Module 10

SLIS 5420/ Module 10 Aug 9-13

Books read:
"The Plain Janes" by Cecil Castellucci
"Forever" by Judy Blume

"The Plain Janes"

Summary:Four girls name Jane form a secret club called P.L.A.I.N- People Loving Art in the Neighborhood. They hope that this help save them from high school and all the pain it has caused them.

My Impressions: I am not really a graphic novel reader, but I really liked this story. It was different than other graphic novels I read this week in the fact that it is all in black and white, which i thought was interesting. I liked the story and may go get the next book in the series now.

Reviews:
The Plain Janes is not a perfect book. Jane's mother evinces nothing beyond paranoia and irrational fear, and though it is understandable, a few extra pages could've added some balance and made her histrionics more relatable. Although her fear is believable, particularly given her circumstances, she never displays any traits beyond screeching paranoia and, consequently, never feels like more than a cipher. Fortunately, Jane's father provides a more balanced parental voice, particularly in the "grounding" scene. Similarly, Officer Sanchez's McCarthyist antagonism to the PLAIN attacks is too shallow, coming across as a caricature, a bullying authority figure whose only purpose is to repress.

Nevertheless, The Plain Janes overcomes its occasional surface shortcoming with a sound theme that speaks to today's readers, engaging storytelling by Rugg, and charming characters who engage the imagination. It's a promising opening salvo for the Minx line, and if the future projects follow the The Plain Janes' example, the entire line should find a comfortable niche in the Young Adult marketplace. by MattBrady
http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=103509

The Plain Janes
By Leroy Douresseaux
Jun 8, 2007 - 7:02:03 AM

The Lowdown: Upon first glance, the teen characters in The Plain Janes might seem like stereotypes, and while each one is of a well-worn teen fiction type, there is, of course, a method to writer Cecil Castellucci’s madness. Using such familiar characters allows the author a clear path to expressing ideas and themes. That the Janes and the other Buzz Aldrin students seem familiar helps the writer engage readers with the characters while she can use the overall story to delve deeper into such issues as acceptance, friendship, first love, fear, and self-determination.

Of course, the Janes and the student body come across as naïve. In spite of their personal fears and struggles, their optimism here is exceptionally refreshing in a world where even “family entertainment” is rife with innuendo and unimaginative cynicism. Of the many things, this book says, one is “the children, with their creativity and curiosity, are our future, so let’s mortgage that future by teaching them fear, ignorance, and blind obedience and then, insisting that they learn that in place of hope and potential.”

Rugg superbly captures all the nuances in mood and atmosphere in Castellucci’s story. From the naked fear of Jane’s mother and the bullying insistence of Officer Sanchez to “TheatreJane’s” pretentious flair and “SportyJane’s” tough, but smooth tomboyish persona, Rugg finds the unique accent within each of Castellucci’s seemingly typecast characters. Rugg also nicely balances the light and dark elements of the setting and story.

For readers of: Although geared towards female YA, anyone who likes “Freaks and Geeks” may very well like this. The Plain Janes is also a young cousin of Daniel Clowes’ essential graphic novel, Ghost World, so some fans of alt-comix could have love for this. Although occasionally rough around the edges, this is a treat that left me wanting more.

A-

http://www.comicbookbin.com/theplainjanes001.html

Uses: This is a great book to get any YAs started reading graphic novels. Graphic novels are becoming more and more popular but I think this one is actually appropriate to the age group intended.

Castellucci, Cecil. (2007). "The Plain Janes". New York, NY: D.C. Comics.

"Forever"

Summary: Katherine falls in love for the first time and are completely infatuated with each other. When Kath goes away that summer and meets someone else she and Michael will finally see if their relationship was really supposed to last..... FOREVER.

My impressions: I love this story because I can relate to it. I fell in love in high school and thought it was going to last forever and well it didn't. I can see why this book is censored because of all the language and sexual input but I think it still is a wonderful book.

Reviews:

A novel most likely found hidden deep in teenage girls' sock drawers, along with other coming-of-age secrets, Forever (1975;Bradbury) is the tale of an eighteen-year old heroine's first sexual experience. Written, like many of Blume's novels, in simple, colloquial, almost diary-like language, Forever begins in that most perilous of times: summer vacation after 11th grade. Virginal Katherine meets a more "experienced" Michael and they move slowly along the path towards premarital defilement. Throughout the story Katherine and Michael's sexual orientation is guided by like-minded friends and when they mutually agree to have sex, they are sure it will seal a love that is "forever."

The novel's frank treatment of adolescent sexuality broke many barriers in terms of mid-70s American mainstream literature. The female protagonist's independent approach to her sexual desire is highlighted when she visits the Planned Parenthood clinic and goes on the pill. Still a controversial subject at the time in American high schools this was deemed a "dangerous promotion of sexual promiscuity" in teenagers. A high school librarian in Schaumburg, Illinois said the book is "basically a sexual 'how-to-do' book for junior-high students" and promptly removed it from the school library.

