Book Review - THE GIVER by Lois Lowry

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lowry, Lois. 1993. THE GIVER. New York, NY: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0440219078


2. PLOT SUMMARY
Set in the future, THE GIVER follows a boy named Jonas as he enters his twelth year of life in a utopian society. In order to eliminate hard times and dissention, individuality is replaced with sameness. There is no war, no pain, no memory, no fear, and no hope.

Upon their twelth year of life, each child is assigned a role in the society. Jonas has been designated as the Receiver of Memory to be trained by the Giver. As part of that training, Jonas begins to receive all of the memories before the time of sameness. Throughout this painful and emotionally draining process, Jonas begins to realized how empty and shallow his "perfect" society is.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
It is a question that we wrestle with from generation to generation: how can we create the perfect society? Wouldn't it be great to have no war, no sickness, no crime, and no fear?

Lois Lowry gives us a glimpse of her perspective on this. The topic here is weighty and, initially, difficult to wade through. Some of the material is fairly mature and this book has made a few banned book lists. In an elementary school, I know some of the parents of 4th and 5th graders would want to discuss why a book in their library talks about "stirrings".

Reading what Jonas goes through when he receives some of the memories is painful. It is a vivid reminder of the realities of this life. However, there are memories that he experiences that make us realize why "sameness" does not work: no love, no choices, no feelings, no passion. It makes one realize that we cannot have all the good of this world without having some of the bad.

In my humble opinion, the first few chapters of any fantasy book are a bit confusing. There are new worlds to navigate and unfamiliar societal structures that force the reader to really focus. About a third of the way through, after characters have been introduced and we get a handle on the society, this book really starts to flow. More and more details emerge regarding the not-so-perfect perfect society.

Lowry's inclusion of "release" is also bound to set off alarms. Release is the utopian society's form of euthenzia. The old, the punished, and excess children are targeted. Release is conducted secretly, but with no feelings present in the society, it is looked upon as a joyful journey, not a death.

Jonas' struggle with feelings and memories is fresh. We forget the cold of snow or the brilliance of color or the pain of our first cut. Jonas is a baby foraging in a new world and we get to experience some of that ourselves.

The ending is a bit ambiguous. Jonas rescues a baby designated for release and they escape out of the utopia. The reader is led to believe that they survive, but that is left up to the imagination. Fortuantely, there is a sequel that confirms this.

I would not recommend this to many at the elementary level. This book is geared toward a more mature young adult reader. Middle school and high school would be the place for this book.

Several literary points are present here:
1. There is a sense of realism, in that this book could happen.
2. This is a "problem" novel, in that the problems that Jonah wrestles with strike a chord in the mind and heart of the reader.
3. There is a sense of controvery, especially with the depiction of euthensia and stirrings toward sex.
4. The readership is definitely for higher-aged elementary children or middle/high school children.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "The author makes real abstract concepts, such as the meaning of a life in which there are virtually no choices to be made and no experiences with deep feelings. This tightly plotted story and its believable characters will stay with readers for a long time."

* Starred review from PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "Winner of the 1994 Newbery Medal, this thought-provoking novel centers on a 12-year-old boy's gradual disillusionment with an outwardly utopian futuristic society; in a starred review, PW said, 'Lowry is once again in top form... unwinding a tale fit for the most adventurous readers'."

5. CONNECTIONS
*Perhaps a good tie-in to something middle and high school children are well aware of is the attempt of Hitler to create a utopian society. Students should do a bit of research and do a compare/contrast of Hitler's ideals and the ideals set aside by the Elder's in Jonas' society.

*A good book-link is BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley. Although a controversial book, this makes one think. Lowry included many of the same things in her book that Huxley did (eliminating poverty and war, for instance), but went the other way as far as societal impacts. What was the difference in Huxley's society as opposed to Lowry's?


Huxley, Aldous. 1977. BRAVE NEW WORLD. Flamingo; New Ed edition. ISBN 0586044345

Book Review - THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY by Susan Patron

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Patron, Susan. 2006. THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY. Ill. by Matt Phelan. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 1416901949

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Lucky is a ten year old girl who lives in the small town of Hard Pan, California (population 43). Living with her guardian (her father's first wife, Brigitte), Lucky has already endured the death of her mother and the absence of her father who wants nothing to do with her.

