"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak

Citation:
Zusak, Markus. The Book Thief. Westminister, Maryland: Random House, 2006.
ISBN: 9780375831003

Plot Summary:
Death narrates the moving tale of Liesel, a young girl who is placed with a foster family in Germany during World War II.  As a manner of coping, Liesel finds herself stealing things, the first of which being "The Gravedigger's Handbook" at her younger brother's burial.  In time, Liesel learns to read and realizes the gift of literature.  She steals more books from Nazi book burnings in an effort for share the gift with others.  With Death as an all-seeing narrator, how will the story end?

Critical Analysis:
Zusak made a bold and interesting choice by narrating the novel with "Death".  It's ironic that death should be personified-- giving life to death.  Liesel is the heroine of the story and she has had tremendous loss in her life.  The reader is made to feel empathy for Liesel even if they are not fully able to understand her experiences.

Review Excerpts:
Kirkus Reviews: "The writing is elegant, philosophical and moving. Even at its length, it's a work to read slowly and savor. Beautiful and important."
School Library Journal: "Death is not a sentimental storyteller, but he does attend to an array of satisfying details, giving Liesel’s story all the nuances of chance, folly, and fulfilled expectation that it deserves. An extraordinary narrative."
Publishers Weekly: "This hefty volume is an achievement—a challenging book in both length and subject, and best suited to sophisticated older readers."

Connections:
*Michael L. Printz Award For Excellence In Young Literature - Award Winner And Honor Books 2000
*A nonfiction companion about WWII and the Holocaust:
We Are Witnesses: Five Diaries of Teenagers who Died in the Holocaust
ISBN: 9780590844758
*Other books by Mark Zusak:
I am the Messenger
ISBN: 9780375836671
Fighting Ruben Wolfe
ISBN: 9780439241878  

"When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead

Citation:
Stead, Rebecca. When You Reach Me. New York: Random House, 2009.
ISBN: 9780385737425

Plot Summary:
Miranda, named after a criminal, lives in an apartment with her mother.  She spends most of her evenings with her mother and her mother's boyfriend, Richard, practicing for the $20,000 Pyramid.  Miranda has been getting mysterious notes that seem impossible and tell the future.  She tries to make sense of their meaning and who has sent them.

Critical Analysis:
Stead has created wonderfully mixed world of reality and fantasy.  Miranda's day to day activities are average and realistic.  Stead employs low fantasy by bending time and space and predicting the future.  The mystery of who is contacting Miranda through the notes is ongoing and keeps the reader's interest throughout the book.  Miranda is a leveled character who balances her eccentric mother.  The mother daughter relationship created by Stead has a "Freaky Friday" feel at times, as if there is a sort of role reversal between parent and child. The setting is an exceptionally important part of the story which is most greatly comprised by the people in Miranda's life: her family, neighbors, friends, and the "laughing man".

Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal: "This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers."
Publishers Weekly: "Stead (First Light ) accomplishes this by making every detail count, including Miranda’s name, her hobby of knot tying and her favorite book, Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time . It’s easy to imagine readers studying Miranda’s story as many times as she’s read L’Engle’s, and spending hours pondering the provocative questions it raises."

Connections:
*Texas Lonestar Young Adult Reading List Nominees 2004-05
*Newbery Medal/Honor Books
*Check out Miranda's favorite book and draw connections:
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
ISBN: 9780312367541

"BabyMouse: Queen of the World!" by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm

Citation:
Holm, Jennifer L. & Matthew Holm. BabyMouse: Queen of the World! v. 1. New York: Random House, 2005.
ISBN: 9780375932298

Plot Summary:
BabyMouse is convinced that having certain things in her life would make her happier!  Forget cupcakes and monster movies!  BabyMouse wants to go to the most popular girl's slumber party.  Surely, spending the night at Felicia Furrypaws' house will be the cat's meow.  But how will she get there?  Will it be everything she hoped for?  BabyMouse figures out what makes her queen of her world in this debut of the series.

Critical Analysis:
The Holms' series opener of BabyMouse is charming.  BabyMouse herself is relate able to the target audience.  She goes to class, has homework, likes to read and eat cupcakes!  BabyMouse has a spunky imagination which takes her to space and the wild west.  Readers will have a fun time following BabyMouse wherever her imagination takes her.  The plot is simple and easy to follow.  In the same way that the character of BabyMouse is relate able, so is her main plot issue of wanting to go to the popular girl's party.  Slumber parties are a rite of passage that all young readers will understand.  BabyMouse's setting mimics that of a regular young girl.  She has a little brother who annoys her, parents and teachers who expect her to be on time and finish her homework and a love for cupcakes.  All of these things will make BabyMouse interesting and fun for young readers. 

The typical audience for this series will be young girls.  Graphic novels readers are typically males, it's nice to have a fun offering for girls!