Despite her efforts and notoriety, Blume's books are still being removed from library shelves across America. As recently as 2005 in Pasadena, Texas a parent's complaint concerning Forever resulted in the book being removed from the city's school libraries. In northern California, the same year, a 6-year-old student was charged with sexual harassment for bringing her copy of Forever to school to lend a friend. -Jordan Small
http://smallswordsmagazine.com/articles/text/judyblumeforever.html

Children's Literature

More than thirty years ago, Judy Blume's sensational teen romance debuted to much controversy. A candid account of young love that provides details about everything from a young couple's first meeting through sexual curiosity, exploration, and activity, this book is as relevant for teens today as it was to teens in the seventies. From the moment Katherine and Michael meet at a friend's party, the sparks fly. Although they attend different schools, the pair get together every chance they can, and their relationship deepens. Before long, things are getting serious: they are thinking about sex, talking about sex, and planning for sex. It feels like they will be together forever. Then, summer comes, and family plans pull them apart. They write each other often and plan to reunite as soon as they can, but life—and love—can be unexpected. While employed as a camp counselor, Katherine meets Theo. She is surprised by the attraction she feels for him. What do such feelings say about love? Commitment? Forever? Michael? Modern readers may giggle at the lack of cell phones and other modern accoutrements, but they are sure to be drawn into this time-tested tale of first love.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Forever/Judy-Blume/e/9781416934004

Uses: This book is banned in some libraries but it is a great book to show censorship. It is obvious why this book is banned but with the way society is today and how young children are getting with knowing about sexuality maybe this book would be good for YAs to read so they could see what can happen and that its not always going to last FOREVER.

Blume, Judy. (1975). "Forever". New York, NY: Pocket Books.

Module 9

SLIS 5420/ Module 9 August 2- 8

Books Read:
"Dizzy in Your Eyes: Poems About Love" by Pat Mora
"A Bad Boy can be Good for a Girl" by Tanya Lee Stone

"Dizzy in Your Eyes"
Summary: The book is written in different points of view of teenagers who are in love or find a new place that they love and can be alone with their thoughts. The author also includes notes on the different types of poems that are included in the book.

My Impressions: I loved this book. I thought it was great that the author included different definitions of the types of poems and which poems have that type. The poems in this story are beautifully written and create beautiful images in my mind.

Reviews:

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up—A collection of poems written in various forms, each narrated in a different teen voice. According to the author's note, Mora envisioned the flow of the poems as that of a symphony with four movements—an opening focus on love's initial rush, followed by a few bumps in the road, healing after loss of love, and finally the joy of finding new love. This cohesion is indeed delivered. Peppered with Spanish, the selections define the emotion in countless ways. The quiet lyricism of some lines will prompt many readers to roll them over and over on their tongues; this is a world in which a simple smile can make a boy feel as if he's "swallowed the sun" or one's worst fear might be a kiss "dull like oatmeal." Where relevant, poetic form is indicated, defined, and discussed on the adjacent page. For all its beauty, this collection is also, in some ways, hard to pin down. The jacket copy and title might lead one to expect a focus on the intensity of teen romantic love. The love here is neither hot and heavy nor clichéd, however, but rather a glimpse into the last remaining innocence of the teen years. At times, the narration even slips a bit astray from an authentically teenage voice. Those expecting a more typical raw, edgy approach to love with poetry akin to the ramblings of a teenager's journal will be better off elsewhere. Teachers in need of a fresh new avenue for teaching poetic form, lovers of language, and teens in search of a broader definition of love will find it here.—Jill Heritage Maza, Greenwich High School, CT

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Dizzy-in-Your-Eyes/Pat-Mora/e/9780375896019/?itm=1&USRI=dizzy+in+your+eyes

"From family and school to dating and being dumped, the subjects in these 50 poems cover teens' experiences of love in many voices and situations. Several entries incorporate Spanish words and idioms, as in "Ode to Teachers," a moving tribute in English wish a Spanish translation... Mora writes free verse as well as a a wide variety of classic poetic forms- including haiku, clerihew, sonnet, cinquain, and blank verse- and for each form, there is an obtrusive explanatory note on the facing page. The tight structures intensify the strong feelings in the poems, which teens will enjoy reading on their own or hearing aloud in the classroom."-Booklist
http://www.patmora.com/book_pages/dizzy.htm

Uses: This is a great book to use for teen poetry lessons. It really can speak to people of this age range and help them have a better understanding of poetry.

Mora, Pat. (2010). "Dizzy in Your Eyes: Poems about Love." New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

"A Bad Boy can be Good for a Girl"
Summary: Three girls date the same guy, and write about what happens. They try to warn other girls that he is no good but sometimes some things just have to be learned the hard way.

My impressions: I thought this book was great. I loved the forms of verse and how it all fit well together even though it was from 3 different girls points of view. I totally could relate to this story and I think there are probably a lot of teenage girls out there who could relate to it too.

Reviews:

Kirkus Reviews

Three high-school girls take turns relating their separate experiences with the same bad boy, a senior jock who seems only interested in one thing: "nailing" them. There's enough in this verse novel to make a grown woman cringe-remembering what it was like back then and that the more things change they stay the same. These narrators, despite their varied backgrounds and ambitions, are interested in, well, the physical realm of boy/girl relations and are willing to kiss and tell: They speak poetry of pedestrian language, which, at its most varied, describes erotic outings and, in one instance, oral sex. High school girls with uncomplicated reading agendas might find this brain candy gratifying. But those with SATs on their minds will find this shallow, repetitive and empty. (Fiction. YA)

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Bad-Boy-Can-Be-Good-for-a-Girl/Tanya-Lee-Stone/e/9780307433053/?itm=1&USRI=a+bad+boy+can+be+good+for+a+girl

"Three girls succumb to the charms of one sexy high school senior and emerge wiser for the experience in this energetic novel in verse. . . The free verse gives the stories a breathless, natural flow and changes tone with each narrator. The language is realistic and frank, and, while not graphic, it is filled with descriptions of the teens and their sexuality. This is not a book that will sit quietly on any shelf; it will be passed from girl to girl to girl.”School Library Journal, Starred Review
http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=1-9780553495096-0

Uses: This is a great book to introduce YA's to verse. I think a lot of girls can relate to this story and find it just as intriguing as Judy Blume's "Forver". It is definitely a good read for young adult girls.

