Module 8- Earwig and the Witch

Summary
Earwig is quite happy living at St. Morwald's Orphanage, mostly because everyone there does whatever she wants.  But all of that changes one day when Bella Yaga and her husband Mandrake adopt her.  Earwig discovers that she has been adopted so that she can act as an assistant to Bella Yaga, a witch.  Earwig quickly grows tired of the grueling work and bad treatment and vows to get Bella Yaga and Mandrake under her control.  With the help of Thomas, a friendly cat, she learns magic spells and gets her wish.

Jones, D., & Zelinsky, P. (2012). Earwig and the witch. New York: Greenwillow Books.

My impressions
Earwig and the Witch is a fun introduction to the fantasy genre for young readers.  Its simple, short format make it digestible to a variety of readers, and it has plenty of "gross" elements to please boys and girls alike.  Earwig is a quirky, unusual character that will be appealing to students who work a little bit off of the beaten path.

Reviews

LeMerise, A. J. (2012). Earwig and the Witch. School Library Journal, 58(2), 91.
Earwig is a most unusual girl. As a baby, she arrived at St. Morwald's Orphanage under mysterious circumstances. Since then, she has possessed a strange affinity for making the staff do exactly what she wants--from preparing her favorite meals to buying her new clothes. For this reason, Earwig goes out of her way to avoid being adopted. Then comes the fateful day Bella Yaga, accompanied by Mandrake, her sinister shape-shifting sidekick, arrives at St. Morwald's and takes Earwig to do her grunt work. Slave duty doesn't even come with magic lessons. But with the help of Thomas, a feline familiar, Earwig outsmarts the witch in a most ironic way. And before long, she has both Bella Yaga and Mandrake under her control. This appears to have been the first in a charming new series, cut short by the author's untimely passing in 2011. Earwig is a plucky, albeit bossy, heroine, and the story is packed with wit and humor. Zelinsky's illustrations enhance this imaginative tale.

Earwig and the Witch. (2011). Publishers Weekly, 258(49), 73-74.

This funny story updates fairy tale conventions while highlighting Jones's subversive wit and her firm belief that children can control their own lives. Earwig rules the roost at St. Morwald's Home for Children until she is adopted by a witchy woman named Bella Yaga with "one brown eye and one blue one, and a raggety, ribby look to her face." Earwig hopes to learn magic from Bella Yaga, but is trapped in the woman's decrepit house, sharing it with the Mandrake, an impossibly tall and grouchy being. Powerful and evil, Bella Yaga uses Earwig as a second pair of hands for grinding up disgusting things in bowls ("The only thing wrong with magic is that it smells so awful," Earwig quips). The witch and the Mandrake, however, have never before dealt with a determined girl who claims alpha status; Zelinsky's spot art, not all seen by PW, makes it clear that the squinty, pigtailed heroine is not someone to be trifled with. Featuring delightfully odd characters and eccentric magic, this all too brief tale is a fine introduction to the late author's more complex YA novels.

 

Suggestion for library use

After reading Earwig and the Witch, students could write their own magic spells to accomplish a variety of tasks.  They could share these spells by acting them out for each other.

Module 7- Split and Close To Famous

Summary
Split tells the story of Jace, a 16-year-old who has run away from home after years of abuse.  Showing up on his brother Christian's doorstep who left home years before, Jace is filled with a variety of emotions.  He is relieved to be out of his abusive home, but also feels guilty for leaving his mother, is angry at his father for what he has done, and is confused as to why he sometimes misses the situation that he has left.  As the story unfolds, Jace and his brother work through these feelings, sometimes stumbling along the way.  The two finally come to acceptance and an uneasy peace at the end of the book.

Avasthi, S. (2010). Split. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

My impressions
This was an incredibly hard book to read due to the graphic depiction of abuse that was present throughout the story.  However, Split offered a very real portrayal of domestic abuse and its effects.  I feel very strongly that this book should be recommended to older students, (Grades 11 and up), due to some disturbing scenes.  Reading such material at a younger age could have negative effect on readers.

