narrator, Death. Not only is Death directly symbolic, but Death conveys the emotions of remorse for having to collect souls throughout the era that of which this novel takes place. Through the usage of the author's vivid descriptions, readers have a clear sense that this novel takes place during Nazi Germany. From the inclusion of mentions of Adolf Hilter's reigning to the mention of concentration camps, the Zusak accurately depicts the times and era of this period leading to the plot of the protagonists' book thievery. 

     Liesel Miminger is the introduced protagonist of this story who is a ten year old girl who steals books, despite her inability to read. Again, the author vividly describes how an organized celebration for Adolf Hilter's birthday is celebrated by the burning of literature. Liesel finds the burning of books impractical and a growing anger for Adolf Hitler originates. Through the author's words, young adults are transported into another time period where they can learn about the harsh and inhumane times of Nazi Germany while finding similarities through the protagonist, Liesel. 

Awards Won:

Book Sense Book of the Year Award for Children's Literature (2007), National Jewish Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature (2006)

Review Excerpts:

"Corduner uses considerable zeal and a talent for accents to navigate Zusak's compelling, challenging novel set in Nazi Germany. Death serves as knowing narrator for the tale, which is framed much like a lengthy flashback. The storytelling aspects of this structure include asides to the listener, and lots of foreshadowing about what eventually happens to the various lead characters-appealing features for listeners. But Corduner seems to most enjoy embracing the heart of things here-the rather small and ordinary saga of 10-year-old Liesel Meminger, who has been given over to a foster family following her mother's branding as a "Kommunist" and the death of her younger brother. Under her foster parents' care, she learns how to read, how to keep terrifying secrets and how to hone her skills as a book thief, a practice that keeps her sane and feeds her newfound love of words. With quick vocal strokes, Corduner paints vivid, provocative portraits of Germans and Jews under unfathomable duress and the ripple effect such circumstances have on their lives." - Publishers Weekly

"With Death as narrator, Markus Zusak's haunting novel (Knopf, 2003) follows Liesel Meminger, The Book Thief, through the fear-filled years of Nazi Germany. The story opens as the ten-year-old girl takes her first book shortly after her younger brother's death. Both children were en route to the foster home of Hans and Rosa Hubermann in a Munich suburb. Despite Rosa's sharp tongue and Hans's lack of work, their home is a loving refuge for the nightmare-ridden girl. It also becomes a hideout for Max, a young Jewish man whose father saved Hans's life. Liesel finds solace with her neighbor Rudy and her creative partnership with Max. Accompanied by Rudy, the girl copes by stealing food from farmers and books from the mayor's wife. There are also good moments as she learns to read and plays soccer, but Hans's ill-advised act of kindness to a Jewish prisoner forces Max to leave their safe house. The failing war effort and bombing by the Allies lead to more sacrifices, a local suicide and, eventually, to great losses. Reading books and writing down her experiences save Liesel, but this novel clearly depicts the devastating effects of war. Narrator Allan Corduner defines each character with perfect timing. He's deliberate as the voice of Death, softly strong as Liesel, and impatient, but not unkind, as Rosa. With richly evocative imagery and compelling characters, Zusak explores behind-the-lines life in World War II Germany, showing the day-to-day heroism of ordinary people. Relevant for class discussions on wars both past and present." - School Library Journal

"When Death tells a story, you pay attention. Liesel Meminger is a young girl growing up outside of Munich in Nazi Germany, and Death tells her story as "an attempt-a flying jump of an attempt-to prove to me that you, and your human existence, are worth it." When her foster father helps her learn to read and she discovers the power of words, Liesel begins stealing books from Nazi book burnings and the mayor's wife's library. As she becomes a better reader, she becomes a writer, writing a book about her life in such a miserable time. Liesel's experiences move Death to say, "I am haunted by humans." How could the human race be "so ugly and so glorious" at the same time? This big, expansive novel is a leisurely working out of fate, of seemingly chance encounters and events that ultimately touch, like dominoes as they collide. The writing is elegant, philosophical and moving. Even at its length, it's a work to read slowly and savor. Beautiful and important." - Kirkus Reviews 

"Brilliant and hugely ambitious…Some will argue that a book so difficult and sad may not be appropriate for teenage readers…Adults will probably like it (this one did), but it’s a great young-adult novel…It’s the kind of book that can be life-changing, because without ever denying the essential amorality and randomness of the natural order, The Book Thief offers us a believable hard-won hope…The hope we see in Liesel is unassailable, the kind you can hang on to in the midst of poverty and war and violence. Young readers need such alternatives to ideological rigidity, and such explorations of how stories matter. And so, come to think of it, do adults.” - The New York Times

Connections:

Customers who bought this book also bought The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, and If I Stay. 