Stone, Tanya Lee. ( 2006). "A Bad Boy can be Good for a Girl." New York, NY: Wendy Lamb Books.

Module 8

SLIS 5420/ Module 8 July 26-Aug 1

Books read this week
"A Wright and Wong Mystery: The Case of the Nana-Napper" by Laura Burns and Melinda Mertz, & "American Girl: Meet Molly" by Valerie Tripp

"The Case of the Nana Napper"
Summary:
This story is about two kids who like to solve mysteries. The girls grandma disappears and only leaves a short note so the children are afraid someone kidnapped her. The soon end up going after thieves who are stealing plates and end up solving more than one mystery.

My impressions: I thought this story was funny. I read it in one sitting because with mysteries I always want to find out what happens and with this book since it is relatively short, that's not hard to do. I liked it, it had an ended that I did not expect.

Reviews:

For those that haven't heard of this 4-book series before, it features two best friends in middle school, Orville Wright and Agatha Wong, who keep finding themselves in the middle of mysteries that need to be solved. They make the perfect team: Orville, who has Asperger Syndrome (AS), has an amazing eye for detail, but sometimes sees so many details he can't put the clues together into a whole picture. Meanwhile, Agatha comes from a very large and colorful family, so she is highly trained in the arts of understanding interpersonal relationships and seeing the overall story. Together, they always break the case! - Autism Society of North Carolina Bookstore
http://autismbooks.blogspot.com/2007/05/wright-wong-mystery-series-going-out-of.html

From the Publisher

B. Orville Wright has Asperger's Syndrome—and a genius-level IQ. He isn't popular, but he and his best friend, Agatha Wong, are great detectives. Together, they make one unstoppable crime-solving team!
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Case-of-The-Nana-Napper/Laura-J-Burns/e/9781595140159/?itm=4&USRI=the+wright+and+wong+mysteries.

Uses: This is a great story to introduce to kids who haven't read mystery. This is also great to teach kids about Asperger's Syndrome.

Burns, Laura, & Mertz, Melinda. (2005). "A Wright and Wong mystery: the Case of the Nana-Napper". New York, NY: Penguin Group.

Meet Molly
Summary: A young girl living during 1944 still has many dreams and learns the hardships of living during the war.

My Impressions: I love American Girl books and I think Molly is my favorite because she reminds me of myself when I was younger. This is a great story and it gives background information on the time period within the book too.

Reviews:

This represents a Realistic Fiction book. It is extremely true to life and allows children to connect with what the people in the book are experiencing. They can notice human interaction. The plot works together well and the people in the story are unique. Molly is a unique character. She is the protagonist and we know this because of the way the story is centered around her thoughts and actions. She is revealed through her interactions, thoughts, actions, and the narrator. The small amount of media used in this book is acrylics. This is most appropriate for the Intermediate level.

eward06 | Mar 11, 2009 |

http://www.librarything.com/work/166765

Shannon's Review, October 24, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Meet Molly, An American Girl

One character in this book was Molly McIntire. She does not like turnips. Her dad is in the war. She has two friends. She has no pets. Her dad was very funny. the most exciting part of this book was when Molly dumped her brother's underpants on his girlfriend. Because I did not know it was going to happen. It made me laugh. Molly and Ricky made up. They were happy.
http://www.amazon.com/Meet-Molly-American-Girls-Collection/dp/0937295078

Uses: This is a great book to use to study family life during the war and to have a peek into what a young girls life maybe like back then. Great for all ages.

Tripp, Valerie. (1986). Meet molly: An American Girl. Middleton, WI: Pleasant Company.

Module 7

SLIS 5420/ Module 7 July 19-25

Books read this week:
"The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins" by Barbara Kerley
"The Road to Oz" by Kathleen Krull

"The Dinosaurs of Watherhouse Hawkins"
Summary: This is an information nonfiction book about the story of Waterhouse Hawkins the first man to mold dinosaurs and build one life-size.

My impressions: This was a really cool story. I really enjoyed reading this story and really enjoyed the illustrations. I learned something I didn't know and also by reading the authors note in the back that this is a true story.

Reviews:

School Library Journal

Gr 2-5-A picture-book presentation about the efforts of Hawkins to erect the first life-sized models of dinosaurs on both sides of the Atlantic. A Victorian artist and sculptor, he was well respected in England, and his reputation insured his being invited to construct replicas of creatures no one had ever seen and to unveil them at the newly constructed Crystal Palace. Kerley's spirited text and Selznick's dramatic paintings bring Hawkins's efforts into clear focus, including his frustrating experience in New York City when Boss Tweed set vandals loose in his workshop. Both author and illustrator provide copious notes of biographical material delineating Hawkins's works, and Selznick's trips to Philadelphia to view a rare scrapbook that is the model for this book's design and to London to see the original Crystal Palace models. Painstakingly researched, written and illustrated with careful attention to detail, this book presents the fervor and spirit of a dedicated, little-known individual whose conceptions-however erroneous by today's discoveries-astounded the minds and stirred the imaginations of scientists then involved in the actual birth of paleontology. A distinguished book in every way.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Dinosaurs-of-Waterhouse-Hawkins/Barbara-Kerley/e/9780439114943/?itm=2&USRI=the+dinosaurs+of+waterhouse+hawkins

Scholastic Inc
Mir Kamin, Feb 2009

This is a fascinating biography disguised as a beautiful book about dinosaurs. It’s easily the best book I’ve read in months.

