Speak

Written by: Laurie Halse Anderson

Published by: Square Fish, 1999.

ISBN 978-0-312-67439-7

Plot Summary:

After being raped by a high school senior, freshman Melinda Sordino breaks up a summer party by dialing 9-1-1. Melinda decides to keep her secret to herself, and starts school as “the girl who called the cops.” She immediately loses her friends, and becomes an outcast. Melinda is only able to gain her strength to speak after her art teacher, Mr. Freeman, assigns a thought provoking and emotional project. 

Critical Analysis:

“It is my first morning of high school. I have seven new notebooks, a skirt I hate, and a stomachache… I am an outcast.”

Speak is, unfortunately, a very true-to-life story in today’s society. Rapes, bullying, teasing, cutting class, and outcasts are all play a role in today’s high school societies. Everyone can relate to Melinda’s character in the story. Although most have not been in a sexual situation similar to hers, most everyone has been picked on or felt like an outcast at one time. Readers will hopefully gain confidence from Melinda’s changes throughout the book as she sees herself out of a terrible depression and conquers many of her deepest fears. Speak is written simply and beautifully, and the sentences are pure but powerful. Although the plot seems slow at times, the story is intriguing and realistic enough to hold a reader’s attention. The conflicts and solutions in the story are believable and very relatable for today’s students. The book is set in Syracuse, New York, and most of the story is set specifically at Merryweather High School. The author describes this high school as if it could be any high school, which also makes the book relatable. Melinda’s story will bring young readers the courage to cope, heal, and express themselves.

Awards and Reviews:

Edgar Allen Poe Award (2000)

Golden Kite Award (2000)

Michael L. Printz Award (2000)

Booklist Editor’s Choice (1999)

Horn Book Fanfare (2000)

School Library Journal Best Books (1999)

YALSA Best Books for Young Adults (2000)

Kirkus Reviews: A frightening and sobering look at the cruelty and viciousness that pervade much of contemporary high school life, as real as today's headlines. At the end of the summer before she enters high school, Melinda attends a party at which two bad things happen to her. She gets drunk, and she is raped. Shocked and scared, she calls the police, who break up the party and send everyone home. She tells no one of her rape, and the other students, even her best friends, turn against her for mining their good time. By the time school starts, she is completely alone, and utterly desolate. She withdraws more and more into herself, rarely talking, cutting classes, ignoring assignments, and becoming more estranged daily from the world around her. Few people penetrate her shell; one of them is Mr. Freeman, her art teacher, who works with her to help her express what she has so deeply repressed. When the unthinkable happens--the same upperclassman who raped her at the party attacks her again--something within the new Melinda says no, and in repelling her attacker, she becomes whole again. The plot is gripping and the characters are powerfully drawn, but it is its raw and unvarnished look at the dynamics of the high school experience that makes this a novel that will be hard for readers to forget.

Booklist: Having broken up an end-of-summer party by calling the police, high-school freshman Melinda Sordino begins the school year as a social outcast. She's the only person who knows the real reason behind her call: she was raped at the party by Andy Evans, a popular senior at her school. Slowly, with the help of an eccentric and understanding art teacher, she begins to recover from the trauma, only to find Andy threatening her again. Melinda's voice is distinct, unusual, and very real as she recounts her past and present experiences in bitterly ironic, occasionally even amusing vignettes. In her YA fiction debut, Anderson perfectly captures the harsh conformity of high-school cliques and one teen's struggle to find acceptance from her peers. Melinda's sarcastic wit, honesty, and courage make her a memorable character whose ultimate triumph will inspire and empower readers.

VOYA: Melinda is a high school freshman with a devastating secret--a popular upper class jock raped her at a party over the summer. Wise enough to call 911, she was too stunned to speak when the police arrived, so the entire school thinks she did it just to break up the party. Shunned by her old friends and even by people she does not know, she spends her first year of high school alienated and unable to concentrate. She communicates with her absentee parents through notes on the fridge--a practice her parents encourage, since they are not interested in talking about anything except her falling grades. Melinda's only refuge is art class, where her nonconformist teacher encourages self-expression through artwork. Finally, she finds the courage to speak out and face her demons. Readers will easily identify with Melinda, a realistic, likeable character. Anderson portrays a large suburban high school with a fresh and authentic eye--all the cliques are there, from the jocks, to the Goths, to the "Marthas" (Martha Stewart wanna-bes). This extremely well-written book has current slang, an accurate portrayal of high school life, and engaging characters. By using a conversational, first-person narrative, the author takes the reader into Melinda's world. This powerful story has an important lesson: never be afraid to speak up for yourself.

Connections:

This book contains many tender subjects, best discussed in the privacy of close friends, family members, or teachers. Hopefully through reading Speak, teens will learn the pain that bullying can cause a person. In small groups, have students discuss times when they have felt like an outcast. What could have been done to change the situation? Will they deal with a similar situation differently after reading this Melinda’s story? Assign an art project similar to Mr. Freeman’s assignment. Encourage readers to use emotion in their artwork.

Related Titles:

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Wintergirls. New York: Viking, 2009.

Asher, Jay. Thirteen Reasons Why. New York: Razorbill, 2007.

Crocker, Nancy. Billie Standish Was Here. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2007.

Dessen, Sarah. Dreamland. London: Hodder Children’s, 2002. 

Dessen, Sarah. The Truth About Forever. New York: Viking, 2004.

Vizzini, Ned. It’s Kind of a Funny Story. New York: Hyperion, 2006. 

Joey Pigza Loses Control

Written by: Jack Gantos

Published by: Harper Collins, 2000

ISBN 0-06-441022-6

Plot Summary:

Joey Pigza is a young buy who is learning to cope with his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Now, since Joey is taking medicine that controls his behavior (somewhat), he is able to visit his father for the summer. Joey’s dad and Joey are both “wired,” and they both wear patches: Joey contain ADHD medicine and his dad’s contain nicotine.  Joey’s dad decides to teach Joey how stop a woman (Joey’s mother) from running his life, and encourages him to go without his patches. Joey’s highest hope is that he can be a “normal” kid without the medicine, but this is far from the truth. During Joey’s summer with his dad he learns to drive, pitch a baseball, take care of his empysemic grandmother, and skydive. But most of all, Joey learns the importance of maturing and telling the truth.

Critical Analysis:

“Before I had gone to special ed and got my new meds it would have been impossible for me to sit still and make a list of good and bad things…But after I got my good meds, which were in a patch I stuck on my body every day…I started thinking about the good things I wanted to happen. And the best part about thinking good things was that now I could make them come true instead of having everything I wanted blow up in my face.”

Joey Pigza Loses Control is a touching, entertaining, and, at times, painfully truthful story. Most people can relate to a guy like Joey. Always hyper, often causing trouble, but caring and well-meaning. Joey is especially relatable to children who have ADHD, and the book truly gives readers an insight into the mind of a child with an attention disorder. The language used in Joey’s thoughts and conversations is so true to life. Reader’s will get so caught up in Joey’s thoughts that they will be rooting for him to win and succeed in his various challenges. The plot of this story is fast moving, believable, and engaging. Joey’s mind doesn’t stay in one place for long, so readers are sure to be entertained. The majority of the story takes place in Pittsburgh, where Joey’s father lives, but throughout the story, the specific setting changes from a baseball field, to a shopping mall, and to a pizza parlor, all relatable places for young children. By the end of the story, Joey learns the importance of balancing making his own decisions and listening to outside influences, a subject in which everyone could use a refresher course. Readers will be laughing, nervous, and even teary-eyed by the end of this touching and true to life story.

