Module 15

Module 15
May 3-9

Fallen Angels
By Walter Dean Myers

Myers, Walter Dean. Fallen Angels. Scholastic Inc. 1988. ISBN: 0545055768

*1989 Coretta Scott King Award

Synopsis:
Richard Perry just graduated from high school. His dreams of a basketball scholarship fell through when he hurt his knee, and he didn’t know what to do. So Perry signed up for the army. Immediately, a doctor in the army said that Perry’s knee was injured too badly for him to go to fight, but paperwork processes slowly. Perry received orders to go to Vietnam. Upon landing, Perry meets Gates aka Peewee, and they get deployed to the same unit. Perry then experiences four months in a war where the enemy is everyone and no one, where the food is terrible, and the only men you can trust are the ones who watch your back. After being wounded twice in firefights, Perry’s medical profile catches up with him, and he returns to the World. However, he returns a changed man without any understanding of the war that the USA is fighting.

My Version of the World:
This book is a realistic version of one soldier’s account of the Vietnam War. Perry’s fear in the face of death and struggle to survive make this a riveting account. There are several incidences that ring of reality, such as a child being mined to blow up a U.S. soldier. Perry’s view of the war changes throughout the book, and his fight against the prejudice that he occasionally encounters as an African-American in the army is saddening. Definitely a book for older high school students because it is a realistic portrayal of the men talked and thought.

Book Reviews:

A riveting account of the Vietnam War from the perspective of a young black soldier. Richie Perry, a 17 year old from Harlem, arrives in Vietnam in 1967. His first-person narrative provides an immediacy to the events and characters revealed. His experiences become readers' experiences, as do his fears and his insight about this war, any war. ``We spent another day lying around. It seemed to be what the war was about. Hours of boredom, seconds of terror.'' During one of those terrifying times, a large number of American soldiers are killed. Because they cannot be carried back, the decision is made to burn the bodies. ``I was afraid of the dead guys. I saw them, arms limp, faces sometimes twisted in anguish, mostly calm, and I was afraid of them. They were me. We wore the same uniform, were the same height, had the same face. They were me, and they were dead.'' In the end, when Richie is wounded, he returns home. This is a compelling, graphic, necessarily gruesome, and wholly plausible novel. It neither condemns nor glorifies the war but certainly causes readers to think about the events. Other difficult issues, such as race and the condition of the Vietnamese people, are sensitively and realistically incorporated into the novel. The soldiers' language is raw, but appropriate to the characters. This is a book which should be read by both young adults and adults. Maria B. Salvadore, June 1988, School Library Journal

. . . as thought provoking as it is entertaining, touching and, on occasion, humorous. -- The New York Times Book Review

In My World
I would use this as an introduction to a unit on Vietnam. This is a great novel to give historical perspective on the Vietnam War. It also could lead to an interesting conversation on the horrors of war and how the human psyche functions in war. This is a book for older readers due to its necessary crudeness and graphic violence.

Module 14

Module 14
April 26 – May 2

This is Just to Say by Joyce Sidman

Sidman, Joyce. This is Just to Say. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2007. ISBN: 0618616802

A Version of the World:
This book of poems is apologies and their responses from a fictional classroom of children. They send their classmates apologies for everything that a young child can do and what is important in their world. The second half of the book includes the responses to the apology poems. The respondees are everyone from the teacher, their classmates, and parents.

My Version of the World:
This is a very entertaining book of poems. The author’s forward mentions that she got the idea when her class helped her write an apology poem to her mother. Sidman wondered what responses would look like if apology poems were actually sent. She wrote a very entertaining book with apologies for hitting too hard in dodgeball to wondering if putting a dog to sleep is okay. From the serious to the hilarious, this book of poems should be a good read for all.

*Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee

Book Reviews:
For a poetry unit, a fictional sixth-grade class writes 'sorry" poems. They like their poems so much they decide to put them together into a book and then add a second?nbsp;section with responses from the recipients of the 'sorry" poems. The result is a captivating anthology of short poems in various styles touching on different aspects of life. Some poems are humorous, some are sad; some poets are deeply sorry, some aren't; and some kids are forgiven,?nbsp;whileothers are not. Topics include such things as rough play in dodgeball,?nbsp;stealing brownies, breaking a cherished item, and the death of a pet. The quirky illustrations, created with a variety of media, collage, and computer graphics, give a lighthearted feel to the anthology. The fictional authors of the poems are featured in various activities relating to the subject of the poems and provide a very pleasant balance to the text. Children will find much to identify with in the situations presented in the apology poems, and they'll appreciate the resolutions given in the responses. May 15, 2007. Booklist.

Mrs. Merz assigns her sixth-grade students to write poems of apology, and what emerges is a surprising array of emotions, poetic forms, and subjects from dead pets and biting hamsters to angry siblings and betrayal of trust. The children decide to create their own book of these poems, complete with an introduction and occasional notes by editor Anthony K. Fast-talking Thomas writes a humorous poem patterned after William Carlos Williams's "This Is Just to Say," apologizing to Mrs. Garcia in the office, for stealing the jelly donuts in the teachers' lounge: "Forgive me/they were delicious/so sweet/and so gloppy." Mrs. Garcia's response poem says, "Of course I forgive you./But I still have to call your mother." A more serious concern emerges in "Next Time," written by Jewel: "Please, please come back./Don't leave me spinning alone,/like a slow, sad tornado./I'm sorry, Daddy./Next time I'll be/perfect." In the response poem, Jewel describes her father's wrenching reply telling her that, "None of the stupid things/I have ever done/are even close to being your fault." Sidman's ear is keen, capturing many voices. Her skill as a poet accessible to young people is unmatched. Zagarenski's delicately outlined collage drawings and paintings are created on mixed backgrounds-notebook paper, paper bags, newspaper, graph paper, school supplies. This is an important book both for its creativity and for its wisdom.-Lee Bock, May 1, 2007. School Library Journal.

In My World:
I would use this to introduce a poetry unit. The author employs several different types of poems with explanations of each at the bottom of the page. It can help teach students that poetry goes beyond rhyming. I would read it aloud within the library to begin a poetry unit. It could also prompt discussion into relationships and when apologies are appropriate or needed.

Module 13
April 19 – 25

Cirque Du Freak: A Living Nightmare
By Darren Shan

Shan, Darren. Cirque Du Freak. Little, Brown, & Company. 2002. ISBN: 031604184X

Synopsis:
Darren Shan is a teenager whose best friend is Steve Leonard. Darren and Steve sneak out one Saturday night to go see a real freak show, where the freaks are absolutely genuine. During the show, Darren becomes completely fascinated Mr. Crepsley and his spider, Madame Octa. Darren hides after the show and learns that Steve believes that Mr. Crepsley is a vampire. Steve also wants to become a vampire, but Crepsley tells Steve that no because Steve will be evil. Darren becomes scared and runs away. A day later, Darren manages to steal Madame Octa. Madame Octa is very poisonous, but Darren learns to control her. However, Steve wants to play with her too, and Madame Octa bites him. Steve will die if Darren doesn’t get an antidote to her poison. Mr. Crepsley has an antidote, but he will only give it if Darren becomes his assistant. Becoming a vampire’s assistant means that Darren would become part vampire himself, he would have to appear to die to his family and leave home. To try to save Steve’s life, Darren agrees to the bargain. The book ends when Crepsley digs Darren out of his grave. Steve is there and promises Darren that there will come a day when they will meet again. Steve is going to kill him on that day because he feels that Darren stole the life that he wanted for himself.

My Version of the World:
This is a different take on the world of vampires. Crepsley says that he treasures human life. The majority of the plot comes the very tense relationship between Darren and Steve. Steve always seems on the verge of being unable to control his violent tendencies. The end leaves the reader wondering what can come next in this world. Darren is now a half vampire with Steve vowing revenge. It is a very adventurous and entertaining book.

