Review of See Behind Trees by Michael Dorris

 Review of See Behind Trees by Michael Dorris

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Dorris, Michael, 1999; Sees Behind Trees. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Revised edition; ISBN: 978-0786813575

PLOT SUMMARY

Sees Behind Trees is the name given to a young Indian boy when he passes the test for young men. He was given the name due to his not being able to see as well as the rest of his tribe. Sees Behind uses his heightened sense of hearing to help an elder member of the tribe to find a mysterious land of water, proving to himself that he is truly worthy of his new name and becoming a man.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

I really enjoyed this selection. As with many novels, there are no illustrations.  The reader would have to do imagine every scenario.  This is a very simple story that is told in order with some minor flashbacks. The story begins with the character Walnut’s parents. They find out that he cannot see.  The setting of the story is in the 1500’s in America.  It was a time of exploration by many people, especially the Anglo-Saxons. After finding out Walnut cannot see, his mother starts to teach him through his own ideas and his mind.  The story begins to rise when a character named Gray Fire asks the newly named young See Behind Tress, formerly known as Walnut, to take him to the Land of Water. On their journey, they meet a variety of strangers. As they arrive at Land of Water, confusion is by Sees Behind Tree and leave Gray Fire behind which was part of the ceremony to become a young man.  Along the way home Sees Behind Tree finds a baby.  He brings the baby home.  His parents decide to adopt the baby. 

Sees Behind Trees is an interesting story/novel showing the life of a native boy living in early America.  Throughout the story, the book concentrates only on the main character.  His thoughts and feelings and how he overcomes his task to show prove that he belongs with his people.  Today, many students should be able to understand the story as they themselves seek acceptance in the adult world.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

"Set in 16th century America, this richly imagined and gorgeously written rite-of-passage story has the gravity of legend." —Booklist, starred

A School Library Journal Best Book

A Publishers Weekly Best Book

A Book Links Best Book

CONNECTIONS

Books Connections

·        Discuss with students their own families' "tests" that prove the student is a young adult. i.e. staying home alone with no baby sitter.

Review of Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith

 Review of Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Leitich Smith, Cynthia, 2018. Hearts Unbroken. New York: Candlewick Press; ISBN: 978-0-7636-8114-2

PLOT SUMMARY

When Louise Wolfe’s first real boyfriend mocks and disrespects Native people in front of her, she breaks things off and dumps him over e-mail. It’s her senior year, anyway, and she’d rather spend her time with her family and friends and working on the school newspaper. The editors pair her up with Joey Kairouz, the ambitious new photojournalist, and in no time the paper’s staff find themselves with a major story to cover: the school musical director’s inclusive approach to casting The Wizard of Oz has been provoking backlash in their mostly white, middle-class Kansas town. From the newly formed Parents Against Revisionist Theater to anonymous threats, long-held prejudices are being laid bare and hostilities are spreading against teachers, parents, and students — especially the cast members at the center of the controversy, including Lou’s little brother, who’s playing the Tin Man. As tensions mount at school, so does a romance between Lou and Joey — but as she’s learned, “dating while Native” can be difficult. In trying to protect her own heart, will Lou break Joey’s?

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

To tell you the truth, I really stay away from books that deal with love and relationships.  I have had my share of broken hearts in my past yet, I took a chance on this book. One can say that the cover and the words Hearts Unbroken called to me.  This book wants to communicate a lot of good messages about inclusivity and the continued prejudice surrounding indigenous and native peoples in America. It’s a real story about a native teenager whose relationship falters with her first boyfriend due to a remark against her race. Some of the messages are able to come across, but not a lot of the what the book is trying to point out comes across due to it being bogged down by the awkwardness of writing and the most monotone style one could imagine reading. Lou is a likable character in the story, but she has several faults that are not resolved or addressed properly in the story. That leaves me with a bad taste in my reading brain. The plot events are exaggerated at best. The main goal of this book is trying to spread about being mindful of other people’s heritage and race. However, it is very unfortunate because the of the writing, chapter breaks, characterization, and more are so irregular and inconsistent. This book would be much more effective if it were not written so poorly in my opinion.

