Module 15 - The Absolutely True Diaries of a Part-Time Indian

 Courtesy of betterworldbooks.com

Book Summary: 
Growing up as a teenager in America isn't easy for anyone.  Arnold Spirit, Jr. (Junior to most) is a 14 year-old being raised on the Spokane Indian Reservation.  One of his teachers convinces Junior to strive for more in life and leave the reservation's school to attend the all white school nearby.  This all white school is full of "rich kids", but that doesn't stop him from making friends with all groups of students and being good in sports.  Junior deals with many issues such as fitting in, alcoholism, and rejection of old friends.  Because of the content, this book is controversial but still a good read for teenagers.
APA Reference: 
Alexie, S. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time indian. New York, NY: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

My Impressions: 
This book is considered to be controversial due the various issues portayed.  However, these issues are portrayed realistically.  Todays teenagers want reality.  This book is a realistic view from someone telling about true life experiences.  Older students are going to like this book because of its realistic views.

Professional Review : 

Exploring Indian identity, both self and tribal, Alexie’s first young adult novel is a semiautobiographical chronicle of Arnold Spirit, aka Junior, a Spokane Indian from Wellpinit, WA. The bright 14-year-old was born with water on the brain, is regularly the target of bullies, and loves to draw. He says, “I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats.” He expects disaster when he transfers from the reservation school to the rich, white school in Reardan, but soon finds himself making friends with both geeky and popular students and starting on the basketball team. Meeting his old classmates on the court, Junior grapples with questions about what constitutes one’s community, identity, and tribe. The daily struggles of reservation life and the tragic deaths of the protagonist’s grandmother, dog, and older sister would be all but unbearable without the humor and resilience of spirit with which Junior faces the world. The many characters, on and off the rez, with whom he has dealings are portrayed with compassion and verve, particularly the adults in his extended family. Forney’s simple pencil cartoons fit perfectly within the story and reflect the burgeoning artist within Junior. Reluctant readers can even skim the pictures and construct their own story based exclusively on Forney’s illustrations. The teen’s determination to both improve himself and overcome poverty, despite the handicaps of birth, circumstances, and race, delivers a positive message in a low-key manner. Alexie’s tale of self-discovery is a first purchase for all libraries.–Chris Shoemaker, New York Public Library

Professional Review Reference: 
Shoemaker, C. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time indian. School Library Journal, Retrieved from schoollibraryjournal.com

Library Uses:
This book would be good to read for a book club.  Another use would be to use it for a book talk with the theme of difficult topic to discuss such as alcoholism, death, and starting over.

Module 14 - Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers: A Collection of Family Poems

   Courtesy of scholastic.com

Book Summary:  This book is a collection of poem.  Each of the poems are about family from mothers to fathers, sisters to brothers, and aunts to uncles.  Its poems talk about metting new friends, getting sick, and going on vacation.  It covers many of life's issues.  There is a poem for everyone in this book. 

APA Reference: 
Hoberman, M. A. (1991). Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers: A collection of family poems. New York, NY: Penguin Books USA Inc.

My Impressions: 
This was a cute book for introducing children to poetry.  Many issues of life are discussed and children learn about poetry in a fun way.  Kids will enjoy reading this book.

Professional Review: 

Thirty wise, witty, neatly constructed poems, from a spirited definition (``Whether there's ten or there's two in your family,/All of your family plus you is a family!'') to an inclusive celebration (``Our Family Comes from Round the World''). Between is a sampling of configurations (``I am a half- brother/I am a whole-brother/I am a step-brother/There's just one of me!''); comical glimpses of the family scene; and some quieter, affectionate moments. In her lively illustrations, Hafner captures both the hilarious--like an uproarious four-ring family at dinner--and such blissful moments as getting Mom's full attention while sick in bed. Full of insight and lots of fun.

Professional Review Reference: 
Kirkus Associates, LP. (1991). Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers: A collection of family poems. Kirkus Reviews.

Library Uses:
A book display for poetry.
This is also a perfect book to use for a book talk on poetry.

Module 13 - Repunzel's Revenge

  Courtesy of dallaslibrary2.org

Book Summary:
Repunzel's Revenge starts out about a young girl who lives inside a villa surrounded by a huge wall with her mother.  Being curious she wants to discover what is on the outside of the wall.  Her mother refuses to let her, but she finds a way out.  She discovers how horrible things are on the outside.  She also discovers that the woman she thought was her mother, Gothel, isn't and had taken her from her real mother.  She becomes angry and Gothel locks her in a prison.  Repunzel escapes and with the help of a new friend, determines to make it back to Gothel's villa and rescue her mom and get revenge on Gothel.  They meet many different characters on the way to Repunzel's revenge.
APA Reference:

 Hale, D., & Hale, S. (2008). Repunzel's revenge. New York, NY: Bloomsbury U.S.A. Chilren's Books.