Book Reviews:
In his introduction, 12-year-old Darren claims that this is a true story, though the names have been changed and the country (obviously England) kept secret. When a bizarre-sounding freak show comes to town, he and his friend Steve sneak out to attend, and Steve recognizes one of the performers-as a centuries-old vampire. Darren decides he must steal the vampire's performing, poisonous spider. The theft is successful, and he learns to control Madam Octa with a combination of flute music and ESP-until she bites Steve. Darren must then sell himself into vampire slavery to get the cure to the spider's poison. This volume is neither as well written nor as compulsively readable as the "Harry Potter" books (Scholastic), though surely J. K. Rowling's endorsement on the cover will win it a few fans. Most of the characters aren't developed much beyond their names and a brief description. The slowness of the plot in the beginning might turn some readers off, but once the supernatural enters, they will be hooked. The fun here is in the details and in the uniqueness of the non-evil vampire monster. Several volumes of the series are already out in England, and the movie rights have already been purchased, ensuring that this title and probably its sequels will be in demand. By Timothy Capehart, May 2001, School Library Journal.

With strong sales overseas and a movie deal in the works, book one in The Saga of Darren Shan series is poised to capture a wide audience of series horror readers. After a rather slow buildup, a boy with the same name as the author sneaks out with best friend Steve to an illicit freak show, and his life becomes entangled with a vampire spider-wrangler, Mr. Crepsley. "This is a true story," writes Shan. "In real life, bad things happen. People die. Fights are lost. Evil often wins." The scenario is compelling, and the author mines the exploitative history of early 20th-century sideshows to create an artfully macabre "Cirque du Freak." But Darren's actions are often undermotivated: "I can't explain why Madam Octa [the spider] meant so much to me, or why I was placing my life in such danger to have her. Looking back, I'm no longer sure what drove me on." Also his intermittent attraction to and repulsion by the vampire is never fully explored. His behavior may be explained in the sequel, The Vampire's Assistant (due in Sept.), but the open ending leaves so many loose ends that readers may leave more frustrated than intrigued, especially since the characters' wooden dialogue drains them of personality ("I'm upset," says Steve. "It hurt, what Mr. Crepsley said, and you ignoring me at school... If you break up our friendship, I don't know what I'll do"). Readers interested in boys becoming vampires would be better served by M.T. Anderson's Thirsty and those fascinated with freaks by Iain Lawrence's Ghost Boy. February 19, 2001. Publisher’s Weekly.

In My World:
I would use this book as a read aloud in the library. It could prompt some research into types of spiders. Generally though, this would be an entertaining and good read for middle school students. It could also prompt conversation about friendships and the need for honesty in them.

Module 12

Module 12
April 12-18

Bill Pickett: Rodeo Ridin' Cowboy
By Andrea D. Pinkney

Pinkney, Andrea D. Bill Pickett: Rodeo Ridin' Cowboy. Guilliver Books. 1996: ISBN: 0152021035

Synopsis:
Bill Pickett was born the second-oldest child of former slaves, who lived north of Austin, Texas. Fascinated with cowboys, Pickett invented the sport of bulldoggin’ at a young age. Pickett grew up to work as a ranch hand and then began his career at the rodeo. He became known as the Dusky Demon, and everyone wanted to see him bulldoggin’. He eventually retired from rodeo life and worked simply as a ranch hand at the 101 Ranch. He helped to make calf-roping the sport that it is today.

My View of the World:
This is a wonderful book with excellent illustrations. This tells the story of Bill Pickett, who was one of the first famous African American cowboys. Son of freed slaves, Pickett invented the sport of bulldoggin or calf-roping at the rodeo. This book tells an interesting piece of history of which many children are not aware. Pickett is not very well-known now but has left his mark, particularly in Texas history. This should be fascinating for children.

Book Reviews:

Bill Pickett, one of 13 children born to parents who were freed slaves, grew up in Texas watching the cowboys drive cattle along the Chisholm Trail. Observing a bulldog manage a cow by biting and holding on to the beast's lip, young Bill discovered he could do the same thing. He became an accomplished horseman with a range of tricks, but it was "bull-doggin'" that brought the crowds to their feet throughout his long career. The story is told with verve, relish, and just enough of a cowboy twang, with Pinkney giving an excellent overview of the history of rodeos and black cowboys in a closing note. Husband Brian Pinkney's pictures, in his typical scratchboard technique, are well suited to the story, their lines and colors swirling with movement and excitement on the deep black surface. --Susan Dove Lempke. November 1, 1996. Booklist.

Bill Pickett was a rodeo cowboy in the days when black men were not allowed to do much of anything that wasn't menial or demeaning. Pickett, however, followed his dream. As a young boy, he would watch cowboys herd cattle past his parents' farm and dream of becoming a cowboy. One day, Bill helped some cowboys bulldog a calf they were having trouble branding. They were suitably impressed with his skills, and there was no stopping him after that. By the age of 15, he had left home to work on ranches throughout Texas. His fame grew steadily, and eventually he was offered a job in a rodeo. After just a few years, he was famous throughout the country, even riding in Mexico, South America, and England. His fame not only helped popularize rodeo, but helped to give attention to a black man in a very racist time. This is a brilliantly done tribute to an unjustly forgotten pioneer. The text is fascinating, and the oil paintings on scratchboard are full of energy and motion, matching the book's powerful mood. A wonderful choice for any collection. Melissa Hudak. October 1, 1996. School Library Journal.

In My World:
This book would be wonderful as a read aloud. It could prompt conversation about Reconstruction and what it was like in Texas versus the rest of the United States. It could also be used in February with Black History Month. It could also be used to open a unit on slavery and what life was like after it was abolished in the United States.

Module 11

Module 11
April 5 to 11

Julia Morgan Built a Castle
By Celeste Davidson Mannis

Mannis, Celeste Davidson. Julia Morgan Built a Castle. Viking. 2006. ISBN: 0670059641

Synopsis:
Julia Morgan dreamed of begin an architect and building beautiful structures in the late 1800s when women didn’t have professional jobs. Her inspirations were her father and her cousin, both of whom were architects. She attended college at University of California at Berkley and was eventually one of the first women accepted into Ecole des Beaux-Arts, a prestigious school for architecture in France. Julia eventually built San Simeon for Mr. William Randolph Hearst. San Simeon was intended to be Mr. Hearst’s home in California. It is still on display as a museum today.

My View of the World:
This book tells an interesting tale of a woman who had to pioneer her way into her career. Although the book tells very little about her difficulties, Miss Morgan must have faced significant opposition in her desire. The illustrations give life to the buildings that inspired her and that she built. The story is inspiring, and it leaves the reader wanting to see in person some of Miss Morgan’s creations, especially San Simeon.

Book Reviews:
The fruits of architects' labors--from pyramids to skyscrapers--have been celebrated more frequently in picture books than architects themselves. Mannis' choice of subject, the first female graduate of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, fills this void nicely, as the little something Morgan built for William Randolph Hearst on a California hilltop anchors the life story in a lavish project that will snare children's imaginations. The lively narrative crystallizes the struggles against the gender bias Morgan encountered and brings the details of a large-scale building site to a child's level, such as the movie screenings that entertained the castle's live-in construction crew. The book's large format and Hyman's full-bleed paintings capture the grandeur of both Morgan's aspirations and the dramatic landscapes in which she worked. A concluding photo of the finished structure would have been nice, as would notes about the provenance of material in quotations, but the unsung heroine and the handsome, engaging presentation counterbalance these missteps. --Jennifer Mattson, November 15, 2006. Booklist.

