Module 15- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie

Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York: Brown Books for Young Readers, 2007.

Summary
After hitting his teacher with a book and having the teacher apologize to him for destroying his life, Junior Spirit realizes he has to get off the reservation if he wants a chance at life. He transfers to an all-white high school 22 miles off the reservation. There he finds himself playing basketball on a great team and excelling academically, but not fitting in with the white kids and no longer fitting in with the native kids at home. Things never work out quite the way Junior wants, and so he feels like a, "Part-Time Indian." In the end, Junior realizes that he can be equal parts whatever he wants to be.

Impressions
I love this book. Within the first 30 pages it establishes itself firmly on the challenged list- racism, sex, alcoholism, etc.- yet this book never crosses into the obscene. It is simply the honest, at times beautiful, story of Junior and his struggle to have hope like a white kid yet stay close to his roots like a native kid.

Reviews
Publishers Weekly, 8/20/2007, Vol. 254 Issue 33, p70-71.
"Screenwriter, novelist 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 its 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 tiny 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. Ages 14-up."

Melgaard, Tricia. School Library Journal, Jun2008, Vol. 54 Issue 6, p74.
"Gr 8 Up --Arnold Spirit, aka Junior, is an unlikely hero in this semiautobiographical novel (Little, Brown, 2007) by Alexie Sherman. He was born with water on the brain, lives in abject poverty on an Indian reservation near Spokane, and is surrounded by the hopelessness of alcoholism. When a caring teacher recognizes that the boy still has hope, he insists that Junior leave the reservation school. Junior defies his tribe and enrolls in an all-white school 22 miles from the reservation. At Rearden he becomes known as Arnold, but acceptance comes very slowly. At first his classmates are wary and many are racist. When the football captain delivers a jaw-dropping racial slur, Arnold slugs him and is baffled by the fear he sees in the other boys' eyes. He realizes that the rules are different off the rez and he doesn't know the new rules. Through tenacity and humor, Arnold eventually finds a way to balance his part-time life on the reservation with his part-time life at school. The narration by the author is delivered in what Arnold might describe as the sing-song cadence of Indian speech. Poetic, deeply funny, politically incorrect, slightly naughty, and heart-wrenching, the story makes a flawless transition from print to audio. Sherman provides a glimpse into an unfamiliar culture and maintains a balance between the bleak reality of reservation life and the stunning beauty of a loving family and friendship. An essential purchase for all libraries serving older teens."

Suggestions for Library Use
This book should be recommended to teens, especially teen boys. It's written in "teen" language and deals very openly and respectfully with issues teens face.
I would also pair this book with others discussing multicultural teens- Does My Head Look Big in This?, American Born Chinese, etc.

Module 14- Aleutian Sparrow, Karen Hesse

Hesse, Karen. Aleutian Sparrow. New York: Margaret K. McElderry, 2003.

Summary
In 1942, Japanese forces attacked and subsequently occupies some islands along Alaska's Aleutian Chain. Fearing for the safety of the Aleut Natives, and also fearing insurrection among them, the U.S. Military relocated the natives to camps in southeastern Alaska. Conditions in the camps were frightening, even the German prisoner of war camps had better living conditions, and Americans in the nearby towns treated the natives with hostility.
Aleutian Sparrow is the story of Vera, daughter of an Aleut Native woman and a white man who was lost at sea. Living on the Aleutian Chain, Vera and her loved ones are happy and live in the manner of their ancestors. When they are relocated to the camps, everything changes. They experience many tragedies in the camps and live very harsh lives. Eventually the war ends and they are taken back to their islands which has been ravaged by the U.S. Army.

Impressions
The invasion of the Japanese and subsequent occupation of parts of Alaska is almost never talked about in U.S. History classes. I love that Hesse found a unique part of U.S. History and wrote about it in a unique form. The history behind the story is extremely interesting, but the novel itself lacks momentum and the reader is left disinterested. There are also some inaccuracies dealing primarily with things like Alaska weather, plant life, and geography, but if you're not familiar with the state, it wouldn't change the story for you.

Reviews
Abrams, L. George. Christian Science Monitor, 8/12/2010, pN. Retrieved November 29, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.
"Early in World War II, the native people of the Aleutian Islands were evacuated to relocation centers 1,500 miles from their homes. In Aleutian Sparrow award-winning writer Karen Hesse uses poetic imagery to chronicle the story of young Vera as she struggles to survive and keep her heritage alive.
Warning: this story may break your heart."

Brabander, Jennifer M.. Horn Book Magazine, Jan/Feb2004, Vol. 80 Issue 1, p82. Retrieved November 29, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.
"Fans of Hesse's Out of the Dust and Witness may find this third historical novel written in free verse disappointing. Despite some deftly written entries, the novel doesn't provide a clear picture of either the young narrator (Vera, who's half-Aleutian, half-white) or the historical events (the relocation of hundreds of Aleuts during World War 11), Unlike Hesse's fully realized narrator in Out of the Dust, young Vera remains a cipher, with no layers of complexity to gamer readers' sympathy — even a budding romance fails to stir interest. Frustratingly indistinctive, Vera's voice sometimes sounds too adult (she asks her mother, "Remember… how we visited Akutan / And walked … to where / blossoms framed the steaming pools like / masses of perfumed hair?"). The spareness of the verse seems to have limited the amount of background information the author was able to impart — of crucial importance when tackling a subject so unfamiliar to most readers. Some of the poems are quite graceful, conveying much in just a few lines, but in general, the format of this novel-in-verse doesn't serve the author well, resulting in meager characterization and, despite its elemental story of oppression and survival, a surprisingly unaffecting plot."

Suggestions for Library Use

Again, this book is not particularly interesting, however, it discusses a chapter of history very seldom mentioned, especially not from a child's viewpoint. Thus, it would make a valuable piece in a display among the other few resources about the Japanese occupation of Alaska, or even the history of relocation camps in America.

November is Native Alaskan Heritage Month, and we have this book among others on display in my library.

Module 13- American Born Chinese, Gene Luen Yang.

Yang, Gene Luen. American Born Chinese. Dongguan City, Guangdon Province, South China Printing Co. Ltd.; 2010.

Summary
The Monkey King of Flower-Fruit Mountain was a deity in his own right. He had been born of a rock, purged the Flower-Fruit Mountain of the Tiger-Spirit, and mastered thousands of of minor disciplines as well as the four major heavenly disciplines. Despite all this, he still wasn’t invited to the dinner party of the gods. Jealous and angry, the Monkey King mastered even more disciplines in hopes of gaining a place among the gods, but the gods merely asked him to recognize his place as a lowly monkey. After refusing to accept this, Tze-Yo-Tzuh, creator of all existence, trapped the Monkey King under a large pile of rocks. Because of the Monkey King’s pride, he would not return to his normal monkey shape which would allow him to simply wiggle out from beneath the rocks.
Meanwhile, Jin, a first generation Chinese-American, is struggling to fit in at school. There are only two other Asians at school, and they are all bullied. Jin falls in love with a white girl from school, but her white friend asks Jin not to talk to her anymore because he is Chinese. Angry and depressed, Jin wishes to be different. Selling his soul, Jin becomes a white boy with curly blond hair and names himself Danny.
Danny’s cousin Chin-Kee comes to visit for a while and even attends American high school with Danny. Chin-Kee has a heavy accent, wears traditional Chinese clothing, and says things the white students deem offensive. Deeply ashamed and embarrassed of his cousin, Danny feels that his life is over.
Back under the pile of rocks, The Monkey King is convinced by a holy man to return to his original form. He does and escapes from his rock prison. He is then confronted by the most powerful gods and given a mission.
Back at the American high school, Danny attacks his cousin in a fit of rage. Danny knocks off Chin-Kee’s head, and we discover Chin-Kee is the Monkey King. He makes Danny reveal his true form then explains he came to serve as Jin’s conscience, as a signpost to his soul. The Monkey King is also the father of Jin’s best friend who has forsaken his true form, just as Jin did. Jin then confronts his best friend and over time the two begin to embrace their Chinese heritage.