This book invites the readers to stop and consider how characters, settings, and events are portrayed culturally in the books they read. They can then examine how others are portrayed more closely while drawing comparisons and contrasts and strengthening their ties to their own culture. You can change the default questions in each level's slots to fit your learning objectives and aspirations.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Blending teen romance with complex questions of identity, equality, and censorship, this is an excellent choice for most collections. —School Library Journal (starred review)

In a time when #ownvoices stories are rising in popularity among YA readers, this brings an insightful story to the conversation...this is truly a thought-provoking and educational novel. —Booklist

Louise...is believable in her own missteps, and her younger brother’s moral quandary—he’s unsure if he wants to stay in the play after finding out about L. Frank Baum’s virulent anti-Native prejudice—is compellingly explored...a revealing account of a bigotry experience that sometimes gets overshadowed by others, though, and readers will sympathize with Louise’s frustrations. —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Smith effectively presents the continuous microaggressions Lou faces as a young Native woman alongside the central narrative arc of the school play. —The Horn Book

Smith depicts the Wolfes’ warm family life as a stable foundation as Hughie and Lou each confront challenges, and she is especially successful at portraying the camaraderie and conflicts of the newspaper staff...a thought-provoking work of realistic teen fiction. —Publishers Weekly Online

CONNECTIONS

·        Students consider the beginning, middle, and end of the story by writing or drawing.

·        Students consider the setting, characters, beginning, middle, end, problem, and solution of the story.

·        Students consider the setting, characters, rising action, conflict, climax, falling action, and resolution of the story.

Review of Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich

 Review of Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Erdrich, Louise, 2016; Love Medicine. Harper Perennial; Revised edition; ISBN: 9780061787423

PLOT SUMMARY

Love Medicine is a compelling novel by Louise Erdrich that delves into the lives of two Native American families. Set on a North Dakota reservation, the book explores themes of love, loss, and identity through interconnected stories spanning several generations. With vivid characterizations and rich storytelling, Erdrich paints a powerful portrait of the complexities of family and the enduring power of love.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Everyone needs a little love in their life and that’s what this book offers. This novel has to do with tragic love, familial ties, complex relationships, tradition, and struggles.  Something every family goes through in any given point of their life. In Love Medicine written by Louise Erdrich, the reader is taken into the intertwined lives of two native families living in North Dakota, the Kashpaws and the Lamartines. The story is about June Kashpaw, a woman tired of city life and tragically freezes to death while trying to walk back home to her reservation. June’s death becomes a important event that deeply affects her family.

After June’s death, many characters are introduced. Family who are taken aback unable to cope with problems. We meet her estranged husband, Gordie Kashpaw, who spirals into alcoholism and despair following June’s death. The story also introduces us to June's son, Lipsha, who is considered to have the gift of touch which is considered to have healing ability that supposedly can cure ailments and broken hearts. Lipsha attempts to use his gift to fix the relationship between his grandmother, Marie, and her husband, Nector. At his point the novel takes us back in time where the reader can see the origin relationship of the character’s Marie and Nector marriage is entangled in betrayal and resentment.

The story brings us back to the comparing of modern life to native American traditional and story progresses which is where Gordie the husband comes into the picture. The novel shows the tragic impact of loss from husband’s point of view which brings a disconnection from is native American roots.

In the final chapters of the book, the readers focus on the deceased’s niece, Albertine, who after many years returns to the reservation seeking a connection and understanding of her heritage. This novel makes the reader generate a deep move of emotion. It concentrates and tries to teach the reader that no matter obstacles we might have as humans, love endures, humans are resilient, and the importance of culture identity. 

The culture reference in this story is not unique. This novel tries to mix two different cultures together which could have succeeded in modern times but not back in time.  Communication, as with all relationships is the key to have a successful coexistence whether in marriage or in culture.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

“We know we are in the hands of an exceptionally skilled, sensitive, observant writer … Love Medicine is the work of a tough, loving mind.” — Jonathan Yardley, Washington Post

“The beauty of Love Medicine saves us from being completely devastated by its power.” — Toni Morrison

“A masterpiece, written with spellbinding authenticity.” — Philip Roth

“Lyrical and funny, mystical and down-to-earth, Love Medicine entrances” — Christian Science Monitor

“A powerful piece of work . . . Louise Erdrich is the rarest kind of writer; as compassionate as she is sharp-sighted” — Anne Tyler