This picture book is a wonderful way to introduce young readers to a groundbreaking female architect. Luminescent illustrations, created using soft pastels and pencils in a golden-peach palette, appear to glow with the light of California and France, both seminal locations in Morgan's life. Informed by architecture, the paintings evoke C?zanne's attention to form: the folds of dresses, the curve of a mountain, a shadow over a hat. The opening spread shows a youngster constructing a geometric sandcastle while the text quietly states: "Julia Morgan loved to build." The book highlights other significant moments: young Julia visiting construction sites with her engineer father; being the only woman in her engineering class at UC Berkeley in the 1890s; her pride at receiving a certificate in architecture from Paris's ?cole des Beaux-Arts; her return to San Francisco and early career. The last half of the book is devoted to the construction of William Randolph Hearst's San Simeon. Mannis points out that Morgan's creations are solidly built and noted for their enduring beauty. Filled with rich vocabulary, the narrative employs scrumptious architectural terms such as "Baroque," "flying buttresses," and "teakwood cornice." An inspiring tale and encouragement for someday builders.-Teresa Pfeifer, Alfred Zanetti. November 1, 2006. School Library Journal.

In My World:
This books would be fantastic as a read aloud to springboard study into life during the early 1900’s, women liberation, or architecture. This could also prompt students to do research into their ancestors. This would be a fabulous book to use within a library for several different purposes.

Module 10

Module 10

March 30 – April 4

Elijah of Buxton

By Christopher Paul Curtis

Curtis, Christopher Paul. Elijah of Buxton. Scholastic Inc. 2007. ISBN: 0439023459

Newbery Honor Book

Coretta Scott King Award

Synopsis:

Elijah is the first African who was born free in the town of Buxton, Canada, which is a town formed for freed and runaway slaves from America. Every person there works for their living on a farm. Elijah has many run-ins with a man whom he calls Preacher. However, Preacher usually does things that seem a bit suspicious to Elijah. However, he was taught not to question a preacher. Elijah works with Leroy on most days. Leroy is finally able to get enough money to buy his son, wife, and daughter back from a slaver in America. However, Leroy is too anxious to wait for a representative from the Underground Railroad to help him. Instead, he sends Preacher and another man from town to get his wife and children. Preacher takes the money for himself. In a desperate attempt to try to free his wife, Leroy goes back into America to find Preacher and takes Elijah with him. Leroy is killed in this attempt, and Elijah is left on his own. He sees slaves and slavers for the first time there before he is able to get home.

My Version of the World:

This is a wonderful book. It is all told from the viewpoint of Elijah. Although, slavery is spoken of often and something that Elijah hears about, he is very insulated from the idea of slavery. He doesn’t really understand what it looks like or means. This book follows his path to a realization of the tragedy of slavery and how he can help.

Book Reviews:

11-year-old Elijah is the first child born into freedom in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway and freed slaves, in Christopher Paul Curtis's Newbery Honor book (Scholastic, 2007). When money that Elijah's friend has been saving to send to America to buy his family's freedom is stolen, Elijah crosses the border into Detroit on a dangerous mission to help recover it. Narrated by Elijah, the horrors of slavery are revealed. This engrossing tale is read by Mirron Willis who effortlessly varies his rich, textured voice to make each character unique. This story will captivate listeners.-Karen T. Bilton, Mary Jacobs Memorial Library from July 1, 2008. School Library Journal.

Elijah is eleven years old and the first person born into freedom in Buxton, a small Canadian settlement of runaway slaves. Elijah attends school, enjoys time with his loving parents, and loves fishing. His carefree life in 1859 changes when he is seen catching fish by throwing rocks rather than using a fishing pole. A local preacher, who is anything but religious, tries to exploit this talent by using him at a carnival. Elijah begins to mature as he realizes that people are not always who they appear to be. His maturation continues as he welcomes runaway slaves to town and reads a letter to a family friend about the death of her husband who was a slave. He understands through these experiences that, although he is free, slavery greatly affects his life. Elijah later decides to travel across the Canadian border to track down a thief who had stolen money that was to be used to buy a settlement member's family out of slavery. This task becomes more complicated than Elijah expected as he gets a glimpse of what slavery is really like. Curtis creates an absolute gem of a novel. It is both humorous and heartbreaking and full of crisp dialogue that propels this character-driven story. Elijah is a funny but flawed character who is wholly original and wonderfully dynamic. Curtis does what is so difficult to do in young adult fiction-convincingly show the maturation process of an adolescent without making him seem like a completely new character or like an adult at the conclusion of the novel. A fascinating portrayal of history, a strong first-person narrative, and a most remarkable main character make this work perhaps the author's finest to date.-Jeff Mann. December 1, 2007. Voice of Youth Advocates.

In My World:

I would use this book with a unit about history in the United States prior to the Civil War. It gives excellent descriptions of the reality of slavery and what life for slaves in American was like for slaves. It could also be used with Black History month or as a read aloud. It would appeal to many students, especially African-Americans.

Module 9

Module 9
March 22-29

Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Monster Movie
By David Adler

Adler, David. Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Monster Movie. The Viking Press. 1984. ISBN: 0670200352

Synopsis:
Cam, her parents, and her friend, Eric, are all at the movie. Cam and Eric pass the time waiting in line by playing the memory game. Cam has a photographic memory and can look once at a scene and remember all that she sees. The reel for the film that they are going to watch gets stolen. Then Eric and Cam go to work, using her memory to solve the case.

My Version of the World:
This is a good mystery novel for elementary aged students. It is fun to read about the interactions between Cam and Eric. It also shows adults in a good light. Cam’s photographic memory and logical deduction are the keys to solving the crime. It is definitely a good read for younger students.

Book Reviews:
In this reissue, another generation of kids will get to meet the intrepid and amazing Cam Jansen. This time the story takes place at a movie theater where the second reel of the Shoe Escape disappears. The major suspect is the owner of a competitive movie theater, but Cam with her photographic memory is able to deduce who the real thief is. Kids who dream of being detectives will enjoy the exploits of Cam and her friend Eric. Her very understanding and cooperative parents may be the only part that doesn't ring quite true. Part of the "Puffin Chapters" series. 1999 from Children’s Literature.

"An uncluttered plot, a clever heroine, clear language, and a dash of humor make for a zestful mystery." From School Library Journal

In My World:
I would use this book as a read aloud within the library for children just beginning their chapter books. It would also be excellent to use logical reasoning with the children and try to get them to follow the same clues that Cam does throughout the story.

Module 8

Module 8
March 8-14

The Hunger Games
By Suzanne Collins

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. Scholastic Press. 2008. ISBN: 0439023483

Synopsis:
Katniss lives in District Twelve with her family. She hunts illegally outside the district to keep them from starving on the poor rations that they get from the Capitol of Panem. Once a year, all twelve districts have to send two applicants each, a boy and a girl between ages twelve to eighteen, to compete in the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games are a game of survival, and the winner is the one who is alive at the end. This year Katniss’s younger sister, Prim, is chosen. To prevent her sister from going, Katniss volunteers to go in her spot. Peeta is also chosen to go as the boy from District Twelve. Both get to the Capitol and are prepared to compete in the most deadly game that they will ever see. They both soon realize that although they are given no choice in the competition they can still show the Capitol how they feel about the games in other ways.

My Version of the World:
This is a riveting book from page one. The plight of Katniss and her family are immediately endearing, and the government is horrible. When Katniss takes Prim’s place, it seems inevitable because Katniss always protects Prim. The book builds from that point in. The reader isn’t sure if Katniss will survive, how Katniss feels about Peeta, or who they should trust in this strange world that they are both thrust into. This is a surefire winner for just about anyone.

