30 November 2010

GOING BOVINE by Libba Bray - Review for TWU course

BIBLIOGRAPHY Bray, Libba. 2009. Going Bovine.  New York, NY: Delacorte Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780385733977.

PLOT SUMMARY
Cameron, a "slacker" high school student whose life seems to be crumbling, finds out he has Mad Cow Disease.  His journey from diagnosis through trying to save the world from the disease is a comedic adventure, often dark.  His companions are entertaining, each in their own right, as they travel his journey together, unwilling to give up simply because he is their friend.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Cameron is a quiet, edgy sophomore with a sharp wit.  While he’s usually over looked and non-descript, contracting “mad cow disease” has tossed him into the center of attention.  His quick witted, sharp comeback personality makes him someone you want to be around, to see what will happen next, as you start to care about him and the fact that mad cow disease is fatal.

The story took an interesting and original look at the progression of the disease and how someone deals with it.  Throughout the reading I often wondered if these things were actually happening to the main character, or if while his mind was being turned to “Swiss cheese,” he was hallucinating the entire thing.  The wild adventure that he embarks on embraces dreams, wishes, and desires that I believe hit people when the frailty of life becomes reality.
Set in today’s world, it is easy to slip into the story and embrace the characters.  The realism is all too familiar in a teenage world, details quite accurate.  Looking at death so blatantly isn’t something that is fun to do, especially for invincible teens, but this certainly hit hard and will create some thought in readers, even though it may not be the type of thinking they want to do, the adult kind.

I completely enjoyed the author’s unique voice in this story.  Fans of her other works will find a fresh new view in this book.  Bray accurately depicts the various teenagers: outcast, popular, jock, druggies, to name a few.  As the mom of teenagers, I found the reality and language to be quite accurate, although shocking for some that are not ensconced in that world.  I think teens will find themselves in a comfortable world that Bray creates while exploring an uncomfortable subject.  Definitely recommend this for teens and their parents.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2009 Children's Book Sense Pick


Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of the Year 2009

Booklist Books for Youth Editors' Choice in 2009

Michael L. Printz Award Winner 2010

School Library Journal  "Bray blends in a hearty dose of satire on the road trip as Cameron leaves his Texas deathbed—or does he?—to battle evil forces with a legendary jazz horn player, to escape the evil clutches of a happiness cult, to experiment with cloistered scientists trying to solve the mysteries of the universe, and to save a yard gnome embodying a Viking god from the clutches of the materialistic, fame-obsessed MTV-culture clones who shun individual thought. It's a trip worth taking, though meandering and message-driven at times. Some teens may check out before Cameron makes it to his final destination, but many will enjoy asking themselves the questions both deep and shallow that pop up along the way.
Booklist, starred review "An unforgettable, nearly indefinable fantasy adventure."

CONNECTIONS
The most obvious connection is to read Going Bovine, then follow up with Don Quixote, which is referenced throughout the book.  I find that references to other literary works make that referenced work almost irresistible. 
 

28 November 2010

THE ARRIVAL by Shaun Tan - Review for TWU course

BIBLIOGRAPHY Tan, Shaun. 2007. The Arrival.  New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books. ISBN 9780439895293.

PLOT SUMMARY

A wordless graphic novel that tells the story of an immigrant.  The story follows a man leaving his family and traveling to a new land where everything is foreign.  The confusion and frustration accompanying being an immigrant are portrayed well, even without words.  Follow the man's journey into his new homeland.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The main character is a man who leaves his family and home to travel to a strange new land.  While we’ve all done this to some degree or another, he enters a land where he does not know the language and customs are unfamiliar to him.  Through him, we are able to identify with immigrants and how scary and overwhelming their lives are when new to a foreign country.  Without words, Tan illicit a sense of concern about how he will survive and deal with the hardships.

Very believable, seen through the eyes of an immigrant.  The creativity Tan uses in creating the setting, the language, people, creatures and customs foreign and alien to anyone who would read this, draws the reader in.  Tan does an excellent job making the reading feel as an immigrant would, language totally foreign and alien, every letter, and every bit of asking for help.  The difficulties encountered are well documented.  As the story unfolds, it is a wonderful sense of accomplishment that I felt as the man started being able to communicate and get around and help others.

