FICTION, FANTASY, & YA

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Gaiman, Neil. 2008. “The Graveyard Book” Ill. By Dave Mckean. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 9780060530921

2. PLOT SUMMARY

The inhabitants of the ancient graveyard christen the baby Nobody when he wonders into their domain. The only survivor of the murdered family, Bod as he is called, is adopted by the ghosts of Mr. and Mrs. Owens and becomes a living resident of the cemetery. Growing up among the ruins , Bod is taught reading and writing and how to slip through shadows and fade from awareness. He encounters the invisible Sleer , a creature which guards an ancient barrow deep underground. He also befriends the spirit of a young witch for whom he makes a headstone from glass paperweight. But all through these adventures looms the mystery of his family’s murder about which his enigmatic protector Silas knows more that he will say. Then one day the truth is finally revealed. The Order of Jacks of All Trades , which murders to gain magical powers, must kill Bod to prevent the fulfillment of the prophesy that he would destroy them. The Jacks launch their attack but the tide is turned when Bod and his ghostly friends lure them deep into the graveyard where one by one, hey are disposed of. In the final confrontation, Bod leads Jack Frost , who killed his family, into the clutches of the Sleer from which there is no escape. As the story ends, Bod leaves the graveyard to enter the world outside. Having learned the secrets of the dead, he is ready to face the world of the living.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Although Nobody is a character in a fantasy novel he represents every human being who comes of age in an isolated situation. His knowledge of the word is confine to the graveyard and the dead who dwell there as is the knowledge of any child limited to his community. Neil Gaiman’s light and breezy style makes this world seem perfectly ordinary and gently draws the reader into story. There is no doubt that we “ feel a kinship with the protagonist” and “ care about what happens to him .” (Vardell, p.218) The others characters are only sketchily delineated as is only appropriate given the vague and misty nature of their existence . (This sense of incompleteness is reinforced by Dave McKean’s illustrations.) The author’s metaphysical exploration has created an intriguing, topsy - turvey reality wherein a graveyard is a metaphor for life from which we die to fully live in the world beyond.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT
“Gr 5-8-- A baby, orphaned when his family is murdered, finds his way to a graveyard and is raised by its ethereal inhabitants. Gaiman is a master storyteller and this tale won him the 2009 Newbery Award Medal “
(2009). The Graveyard Book. School Library Journal, 5540. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.

5. CONNECTIONS

Collins, S. (2008). The hunger games. New York: Scholastic Press.ISBN: 9781410419866

FICTION, FANTASY, & YA

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Holm, Jennifer L. 2007. Middle School is Worse then Meatloaf: a Year told through Stuff. New York: Athenaeum Books. ISBN:9780689852817

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Ginny Davis enters the seventh grade and begins a school year much like any other, full of hopes and fears, triumphs and failures. Events are recorded in a series of school notices and reports, class assignments, store receipts, e-mails, personal notes and list – the “stuff” of our daily lives. Ginny copes with babysitting, accidentally her hear pink, writing school essays, truing out for the lead in a ballet recital and losing, dealing with obnoxious brother and a new stepdad, attending a prom , breaking and arm, and baking a model brain for the science fair. The year ends with dreams of summer and the inevitable next year.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

By depicting the school year through the ephemera of Ginny’s life, the author allows each reader to flesh out the bare bones of the story from his/her own personal experience. It is a literary equivalent of Andy Warhol’s pictures of soup cans, inviting us to peer deeper and seek out the hiding meaning. A delightful koan of a book that deftly pulls one into the whirl of school days.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT
“Humor balances the serious issues. Middle - school readers will recognize Ginny's world and enjoy piecing together the plot through the bits and pieces of "Stuff" depicted in Castaldi's collages. A delightful collaboration. (Graphic fiction. 10-14)”.
(2007). MIDDLE SCHOOL IS WORSE THAN MEATLOAF: A Year Told Through Stuff. Kirkus Reviews, 75(13), 667. Retrieved from Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text database.