Book Reviews:

Suzanne Collins's first book (Scholastic, 2008) of a planned trilogy introduces an easy-to-imagine, cruel future society divided by wealth and obsessed with media and celebrity. The controlling Capitol broadcasts the Hunger Games, mandatory watching for all citizens of Panem. The annual event pits 24 Tributes-a girl and boy teen from each of the 12 Districts surrounding the Capitol-against one another in a desperate battle to the death. When 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her younger sister's place as District Twelve's girl Tribute, she is thrown into a media frenzy, complete with stylists and costumes, literally fighting for her life in the arena. Intense, graphic action, along with a touch of romance, makes this dystopic adventure a great choice for older reluctant readers. Although the plot mimics both Stephen King's The Long Walk (Penguin, 1999) and Running Man (Signet, 1999) as well as Koushon Takami's Battle Royale (Tokyopop, 2007), Collins creates a fascinating world and Katniss is a believably flawed and interesting character. Carolyn McCormick ably voices the action-packed sequences and Katniss's every fear and strength shines through, along with her doomed growing attraction to one of her fellow Tributes. This engrossing audiobook belongs in all public and school libraries.-Charli Osborne. April 1, 2009. School Library Journal.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen cannot believe it when her younger sister Prim is chosen as the female tribute from their district at the Reaping. In this futuristic society, each district is required to send two tributes to the Games in the Capitol where they must fight to the death while the whole country watches on live television. To protect her sister, Katniss volunteers to take her place, knowing that she will probably never again return home. Twenty-four young people are dropped off in a remote area and must fight for survival against the harsh conditions and each other. Only one is allowed to live. Katniss and Peeta, the other tribute from District 12, form an uneasy alliance that blossoms into romance amid the brutality and deprivation of the Hunger Games. Katniss and Peeta try to rebel against the Gamemakers but discover that they must play the game to its end. Collins moves up a level from the Gregor the Overlander books in this gripping story that is the first of a new trilogy. Themes of government control, big brother, and personal independence are explored amidst a thrilling adventure that will appeal to science fiction, survival, and adventure readers. The suspense of this powerful novel will keep the reader glued to the page long after bedtime.-Deborah L. Dubois. October 1, 2008. Voice of Youth Advocates.

In My World:
I would use this book as a read aloud. It could prompt discussion into current news stories such as the morality of reality television. It could also come alongside a unit on different types of government or a unit on botany. Any of these would be fantastic options with this book, but primarily, I would use this as a read-aloud.

Module 8

Module 8
March 8-14

Alcatraz versus The Evil Librarians
By Brandon Sanderson

Sanderson, Brandon. Alcatraz versus The Evil Librarians. Scholastic Press. 2003. ISBN: 0439925525

Synopsis:
Alcatraz Smedry is a boy in the foster care system when his grandfather shows up one day. Grandpa Smedry informs Alcatraz that he is caught up in a world war between the Hushlands, run by the evil librarians, and the Free Kingdoms. The Smedrys are an ancient bloodline and with that bloodline comes a special gift every generation. Alcatraz’s gift is simple. He breaks everything he touches. Alcatraz then goes with Grandpa Smedry to get back the sands of Rashid from the Librarians who stole it. With friends and family that he never knew that he had, Alcatraz is able to successfully retrieve the sands and discover a fantastical world that he never knew existed.

My Version of the World
I really enjoyed this book. It begins a journey into a fantastical world where librarians are evil, and the world as we know it is a sham. From glasses or ocular devices that see auras to cars that drive themselves, this book is a nonstop ride of fun. He has the narrator be the main character. Sanderson inserts many ironic comments that are really humorous and add to the story. The world that Sanderson invents in unlike any that I had read, and it is very unique.

Book Reviews

In Sanderson's (Elantris) children's debut, an over-the-top fantasy/adventure, librarians are evil because they control all the information in Hushland (America). They distort some facts and fabricate the rest. Alcatraz, meanwhile, is the name of the protagonist, who has been raised in a series of foster homes. As the novel opens, on his 13th birthday, he is quickly initiated into the true nature of librarians by his heretofore unmet grandfather, Leavenworth Smedry. Before long, Sanderson brings on talking dinosaurs (it's a librarian distortion that they're extinct), a parallel world, visiting villains and more. The madcap plot can seem chaotic, with action pulling Alcatraz toward new characters at a breakneck speed, but Sanderson unexpectedly draws everything together in an extravagantly silly climax. Readers whose sense of humor runs toward the subversive will be instantly captivated: not only does the author poke fun at librarians, he lampoons books (including this one) in frequent passages directly addressed to readers: "You are saying to yourself, 'The story just lost me. It degenerated into pure silliness.... I'm going to go read a book about a boy whose dog gets killed by his mother. Twice.'" Like Lemony Snicket and superhero comics rolled into one (and then revved up on steroids), this nutty novel isn't for everyone, but it's also sure to win passionate fans. Ages 9-up. November 19, 2007. Publisher’s Weekly.

The conventional trappings of the middle-school fantasy get turned upside down in this zany novel. Alcatraz is a 13-year-old boy with hidden powers, but his talent is "breaking things." The powerful object he must find is a bag of sand, he battles monsters made of paper, and his arch nemeses are evil librarians. It all sounds ludicrous, but there is actually some consistent logic that makes the adventures engaging, as well as silly. Seemingly random insertions, such as a bunch of very civilized dinosaurs that speak with English accents, later play key roles in the plot development. Alcatraz opens nearly every chapter by addressing readers directly, and frequently interrupts the narrative, a technique that adds to the enjoyable bizarreness. He reflects flippantly upon writing techniques, gives broad hints about what may happen next, and even tells outright lies about his own story. It takes a while to adjust to this intentionally chaotic narration, but it ultimately becomes quite effective. The details of this fantasy world, where librarians dominate "Hushlanders" by withholding information about many things, including the existence of three other continents, make just enough sense to frame the sometimes frantic plot. Though there's intentionally more humor than drama, Alcatraz becomes a more complex figure by the time his adventure is through as he discovers the value of friendship, courage, and family. Readers who prefer fantasy with plenty of humor should enjoy entering Alcatraz's strange but amusing world.-Steven Engelfried. November 1, 2007. School Library Journal.

In My World
I would use this book as a read-aloud within the library. It introduces new and different vocabulary for many young readers. However, it does not obviously point to a unit or a direction within the classroom other than pure reading enjoyment.

Flush

Module 7
March 1 – 7

Flush
By Carl Hiaasen

Hiaasen, Carl. Flush. 2005. Alfred P. Knopf. ISBN: 0375841857

Synopsis
Noah and Abbey Underwood are brother and sister, but their father, Paine, can get carried away. Paine really got carried away this time. Their father sunk a gambling boat because he suspected it was unlawfully dumping its waste in the Florida Keys rather than disposing of it. When Paine insists on staying in jail to support his cause and their mother begins to discuss divorce, Noah and Abbey decide that the solution to the problem is up to them. Noah and Abbey put food coloring in the sewage system of the boat. When the boat dumps its contents illegally, there is literally a trail that leads back to Dusty Muleman’s gambling boat. Their father is justified, and they are the very silent heroes of the town.

My View of the World:
This is a very interesting book that explores the family relationships of the Underwood family and the environmental impact of dumping human waste in the Florida Keys. Most likely, this book will at the very least lead to a concern for the environment. The characters are very endearing and the irony is hilarious. This will very much be a favorite for many readers.

Book Reviews:
In Flush, … Carl Hiaasen's ecological concerns focus on illegal dumping of raw sewage from a floating casino. Noah Underwood's dad has sunk the gambling ship, the Coal Queen, in protest. Now the elder Underwood is launching a media campaign from his jail cell to raise public awareness since the sewage-spewing ship will soon be back in operation. Though Noah and his younger sister Abbey believe in their father's cause, they also fear their mother will file for divorce if he continues to react so outrageously to environmental issues. After a few false starts and run-ins with the casino owner's son and the ship's hired goon, the siblings come up with a plan to use food coloring to expose the hazardous dumping. Working with Shelly, the casino's bartender, and aided by a mysterious white-haired man, Noah and Abbey set their trap, but end up adrift off the Florida Keys. Rescue and an unexpected family reunion make their successful exposure of the corrupt casino owner even sweeter. It takes a few more plot twists before the Coral Queen is closed forever, and by then Noah's parents have learned better ways to manage their marital problems. Michael Welch's narration neatly balances the protagonist's earnest youthfulness with the story's humor. In the manner of Hoot (Knopf, 2002), Hiaasen's award-winning first foray into young adult novels, Flush deals with serious ecological and personal issues. With good insight into real world relationships plus a mix of solid citizens and offbeat good guys, this audiobook has broad appeal and will be valued in middle school, high school, and public libraries. Barbara Wysocki, January 1, 2006. School Library Journal.