Impressions
This is the best graphic novel I have ever read. It’s so much more than just a superficial story with a lot of illustrations. This novel is meant to teach, not just to entertain. The feelings Jin and the Monkey King struggle with- not having anyone be able to see your own self-worth, wishing you were someone or something else, hiding your own identity at the expense of your conscience- are common among everyone, teens especially. Yang alternates between the story of the Monkey King and Jin/Danny until the very end in a fun, poignant ending. This book is so honest and open, and the illustrations are bright and colorful as well as effective at conveying both humor and emotion.

Reviews
Greg McElhatton. American Born Chinese. Read About Comics. Retrieved November 12, 2010 from http://www.readaboutcomics.com/.
"Yang’s American Born Chinese is one of the stronger examples of multiple, intertwined narratives that I can remember. Each of the three threads—the Monkey King, Jin, and Danny—stands on its own initially as its own, independent story. It’s not until we get to the end of the book that one sees how the plots of the three are connected, doing so in a fairly delightful manner. None of the stories feel like they’re getting short shrift from the others, and that balance between the narratives helps keep the reader interested in all three. At the same time, it’s clear from the beginning that the three stories are connected when it comes to the themes of identity and acceptance. All of our main characters are desperate to shed something connected to themselves—the Monkey King’s species, Jin’s Chinese heritage, and Danny’s cousin—for the sake of how other people perceive them. Yang neatly sidesteps the chance for this to become a story that preaches or speaks condescendingly to the reader, though. The basic theme is stated quickly and then left in the background for the reader to think about; while the basic idea permeates the book, one never feels like Yang is hitting you over the head with the ideas."

Cornog, Martha. Library Journal, 3/15/2007, Vol. 132 Issue 5, p54. Retreived November 12, 2010, from Academic Search Premier database.
"A National Book Award finalist and ALA's Printz Award winner, this fable stars the mythological Monkey King, realistic youngster Jin Wang of Taiwanese parentage, and TV sitcom teen Danny. All three are dogged by an unwanted identity and humiliated by others' prejudice. The Monkey King trains to be a god but is unceremoniously bounced out of heaven and urged by "he who is" (the great god) to be what he is: a monkey. Jin tries to be accepted and romance a fellow student but gets picked on by classmates. Danny does well with friends until Chinese cousin Chin-Kee, a bitingly funny bundle of racist stereotypes, makes his annual visit and behaves so offensively that Danny must change schools. Finally, the three stories suddenly merge, to center on Jin coming to terms with his minority experience and moving beyond his own fear and hostility. Coalescence comes almost too quickly, but the trivision approach and treatment are unique and moving. The art is simple, colorful, and both attractive and effective. Some potty humor; recommended for teen and adult collections."

Suggestions for Library Use
In a library with some kind of teen reading program, this book would make be an excellent featured novel. Teens could read it, discuss how it feels to be different, if there are truly are benefits of just being yourself, etc.
This book is fun, easy, and fast to read and as such would appeal to a lot of teens. For use in a school, or a library that works very closely with homeschoolers, it would be fun to read this book as part of the English curriculum to study more unique forms of literature. Teens could then write and illustrate their own short graphic novels, write their own stories of instances when they were singled out for somehow being different, etc. They could even partner together as most graphic novelists have color experts that help with illustrations.

Module 12- King of the Mild Frontier: An Ill-Advised Autobiography, Chris Crutcher

Crutcher, Chris. King of the Mild Frontier: An Ill-Advised Autobiography. New York: Greenwillow Books, 2003.

Summary
Chris Crutcher, author of Angry Management, Whale Talk, The Sledding Hill, and the highly challenged book, Deadline, takes readers back to his childhood in rural 1960s Idaho. Crutcher is terrible at sports yet never stops trying to impress girls with his "skills," tries to woo a girl by presenting her with a giant scab, stinks up a bus with Limburger Cheese and mink urine, has perfect church attendance to win a mysterious prize, and is talked into all sorts of pranks and trouble-making by his older, wiser, and more manipulative brother. Add to all his misadventures buck teeth, pride, a propensity for bawling, and a raging temper, and this book is a very honest look at some experiences that are only funny to look back on. It's not until college that Crutcher learns to use his emotions as positive motivators. This inspires him to become a therapist and teen novelist. Throughout the book, Crutcher mentions how characters or situations in his novels are drawn from his own experiences.

Impressions
There were parts of this books where I could not stop laughing. The descriptions about spreading cheese and mink urine all over the senior's fieldtrip bus were priceless! Crutcher is a master of imagery and deadpan humor. Crutcher's style is also semi stream of consciousness, however, and I often found myself confused as to what point in life various stories were taking place or what the story was about. I was also really surprised at the very adult language used. This book uses a lot of profanity, including multiple uses of the f-word, so watch out if you're planning on reading this to youth.

Reviews
Roback, Diane; Brown, Jennifer M.; Bean, Joy; Zaleski, Jeff. Publishers Weekly, 3/3/2003, Vol. 250 Issue 9, p77. Accessed November 3, 2010, from Academic Search Premier database.
"In this funny, bittersweet and brutally honest autobiography, Crutcher recounts his journey from a boyhood misspent in remote Cascade, Idaho ("The information highway was a single-lane logging road winding through steep mountains, dead ending at some nameless 'crick' ") to his present life as a writer. The author displays the same impeccable comedic timing that characterizes his young adult novels. Among the many laugh-out-loud episodes he recalls are his older brother's knack for always gaining the upper hand (he talks young Chris into peeing down the heat-register in the living room and convinces him that Jesus had an "older, smarter brother" named "Esus"), plus the author's penchant for "perty girls," which lost him his front teeth when he tried to impress a girl while playing softball. Nothing tops his misadventures in small-town sports ("If you didn't show up for football practice on the first day of your freshman year, they simply came and got you"), including his days as a terrified 123-pound freshman ("with all the muscle definition of a chalk outline") and his initiation as a letterman (involving oysters, an olive and a large dose of humiliation). It is precisely this sense of humility that allows readers to laugh with young Chris, rather than at him. Crutcher can also turn from hilarity to heartache, as when he discusses his mother's alcoholism or his own legendary temper (which plagued hm in his childhood but which he attributes to the compassion he brings to his work as a family therapist). Readers will clasp this hard-to-put-down book to their hearts even as they laugh sympathetically. Ages 13-up."

Carter, Betty. Horn Book Magazine, May/Jun2003, Vol. 79 Issue 3, p368.
Accessed November 3, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.
"Crutcher, best known for his novels and short stories, has discovered his most effective voice in this collection of episodic, autobiographical essays. Informal essays invite self-revelation, humor, loose structure, and even moralizing; Crutcher responds to all four elements. He writes in an easy, conversational tone, as if he were sitting down swapping stories with his good friend, the reader. He moves back and forth in time, as storytellers do, letting one incident connect to the next thematically rather than chronologically. And what stories he has to tell. There's the time he wants to impress a girl playing baseball and winds up leaving one of his front teeth implanted in the bat. And the time he takes Paula Whitson, the girl of his dreams, to the White Christmas Ball sporting a zit the size of Everest in the middle of his forehead. And even the time Crutcher, full of adolescent cruelty, sponsors the school's most unpopular girl for carnival queen. Crutcher relates direct lessons from his father on relativity and manners, and indirect lessons from his mother on courage. Some of these stories--his own Stotan week, the penis-in-the-popcorn-bag legend--found their way into his novels. But most serve as introductions to his meditations on such subjects as anger or heroism or religion or cruelty, themes that inform all his work. Crutcher concludes that life gives him "a rich pool for stories"; he, in turn, shares that gift with readers. Dive in."

Suggested Library Use
Due to the very mature content (sexuality, death, gratuitous language, etc.), I would not actively promote this book to youth for fear of some serious backlash from parents and teachers. I would, however, include it with a display of Crutcher's other works because it is a funny, poignant book that gives a lot of insight into Crutcher's novels and hope to other kids who might consider themselves losers or outsiders.

Module 11- The Day-Glo Brothers, Chris Barton

Barton, Chris. The Day-Glo Brothers. Charlesbridge Publishing: Watertown, MA, 2009.