Reviews

Carrillo, E. (2010). Split. School Library Journal, 56(3), 151.  After Jace Witherspoon is kicked out by his abusive father, he seeks refuge in Albuquerque with his older brother, whom he hasn't seen in six years. Their mother, also a victim of her husband's abuse, promises to leave him and join her children on Thanksgiving. Jace counts down the days while trying to start a new life and rebuild his relationship with Christian, but he's haunted by a terrible secret and the people he left behind. This gripping story is especially noteworthy because Jace is a victim who has also become an abuser: he hit his girlfriend during an argument the night he left Chicago. He is quick-tempered, proud, and charming, like his father. In contrast, Christian is more like their mother: restrained, deliberate, and humble. Their father's abuse has made Christian emotionally distant, but Jace's presence forces him to open up and confront his guilt about leaving his sibling behind. The brothers' growing relationship, as they turn to each other to escape from their father's shadow, is touching. Jace's narration is raw and intimate, dramatic and poetic; readers will feel his internal struggle keenly. The rest of the characters aren't as richly or skillfully drawn, however, and the plot occasionally lacks subtlety. The book contains graphic depictions of physical abuse, as well as adult language and underage drinking.

Split. (2010). Publishers Weekly, 257(4), 121.
This powerful, never maudlin debut paints a visceral portrait of a 16-year-old on the run from an abusive father. After being kicked out of his family's house in Chicago, Jace flees to his estranged older brother Christian's apartment in Albuquerque, N. Mex., but starting over isn't easy. An array of expected emotions surface, from Jace's hatred toward his father, to hope that his mother will leave her abusive marriage, and resentment over Christian's having abandoned the family years earlier. But it's the less anticipated side of Jace--gradually revealed over the course of the novel--that makes this story so gripping and heartbreaking. He still loves his father despite the terrifying abuse his family has suffered and is ashamed of his own violent tendencies; readers learn Jace attacked his girlfriend when he was still in Chicago, and both brothers fear that Jace could follow in his father's footsteps. When Jace finally turns his back on his past to forge a new future, readers will fully understand the difficulty of the decision. As Avasthi demonstrates, leaving a bad situation and forgiving those responsible is easier said than done. Ages 14up.

Suggestion for library use
Split would make for a good discussion of domestic abuse and the effects that it has on those involved.  The librarian could start by leading a discussion on each of the characters and the effect that the abuse has had on them.  It might also be interesting to discuss whether or not students think that the father himself was abused as a child.  Then, if the discussion lends itself to it, students could discuss their own similar experiences.
 

Summary
Foster McFee and her mother have just left Memphis, leaving behind the mother's abusive boyfriend.  They don't know where they are headed, and after a few days driving they end up in a small town in West Virginia.  Foster soon makes friends with some of the town's inhabitants, including a reclusive movie star.  Remaining steadfast in her dream to become a Food network star, Foster cooks her way into even the hardest hearts of the town. 

Bauer, J. (2011). Close to famous. New York: Viking.

My impressions
While this book felt a little cliché to me, I think that it would have great appeal to middle school or upper elementary-aged girls.  I liked the positive message of the story and the strength that the main character exhibited. 

Reviews

Close to Famous. (2010). Publishers Weekly, 257(49), 58-59.
Bauer (Peeled) tweaks a familiar recipe in this heartwarming novel about a determined girl who faces adversity with humor, heart--and cupcakes. A recent sixth-grade graduate (by the skin of her teeth), Foster McFee lands in tiny Culpepper, W.Va., with her mother after the two of them hightail it away from Mom's abusive, Elvis-impersonator boyfriend in Memphis. Foster has already known her share of tough times: her soldier father was killed in Iraq, and she's been struggling through school, unable to read. But Foster's dream of having her own show on the Food Network is a powerful force, and she takes comfort in baking and in emulating her favorite TV chef. With the help of kind and quirky locals, including a former movie star, Foster makes friends, earns fans for her cupcakes, and even begins to conquer her reading difficulties. Bauer skillfully brings readers to the heart of Culpepper with rich depictions of a contemporary small town and its residents and rhythms. The characters' eventual triumphs are the type that this author's fans eat up.

Gruver, K. E. (2011). Close to Famous. School Library Journal, 57(3), 154.

Sixth-grader Foster McFee is a supremely talented baker and dreams of being a famous television chef like Sonny Kroll, star of her favorite show on the Food Network, but she has already had to face some major challenges in her life. After her father's death in combat in Iraq, she and her mother, a talented singer, have had a hard time financially, and ultimately they are forced to leave Memphis in order to escape her mother's abusive Elvis-impersonator boyfriend. Worst of all, Foster is unable to read because of a learning disability. When she and her mother accidentally end up in Culpepper, WV, Foster finds some unlikely supporters among the tiny town's eccentric residents, including a boy with no camera who dreams of being a documentary filmmaker and a famous retired actress who lives in seclusion on the outskirts of the community. Thanks to them and to her own perseverance, Foster is able to work toward her dream of making the world a better place, one cupcake at a time. The story is fast paced, and readers will be rooting for likable and gutsy Foster, who expresses her views on life in baking metaphors. The quirky residents of Culpepper are equally believable and appealing. Youngsters will find this story tastier than a batch of Foster's triple chocolate cupcakes.