Review Excerpts
School Library Journal: "Several things are clear about Babymouse, as evidenced from the cover art–she’s adorable and she loves pink. Luckily, as further pages reveal, she is also smart, spunky, and a tad sarcastic."
BookList: "The Holms spruce up some well-trod ground with breathless pacing and clever flights of Babymouse's imagination, and their manic, pink-toned illustrations of Babymouse and her cohorts vigorously reflect the internal life of any million-ideas-a-minute middle-school student."

Connections:
*Explore the next book in the series:
BabyMouse: Our Hero
ISBN:  9780375832307 
*A similar character for the younger crowd: Kevin Henke's Lilly 
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse
ISBN: 9780688128982 
Lilly's Big Day
ISBN: 9780060742362 

"Hiroshima" by Laurence Yep

Citation:

Yep, Laurence. Hiroshima. New York: Scholastic, 1995.

ISBN: 9780590208321

Plot Summary:

Hiroshima follows the dropping of the atomic bomb by the United States on Hiroshima and its aftermath.  In order to do this, Yep’s novella follows a young girl names Sachi.  Sachi survives the attack but is left badly burned and injured.  She is temporarily taken to the United States as a ‘Hiroshima Maiden’ to have surgery to mend injuries sustained by the atomic bomb as a peace offering.  The novella paints a portrait of the event and its massive historical and societal ripple effect.

Critical Analysis:

The character of Sachi is, in Yep’s own words, a “composite character” of many different children’s experiences with the atomic bomb.  She is a sole survivor, her father died in the Pacific, she is one of 25 women chosen to be a Hiroshima Maiden and go to the US. 

The novella reads easily and manages to tackle a tragic historical event concisely and clearly.  Yep uses language that readers will be able to follow and understand.  The attached sources are lengthy and impressive, especially for such a short read.  The reader can tell that Yep had done a great deal of research for this novella.

Review Excerpts:

BookList: “Though accessible to middle-grade readers, this will also interest older readers, who will find nothing condescending in content or format. Fifty years later, the event is still the focus of furious controversy (even the numbers are in dispute), and this novella will start classroom discussion across the curriculum.”

Publishers Weekly: “Yet in what is one of his tale's most haunting moments, Yep interjects the resonant words of an American-the Enola Gay's copilot-who, surveying the destruction just after the bomb has hit Hiroshima, scribbles a note to himself: "What have we done?" This powerful chronicle ensures that what was done on that awful day will remain in readers' memories for a very long time.”

Connections:

*Nonfiction titles about World War II:

World War II for Kids by Richard Panchyk

ISBN: 9781556524554

The Good Fight: How World War II Was Won by Stephen Ambrose

ISBN: 9780689843617

"One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia

Citation:

Williams-Garcia, Rita. One Crazy Summer. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2010.

ISBN: 9780060760885

Plot Summary:

Three sisters, Fern, Vonetta, and Delphine, are sent from Brooklyn to Oakland to visit their mother.  Their mother, Cecile, had abandoned them as young children.  Delphine is the eldest of the three and is in charge of mothering the girls even while staying with Cecile.  Cecile is involved with the Black Panther group in Oakland and sends the girls to a summer camp sponsored by the group.  During the course of the summer, the girls experience a whirlwind of education about life, race, equality, and their mother.

Critical Analysis:

Williams-Garcia creates a slew of strong character necessary for the tumultuous time and place setting.  Delphine is an 11 year old girl who has had to help take care of her younger sisters in their mother’s absence.  She is suspicious of strangers and especially her estranged mother.  Cecile is a mysterious character whose greatest mystery stems from why she abandoned her children.  In the last chapters of the book, Cecile opens up to Delphine.  She tells her things about her life and past that explains who she is.  However, she still fails to tell Delphine, or the reader, why she left.  She tells Delphine: “You’d have to be grown first before I explained.  If I told you now, it would just be words” (210).  She continues to tell Delphine to just “be eleven” (210).  Not all of what happens with grownups is meant to be understood by children.  We are shaped by our childhood experiences in a great way.  Delphine is who she is because her mother left.  Knowing why Cecile left will not change the result of her actions and the way that it has shaped Delphine.

Williams-Garcia writes a brief acknowledgements at the end of the novel but leaves no references for the reader.  She explains that she had read “books, articles, and interviews” on the period to write the book but does not list any by name for further reference by the reader.  These would have been helpful and authoritative additions to the book.

Review Excerpts:

BookList: “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.”

Publishers Weekly: “Delphine's growing awareness of injustice on a personal and universal level is smoothly woven into the story in poetic language that will stimulate and move readers.”

Connections:

*The Black Panther group could be a touchy subject for young readers.  Try out this nonfiction title to introduce and explain the group and what they stood for:

Power for the People: The Rise and Fall of the Black Panther Party by James Haskins

ISBN: 9780689800856

*Other titles by Rita Williams-Garcia:

Like Sisters on the Homefront

ISBN: 9780140385618

Fast Talk on a Slow Track

ISBN: 9780141302317

"Turtle in Paradise" by Jennifer Holm

Citation:

Holm, Jennifer. Turtle in Paradise. New York: Random House, 2010.