Pros: Dinosaurs are interesting to just about everyone. Beautiful artwork that really brings the story to life. It’s like a real-life fairy tale.
Cons: Boss Tweed and his gang. Turtle soup. Dinosaurs are extinct.

The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins gets three thumbs way up from our kitchen table.

http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3751321

Uses: This is a good book for any dinosaur fans, young and old. It is also a good book to represent informational nonfiction.

Kerley, Barbara. ( 2001). "The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins". New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

"The Road to Oz"

Summary: This is the story of Frank Baum who wrote the Wizard of Oz. This tells of his life from when he was a young boy and loved to write stories up till he was older and finally invented a story that stuck "The Wizard of Oz".

My Impressions: I really liked this book. It is a great biography and is very colorful. Mo st of the illustrations have hints of green in them leading up to the land of Oz. The cover is fantastic all green and has the characters of the Wizard of Oz on it. I really enjoyed reading about the man behind the Wizard of Oz.

Reviews:

School Library Journal

Gr 1-4

Fans of The Wizard of Oz will find plenty of enchantment in this thoughtful, brightly illustrated narrative. From his childhood at his parents' estate, with its "rosebushes in glimmering-jewel colors," to his various careers as journalist, playwright, chicken expert, window dresser (including his creative display of hardware fashioned into a tin man), store owner, newspaper editor, and family storyteller, Krull magically interweaves the origins of Baum's characters and themes that would appear in his "modern American fairy tales." The "Oz" books were his only true success, but they did not result in a fairy-tale ending for the Baum family. With sympathy for her subject, Krull tactfully notes Baum's lack of aptitude for business affairs and his eventual declaration of bankruptcy. Hawkes's merry paintings of the author and his characters invoke the magic of Oz within the great author's real-world setting. The Road to Oz will provide students with an inspiring introduction to Baum's life.-Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Road-to-Oz/Kathleen-Krull/e/9780375832161/?itm=1&USRI=the+road+to+oz+twists%2c+turns%2c+and+triumphs.

From Booklist

Despite the enduring popularity of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, there are few titles about L. Frank Baum published for youth. Krull’s new picture-book biography, then, is particularly welcome, and it displays Krull’s usual stylistic strengths: a conversational tone, well-integrated facts, vivid anecdotes, and sly asides that encourage children to find the human qualities in a historical figure. Beginning with Baum’s pampered youth, Krull moves forward through his early adult years, when he flailed in a variety of jobs before finally writing his famous first book about Oz, which he based on bedtime stories he created for his children. Krull gives a balanced account, emphasizing Baum’s creative gifts and his talents for nurturing his family while frankly referencing his less-admirable traits, such as his prejudice against Native Americans. Hawkes’ ink-and-acrylic illustrations are uneven, with some figures appearing blurred and hurriedly rendered, but the brightly colored compositions do support the sense of Baum as a multifaceted, fascinating individual. An author’s note, sources, and a list of Baum’s works conclude this entertaining, lively portrait. Grades 2-5. --Gillian Engberg

http://www.amazon.com/Road-Oz-Twists-Turns-Triumphs/dp/0375832165

Uses: Great to use if watching the Wizard of Oz in a classroom or talking about the Wizard of Oz. Great biography book.

Krull, Kathleen. (2008). "The Road to Oz: Twists, Turns, Bumps, & Triumphs in the Life of L. Frank Baum". New York, NY: Random House.

Module 6

SLIS 5420/ Module 6 July 12- 18

Books Read this week:
"Amelia and Eleanor go for a Ride" by Pam Munoz Ryan
"My Louisiana Sky" by Kimberly Willis Holt

Summary for "Amelia & Eleanor":
This book is about the night Amelia Earhart visits Eleanor Roosevelt and they go for a night ride in Amelia's plane. They are good friends, Amelia has even convinced Eleanor to get her pilot's license.

My Impressions: Fun book! I like how the illustrations are in black and white just like the photos would of been back then. This was just a really fun story to read.

Reviews:

Publishers Weekly

In this sparkling picture book based on a true incident, Ryan (Riding Freedom, with Selznick) proves that Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt truly were "birds of a feather." Friends in real life, America's First Lady invited the "First Lady of the Air" to dinner at the White House in 1933. Eleanor, inspired by Amelia's descriptions of Washington viewed from her plane at night, accepts the pilot's offer of an after-dinner flight over the capital. Before dessert can be served, and over the protests of the Secret Service agents, the two are off to the airport and up in the sky, thrilling to the brilliance of the city below. Hewing closely to documented accounts, Ryan's inviting text adds drama and draws parallels between the two protagonists with fictional touches: she places them alone together in the plane (an author's note explains that in fact they were accompanied by two male pilots) and adds a final scene in which Eleanor takes Amelia for a zippy ride around the city in her brand-new car. Selznick's illustrations, black-and-white graphite accented with touches of purple pencil, both capture the vibrancy of his subjects and evoke the feel of a more glamorous era. A brief but compelling slice from the lives of two determined, outspoken and passionate women. Ages 5-9. (Oct.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Children's Literature

Climb aboard for a delightful spin with two unconventional ladies in Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride, which is based on a true story. The First Lady was enamored with flying; she had taken some lessons. When her friend Amelia Earhart was in DC on a tour, Eleanor invited her and her husband for dinner at the White House. Before dessert was served, Amelia suggested a plane ride to see the Capitol at night. The Secret Service agents were aghast, but the two determined women could not be stopped. What a ride it was! The pencil drawings are bursting with life in this energetic charming anecdote of two famous ladies.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Amelia-and-Eleanor-Go-for-a-Ride/Pam-Munoz-Ryan/e/9780590960755/?itm=1&USRI=amelia+%26+eleanor

Uses: This is a great book to use to represent women in the past and how they were gaining more abilities and a new place in the world. It is also a really fun view of Amelia & Eleanor and how two ladies of substantial were just like anyone else, ready to have some fun.