My Impressions:

This book was a cute read.  It definately gives a new twist to the story of Repunzel and her long hair.  The
illustrations go a long way to helping tell the story.  Throughout the story she grows and matures letting the
reader get to know Repunzel.  There is even a moral to the story that one should always do whats right even
if it isn't the easiest solution.  I would recommend this book to high school students as a good read.
Professional Review:

Rapunzel is a wild and fearless child who roams her mother's castle (Mother Gothel's western villa) at will but knows nothing about the outside world. As she enters adolescence, however, her curiosity overwhelms her, and she climbs the castle walls to discover a world of poverty and oppression, the result of her mother's cruel magical powers over the world known as Gothel's Ranch. Rapunzel also discovers that she was stolen as a child and has lived a life of luxury, while her real mother toiled in slavery in the Devil's Armpit Mines. Rapunzel reacts in rage to this horrible injustice and soon finds herself imprisoned in the hollow of a tall tree, where she will remain until she swears allegiance to her adoptive mother and accepts her position as heir to the evil empire. The years go by, and Rapunzel's hair grows and grows.

Rapunzel is a strong-willed teenager, however, and on her 16th birthday, after refusing Mother Gothel's conditions one last time, Rapunzel escapes, using her long tresses as a rappelling rope. From this point on, the story takes a 180-degree turn from the version told by the Brothers Grimm; Rapunzel takes charge of her own life and isn't easily bested by any manipulative men, witches, or other evildoers. In her first exploit, she meets a princely "adventuring hero" on his way to "pretend" to rescue her, because "she's bound to be too naïve to know the difference, and it'll be such fun in the meantime" (pp. 40-41). Now, wise to the ways of the world, Rapunzel plays a practical joke on him that sends him off on a wild goose chase into the forest, and from that point on, she is the mistress of her own destiny.

Shannon Hale has made a career of taking classic stories and turning them into enjoyable, feature-length masterpieces, and with the help of her husband Dean and their new friend and illustrator, Nate Hale, she takes Rapunzel to delightful places, more reminiscent of the Old West and Middle Earth than the Brothers Grimm's archetypal forest. Along the way, Rapunzel encounters characters from other stories, including Jack, that famous giant killer, whose traveling companion, Goldie, resembles a large Canada goose and is alleged to lay golden eggs. All the usual suspects from the classic Western movies are here, too (albeit in parody), including Heck Burnbottom's outlaw gang, the besieged town folks of P ig Tree Gulch, and a corrupt small town sheriff. Zorro had his whip, and Roy Rogers had his lasso, but Rapunzel has both, in the form of her long braided hair, which she uses with great aplomb to bring miscreants of all kinds to justice. She is more than a match for outlaw gangs, her mother's henchman, wild boars, enchanted coyotes, and attempts to cash in on her "Wanted: Dead or Alive" status.

Nate Hale's artwork is the perfect venue for this graphic novel. He captures body gesture, facial expression, and physical action ingeniously, all while maintaining a Southwestern, Old West feel through the landscapes and character appearances. One wonders how many John Ford Western movies he reviewed to get the genre down pat.

Professional Review Reference:
Blasingame, J. (2010). Rapunzel's revenge. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literature, 53(6), 517.

Library Uses:

This would be a good book to use with a low level reader who doesn't like to read.  The reading is easy, the
illustrations are eye-catching, and the story has a good twist to it.

Another use would be to use the cover for a bulletin board throughout the school for advertisement.  This
would show students that reading can be fun and not just educational.

Module 12 - Martin's Big Words

Courtesy of childrensbookalmanac.com

Book Summary:
This children's book gives an easy to understand accounting of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life.  It isn't very detailed, but it does cover some of the more important facts and dates of his life.  It begins with a few events from his childhood and moves through to his death.  The illustrations in this book enhance the details being told in this story.

APA Reference:

 Rappaport, D. (2001). Martin's big words. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children.

My Impressions:
This is a good children's book.  It's easy to read and understand.  It is also very informative.  It focuses on
 the most important events in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life.  Students will enjoy how the illustrations enhance
the facts.  With Martin Luther King, Jr. being such an important part of history, it is important that students of
ages know of him and his accomplishments.  This book makes that possible for younger students.

Professional Review:

This inspiring picture-book biography celebrates the great leader as a preacher and politician. The spare narrative, accompanied by powerful art, captures the essentials of the man, the movement he led, and his policy of nonviolence. Also see My Brother Martin by King's sister, Christine King Farris (Simon & Schuster, 2003), Martin Luther King Jr. and the March on Washington by Frances E. Ruffin (Grosser, 2001), and Walter Dean Myers' I've Seen the Promised Land (HarperCollins, 2004).

Professional Review Reference:

Harms, J., & Lettow, L. (2008). Martin's big words. Book Links, 17(3), 39.

Library Uses:
This book would be perfect for a book display during Black History Month.  It would also be a good book
to used for a scavenger hunt in the library when looking for information on Influential African Americans. 

Module 11 - Leonardo's Horse

Courtesy of hudsontalbott.com

Book Summary:
"Leonardo's Horse" is a book that tells the story of how the horse came about.  It starts with the story of how Leonardo came up with the idea and goes through his trials and failures in getting the horse made.  It tells of how Charles Dent decided to continue Leonardo's dream, and eventually a foundation finishes the dream and sends it Italy in honor of Leonardo de Vinci.