“A wondrous prose song . . . about the enduring verities of love and surviving, and these truths are revealed in a narrative that is an invigorating mixture of the cosmic and the tragic.” — New York Times Book Review

“A remarkable first novel that stares more boldly at many of the truths of Native American life in the country than any fiction I’ve read…. It is a deeply, if ironically, spirited novel.” — Chicago Sun-Times

 

CONNECTIONS

Books Connections

·        Marmon Silko, Leslie, 1986; Ceremony, Penguin Books; ISBN 9780140086836

·        Dorris, Michael, 1999; The Crown of Columbus; Harper Perennial; ISBN 9780060931650

 

·        Students consider the beginning, middle, and end of the story by writing or drawing.

·        Students consider the setting, characters, beginning, middle, end, problem, and solution of the story.

·        Students consider the setting, characters, rising action, conflict, climax, falling action, and resolution of the story.

Review of Brown Work Mark by Joseph Bruchac

 Review of Brown Work Mark by Joseph Bruchac

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bruchac, Joseph. 2011. Wolf Mark. New York: Lee & Low Books; ISBN 978-1-60060-661-8

PLOT SUMMARY

Luke King knows a lot of things. Like four different ways to disarm an enemy before the attacker can take a breath. Like every detail of every book, he's ever read. And Luke knows enough just enough about what his father does as a black ops infiltrator to know which questions not to ask. Like why does his family move around so much? Luke just hopes that this time his family is settled for a while. He'll finally be able to have a normal life. He'll be able to ask the girl he likes to take a ride with him on his motorcycle. He'll hang out with his friends. He'll be invisible just as he wants. But when his dad goes missing, Luke realizes that life will always be different for him. Suddenly he must avoid the kidnappers looking to use him as leverage against his father, while at the same time evading the attention of the Russian mysterious elite group, who seem much too interested in Luke's own personal secret. Faced with multiple challenges and his emerging paranormal identity, Luke must decide who to trust as he creates his own destiny.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

At first, I was not too excited to read the book but then Joe Bruchac who is not known for his YA werewolf/vampire/espionage novels intrigued me. This YA book/novel is even more fun than the cover implies. It throws it all in together; werewolves, Indian legends, secret evil laboratories, martial arts, and yes, a mysterious elite group of Russian hipsters (as many readers have come to it). In spite of its everything-and-the-kitchen-sink approach, it is clear that this story is an action-adventure with a big helping of comedy. I liked that this book was not only from a male perspective, but that it took the concept of werewolves and breathed new life into the myth. Bruchac breaks away from the conventional werewolf path; werewolves are born, not created. But he adds the idea of a second skin to that concept. This actually made me think of the selkie myths from Celtic lore of the women who turned into seals when they donned a second skin. Fisherman would often hide the skins from the selkie so that the females would be forced to stay in human form and settle down in a marriage. I've read about various wolf legends before that include their having a second skin. Bruchac's interpretation of these concepts was fantastic; it was a welcome departure from the other werewolf tales that I had read.

This book's presence of several cultures is another attractive feature. You get an insight into Muslim culture because Meena, one of the characters, is from Pakistan. I had fun learning about the language and culture of Russia through the book as there is another set of characters from there. I was entertained and captivated by the Russian characters in this novel. Vlad is a fantastic character, and I adore him. Lastly, tribal lore is also incorporated into the novel by the American Indian author.

Making our kids see things they might not have noticed previously is one way to help them gain a deeper knowledge of an inclusive society. These multi-layered comments invite readers to stop and consider how characters, settings, and events are portrayed culturally in the books they read. Then, as students examine other cultures' representations more closely, they can contrast, compare, and build a connection to their own culture. You can change the default questions in each level's slots to fit your learning objectives and aspirations.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

·        Bruchac (Dragon Castle) delivers a fun twist on werewolf stories mixed with some mad science and espionage. . . . Bruchac adeptly incorporates characters of various heritages: Luke is Native American; his best friend/crush, Meena, is Pakistani; and the Sunglass Mafia a group of students who are more than they seem are from eastern Russia. Luke also possesses a hefty amount of cultural and political awareness to go with his combat and espionage expertise, which serve him well. . . . [T]he action and Luke's narration carry the book nicely. --Publishers Weekly