Lucky's part-time job is to clean up after the various self-help groups that meet nearby. She cleans up cigarette butts for the AA meetings, beer bottles for the Gamblers Anonymous, etc. But she picks up something else along the way...a knowledge that she needs a higher power to find happiness.

Lucky is convinced that Bridgett misses her life in France and Lucky is to blame. She runs away in a dust storm, being careful to bring along her survival-kit backpack. In doing so, she finds the true depth of her relationship with Bridgett and finally comes to grips with the loss of her mother.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
What we quickly come to realize is that Lucky is not lucky after all. In just ten short years, she has suffered great loss and yet still manages to be a typical kid.

We are introduced to great characters like her friend Lincoln who is incredibly talented at knot tying and has a presidential name that may make him Executive in Chief one day. We also meet Miles whose diet consists solely of cookies and whose favorite book is Are You My Mother? (Coincidence? I think not.) And who can forget the great name of her dog, HMS Beagle? There is great depth of character here and we quickly get involved with Miles and Lincoln and even Bridgett.

Patron delivers her story with witty reparte and allows us to enter into the mind of a 5th grader...perish the thought. We also get quite a bleak view of the living conditions of the people in Hard Pan. Yet Lucky and her crew manage to rise above.

Although we see lots of hard times and people down on their luck, this is a story of hope and we begin to see that Lucky is just that after all; lucky.

This has all of the characteristics of contemporary realistic fiction.
1. This book tells a story that never happened but could happen.
2. It is set in present time (contemporary).
3. It could really happen (realistic).
4. But it is still created by the author (fiction).
5. There is controvery (use of the word "scrotum" has caused it to be on several banned book lists) and "problems" (effects of death on children, insight into self-help groups, living with a single parent, etc.).

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "This character-driven novel has an unusually complicated backstory, and a fair amount of exposition. Yet, its quirky cast and local color help to balance this fact, and the desert setting is fascinating. Lucky's tendency to jump to conclusions is frustrating, but her struggle to come to terms with her mother's death and with her new life ring true."

* Starred review from BOOKLIST: "Patron's plotting is as tight as her characters are endearing. Lucky is a true heroine, especially because she's not perfect: she does some cowardly things, but she takes pains to put them to rights."

5. CONNECTIONS
*Have kids discuss Lucky's survival kit backpack. What sort of things would you keep in your own survival kit backpack and what would they be used for?

*Lucky has been through some tough times in her life. Write a brief paragraph on why the author named her main character "Lucky".

Book Review - MONSTER by Walter Dean Myers

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Myers, Walter Dean. 1999. MONSTER. New York, NY: Harper Collins. ISBN 0060280778

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Steve Harmon is in jail, on trial for supposedly participating in a store robbery gone wrong. Accused of being a look-out in the robbery-turned murder, Steve faces 25 years to life.

Writing from the protagonist's point of view, Myers allows us to peek inside the mind of a 16 year old who grows up overnight. The book alternates between Steve's diary and scenes from Steve's "movie" he would make about his life in the courtroom and in the prision cell.

Is Steve a monster? The jury decides...as does the reader.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

From the first sentence, I was hooked: "The best time to cry is at night, when the lights are out and someone is being beaten up and screaming for help."

This book is quite readable. Although it is a seemingly big book, the writing is such that chapters fly by. Like any book, I had to get into it before I got the hang of it.

I found it interesting that Myers chose two points of view...just as there are two sides to any story. The diary writings were very personal and the reader gets more than enough information about Steve and his fears of being in jail, being on trial, and letting his family down. We also get too real insight into prison behavior.

The "film" portions of the book allowed a bit of distance between Steve and the situation he was in. The only drawback I saw in this was that I got lost a few times remembering who was who and what lawyer stood on what side. I had to keep a few notes handy...not my favorite thing to do while reading.

I thought the ending was abrupt. Before I knew it, the book was over and Steve's fate decided.

Because of the graphic material, this book does not belong in the elementary library. I would even hesitate to have middle schoolers read this. Definitely a mature read.

This has all of the characteristics of contemporary realistic fiction.
1. This book tells a story that never happened but could happen.
2. It is set in present time (contemporary).
3. It could really happen (realistic).
4. But it is still created by the author (fiction).
5. There is controvery (sexual scenes alluded to) and "problems" (effects of violence and possible jail time).