*The motion picture, The Book Thief, directed by Brian Percival opened in theaters on November 27, 2013. 

Interactivity:

• Ask children how important books are in the world and what do they think would happen if there were not any more books.
• Give children a small history lesson pertaining to Nazi Germany in 1939.
• After the reading of this title is complete, have a movie day and discussion and watch the movie.

rapunzel's revenge written by shannon and dean hale and illustrated by nathan hale

Hale, Dale and Shannon. Rapunzel's Revenge, Illustrated by Nathan Hale. Great Britain: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2008. ISBN: 9781599902883

Plot Summary:

      Everyone knows the story of the long haired tale of Rapunzel, but what about the story of her revenge? Rapunzel lives in a huge villa with her mother, Gothel. However, this villa is surrounded by a huge stone wall that is located in the garden. Rapunzel's curiosity manages to get the best of her and she seeks to know what it is that's beyond that wall despite being told to never go outside of the walls. Rapunzel finds a way to climb to the top of the wall and finally is able to see beyond the villa, but she is caught by the villa guards and taken to her mother to explain her actions. Despite her explanations, her mother takes her far away from the villa and holds her prisoner in a tree for years before she escapes. After her escape, she proceeds in an action packed adventure to seek revenge on her mother, Gothel. What was it that Rapunzel saw over the villa wall that she journeys into battling a huge boar, a sea monster, coyotes, and kidnappers?

Critical Analysis:

     Rapunzel's Revenge is a graphic novel characterized by its comic layout while maintaining the elements of characters, plot, setting, theme, and style as a novel would. In this graphic novel, the most obvious protagonist is revealed as Rapunzel. The author sets the plot and theme around her character and story. Rapunzel can be described as a girl who displays integrity, charisma, and bravery throughout her journey for revenge. Through this journey, the author also introduces another protagonist, Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk. Jack is introduced as he enters a saloon in disguise to steal his golden goose back. From here, the two become uncanny partners through Rapunzel's journey of revenge. 

     Shannon and Dean Hale retain the story-line of Rapunzel with their inclusion of fairy tale like elements, as well as incorporating and alluding to other fairy tales such as Jack and the Beanstalk. By doing this, the authors continue the ongoing fairy tale theme of good versus evil and a happily ever after as Rapunzel and Jack seek revenge for the people who have been wronged by her evil adoptive mother. Together, this duo fight evil and "fall in love and such."

     Shannon and Dean Hale collaborate with illustrator Nathan Hale who provides readers with vibrant depictions that bring the story line to life. This collaboration strengthens the setting of the Old West by Nathan Hale's illustrations that portray characters in old western attire, covered wagons, cowboys and Indians, and saloons. Without these illustrations, it would be difficult for readers to determine the setting of this graphic novel. Not only does the collaboration between Shannon, Dean, and Nathan Hale bring life to this novel, but by their usage of a comic layout they have easily captivated the attention of the young adult audience. 

Awards Won:

John Newbery Medal (2006), Cybils Awards for Fantasy & Science Fiction (2007), ALA Notable Books for Children (2009)

Review Excerpts:

"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 mom 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." - Publishers Weekly

"This version of the classic fairy tale Rapunzel is set in the old Southwest, complete with cowboys, coal mines, and coyotes. Rapunzel is a young girl living in a fortress with Mother Gothel, an enchantress who can make plants grow at her whim. Although their home is overflowing with fruits and flowers, it is surrounded by a wall that masks the desert and coal mines outside-Gothel owns everything, and the native people depend on her good will to keep their crops growing. When Rapunzel sneaks over the wall on her twelfth birthday, she sees the desolate world over which Mother Gothel rules, and she meets her real mother who was forced to give Rapunzel to Gothel at birth. To punish her curiosity, Gothel imprisons Rapunzel inside an enchanted tree that has only one window, far above the ground. Just as in the original version, Rapunzel's hair grows prodigiously. But this girl does not need a prince to climb up and rescue her. She uses her braid as a lasso to escape the tree and goes on many adventures that lead her ultimately to reunite with her mother and find true love in a boy named Jack, whose companion is an uncooperative goose. The Hale team creates an engaging heroine. Rapunzel gallivants across the unexpected setting, meets a cast of characters both humorous and threatening, and in the end comes to inherit the land that Gothel had stripped of life and returns it to the native people. This novel presents entertaining girl power at its quirkiest." - VOYA