Summary
Bob and Joe Switzer were brothers, but were very different. Bob liked to get up early, study hard, and wanted to be a docter when he grew up so he could help people. Joe liked to stay out late and preferred creating magic tricks to working. Joe also wanted to help people, but through entertainment. In college, Bob sustained a serious injury which put his dreams of med school to an end. While recovering in his parents' dark basement, Bob and Joe found some eyedrop liquid that glowed in the dark. Their dad was a pharmacist and often had chemicals and medicines lying around the house.
Bob and Joe knew they had stumbled upon something great. They began experimenting with chemicals, eyewash liquids, blacklight, and colors until they invented day-glo colors- those bright neon greens, oranges, and yellows we use today for everything from traffic cones to clothes.
Through their invention of colors, Bob and Joe were able to help people afterall.


Impressions
It absolutely boggles my mind that Bob and Joe Switzer invented neon colors! They invented colors we see everyday. Invent colors? That's amazing! This book is fantastic! I can't stop thinking about the Switzers inventing colors! The illustrations are 50s style cartoons in black and white with very gradual additions of day-glo colors, orange, green, yellow- that start out faint and end with eye-popping intensity. It really adds to the quirkiness and charm of this book. This book is a must-read for young inventors, science enthusiasts, and big-dreamers.

Reviews
Callaghan, Anne Chapman. School Library Journal, Aug2009, Vol. 55 Issue 8, p118. Retrieved October 29, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.
"Gr 4-6--Before 1935, fluorescent colors did not exist. Barton discusses how two brothers worked together to create the eye-popping hues. Joe Switzer figured out that using a black light to create a fluorescent glow could spruce up his magic act, so the brothers built an ultraviolet lamp. They began to experiment with various chemicals to make glow-in-the-dark paints. Soon Joe used fluorescent-colored paper costumes in his act and word got around. Through trial and error, the brothers perfected their creation. The story is written in clear language and includes whimsical cartoons. While endpapers are Day-Glo bright, most of the story is illustrated in black, white, gray, and touches of color, culminating in vivid spreads. Discussions on regular fluorescence and daylight fluorescence are appended. This unique book does an excellent job of describing an innovative process."

Kirkus Reviews, 6/15/2009, Vol. 77 Issue 12, p653. Retrieved October 29, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.
The Switzer brothers were complete opposites. Older brother Bob was hardworking and practical, while younger brother Joe was carefree and full of creative, wacky ideas. However, when an unexpected injury forced Bob to spend months recovering in a darkened basement, the two brothers happened upon an illuminating adventure--the discovery of Day-Glo colors. These glowing paints were used to send signals in World War II, help airplanes land safely at night and are now found worldwide in art and advertisements (not to mention the entire decade of 1980s fashion). Through extensive research, including Switzer family interviews and Bob's own handwritten account of events, debut author Barton brings two unknown inventors into the brilliant light they deserve. Persiani, in his picture-book debut as well, first limits the palette to grayscale, then gradually increases the use of color as the brothers' experiments progress. The final pages explode in Day-Glo radiance. Rendered in 1950s-cartoon style, with bold lines and stretched perspectives, these two putty-limbed brothers shine even more brightly than the paints and dyes they created.

Suggestions for Library Use
Coupled with other books about famous inventions and discoveries, this book would make a super fun storytime for all ages. Little kids could color with neon and older kids could make up their own inventions and put them on paper. It would also be fun to observe colors under a black light as part of this storytime featuring day-glo.

Module 10- Show Way, Jacqueline Woodson

Woodson, Jacqueline. Show Way. New York: Putnam Juvenile, 2005.



Summary
A Show Way is secret map in the form of a quilt used to guide runaway slaves. Author Jacqueline Woodson's ancestors used to sew these Show Ways to show fellow slaves the way to freedom and to help each family member remember the path of her own life. By tracing her mother's side of the family, Woodson then shows how subsequent generations of her family are linked together by figurative threads, and that these figurative threads can also help us remember who we are and what our personal maps are to our dreams.



Impressions
The fact that this book is a family history of the author makes the book much more touching and personal. This book makes history come alive. Also, the subject matter is also interesting- I had never heard of a Show Way Quilt before.



Reviews
Oluonye, Mary N. School Library Journal, Nov2005, Vol. 51 Issue 11, p111. Retrieved October 27, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.
"K-Gr 5-- Soonie's great-grandma was only seven when she was sold away from her parents in Virginia and sent to South Carolina. All she had was a piece of muslin from her mother, two needles, and bright red thread. She was raised by Big Mama, who cared for the plantation children and at night whispered stories of freedom. Big Mama taught great-grandma how to sew messages and directions into quilt patterns, a Show Way. The quilt-making tradition is passed down through successive generations of women in the family. Finally, readers meet the narrator, who grew up to become a writer and tell the stories of many people's Show Ways. A poignant trail at the end of the book shows eight generations of women and the author's baby painted against the background of quilt patterns. Show Way is a sophisticated book that introduces readers to the passage of time, family traditions, and the significance of quilts and their patterns in African-American history. The gorgeous, multimedia art includes chalk, watercolors, and muslin. An outstanding tribute, perfectly executed in terms of text, design, and illustration."

Kirkus Reviews, 9/15/2005, Vol. 73 Issue 18, p1037. Retrieved October 27, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.
"Show Ways are quilts with secret meanings--guides to freedom. In this beautiful volume, quilts are the connecting threads of the generations, from Soonie's great-grandmother, sold away from her Virginia home as a girl of seven, to Soonie's great-great-granddaughter Toshi, Woodson's daughter. It's a celebration of mothers--all of those strong women through the generations who "loved those babies up." Gorgeous multimedia art includes watercolors, chalk and fabric, photographs incorporated into original art and joyous watercolor figures jumping broom. Patchwork and crazy quilts are two common motifs used, the latter, with jagged stitching resembling railroad tracks, representing the harshest of times. Whether quilts were actual maps to freedom or such stories are simply folklore, quilts are a perfect device to portray the generations of a family. Like Deborah Hopkinson's Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt (1993) and Under the Quilt of Night (2001) and Doreen Rappaport's Freedom River (2000), this takes a difficult subject and makes it accessible to young readers. One of the most remarkable books of the year. (Picture book 5+)"

Suggestions for Library Use
Combined with other picture books about slavery, the underground railroad, and maybe even a biography about Harriet Tubman or another famous abolitionist this would make a fantastic storytime about slavery. Paired with books about the Civil War or the South, or an experience of a child in the North during the Civil War (Polacco's January's Sparrow?), or even books about the Civil Rights movements in the 60s, this would make an interesting American History-themed storytime about one topic from different perspectives. For the storytime craft project, I'd provide construction paper and scissors or even just crayons for children to draw their own "Show Ways." They could make up symbols and make a map to their house, a treasure map, etc.

Module 9- The 39 Clues Book 1- The Maze of Bones, Riordan, Rick

Riordan, Rick. 39 Clues Book 1- The Maze of Bones. New York: Scholastic, 2008.

Summary
Amy and Dan Cahill have been raised by their unlikeable great-aunt during the week and their beloved grandmother, Grace, on the weekends because their parents died under very mysterious circumstances. When Grace Cahill dies, she leaves her very large extended family a choice- accept their inheritance of 1 million dollars or forfiet their money for the first of 39 clues to a dangerous search that will lead them to the source of their family's power. Surprisingly, mild-mannered Amy, signs her and her brother up for the clues. Despite their relatives being much more good-looking, famous, wealthy, and powerful, Amy and Dan do very well finding the clues within the clues that lead to the first clue in this National Treasure/Da Vinci Code-esque book. Tricking their au pair to come with them, Amy and Dan's findings eventually lead them to the catacombs of Paris where they narrowly escape death, fight other family members, and find the second of 39 clues that will lead them to Vienna. All the while, Amy and Dan are finding out secrets never before revealed about their parents and the reader is lead to believe their parents died trying to solve the mystery of the 39 Clues.

Impressions
"Clues within the clues that lead them to their first clue?" Yes, The 39 Clues are that confusing. Once you get used to the idea of never actually finding the solution to a clue, however, The Maze of Bones, is a really fun, fast read. It's also full of historical information that's actually interesting. I found myself learning all kinds of cool things about Benjamin Franklin, his life, his inventions, etc.