Ryan, Pam Munoz. (1999). "Amelia and Eleanor go for a Ride". New York, NY: Scholast

ic Press.

Summary for "My Louisiana Sky": This book is about a young girl, Tiger, who lives in Louisiana with her mother, father, and grandmother. Her mother and father are what she likes to call slow, so grandma pretty much takes care of all of them. When grandma dies, Tigers mother is very upset and Tiger is not sure that her mother will be able to take care of her. Her aunt asks her to move to Baton Rouge to live with her but before Tiger moves she learns the value of real family and where her home truly is.

My Impressions: This is a great family story. It is very heartwarming and is a great story about appreciating your family the way they are and loving them for who they are. I like this story because the author also does a great job of painting the picture of the 50s time period and of where the story takes place.

Reviews:

Children's Literature

Tiger wonders why she's so different from her parents, why she can get all A's in school when her mother is sweet, but childlike, and her father is considered retarded. Luckily, she has her Granny to hold the odd household together-until Granny dies. Tiger faces discrimination from her classmates and even considers accepting her "normal" aunt's offer to move in with her in Baton Rouge. How she comes to terms with her backcountry family and the world of the nineteen-fifties is the meat of this delicately written book.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-9-Set in the South in the late 1950s, this coming-of-age story explores a 12-year-old girl's struggle to accept her grandmother's death, her mentally deficient parents, and the changing world around her. By Kimberly Willis Holt. Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/My-Louisiana-Sky/Kimberly-Willis-Holt/e/9780805052510/?itm=2&USRI=my+louisiana+sky

Uses: This is a great book for children to read if they struggle to get along with their family or have someone in their family who is "slow". It is beautifully descriptive and a great historical fiction book.

Holt, Kimberly Willis, (1998). "My Louisiana Sky". New York, NY: Henry Holt Company.

Module 5

SLIS 5420/Module 5 July 5-11

Books: "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan

"Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld

Summary: "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan is about a young boy, Percy Jackson, who learns that he is the son of a god. He has to defeat monsters and go on quests to find his rightful place in the world.

My impressions: I have been wanting to read this book for a while and I will go onto read the rest of the series. It was a great fantasy book, full with wonder and insight for the imagination. It is a page turner and keeps you begging for more.
Reviews:

Child Magazine

"Once I got over the fact that my Latin teacher was a horse, we had a nice tour, though I was careful not to walk behind him." For Percy, a wisecracking 12-year-old with ADHD, discovering his teacher is really a centaur is just another clue that the Greek gods are alive, well, and causing all kinds of mayhem in modern-day America. Accused of stealing Zeus's master lightning bolt, Percy must prove his innocence while battling a Minotaur and a host of other celestial thugs. Best for older, action-loving kids, this book offers nonstop adventure and terrific exposure to Greek mythology. (ages 8 to 12)
Child magazine's Best Children's Book Awards 2005

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Lightning-Thief/Rick-Riordan/e/9780786838653/?itm=3&USRI=the+lightning+thief+%28percy+jackson+and+the+olympians...

JuneBug4

Great book!

Rating

Posted June 29, 2010, 3:57 PM EST: I enjoyed reading the entire Percy series. As co-sponsor for my school's student book club, I suggested this as one of our books last year. The students (4th-8th grade) loved it!

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Lightning-Thief/Rick-Riordan/e/9780786838653/?itm=3&USRI=the+lightning+thief+%28percy+jackson+and+the+olympians...

Uses:
This book can be used for a fantasy series or to learn about fantasy. It can be used to go with learning about the gods and mythology.

Riordan, Rick. (2005). "The Lightning Thief". New York: NY: Scholastic Inc.

"Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld
Summary: Tally has just turned 16 and is soon to turn pretty. But she meets a new friend Shay who doesn't want to be pretty because being pretty isn't as great as it sounds. Especially if being pretty means not being yourself anymore.

My impressions: I love this story and I love this series. I wasn't a big science fiction fan until I came upon these books. They really draw you in and the adventure that Tally takes are wonderful and open the imagination to a whole new futuristic world.

Reviews:

Deborah Taylor - Children's Literature

Tally is about to turn sixteen—the most important birthday in her life. It is at age sixteen that residents of Uglyville cross over into New Pretty Town and their unattractive physical attributes are replaced to make them drop-dead gorgeous. Just before she is about to have her operations, Tally meets Shay, another Uglie about to reach the magic age of sixteen. However Shay is different; she is not convinced that being ugly is all that bad. Shay ultimately decides to run away and join a group of renegades who are resisting the authorities, leaving Tally to await her operations. Unfortunately, the authorities suspect Tally of assisting Shay's defection and refuse her operation until she betrays her friend. Author Scott Westerfeld has created a thought-provoking science fiction novel that begs to be discussed. 2005, Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster, Ages 14 up.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Uglies/Scott-Westerfeld/e/9781416934509/?itm=1&USRI=uglies

• OMG!!!by bookworm_157
• Reader Rating
  

Posted November 11, 2008, 6:09 PM EST: I have read this book and the rest of this series several times. And each time I find or realize something new about the characters or the plot. It keeps you guessing no matter how many times you read it. The basic story is it is set in the future and when you turn 16 you go under the knife and be changed from an ugly to a pretty. This book follows a trouble making uglie's journey before her surgery. Makes new friends and enemies. And not only is this book good but the entire series is good! I reccomend this to anyone in need of a good book to read!!