"This is the tale as you've never seen it before. After using her hair to free herself from her prison tower, this Rapunzel ignores the pompous prince and teams up with Jack (of Beanstalk fame) in an attempt to free her birth mother and an entire kingdom from the evil witch who once moonlighted as her "mother." Dogged by both the witch's henchman and Jack's outlaw past, the heroes travel across the map as they right wrongs, help the oppressed, and generally try to stay alive. Rapunzel is no damsel in distress-she wields her long braids as both rope and weapon-but she happily accepts Jack's teamwork and friendship. While the witch's castle is straight out of a fairy tale, the nearby mining camps and rugged surrounding countryside are a throwback to the Wild West and make sense in the world that the authors and illustrator have crafted. The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive. Knowing that there are more graphic novels to come from this writing team brings readers their own happily-ever-after." - School Library Journal

"A beloved fairy tale gets a glossy graphic-novel makeover, reworked in a fanciful Old West setting. Rapunzel lives an idyllic life in Mother Gothel's verdant villa until she dares question her about what lies beyond the outer wall. Her curiosity leads her to uncover the shocking truth about her past, resulting in her subsequent isolation in a faraway tower. Propelled by her strong desire to see Gothel brought to justice for her misdeeds, she escapes and embarks upon a journey to seek the truth. Along the way, she meets up with Jack (of beanstalk fame) and faces enemies of epic proportions, including sea serpents and a pack of murderous coyotes. The Hales apply a new twist (or three) to the classic tale, creating a strong, sassy, braid-whipping character who waits for no prince. Nathan Hale's art, stylistically reminiscent of a picture book, provides a snazzy counterpoint to the folksy text. A dash of typical fairy-tale romance, a strong sense of social justice and a spunky heroine make this a standout choice for younger teens." - Kirkus Reviews

Connections:

Customers who purchased this novel also bought the following titles: Calamity Jack, The Stonekeeper, and Dragon Slippers. 

Interactivity:

• Ask children what they think the novel is about just from the title. Were they correct?
• Measure each child's hair length to see who would be most fit to be the character of Rapunzel.
• Have children bring in flowers and create their own garden.

one crazy summer written by rita williams-garcia

Williams-Garcia, Rita. One Crazy Summer. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2011. ISBN: 9780060760908

Plot Summary:

     Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern are three sisters who travel across the country from New York to California for Summer vacation and to spend time with their estranged mother. The year is 1968,and despite the three sisters' expectations of going to California to enjoy their summer at Disneyland, they are thrown into a summer camp ran by the Black Panther Party. The girls are surrounded by a radical environment where they become educated about their family, history, and the fight for current civil rights. 

Critical Analysis:

     One Crazy Summer is a historical work of fiction that captivates readers through the detailed depictions of how life was for African-Americans during the 1960's. The novel begins with the introductions of the main characters, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern. The author, Rita Williams-Garcia, describes the girls as three sisters who travel from New York to Oakland, California to visit their estranged mother during the summer of the mid 1960's. Garcia describes every aspect of the characters, setting, plot, and theme through the narration of the oldest sister, Delphine. 

     The setting takes place in Oakland, California during the midst of the transformation of the West due to the migration of Black Americans from the South during WWII. Garcia alludes to many identifying characteristics attributed to the Black Panther Party and their movement from the description of the People's Center to the description of the fliers and the clothing of this era. Along with descriptions of the era rises the thickening plot of the sisters trying to get to know their estranged mother. Through their continuing efforts, the sisters come to understand the reasoning for their mother's abandonment revealing the underlying theme of the fight for civil rights, the understanding of a name, and the value of family. 