Reviews
Hersh, Marilyn. School Library Journal, Feb2009, Vol. 55 Issue 2, p58-59. Retrieved October 23, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.
“This is the first installment (Scholastic, 2008) of a projected 10-book series about 39 clues to a family's secret 500-year-old history left in a will by Grace Cahill, the last matriarch of the most powerful family in the world. The people mentioned in her will have the choice of inheriting one million dollars instantly or competing to win the fortune by collecting all the clues. Orphans Amy and Dan Cahill attend their grandmother's funeral and are swept into a worldwide search. The first clue, to "seek out Richard S," leads the youngsters to Poor Richard's Almanac, Ben Franklin, and the catacombs below Paris. This is an involved tale with lots of characters and plot twists that set the stage for the nine books that will follow. The children escape a fire, a bomb, a sink hole, and outsmart disreputable Cahills. Along the way, they learn about their dead parents and world history. The Maze of Bones was written by Rick Riordan; other authors will be writing some of the other titles. David Pittu's narration is measured and powerful, and he easily assumes foreign accents as the roles demand. The second clue is given at the end of the book. Scholastic has devised an online game (the39clues.com) where readers play a part in the story and can win over $100,000 in prizes. Listeners will be hooked and eagerly await the next title.”

Publishers Weekly, 9/22/2008, Vol. 255 Issue 38, p58-59. Retrieved October 23, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.
“Built around a ripe conceit--wealthy matriarch scatters cryptic clues to a mysterious fortune around the globe--this first installment in a projected t0-book series is tons of fun. Lead-off hitter Riordan (The Lightning Thief) mixes just the right proportions of suspense, peril and puzzles in a fast-paced read (Riordan mapped the narrative arc for all 10 volumes, but other high-profile authors will be writing for the series, too). Likable orphans Amy and Dan Cahill have moxie (plus Dan can memorize numbers instantly) and frailties (Amy hates crowds). As the siblings compete with less honorable members of the Cahill clan, all distantly related to Benjamin Franklin, to win the fortune by collecting all 39 clues (only two are found in this first book), they learn about their dead parents, each other and world history. The humor is spot on--one uncle is credited with inventing the microwave burrito. The only flaw? The story does not end so much as drop off a cliff. (The second book, One False Note by Gordon Korman, is set to arrive in December.) While waiting, readers can collect cards, each of which contains evidence, and play the online game (www.the39clues.com), for which Scholastic is offering over $100,000 in prizes. This ought to have as much appeal to parents as it does to kids--it's Webkinz without the stuffed animals, and a rollicking good read. Ages 9-12.”

Suggestions for Library Use
This book would be really fun for patrons to read, and then have the library stage their own 39 Clues-type hunt around the library's home city or state with students needing to find clues about local festivals and landmarks, famous locals, city/state history, etc.
This book would also be a fun additional to the fifth grade curriculum. Fifth grade is when students learn about U.S. History, the Founding Fathers, etc., and a book that presents history in such a fast-paced, interesting manner would be welcome among 10 year olds.
This book would also be a nice addition to a historical mystery display along with other books and movies like The Da Vinci Code, National Treasure, Sahara, Indiana Jones, etc.

Module Eight- Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins and The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan

Collins, Suzanne. Mockingjay. New York: Scholastic Press, 2010.

Summary
In this final installment of the Hunger Games trilogy, Katniss, despite surving the Hunger Games twice, is in serious trouble with the Capitol. The survivors of the District 12 massacre are safe in rebellious, underground District 13

Impressions
I think I'm the only person in the world who hates the Hunger Games series. I find Katniss to be completely obnoxious and aggravating, and I had to read this book twice to understand what was going on. All the action, plot twists, and many, many, many characters just make the story confusing instead of rich with intrigue. All the secondary and tertiary characters make it hard to understand who thinks and says what, who's who, and when they're killed off, I have a hard time remembering if I'm supposed to have liked them or not.
While I'll hand it to Collins that the first book was innovative and thought-provoking, since then Collins is just trying to push the boundaries of to be edgy and hip. I find the trilogy gratuitously violent, and quite frankly, disgusting. Additionally, Collins' style is choppy and hard to follow and her characters, even the protagonists are completely unlikeable.

Reviews
Corbett, Sue. People, 9/13/2010, Vol. 74 Issue 8, p69-69. Accessed 10 October 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.

"It's an off-putting premise for a series aimed at teens: 24 kids fight for survival against nature and each other until only one is left alive. Oh, and it's all televised. That's the plot of Collins' hugely successful Hunger Games trilogy, but it doesn't do it justice. The first two books delivered nonstop action, a fully realized dystopian world and an acute rebuke of our media saturation and obsession with appearance. This final installment, the grimmest yet, is a riveting meditation on the costs of war.
The series' narrator is Katniss Everdeen, a "tribute," or contestant, in the annual ritual staged by the ruling despots in the Capitol. Against all odds, both Katniss and Peeta, another tribute, survive by posing as lovers, winning over the TV audience. Meanwhile there's a boy back home who is Katniss' real soulmate. In Mockingjay Katniss' outsmarting of the Capitol has fanned a rebellion, but she's a reluctant poster girl. Collins puts the reader right inside Katniss' head as she grows into the role, and it's a bloody, terrifying process. Clear your schedule before you start: This is a powerful, emotionally exhausting final volume."

Miller, Laura. New Yorker, 6/14/2010, Vol. 86 Issue 17, p132. Accessed 10 October 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.

"Children...don't run the world, and teen-agers, especially, feel the sting of this. "The Hunger Games" could be taken as an indictment of reality TV, but only someone insensitive to the emotional tenor of the story could regard social criticism as the real point of Collins's novel. "The Hunger Games" is not an argument. It operates like a fable or a myth, a story in which outlandish and extravagant figures and events serve as conduits for universal experiences."

Suggestions for Library Use
This book belongs on the shelf with no fanfare, displays, or other attention. It is not good writing, it's not a good story, the characters are dull, secondary and tertiary characters are far too abundant and make the story confusing, the "romance" is bizarre, and the violence and drama are far too exagerrated. Any moral Collins is trying to convey gets overshadowed by the extreme bloodshed and general confusion.

Riordan, Rick. The Lightning Thief. New York: Disney-Hyperion, 2006.

Summary
Zeus' master lightning bolt has been stolen and Percy Jackson is the prime suspect. Percy Jackson, however, is a junior high student that's about to be kicked out of yet another school for failing grades and bad behavoir. When mythical creatures start appearing in Percy's life, he realizes there's something about his past his mother hasn't told him. Percy is the son of Posiedon, god of the sea and brother of Zeus. Percy is immediately sent to Camp Half-Blood, a camp for children of Greek Gods and mortals, where he will be proctected. Meanwhile, Zeus has declared war if his lightning bolt is not returned by the summer solstice. With days to go, Percy and his friends decide to find and return the bolt themselves.

Impressions
This book is a lot like Harry Potter- a misunderstood hero, his super-smart gal pal, his faithful if not a tad clumsy buddy, all living in the real world yet being part of a fantasy, and saving everyone from destruction. The Greek Mythology introduced througout the story, however, really makes this book original and fun.
The characters are relatable, despite their immortal talents and abilities, and their banter is believeable. This book makes you feel as though it's possible to be an Olympian.

Reviews
Publishers Weekly, 8/1/2005, Vol. 252 Issue 30, p68-69. Accessed 12 October 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.

"For this fast-paced adventure that zaps characters from Greek mythology into modern times, Bernstein gets the reading rhythm just right. He conveys Riordan's notes of humor, sarcasm and downright amazement in the voice of 12-year-old Percy Jackson, a smart kid who seems to be a magnet for trouble. But one day Percy discovers that being kicked out of a different school every year and dealing with learning challenges like ADHD is nothing compared to the truth of his life: he's a demigod, the son of Poseidon. Of course, among other things, that means an action-packed mission to the Underworld to find Zeus's stolen lightning bolt and return it to Mount Olympus (specially accessed as the 600th floor in the Empire State Building). Listeners will be hanging on every zippy chapter here and will be eager to find out where Percy heads next in this planned series."