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Uglies/Scott-Westerfeld/e/9781416934509/?itm=1&USRI=uglies

Uses: Great read for High school students who aren't really into science fiction. It can be used in any form of studying the future or what the future might be like.

Westerfeld, Scott. (2005)."Uglies". New York, NY: Simon Pulse.

Module 4

SLIS 5420/ Module 4 June 27-July 4

Books Read this week:
"Frindle" by Andrew Clements

"Ruby Holler" by Sharon Creech

Summary for "Frindle" by Andrew Clements:
A boy named Nick renames a pen to be called a frindle. It quickly takes hold and it is the students against a teacher using this new word. Eventually the word has spread across the country and there is nothing Nick can do to stop it anymore. It is a story of learning to be able to achieve anything that you set out to and following it through till the end.

My Impressions: This is such a fun story. Its a quick read and an enjoyable one. It is fun and exciting and you just have to know what happens. Nick is very clever and I think lots of young students can relate to this story and enjoy it.

Reviews:

Reviewer: Buraq K. '12

The lesson to be learned from reading Frindle is that it is possible to make up a word! Nick makes up a new word "frindle" for pen. Nick's teacher, Mrs. Granger, is very strict, and does not want the children to use the made up word for pen. Nick appears on T.V. for an interview because of all the commotion that his word "frindle" is causing. Will the word "frindle" make its way into the dictionary? Is Mrs. Granger really hoping that Nick's "word" won't become a "real word"?

Fall 2004

http://www.germantownacademy.org/academics/ls/superreader/title/f/frindle.htm

Publishers Weekly

Trying to aggravate a tough language-arts teacher, a fifth-grade boy invents a new word for pen: "frindle." Soon, the whole country is using it. "Dictionary lovers will cotton to this mild classroom fantasy," said PW. Ages 8-12. (Feb.)

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Frindle/Andrew-Clements/e/9780689818769

Uses:
This book is just a great classroom read. It can be used to teach the students about the dictionary and also just making anything possible.

Clements, Andrew. (1996). "Frindle". New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.

Summary for "Ruby Holler":

This book is about twins a boy and girl named Dallas and Florida who are orphans and live in a home that has awful owners and tons of rules that they are always breaking. They have been in and out of foster homes and finally are sent to "Ruby Holler" to help an older couple and finally learn that they can be loved.

My impressions:
I liked this story a lot. I thought it was great in showing children that they can be loved no matter what. It can also be good to relate to children who have moved a lot or are adopted.

Reviews:

From the Publisher

"Trouble twins" Dallas and Florida are orphans who have given up believing there is such a thing as a loving home. Tiller and Sairy are an eccentric older couple who live in the beautiful, mysterious Ruby Holler, but they're restless for one more big adventure. When they invite the twins to join them on their journeys, they first must all stay together in the Holler, and the magic of the place takes over. Two pairs of lives grow closer, and are changed forever.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Ruby-Holler/Sharon-Creech/e/9780060560157/?itm=1&USRI=Ruby+Holler

It's not only what angle you choose to see an event from, but how close you go to it, and how long you spend with it, and when you look away. In Ruby Holler, Creech does an unusual thing for a children's book: she distributes her attention equally among the adults and the children. She looks at whatever is interesting, whatever moves the story forward, and tells us what she sees, and never tells us more than we need.
Philip Pullman is the author of the His Dark Materials trilogy
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2002/jul/06/booksforchildrenandteenagers.shopping

Uses:
This book can be used for learning about the value of family, for children who are adopted or have moved around a lot.

Creech, Sharon. (2002). "Ruby Holler". New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.

Module 3

SLIS 5420/Module 3 June 21-27

"Esperanza Rising" by Pam Munoz Ryan &
"Looking For Alaska" by John Green

Summary for "Esperanza Rising":
A young girl, Esperanza, has everything she wants until her father is killed and then everything is taken from her and she has to move to California with her mother to start a new life. The struggles and challenges she faces are shown as she grows and learns from them.
My Impressions: This book was beautifully writing and such a great story. Esperanza goes through a lot but grows up through all of it. She learns about the hardships of life and finally understands how even with the hardships life will be okay as long as you have family.

Reviews:
Esperanza Rising was recommended to me by a friend who is studying young adult literature. It touched her so deeply that she passed me a copy to read. I don't normally read juvenile fiction, but the topic intrigued me.
I found the book delightful. The characters are vividly portrayed, their emotions are deep and real. I could relate to several of the characters in the book in several ways, and the Mexican culture is an underlying theme throughout the book. Esperanza's pain felt very near to my own heart, and her personal growth through it was refreshing.
This book may be juvenile fiction, but I believe it has something for everyone. History, culture, an eye-opening look into a different frame of mind, so many things blend together to make this story unique. I can understand why the author felt that her grandmother's story needed to be brought to life, and I'm pleased to say that Esperanza Rising is a book the author can be proud of. Her story-telling can reach new generations with things that they hopefully will never experience, as well as things they may have dealt with themselves.
This tale of the life of Esperanza will stay with you. The young woman's abrupt start on the road to adulthood carries you with her through the seasons marked not by months of the year, but by the crops harvested during those times.
~Liz Copeland 2006 http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/70574/book_review_esperanza_rising_by_pam.html