Hiaasen's latest plunge into the young adult literary world enables librarians to acquire a mystery marked by quality writing, humor, and suspense, but the book also avoids overbearing teen angst and does not smack of After-School-Special. Wise-beyond-their-years siblings Noah Underwood and his younger sister, Abbey, have formed a long-standing agreement that has Noah keeping an eye on his father and Abbey looking after their mother. Following the sinking of a casino yacht, Paine Underwood, Noah's father and a former fishing guide, who fearlessly challenges authority and is proud of his civil disobedience, is thrown in prison. During a Father's Day jail visit, Noah learns that the yacht's owner, slimy Dusty Muleman, had been dumping raw sewage into the water, ruining the swimming beach and endangering the breeding turf of loggerhead turtles, thus providing Paine's motivation for sinking the floating gambling hall. Exhausted by her husband's shenanigans, Mrs. Underwood threatens to end the marriage, providing added incentive for the intrepid teens to launch a hazardous plan. The son revisits the sins of the father when Noah-with steadfast assistance from Abbey-hatches a devious scheme to exonerate his father and prove beyond a doubt that the greedy Muleman really was dumping nasty waste into the bay. In this follow-up to Hoot (Knopf, 2002/VOYA October 2002), Hiaasen's mastery of droll dialogue and entertaining descriptions prevent the large cast of quirky characters from falling into stereotypical traps. The skillful pacing of the somewhat intricate plot keeps the pages turning, making this extremely amusing book a welcome addition to all teen collections. Rollie Welch. October 1, 2005. Voice of Youth Advocates.

In My World:
In the library, I would use this book for a read aloud or as a book for a book club. This would be a great opening for a discussion about the environment and pollution and can prompt research into those subjects. This can also be a wonderful addition to a unit on the flora and fauna of the Florida Keys.

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

Module 7
March 1 – 7

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things
By Carolyn Mackler

Mackler, Carolyn. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things. 2003. Candlewick Press. ISBN: 0763620912

Synopsis:
Virginia Shreves feels like a black sheep in a picture perfect family. She is slightly overweight and seems unexceptional compared to her parents or siblings. Then Virginia’s brother, Byron, gets into trouble at college and has to move home. Virginia is plunged into the depths of depression, and she begins to question everything that she always thought was a sterling truth. With the help of her good friend, Shannon, Virginia realizes that her limits are only what she believes, and that she is beautiful just as she is.
Michael Printz Award Honor book

My View of the World:
This is a really insightful book about the thoughts of a girl who feels as though she is overweight and an underachiever. While it touches on the topics of eating disorders, self-esteem issues, adolescent sex, and date rape, it is an interesting read and definitely worth having in a library or a classroom. It celebrates teens finding their own identity apart from what popular culture would tell them that they should be.

Book Reviews:
Overweight 15-year-old Virginia Shreves is the misfit in what she perceives as her perfect, thin, good-looking, exceptional family in this novel by Carolyn Mackler (Candlewick, 2003). Her usually absent father and adolescent psychologist mother are so stifling that Virginia's older sister joins the Peace Corp to escape. Big brother Byron is universally adored by all, particularly Virginia, until halfway through the novel when he is suspended from college for date rape. Virginia slowly comes to realize that Byron is the cause of many of her insecurities, and she is the only one in the family to acknowledge and do something about the fact that he did commit this terrible crime. The absence of Virginia's best friend, romantic entanglement with Froggy Welsh, and the many casual cruelties perpetrated on her by the in-crowd cause Virginia stress and create a serious lack of self- esteem. However, once she realizes her perfect family isn't quite as flawless as she thought, Virginia is empowered to stand up to her awful but well-intentioned mother, reestablish contact with Froggy, and even do the ultimate in teen defiance-get a body piercing. Johanna Parker is a superb narrator for this first person novel. She successfully portrays the angry mother, clueless father, whiny and irresponsible brother, vapid in-girls and, best of all, the appealing main character. Pacing is excellent and Parker perfectly conveys the nuances of teen insecurity in all its painful glory. While the author tries to deal with too many issues and ends up giving many of them short shrift, teens will certainly care and root for the marvelous Virginia Shreves.-B. Allison Gray. December 1, 2004. School Library Journal.

Virginia Shreves has some serious issues with which to deal. Her body and her inferiority complex are both larger than average. Her best friend just moved away from home in New York City to Walla Walla, Washington, and just might forget Virginia completely. Froggy, her potential boyfriend, is a great kisser, but he never speaks to her outside their Monday afternoon trysts. Worst of all, she is convinced that she was switched at birth because her family is a collection of thin, bright overachievers. Her adolescent psychologist mother is a diet and exercise fanatic, and her jet-setting father openly prefers skinny women. Byron and Anais, Virginia's older brother and sister, are slim, brilliant, and successful-hard acts to follow. Subtract the oddball Virginia from the equation and this fabulous foursome equals a perfect family. At least they seem perfect until an unspeakable act and a telephone call change everything, and Virginia learns that people are not always what they seem. Mackler allows Virginia to narrate the story of her family's destruction and struggle for redemption in a voice that is dead-on, whether sassy and self-assured or agonized and self-destructive. Hilarious, insecure, hopeful, clueless-Virginia is a treasure. All readers will wish they could tell her that themselves. From the eye-catching silver foil cover, with title graphics looking like lipstick, to the upbeat ending, this novel is a required purchase for public library young adult collections. The occasional use of strong language and a few mild sexual allusions are appropriate and well done.-Jamie S. Hansen. October 1, 2003. Voice of Youth Advocates.

In My World:
I would use this book to address issues with teenagers having to do the body image and eating disorders. It cal also speak to self esteem issues and family expectations. I would use this with a select group of teen girls as a book club read to discuss in a group. This can prompt more information about what a healthy body image looks like.

Module 6
February 22 -28

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
By Jack Gantos

Gantos, Jack. Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key. 1998. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. ISBN: 0064408337

Synopsis:
Joey Pigza can’t seem to stay still in class. He can’t remember to follow the rules. His teacher, Mrs. Maxy, reminds him to follow the classroom rules, but he can’t seem to stay still. He has lived with his grandmother, but then his mother comes home to live with him. His mother has high expectations for Joey and takes him to the doctor. However, sometimes the medicine works and sometimes it doesn’t. When Joey hurts a student at school accidentally, he is sent to an alternative school to try to help him. Joey is able to begin to make better choices and get medicine to help with the fact that he can’t seem to stay still or focus. Joey goes back to school and realizes that he can do well at the end.

National Book Award Finalist

My View of the World:
This is a fantastic view into the world of a student with severe attention deficit disorder. The narrator of the book is Joey Pigza, and the chaotic pace of the narration reflects his state of mind. This is a wonderful book for teachers and students because its insight should help produce understanding among others. It is easy to see how Joey feels and to have sympathy for him. This is a must for all teachers.

Book Reviews:
You will groan and wince, but not want to stop listening to John Gantos' fast-paced narration of Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key (FS&G, 1998). Joey Pigza is wired, just like his father and his grandmother. When Joey was in kindergarten, his father left and his mother followed, leaving Joey to live with his abusive grandmother. His mother is back now, and he knows she loves him and wants him to be good. Joey explains in his own voice that his medication does not last through the day, and even though he tries to follow the rules, bad things happen, like swallowing his key, sharpening his finger in a pencil sharpener and running amuck during a class trip to an Amish farm. Gantos' lively and highly emotional voice brings the supporting characters to life by adequately distinguishing them from one another, as Joey describes all of the ups and down of his days at school. Joey is fortunate to have the support of many caring adults in the Lancaster County school system. They understand that he has Attention Deficit Disorder and lead Joey and his mother toward positive solutions to his problems. There is an author's epilogue in which he describes what events led him to write the book. Listeners will empathize with Joey and his trials and tribulations, while rejoicing at his wonderful zest for life.-Jo-Ann Carhart - February 1, 2000, School Library Journal.