Goldsmith, Francisca; Mandell, Phyllis Levy. School Library Journal, Oct2005, Vol. 51 Issue 10, p79. Accessed 12 October 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.

"At the outset of this fast-paced tale by Rick Riordan , it would seem that Percy Jackson is just another New York kid diagnosed with ADHD, who has good intentions, a nasty stepfather, and a long line of schools that have rejected him. The revelation of his status as half-blood offspring of one of the Greek gods is nicely packaged, and it's easy to believe that Mount Olympus, in modern times, has migrated to the 600th floor of the Empire State Building (the center of Western civilization) while the door to Hades can be found at DOA Recording Studio, somewhere in LA. With his new friends, a disguised satyr, and the half-blood daughter of Athena, Percy sets out across the country to rectify a feud between Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon. Along the way they must cope with the Furies, Medusa, motorcycle thug Aires, and various other immortals. Mythology fans will love this take and kids who haven't been inculcated with the Classical canon will learn aspects of it here while having no trouble following a rollicking good--and modern--adventure."

Suggestions for Library Use
This book is a great example of fantasy for ages 11+. It would appeal to both boys and girls, but should be marketed to boys because of the male narrator and strong male protagonists. Also, many of the antagonists (Medusa, etc.) are women. This would make a fun Guys Read book. Or as a reading incentive program, if a child completed the book, they could get to watch the movie version.

Module Seven- Does My Head Look Big In This?, Randa Abdel-Fattah Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli

Abdel-Fattah, Randa. Does My Head Look Big In This? New York: Orchard Books, 2005.

Summary
Amal is a typical 16 year old. She loves watching TV, texting with her friends, and has a crush on her lab partner. Amal is also Muslim and has decided on her own- in fact her parents try to talk her out of this a number of times- to wear the hijab full-time. Overnight, everything becomes an issue of religion and the problems Amal encounters are suddenly about so much more than fitting in with the cool kids at school.


Impressions
This book goes back and forth between being very stirring, and being completely forgettable. For example, the chats Amal has with her elderly Greek Orthodox neighbor are very touching ,and I have found myself thinking about them often. On the other hand, most of this book is written very weakly with bland, flat characters. I can't remember what some of Amal's best friends' names are or even how the book ends. Abdel-Fattah needs to work on consistency. Overall, this is an ok book that would certainly appeal to teenage girls.
Some of the words and references used by the characters don't make a lot of sense so I wonder if the American version has been changed from the original Australian or if Australian teens actually talk that way?


Reviews
Andronik, Catherine M.. Library Media Connection, Nov. 2007, Vol. 26 Issue 3, p78-78. Retrieved October 10, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.
"Amal, whose parents are Palestinian immigrants, is, like all teens, intent on discovering who she is including the depth of her religious beliefs. One of the decisions she must make is when to start wearing the hijab, or headscarf. Her choice to wear the hijab results in controversy in school, among her friends, and within her immediate and extended family. Just when Amal starts coming across as too preachy, fortunately, her funny, spunky, and irreverent nature asserts itself. Some of the pop culture references seem dated. With so much misunderstanding surrounding Islam in today’s world, teens may appreciate a high school-centered story featuring a Muslim girl who is more like than unlike them in many ways."

Rochman, Hazel. Booklist, 7/1/2007, Vol. 103 Issue 21, p60. Retrieved October 10, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.
"The first-person present-tense narrative is hilarious about the diversity, and something heartbreaking... Without heavy preaching the issues of faith and culture are part of the story, from fasting at Ramadan to refusing sex before marriage. More than the usual story of the immigrant teen's conflict with her traditional parents, the funny, touching contemporary narrative will grab teens everywhere."

Suggestions for Library Use
I would like to use this in my library's after school program. Because my library is located in a very multi-ethnic community, this book is a positive, uplifting way to teach about diversity, especially to girls who can be very cruel to each other for many reasons including religion and ethnic background. This would also be an excellent book for high school students to read and discuss in a social studies class. This book is vibrant and the dialogue would certainly appeal to the 15-18 year old crowd.








Spinelli, Jerry. Stargirl. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2002.


Summary
All the students at Mica High are more or less the same. They don't attend football games, they all dress roughly alike, and they all know their places within different circles of friends. When Stargirl, a girl who has actually named herself Stargirl, transfers to Mica High everything begins to change. Stargirl dresses any way she wants- often in costume- writes greeting cards, finds out when classmate's birthdays are and sings "Happy Birthday" in the lunchroom on her Ukelele, and cheers for the other team in basketball. At first Stargirl is an enigma and other students find her intriguing, but as the schoolyear wears on they begin to find her personality and differences annoying and Mica High bands together to make her life miserable.
Leo, the narrator of this book, is one of the average Mica High students. He is also in love with Stargirl. And Stargirl loves him back. Together they do all the things Stargirl loves- play with her pet rat, meditate in the desert, document the neighbor kid's life through photo-essay, etc. until the kids at school make Leo's life too miserable. Leo knows Stargirl should mean more to him than the approval of Mica High, but in the end, peer pressure wins out. The book ends with Stargirl's heartbreaking disappearance from Leo's life.


Impressions
I loved this book! Loved it! This book is written so lyrically it's like poetry. The characters are so full of life, wit, and charm. Spinelli makes you fall in love with Stargirl and yet still see how she's so annoying. You want Leo to forget his friends and just be with Stargirl, and at the same time you want him to have other friends and a positive high school experience. And while the ending breaks your heart, you feel happy at the same time because ultimately both Stargirl and Leo end up with what is best for them.



Reviews
Follos, Alison. School Library Journal, November 2004, Vol. 50 Issue 11, p. 65. Retrieved October 12, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.
"Stargirl is eccentric, creative, and kind. She strums her ukulele while singing in the high school cafeteria. She's the embodiment of creative optimism and wears her heart upon her sleeve. She is oblivious to the adolescent affront caused by her idiosyncrasies. Then one day she hears the whispered sneers, and Stargirl is no more. Spinelli captures the magic of individualism while encouraging readers to honor differences and avoid the traps of conformity."


Emminger, Kelly. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, Oct2001, Vol. 45 Issue 2, p170. Retrieved October 12, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.
"Stargirl touches upon many issues that teens can relate to such as individuality, conformity, first love, school, the power of love and hate, the power of an individual over a group and the power of a group over an individual, loneliness, and cliques. Stargirl had the power to ignite and captivate the attention of an entire high school. She captivated the other students simply because she was not like "them." What could possibly be so scary about a genuinely nice person like Stargirl? She is not a part of any existing groups or cliques such as the jocks, the nerds, or the pretty cheerleaders. She is an outsider. The cliques are "them" and Stargirl is simply Stargirl. Soon, as a result of his affection for Stargirl, the students also shun Leo. In the end he chooses "them" over her.
Spinelli's novel raises issues about individuals who live on the fringe. Stargirl is an example, because other students see who she is as unacceptably different. She can never be one of them."


Suggestions for Library Use
This is not necessarily a good book about how being yourself is ok as Stargirl and Leo are themselves and get torn to shreds by their classmates, however, this book would start a good discussion with teens about bullying. Specifically why people who are different, even if their differences are refreshing, optimistic, or otherwise good are picked on. For example, who decides why we bully other people? Why do we allow others to be bullied?

Module Six- There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom, Louis Sachar

Sachar, Louis. There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom. New York: Alfred K. Knopf, Inc., 1987.

Summary
Bradley Chalkers sits alone at his desk-last seat, last row- because no one likes him and he likes it that way. He never does his homework, scribbles constantly, tears up library books, abuses hallpasses, and stretches his mouth so wide no one can tell whether he is smiling or frowning. Bradley remains alone until Jeff Fishkin, a new student, is forced to sit next to him. The surprising thing is, Jeff doesn't mind- he actually wants to be friends with Bradley!
Another new "kid" at school is Carla Davis, the school guidance counselor. She and Jeff agree to figure out the school together, while at the same time each one of them help Bradley in their own way. Jeff by simply being a friend, and Carla by helping Bradley learn how, not what, to think. Slowly but surely, Bradley becomes lovable, makes friends, and even does his homework.