·        A loner teen finds himself caught up in a paranormal paramilitary threat but he has both untapped personal resources and some unlikely allies to help him out. Ever since his mother died, his father-a sometime Special Ops-type agent who happens to be of Native American descent-has been worse than useless. Lucas just concentrates on doing well in school and mooning over the beautiful daughter of one of the Pakistani scientists working at the new Romanian-owned top-secret facility in town. He goes out of his way to avoid the Sunglass Mafia, a bunch of unusually pale Russian students. But when his father is kidnapped and gives him a coded message by telephone, Lucas discovers that his heritage is more complicated and powerful than he had thought. . . . [T]he scenes with the Sunglass Mafia both defy stereotypes and manage to be very funny, and when the action kicks in, it does so in overdrive. A solid entry into the paranormal market, with an appealingly different hero. --Publisher's Weekly

·        Drawing on Native American traditions and his own lively imagination, Bruchac has written a genre-blending novel that combines horror, science fiction, and adventure into a satisfying whole. The fast pace will hold readers’ attention to the end, which yes leaves the door open to the possibility of a sequel. --Booklist

·        A loner teen finds himself caught up in a paranormal paramilitary threat but he has both untapped personal resources and some unlikely allies to help him out.

·        Ever since his mother died, his father a sometime Special Ops type agent who happens to be of Native American descent has been worse than useless. Lucas just concentrates on doing well in school and mooning over the beautiful daughter of one of the Pakistani scientists working at the new Romanian-owned top-secret facility in town. He goes out of his way to avoid the Sunglass Mafia, a bunch of unusually pale Russian students. But when his father is kidnapped and gives him a coded message by telephone, Lucas discovers that his heritage is more complicated and powerful than he had thought. . . . [T]he scenes with the Sunglass Mafia both defy stereotypes and manage to be very funny, and when the action kicks in, it does so in overdrive.

·        A solid entry into the paranormal market, with an appealingly different hero. --Kirkus Reviews

CONNECTIONS

Because Wolf Mark is told in first person, readers only get one point of view. Pick one of the other characters from the story and rewrite a scene from his or her perspective. Consider how that character feels and what he or she may be good at. What is going on in the scene where Luke might miss? Why? How does the point of view change the story?

Dreamers by Yuyi Morales

Dreamers

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Morales, Yuyi. 2018. Dreamers. Neal Porter Books ISBN 978082440559

PLOT SUMMARY

Dreamers/Soñadores tells the story of how one day my baby son, Kelly, and I arrived in the United States and became immigrants. It is the story of how difficult it was at first to come to a place where I didn’t understand the language and could not be understood, resulting in making several mistakes. And how one day we found a marvelous place called the public library, a discovery that changed our lives forever! It is also a story of how immigrants bring incredible gifts when they come to a new country to live. This book is a book about love. When there are times that are so troubling or heartbreaking, the author gives the reader a book filled with hope. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The book Dreamers is a picture book memoir.  This book introduces itself with a powerful surprise as the character gives birth to a son.  This text is a personal narrative, by Morales herself, tells how she migrated from Mexico to the United States. The author uses scanned photographs of items that have special meaning to her.  Both the son and mother find refuge in a public library. That is where she feels welcome and begins to trust.  The library is her foundation in learning to read and speak in English.

  It's a story of immigration, of taking your personal gifts with you to a new country, and allowing them to blossom. The story is of learning a new language for communication, and how to discover the power of libraries in inspiring one another. It's about the importance of books, of sharing stories, and of finding your own ability to tell your own personal stories and turn them into books. This is a book that reminds us of the vitality and importance of immigrants to our country. 

This book contained words in English with Spanish words integrated. This story also depicts hope, even in the challenges of a new language and social setting.  