Joey Pigza, who lives with his hyperactive grandmother, understands that he's also "wired bad." Despite his best intentions, he can't concentrate and can't hold still. What's more, he can never resist an impulse: when his teacher assigns him to sharpening pencils to keep him from getting into mischief, he sharpens pencils, then chalk, then a Popsicle stick, and finally his own finger. He begins to settle down when his mother returns and gets him started on medication, but unfortunately, his morning pill wears off by noon every day. What makes this unusual is Gantos' sympathetic approach to all concerned. There are no bad guys among the adults, just well-meaning, occasionally exasperated grown-ups trying to help Joey get his behavior under control. Joey tells his own story, giving a vivid, keenly observed, detailed account of his actions and the reactions of others: "By lunchtime my meds had worn off again and I was spinning around in my chair like it was the Mad Hatter's Teacup ride at the church carnival." Gantos sometimes seems to be using Joey to inform readers, and occasionally makes Joey's comments seem too adult, but Joey is warm, lovable, and good-hearted, though maybe just a little too nice to be realistic. (He never even gets angry when he's deprived of the sugary treats he so craves.) Most teachers and students know at least one child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and this book will surely help them become more understanding, even as they enjoy Gantos' fresh writing style and tart sense of humor. --Susan Dove Lempke, December 5, 1998, Booklist.

In My World:
This book would be good to address issues with lack of understand of others within the classroom environment. I would use this as a read aloud within the library and follow it up with discussions about the differences between people. I would address the issue of achieving goals when we aren’t certain that we can. This is definitely a book for upper elementary, middle or high school.

Module 5
February 15-21

Verdi
By Janell Cannon

Cannon, Janell. Verdi. 1997. Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN: 0152010289

Synopsis:
Verdi is a little, yellow snake that wants to go fast and likes flying. His mother has told him to grow up and turn into a big, green snake, but big, green snakes seem lazy and rude to Verdi. Verdi decides to try to not turn green. Unfortunately, he hurts himself when he falls. The green snakes take Verdi and help him. Verdi learns that they used to like going fast and falling, but that they all had accidents like him. Verdi grows big and green, and he learns to appreciate how fun it is to stay still too. However, he also remembers how much fun it is to be young, and he is willing to still play with younger yellow snakes.

My View of the World:
This is a charming book for elementary students that teaches some important lessons. The first is that it is important to be yourself. The second is that it is everyone is different, and that is good. The pictures are beautiful, and Verdi is a character to which children will be able to relate. This book is definitely a winner.

Texas Bluebonnet Award, 1997.

Book Reviews:
Cannon (Trupp, 1995, etc.) strikes a fragile balance between fact and fiction in her presentation of Verdi, a very small, bright yellow python who does not want to grow up into the adult snakes he knows: green, boring, and rude. He tries to race off, wash off, and cover up all signs of his own encroaching green, until an accident forces him to slow down. He grows up big and green and slumbrously silent as he drapes on a branch in the tropical sun. When two very yellow, very small pythons chance upon him as he basks, they fidget and whisper and snicker; rather than be annoyed, Verdi recognizes that ``they're just like I used to be'' and offers to show them the fancy figure eight he perfected, with some mishap, as a youngster. He may be an adult, but he's still the same old Verdi, he thinks, rejoicing--a delightful, airy thought to leave with young readers. Once again, the author's acrylic and colored pencil full-page drawings are carefully observed, apt, and radiant. An afterword provides sufficient information on snakes to appease those in search of deeper knowledge. Kirkus Reviews, April 1, 1997.

Cannon (Stellaluna) is on a roll, her gift for creating memorable characters and scenes on glorious display in this tale of a feisty python hatchling. Vowing never to turn "lazy, boring, or green" like the older pythons, Verdi zips through the jungle, launching himself from tree branches in an attempt to outpace the inevitable and keep his bright yellow skin and sporty stripes. His elders fear Verdi's recklessness will be his undoing ("At this rate, he'll be lucky to make it to his first molt," bemoans one) and they watch his antics with alarm?nd with a drop of nostalgia for their own glory days. Adulthood eventually catches up with the young hothead, of course, but in a resolution that is both wise and funny, Verdi comes to terms with maturity while maintaining his zest for life ("I may be big and very green, but I'm still me!"). Cannon's finely tempered prose is as exquisite as her luminous artwork. Here, each jewellike vista is marked by careful attention to detail and brilliant use of color?erdi's jungle world is a symphony of green, from the delicate shade of a newly unfurled fern frond to richer tones of emerald and pine. Sharply focused foreground objects fade into slightly hazy backdrops, giving the acrylic-and-colored-pencil illustrations an almost three-dimensional depth. As a bonus, the book concludes with a graceful two-page note on snakes. Ages 4-10. Publishers Weekly, February 18, 1997.

In My World:
This book could easily be used to do more research on snakes in general. There is a reference section at the end of the book with factual information on snakes. This could also be used with a thematic unit on rainforests or conservation. This could also be used to address differences that students have with each other and possibly promote understanding. I would use this book as a read aloud to promote further research or conversation within the library.

Maniac Magee

Module 4
February 8-14

Maniac Magee
By Jerry Spinelli

Spinelli, Jerry. Maniac Magee. 1990. Scholastic Inc. ISBN: 0590452037

Synopsis:
Jeffrey Lionel Magee had a home with a mother and father until they died in a trolley crash. Jeffrey went to live with his aunt & uncle, who apparently should get a divorce but would not. He ran away from them and began to run all over. Jeffrey became known as Maniac Magee in the town of Two Mills. Two Mills has a West End and an East End. In the West End is where all the white people live, and in the East End is where all the black people live. There is an invisible line down the middle, and people did not cross it until Maniac Magee. Maniac finds a temporary home with an East End family named the Beales. However, Maniac encounters prejudice because he is a white boy living with a black family. He then chooses to run away so that no one will continue to both the Beales. Maniac ends up living with Grayson, an older man, in a band shell for a while until Grayson dies. Maniac then begins running again and lives with the McNab family. The McNabs are very prejudiced and proud of it. However, Maniac stays to try to help the two youngest boys there. After a while, Maniac begins living at the zoo until Amanda Beale comes to get him and tell him that he is going with her. In the end, Maniac finds his home with the Beale family.

My View of the World:
This is such an interesting book because it tackles to topic of prejudice from the view of a boy. Maniac seems to be so talented and lucky that he deals with jealousy because he is good at what he does, prejudice at his skin color, and anger because he does not understand why others are prejudiced. Maniac seems to be a magnet for a crowd and attention. He seems to run everywhere and what he is really looking for is a home. This is an excellent book. Children will relate to the main character and view the world through his eyes.

Book Reviews:
The story, which explores such complex concepts as home and race relations, is consistently fresh and surprising. Maniac's search for an address to call his own is poignant, while his feats such as untying Cobble's knot and hitting an "inside-the-park home-run but" with a "frogball" are pure tall tale.-Louise Sherman, formerly Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information. School Library Journal. February 1, 2002.