Awards and Reviews:

Booklist Editor’s Choice (2000)

ALSC Notable Children’s Book (2001)

John Newbery Medal (2001)

School Library Journal Best Books (2000)

Horn Book Fanfare (2000)

Kirkus Reviews: As if Joey didn't get into enough trouble in his unforgettable debut, "Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key "(1998), Gantos has him wig out again in this sad, scary, blackly funny sequel. His hyperactivity under control thanks to new meds, Joey is looking forward to a six-week stay with his father Carter, hoping for some bonding. Unfortunately, his mother's warning: ". . . he can be, you know, wired like you, only he's "bigger"." understates the case. As a father, not to say a human being, Carter turns out to be appallingly dysfunctional: irresponsible, utterly self-centered, domineering, callous, and ominously short-fused. Smart enough to see through his father's loud assertions that he's turned over a new leaf, Joey nonetheless struggles to please, even when Carter flushes Joey's medication down the toilet, insisting that real men only need willpower to solve their personal problems. Joey tries to tough it out, hoping (despite bitter experience) that this time he won't go spinning off. Swept along by Joey's breathless narrative, readers will share his horrified fascination as, bit by bit, he watches the bad old habits and behavior come back. Joey's emphysemic Grandma, alternating drags on a cigarette with whiffs of oxygen as she trundles about the neighborhood in a shopping cart, and his Chihuahua Pablo, who survives both being locked in a glove compartment and having his ear pierced by a dart, provide the closest thing to comic relief here. The situation takes a dangerous turn when Joey eggs Carter into a wild rage; fortunately, his mother is just a phone call away, waiting in the wings to bail him out. Carter is truly frightening, a vision of what Joey could grow up to be, did he not possess the inner honesty to acknowledge his limitations (eventually), and caring adults to help him. A tragic tale in many ways, but a triumph too.

Booklist: Joey's life has improved since Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key (1998); patches containing his "good meds" control his hyperactivity, and though he would never be mistaken for a calm child (well illustrated by the incident when he accidentally pierces his dog's ear with a dart), he is usually able to stop and think before he gets into trouble. Joey isn't crazy about spending time with the father he has never met, but he hopes that his Dad "will love me." Carter Pigza is "wired" just like Joey, but the patch he wears is for nicotine, and he regularly peels it off to smoke. He likes to think deep thoughts while gazing at the Humpty Dumpty at the miniature golf course late at night, and he comes to the conclusion that both he and Joey need to do the manly thing and get rid of their patches. Joey remembers all too well how he felt before he got his medicine, but he tries hard to make his dad proud. In tremendously poignant scenes, he struggles valiantly to do what his mother has told him: think just one thought at a time. But as his medicine wears off, he gradually loses control. Gantos has given Joey a remarkably vivid personality, and, blending irrepressible humor with a powerful depiction of a child's longing for normalcy, he has written a dead-on portrayal of a young person assessing the often self-serving behavior of the adults who control his life. Few children these days don't know someone wrestling with ADHD; meeting up with Joey is a fine way to gain insight into the problems "hyper" children face. But the story is more than message. Ganto's skillful pacing, sly humor, and in-depth characterization make it a truly memorable read.

VOYA: In this sequel to Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key (Farrar Straus Giroux, 1998/VOYA February 1999), Joey begins his visit with his father on a relatively even keel because of the medication he takes to treat his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is not, however, an easy father-and-son reunion, as Carter Pigza is an adult version of the non-medicated Joey, so wired that "a humming sound [comes] out of his body." Joey pitches for the baseball team that his father coaches, and Carter has plans for a winning season. Joey handles the demanding role of being the hotshot pitcher-son of the coach until Carter decides that Joey is a normal kid who does not need "crutches" and flushes Joey's medicine down the toilet. Although he wants to believe in his father, Joey knows that it will not be long before the old wired Joey comes back. The reader is drawn into Joey's struggle for self-control while his medication wears off and as his father's behavior becomes more erratic with the increased consumption of alcohol. Through Joey's narration, Gantos brilliantly portrays the often-manic pace of an ADHD mind, but he alleviates the tension with touches of humor. Joey accidentally pierces his Chihuahua Pablo's ear with a wayward dart and wants to put an earring in the hole. His mother is not amused, although the reader cannot help but smile at Joey's antics. Joey is a young teen struggling to maintain control in an often out-of-control world, a struggle with which many teens will relate. Gantos's style of writing and the subject matter make this book a great middle school read-aloud.

Connections:

Author Jack Gantos began writing as a young child by keeping journals. Have students or patrons start writing about their humorous, emotional, or challenging experiences in journals. If you must grade the assignment, use only a participation grade. Allow students to be confident in the fact they will be the only person reading their journals, as some may want to include personal stories.

Related Titles:

Cheaney, J.B. The Middle of Somewhere. New York: Alfred A Knoph, 2007.

Cook, Julia. It’s Hard To Be a Verb. Chattanooga: National Center for Youth Issues, 2010.

Gantos, Jack. I Am Not Joey Pigza. New York: Straus and Giroux, 2007.

Janover, Caroline. Zipper, the Kid with ADHD. Bethesda: Woodbine House, 1997. 

Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians

Written by: Jarret J. Krosoczka

Illustrated by: Jarret J. Krosoczka

Published by: Puffin Books, 1986

ISBN 0-525-44265-0

Plot Summary:

“Serving justice! And serving lunch!”

After the Breakfast Club finds out that the school librarian is out to destroy all video games, including the X-Station 5000, they alert their undercover, crime fighting lunch lady and her sidekick, Betty. Using her spork phone, celery staff, and linguini lasso, the lunch lady is able to terminate the librarian’s plans.

Critical Analysis:

Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians is a comical and clever story of an unlikely super hero. Since the Lunch Lady stories are short and speedy, the characters in the story are not very well defined, but they definitely exhibit clear motives.  The story is set in an unspecific school, which helps all readers relate to the story. The plot is quick and exciting, so the story is a fast and easy read. The simple wording and large font makes this book a great pick for struggling readers. Readers will have so much fun reading this series, they’ll forget they are holding a book. The simple black and white illustrations, highlighted in bright yellow, are quirky and exaggerated. The story displays the classic theme of good vs. evil, and, in this case, good triumphs over evil. It’s refreshing to see the character of the lunch lady glorified in these books, and after reading, students will be begging their lunch ladies to show them to their secret lairs.