 

 

Suggestion for library use
For this book, it might be fun for students to make up their own Close to Famous-themed recipes.  Students could write out recipes, incorporating ingredients and titles inspired by the story.  They could then either share the recipes by making them, or simply by reading them to their classmates and explaining where they got their ideas.

Module 6- Zero The Hero

Summary
Zero is a happy number, convinced that he is a superhero.  But all of that changes one day when he realizes that his fellow numbers think that he is nothing at all-- literally.  Only after he saves the day when a mischievous group of Roman numerals attacks is his positive self image restored.  Creative in its writing and subject matter, Zero the Hero weaves mathematical concepts into a fun story that older children will enjoy.

Holub, J., & Lichtenheld, T. (2012). Zero the hero. New York: Henry Holt.

My impressions
This was such a fun, creative story that I really enjoyed reading to my kids!  I was impressed with the author's integration of mathematical concepts and puns.  In addition to being a great read for kids, I think that it would be useful to teachers who may be unsure of how to incorporate different content areas into their read alouds.

Reviews

Rogers, B. (2012). Zero the Hero. Library Media Connection, 31(1), 90.
In this super fun book, Zero believes he is a hero. Unfortunately, it takes saving One through Nine from their Roman captors before the other numbers begin to see his true value and bravery. This clever story will bring new life to your number line! Younger audiences will enjoy the graphic novel-type conversations and illustrations, while older students will laugh at the funny puns, subtle math jokes, and conversations regarding multiplication, division, and Roman numerals. This story will reward teachers and students with a break from their daily math routine and is a perfect segue for teachers asking students to creatively write about math. Hooray for another entertaining book about math-a rare treasure for elementary math teachers!

Roth, K. (2013). Zero the Hero. School Library Journal, 59(6), 62.
Zero is a number who is starting to feel utterly worthless. His friends, like One and Seven, have fun playing counting games. Zero can't join in because he's not a counting number. His friends are frightened by him when it comes to multiplication because he will make them disappear. Zero leaves when his confidence reaches an all-time low. His friends realize that they need him when they can't finish math problems, but before they can tell him, they are captured by the Roman numerals. Zero becomes the hero he believed himself to be when he successfully makes the Roman numerals disappear and saves his friends. L. J. Ganser voices each number and Roman numeral in a uniquely appropriate manner, giving an added oomph to Holub's story (Holt, 2012) of mathematical heroism and witty puns.

 

 

Suggestion for library use
This would be a great book to introduce creative writing as well as Roman numerals.  Students could make up similar stories relating to letters or other academic topics.

Module 5- How I Live Now and Ellington Was Not A Street

Summary
Set in the near future, How I Live Now tells the story of Daisy, a teenager sent to live with her family in rural England after her father has remarried.  Chaos quickly ensues as a war breaks out while Daisy's aunt is out of the country.  Daisy and her four cousins are left to fend for themselves while the situation around them quickly deteriorates.  How I Live Now is a story of survival as well as being an unorthodox love story with a bittersweet ending.

Rosoff, M. (2004). How I live now. New York: Wendy Lamb Books.

My impressions
Even though this book is written for young adults, it was by no means a light or carefree read.  Dealing with such heady topics as war, underage sex, and a love affair between cousins, it is quite edgy!  I enjoyed How I Live Now, particularly because I felt like the author respected the audience that she wrote for.  She wasn't afraid to broach difficult topics even though they might be controversial, and she seems to understand that teenagers go through, (and want to read about), things that their parents may not be comfortable with.
Reviews

Baker, D. F. (2004). How I Live Now (Book). Horn Book Magazine, 80(5), 597-580.