In this modern-day tall tale, Spinelli ( Dump Days ; Jason and Marceline ) presents a humorous yet poignant look at the issue of race relations, a rare topic for a work aimed at middle readers. Orphaned as an infant, Jerry Magee is reared by his feuding aunt and uncle until he runs away at age eight. He finds his way to Two Mills, Pa., where the legend of ``Maniac'' Magee begins after he scores major upsets against Brian Denehy, the star high school football player, and Little League tough guy, John McNab. In racially divided Two Mills, the Beales, a black family, take Maniac in, but despite his local fame, community pressure forces him out and he returns to living at the zoo. Park groundskeeper Grayson next cares for the boy, but the old man dies and Maniac moves into the squalid home of the McNabs, who are convinced a race war is imminent. After a showdown with his nemesis, Mars Bar, Maniac bridges the gap between the two sides of town and finally finds a home. Full of snappy street-talk cadences, this off-the-wall yarn will give readers of all colors plenty of food for thought. Publishers Weekly, May 11, 1990.

In My World:
This book would be an excellent way to discuss prejudice and racism. The characters in this book all seem to have their own prejudices without being aware of them. It could be a starting point for asking students what prejudices that they see in the world around them.

The Tale of Despereaux

Module 4
February 8-14

The Tale of Despereaux
By Kate DiCamillo

DiCamillo, Kate. The Tale of Despereaux, 2003. Candlewick Press.
ISBN: 0763625299

Synopsis:
Despereaux is a very small mouse who does not like things that other mice like. He is more interested in reading books and appreciating music than he is in eating food. Despereaux breaks one cardinal rule of all mice and falls in love with the princess in his castle. For this offsense, he is sent to his death. However, through luck and cleverness, Despereaux escapes. Roscuro is a rat who lives in the same castle, but through a series of unfortunate incidents caused the death of the queen. Roscuro is a rat who only wishes to live above the dungeons in the light. He is a rat who does not like rat-like things. He kidnaps the princess to keep her in the dungeons so that there will be some light there. Despereaux is able to return to rescue to princess, but in the end, Roscuro repents and changes his actions.

My View of the World:
The Tale of Despereaux is a book with very sweet sentiments. Despereaux is an undersized mouse who does not like mouse-like things. He refuses to conform and as a result, he falls in love with a princess in the castle in which he lives. Roscuro is a villain for which the reader feels empathy. Despereaux is an unlikely hero, but with a combination of his wit and luck, he succeeds in rescuing a princess. This is definitely a book that children will love because the hero is someone who shouldn’t probably be a hero and stands out.

Book Reviews:
Gr 4-8-With allegorical elements such as quests for love and light, and dangerous encounters that lead to forgiveness and redemption, Kate DiCamillo's novel (Candlewick, 2003) is a multi-layered fantasy. The hero is Despereaux Tilling, a young mouse who is improbably, but deeply, in love with a very human Princess Pea. On the dark side, there's a misguided rat named Roscuro and a serving girl, Miggery Sow, who wishes to be a princess. The traumatic events that shape the lives of these four characters, and bring them all to the brink of disaster, are resolved with some gentle lessons on the power of kindness. DiCamillo creates a special intimacy with listeners by using frequent asides that draw them into the story. Narrator Graeme Malcolm heightens the text's storytelling qualities with a mix of deft accents and appropriate vocal styles. This novel's castle and its denizens are a long way from the down home folks in Because of Winn-Dixie, the author's Newbery Honor book. What remains the same is how well both stories convey the importance of caring relationships. Middle school listeners may find some of the scenarios far fetched, but they'll be inspired by the simple, believable way that good triumphs over evil. This is a solid choice for both public and school libraries.-Barbara Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill, CT Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information. School Library Journal, March 1, 2004.

Despereaux Tilling, a tiny mouse with very large ears, has always been a misfit among mice. But it is his quirks-which include the ability to read books and tell stories, as well as his undying love for a human princess-that lead Despereaux on a quest that culminates in a most fitting "happily ever after" ending. Malcolm's humorous interpretation of Antoinette Tilling's (Despereaux's French mother) histrionics is fine entertainment. And his Roscuro the rat character delivers slick lines with a Latin flair. With asides directed at listeners and elements of royal intrigue, innocent romance and revenge, this listening experience sometimes recalls the film The Princess Bride. Ages 7-12. (Sept.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information. Publishers Weekly, November 10, 2003.

In My World:
This book would be an excellent way to address the differences that are found within the classroom and how everyone’s differences just make them unique. It would also be a good way to address the issue of bullying. I would use this book as a read aloud within the library.

Miracle's Boys

Module 3
February 1-7

Miracle’s Boys
By Jacqueline Woodson

Woodson, Jacqueline. Miracle’s Boys. G.P. Putnam’s Sons: 2000. ISBN: 0142406023

Synopsis:
Lafayette is a thirteen year-old boy who lives in New York City with his two brothers. Tyree, the oldest, has given up going to college to stay home and take care of the younger two brothers since their mother died of diabetes two year previously. Charlie has spent the last two years in a correctional facility for robbing a convenience store. The story is told through the eyes of Lafayette who calls his brother Newcharlie since he has come home because he doesn’t seem at all like the brother that Lafayette remembers. The story is told over the course of a weekend, and the readers begin to realize that the brothers desperately need each other. The brothers also realize that the family ties to each other are what make them united.

My View of the World:
This book is a heartrending story of three brothers who live in New York City. Lafayette’s impressions of Charlie and Tyree let the reader experience how hard their mother’s death from diabetes was for the entire family. Tyree seems to be the rock that holds the family together, but he is still very young himself. Tyree seems have a constant internal struggle to both father and mother to both boys. Charlie’s feelings of guilt that he was not there for his mother when she died along with Lafayette’s feelings of guilt that he was not somehow able to save her are both keenly felt by the reader. In the end, their ties of family to each other are what bind boys together and help them all.

Book Reviews:
A compelling novel about three streetwise New York City brothers trying to help one another confront their personal demons. Thirteen-year-old Lafayette still grieves for his mother, who died of diabetes two years earlier. He blames himself for not being able to save her. Older brother Ty'ree is more mature and responsible but he, too, is tormented by the past. He witnessed his father rescue a drowning woman and later die of hypothermia before Lafayette was born, and he continues to feel guilty for not being able to help him. Lafayette and Ty'ree take comfort in school, work, and other routines of daily life to keep their lives focused and their minds off the past. All of this changes, however, when a middle brother named Charlie returns from a juvenile-detention facility where he served a three-year sentence for an armed robbery. Having this angry, sometimes hostile presence in their lives forces Lafayette and Ty'ree to depend upon one another even more to work through their grief and figure out how to help Charlie survive. As usual, Woodson's characterizations and dialogue are right on. The dynamics among the brothers are beautifully rendered. The narrative is told through dialogue and Lafayette's introspections so there is not a lot of action, but readers should find this story of tough, self-sufficient young men to be powerful and engaging.
-Edward Sullivan, New York Public Library Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information. School Library Journal. May 1, 2000.

Once again, Woodson (If You Come Softly; From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun) reveals a keen understanding of the adolescent psyche via the narration of a winning seventh-grader. Lafayette, whose mother has recently died, is worried that some day he will be separated from his two older brothers: high-school-graduate Ty'ree, who gave up a scholarship to MIT to take care of his younger siblings; and Charlie, the rebellious middle boy, who, after spending more than two years in a correctional facility, has returned home cold and tough. (Lafayette calls him "Newcharlie," because his brother, with whom he was once so close, now seems unrecognizable to him.) Viewing household tensions and hardships through Lafayette's eyes, readers will come to realize each character's internal conflicts and recognize their desperate need to cling together as a family. The boys' loyalties to one another are tested during a cathartic climax, though it is resolved a bit too easily, and Lafayette's visions of his mother aren't fully developed or integrated into the plot. Gang violence and urban poverty play an integral part in this novel, but what readers will remember most is the brothers' deep-rooted affection for one another. An intelligently wrought, thought-provoking story. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information. Publisher’s Weekly. April 17, 2000.


In My World:
I would use this book to talk about different types of families with students. This would also be an excellent book to address the issue of death with students. The complexity of each boy’s feelings and how they all handle their mother’s death differently would be something to discuss with a class.