Awards and Reviews:

Choices (Cooperative Children’s Book Center) (2010)

School Library Journal: When not serving up French fries and gravy to students, Lunch Lady escapes to her secret kitchen lair to lead the life of a crime fighter. Using an assortment of lunch-themed gadgets (created by her sidekick Betty), she is definitely a quirky superhero. Tipped off by the Breakfast Bunch (three students who discovered Lunch Lady's crime-fighting alter ego in Book 1), she attempts to foil the plans of the evil League of Librarians, who seek to destroy all video games. The black-and-white pen-and-ink illustrations have splashes of yellow in nearly every panel. The clean layout, featuring lots of open space, is well suited for the intended audience. Terrence, Hector, and Dee become more developed in this second installment in the series, especially Dee, who asserts herself as the strong-willed leader of the group. The winking references to book fairs, read-a-thon enrollment, and media specialists fit well with the story line. With its appealing mix of action and humor, this clever, entertaining addition to the series should have wide appeal.

Children’s Literature: When her Apple Alarm alerts her to a crime in progress, crime fighter Lunch Lady knows it is time to leap into action! Armed with her Taco-Vision Night Goggles and aided by her trusty sidekick/assistant server Betty, Lunch Lady serves up justice to everyone from muggers to crime syndicates, but, when Lunch Lady’s young informants, the Breakfast Bunch, alert her to an evil plot by the League of Librarians to destroy all video games, can even a super-powered cafeteria worker stop a group of villains capable of sending an evil Black Stallion or Cheshire Cat against her? Inspired by author/artist Jarret J. Krosoczka’s crazy ideas about his own elementary school lunch lady, much of the book’s humor comes from Lunch Lady’s cafeteria-themed gadgets, including the Spork Phone, Hairnet Nets, and Sonic Boom Juice Box. For a graphic novel meant to encourage reading, however, the story delivers some mixed messages about librarians, as the librarians are portrayed as video game-hating villains who knock people out with dictionaries and attack superheroes with evil versions of literary characters. At one point, the heroes even toss the librarians’ books into the river to defeat the villains. Overall, the book plays with some clever concepts and provides some diversionary entertainment but is not particularly filling.

Connections: Have children write and illustrate their own shortened comic strip about their lunch ladies saving the day and gift the comic strips to the school lunch ladies. Brainstorm new lunchroom related spy gadgets.

Related Titles:

Gutman, Dan. Mrs. LaGrange Is Strange. New York: Harper Trophy, 2005.

Gutman, Dan. Mrs. Roopy Is Loopy. New York: Harper Trophy, 2004.

Krosoczka, Jarret J. Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009.

Krosoczka, Jarret J. Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009.

Krosoczka, Jarret J. Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2010.

Loehr, Patrick. Mucumber McGee and the Lunch Lady’s Liver. New York: Katherine Tegen Books, 2008.

Pierce, Lincoln. Big Nate Our Loud. Kansas City: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2011.

Sachar, Lewis. Sideways Stories from Wayside School. New York: Harper Trophy, 1978.

Sachar, Lewis. Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger. New York: Harper Trophy, 1995.

Sachar Lewis. Wayside School Is Falling Down. New York: Harper Trophy, 1989.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Written by: Jacqueline Kelly

Published by: Macmillan, 2009

ISBN 978-0-312-65930-1

Plot Summary:

Calpurnia Tate, or Callie Vee, lives in Texas and is the only girl of seven children. She dislikes sewing, knitting, and cooking, and would trade in her domestic duties for a microscope or magnifying glass without question. During the hot Texas summer of 1899, Calpurnia begins a relationship with her naturalist grandfather, who she at first sees as cranky and difficult. Calpurnia becomes interested in science, specifically how things work in the natural world. She yearns to read Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species, but her hometown library does not keep a copy. Calpurnia and her grandfather discover what they think may be a new species of vetch, and send their information to the Smithsonian. Throughout the story, Calpurnia and her grandfather grow closer and share many exciting adventures.

Critical Analysis:

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is an enchanting and lively story. The story is set in 1899 during a hot, Texas summer. The setting is well detailed, and throughout the book, readers can almost feel the dry Texas heat. The main character of the story, Calpurnia, is one girl of seven children, and her character is very well-developed. She is caring, curious, and brave. She resists any duties that will lead to domestication, and the last thing she wants to become is a debutante. What she truly wants is to become a scientist, although this is a seemingly unreachable goal according to Calpurnia’s mother. The plot of the story is authentic and stays true to the time period. The characters in the story experience for the first time the use of a wind machine (fan), the taste of Coca-Cola, and the power of an automobile. Jacqueline Kelly tells this story beautifully, as the words seem to float right off of the pages. The plot is light, without intense conflict, and enjoyable for young readers. This story is written in a fresh and inviting style that will leave the reader wanting more from Calpurnia. Readers will learn to appreciate failure and experimentation from Callie Vee’s grandfather. “…we should celebrate today’s failure because it is a clear sign that our voyage of discovery is not yet over. The day the experiment succeeds is the day the experiment ends.  And I inevitably find that the sadness of ending outweighs the celebration of success.”

Awards and Reviews:

Indies Choice Book Award (2010)

John Newbery Medal (2010)

Josette Frank Award (2010)

YALSA Best Books for Young Adults (2010)

School Library Journal Best Books (2009)

Kirkus Reviews: Mother was awakening to the sorry facts: My biscuits were like stones, my samplers askew, my seams like rickrack." The year is 1899, the place Texas and the problem is 11-year-old Calpurnia Virginia Tate, who is supposed to want to cook, sew and attract future beaux, not play in the dirt, examine insects and, perhaps most suspect of all, read Darwin's controversial The Origin of Species, the source of the novel's chapter introductions. A natural-born scientist, she alone among her six brothers has discovered the rare specimen under her own roof—a funny-smelling, rather antisocial grandfather who preoccupies himself with classifying flora and fauna...when he's not fermenting pecans for whiskey. Their budding friendship is thoughtfully and engagingly portrayed, as is the unfolding of the natural world's wonders under Calpurnia's ever-inquisitive gaze. Calpurnia is not a boilerplate folksy Southern heroine who spouts wise-beyond-her-years maxims that seem destined for needlepoint—her character is authentically childlike and complex, her struggles believable. Readers will finish this witty, deftly crafted debut novel rooting for "Callie Vee" and wishing they knew what kind of adult she would become.

Booklist: Starred Review* Growing up with six brothers in rural Texas in 1899, 12-year-old Callie realizes that her aversion to needlework and cooking disappoints her mother. Still, she prefers to spend her time exploring the river, observing animals, and keeping notes on what she sees. Callie’s growing interest in nature creates a bond with her previously distant grandfather, an amateur naturalist of some distinction. After they discover an unknown species of vetch, he attempts to have it officially recognized. This process creates a dramatic focus for the novel, though really the main story here is Callie’s gradual self-discovery as revealed in her vivid first-person narrative. By the end, she is equally aware of her growing desire to become a scientist and of societal expectations that make her dream seem nearly impossible. Interwoven with the scientific theme are threads of daily life in a large family—the bonds with siblings, the conversations overheard, the unspoken understandings and misunderstandings—all told with wry humor and a sharp eye for details that bring the characters and the setting to life. The eye-catching jacket art, which silhouettes Callie and images from nature against a yellow background, is true to the period and the story.