Impressions
This is one a book you should not judge by its cover. At first glance, title and cover art look so ridiculous, you feel embarrassed to be reading such a book. In fact, I remember wanting to read this book in fifth grade but being too worried about what my friends and teacher would say to check it out. Despite its title and jacket art, this book is the most charming and honest book I have ever read about being different, making friends, and being in elementary school I have ever read. This book is so endearing, it has become one of my very favorites.

Reviews

There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom. Kirkus Reviews. Accessed September 27, 2010 from http://www.powells.com/biblio/7-9780394805726-0.

"A humorous and immensely appealing story...Readers are likely to come away with the sense that they've been rooting for themselves too."

Gale, David. School Library Journal, Apr87, Vol. 33 Issue 8, p103. Retrieved September 27, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.

“An unlikely protagonist, Bradly Chalkers is a friendless, lying, insecure bully who is the oldest boy in his fifth-grade class. In this humorous novel that tells of Bradley’s learning to like himself and to makes friends, Sachar ably captures both middle-grade angst and joy. Bradley’s triumph comes through the friendship of a new boy at school and the help of the new school counselor. Readers, like the astute counselor, can see the strengths that Bradley has, and will cheer at his minor victories and cringe at his setbacks along the way. The story in unusual, witty, and satisfying, if not always believable: a few instances just do nto work. For instance, even though Bradley has not been doing his homework, his complete ignorance of it is unlikely, and his total unfamiliarity with birthday parties is too extreme for a ten year old, even on who hadn’t been to a party in three years. Yet Bradley’s need for acceptance even as he holds back from classmates who might mock or hurt him is genuine, and his eventual success will gratify readers.”

Suggestions for Library Use
Because Bradley and Jeff are ten or eleven year old boys, this should be included in a GUYS READ program. The story has just enough humor and adventure, not to mention black eyes, to really appeal to boys. It is an excellent example of how to overcome who you don't want to be, and at the same time teaches how to treat people who are different.

Module Five- Cowboy & Octopus, Jon Scieszka

Scieszka, Jon. Cowboy & Octopus. New York: Viking, 2007.

Summary
Cowboy, a cowboy, and Octopus, an octopus, become friends one day because Cowboy can't ride on the seesaw alone. The two then discover that some things work better with a friend. They also learn, however, that some things do not work better with a friend- like hammering together craft projects. They also learn that you have to do things, or eat things, you don't like because they are important to your friend, and friends are always, always honest with each other simply because they are friends.

Impressions
This story is quirky and fun, but the illustrations really make it exciting. The illustrations are collages of mixed media- vintage pictures, photographs, kitchen untensils, a head of lettuce, etc.-and make the story at the same time both crazy and real. Even though Cowboy has the same expression on his face the entire time, the other elements in the illustrations make him personable and you actually believe he is friends with an octopus. Likewise, Octopus always wears the same expression and pose, but the way he is positioned, dressed up, and mingled with other objects makes him seem like he really could be eating Cowboy's baked beans.
This book is completely original and appeals to both young children and teenagers. The friendship is sincere, the jokes are actually funny, and the art is bold and fun.

Reviews
MrMarshal1. Video Book Review #1- Cowboy and Octopus. Accessed September 20, 2010 from youtube.com.



Publishers Weekly. Children's Book Reviews: Week of 7/16/2007. Accessed September 20, 2010 from http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childens/childrens-book-news/article/13974-children-s-book-reviews-week-of-7-16-2007-.html.
"Scieszka and Smith (Math Curse) unpack a bin of old toys and comics for this characteristically oddball entry. Their title page, which depicts a pair of scissors beside a sheet of Western Heroes paper dolls and an undersea comic book, reveals the origins of Cowboy and Octopus—both are paper cutouts that pose the same way throughout this episodic volume. Blond, cinematic Cowboy wears pressed jeans tucked into fancy boots and a fringed paisley shirt suitable for the rodeo. Sky-blue Octopus, with a tangle of tentacles, is shaded with pre-digital lavender dots. After cooperating to ride a seesaw, they shake hands, and shake hands, and shake hands a total of eight times, cementing their friendship...Greeting-card sentiments about friendship, punctuated by classic cowboy-isms dot the text. Those who love Scieszka and Smith's absurd humor will get the joke, but this is a lesser entry in the pair's pantheon. All ages."

Suggestions for Library Use
Cowboy & Octopus would be a super fun book for a storytime for younger or older children on how to be a good friend and what friends do for each other simply because they love each other. For older children, it could also be an example of innovative/non-traditional illustration techniques. The children could then try their hand at collages to illustrate well-known stories or even stories of their own.

Module Four- Julie of the Wolves, Jean Craighead George

George, Jean Craighead. Julie of the Wolves. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1972.

Summary
Miyax, or Julie as she is called by white men, is a 13 year old Inupiaq Eskimo. Her mother died when she was very young so she was brought up by her father, Kapugen, an influential member of their Eskimo community. When Miyax turns nine, she is taken to live with a distant relative in a city where she can go to school. Before she leaves, Kapugen tells Miyax if things get too miserable she can escape by marrying the son of his business partner. Miyax likes going to school in the city but life with her irritable relative is hard. One day, she learns that her father went kayaking for seal and has not been seen for a month. Presuming her father is dead, she agrees to marry the son of Kapugen's business partner only to discover that he is dull, his father is an abusive drunk, and his mother makes Miyax sew parkas and mukluks constantly to bring more money into the home. Miyax runs away to catch a ferry that will eventually lead her to San Francisco where she can live with her penpal, but gets lost on the vast Arctic tundra. She survives only by becoming part of a real wolf pack. The story ends with Miyax discovering her father is alive but has married a white woman and taken up white ways. In the end, we are to assume that Miyax has decided to live with them for a while.

Impressions
Even though almost no one speaks, the imagery of the scenery and wildlife of the desolate Tundra and relationships that exist therein are enough to make this story surprisingly compelling. Also impressive is George's ability to make Miyax and the wolves very assesible and loveable since I doubt the majority of George's audience have any familiarity with wolves, the Arctic, or Eskimos.

Reviews
Reutter, Vicki. School Library Journal, May2004, Vol. 50 Issue 5, p64. Retrieved September 19, 2010, from Academic Search Premier database.
"A compelling story about...Miyax Kapugen, an Eskimo girl caught between the old ways an those of the whites, between childhood and womanhood. Jean George has captured the subtle nuances of Eskimo life, animal habits, the plain nature of growing up, and combines these elements into a thrilling adventure which is, at the same time, a poignant love story."


Stackhouse, Martha. Honoring Alaska's Indiginous Literature, Review of Julie of the Wolves. Alaska Native Knowledge Network. Accessed September 19, 2010 from http://ankn.uaf.edu/IKS/HAIL/JulieWolves.html.
"This book has the thirteen year old Inupiag girl, named Miyax, trekking from Barrow to Point Hope in order to catch a ship. The Inupiaq alphabet does not have the letter 'x' so Miyax is definitely not an Inupiaq name. I wondered why she bothered to walk to Point Hope when the ship also goes to Barrow. During this trek, Miyax begins to starve. She ate lemming , which is misleading as Inupiaq people do not eat lemmings. I especially did not appreciate the blending of the Yupick words and culture. The author used the word "kuspuk" when we use "atikaeuk"..and "Gussak" which is also a Yupick words for a white man. Our Inupiaq name for white man is "Tanik." She also talked about the bladder festival. Again, it is derived from a Yupik celebration, not Inupiaq. With all due respect for Jean Craighead George, I humbly would not recommend this book to be put on school shelves...When misinformation about the Arctic is numerous, one must say something."

Suggestions for Library Use
According to ALA's 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-1999, Julie of the Wolves ranks 32nd. While the words are simple enough, the content is rather mature. Miyax is married at age 13, there is an attempt at marital rape (although quite brief), and when Miyax encounters a couple while she is camping not far from a small city, there is a discussion about whether or not Miyax has been banished to this hut because she has begun menstruating. While this book and subsequent sequels would look nice on a display about Native American Cultures, Alaska, the Arctic, etc., because of the content, I'm not sure how a library should promote this book.