This first novel is intelligent, funny, serious, and sweet; a winning combination of acerbic commentary, innocence, and sober vision. Sent from Manhattan to live with four English cousins on their farm, fifteen-year-old Daisy is smitten with the lush, pastoral beauty around her, but especially with her cousin Edmond, who surprises her "in about half a million ways each day." Daisy's and Edmond's idyllic love is interrupted when an unnamed enemy power invades the country (à la Marsden's Tomorrow, When the War Began): the British army confiscates the farm, and the children are split up and evacuated to separate places. As the violence escalates, Daisy and youngest cousin Piper escape their caretakers and make their way home through an uncertain countryside, where fields and woods may yield either carnage or sustenance. Daisy's account, in eccentrically punctuated run-on sentences, has a breathless directness, a mixture of urbane self-mockery and first-time wonder, that is utterly captivating. Through her eyes, we see the practical effects of the occupation--how civilians rally to bring in the harvest, provide medical care, and even milk cows in the absence of electricity. Refreshingly, Rosoff understates Daisy's transformation from self-absorbed, defensive anorexic to generous, loving hero, but that inner evolution is always apparent in her bracing wit and intense response to beauty, both human and natural. Hilarious, lyrical, and compassionate, this is, literarily and emotionally, deeply satisfying.

 

Hofmann, M. (2005). How I Live Now. School Library Journal, 51(11), 60.

Anorexic Daisy, a miserable, quirkily perceptive 15-year-old New Yorker, is sent to live with British cousins whose mom is off on a peace mission. An idyllic adventure becomes more intense as Daisy and her cousin Edmond develop a deep but also physical relationship. During her stay, unidentified terrorists attack England, global war ensues, and the cousins are separated. Privation and growth necessitated by crisis move Daisy past anorexia into wisdom, and love changes her--and possibly her readers'--perspectives forever.

 

Suggestion for library use

This book might be fun for students to use as inspiration for a role-playing game.  Students could divide into groups and work together to form a survival plan for dealing with a situation like the one that Daisy and her family found themselves in.  They could come together afterwards to share their plans, discussing which points would and would not work in a real life war zone.

 

 

 

Summary
 Recipient of the Coretta Scott King award, Ellington Was Not A Street is a sort of historical fiction picture book for school-aged children.  Prominent African American figures such as Paul Robeson, W.E.B. DuBois, and of course, Duke Ellington all gather in the main character's house. 

Shange, Ntozake. (2004). Ellington was not a street. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers.

My impressions
While there is no doubt as to the importance of the figures depicted in the book, as well as the beautiful illustrations that accompany the story, I don't know how many children would pick this book up to read just for fun.  Ellington Was Not A Street undoubtedly has value as a historical teaching tool, but beyond that, I don't see it as being a popular pick.

Reviews
Ware, F. (2005). Ellington Was Not a Street. Black Issues Book Review, 7(4), 65-67.
The warmth and pride of the Harlem Renaissance comes alive in this poignant story of great African American men who made outstanding contributions to American culture. The strong, powerful illustration by Kadir Nelson capture the reader and make the period real and the reader proud.

Wysocki, B. (2007). Ellington Was Not a Street. School Library Journal, 53(4), 59.

Velvet smooth, this illustrated rendition of the free-verse poem "Mood Indigo" highlights men of color such as Paul Robeson, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and W.E.B. DuBois. Based on the musicians, politicians, fighters, and other notables who visited the author's childhood home, the biographical endnotes fill in the facts. Eloquent paintings make this a book to share. Video and audio versions available from Weston Woods.

 

Suggestion for library use

This book would be a good introduction to historical figures in the African American community.  Students could choose a person from the story and do a research report on that person.

Module 4- Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh and The Tale of Despereaux

Summary
After the death of her husband, Mrs. Frisby is left on her own to care for her family, including her ailing son Timothy.  While looking for a way to move the family to a safer home, Mrs. Frisby endures a series of adventures and dangers, finding strength and courage she never knew she had.  She also finds that both help and friends can be found in the most unexpected places.

Brien, R., & Bernstein, Z. (1971). Mrs. Frisby and the rats of NIMH. New York, NY: Atheneum.

My impressions
Mrs. Frisby is a wonderful tale of courage, persistence, loyalty, empathy, and so many other things that we want our kids to learn.  It was also beautifully written, and the few illustrations that were included were quite charming.  This book goes down as one of my all time favorites.