5. CONNECTIONS

Kinney, J. (2007). Diary of a wimpy kid: Greg Heffley's journal. New York: Amulet Books. ISBN: 9780810993136

FICTION, FANTASY, & YA

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Rosoff, Meg. 2004. How I live now. New York: Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN: 0385746776

2. PLOT SUMMARY

When fifteen year old Daisy arrives from New York to spend the summer with her relatives in England she has no idea what to expect. Certainly not to fall in love with her cousin Edmond and then to be caught up in a new world war. Soon after her aunt leaves on a diplomatic mission a series of terrorist bombing escalate into open warfare with the result that England becomes occupied by the never – identified enemy. Daisy and her young cousin Piper are separated from the others and placed in a British Army encampment. When hostilities reopen, the girls escape during a battle and go searching for the others. Traveling on their own, they learn to scavenge and live off the land . They finally reach their home only to discover it deserted. Daisy and Piper struggle to repair the damage and eke out an existence on the farm. A phone call out of the blue signals the end of the war. Daisy is sent back to America only to return later to be with Edmond and help him recover emotionally from his war - time experience

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Intense characterization highlights this novel as Daisy’s first – person narrative provides the reader with an anchor point from which to view the dramatic events as they unfold. Her on- going commentary tinged with sarcasm which evolves through feelings of love, horror, and determination to a state of fateful acceptance of whatever life brings. The exigencies of war and the struggle for survival act as a catalyst to transform a self – absorbed teenager into mature women. Meg Rosoff has written a powerful and totally believable novel that will linger in the reader’s mind long after is finished.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT
“Though the novel has disturbing elements, Rosoff handles the harshness of war and the taboo of incest with honest introspection. This Printz award winner is a good choice for book discussions as it considers the disruption of war both physically and emotionally and should be on every high school and public library shelf. “
Wysocki, B., & Mandell, P. (2005). How I Live Now. School Library Journal, 51(8), 68. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.

5. CONNECTIONS

Rosoff, M. (2006). Just in case. New York: Wendy Lamb Books.ISBN: 9780385746786

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Park, Linda Sue. 2004. When my name was Keoko. Ney York: Random House. ISBN 00440419441

2. PLOT SUMMARY

The story takes place during Japanese occupation of Korea in World War II and deals with how the invaders dominated society and imposed their culture on the Korans. Everyone must read and write Japanese and take Japanese names. Young Sun – hee becomes Keoko and, although forced to act Japanese, struggles to maintain a hold on her culture. A series of events unfolds covering the full period of Japanese control from 1940 to 1945. With the liberation of Korea we leave Keoko, now Sun-hee again, retrieving her suppressed identity and rebuilding her life.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Linda Sue Park imparts a subtle eloquence to this fascinating and disturbing story of culture clash. Through the thoughts of Sun –hee and the other characters we share the fears and confusion of their daily lives under Japanese. Readers gain insight into Korean culture as well as respect for people engaged in a hidden struggle to salvage their heritage. The novel provides much material for discussion as it reminds us that wars are fought not only with guns but also words and ideas.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT

“Linda Sue Park's historically and emotionally accurate novel (Clarion, 2002) about Korean life under Japanese domination during World War II helps listeners understand how individuals cope in times of political repression.(…) This is an excellent addition to middle school collections, offering an angle that has long been missing from the literary shelf. ”

Mandell, P., & Goldsmith, F. (2003). When My Name Was Keoko. School Library Journal, 49(12), 76. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.

5. CONNECTIONS

Kadohata, C. (2004). Kira-kira. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.ISBN: 9780689856396

Historical Fiction

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lowry, Lois. 1989. Number the Stars. New York: Bantan Doubleday Publishing Group, Inc. ISBN 0440227534

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Ii is 1943 and German soldiers patrol the streets of Copenhagen. It has been three years since Denmark surrendered to Hitler’s forces. Young Annemarie Johansen, age 10, learns that her best friend Ellen Rosen, along with her family, are going to be “relocated” because they are Jews. Vowing to do all they can to protect the Rosens, Annenmarie’s parents take Ellen in and pass her off as their daughter while helping the rest of the family get away. When the Nazis become suspicious, the girls are sent to Uncle Henrik’s an the coast. Once there Ellen is reunited with her family and they are all smuggle to safety in Sweden.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Lois Lowry won Newbery Award for this novel of hope and courage in an age of persecution. The well crafted story keeps the reader in suspense until the final page, never certain if t he Rosens will make it or not. This is an important novel for young people today since it reminds us of the extremes that hatred and bigotry lead to.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT
“What would you do for a friend? In this suspenseful novel set in Denmark in 1943, Annemarie Johansen answers this question with true bravery. When Annemarie discovers that her best friend Ellen is in danger, she tries to save her from the Nazis before it's too late. This is a touching story about the beauty of friendship..”