Awards Won:

John Newberry Medal (2011), Coretta Scott King Award for Authors (2011), Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction (2011), National Book Award Finalist (2010)

Review Excerpts:

"Regimented, responsible, strong-willed Delphine narrates in an unforgettable voice, but each of the sisters emerges as a distinct, memorable character, whose hard-won, tenuous connections with their mother build to an aching, triumphant conclusion." -Booklist

"The setting and time period are as vividly realized as the characters, and readers will want to know more about Delphine and her sisters after they return to Brooklyn..." -Horn Book

"Williams-Garcia (Jumped) evokes the close-knit bond between three sisters, and the fervor and tumultuousness of the late 1960s, in this period novel featuring an outspoken 11-year-old from Brooklyn, N.Y. Through lively first-person narrative,readers meet Delphine, whose father sends her and her two younger sisters to Oakland, Calif., to visit their estranged mother, Cecile. When Cecile picks them up at the airport, she is as unconventional as Delphine remembers (“There was something uncommon about Cecile. Eyes glommed onto her. Tall, dark brown woman in man's pants whose face was half hidden by a scarf, hat, and big dark shades. She was like a colored movie star”). Instead of taking her children to Disneyland as they had hoped, Cecile shoos them off to the neighborhood People's Center, run by members of the Black Panthers. Delphine doesn't buy into all of the group's ideas, but she does come to understand her mother a little better over the summer. Delphine's growing awareness of injustice on a personal and universal level is smoothly woven into the story in poetic language that will stimulate and move readers." - Publishers Weekly 

 "A flight from New York to Oakland, Calif., to spend the summer of 1968 with the mother who abandoned Delphine and her two sisters was the easy part. Once there, the negative things their grandmother had said about their mother, Cecile, seem true: She is uninterested in her daughters and secretive about her work and the mysterious men in black berets who visit. The sisters are sent off to a Black Panther day camp, where Delphine finds herself skeptical of the worldview of the militants while making the best of their situation. Delphine is the pitch-perfect older sister, wise beyond her years, an expert at handling her siblings: "Just like I know how to lift my sisters up, I also knew how to needle them just right." Each girl has a distinct response to her motherless state, and Williams-Garcia provides details that make each characterization crystal clear. The depiction of the time is well done, and while the girls are caught up in the difficulties of adults, their resilience is celebrated and energetically told with writing that snaps off the page." - Kirkus Reviews

"The tumultuous summer of 1968 is the setting for this splendid story (Amistad, 2010) by Rita Williams-Garcia. Delphine, almost 12, along with her sisters Vonetta and Fern, fly across the country to visit their mother, Cecile, who long ago abandoned the family to pursue her poetry. The girls ache for hugs and kisses but desperately try not to hope too much. Good thing. When they arrive at her green stucco house in poor, mostly-black Oakland, California, their mother constantly mutters "didn't want you to come." Cecile fobs the sisters off on the local Black Panther community center, and the girls spend their summer days eating cold eggs and learning that the Black Panthers are more about serving their community and protecting the rights of black citizens than shoot-outs with the police. While U.S. politics roil and boil in the background, Delphine seethes over her crazy mother. Their final confrontation is both poignant and satisfying as we come to understand Cecile. Sisi Aisha Johnson infuses each character with a distinct personality and the tone is upbeat and even humorous. She perfectly captures each character's voice, and her delivery is silky smooth and perfectly paced. Seeing the historic summer of '68 through the eyes of sensitive, intuitive Delphine is a treat. Featuring flawless writing and narration, this is storytelling at its finest. Sure to garner numerous awards." - School Library Journal

Connections:

Customers who bought this title also purchased the following books: P.S. Be Eleven, Turtle in Paradise, and Rebels of the Kasbah.

Interactivity:

• Ask children what they do during the Summer when school is out.
• Begin a conversation stemming from inquiring what civil right arguments are currently in the news.
• Ask children what they know about the Black Panther Party.

lily's crossing written by patricia reilly giff

Reilly Giff, Patricia. Lily's Crossing. New York: Random House Children's Books, 1999. ISBN: 9780440414537

Plot Summary:

     Lily Mollahan is a ten-year girl living in St. Albans, Queens in the midst of WWII. Lily looks forward to summer vacation until she is faced with the unexpected circumstances of her best friend moving and her father being deployed overseas. Lily's summer seems to take a turn for the better through her uncanny coping mechanism of her father's absence and through a shared compassion for a drowning kitten arises a friendship between Lily and a Hungarian refugee. Lily is faced with a summer full of understanding of not only how she is affected by the war, but also how it has affected other people.