School Library Journal: Starred Review. Grade 5–8—A charming and inventive story of a child struggling to find her identity at the turn of the 20th century. As the only girl in an uppercrust Texas family of seven children, Calpurnia, 11, is expected to enter young womanhood with all its trappings of tight corsets, cookery, and handiwork. Unlike other girls her age, Callie is most content when observing and collecting scientific specimens with her grandfather. Bemoaning her lack of formal knowledge, he surreptitiously gives her a copy of The Origin of Species and Callie begins her exploration of the scientific method and evolution, eventually happening upon the possible discovery of a new plant species. Callie's mother, believing that a diet of Darwin, Dickens, and her grandfather's influence will make Callie dissatisfied with life, sets her on a path of cooking lessons, handiwork improvement, and an eventual debut into society. Callie's confusion and despair over her changing life will resonate with girls who feel different or are outsiders in their own society. Callie is a charming, inquisitive protagonist; a joyous, bright, and thoughtful creation. The conclusion encompasses bewilderment, excitement, and humor as the dawn of a new century approaches. Several scenes, including a younger brother's despair over his turkeys intended for the Thanksgiving table and Callie's heartache over receiving The Science of Housewifery as a Christmas gift, mix gentle humor and pathos to great effect. The book ends with uncertainty over Callie's future, but there's no uncertainty over the achievement of Kelly's debut novel.

Connections: The cover art of this book is done using silhouette art. What do your readers want to be when they grow up? Use the help of an art teacher to teach readers to create a silhouette art project depicting their dreams.

Gather plants or insects and have students figure out their species, or collect pond water and view it under a microscope. Enlist a science teacher for help with this project.

Related Titles:

Klages, Ellen. The Green Glass Sea. New York: Viking, 2006.

Klages, Elles. White Sands, Red Menace. New York: Viking, 2008.

Lawson, Kristen. Darwin and Evolution: His Life and Ideas: With 21 Activities. Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 2003.

Sis, Peter. The Tree of Life: A Book Depicting the Life of Charles Darwin, Naturalist, Geologist & Thinker. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2003.

Thimmesh, Catherine. Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2000. 

One Crazy Summer

Written by: Rita Williams-Garcia

Published by: Harper Colline, 2010

ISBN 978-0-06-076088-5

Plot Summary:

During the summer of 1968, three sisters, Delphine, Fern, and Vonetta, are sent to Oakland, California to spend a month with their mother, who abandoned them years ago. The girls believe their mother will be just like their grandmother describes, crazy and living on the streets. After arriving, and not gaining any affection from their mother, the girls are rushed off to the “Center,” run by the Black Panthers, for breakfast and day camp every day.  The girls quickly realize their summer is not going to be what they were expecting. No trip to Disney Land, but many lessons learned.

Critical Analysis:

One Crazy Summer takes place during the summer of 1968 during the “Black Power” revolution. The characters in the story, mainly Delphine, Fern, Vonetta and their mother Cecile, are all well developed. Delphine is a responsible, caring, and smart eleven year old. She shows these, and many more admirable characteristics, throughout the summer while caring for her younger sisters. The book also includes characters who are historical, like Black Panther leaders Huey Newton and Bobby Hutton.  The story told in this book is easily seen through the eyes of Delphine. She uses language true to the time period, describes events like a child, and shows a truly youthful point of view. This is how Delphine describes the excitement of their mother giving them a radio, “It was a sho-‘nuf, left-by-the-garbage-dump, second-hand radio. Vonetta and Fern squealed as if the little colored girl in the commercial were standing in our room eating buttered bread.” The plot of One Crazy Summer paints a story of the Black Power revolution that many children today would not believe. The book shares new experiences that are both scary and exciting for children. The style of writing used in this book shows the careful research done by the author. The characters use language that is true to the time period and entertaining. One Crazy Summer is a gem of a book that teaches the importance of family and acceptance.

Awards and Reviews:

Audie Award (2011)

Coretta Scott King Book Award (2011)  

John Newbery Medal Honor (2011)  

Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature (2011)

Parents' Choice Award (2010)

Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction (2011)

School Library Journal: Starred Review. Grade 4–7—It is 1968, and three black sisters from Brooklyn have been put on a California-bound plane by their father to spend a month with their mother, a poet who ran off years before and is living in Oakland. It's the summer after Black Panther founder Huey Newton was jailed and member Bobby Hutton was gunned down trying to surrender to the Oakland police, and there are men in berets shouting "Black Power" on the news. Delphine, 11, remembers her mother, but after years of separation she's more apt to believe what her grandmother has said about her, that Cecile is a selfish, crazy woman who sleeps on the street. At least Cecile lives in a real house, but she reacts to her daughters' arrival without warmth or even curiosity. Instead, she sends the girls to eat breakfast at a center run by the Black Panther Party and tells them to stay out as long as they can so that she can work on her poetry. Over the course of the next four weeks, Delphine and her younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern, spend a lot of time learning about revolution and staying out of their mother's way. Emotionally challenging and beautifully written, this book immerses readers in a time and place and raises difficult questions of cultural and ethnic identity and personal responsibility. With memorable characters (all three girls have engaging, strong voices) and a powerful story, this is a book well worth reading and rereading.

Booklist: Starred Review* Eleven-year-old Delphine has only a few fragmented memories of her mother, Cecile, a poet who wrote verses on walls and cereal boxes, played smoky jazz records, and abandoned the family in Brooklyn after giving birth to her third daughter. In the summer of 1968, Delphine’s father decides that seeing Cecile is “something whose time had come,” and Delphine boards a plane with her sisters to Cecile’s home in Oakland. What they find there is far from their California dreams of Disneyland and movie stars. “No one told y’all to come out here,” Cecile says. “No one wants you out here making a mess, stopping my work.” Like the rest of her life, Cecile’s work is a mystery conducted behind the doors of the kitchen that she forbids her daughters to enter. For meals, Cecile sends the girls to a Chinese restaurant or to the local, Black Panther–run community center, where Cecile is known as Sister Inzilla and where the girls begin to attend youth programs. Regimented, responsible, strong-willed Delphine narrates in an unforgettable voice, but each of the sisters emerges as a distinct, memorable character, whose hard-won, tenuous connections with their mother build to an aching, triumphant conclusion. Set during a pivotal moment in African American history, this vibrant novel shows the subtle ways that political movements affect personal lives; but just as memorable is the finely drawn, universal story of children reclaiming a reluctant parent’s love.

Kirkus Reviews: A flight from New York to Oakland, Calif., to spend the summer of 1968 with the mother who abandoned Delphine and her two sisters was the easy part. Once there, the negative things their grandmother had said about their mother, Cecile, seem true: She is uninterested in her daughters and secretive about her work and the mysterious men in black berets who visit. The sisters are sent off to a Black Panther day camp, where Delphine finds herself skeptical of the worldview of the militants while making the best of their situation. Delphine is the pitch-perfect older sister, wise beyond her years, an expert at handling her siblings: "Just like I know how to lift my sisters up, I also knew how to needle them just right." Each girl has a distinct response to her motherless state, and Williams-Garcia provides details that make each characterization crystal clear. The depiction of the time is well done, and while the girls are caught up in the difficulties of adults, their resilience is celebrated and energetically told with writing that snaps off the page.

Connections:

This book can be tied in with a study of the civil rights movement during African American History Month (February). Students can research and give a short presentation on a leader, event or participant in the Black Power revolution.

Lead a discussion with the following questions: How would it feel to be eleven years old and in charge of younger siblings during your summer vacation? Which character are you most like in the story and why?