Reviews
Bird, Elizabeth. Top 100 Children’s Novels #33: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien. (2012). School Library Journal, 5028. Retrieved from http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/05/31/top-100-childrens-novels-33-mrs-frisby-and-the-rats-of-nimh-by-robert-c-obrien/# 

All right!  One of my favorite science fiction books out there (or is it fantasy since Mrs. Frisby can talk too?).  You’ve got your rats.  Your lee.  Your stone.  What else do you need?
The plot, according to the publisher, reads, “Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four small children, must move her family to their summer quarters immediately, or face almost certain death. But her youngest son, Timothy, lies ill with pneumonia and must not be moved. Fortunately, she encounters the rats of NIMH, an extraordinary breed of highly intelligent creatures, who come up with a brilliant solution to her dilemma.”
According to Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Children’s Book, Anita Silvey says of the author that, “He wrote Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH while on staff at National Geographic.  Since the magazine frowned on their writers developing projects for others, Robert Leslie Conly adopted a pseudonym based on his mother’s name and published this novel covertly.”  As a kid, I always wondered why the sequels (Racso and the Rats of NIMH, R-T, Margaret, and the Rats of NIMH, etc.) were written by a Jane Leslie Conly and not Mr. O’Brien.  It makes a lot more sense once you know it was a pseudonym.  Jane was actually his daughter.  Nice when they keep it in the family like that, eh?
In the end, the man didn’t do that many books.  Just The Silver Crown, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH,  A Report From Group 17 and Z is for Zachariah.  I’ve read two of those four.  Now I’m mighty curious about The Silver Crown (which gets republished every once in a while) and A Report From Group 17 (which I have NEVER heard of!).

Suggestion for library use
After reading Mrs. Frisby, the librarian could lead students in a discussion about how our perception shapes the way we view others.  In the book, the rats were viewed by the other animals as outsiders, and even as dangerous.  It would be interesting to help students notice similarities between this perception and the ones that we make about each other in society.

Summary
Despereaux is a small mouse destined for great things.  Despite continuous discouragement from his family and community, he pursues very un-mouselike interests, including talking with humans.  The tale of his pursuit of a princess is interwoven with the tragic tales of other characters such as Miggery Sow and Roscuro.  In the end, the various problems are resolved as a result of the bravery and resilience of Despereaux.

DiCamillo, K., & Ering, T. (2003). The tale of Despereaux: Being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press.

My impressions
This was the most recent of the books that I read this week, (2003), and it was a great updated slant on the traditional fairytale.  I loved the narrator's voice and the little asides to the reader. True to more modern fairytales, I thought that Despereaux did a great job of explaining the characters' complexities instead of oversimplifying things by painting some as "good" and others as "bad."  For example, at one point when the princess is being described, the author ticks off all of her good attributes and then her not so great ones. I loved this!  She wasn't assumed to be inherently "good" just because she was a princess-- it was more complicated than that.  The author did the same thing with the villians of the story, helping you to emphathize with them, (she even beautifully explained what it means to empathize with others).  What a great read and such a promising book for teaching students all sorts of things!

Reviews
Sieruta, P. D. (2003). The Tale of Despereaux. Horn Book Magazine, 79(5), 609-610.

Despereaux Tilling is not like the other mice in the castle. He's smaller than average, with larger than average ears. He'd rather read books than eat them. And he's in love with a human being--Princess Pea. Because he dares to consort with humans, the Mouse Council votes to send him to the dungeon. Book the First ends with Despereaux befriending a jailer who resides there. Books two and three introduce Roscuro, a rat with a vendetta against Princess Pea, and Miggery Sow, a young castle servant who longs to become a princess. Despereaux disappears from the story for too long during this lengthy middle section, but all the characters unite in the final book when Roscuro and Miggery kidnap Princess Pea at knifepoint and Despereaux, armed with a needle and a spool of thread, makes a daring rescue. Framing the book with the conventions of a Victorian novel ("Reader, do you believe that there is such a thing as happily ever after?"), DiCamillo tells an engaging tale. The novel also makes good use of metaphor, with the major characters evoked in images of light and illumination; Ering's black-and-white illustrations also emphasize the interplay of light and shadow. The metaphor becomes heavy-handed only in the author's brief, self-serving coda. Many readers will be enchanted by this story of mice and princesses, brave deeds, hearts "shaded with dark and dappled with light," and forgiveness.

 

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread (Book). (2004). School Library Journal, 5028.

Gr 3 Up--In this delightful novel, a tiny mouse risks all to save the princess he loves from the clutches of a devious rat and a slow-witted serving girl. With memorable characters, brief chapters, and inventive plot twists, this fast-paced romp is perfect for reading alone or sharing aloud. Winner of the 2004 Newbery Medal

Suggestion for library useStudents could do a comparison between this current fairytale and more traditional ones.  They might explore the differences in the way the main characters are depicted now versus then.