Critical Analysis:

     The story of Lily Mollahan is told through the point of view of a narrator, but includes detailing descriptions of characters, plot, and theme that takes readers away to the setting of 1944. Through the many allusions to Germany, Nazis, France, and Hungary, the author has painted a vivid setting of the life that Lily Mollahan lives during the summer of 1944.  The author, Patricia Giff, describes in great detail of the struggles that Lily overcomes from the moving of her best friend. Through these struggles, Lily encounters an unlikely friendship with the other protagonist of this story, Albert Orban. Giff describes Albert Orban as a Hungarian refugee who's in search of his sister whom he was separated from during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. 

     Not only does the narrator build the storyline of Albert's search for his sister, but the narrator also shares insight on Lily's continuation of lies. With further examination, Lily's lies can be attributed to the need to mask and cope with her best friend moving away, as well as her father being deployed overseas to fight in WWII. The details included through narration, enhance the growing plot of this work of historical fiction by identifying the underlying themes that correlate with the effects of WWII. 

Awards Won:

John Newbery Medal (1998)

Review Excerpts:

"Details...are woven with great effect into a realistic story." - The Horn Book Magazine

"Exceptional characterizations and a robust story line...this has all the ingredients that best reward readers." - Publishers Weekly

"With wry comedy and intense feeling...Giff gets across a strong sense of what it was like on the home front during World War II...The friendship story is beautifully drawn." - Booklist

" In 1944, Lily's eagerly awaited summer vacation becomes a time of anxiety when her widower father, Poppy, announces that he's off to Europe with the US Army Corps of Engineers. Lily's lonely in Rockaway with both her father and her summer friend, Margaret, gone, until she meets an orphan from Budapest living temporarily with her grandmother's neighbor. At first she responds coldly to Albert, but is soon drawn to him by his awkward dignity and his tragic tale of dead parents and ill sister, Ruth, left behind in France. As they care for an abandoned kitten together and wistfully watch ships passing on the horizon, a solid friendship develops, and by the time they part, Lily and Albert have helped each other through difficult times. Much of the plot, characters, and premise is conventional, but Giff (Shark in School, 1994, etc.) really pulls readers' heartstrings with Albert's memories of his family, the loss of Margaret's well-liked brother in the war, and Lily's joyful reunion with Poppy. Pull out the hankies for the final scene, in which Lily returns to Rockaway the following summer to find Albert—and Ruth—waiting for her. It's a strong ending to a deftly told story." - Kirkus Reviews

"Brilliantly told." - The New York Times Book Review 

Connections:

Customers who bought this also bought Nory Ryan's Song, Maggie's Door, and Penny from Heaven.

Interactivity:

• Ask children have they ever told a lie. If so, why?
• Describe to children the key elements of WWII and the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 as to how it relates to WWII.
• Ask children if they have a best friend; what about a back up best friend just in case they move away?
• What would you do if your best friend moved away?

penny from heaven written by jennifer holm

Holm, Jennifer. Penny from Heaven. New York: Random House Children's Books, 2007. ISBN: 9780375836893

Plot Summary:

     Penny Falucci is an eleven year old girl who begins her Summer vacation with hopes of adventure and lots of ice cream. Despite half of Penny's family being Italian during the 1950's, she has a relationship and shares the cultures of both her Italian and American side of the family. Throughout the Summer Penny explores her family history by the accidental finding of her grandfather's secret money resulting in a tragic incident with a laundry wringer. Through this incident, Penny learns of the truths of her father's death that were kept from her. 

     

Critical Analysis:

     Penny from Heaven is a title of historical fiction that is characterized by its usage of traditional literary elements including: characterization, plot, setting, theme, and style. Penny, the obvious protagonist of this novel, introduces herself and the origin of her name within the first couple of pages. Here, the author has set the tone by introducing the main protagonist and introducing the first clues of the setting of this novel. From the inclusion of the descriptions of a 1940 Plymoth Roadking, to the fear of catching polio in the pool, to listening to baseball games on the radio allude to the perception that the setting of this work was in the 1950's. The author, Jennifer Holm, further strengthens the elements of this particular era by including descriptions of the usage of wringers and rollers where the plot arises.

     Through the story of Penny, the author sets the style by detailing how the life of an Italian American girl was impacted following WWII. By incorporating Penny's Italian side of the family, she provides readers with descriptions of the Italian language, customs, and history. Holm provides readers with the thickening plot that is unveiled through Penny's incident with a laundry wringer. Through this incident, the author conceptualizes the main theme of this novel; the struggles that Italians faced after the signing of Proclamation 2527. 