REVIEW EXCERPTS

★ "Many books about immigration describe the process of making new friends and fitting in; this one describes what it’s like to become a creative being in two languages, and to learn to love in both. 'We are two languages. / We are lucha./ We are resilient./ We are hope.'"—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

★ "An immigrant's tale steeped in hope, dreams, and love. . . . Details in the art provide cultural markers specific to the U.S., but the story ultimately belongs to one immigrant mother and her son. Thanks to books and stories (some of her favorites are appended), the pair find their voices as 'soñadores of the world.' A resplendent masterpiece."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

★ "The narrative text is poetic and full of emotion. . . .  the mixed-media illustrations are breathtaking, created through painting, drawing, photography, and embroidery. The joyous imagination and intricacy of each illustration will make readers of all ages explore them further. . . . "—Booklist, Starred Review

CONNECTIONS

In an elementary setting discussion:

• The teacher can talk about dreams and the various types of dreams. 

• What's the kind of dreams students have? 

• Look at the pictures and get the students to describe what they see. 

• Ask them if they know what's coming next. 

• In small groups, have the students talk about what it means to accomplish dreams and the                        sacrifices one may need to make.

Dizzy in your Eyes by Pat Mora

Dizzy in your Eyes

 BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Mora, Pat. 2010. DIZZY IN YOUR EYES: POEMS ABOUT LOVE. ISBN 0375945656

 PLOT SUMMARY

 eloved children's book author and speaker Pat Mora has written an original collection of poems, each with a different teen narrator sharing unique thoughts, moments, sadness, or heart’s desire: the girl who loves swimming, plunging into the water that creates her own world; the guy who leaves flowers on the windshield of the girl he likes. Each of the teens in these 50 original poems, written using a variety of poetic forms, will be recognizable to the reader as the universal emotions, ideas, impressions, and beliefs float across the pages in these gracefully told verses.

 CRITICAL ANALYSIS

 oems about love are difficult to stand apart but this collection does not just want to stand apart but stand alone.  The poems in Dizzy In Your Eyes: Poems About Love stand against many poems as these are honest, revealing, and personal. All written in a young Latino voice.  Through this point of view, many aspects of love are voiced, such as the many aspects of love, family, friendship, and language barriers.  This book takes on an overabundance of forms such as clerihew, sonnet, cinquain, haiku, and blank verse. Although a great collection of poems, there are times when the author fails to capture the real teen voice but rather one hears the voice of a mature adult voice.

The author, Pat Mora, is a Hispanic American Award-winning author.  The connection she has with her culture is seen through her poems. Even if the reader, through very basic knowledge, this book can still be enjoyed whether giving or receiving.

 

REVIEW EXCERPTS

"Mora writes in free verse, as well as a wide variety of classic poetic forms--including haiku, clerihew, sonnet, cinquain, and blank verse--and... the tight structures intensify the strong feelings in the poems." --Booklist

"The poet's voice is multifaceted: tender, humorous, and joyful but also profound ... The author employs an extraordinary diversity of poetic forms." --Kirkus Reviews

"Peppered with Spanish, the selections define the emotion in countless ways...Teachers in need of a fresh new avenue for teaching poetic form...and teens in search of a broader definition of love will find it here." --School Library Journal

"Mora employs a variety of voices and forms, including haiku, sonnets, and free verse, in these 50 poems (including one in Spanish) that evoke the states of love. The first-person teenage voices ring true..." --Book Links

 CONNECTIONS

 An English or reading teacher for grades 7 and up could effectively use this book in a unit about poetry since Mora is mindful of defining the different kinds of poetry throughout the book as she presents them.

Other great books of poetry for adolescents:

• Flake, Sharon. YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ME: STORIES AND POEMS ABOUT BOYS. ISBN 1423100174.
• Paschen, Elise. POETRY SPEAKS WHO I AM: POEMS OF DISCOVERY, INSPIRATION, INDEPENDENCE, AND EVERYTHING ELSE (A POETRY SPEAKS EXPERIENCE). ISBN 1402210744.
• Soto, Gary. PARTLY CLOUDY: POEMS OF LOVE AND LONGING. ISBN 0547577370. 

