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.