(2002). Number the Stars. Scholastic Scope, 50(17), 19. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.


5. CONNECTIONS
Kathy Jordan. (2004) A Guide for Using Number the Stars in the Classroom. Teacher Created Resources. ISBN 1557344248

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anderson, Laurie Halse. 2008 Chains. New Yourk: Thorndible Perss. ISBN 1416905863

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Two slave girls, Isabel and her younger sister Ruth, are brought to New York to serve the Lockton’s family. It is the height of the American Revolution and the Lockton’s are staunch Loyalists. A slave boy named Curzon convinces Isabel to spy on her owners. Learning of a plot to assassinate George Washington, Isabel steals a list of the conspirators and delivers it to the rebels. In the meantime, Curzon enlists in the American Army and is captured and imprisoned. Isabel eventually helps Curzon escape and leads him to safety. The book ends with promises of a sequel as Isabel hopes to rescue Ruth, who has been sent to the Lockton’s estate in Charleston.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Laurie Halse Anderson has written an enthralling tale of the evils of slavery and the furor of the colonial rebellion against England. The story unfolds at a fast pace as one incident leads smoothly into another. The characters speak in a believable manner without any embarrassing modernisms. The reader is left with an indelible impression of the casual acceptance of the subjugation of one group of people by the Americans at the same time they were fighting for their own freedom.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT

“The metaphor of chains, as suggested in the title, is primary in the novel. Chains are heavy; they are used to bind, constrict, and control, and Isabel is covered in them. She is bound by her race, her status, and her sex. Yet even when she cannot physically remove

these chains, she can mentally break free from them. Isabel reads, learns, and expands her mind. She keeps her ears and her heart open to possibilities; even her liabilities become her strengths. From this, young readers will find themselves easily connecting to Isabel and her plight, delighting in the idea that one person, much like themselves, can make a difference, can be brave enough to risk it all in hopes of a better life..”

Walsh, L. (2009). Chains. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 53(3), 263-265. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.

5 Connections

Anderson, Laurie Halse. 1999. Speak. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. ISBN 9780374371524

NONFICTION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Krull, Katleen. 2007. Marie Curie. Ill. Boris Kulikov. New York: Viking. ISBN 9780670058945.

PLOT SUMMARY

Marie Curie was born Maria Skłodowska on November 7, 1867. She grerw up in Warsaw, Poland which was at that time under the domination od Russia. Excelling in school, Marie became a teacher after graduation. In 1891, she moved to Paris to further her education were she earned degrees in the physical sciences and mathematics. It was in Paris that she met Pierre Curie and in 1895 they were married. Fascinated by recent discovery of radioactive phenomena, she began her own research and went on to discover radium and polonium (last one named after her native Poland). She won two Nobel Prizes for her research and became international celebrity. Her work on radium continued throughout her life and, sadly, resulted in her death. After decades of exposure to radioactive substances, Marie curie died in 1934 from radiation poisoning.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Kathleen Krull gives thorough coverage of the life of Marie Curie from her birth and school years to her fame as one of the world’s greatest scientists and her tragic death. The vocabulary of the text is adult with an occasional modern slang expression to appeal to young readers. The illustrations by Boris Kulikov are dark and claustrophobic, limning a life spent frequently in confine workrooms and laboratories. Included also are a bibliography, a list of web sites, and a comprehensive index. Krull’s book is an exellent introduction to the life of this famous scientist and should act as gateway to other resources.

REVIEW EXCERPT

“Gr 4-8 --A refreshing look at the renowned scientist, warts and all. Curie was born in Poland in 1867 to a family that valued education.(…) This enlightening portrait of Curie goes beyond the basic facts of her life. It conveys her successes and remarkable achievements, but also the affair the widowed Curie had with a married man and her workaholic nature. The scattered drawings further humanize the subject but add little to the presentation. Nonetheless, this is a realistic portrait of a flesh-and-blood woman, not just a famous name. ”
Oravec, K. (2007). Marie Curie. School Library Journal, 53(12), 154. http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2053 Retrieved October 26, 2009, from Academic Search Complete

5. CONNECTIONS
McClafferty, C. K. (2006). Something out of nothing: Marie Curie and radium. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. ISBN: 9780374380366