This is a book that lends itself to repeated readings. The drawings are so detailed, that there is more to be gleaned with each reading.  Something as simple as the title page sets the tone for the book to take off from.  The title is in some unknown characters and the author’s name is in characters that are somewhat recognizable though altered.  The rest of the book takes off from here, as the sense of being able to read “something” (author’s name) soon disappears. 
Though this is a young adult book, I think it spans the age classification.  Adults should definitely read this book to aid in giving empathy about the plight of immigrants.  It could be any of us in a new situation or country and this book helps spread appreciation for being in that situation and for me, generates thinking on how I might make someone in that situation feel more comfortable.  Highly recommended.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S) 

New South Wales Premier's Literary Award
2006 Cybils Award
Bologna Ragazzi Award, Special Mention
Spectrum Award
Junior Library Guild Selection
World Fantasy Artist of the Year
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2007
A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2007
Amazon.com's Best Teen Book of 2007
2007 Parents' Choice Gold Award
A Book Sense Winter 2007-2008 Top Ten Children’s Pick
A New York Public Library Best Book for Reading and Sharing
A New York Times Notable Children’s Book of 2007
Rocky Mountain News, A Top Ten Book of the Year
The Columbus Dispatch, A Best Book of 2007
Booklist Editors' Choice 2007
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2007
A Washington Post Best Book for Young People for 2007
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon for Fiction
ALA Notable Children's Book, 2008
ALA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults, 2008
ALA Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens, 2008
Horn Book Fanfare Book 2007
Metropolitan Home Magazine's Design 100, 2008
An IRA Notable Book for a Global Society, 2008
2008 Locus Award, Best Art Book
2008 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, special citation for excellence in graphic storytelling
CCBC Choices 2008
Nominated for an International Horror Guild Award, Illustrated Narrative

Publishers Weekly, starred review  “By flawlessly developing nuances of human feeling and establishing the enigmatic setting, he compassionately describes an immigrant’s dilemma. Nearly all readers will be able to relate—either through personal or ancestral experience—to the difficulties of starting over, be it in another country, city, or community. And few will remain unaffected by this timeless stunner."
Booklist, starred review "Soft brush strokes and grand art deco architecture evoke a time long ago, but the story’s immediacy and fantasy elements will appeal even to readers younger than the target audience, though they may miss many of the complexities. Filled with both subtlety and grandeur, the book is a unique work that not only fulfills but also expands the potential of its form."

CONNECTIONS
The Arrival is an awesome lead in to a unit on immigration, studying Ellis Island and the people coming through.  Perhaps on what it takes to become a US citizen, learning some of the basic things required that many of us actually miss in school or take forgranted such as how bills are made, the judicial system, Constitution and more.  

26 November 2010

THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman, illustrations by Dave McKean - Review for TWU course

BIBLIOGRAPHY Gaiman, Neil. 2008. The Graveyard Book.  Ill. by Dave Mckean.  New York, NY: Harper Collins Children's Books. ISBN 9780060530921.

PLOT SUMMARY 

His family having been murdered when he was a toddler, Nobody "Bod" Owens lives in a graveyard.  He's been raised and educated by the occupants.  The story follows Bod's growth and learning to live in the graveyard and the big world outside.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

While Bod is a human, he does learn some of the skills of the dead, such as how to fade.  He'd be an absolutely normal little boy if he hadn't been raised by the dead, although he is easy to relate to.  His curiosity is high and along with his sense of adventure, leads him out into the "real" world and some situations that compromise the life he's known in the graveyards with his unusual family.

Neil Gaiman creates a plot that fully takes charge of your fantasy, linking the believable with the not so believable into a world of fascination and imagination.  Gaiman's story telling and attention to detail bring the graveyard and the individual crypts and tunnels to life for both Bod and the reader.  When Bod meets Scarlett and pulls her into his world where she meets "the Indigo Man," the reader can easily put themselves in Scarlett's place and experience the story with her.  Gaiman makes the characters believable in this land of fantasy.

In spite of the evil start to his life, Bod's story is one that shows that good triumphs in the end.  The graveyard seems a scary, evil place sometimes, but the good and wonderful about it are brought out and emphasized, shaping Bod into who he is.

Gaiman is what I think of as a "bit off center" which is something I truly enjoy in a storyteller.  Taking a story and twisting and turning, putting odd situations and characters into it, stretches the imagination.  The Graveyard Book did not disappoint in this.  I'd encourage readers to delve into this book and see how Bod, a child with a very rough start in life and raised by the dead, manages to triumph in the end.  The twists and turns will have you hanging on for the next chapter, wondering where your imagination will be taken next.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Newbury Medal 2009 winner

Hugo 2009 Best Science Fiction novel

Boston Glob Horn Book Award - finalist 2009 Fiction and Poetry, Honor

Newbury Medal 2008 - Children's Literature

Carnegie Medal 2010

Bookmarks Magazine 
Neil Gaiman's fantasies have entranced both younger readers and adults; this gothic fantasy, a coming-of-age story modeled after The Jungle Book and with slight nods to Harry Potter, will appeal to all ages. By juxtaposing the world of the dead with the world of the living, Gaiman creates a fantastical world where the thoughtful protagonist comes to understand the power of family as he experiences the fear, pains, confusions, and joys of growing up. Critics praised each illustrated chapter as its own little gem, with moments both tender and terrifying—and each equally exciting.