4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review from KIRKUS REVIEWS: "The format of this taut and moving drama forcefully regulates the pacing; breathless, edge-of-the-seat courtroom scenes written entirely in dialogue alternate with thoughtful, introspective journal entries that offer a sense of Steve's terror and confusion, and that deftly demonstrate Myers's point: the road from innocence to trouble is comprised of small, almost invisible steps, each involving an experience in which a 'positive moral decision' was not made."

* Starred review from BOOKLIST: "Script and journal together create a fascinating portrait of a terrified young man wrestling with his conscience. The tense drama of the courtroom scenes will enthrall readers, but it is the thorny moral questions raised in Steve's journal that will endure in readers' memories."

5. CONNECTIONS
*Propose this proposition for a class discussion: what would you do if you were put in jail prior to a trial. How would you face your family and friends? How would you deal with life inside a cell?

*You are being given a video camera to record your life. What would your life look like to others? What type of scenes would you include? Knowing that your friends would see the tape, what scenes would you delete?

Book Review - BUD, NOT BUDDY by Christopher Paul Curtis

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Curtis, Christopher Paul. 1999. BUD, NOT BUDDY. New York, NY: Delacourt Press. ISBN 0385323069

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Set during the Great Depression in the 1930's this book gives us a glimpse into the life of an orphan who is in constant search of a better life.

With only a battered suitcase to his name, Bud runs away from one bad living situation to another. Moving from an orphanage to a foster home, eventually Bud sets out on his own. Clinging to a flyer about a jazz band that he knew was important to his mother, Bud makes his way to Grand Rapids, Michican in search of the man named in the flyer, Herman Calloway, whom he believes is his father.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Here we see the world through the eyes of a ten year old. Bud is a wonderful character whom we simultaneously feel sorry for yet cheer for. He has an unbelievably good nature for someone who has found his mother dead, has lived in an orphanage, and who has been abused at the hands of his peers.

Resolving to run away, Bud meets challenges but finds kind strangers who help him along the way; a family who "adopts" him so that he can eat at a mission; a kind man who drives him to his destination and invites Bud into his home.

What Christopher Paul Curtis has done is created a character that makes you want to turn the page. I probably should have known what was going to happen next, but I didn't. I was struck by the juxtaposition of Bud's innocence and maturity. At times, I couldn't tell which was which.

All along, I thought that his search for Herman Calloway was a lark. I was absolutely stunned to find out that he was actually Bud's grandfather and that Bud was sleeping in his mother's old bedroom. When I found out, it was a moment I won't forget. I closed the book. My eyes opened wide. I remember saying the word, "wow", about 10 times.

I have since recommended this book to my mother and other teachers. With so many new books out, some get lost in the shuffle. This book is a prime example. I am the only one who has ever taken it out of the elementary library. It will now be used in my library curriculum!

Tunnel and Jacobs' criterea for historical fiction has been met.
1. There is no sugar-coating in this book. The details of the depression and foster care are quite vivid.
2. In the same vein, historical accuracy regarding places and facts is accurate with descriptions of the cities involved and the music as well.
3. The physical environment, patterns of daily living and spirit of the times lives through the music as well as the decription of the living conditions.
4. The story is told through the eyes of our young protagonist, Bud.
5. The writing style avoids giving too much attention to historical detail, concentrating more on the story.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* A 1999 Gold Medal Award Winner from PARENT'S CHOICE: "An orphaned runaway, Bud copes with the adult world with his numbered "Rules and Things." His few treasures from his former life with "Momma," are kept in a battered suitcase. One, a flyer advertising a musical group, leads him on a fantasy journey to an amazing reality."

* Starred review from BOOKLIST: "Told in the boy's naive, desperate voice, with lots of examples of his survival tactics, this will make a great read-aloud. Curtis says in an afterword that some of the characters are based on real people, including his own grandfathers, so it's not surprising that the rich blend of tall tale, slapstick, sorrow, and sweetness has the wry, teasing warmth of family folklore."

5. CONNECTIONS
*Because many of the events here center around the time of the Great Depression, perhaps a bit of background might help. Devise a worksheet on "Then and Now" prices. Also, many resource are on the internet about this topic, including pictures. Use this to open the eyes and minds of the students. Google is a good place to start.

*Have students make up their own "Rules and Things". What are some things they have learned in their few short years? What rules would they include? This may be an eye-opener. Watch out!