Awards Won:

John Newbery Medal (2007)

Review Excerpts:

"A youthful voice serves Sealey well as narrator of this offbeat period piece chronicling the colorful experiences of 11-year-old Penny Falucci during the summer of 1953. Penny plans to have a dream summer vacation spending time at the local pool, eating butter pecan ice cream and listening to her beloved Brooklyn Dodgers on the radio with one of her many uncles or cousins. But not all happens according to plan when she suffers a devastating household accident. As Penny struggles to recover, she learns an ugly truth about her father's death years ago and comes to understand the estrangement between her mother's family and her father's boisterous Italian clan. Holm's plot has surprising twists and turns and plenty of evocative flavor, all of which give Sealey room to stretch a bit. Her crisp, even rhythm complements the pace of the unfolding drama." - Publishers Weekly

"Penny has heard two different theories about her name. One is that her father's favorite song was Bing Crosby's "Pennies from Heaven." The other is that Penny, whose real name is Barbara, was called Penny after her dying father said, "That baby is like a lost penny I'll never hold. A lost penny." Sometimes the appropriate name has a way of attaching itself onto an individual no matter what name may be on a birth certificate. Newbery Honor writer Holm has penned a compelling book about a twelve-year-old growing up and finding her place in the larger scheme of things in 1953 New Jersey. She has also introduced the young adult reader to a little-known injustice during World War II: the registration and labeling of Italians living in the USA as "enemy aliens," the prohibition against their living in costal zones, and even the imprisonment of these people if they were caught speaking or writing Italian or even owning a radio capable of short wave communication. Penny is an enchanting character. She is a fiercely loyal Brooklyn Dodgers fan, calling them, "Dem Bums," she'll avoid her maternal grandmother's cooking as much as she will salivate over her paternal grandmother's Ricotta-ball soup and pasteria. Her mother, a nurse, refuses to let her go to the public swimming pool or the movies because of the polio scare. Penny endures these restrictions but she demands to know the truth about her father, whom no one will talk about. Penny's life is full of family. Her cousin, Frankie, is her best friend, she lives with her mother and maternal grandparents in one house and spends much of her time with her father's family just blocks away. These two worlds are very different and veryseparate, but they are forced to come together when Penny is seriously injured by a washing machine wringer. Holm's writing is warm and fine; reading this book is as good as time travel into the life of the 1950s. A real treat awaits the reader at the book's end when the author writes about loosely basing Penny on her mother, complete with family pictures, a photo of the old Ebbets Field, plus a picture example of the records kept on Italian Americans during the World War." - Children's Literature

"Holm impressively wraps pathos with comedy in this coming-of-age story, populated by a cast of vivid characters." - Booklist 

 "Penny, almost 12, is caught between two extremes: her mother's small, uptight, WASP family, and her dead father's large, exuberant, Italian one. Summers, she moves freely between them, mediating as best she can between the two. Her best pal is her cousin Frankie, with whom she delivers groceries from her uncle's store, worships at the shrine of the Brooklyn Dodgers and gets into trouble. No one talks about her father's absence, and that's beginning to bother her more and more. And even worse, her mother has begun dating the milkman. Holm has crafted a leisurely, sprawling period piece, set in the 1950s and populated by a large cast of offbeat characters. Penny's present-tense narration is both earthy and observant, and her commentary on her families' eccentricities sparkles. Various scrapes and little tragedies lead to a nearly catastrophic encounter with a clothes wringer and finally the truth about her father's death. It takes so long to get there that the revelation seems rather anticlimactic, but getting to know Penny and her families makes the whole eminently worthwhile." - Kirkus Reviews

"Eleven-year-old Penny lives in New Jersey and walks a tightrope between two families. On one side are her widowed mother, her irascible grandfather, and her cooking-disabled grandmother with whom she lives. On the other side are her deceased father's Italian family with an abundance of loving aunts and uncles and a Nonny who makes the best cannoli around. The two families don't interact and Penny understands it has something to do with her father's death, but nobody will talk about it. Penny's biggest problems this summer are convincing her mother she won't catch polio from the community pool, keeping her cousin Frankie from scrapes with the law, and discouraging the milkman from courting her mother. Told in vignette style, Amber Sealey's narration enhances the telling. She effortlessly slips in and out of voices ranging from a young girl, a mischievous boy, a sobbing Italian grandmother, and a Brooklyn inflection that would make Tony Soprano proud. Inspired by the author's Italian-American family, the plot is a bit weak, but warmth and humor abound." - School Library Journal

Connections:

Customers who purchased this book also bought the following titles: The Road to Paris, Olive's Ocean, and The Green Glass Sea.