APA Reference:

Fritz, J. (2001). Leonardo's horse. New York, NY: G. P. Putnam's Sons.

 

My Impressions:
This book was really interesting and informational.  It's written so that children can understand it and
the illustrations are such to keep children interested in what they are reading.  They'll be turning the
page just to see what pictures they see next.  History books aren't always the easiest books to read.
Children will enjoy this book and learn something in the process.
Professional Review:

This story tells of an American who discovers an unfinished bronze statue by Leonardo. Fritz's clear writing style highlights Leonardo's career. Simultaneously, he illuminates the vision of an American who is enthralled by the challenge of producing the bronze horse. Talbott's watercolor doublepage scenes offer a taste of fifteeth-century Italy, and the incorporated vignettes from Leonardo's sketchbooks add a sense of the scope of his genius. The casting and assembly processes are pictured. A final doublepage spread presents the magnificent animal, bronze and potent in its golden glow. The illustrator makes effective use of the unusual dome-shaped book design to include landscapes, interiors, and even a world map.

Professional Review Reference:
Marantz, K. (2002). Leonardo's horse. School Arts, 101(6), 56.

Library Uses:

This would be a good book for a community read.  Have artist from the community come in and
 discuss their career. Then they could read this book to show other artist and how long people have
 been artists.
 Another use would be a book display with other biographies on artists.

Module 10 - Dandelions

 Courtesy of barbsbooks.com

Book Summary:   
"Dandelions" is a book about a young family moving west to the Nebraska Territory.  It discussse the mother's and daughter's  fears of the unknown while the father seeks to reassure them.  Their closest neighbor was hours away, and the nearest town was so far that they had to spend the night when going to town for goods.  The only way they could have water was to dig a well by hand.  It was a time when the weather was hot, the work was hard, and the rewards were earned.
APA Reference:

Bunting, E. (1995). Dandelions. Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace and Company.

My Impressions: 
This book offers an accurate accounting of what people endured during the westward movement. It allows
the reader a clear view of how wide open the area was.  People didn't live down the block; they lived hours
away from anyone.  The illustration, by Greg Shed, are very realistic.  I really like the end of the book when
the girls are trying to make their mother feel better.  They take a dandelion that she had picked up on the way
home from town and plant it in the roof of the home to surprise their mother.  This is a book I would
recommend to my students.

Professional Review:

 This is the story of a family moving from Illinois to Nebraska during the westward migrations in the United States. They travel across the plains in a covered wagon pulled by oxen, the father in search of a better life and opportunities for his family, and the wife and two daughters experiencing the emotions of leaving home, family, and memories behind. The dandelions are a metaphor for this family that endures the hardship of change and moves west to build a better life. CU: The book is an excellent springboard to make connections to social studies and the American westward migration. Students can write journal entries of what the children felt as they traveled west. They can draw maps identifying the possible routes the family took or write personal narratives of times in their own lives when they had to leave friends and memories to move to new places.

 

Professional Review Reference:
Mitchell, M. (1996). Dandelions. The Reading Teacher, 50(3), 244.

Library Uses:

This would be a good book to use when highlighting illustrators.  The librarian could read this book to students and show the pictures as he/she goes.  When the book is over, the students could draw their own pictures to tell what think the trip would have been like. 

Another use would be to use this book in groups with new students.  Moving can be a scary experience and this book helps to show that people have dealt with moving into new situations for years.

Module 9 - Cam Jansen: The Scary Snake Mystery

 Courtesy of openlibrary.org
Book Summary:   
Young Cam Jansen is considered to have a photographic memory.  When her mom's camera is stolen on a sight-seeing trip, Cam is determined to find it and the person who stole it.  Using her memory, they are able to find the camera but the tape inside is missing.  Thanks to Cam's quick thinking, when they see their video on the evening news, they are able to claim the tape as theirs. 

APA Reference:
Adler, D. A. (1997). Cam jansen and the scary snake mystery. New York, NY: Puffin Books.

My Impressions: 

Cam loves a good mystery and is a very determined little girl.  When her mom's camera gets stolen, shedoesn't give up til it's found.  This is a cute tale about write succeeding over wrong.  It shows how life should be.  You can't get through life stealing. 

Professional Review:

Gr 1-3-Fans of the series will not be disappointed with this new title. Cam, her friend Eric, and her mother are visiting a city museum when a woman lets her pet snake out of a bag on the museum steps. Mrs. Jansen is videotaping the children and, in surprise, turns the still-running camera toward the incident. Then her camcorder is stolen. When they find it, the tape is missing. Then they see the video of the incident on TV for the "News Scoop" contest and go to the station to track down the thief. This is an easy-to-read chapter book that solves a believable mystery in a satisfying way. Black-and-white line drawings enliven the text.

 

Professional Review Reference:

Bair, J. M. (2007). Cam jansen and the scary snake mystery. School Library Journal, 43(12), 81.  Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/.

Library Uses:

This would be a great book for the librarian to use in a lesson on predicting outcomes.  "What will happen next?"  It could also be used in a treasure hunt for mysteries.  Students would have to find books determined by their mystery.