"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

"Almost Gone" by Steve Jenkins

Citation:
Jenkins, Steve.  Almost Gone: The World's Rarest Animals.  New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2006.
ISBN: 9780060535988

Summary:
Steve Jenkins takes the reader across the globe and features 28 different animals that are either "almost gone", "gone forever", or "coming back".  Each animal description features an illustration of the animal, where it is found, and how many are left (estimated).  The animal descriptions not only feature the animals specifications but also how or why the animal is endangered.

Critical Analysis:
The set up of this book is great for a young reader.  The blurbs about the animals are easily digested.  The descriptions of the animals help the reader to understand the look of the animal and it's characteristics.  Most importantly, the descriptions of the animals explain why the animals are on the verge of extinction.  While it is interesting to have an idea of how many of the animal are left-- it's impossible to truly know.  Some of the estimates are bold, such as the Giant Stick Insect which is listed as having "fewer than 10 left".  Jenkins makes a disclaimer at the opening of the book that "the numbers given for each animal in this book are best guesses of the scientists who study them".  Unfortunately, there are no citations for these estimates.

Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal: "This engaging title is informative as well as visually stunning. Jenkins captures the essence of his subjects with appropriately colored, cut-paper collage illustrations on stark white backgrounds. Each endangered animal is introduced in a single paragraph that typically contains a fact or two about its range, behavior, diet, and those conditions that threaten its welfare."
BookList: "As usual, Jenkins' artwork is fascinating. His papers, apparently handpainted, are carefully matched to catch subtle variations of an animal's skin or a sense of the shagginess of its coat. The last spreads consider four extinct animals and three species brought back from the brink by breeding or protection programs."

Connections:
*Other titles about extinction:
V is for Vanishing by Patricia Mullins
ISBN: 9780064434713
Will We Miss Them? by Alexandra Wright
ISBN: 9780881064889

"Balloons Over Broadway" by Melissa Sweet

Citation:
Sweet, Melissa. Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade. New York, New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011.
ISBN: 9780547188450

Plot Summary:
This colorful nonfiction picture book is written about Tony Sarg.  The book talks briefly about his childhood and early career but focuses mainly on his contribution to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  Tony Sarg is responsible for dreaming up the large helium balloons which are still showcased in the annual parade.  Sarg incorporates his love for puppets and ingenuity to develop the balloons.  The book explains how the parade began and grew to need such large pieces!

Critical Summary:
The book begins almost as a biography of Tony Sarg.  Sweet touches on his ingenuity and originality as a boy explaining how he managed to rig a way to do his chore of feeding the chickens from his bed!  The book continues to explain his creativity and interest in puppets and how these developed over time.  The story is told chronologically and logically.  The bulk of the story is based on Sarg's work with the Macy's parade.  Sweet expertly crafts the story around his innovation of the large helium balloons.  The reader feels as though he or she is brainstorming right alongside Sarg as he incorporates ideas from all over the world.  In this way, Melissa Sweet did a wonderful job of bringing history to life for the young reader.

Review Excerpts:
BookList: "What she has done is make a joyous piece of nonfiction that informs and delights in equal part."
School Library Journal: "Sweet tells this slice of American history well, conveying both Sarg's enthusiasm and joy in his work as well as the drama and excitement of the parade. Rich in detail, the gouache, collage, and mixed-media illustrations are a stand-out, capturing the charm of the period and the awe-inspiring balloons. This one should float off the shelves."

Connections:
*Bring this story further to life with actual puppets, marionettes and balloons.  Let the children see the differences between balloons filled with air and helium.
*Other books of invention (illustrated by Melissa Sweet)
Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women
ISBN: 9780395937440
A River of Words: the Story of William Carlos Williams
ISBN: 9780802853028

"The Firefly Letters" by Margarita Engle

Citation:
Engle, Margarita. The Firefly Letters: a Suffragette's Journey to Cuba. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2010.
ISBN: 9780805090826

Plot Summary:
The Firefly Letters is a novel of poems based on the real life experience of Frederika Bremer and her travels in Cuba.  Frederika was a woman from Sweden who travels to Cuba to learn about the culture.  Engle writes a beautiful fictionalized account of her time spent in the country and the people she meets.  The thought provoking book accounts a time of slavery and gender inequality.

Critical Analysis:
Engle writes the book as a verse novel.  Each poem is a letter supposedly written by a particular person: Fredrika, Cecilia, Elena or Beni.  Each letter is written as though it is a journal entry which expresses the writer's most personal thoughts and beliefs.  In this way, Engle demonstrates the most relate able type of poetry for young readers: free verse.  The poems are not written to fit a particular type or form.  They mean just to express emotion and feelings and they do so beautifully.

Engle addresses a variety of social issues in the novel including slavery, socioeconomic classes, women's rights, and societal expectations of young girls to become particular types of women.  Through the personal level of writing, these difficult issues are approached gently. 

While women's rights are most prominent in the novel, Engle does well to address human's rights.  It could have been easy to leave all men's voices and thoughts silent.  However, Engle gave voice to Beni, Cecilia's husband.  In his first section, Beni laments that had he been free to choose a wife of his own, he would not have married Cecilia.  He was in love with another girl.  Engle's sensitivity to both sides of the arranged marriage uphold a belief in equal rights for all, with no preference to either gender.

Review Excerpts:
Publisher's Weekly: "This slim, elegant volume opens the door to discussions of slavery, women's rights, and the economic disparity between rich and poor."
Booklist: "Through this moving combination of historical viewpoints, Engle creates dramatic tension among the characters, especially in the story of Elena, who makes a surprising sacrifice."
School Library Journal: "The easily digestible, poetic narrative makes this a perfect choice for reluctant readers, students of the women's movement, those interested in Cuba, and teens with biography assignments."

Connections:
*Pura Belpre Honor Book
*Other titles by author Margarita Engle:
The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom
ISBN: 9780805086744
The Poet Slave of Cuba: a Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano
ISBN: 9780805077063