Interactivity:

• Ask children what they know about WWII, who were fighting, and for what reason.
• Teach children what prejudice means and the impacts of prejudices. 
• Ask children what it is they normally do during the Summer, and then ask them how they would feel if they couldn't do that anymore because of certain prejudices. 

time to sleep written by steve jenkins & robin page and illustrated by steve jenkins

Jenkins, Steve, and Robin Page. Time to Sleep. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011. ISBN: 9780547250403

Plot Summary:

     Time to Sleep comprises of the sleeping habits of fifteen different animals found throughout the world. Each description details varying aspects unique to each animal's sleeping habits. From the different habitats to the lengths of sleep that each animal gets, the descriptions result in providing readers with new insight on how different animals sleep. 

Critical Analysis:

     Time to Sleep is a form of conceptual nonfiction created through the collaboration of author Steve Jenkins and illustrator Robin Page. This married duo have provided readers with insight answering why and how animals sleep by organizing Robin's vibrant illustrations and Jenkins' details and descriptions in a manner displaying clear sequence. The concept of this book originated from their own children who would ask many questions regarding animals' sleeping habits. 

     Jenkins introduces this book with a narrative explaining that animals need sleep just like people. From this point, Jenkins explores the sleeping habits of fifteen different animals in a manner that is comprehensible to an audience of children through the usage of an age appropriate vocabulary. Each description of an individual animal's sleeping habit is paired with an illustration of that particular animal. Robin Page's usage of cut and torn paper collage to depict and illustrate the animal described through the author's words captivates readers' attention. Page's illustrative style clearly depicts the animal and how it sleeps by the display of vibrant colors and details of each animal with the help of Jenkins' written content. 

Awards Won:

Outstanding Science Trade Books, ALA Notable Children's Books (2000), Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for nonfiction (1998), Caldecott Medal (2014)

Review Excerpts:

"As companion to their books on bathing and eating, Jenkins and Page here discuss how and where seventeen different creatures sleep. In a smaller size than their usual books, they offer brief information and illustrations on single or double pages, usually accompanied by a humorous comment. Included are the giraffe, the hairy armadillo, the red fox, bee-eaters, the basilisk, the flamingo, the parrotfish, the warthog, the green sea turtle, the white stork, the European hedgehog, the wood frog, long-horned bees, the koala, the walrus, the bottlenose dolphin, and gorillas. Somehow the sleepy basilisk and equally drowsy koala can balance in trees. The wood frog and hedgehog need a longer rest and find places to hibernate. All the characters, sometimes with their resting places, are beautifully and naturalistically recreated from torn-and cut-paper collage." - Children's Literature

"Jenkins and Page introduce an array of creatures, showcasing how they bathe and sleep. Both titles conclude with an appendix detailing further information about the featured animals. The illustrations are rendered in torn- and cut-paper collage, with each animal is set against a white background. The brief text floats nearby, resulting in a pleasant balance that focuses on the creature in question. In Bath, readers are informed that animals bathe for different reasons: to clean themselves, to cool off, to warm up, and to dissuade parasites. A "vulture takes a sunbath. The sun's warmth feels good, and the sunlight helps kill bacteria." The gecko, lacking eyelids, keeps its eyeballs dirt-free by licking them with "its long, flexible tongue." Sleep introduces animals from the familiar red fox to the lesser-known basilisk. Fascinating behaviors are detailed with explanations, such as the "white stork sleeps in flight…by taking a series of naps that last just a few seconds each." Among the myriad curiosities is the bottlenose dolphin: "one half of its brain stays awake to tell the dolphin when it's time to surface and take a breath." Readers will be captivated." - School Library Journal

Connections:

More nonfiction titles written by Steve Jenkins include: Time to Eat, Time for a Bath, and Never Smile at a Monkey. 

Interactivity:

• As each animal's sleeping method is described, have children demonstrate what was described.
• Ask children how long they sleep and what their bedtimes are.
• Educate children the importance of sleep and why we sleep.