Introduce students to shrimp lo mein, and invite them to try eating it with chop sticks.

Related Titles:

Magoon, Kekla. The Rock and the River. New York: Aladdin, 2009.

Van Peebles, Mario. Panther: A Pictorial History of the Black Panthers and the Story Behind the Film. New York: Newmarket Press, 1995. 

When the Circus Came to Town

Written by: Laurence Yep

Illustrated by: Suling Wang

Published by: Harper Collins, 2002.

ISBN 0-06-029326-8

Plot Summary:

Ten-year-old Ursula is a fun-loving girl who lives in Whistle, Montana. She is inventive, creative, and loves to travel on pretend adventures. Sadly, Ursula comes down with smallpox, which leaves her face badly scarred. Instead of facing her friends and the teasing she expects, she decides to stay cooped up in her bedroom. The Chinese family cook, Ah Sam, tries his very hardest to encourage Ursula to leave the house, but he is unsuccessful until he surprises her by bringing a circus to town. Ah Sam invites his cousins from California, and they put together a wonderful circus. The Chinese cousins are able to coax Ursula from her room to play the harmonica for the circus. Ursula saves the day and learns that appearances are not all that important.

Critical Analysis:

When the Circus Came to Town is a touching story set Montana in the early twentieth century. Some parts of the story have been fictionalized, but the story is based on real events. The story is short, at just over 100 pages, but the characters are well-developed. The main character, Ursula, is happy, adventurous, and fun-loving, until smallpox leaves her face with scars. After being scarred, she becomes a reclusive. Ah Sam, the Chinese cook, is hard working, encouraging, and caring. It is he who is finally able to persuade Ursula to come out of her house, even with her scars. Ah Sam is the only member of his immediate family living in America, until he can make enough money to go back to China and support his family. In the mean time, he is sending all of his earnings to his family, including a daughter he has never met. Ah Sam’s character is encouraging to readers as he is a true portrait of a determined person. The story’s plot includes a few instances of Chinese-American discrimination, which is true to the time period. The story is well told in a serious yet encouraging style. When the Circus Came to Town teaches a hard lesson for children: the importance of acceptance based on race or appearance.

Awards and Reviews:

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People (2003)

Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars (2001)

California Young Reader Medal (2004)

School Library Journal: Ten-year-old "Pirate Ursula" is the fearless leader of her playmates, but after she contracts smallpox and is left with significant facial scarring, she sees herself as "Monster Ursula." She becomes a recluse, never leaving her family's stagecoach station in early 20th-century Whistle, MT. Ursula is a very human child surrounded by mostly sympathetic adults. Through the efforts of the new Chinese cook, Ah Sam, she eventually finds the courage to rediscover Pirate Ursula. He and his family of acrobats help to heal not just the girl, but also the racial divides in Whistle, and Ursula finally understands that it is what is inside a person that matters most. Touches of humor and whimsy counter the darkness she feels about herself. That these events are based on fact enables readers to accept the fairly quick turnaround in the villagers' racist attitudes. Wang's evocative illustrations add to the flavor of this quick, absorbing read.

Booklist: Ten-year-old Ursula, who lives with her parents at an early-twentieth-century Montana stagecoach stop, enjoys reading dime novels, dreams of seeing a circus, and plays pirates with her friends. Then she develops smallpox, which leaves her face pitted and scarred. Unable to risk the pity and teasing of others, she elects to hide away in her house, and not even the family's Chinese cook, Ah Sam, can coax her out. It takes a visit from Ah Sam's cousins, who produce a circus for the entire town, to bring Ursula back into the world. She, in turn, arranges for her own friends to put on a Chinese New Year celebration after the circus performers are stranded during a blizzard. Yep has based his novel on a true story, and his writing is, by turns, direct, humorous, and poignant. He doesn't gloss over the hardships faced by Chinese immigrants, but he clearly relished finding an upbeat incident to recount. Ursula and her friends will seem believable to young readers, and the descriptions of circus acts and Chinese New Year traditions are a plus. A pleasing classroom read-aloud and a useful supplementary reading for history and multicultural units.

Kirkus Reviews: A story taken from real life provides the foundation for a tale of healing through human interconnection. Ursula is a ten-year-old girl with a big imagination and a love for her small Montana town, finding enough happy magic at home by leading her pirate crew in fanciful adventures in between helping her Pa at his stagecoach station. But when she survives a smallpox scare only to be left with a pitted face, vanity replaces her ebullient spirit and she won't leave her room. Pa hires Ah Sam, a Chinese cook, to help feed the passengers when the stages arrive. Her "curiosity bump" is larger than her prejudice against him, and the two soon find they share a common loneliness as well as a common love of the circus. She begins once again to help in the kitchen, although she still won't show her face outdoors. She faces a turning point, however, when a mean-spirited stage passenger harasses Ah Sam, who cannot retaliate because of state law. Ursula decides she must cheer up the now ashamed cook, realizing that they all share what Indian Tom calls "the mark" of outsiders. One kindness leads to another as Ah Sam's circus relatives arrive to entertain the town with their special magic while Ursula is enlisted to back them up with music. Yep (Newbery Honor, "Dragon's Gate", 1994), has applied his considerable skills to embellish a true story into a moving parable of how people help each other overcome suffering. The simple plot uses perfectly believable characterizations to discuss deceptively complex emotions and issues for those who would mine its lessons, but Ursula's own story of healing is rewarding enough for those who read from the younger child's point of view

Connections:

Study and celebrate the Chinese New Year with readers. Have children try their hands at Chinese printing, or creating a Chinese dragon for a school parade. Research the hardships experienced by Chinese Americans during the early twentieth century.

Related Titles:

Bledsoe, Karen. Chinese New Year Crafts. Berkeley Heights: Enslow Publishing, 2005.

Lin, Grace. Bringing in the New Year. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2008.

Namioka, Lensey. Half and Half. New York: Dell Yearling, 2004.

Wong, Janet S. This Next New Year. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2000.

Yep, Laurence. The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. New York, Harper Collins, 2006.

Yep, Laurence. The Runaway Wok: A Chinese New Year Tale. New York: Dutton Children’s Books, 2011. 

Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart

Written by: Candace Fleming

Published by: Random House, 2011

ISBN 978-0-375-84198-9

Plot Summary:

“All I wished to do in the world was to be a vagabond in the air.” –Amelia Earhart

This book tells the story of Amelia Earhart’s life and disappearance in alternating chapters. The story begins with her childhood and ends with her mysterious disappearance. Throughout the book, Amelia moves to many new places, witnesses the despair alcoholism can cause on a family, learns to fly airplanes, gets married, attempts a trip around the world, and much more. 