Booklist
, starred review "This is an utterly captivating tale that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of ghostly characters. There is plenty of darkness, but the novel’s ultimate message is strong and life affirming. Although marketed to the younger YA set, this is a rich story with broad appeal and is highly recommended for teens of all ages.
"

CONNECTIONS
Reading the first chapter, to entice students to read the book on their own, or reading the entire book aloud to a class is a wonderful prelude to a history lesson.  A field trip to a graveyard could be coordinated, crayon etchings done on stones, history looked up or "imagined" based upon what the kids found in the graveyard.  Some people deem a graveyard creepy, I have always loved the rich history in them and the way my mind starts putting stories together upon seeing names and information on the stones.  Makes me very curious about the people who once lived in the area.  What a fun, local history lesson this could be.

08 November 2010

HATTIE BIG SKY by Kirby Larson - Review for TWU course

BIBLIOGRAPHY Larson, Kirby. 2006. Hattie Big Sky.  New York, NY: Delacorte Press. ISBN 9780385733137

PLOT SUMMARY
It's 1918, there is a war in Europe, 16 year-old orphan Hattie has inherited a homestead from an uncle she had never met.  Eager to "prove" herself as required within 10 months, Hattie is alone and building fences, cultivating land and simply trying to survive the harsh weather in Montana.  She learns not only about the land and homesteading but out people and relationships along the way.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book was very "little house on the prairie-ish" to me, but with an extremely strong, though slightly hard to believe 16 year-old that is on her own in the harsh Montana landscape.  I personally had a bit of trouble accepting that, though a strong female heroine on her own, making her way in the cruel hard world is somewhat of a fantasy for many young girls.  What a great escape.  Accuracy seemed to be represented in the history of World War I and the effect it had on the states.  

Larson vividly described the sparse Montana frontier, the disappointment met by many setting out to stake their claim, the hard work, bitter cold, harsh conditions.  The underlying storyline seemed to be prejudice.  Hattie's closest neighbor, Karl was born in Germany and many in the area were very prejudiced against him and his family.  As the story unfolds, Hattie starts to see the ugliness manifested in it.  This keeps the story quite relevant for readers today as we still deal with this issue.  

The writing definitely reflected the early 1900's when accepting a ride to church with a gentleman was reserved for a courting couple, neighbors making an effort to stop by were offered coffee and all chores were stopped.  A pleasant surprise were some recipes at the back of the book and a bibliography with further information on the American west and homesteading.

Overall, this was a pleasant read, fun to escape into and imagine having to live as Hattie did, grueling hard work day after day, never knowing what hardships are going to pop up in your face.  I did find it a bit unrealistic and hard to believe though, this young girl alone and surviving.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S) 
2007 Newbery Honor Book
2006 Montana Book Award
School Library Journal starred review
Booklist starred review
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Book Links Lasting Connections of 2006 title
Barnes & Noble Teen Discover Title
Borders Original Voice
2006 Cybils nomination
2007-2008 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award nomination
School Library Journal, starred review  “Larson creates a masterful picture of the homesteading experience and the people who persevered.”
Booklist, starred review "Larson, whose great-grandmother homesteaded alone in Montana, read dozens of homesteaders' journals and based scenes in the book on real events. Writing in figurative language that draws on nature and domestic detail to infuse her story with the sounds, smells, and sights of the prairie, she creates a richly textured novel full of memorable characters." 

CONNECTIONS
Hattie has a strong connection to the Little House books and could be compared/contrasted with them.  Starting a unit on WWI with this book could lead focus on impact at home, or simply a unit on prejudice would be a good accompaniment.

 

07 November 2010

BOUND by Donna Jo Napoli

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Napoli, Donna Jo, Simms. 2004. BOUND.  New York, NY: Atheneum Books. ISBN 9780689861758.