ISBN: 9780375836886

Plot Summary:

Turtle's mother takes a house-keeping job which prevents her to keep Turtle with her.  As a result, Turtle is sent to live her grandmother in Key West, "Paradise" as her mother recalls it.  Turtle is less than enamored with the place and must adjust to the new life and new family members she meets. After finding a treasure map, Turtle begins the search for a way to get a home for her and her mother.  She finds that Key West isn't so bad after all and this once tough girl begins to open herself up to new possibilities of paradise.

Critical Analysis:

Holm's main character, Turtle, is a strong lead.  Her tough exterior at the age of 11 lends to the idea that she has had a less than flowery childhood.  The novel upholds the idea that everything changes-- including, and especially, people.

Holm creates a strong setting of both the physical location and time period.  Cultural references are strong throughout.  These help add to the authenticity of the novel as it is read.  The Great Depression was a tough time for all.  This is stressed by the fact that Turtle’s mother takes a job that forces her to relocate her daughter.  Jobs were hard to come by and rarely passed up; Turtle’s relocation is an excellent way for Holm to iterate the troubles of the Depression to young readers.
Holm writes the novel by inspiration of her grandmother’s experiences.  In this instance, her grandmother is a primary source of information.  Holm includes references, resources, and websites for more information in the appendix.  These listings all serve to bolster the validity of her historical fiction

Review Excerpts:

Publisher's Weekly: "Two-time Newbery Honor author Holm again crafts a winning heroine who, despite her hardened exterior, gradually warms to her eccentric family members, including her unruly cousins and waspish grandmother (who Turtle thought was dead). Infused with period pop culture references, a strong sense of place, and the unique traditions and culture of Key West natives (aka “Conchs”), this humorous adventure effectively portrays Turtle as caught between her mother’s Hollywood-inspired dreams and the very real family and geography that offer a different kind of paradise."

BookList: "Holm uses family stories as the basis for this tale, part romp, part steely-eyed look at the Depression era. Reminiscent of Addie in the movie Paper Moon, Turtle is just the right mixture of knowingness and hope; the plot is a hilarious blend of family dramas seasoned with a dollop of adventure."

Connections:

*Bring the setting to life for children by bringing in Conch shells and ask them to think of an item that would best represent their home and/or personal "Paradise".

*Explore the Great Depression with a nonfiction pairing:

Children of the Great Depression by Russell Freedman

ISBN: 9780618446308

"Walt Whitman: Words for America" by Barbara Kerley

Citation:
Kerley, Barbara.  Walt Whitman: Words for America.  New York: Scholastic Press, 2004.
ISBN: 9780439357913

Summary:
Barbara Kerley weaves together a beautiful story of Walt Whitman's life and his poetic work.  Much of the focus of  the story is on his compassion for the Civil War soldiers and his time spent with them and writing for them.  Walt Whitman was greatly influenced by the state of America as a country during his adult life.  This was evident through his writing which is wonderfully showcased in this book.

Critical Analysis:
The illustrations of this book are fantastic-- however, that's to be expected with Brian Selznick.  Selznick has a unique style which is evident to readers of all ages.  Walt Whitman is an interesting topic for a children's book, albeit a wonderful example of compassion.  The book serves as an example of how powerful writing can be, especially during times of crisis.  The book reads smoothly and eloquently.  Kerley has accounted for Whitman's life in a beautiful prose which reads as a fictional account.

I would consider the book to be a biography, although the library from which I borrowed the item has cataloged the item as a nonfiction item with a Dewey number of 811.3.  This places the book into the poetry section of the collection.  The book includes some of Whitman's full length poems from Leaves of Grass in the last pages of the book, which is helpful for the reader.  This way, the reader can refer to and analyze the poems after learning more about the writer.

Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal: "An exuberant picture-book biography that focuses on Whitman's formative years and his selfless work as a Civil War nurse. Delightfully old-fashioned in design, its oversized pages are replete with graceful illustrations and snippets of poetry. The brilliantly inventive paintings add vibrant testimonial to the nuanced text."
Publisher's Weekly: " Copious quotes from his poems and correspondence let Whitman's eloquent voice resonate through the pages, and bountiful source notes remove any doubt of these talented collaborators' affection and admiration for their subject—their enthusiasm is convincing and contagious."
Kirkus Reviews: "A visual and textual portrait of America's most revolutionary and celebrated poet. Kerley distills Whitman's wide-ranging biography, centering on the significant themes of his life: his passion for words, America, and the common man, as well as his torment over race, democracy, and the Civil War."

Connections:
*This book should be paired with a direct look at Walt Whitman's poetry.  After the reader has been painted the picture of Whitman's experience, poems could be analyzed by older readers and connections made between his writing and his Civil War experience.
*Have young readers take a look further at the Civil War with:

If You Lived at the Time of the Civil War by Kay Moore
ISBN: 9780590454223