Critical Analysis:

This biography is wonderfully written and well organized. Author Candace Fleming has much experience in writing biographies. Other biographies credited to her are The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary, Ben Franklin’s Almanac: Being a True Account of the Good Gentleman’s Life, and Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt’s Remarkable Life. Amelia Lost received starred reviews from Kirkus, Book List, and Horn Book. There is an extensive bibliography at the end of the book to support facts, opinions, quotations and images used in the book. Since Amelia’s disappearance is still a mystery to the world today, there are speculations included in the book, and the speculations are clearly separate from the facts. Amelia Lost contains eighteen chronologically organized chapters; each contains information about either Amelia’s life or her disappearance. The vintage-looking bright red text on the cover is inviting, and the images included in the text support the facts well. Most of the images are photographs of Amelia, her airplanes, and her family. Also included are newspaper clippings, letters written by Amelia, and many other images of primary source materials. Readers are sure to share Fleming’s enthusiasm for Amelia while reading her book. In her note on Navigating History, Fleming writes, “[Amelia] symbolized the new opportunities awaiting women in the twentieth century.” Throughout the chapters, the author includes information in sidebars pertaining to flying, Morse code, and radio signaling. This book is intriguing, haunting, and enjoyable all in one.

Awards and Reviews:

Kirkus Book Review Stars (2011)

School Library Journal Book Review Stars (2011)

Kirkus Reviews: The most intriguing part of Amelia Earhart's life is often thought to be the way it ended. A mysterious disappearance and an unsolved rescue mission is a powerful story on its own. But Fleming digs deeper and shows readers why everyone—from young girls who looked up to her to the First Lady of the United States—cared so much for this daring woman pilot. Chapters alternate between the days surrounding Earhart's fateful crash and her growth from child to trailblazer. The narrative shifts could have been maddening, for suspense reasons alone, but a rhythm is established and the two plotlines gracefully fold into the conclusion. The author also astutely reminds readers that Earhart had a public image to uphold and "took an active role in mythologizing her own life," so even excerpts from Earhart's published works can never be completely trusted. Handwritten notes, photos, maps and inquisitive sidebars (What did Earhart eat during flight? Tomato juice and chocolate) complete this impeccably researched, appealing package. A stunning look at an equally stunning lady. (bibliography, Internet resources, source notes, index) 2011, Schwartz & Wade/Random, 128 pp., $18.99. Category: Nonfiction. Ages 8 to 12. Starred Review. © 2011 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Booklist: Drawing on her training as a historian and her considerable writing talents, Fleming (The Great and Only Barnum, 2009) offers a fresh look at this famous aviatrix. Employing dual narratives—straightforward biographical chapters alternating with a chilling recounting of Earhart’s final flight and the search that followed—Fleming seeks to uncover the “history in the hype,” pointing out numerous examples in which Earhart took an active role in mythologizing her own life. While not disparaging Earhart’s achievements, Fleming cites primary sources revealing that Earhart often flew without adequate preparation and that she and her husband, George Putnam, used every opportunity to promote her celebrity, including soliciting funds from sponsors. The use of a gray-tone background for the disappearance chapters successfully differentiates the narratives for younger readers. Frequent sidebars, well-chosen maps, archival documents, and photos further clarify textual references without disturbing the overall narrative flow. Appended with a generous bibliography and detailed source notes, this is a book most libraries will want both for its fascinating story and as an illustration of how research can alter historical perspective.

Connections: This book can be used across the curriculum in many ways. Students can study the geography of Amelia’s flights by mapping her locations on a world map. The miles can be added up to learn out how far she flew. Since flying is often dependent on the weather, use this book in science to talk about weather patterns and climates around the globe.

Related Titles:

Blair, Margaret Wilson. The Roaring 20: The First Cross Country Air Race for Women. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2006.

Burleigh, Robert. Night Flight: Amelia Earhart Crosses the Atlantic. New York City: Simon & Schuster, 2011.

McLean, Jacqueline. Women With Wings. Minneapolis: Oliver Press, 2001.

Micklos, John. Unsolved: What Really Happened to Amelia Earhart? Berkeley Heights: Enslow, 2006.

Wells, Susan. Amelia Earhart: The Thrill of It. Philadelphia: Running Press, 2009.

They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group

Written by: Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Published by: Houghton Mifflin, 2010

ISBN 978-0-618-44033-7

Plot Summary:

This well-document text covers an organization known as the Ku Klux Klan, or the KKK. The book follows the group from its start as a fraternity-style group to a terroristic club. What began as a group created to protect society quickly turned into a widespread and violent secret society.

Critical Analysis:

This social history book tells the story of a terrible group in a wonderful way. The information presented in the book is accurate according to starred reviews from School Library Journal, Kirkus, Booklist, Horn Book, and Publishers Weekly. The author, Susan Campbell Bartoletti, has much experience in writing historical non-fiction books. Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow, Growing Up in Coal Country, and Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine are also authored by Bartoletti. This book contains 10 chapters and an epilogue, and is organized chronologically, with the forming of the group at the beginning and the most recent events toward the end. Bartoletti also included a table of contents, a list of quote attributions, a bibliography and notes section, and an index. The cover of this book contains a haunting KKK mask on a black background. While this isn’t exactly an inviting cover, it would definitely intrigue today's teen readers. Many newspaper photographs and clippings, all of which are well captioned, compliment the text. The images, staying true to the time period, are printed in black ink only. A simple but readable Times New Roman font was used in the printing of this book. The vocabulary in this book is accurate to the subject matter. While words that often have a negative connotation are used in this text, the words are well placed and necessary. The author includes a note explaining why she chose to use specific words and their importance in the book. In this note the author states, “No matter how difficult it is to see the offensive words in print, I have made no attempt to censor these historical statements.” The book includes respectful but detailed descriptions of beatings, whippings, hangings and many other types of murder. While this book can be brutal to read at times, it belongs in every library’s collection. The book tells the story of a horrific time in United States history that many will want to read.

Awards and Reviews:

School Library Journal Battle of the Kids’ Books Nominee (2011)

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Finalist (2011)

Booklist Editor’s Choice (2010)

Horn Book Fanfare (2010)

Kirkus Best Young Adult Books (2010)

Publisher’s Weekly Best Children’s Books (2010)

Washington Post Best Kid’s Books (2010)

School Library Journal: Gr 7-10–This richly documented, historically contextualized account traces the origin and evolution of the Ku Klux Klan from a small mischievous social club into a powerful, destructive organization. With compelling clarity, anecdotal detail, and insight, Bartoletti presents the complex era of Reconstruction, 1865-1877, that gave rise to the KKK. After the Civil War, the defeated South was a simmering cauldron of political, economic, and social instability. As the federal government struggled to provide law and order and to protect the rights of freed slaves, secret groups of Southern whites banded together to vent their anger over lost property, prosperity, and power. From six men in a law office in Pulaski, TN, KKK dens spread across the South targeting freed blacks and their supporters. Although the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 was meant to end violence, KKK activity persisted through the 20th century, diminishing in the last 30 years as civil rights became a reality for all Americans. Bartoletti includes excerpts from slave narratives, archival illustrations, and historical quotes to convey the human drama of KKK terrorism. An annotated bibliography and source notes illuminate the variety and significance of reference works. Additional secondary titles include Chester L. Quarles's scholarly The Ku Klux Klan and Related American Racialist and Antisemitic Organizations (McFarland, 2008). Bartoletti effectively targets teens with her engaging and informative account that presents a well-structured inside look at the KKK, societal forces that spawn hate/terrorist groups, and the research process.