Cross the River With Esperanza!, October 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Esperanza Rising (Hardcover)

There are many books and movies out there about young people and their families as they struggle to survive in Mexico and then in California when they decide to cast their lot with the American Dream...Esperanza has everything she could ever want or need on her father's El Rancho de las Rosas near Aguascalientes, Mexico, when he is killed by bandits in 1924. Esperanza and her mother must flee their ranch and her evil uncles, with the help of their loyal servants. She loses every privilege she had when she crosses the river to Southern California, where she must confront her own issues of class ism and work to save her mother's life. Very exciting book! The friendship between Miguel. the son of her family's servants, helps Esperanza learn that they are equals in their newly adopted country. The author tells us that this is a fictionalized account of how her real Abuelita came to the United States, which makes the story even more enjoyable. Can't wait to have my students read this book!
http://www.amazon.com/Esperanza-Rising-Pam-Munoz-Ryan/dp/043912042X

Uses in School:
This is a great book to use during Mexican Heritage month and also so students can understand other minorities hardships. It is a really great read for class level ages 6th-8th. I really enjoyed reading this book.

Ryan, Pam Munoz. (2002)."Esperanza Rising". New York: Scholastic Press.


"Looking for Alaska" by John Green

Summary: At boarding school Miles's life changes drastically when he not only makes new friends but falls in love for the first time. But an even bigger change is after the tragic accident happens.
My Impressions: I love this book. It relates to teenagers everywhere. It is an all around great book. Tragic but beautiful. A way to show that no matter what you can find your way.

Reviews:

Kirkus Reviews

The Alaska of the title is a maddening, fascinating, vivid girl seen through the eyes of Pudge (Miles only to his parents), who meets Alaska at boarding school in Alabama. Pudge is a skinny ("irony" says his roommate, the Colonel, of the nickname) thoughtful kid who collects and memorizes famous people's last words. The Colonel, Takumi, Alaska and a Romanian girl named Lara are an utterly real gaggle of young persons, full of false starts, school pranks, moments of genuine exhilaration in learning and rather too many cigarettes and cheap bottles of wine. Their engine and center is Alaska, given to moodiness and crying jags but also full of spirit and energy, owner of a roomful of books she says she's going to spend her life reading. Her center is a woeful family tragedy, and when Alaska herself is lost, her friends find their own ways out of the labyrinth, in part by pulling a last, hilarious school prank in her name. What sings and soars in this gorgeously told tale is Green's mastery of language and the sweet, rough edges of Pudge's voice. Girls will cry and boys will find love, lust, loss and longing in Alaska's vanilla-and-cigarettes scent. (Fiction. YA)

Publishers Weekly

Teenager Miles chronicles his first year at boarding school. According to PW, "The novel's chief appeal lies in Miles's well-articulated lust (for Alaska, the title girl) and his initial excitement about being on his own for the first time." Ages 14-up. (Jan.) Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Looking-for-Alaska/John-Green/e/9780525475064

Uses in School: A great teen novel. Great discussion book for junior high and high school aged students.

Green, John. (2005). "Looking for Alaska". The Penguin Group: New York, NY.

Module 2

SLIS5420/Module 2/June14-20

"And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon" by Janet Stevens & Susan Stevens Crummel

"Cinderella Skeleton" by Robert D. San Souci

"Dish Ran Away With the Spoon"

Summary: A new twist on the original nursery rhyme. Dish and Spoon runaway and don't come back and the other characters have to find them.

My Impressions:
I thought this was a funny twist on the nursery rhyme. It made me laugh and I loved all the illustrations. Everyday things had faces and could talk and its just an all around fun book to read.

Reviews:

One heck of a winner, June 5, 2001

By	Kim M Mangelsdorf (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon (Hardcover)

I recently bought this book for my child and I can't decide who wants to read it more. He is three and says, "It's cool!" and I personally can't get enough of it. The jokes neatly planted in there and the wonderful illustrations makes this book a winner. It is one to buy for your kids and to save for the grandkids even. If you only have a bit of money to spend on a book, choose this one! - From Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Dish-Ran-Away-Spoon/product-reviews/0152022988/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

Review by Michael Sims: We all know the story. It ends with the Dish running away with the Spoon, and usually they return so the rhyme can be read again. Unfortunately, one day Dish and Spoon don't return. They are nowhere to be found. Cat explains the problem to the skeptical Dog: "It's the way our rhyme goes. I fiddle, she jumps, you laugh, they run . . . Without Dish and Spoon, there's no rhyme. No more diddle diddle. It's over." Both Cow and Dog suggest alternative endings to the rhyme, but Cat insists that they stop fiddling around. Shameless puns abound in this book, both in the text and in the revised and extended rhyme that accompanies it.

On their quest the animals encounter all sorts of figures from Mother Goose. Fork recognizes the Spoon because they were originally from the same place setting. To help, Fork draws a map, which includes everything from the Three Bears' house to Little Bo Peep's pasture. The legend at the bottom explains the unit of measure: a crooked mile. Spider complains about Miss Muffet's aloofness. Wolf wears bunny slippers, and hanging on his coat tree in the foyer is a button-up sheep suit. In one house bobtailed blind mice lurk in the corners. The author and illustrator, who are sisters, must have enjoyed creating this book.

Let's make the bottom line of this review explicit: Children will love this book, but no more than the adults who read it to them.

http://www.bookpage.com/0106bp/children/dish_ran_away.html

Use in School: This book is just a fun book to be used in school maybe during storytime.