PLOT SUMMARY
Xing Xing's father dies, leaving her to her stepmother and stepsister.  Keeping to the traditional Cinderella story, Xing Xing is not her stepmother's favorite and is left out and often belittled.  Then comes the day the prince comes looking for the owner of the golden shoe.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The typical Cinderella story, set in ancient China.  Women are not of great value and their beauty is often judged by their tiny, bound feet.  Xing Xing hasn't had her feet bound and is thus thought lacking by her stepmother, who also harbors resentment that Xing Xing's deceased father favored her.

The tale is rich in historical information and details of culture and customs.  It also deals with the very personal issues that Xing Xing faces, growing up under a resentful stepmother, dealing with the loss of her entire biological family, being made to constantly feel inferior, all during a time of discovery and growth.  Her skills in poetry and calligraphy help her hold on to who she is and emerge, especially when the Prince comes calling.  Seeing Xing Xing stand up for who she is and how she makes her decisions was inspiring.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Starred review from BOOKLIST:  "Teens and teachers will want to discuss the layered themes of freedom, captivity, love, human rights, and creative endeavor within this powerful survival story, which, like the yin and yang forces Xing Xing thinks about, balances between terror and tenderness, and is both subversive and rooted in tradition. "

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL  "Napoli retains the pattern of the traditional Chinese tale with only a few minor changes: she sets the story in the northern province of Shaanxi during the Ming dynasty rather than in a minority community in southern China. She fleshes out and enriches the story with well-rounded characters and with accurate information about a specific time and place in Chinese history; the result is a dramatic and masterful retelling."

CONNECTIONS
In studying traditional stories or writing and how certain themes are used repeatedly in different ways, this could be used to illustrate the Cinderella theme.  Using the book Beauty by Susan Wilson to illustrate the Beauty and Beast theme would be a nice pairing.  There is also a young adult novel called Beastly by Alex Finn that would also pair nicely for a telling that would appeal to young men as well as young ladies.

02 November 2010

THE STORM IN THE BARN by Matt Phelan - Review for TWU course

BIBLIOGRAPHY  Phelan, Matt.   2009.   THE STORM IN THE BARN. Sommersville, MA: Candlewick. ISBN 978-0763636180.

PLOT SUMMARY
Set in Kansas in 1937, this graphic novel tells the story of one family during the Dust Bowl.  Jack is a young boy trying to "find" himself, and is heavily weighed down by his sisters illness and the despair that accompanies the Dust Bowl. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Surprisingly full of emotion and strong feelings for a graphic novel, in my opinion.  Matt Phelan does a phenomenal job portraying his story very strongly through his illustrations.  Using simple pencil and watercolor to tell the story, it is the use of color that sticks out and makes quite an impression.  Illustrated mainly in earthtones to portray the dust bowl years, blue hues emerge when water and storms are spoken of, when an issue arises with rabbits, brilliant red emerges.  Upon Mom's reflection of the prosperous years prior, the illustrations are full of brilliant colors.  

Phelan's simple drawings portray so much emotion, the melancholy of these desperate times, Jack's beaten and worthless feelings, his feeling responsible for more than he should, taking on the "weight of the world" as many are prone.  In telling the story, there is no sugar coating, the harshness of the times are portrayed well through the sparse words and impactful pictures, authenticity abounds.  Phelan was inspired to create this book by some pictures and videos he'd been exposed to that had haunted him.

This seems to be a good book for introduction to a graphic novel, or introduction to the history of the dust bowl times.  It was my first exposure to this tidbit of history that I had somehow missed in my education.  This book would get recommended for nothing but the pictures if the storyline didn't work, but fortunately it does and Phelan does a great job with it.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Winner of the 2010 Scott O'Dell Award
An American Library Association Notable Children's Book selection
YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens selection
 

Publisher's Weekly : "The big novelty here is the Dust Bowl setting, and Phelan's art emphasizes the swirling, billowing clouds of fine grit that obscure even nearby objects. Older readers might have appreciated more text to make up for the lack of visual clarity, but kids will identify with Jack and appreciate his success."

School Library Journal
, starred review:  "Children can read this as a work of historical fiction, a piece of folklore, a scary story, a graphic novel, or all four. Written with simple, direct language, it's an almost wordless book: the illustrations' shadowy grays and blurry lines eloquently depict the haze of the dust. A complex but accessible and fascinating book."


CONNECTIONS

Two very natural connections seem to jump out at me. 
First, Jack's sister is taken with the OZ books by Baum.  It would be natural to read The Storm in the Barn first, then follow up with OZ once the intrigue is set.

Second, what a wonderful prelude to a history unit on the 1930's and the midwest.  The conditions were deplorable and the effect on the farmers and culture had quite an impact.