 

The Afterlife

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Soto, Gary. 2003. THE AFTERLIFE. Orlando: Harcourt. ISBN 9780152047740

PLOT SUMMARY

 As so many wonder about the afterlife, this book focuses on Chuy and what happens to him when he dies. A boy in his teenage years. Full of curiosity and daring, he concentrates on a girl. A girl he wants to dance with, but within the first couple of pages, Chuy, meets his untimely death.  The situation happened to take place in a nightclub. As a matter of fact, in the restroom. He was stabbed and died.  Chuy experiences his spirit is left in limbo.  As the breeze takes his spirit around town, he visits friends and enemies alike.  His body begins to fade limb by limb, so he hurries quickly and moves. He comes across a football game and falls in love with the ghost of a suicide victim.  As he visits everyone, he learns to forgive his friends and is able to understand people better. Yet, in the end, he understands that he is living his life in death which should have been best done while he was alive.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Gary Soto’s first pages grab readers' attention with “The Afterlife”. The novel begins with violence and the cruel realities that the main character, Chuy, lives in his neighborhood located in California.  Soto’s writing is harsh and blunt but it is authentic. The book encourages the reader to keep going and read the book from beginning to end.  The main character, Chuy, is a young Latino teenager who can be described as his style is full of mixed languages which further represents the culture of many Latin males.

 Chuy’s world represents imagery that is violent and harsh which is represented in his death at a nightclub.  His love is a perfect example as he falls in love with the ghost of a suicide victim.  A representation of how sad and frail Chuy’s afterlife is while he drifts around the city trying to understand individuals and the life he suddenly exited from.  As the reader goes on, he or she begins to see Chuy mature.  Chuy starts to care about the violence and tries to stop it. In a crime-ridden city, the main character remains diverse and different and realizes that he should have lived to practice what he just learned at a ghost.

Soto’s words in the book flow as he adds Spanish to an English story. Bilingual readers do not have to stop to translate compared to monolingual readers who would have to read the context clues in order to fully understand the sentence. While life is ultimately fragile, The Afterlife is a story about the difficulties in saying goodbye.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

“Soto’s simple and poetic language, leavened with Mexican Spanish with such care to context that the appended glossary is scarcely needed, is clear, but Chuy’s ultimate destiny isn’t.” (School Library Journal

 “Soto has remade OUR TOWN into Fresno, California, and he not only paints the scenery brilliantly but also captures the pain that follows an early death. In many ways, this is as much a story about a hardscrabble place as it is about a boy who is murdered. Both pulse with life and will stay in memory.” (Booklist, starred review)

 “Soto writes with a touch as light as Chuy’s ghost and with humor, wonderment, and generosity toward life.” (Kirkus Reviews)

CONNECTIONS

 Analyze the following pieces. Make a chart that compares the emotions of the protagonists and themes:

• OUR TOWN by Thornton Wilder. ISBN 9780380005574
• A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens 9781932732009

• Other books by Gary Soto

• BASEBALL IN APRIL AND OTHER STORIES. Gary Soto. ISBN 9780152025670
• A SUMMER LIFE. Gary Soto. ISBN 9780440210245
• LIVING UP THE STREET. Gary Soto. ISBN 978-0440211709

 

The Secret Footprints by Julia Alvarez

The Secret Footprints

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Alvarez, Julia. 2000. The Secret Footprints. Ill. by Fabian Negrin. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN-13: 9780679893097

PLOT SUMMARY

In this text from the Dominican Republic had magical creatures called ciguapas which lived in underwater caves that would only emerge at night to walk on land and hunt for food. The ciguapas live in fear of humans because their queen has warned them that if humans catch them, they will put the ciguapas in cages and take them to the doctors to study them.  They had a secret which kept them safe, but once their secret was almost discovered. There was a young ciguapa named Guapa who was “bolder and braver” than all the rest. Despite the queen’s warnings that if humans caught her, Guapa wanders closer and closer to the humans, and is seen one night by a human boy. Later, she wanders to close again and is discovered by the boy’s family but manages to escape. Through this experience, Guapa learns to heed her elders’ advice, and her tribe learns that some human beings can be kind.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In this story, the narrator recalls hearing such stories of the ciguapa when she was a little girl in the Dominican Republic. She remembers the story of a tribe of beautiful women living underwater that would come out at night in search of food. Sea creatures that did not trust humans. The tribe of ciguapas had a secret to defend themselves from being captured. Their feet were not like humans. Their feet were backwards. So when they would emerge from the water.  Their footprints were facing the opposite direction so no one was ever able to follow them and find them.  The narrator would lay in bed, fighting to stay awake, and hoping she’d see one. She never did see one, until she wrote this story about one little girl ciguapa, whose name was Guapita, who almost gave away a special secret by befriending a human boy.