Before We Were Free

Module 3
February 1-7

Before We were Free
by Julia Alvarez

Alvarez, Julia. Before we were free. Random House, 2002. ISBN: 044023784X

Synopsis:
Twelve year-old Anita is taken out of school with her cousin Carla to learn that her aunt and uncle are going to America. This is the last of Anita’s extended family that has left for America. Anita has never questioned her loyalty to El Jeffe, the leader of the Dominican Republic. However, when the secret police search their home, twelve-year-old Anita begins to question the loyalty that she has always had for the leader. Anita also begins to realize that her parents do not have unquestioning loyalty towards El Jeffe. Anita realizes that her parents are plotting against El Jeffe, and they get caught after carrying out his demise. Anita is forced into hiding with her Mamita while her Papi and Tio Toni are captured by the secret police. Anita and her Mamita are in hiding for some time before they are smuggled out of the country to America. Once they have been there for a few months, Anita learns that the dictatorship has fallen in the Dominican Republic, but when it fell as a last act of vengeance, all the remaining prisoners were killed. Anita and her family decide to stay in America with her uncles and aunts until their wounds heal.

My View of the World:
This book is an excellent story of the life of people underneath a dictator. It gives the reader a story from a child of her perception of their life. Her parents rebel against the current dictator while trying to protect their children. She is aware of the bigger events without totally realizing what the implication of them. This is a great book for middle school and high school to help students understand how life is for people who do not live in a democracy. It is a very powerful story, and it was able to be told without being too graphic.

Book Reviews:
Before We Were Free (Knopf, 2002) provides a realistic story about what it might have been like for a young cousin of the Garcia girls who did not flee the Dominican Republic to live through the turbulent dictatorship El Jeffe. The account is related from the viewpoint of Anita, an observant but naive 12-year-old upper middle class girl. For the de la Torre family, the weeks following the Garcias' departure from their island home are filled with peculiar strangers, mysterious adult activities, strained social affairs and, ultimately, a horrible sojourn in hiding. Alvarez's protagonist is credible for her age, and the events that she witnesses-including El Jeffe's sexual advances on a slightly older girl, her own father's involvement with the revolution, and the terrors of living in hiding-are presented realistically. Alvarez reads her own work here, giving Anita a clear and determined voice. This is an essential addition to audiobook collections in schools and public libraries, both for curriculum support and as an engaging book enjoyment. Both the story and the performance are deeply satisfying and will spark interest in a variety of social sciences, as well as in Alvarez's related books.-
Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information. School Library Journal, November 1, 2004

By the morning of her 12th birthday, in December, 1960, Anita de la Torre's comfortable childhood in her home in the Dominican Republic is a thing of the past. The political situation for opponents of the dictator Rafael Trujillo has become so dangerous that nearly all of her relatives have emigrated to the U.S., leaving only her uncle, T'o Toni, somewhere in hiding, and her parents, still determined to carry on the resistance. Over the next year, the girl becomes increasingly aware of the nature of the political situation and her family's activities. Once her father's cotorrita, or talkative parrot, she grows increasingly silent. When the dictator is assassinated, her father and uncle are arrested, her older brother is sheltered in the Italian Embassy, and Anita and her mother must go into hiding as well. Diary entries written by the child while in hiding will remind readers of Anne Frank's story. They will find Anita's interest in boys and her concerns about her appearance, even when she and her mother can see no one, entirely believable. Readers will be convinced by the voice of this Spanish-speaking teenager who tells her story entirely in the present tense. Like Anita's brother Mund'n, readers will bite their nails as the story moves to its inexorable conclusion.
-Kathleen Isaacs, Edmund Burke School, Washington, DC Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information. School Library Journal, August 1, 2002.


In My World:
This book would be an excellent use for a read aloud over time. It gives a good description of life under a dictatorship that is failing. I would use it to discuss what life is like in other countries under different types of governments. I would also use it to teach about different types of governments. It would also be a good tool to talk about people’s differences. When Anita comes to America, she clearly does not fit in or feel like she should fit in.

SLIS 5420
Module 2
January 25-31

Corduroy

By Don Freeman

Freeman, Don. Corduroy. Viking Press, 1968. ISBN: 00670241334

Synopsis:
Corduroy is a bear for sale in a department store. Corduroy is sad because he is missing a button from his overalls. Corduroy crawls down from the display that night and goes about the department store trying to find his button. The night guard finds him and puts him back in his rightful place. Then a little girl named Lisa comes the very first thing that day and takes him home. She sews a button on his overalls, and they become friends.

My View of the World
Corduroy is very endearing as he searches for his button so that someone will want to take him home. The pictures are eye-catching and will capture students’ attention. Corduroy’s story will be something to which students can relate because everyone wants a friend growing up. Almost all children growing up have a teddy bear, and that is just one more reason that students are able to relate to Corduroy.

Book Reviews
Poor Corduroy, he has been sitting on the store shelf for a long time. A young girl named Lisa falls in love with Corduroy despite his missing button and shopworn look. It is a heartwarming story of the small stuffed bear's desire for a home and friends and his obtaining perfect fulfillment in the devotion of Lisa. Caldecott award winning illustrator Freeman created a book that has lasted for generations.
Children's Literature from BarnesandNoble.com

“Have you ever dreamed of being locked in a department store at night? The endearing story of Corduroy paints a picture of the adventures that might unfold (for a teddy bear at least) in such a situation. When all the shoppers have gone home for the night, Corduroy climbs down from the shelf to look for his missing button. It's a brave new world! He accidentally gets on an elevator that he thinks must be a mountain and sees the furniture section that he thinks must be a palace. He tries to pull a button off the mattress, but he ends up falling off the bed and knocking over a lamp. The night watchman hears the crash, finds Corduroy, and puts him back on the shelf downstairs. The next morning, he finds that it's his lucky day! A little girl buys him with money she saved in her piggy bank and takes him home to her room. Corduroy decides that this must be home and that Lisa must be his friend. “ Amazon.com Review


In My World
I would use Corduroy to help students develop a sense of story. You could have a stuffed teddy bear be Corduroy and have students write adventures of Corduroy. This could be used in helping students to write and inspire them to derive their own stories.

Caps for Sale

SLIS 5420
Module 2
January 25-31

Caps for Sale

By Esphyr Slobodkina

Slobodkina, Esphyr. Caps for Sale. Harper Collins Publishers,1968.
ISBN: 0060257784

Synopsis:
There is a peddler who sells caps in town. However, he does not sell caps like anyone else does because he wears them all on his head. One day, he could not sell any caps, and he didn’t have any money for lunch. The peddler went for a walk outside of town and decided to take a nap with all the caps on his head. When he awoke, all the caps, except for his own, had been stolen by mischievous monkeys. The peddler realized that the monkeys were imitating him, and he threw his cap on the ground. Then he was able to retrieve his cap from the monkeys in the trees and go back to town selling his wares.

My View of the World
This book has many nostalgic memories for me from my own childhood. This is a great book for early readers because it has suspense and comedy, but it also has a very simple plot. Children will take great delight in those mischievous monkeys and their imitation of the peddler. The drawings of the peddler with all the caps on his head will be fascinating for young readers.

Book Reviews

“From an old folk tale [the author] has fashioned this bright picture book, infusing it with a humor which seems to have sprung from her own hearty enjoyment of the troubles of a peddler with a band of monkeys. “ The New York Times

“This revised edition of the classic tale about a hat peddler and some mischievous monkeys has been slightly redesigned and enlarged.” Horn Book (Spring 2009)

In My World
In the library, I would use this with early readers in kindergarten or first grade. I would use this in a display with other books in a reading week for children’s literature and as a read aloud to be available for the teacher. It can help to teach younger children colors, counting, and animal behavior, in respect to the monkeys. It can also help younger children develop vital readings skills such as prediction.