Booklist: *Starred Review* Bartoletti follows multi-award-winning titles such as Hitler Youth (2005) with another standout contribution to youth history shelves. Here, she examines how the Ku Klux Klan formed and grew out of the ashes of the Civil War. Bartoletti, who taught eighth-graders for 18 years, writes in admirably clear, accessible language about one of the most complex periods in U.S. history, and she deftly places the powerfully unsettling events into cultural and political context without oversimplifying. It’s the numerous first-person quotes, though, that give the book its beating heart, and her searing, expertly selected stories of people on all sides of the violent conflicts will give readers a larger understanding of the conditions that incubated the Klan’s terrorism; how profoundly the freed people and their sympathizers suffered; and how the legacy of that fear, racism, and brutality runs through our own time. In an author’s note, Bartoletti describes visiting a contemporary Klan rally as part of her research, and that bold, immersive approach to her subject is evident in every chapter of this thoroughly researched volume. Like the individual stories, the powerful archival images on every page will leave an indelible impression on young readers, who will want to move on to the extensive annotated resources. The adjacent Story behind the Story feature fills in more details about this lucid, important title, which should be required reading for young people as well as the adults in their lives.

Connections: This time in America’s history can be easily compared and contrasted with the Jewish Holocaust during World War II. Brainstorm ideas together that can prevent us from falling into the trap of genocide or terrorism again.

Related Titles:

Bowers, Rick. Spies of Mississippi: The True Story of the Spy Network that Tried to Destroy the Civil Rights Movement. Washington D.C.: National Geographic, 2010.

Brimner, Larry Dane. Birmingham Sunday. Honesdale: Calkins Creek, 2010.

Heinrichs, Ann. The Ku Klux Klan: A Hooded Brotherhood. North Mankato: Child’s World, 2002.

Stanley, George Edward. Night Fires. New York City: Simon & Schuster, 2011.

Stauffacher, Sue. Bessie Smith and the Night Riders. New York City: Putnam Juvenile, 2006.

Storms

Written by: Seymour Simon

Published by: William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1989.

ISBN 0-8335-9548-2

Plot Summary:

Storms begins with an introduction to the atmosphere and then discusses thunderstorms, hail storms, tornados, and hurricanes. Included in the descriptions of the storms are the causes, dangers, safety concerns, and aftermath of the variety of storms.

Critical Analysis:

Seymour Simon is well known for writing nonfiction children’s books. He has written many different books concerning the weather including Tornados, Lightning, and Weather. Although there isn’t a bibliography or source list in this book, Seymour Simon has a high reputation in the field of weather and many other nonfiction topics. The book, of course, includes many facts, and also some assumptions and theories. In these cases, the facts are clearly differentiated from the theories. The pages of this book contain many surprising and often frightening facts about storms. Did you know that one thunderstorm has the potential drop 125 million gallons of water in only twenty minutes? Readers will also learn that most tornados last less than fifteen minutes. Storms is well organized beginning with information about the atmosphere and then covering each type of storm including thunderstorms, hail storms, tornados, and hurricanes. The book does not have a table of contents or chapters, so it would work best by being read cover-to-cover. The book is designed wonderfully with full-page photographs attained from the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The photographs are stunning, threatening, and, at times, scary. Storms is written in a style that would best suit the younger elementary grades. The pages contain short but well structured paragraphs. The writing is clear, simple, and intriguing.

Awards and Reviews:

Best Books-Children’s Catalog, Eighteenth Edition (2001)

School Library Journal: Grade 4-6-- Simon uses the same handsome format that he used to introduce the planets to explain storms here on earth. In a simple and direct way he explains the mechanisms that cause thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes to form their tremendous destructive power. The amazing color photos are well chosen and range from an excellent four-panel display of a tornado's progress to full-page photos of storm clouds, lightening strikes, and so on. The type is large and clear, and the information is sufficient for basic reports. While there is no new information here, this beautiful science book from a reliable and prolific author should certainly be considered to augment existing weather collections or to begin a new collection.

Connections:

Use this book as an introduction to stormy weather. Split a class or group into four groups (thunderstorms, tornados, hurricanes, and hail storms). Have each group research their assigned type of storm and present their findings in an interesting way.

Wait for a thunderstorm and learn how to use math and counting to track the distance of a thunderstorm from your library.

Related Titles:

Carson, Mary Kay. Inside Hurricanes. New York: Sterling, 2010.

Fowler, Allan. When a Storm Comes Up. Chicago: Children’s Press, 1995.

Gibbons, Gail. Hurricanes! New York: Holiday House, 2009.

Higgins, Nadia. It’s a Tornado! Edina: Magic Wagon, 2010.

Hiscock, Bruce. The Big Storm. New York: Atheneum, 1993.

Osborne, Will. Twisters and Other Terrible Storms. New York: Random House, 2003.

Rudolph, Jessica. Erased By a Tornado! New York: Bearport Publishing, 2010.

Stiefel, Chana. Thunderstorms. New York: Children’s Press, 2009.

First Food Fight This Fall and Other School Poems

Written by: Marilyn Singer

Illustrated by: Sachiko Yoshikawa

Published by: Sterling Publishing, 2008

ISBN 978-1-4027-4145-6

Plot Summary:

This poetry collection covers an entire school year. Poem subjects range from the first bus ride, to the spelling tests, to the last day of school. Poems are told in the voices of the twelve students who experience these activities together.

Critical Analysis:

This quirky book of school-related poetry is sure to be a read-aloud crowd pleaser for young students. The poetry collection is a celebration of all things school-related, and students of all ages can easily relate to the content. Most students can relate to the horror of answering a math problem on the board, trading lunch items, and snow days. On the inside covers of the book, the illustrator provides a snapshot of each student in the book. This gives the reader insight into the students’ personalities, likes or dislikes, and cultures.  The collection of poems is chronologically organized, beginning with “The First Day” and ending with “Field Day.” The poems are well balanced. Some pages contain only one long poem, while others hold a few shorter poems. The illustrations are lively and friendly. The illustrator used a combination of pastels, acrylic paints, and collage items to decorate the fun and welcoming pages. This poetry collection includes a table of contents which helps the reader to locate poems by subject easily. One student in the book, Laksmim, describes her view of poetry as “lullaby words in a quiet, warm room.” The poems and illustrations in this book of poetry are too entertaining, funny, and true-to-life to cause any students to fall asleep.

Awards and Reviews:

This poetry collection was chosen for the Children's Catalog Supplement to Nineteenth Edition by the H. W. Wilson Company. (2009)

School Library Journal: Kindergarten-Grade 4—Twenty-nine poems, in the voices of a dozen children who ride the school bus together, depict various activities that take place in and out of the classroom. Bright, cartoon illustrations in acrylics, pastels, and collage capture the youngsters' boundless energy. From a food fight in the cafeteria and its disastrous aftermath—a virtual indoor storm in the lunchroom—to a joyous ode to field day at year's end, these poems resonate with mischievous good cheer. Characters represent a cross-section of race and color. This collection will surely strike a familiar note with young readers.