Module Four- When You Reach Me, Rebecca Stead

Stead, Rebecca. When You Reach Me. New York: Wendy Lamb Books, 2009.

Summary

Miranda, a sixth grader living in New York City in a small apartment with her single mother, starts receiving mysterious notes implying there will be some kind of tragedy in her future. To prove that the author of the notes is right, he predicts future events for Miranda. From her Christmas present to her mother appearing on a TV game show, all of these events are true. Meanwhile, Miranda also has other things to deal with like her best friend Sal getting beat up by a random boy on the street and not speaking to her again, getting a new best friend, Annemarie, and having Annemarie's old best friend get jealous, avoiding the crazy homeless man who lives outside her building, and trying to figure out time travel with her classmate and boy who beat up Sal, Marcus.

Eventually, after the tragedy Miranda was warned about in her mysterious notes, we learn that Marcus does understand time travel and that he is the crazy homeless person. The story ends poignantly with everything and everyone learning how they are connected in Miranda's life.

Impressions

This is a fantastic book. I love the characters and the format and the story. It's incredibly hard to put down! It captures perfectly the feeling of being 12 and trying to deal with everyday things while larger stresses keep piling up, plus there's an exciting element mystery- but the mystery is written in such a way that it is completely believable. The twist of time travel does end up being a surprise even though Miranda and Marcus have been arguing about it the entire book, and the homeless man being Marcus makes perfect sense and makes a beautiful end to a funny, heart-warming story.

Reviews

Kirkus Reviews, 11/15/2009, Vol. 77 Issue 22, Special Section p16. Retrieved September 19, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.

"A science-fiction tale firmly rooted in reality, When You Reach Me is the written correspondence between Miranda, a latchkey kid growing up in New York City during the 1970s, and the time traveler she has yet to meet. In order to prevent a tragedy Miranda must tell the truth about her sixth-grade year. "You won't be yourself when you reach me," Miranda writes to the mysterious stranger, "but you will get the job done." Rebecca Stead successfully reveals two important portals to the future--time travel and preadolescence. "It's kind of a special time," says Stead, when kids realize, "life is so much more complicated than I thought--and it's not all about me." Like the heroine of her favorite book, A Wrinkle in Time, Miranda struggles just as much with immaturity as she does with the laws of physics. With issues ranging from her mom's embarrassing wardrobe to her sudden estrangement from her friend Sal, Miranda learns that growing apart is part of growing up. "A lot of my strongest memories about friendship come from the making and the breaking and the discovering," says Stead. Like all preadolescents, she said, Miranda discovers the "ability to look at people from a slightly wiser point of view." (Ages 10-14)"

Edinger, Monica. Children's Books; Summer Reading Chronicle. New York Times, Sunday Book Review, Sunday August 13, 2009. Accessed September 19, 2010 from http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F05EEDD1E30F935A2575BC0A96F9C8B63&ref=bookreviews.

"In this era of supersize children's books, Rebecca Stead's 'When You Reach Me' looks positively svelte. But don't be deceived: In this taut novel, every word, every sentence, has meaning and substance. A hybrid of genres, it is a complex mystery, a work of historical fiction, a school story and one of friendship, with a leitmotif of time travel running through it. Most of all the novel is a thrilling puzzle. Stead piles up clues on the way to a moment of intense drama, after which is pretty much impossible to stop reading until the last page."

Suggestions for Library Use

This book would make a magnificent addition to any Newberry Award feature, display, and certainly collection. It should be promoted by librarians as an appropriate and excellent book for ages 12+. If your library does after school reading programs with older children, this would be a wonderful reading group book to learn about the importance of being a good friend and how to maintain friendships.

Module Three- Let it Shine, Ashley Bryan

Bryan, Ashley. Let it Shine. New York: Atheneum, 2007.

Summary
In this book, three traditional African-American spirituals, This Little Light of Mine, Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In, and He's Got the Whole World in His Hands are set to bright, bold illustrations. At the end of the book, Bryan explains that these songs are sung freely today but originated by black slaves in antebellum America. Back then, it was a crime to teach a slave to read and write so slaves' used song to express their hopes, sorrows, and joys.



Impressions
This is a fun and exciting book! Children will love the big, colorful illustrations. I think this books is especially interesting if you are already familiar with the songs. The illustrations match them perfectly and I'm sure children would love being sung to while flipping through this book.


I think it is well deserving of the Coretta Scott King award because the illustrations are outstanding in blending multicultural themes into these famous spirituals.



Reviews

Kirkus Reviews, 12/15/2006, Vol. 74 Issue 24, p1265. Accessed September 11, 2010, from Academic Search Premier database.
"An extra-large trim size, a vibrant palette and Bryan's glorious cut-paper collage illustrations add up to a marvelous interpretation of three traditional African-American spirituals: "This Little Light of Mine," "Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In" and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." Intriguing endpapers show larger-than-life hands set against flowing stripes of color, with scissors and cut-paper shapes hinting at the arresting artistic style within. Children in silhouette are the main design element for the first two songs, with the final song illustrated with remarkable images of huge hands holding up different elements of the world. The volume's large size and brilliant colors make this a natural choice for a rousing sing-along with a group, and the musical notation for the songs is included. Incorporated into these final spreads with the music are concluding illustrations for every song, each focusing on a shining source of light."

Piehl, Kathy. School Library Journal, Jan2007, Vol. 53 Issue 1, p113. Accessed September 11, 2010, from Academic Search Premier database.
"PreSchool-Grade 5- Bryan's vibrant illustrations interpret and energize three beloved songs...Energy and movement course through many of the full-bleed illustrations. At other times, the images offer comfort and security. Simply melody lines and an explanation of the origin and importance of spirituals are appended. Yet, Bryan's illustrations demonstrate more than words the dynamic inspiration that these songs still provide. Readers will find themselves humming as they turn the pages."



Suggestions for Library Use
This book would be excellent for teaching colors and shapes to small children. Older children could be taught about spirituals or folk songs and even be encouraged to write their own spiritual about their own feelings. This book would be a great addition to a Black History month display.

Module Three- Baboushka and the Three Kings, Ruth Robbins

Robbins, Ruth. Baboushka and the Three Kings. Parnassus Press, 1960.

Summary
Baboushak and the Three Kings is a Christmas folktale from Russia. Baboushka lives in a small cottage by herself and one night while cleaning, is visited by three kings who seek a child. They ask Baboushka to join them in their quest, but she is too tired and asks them to wait until morning. They declare their search is too important and cannot rest, so they leave her. Baboushka regrets her decision and decides to find the child too. She cannot find the tracks of the three kings and becomes lost. She asks everyone she meets if they have seen the child, but no one has. Legend has it that every winter Baboushka goes searching for the child again, leaving humble but precious presents for other children along the way.


Impressions

Frankly, I'm amazed this won the Caldecott. The illustrations look like they were drawn by a small child with a bleeding Crayola marker. Faces of the characters are frightening and their heads are too large for their bodies. The illustrations are overly simplistic, geometric, and too modern for a traditional Christmas folktale from Russia.
While an adult can peice together the information at hand to understand this is a Christmas story, a child probably would not. The reader is left with a very dissapointing and anticlimactic end to the story.
Reviewers don't have much to say either:



Reviews- It was very hard to find reviews for this one!
Baboushka and the Three Kings. Good Media, Good Kids. University of Notre Dame. Retrieved September 11, 2010, from http://goodmedia.nd.edu/reviews/review.cfm?id=1574.
"Baboushka and the Three Kings is about morality. Moral reasoning in the story focuses on self-concern and concern for relationships. The theme of this story is it is good to keep our eyes and ears open, so that we don't miss opporunities."


Baboushka and the Three Kings. Editorial Reviews. Amazon.com: Retrieved September 11, 2010, from http://www.amazon.com/Baboushka-Three-Kings-Ruth-Robbins/dp/039527673X.
"The strikingly effective pictures are distinctive in design and rich in color."


Suggestion for Library Use
Get this for your library's Caldecott winner collection. I doubt there is much other use for it as most libraries cannot have official Christmas storytimes, Christmas featured books, etc.
You might be able to get away with putting this in a Christmas around the world, or Holidays around the world. It could be placed in an Eastern European display, but it wouldn't make much sense out of the Christmas context.