Avoiding humans at all costs was how they lived.  The ciguapas believed that humans would cage them and force them to do tasks. This story originated in the Dominican Republic.  Cultural markers can be found in the legend handed down to generations.  Alvarez adds that she claims that being in the United States where she was surrounded by books, and where woman were encouraged to discover their talents, contributed to her becoming an author. 

REVIEW EXCERPTS

• CRITICS REVIEW: Negrin's pastel, dramatically hued illustrations gorgeously capture the lush tropical settings as well as the moonlit, underwater scenes. This book will be of particular interest to those who share the Dominican background of the author and story.

• SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: Alvarez's language flows as effortlessly as the vivid colors in the pictures, setting a mood of ease and tranquility echoed in the rounded forms and curving lines of the illustrations. This gentle tale, with its images of glowing color, conjures up a touch of magic.

CONNECTIONS

In an elementary setting discussion:

Children could imagine that they are magical creatures who do not want to be discovered. What kind of secret could they invent to keep from being found?

Other books by Julia Alvarez:

Alvarez, Julia. How the García Girls Lost their Accents. ISBN-13: 9781565129757

Alvarez, Julia. In the Time of the Butterflies. ISBN-13: 9781565129764

Alvarez, Julia. Something to Declare. ISBN-13: 9780452280670

The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

The Lion and the Mouse

 BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Pinkney, Jerry. 2009. The Lion and the Mouse.  New York, NY: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978-0-316-01356-7

 PLOT SUMMARY

One of my most beloved stories. I still read it to my students after 20 years of being an educator. In this illustrated book, the author Jerry Pinkney recounts Aesop’s classic tale of The Lion and the Mouse. An unfortunate mouse accidentally happens upon a lion.  In a reversal of fortune, the lion decides to release the mouse without causing any harm.  When hunters later trap the lion with a large net, the mouse returns to help.  The mouse chews through the net constraining the lion and subsequently frees him from the hunters’ assault. After this encounter, the lion and the mouse gaze at each other with an understanding that friendship can be found in the most unlikely of places.

 The plot is a reminder that the manner in which we treat others is how we will be treated in return.  One should always be kind to others as you never know when you will require their kindness.

 CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Since the creation of this book, countless awards and recognitions have been given unto it. Not only was this book recognized by the Coretta Scott King award five times, but it has also been awarded five Caldecott Honor Medals. Mr. Pinkney has also been nominated for the Hans Christian Anderson Award. This classic book shows illustrations that are evident throughout the entirety of the book.  The author’s ability to capture the expressions in the faces of his animal characters allows him to make the reader depend solely on the illustrations for storyline.

Because this book is wordless, meaning no words, the reader must see the illustrations and create a story. So please don’t get confused that the book lacks any substantial narrative. This allows the young reader to get fully engaged in the illustrations and the telling of the story because initiates prior experiences to tell the story. Many might consider this book a waste of time and being damaged, the illustrations have the full ability to have someone tell the story in its entirety.  The setting is set in the jungle and the hunters’ intrusion in the animals’ space and trapping the lion is felt through the illustrations of the book.

While it is unclear what prompted the lion to release the mouse at their first confrontation, the mouse is able to return to its offspring.  When the mouse returns to assist the lion, the reader intuitively comprehends the character growth of the mouse and its need to repay the lion’s earlier favor.  Once the lion is free and he is able to gaze into the mouse’s face, there is an absolute acceptance for both that their actions contributed to their continued freedom and safety.

 The culture reference of this book is that love and kindness are never wasted. This book also accommodates the youngest of the reader as they will be able to understand the lesson of the story. This book shows mercy and generosity so that the reader can understand that when kindness is shown, it will be well rewarded in return.  Everyone can comprehend that the “Golden Rule” is the moral of the story.

 REVIEW EXCERPTS

 Caldecott Medal Winner 2010

 New York Times Best Illustrated Book 2009

 ALA Notable Children Book 2010

 Horn Books Awards Honor Book 2010

 A School Library Top 100 Picture Books #37

 Parent’s Choice Gold Award Winner 2009

Starred Review in Kirkus Review: “A nearly wordless exploration of Aesop’s fable of symbiotic mercy that is nothing short of masterful.”