Crummel, Susan Stevens & Stevens, Janet. (2001). "And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon". New York, NY :Harcourt Inc.

"Cinderella Skeleton"

Summary: This is a rendition of Cinderella the only difference is that she is a skeleton and its all based around Halloween.

My impressions: I thought this book was almost scary. I had never seen a Cinderella like this. It was a very interesting read. A lot of it was the same outline story of Cinderella just changed for it to be a skeleton or as they call it in the story a ghoul.

Reviews:

Now in paperback--the tale of Cinderella is told with a twist, presented withskeletons in the main roles. Hysterically funny."--"Kirkus Reviews" (starredreview). Full color.

http://www.powells.com/biblio/17-9780152020033-0

"Share this macabre rib tickler with Stinky Cheese fans." -- Booklist
http://www.rsansouci.com/pages/books/cskel.htm

Uses for School:
Use this at Halloween. Or do a whole story-telling series on different Cinderella stories and have this one in the mix and see how the Children react to it.

San Souci, Robert D. (2000). "Cinderella skeleton". Hong Kong: Harcourt.

Module 1

5420/Module1/ June 7-13

Book 1 for this Module:
"The Hundred Dresses" by Eleanor Estes

Summary: This book is about two girls who pick on one girl because she says she has 100 dresses in her closet. But once the girl they have been picking on moves schools they feel sorry that they picked on her and want to find a way to say sorry.

My impressions:
I really liked this book. I liked the lesson behind it. It really made me think about how children are teased and how much it hurts their feelings. I feel like this is a good book to use for children in school. Children who might be being teased or children doing the teasing.

Reviews: My first experience with this book was the audiobook I borrowed from the library. It makes for a great read-aloud. It wasn't until a year or so later that I finally saw the actual book. I was mesmerized by the illustrations. Even though it's about dresses, I think young boys (at least sensitive ones) would like this story, too, because it's really about kids' relationships with one another and what it's like to be the outsider.- Carter 2008

Beautiful book for young readers, especially girls.
A group of fourth-grade girls taunt a poor Polish classmate who wears the same dress to school every day. The book teaches the golden rule, and shows that we might not be given a second chance to apologize for behavior. I cry every time. -Dani 2008

Use in Schools: Elementary school students should definitely read this book. I think it will help them understand someone's point of view if they have never been teased or if they have ever teased someone. The Librarian could ask opinions on if they think what is in the book is right or wrong.

Estes, Eleanor. (1944). "The Hundred Dresses".Orlando,FL, USA: Harcourt Inc.

Book 2: "Madeline" by Ludwig Bemelmans

Summary:11 girls and Madeline live under the care of Miss Clavel. Madeline's appendix burst and she is rushed to the hospital and all the other girls want to go to the hospital and have their appendix out because Madeline is like the leader of the group. But while in the hospital Madeline gets candy, care and ends up with a great scar that all the other girls want.

My views: I love Madeline. I adore how the book rhymes and is an enjoyable story. The illustrations are also really beautiful and help bring the story to life.

Reviews:

Publishers Weekly

As with last year's pop-up version of Beatrix Potter's Two Bad Mice, this book seems born to the form. A spread showing ``the old house in Paris'' has lift-open windows so that the ``twelve little girls in two straight lines'' can be viewed; Madeline leans forward to ``pooh-pooh'' the zoo tiger and teeters on the wall ``to frighten Miss Clavel.'' When Miss Clavel turns on her light, readers can pull the tab and banish the darkness. And Madeline's hospital stay, with movable doll carriage and a tossable ball, looks enviable indeed. With all the bustling in these pages and tabs to tug, the book will immerse both old fans and new readers in the joys of knowing Madeline. Ages 3-8. (September)

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Madeline/Ludwig-Bemelmans/e/9780670445806/?itm=1&USRI=madeline

Lisa Bankey
What I really love about the Madeline books are the illustrations. Bemelmans illustrations fascinated me as a child. I love them because they are not perfect. Most of the picture books I read when I was young had beautiful illustrations. I did enjoy those books as well, but I felt frustrated that I could not draw like that. But I did (and still do) draw more like Bemelmans’ style for the Madeline books. I delight in studying the details of his quirky illustrations, the chandeliers, the ivy covered walls, and the Paris landmarks. Madeline.com talks about how he also contributed illustrations for New Yorker, Bazaar, and Fortune magazines. Bemelmans also painted murals at New York's Carlyle Hotel.

http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/books/madeline-by-ludwig-bemelmans/

Uses: This is a great story book for children. It gives them a look at France and the differences it has from the USA. It also it just a really fun rhyming story for children to read.

Bemelmans, Ludwig. (1958). "Madeline". New York, NY: Penguin Group.

Book Lists

Well the book list is really really long, but I will keep you posted as I read books. I'm only supposed to write about two books a week but I'll write out a list of the books that I am reading that week. We only have to read like 7-12 books a week, they are children's and YA books so that's not that many.

Books I read this week:

Madeline

Where the Wild Things Are

Corduroy

The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses

Make Way for Ducklings

Caps for Sale

Swimmy

The Giving Tree

The Hundred Dresses

The list she gives has different sections and you have to pick say 5 books from one section and 2 from another with a list she provides which is made up of like 20 books. And sometimes its hard to decide on just 5.

Thanks for all the comments :)

Day 1

This week I have been reading children's books for my Library Science Class 5420 which is Children's Literature. It's very interesting so far. I will posting blogs about the books I am reading throughout the weeks.