Book Review - THE ART OF KEEPING COOL by Janet Taylor Lisle

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lisle, Janet Taylor. 2000. THE ART OF KEEPING COOL. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689837887


2. PLOT SUMMARY
Set during World War II, THE ART OF KEEPING COOL chronicles the life of a boy, Robert, learning to cope with an ever-changing life: his father is flying for the war, his mother has moved the family to his grandparents house - new school, new family, new town, and new challenges.

During his stay with his new-found family, Robert and his cousin, Elliot, befriend a German immigrant, Abel Hoffman. After an attack near them, the boys live in an environment fraught with fear and tension. This leads to the town's suspicions regarding Abel's intentions. During this time, Robert also discovers the reason his family does not discuss his father.

What happens next leads the reader to discover who the real enemy is: ourselves.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The actual art of keeping cool is not nearly as glamorous as the title suggests. Rather, it is the art of keeping one's wits around an abusive grandfather, as well as living in a taut, war-wounded world.

There are many layers to this story. I found that I could only read this book in short bursts. I was bothered by the town's treatment of Abel and the discrimination present. Weren't we in Germany fighting those who were dispensing the same injustice? I was also amazed at the depiction of the grandfather. I often wonder how people like this are allowed to get away with their selfish actions. Unfortunately, I was also faced with the realization that many who read this either know of or are themselves in an abusive family relationship.

The tone and tension of this book will ring just as true today as it would have 50 years ago. We, too, are engaged in a war overseas. Many of the children in my school have parents and relatives who are serving their country. The apprehension of Robert regarding his father's safety will hit home hard.

Unfortunately, the other theme of an abusive grandfather/father will also strike a nerve.

Children grow up fast in this world. Childhood doesn't last nearly as long as we would like it to. Naturally, then, children like to read books that they can identify with. THE ART OF KEEPING COOL is one of those books.

Tunnel and Jacobs' criterea for historical fiction has been met.

1. There is no sugar-coating in this book. The details of the atmosphere and fear surrounding WW2 and abuse are quite vivid, as well as the stigma of being a German living in America.

2. In the same vein, historical accuracy regarding events, places and facts is accurate with descriptions of the cities involved, the life of those involved in the war, and the life of those back home..

3. The physical environment, patterns of daily living and spirit of the times lives through the music as well as the decription of the living conditions of those who are abused, as well as life lived in wartime.

4. The story is told through the eyes of our young protagonist, Robert.

5. The writing style avoids giving too much attention to historical detail, concentrating more on the storylines involving Robert, Elliot, and Abel.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "This is a heartfelt story about family dynamics and the harmful power of prejudice and hatred."

* Starred review from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "This wrenching WWII novel traces the relationship between two 13-year-old American boys and a German-born Expressionist painter reputed to be a spy. The intimate first-person narrative brings universal themes of prejudice and loss to a personal level."

5. CONNECTIONS
*To further understand how Abel Hoffman was treated by the Americans (and how the Jews were treated by the Germans), try this activity: Divide the class at random. Give 1/2 of the students blue handkerchiefs to put around their necks and have the other 1/2 do the same with red handkerchiefs. Tell the students with the blue handkerchiefs that they are smarter, better readers and better looking. Discuss how this is unfair. Compare/contrast with Hitler's sorting method as well as the unfairness of labeling Abel Hoffman.

*Use maps to point out the places identified in the book. Find where the secret painting place of Elliot and Abel might be. Calculate the distance between England and the USA. Calculate the distance between France and the English Channel.

Book Review - LEONARDO DA VINCI by Diane Stanley

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stanley, Diane. 1996. LEONARDO DA VINCI. New York, NY: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 0688104371


2. PLOT SUMMARY
Diane Stanley takes us into the fascinating world of Leonardo da Vinci. More than simply a painter, da Vinci's world should be fascinating to young readers as Stanley walks us through his inventions and forward-thinking ideas.

Throughout this book, we get more than just a rote biography; we are exposed to the culture of the day and the history behind it. The illustrations are beautiful, as well as the reproductions. Students will be interested in the fact that da Vinci wrote from right to left and painted in an odd way as well. The back cover reveals his secret!

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
I've got to admit, biographies don't really interest me unless there is drama, suspense, or lurid tidbits. My taste runs toward JFK or Teddy Roosevelt. da Vinci would not be my first pick.

However, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Definitely written for older readers, Stanley gives us background and details with prose that captures attention. da Vinci's life does have drama and suspense, yet most works are so dry, I never get to that point. Stanley grabs us from the beginning with a glimpse into the not-so-perfect birth of Leonardo. As I read it, I thought to myself, "Now THIS is something my kids can relate with".

Stanley knows her audience and breathes life into her work. She makes sure she includes, as mentioned above, an out-of-wedlock birth, gore (Leonardo's dissected corpses decomposing too fast), self-closing toliet lids, and helicopters. Every boy's fantasy!

A major author in biographies, Diane Stanley stays true to the form of what is good in biographies...tells historical facts in a story form, lots of colorful pictures, fairly short, and makes da Vinci more human by not brushing over the "darker" side of his life.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review from ALA BOOKLIST: "This is the best of the many children's books on Leonardo."

* Starred review from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "These exquisite reproductions, as well as sepia-toned spot art taken from da Vinci's notebooks, sit uncommonly well within Stanley's own paintings, educating the reader about da Vinci's masterpieces as a natural part of the visual storytelling. A virtuosic work."

5. CONNECTIONS
*There is a wonderful website called "Welcome to Exploring Leonardo". There are links that look at his workshop, his perspective, from left to right, etc. What a great place for a class to explore and have a hands on approach. The site can be found at: http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/

*We have a great book in the elementary library by Jean Fritz called LEONARDO'S HORSE. It has quite a bit of the same biographical information
included by Diane Stanley. The pictures are more "childlike" and midway through the book focuses more on the 24 foot high horse da Vinci made from clay that was destroyed by the French. This book is a great companion to Stanley's book.

Fritz, Jean. 2001. LEONARDO'S HORSE. Ill. by Hudson Talbott. New York, NY. G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN: 0399235760

Book Review - THE BRAIN:OUR NERVOUS SYSTEM by Seymour Simon

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Simon, Seymour. 2006. THE BRAIN: OUR NERVOUS SYSTEM. New York, NY: Collins. ISBN 0060877197


2. PLOT SUMMARY
Simon dissects the brain in his book regarding our nervous system. Repleat with cat scans and slices, he cuts right to the point. Breaking down the different sections of our nerve center and analyzing the various roles each plays, Simon deftly divides this brain book into organized sections.

Though there is not a table of contents or index, the book is easy to follow in its layout and is chock full of information. The writing content suggests that the audience should be higher-aged elementary to middle school children. This is especially true in regard to the photos. Some may be too graphic for little stomachs.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
I've got to admit, in this non-fiction section, this is my least favorite book. Of course it could be because I'm not science oriented.

That being said, I was actually interested at the beginning. Mr. Simon's opening page really piqued my curiousity but he soon lost me. I was bogged down by details and words I had trouble pronouncing. Mid-way through, Simon moved away from the scientific explanations and described the skull and brain. This part was quite interesting and was well written, although short-lived. The next pages dove right back into the science.

The text is a bit dry for my taste, though the images were fairly interesting. I'm glad the pictures were there or I may have reshelved the book halfway through. I'm guessing that any elementary-aged female would be loath to check this book out. Perhaps it would be interesting to their male counterparts.

Please realize my opinion is just that. Seymour Simon has won awards for his books and he has written over 200 of them, so he certainly is prolific in his work. If you are interested in facts and scientific explanations of why your brain does what it does, this book fits the bill. If you are looking for a generalization and don't really care about specifics, look elsewhere.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review in KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Full-color photographs, computer simulations, drawings, and three-dimensional models are used to grand effect to clarify, explain, and celebrate the remarkably complex system of brain and nerves; the large format, often with white type on black paper and full-page photos, is visually striking."

* Starred review in HORN BOOK: "The variety of views and the lucid presentation provide an absorbing introduction to this amazing control system that can do more jobs than the most powerful computer ever made."

5. CONNECTIONS
*If Seymour Simon's book is too "real", a good follow-up is a book written by Pamela Nettleton called THINK, THINK, THINK: LEARNING ABOUT YOUR BRAIN. The cartoonish drawings and simple wording really scales down the information, but gives enough to accurately convey detail.

Nettleton, Pamela Hill. 20047. THINK, THINK, THINK: LEARNING ABOUT YOUR BRAIN. Minneapolis, MN: Picture Window Books. ISBN 1404802525

*It would be neat to do some brain science experiments! Perhaps some jigsaw puzzles, brain teasers, face recognition games, short-term memory games, word jumbles, etc.