Starred Review in Publishers Weekly:  “Pinkney has no need for words; his art speaks eloquently for itself.”

 Starred Review in School Library Journal: "The ambiguity that results from the lack of words in this version allows for a slower, subtle, and ultimately more satisfying read. Moments of humor and affection complement the drama.”

 Booklist: “Pinkney’s soft, multihued strokes make everything in the jungle seem alive….”

 CONNECTIONS

 *A book that demonstrates the importance of family and friendships, even in the most unlikely of places.

 *Other books written and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney:

 Puss in Boots. ISBN 978-0-8037-1642-1

 Aesop’s Fables.  ISBN 978-1-58717-000-3

 The Little Red Hen.  ISBN 978-0-8037-2935-3

 

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams

 One Crazy Summer

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Williams-Garcia, Rita. 2010. One Crazy Summer. New York, NY: Amistad. ISBN 978-0-06-076088-5

 PLOT SUMMARY

 In One Crazy Summer, eleven-year-old Delphine is like a mother to her two younger sisters, Vonetta, and Fern. She's had to be, ever since their mother, Cecile, left them seven years ago for a radical new life in California. But when the sisters arrive from Brooklyn to spend the summer with their mother, Cecile is nothing like they imagined. While the girls hope to go to Disneyland and meet Tinker Bell, their mother sends them to a day camp run by the Black Panthers. Unexpectedly, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern learn much about their family, their country, and themselves during one truly crazy summer. This novel was the first featured title for Marley D’s Reading Party, launched after the success of #1000BlackGirlBooks. Maria Russo, in a New York Times list of "great kids' books with diverse characters," called it "witty and original."

 CRITICAL ANALYSIS

 Consider the relationship between mother and daughters.  In this story an 11-year-old Delphine narrates the story of the summer in which she and her two younger sisters spend time in California while all along their mother is not present or in the picture for most of the story.  Delphine looks upon her inner voice, which shows her ability to stand and tell her story.  Switching between an older sister and a pseudo mother has its rewards and consequences.  The reader will find it easy to follow and identify two characters she becomes in the story.

 As stated before, the relationship between the sisters and the mother is presented in a manner that could occur in recent times.  Young readers can comprehend the obstacles that arise between a mother and daughter. The reader can also relate to the emotions and frustrations to which the story itself encourages the reader to make connections in their own lives.

Cultural significance is however, many past words are used that a modern reader may not except for example the word “black” as we know now that it is better to say “African American”, in this story Delphine and her sisters don’t mind identifying themselves as “black” compared to “colored”.  The plot offers readers of all ages an understanding of the differences between races in the time the book is occurring. The story of Delphine and her sisters is awe-inspiring and would be enjoyed by readers over the age of 10.

 REVIEW EXCERPTS

·                  2011 Coretta Scott King Award Winner

·                  2011 Newbery Honor Book

·                  2011 Scott O’Dell Prize for Historical Fiction

·                  2010 National Book Award Finalist

·                  Junior Library Guild Selection

·                  Texas Library Association Best Book for 2010

·                  New York Times Editor’s Choice

·                  Spring 2010 Junior Library Guild Selection

 

Starred Review in Booklist: "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.”

Starred Review in Kirkus Reviews: “Each girl has a distinct response to her motherless state, and Williams-Garcia provides details that make each characterization crystal clear. The depiction of the time is well done, and while the girls are caught up in the difficulties of adults, their resilience is celebrated and energetically told with writing that snaps off the page.”

Starred Review in Hornbook: “The setting and time period are as vividly realized as the characters, and readers will want to know more about Delphine and her sisters after they return to Brooklyn...”

 Starred Review in School Library Journal: “Emotionally challenging and beautifully written, this book immerses readers in a time and place and raises difficult questions of cultural and ethnic identity and personal responsibility. With memorable characters (all three girls have engaging, strong voices) and a powerful story, this is a book well worth reading and rereading.”

CONNECTIONS

 * A book that focuses on the unique issues for children who grew up during the Black Power movement in the United States.

 *Other books written by Rita Williams-Garcia:

P.S. Be Eleven. ISBN 978-0061938627

Like Sisters on the Homefront.  ISBN 978-0140385618