Module Two- Beezus and Ramona, Beverly Cleary

Cleary, Beverly. Beezus and Ramona. New York: William Morrow & Company, 1955.

Summary
Beatrice Quimby is nine years old. She likes to read by herself, embroider, play checkers with her best friend Henry, and aspires to be like her namesake, her Aunt Beatrice who lives alone and teaches school. Ramona Quimby on the other hand is four years old and out of control! She is noisy, silly, messy, quirky, disobedient, and has nicknamed Beatice, Beezus. Beezus, neat and proper, is discovering that as time goes on and Ramona gets even quirkier, that sometimes she doesn't even love Ramona. Like the time Ramona invited her entire school class over for a party that she didn't tell her mother about and Beezus has to save the day. Or when Ramona takes just one bite from every apple in the pantry. Or even worse, when Ramona completely ruins Beezus' birthday by putting her rubber doll in the oven while her birthday cake is baking. Eventually, Beezus comes to the realization that sisters will always love each other, especially after sharing exasperating experiences.



Impressions
I remember an elementary teacher reading a Ramona story aloud. I remember I loved it because Ramona was so funny. Reading Beezus and Ramona now, I identify with Beezus much more. Even though I felt all Beezus' pains, the book was still funny. I never thought Beezus was a bad person, and I still loved Ramona in the end. This book portrays both sides of being a sibling with humor and delicacy.
This book is also very easy to read. It's a perfect jump from picture book to chapter book. It's lighthearted and simple making extremely accesible for young readers.



Reviews
Beezus and Ramona. (2010). Retrieved September 11, 2010, from Amazon.com, http://www.amazon.com/Beezus-Ramona-Beverly-Cleary/dp/038070918X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1291168270&sr=1-1.
"Old enough to be expected to take responsibility for her little sister, yet young enough to be mortified by every embarassing plight the precocious preschooler gets them into, Beezus is constantly struggling with her mixed-up feelings about the exasperating Ramona.
There's no one in the world like Beverly Cleary...This terrifically popular author of over two dozen children's books has withstood the test of time for generations."


Beezus and Ramona. (2010). Retrieved September 11, 2010 from Through the Looking Glass, Children's Book Reviews, lookingglassreview.com.
"Any child who has been around an annoying younger brother, sister, cousin, or friend will appreciate the six stories in this book. The problems that Beezus and Ramona have to deal with are of the everyday variety; they are the kind of problems that children can relate to. At the same time they are also funny and highly entertaining."



Suggestions for Library Use
This book should be recommended as a gentle transition for readers who are intimidated, but ready for, chapter books. Due to the story content (the relationship between two sisters), it would be best for a young girl.
Beezus and Ramona, would also be good for teaching about sibling relationships such as finding qualities to admire in each other, overcoming differences, and moving past situations in which feelings have been hurt.

Module Two- Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Judi and Ron Barrett

Barrett, Judi & Ron. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. New York: Atheneum, 1978.

Summary

Grandpa, inspired after accidentally flipping a pancake right onto Henry's head, makes up the best tall-tale ever for Henry and his sister's bedtime story. The story features the tiny town of Chewandswallow which at first glance appears to be like any other town. Chewandswallow has a Main Street, houses with trees, a schoolhouse, but what really sets it apart is the weather. In Chewandswallow, the rain, wind, snow- all the weather- is made of food! The citizens of Chewandswallow never have to buy food, they simply eat whatever falls out of the sky. One day, the food starts getting bigger and bigger. The food eventually gets so large, it threatens to destroy Chewandswallow so the entire town is evacuated by using giant pieces of stale bread as boats. The people make it to a small coastal town where their lives resume as normal except getting used to buying food at a grocery store is tricky. In the end, no one ever returns to Chewandswallow to discover what happened. By the time this tall-tale is over, both Henry and his sister are fast asleep and can't remember the ending, but when they go out to play in the snow the next day, they can almost smell mashed potatoes.

Impressions

I recently saw the movie adaptation of this book and thought it was hilarious. I never read the book as a child so I decided this was the perfect opportunity to go back and read it. While the book and movie differ greatly, the are both charming and children find them interesting. I love the idea of food falling from the sky instead of rain or snow. This book is highly creative and perfect at stretching the imagination.

I liked how the illustrations are black and white until the story of Chewandswallow begins. Afterwards, even when the children go back to normal life, there is still come color in the artwork.

Reviews
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. 2010. Retrieved September 11, 2010 from Barnes and Noble, http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Cloudy-with-a-Chance-of-Meatballs/Judi-Barrett/e/9780689707490/?itm=1&USRI=cloudy+with+a+chance+of+meatballs.

"Who wouldn't love to walk outside to find that it had rained maple syrup and pancakes or snowed mashed potatoes with warm butter on top? Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs does more than capture a child's imagination, it runs with it. This books is a must for all the children (and adults) who still hope that it is possible for something completely fantastic to happen."

Christina, Pomoni. 2010. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. Retrieved September 11, 2010, from Helium.com.

"There are a lot of things in the book that actually make it a children's classic. Written in a neat and charming way, the book features innovative ideas and writing. This book is so easy to read that children may read it by themselves. Ron Barrettt's excellent illustrations are detailed and vivid. To my view, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is a hymn to creativity."

Suggestions for Library Use

The possibilities for using this book in a story time for older elementary aged children are endless. It would be great in a storytime about real weather (climate, seasons, etc.), foods, tall-tales, useful inventions, etc.

Module 1- Runaway Bunny, Margaret Wise Brown

Brown, Margaret Wise. Runaway Bunny. New York: Harper & Row, 1942.

Summary

"I am running away." says little bunny to his mother. "If you run away, I will run after you. For you are my little bunny." responds his mother. For the rest of this picture book, the little bunny comes up with clever ways to escape from his mother such as becoming a tree or joining the circus and flying away on a flying trapeze. For every plan, however, the little bunny's mother comes up with a way to run after him. Eventually, the little bunny decides he should just stay home and be his mother's little bunny.

Impressions

When the mother rabbit responds to little bunny's attempts at running away from their home, she can always come up with the perfect plan to find her little bunny. Her tone is always very soothing and calm which sets the tone for the book. This story is all about how much a mother loves her children and that no matter how far the limits of her love may be tested, she will always find and love her "little bunny." This story teaches children there are no bounds to a parent's love for even after all the little bunny's elaborate schemes, he is still welcomed back with loving words and a carrot.

Reviews

The Runaway Bunny. (2010). Retrieved September 9, 2010, from Barnes & Noble, http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Runaway-Bunny/Margaret-Wise-Brown/e/9780061074295/?itm=1&USRI=runaway+bunny.

"Margaret Wise Brown's comforating and reassuring story about a little bunny and his loving mother has been a favorite for generations of children all over the world."

The Runaway Bunny. (2010). Retrieved September 9, 2010, from Amazon.com, http://www.amazon.com/Runaway-Bunny-Margaret-Wise-Brown/dp/0061074292.

"Since its publication in 1942, The Runaway Bunny has never been out of print. Generations of sleepy children and grateful parents have loved the classics of Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd, including Goodnight Moon. The Runaway Bunny begins with a young bunny who decides to run away. . . And so begins a delightful, imaginary game of chase. For any small child who has toyed with the idea of running away or testing the strength of Mom's love, this old favorite will comfort and reassure."

Suggestions for Library Use

This book should be acquired as both a picture book and a board book so both easy and beginning readers can enjoy it. It should be read by a parent to a child so the child can begin to understand the meaning of unconditional love.

Because no one understands how clever this blog's title is...

In 1844, presidential hopeful, James K. Polk ran on the platform of taking control of the entire Oregon Territory and used the famous slogan, "Fifty-four Forty or Fight!" as part of a very successful campaign. 54'40 refers to the latitude of the northern boundary of Oregon. Polk's plan was to claim then go to war over the territory. While it didn't quite happen that way, and James K. Polk didn't inspire much children's literature, 54'20 or Fight is clever. It is. It's clever, people.