Booklist: Twelve students from various cultural backgrounds who are in Ms. Mundy’s classroom compose 29 poems covering school-year activities from the beginning of the year to the end. In various styles of poetry, topics include classes (“Spelling,” “The Class I Love”), school activities (“Cleaning Erasers,” “Field Trip,” “Class Picture”) and, as the titles indicates, good-natured fights (“Pen Fight,” “First Food Fight This Fall,” “Water Fight’). There is much with which to identify: trouble with math, students with various strengths and weaknesses. The exuberant acrylic, pastel, and collage illustrations with swirls of activity on each page match the upbeat poems. The irreverence of a free-for-all food fight is counterbalanced by the pure joy expressed for the more endorsed school activities. The poem following the food fight is somber, seeming to indicate that the students realize things got out of hand, and showing a few of them cleaning up with a very angry principal. Children will enjoy the poetry and find comparisons and contrasts to situations in their daily routines. Grades 1-3.

Kirkus: Lively and engaging acrylic-and-pastel illustrations that include bits of lace, fabric and other found items accompany 29 poems describing the school experiences, from first day to last, of a middle-grade class. A variety of styles are included: haiku, quatrain, acrostic, free verse and others. Most of the poems are no more than ten to 12 lines and are written in the students' voices, with child-appealing topics like "Tag" and "The Class I Hate." The title poem may make school administrators cringe, as food flies across the double-page spread: "A cafeteria ballad— / it started with tossed saladà / (That lettuce really flew! / We're glad it wasn't stew!)" Happily, the following poem, "Indoor Storm," finds everyone pitching in to clean up the disaster. The interesting combination of identifiable poetic forms and Yoshikawa's amusing illustrations should make this a popular choice for classroom reading, as students recognize at least some of their own school experiences (though, one hopes, not food fights) in the poetry.

Connections:

Two poems in this collections, “The Class I Hate” and “The Class I Love,” are written by the same student, Fumi. Each poem is actually written about the same class, physical education. Fumi hates gym class because she doesn’t enjoy team sports, but she loves gym when they get to dance. Have each student choose a school subject or class and write two poems. One poem about what they love about the class, and the other about what they hate.

The acrostic poem “Marylou Mundy” is a poem that describes the students’ teacher. Have each student write an acrostic poem describing themselves, one of their teachers, or a friend or family member. This would make a great gift for Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, or a birthday. Illustrate the poem using pastels, acrylic paint, or collage art.

Related Titles:

Franco, Betsy. Messing Around on the Monkey Bars and Other School Poems for Two Voices. Somerville: Candlewick, 2009.

Lewis, J. Patrick. Countdown to Summer: A Poem for Every Day of the School Year. New York: Little Brown Books for Young Readers, 2009.

Shields, Carol Diggory. Lunch Money and Other Poems About School. London: Puffin Books, 1998.

Singer, Marilyn. I’m Your Bus. New York: Scholastic Press, 2009.

The Llama Who Had No Pajama

Edited by: Mary Ann Hoberman and Linda Winston

Illustrated by: Betty Fraser

Published by: Harcourt Books, 2006

ISBN 1-4177-4657-2

Plot Summary: This book is a compilation of 100 of Mary Ann Hoberman’s favorite poems for children. The book covers everything from time to applesauce and bugs to zoo animals. It also contains poetry about favorite childhood pastimes such as climbing trees, ice-skating, and celebrating birthdays.

Critical Analysis: This collection of poetry is funny, entertaining, and relatable for readers of all ages. These poems would work wonderfully as read-alouds, and most can stand alone without the accompanying illustrations. The collection is organized well and the poetry flows freely from one page to the next. Parts of this collection are organized by theme, including bugs and animals. The pages are well balanced, with many poems of varying sizes on each page spread.  The skillfully placed, watercolor illustrations compliment the poetry beautifully. The poem “Both My Slippers” describes a pair of bright red slippers that that sit under the bed during the night. The accompanying illustration of a bed is painted in varying green hues, with the bright red slippers sitting underneath. Since red and green are complimentary colors, the simple red slippers seem to pop right out of the page. Illustrations that accompany the bug poems in the book are stunningly painted, and realistic enough to spook the reader just a bit. This book does include reference aids including a table of contents and a first line index, and the illustrations in the book help the reader to browse through the collection to find a poem of choice.

Awards and Reviews:

Best Children’s Books of the Year (1999) Bank Street College of Education

Children’s Book of Distinction (1999) Riverbank Review

Children’s Literature Choice List (1999)

Texas Reading Club (2005)

Gold Award Winner (1998) National Parenting Publications Awards

School Library Journal: Kindergarten-Grade 4?Hoberman's poems, accompanied by Fraser's illustrations, have been delighting children for 40 years. Now, many poems from their out-of-print books are available in this satisfying collection. The selections are mostly humorous, sometimes contemplative, and deal with animals, family, play, and plain silliness. Hoberman's rhythms are lively and agile, and her imagination and sense of humor are still in tune with young readers. Fraser's simple but detailed gouache and watercolor illustrations exhibit the same qualities. The layout is masterfully varied and never overwhelms the poems. There is a table of contents as well as an index of first lines. Good for beginning or experienced readers of poetry, this should indeed become a favorite.

Booklist: Poems drawn from Hoberman's previous works, published between 1957 and 1981, are packaged to delight a new generation of youngsters. Children may be reminded of A. A. Milne's poetry about Pooh, particularly by the earlier poems, but Hoberman's poetry goes deeper, offering children a new way to look at things. In "Birthdays," for instance, Hoberman wonders what it would be like if the celebration came once a week instead of once a year: "Think of all the gifts you'd get / And all the songs you'd hear / And think how quickly you'd grow up; / Wouldn't it feel queer." Animals and bugs, as well as a variety of ordinary childhood experiences, are featured in poetry that is sometimes funny, and often playful in its rhythm and repetition of sounds. Fraser's illustrations add a cheery, appealing look to the book without overwhelming the text. Use this along with Jack Prelutsky's Ride a Purple Pelican (1986) to sprinkle your story times with poems.

Horn Book: This collection of some forty years of Hoberman verse is a charmer. The poems - peppy verses immediately identifiable as Hoberman's by their use of alliteration and repeated words and lines - seem to cover every subject under the sun; all are dependably child-centered.

Christian Science Monitor Best Children’s Books: Want to give young ones the fun of rhyme, rhythm, and word play? Then look for The Llama Who Had no Pajama. There's no reason to wait for poetry units at school to introduce children to verse when Mary Ann Hoberman can do it with her collection of 100 poems.

Connections:

“The Folk Who Live in Backward Town”

The folk who live in Backward Town

Are inside out and upside down.

They wear their hats inside their heads

And go to sleep beneath their beds.

They only eat the apple peeling

And take their walks across the ceiling.

This poem would fit perfectly in “Backwards Day” at school or a “Backwards Storytime” at a library. Have each child in the group write a couplet to add to this poem. With the help of an art teacher or local artist, the children can illustrate their new poem with watercolors.

Read Hoberman’s “The Llama Who Had No Pajama” and Anna Dewdney’s “Llama Llama Red Pajama,” a picture book written in poetic form. Which llama do the student like best? Which llama can they relate to most? To which llama mama are the children’s moms more similar?

Related Titles:

Dewdney, Anna. Llama Llama Red Pajama. New York: Viking, 2005.

Hoberman, Mary Ann. And to Think That We Thought That We’d Never Be Friends. New York: Crown Books, 1999.

Hoberman, Mary Ann. The Tree That Built Time. Naperville: Sourcebooks Jaberwocky, 2009.