It's been a busy few months, I earned my Masters degree in Library Science and have been concentrating on my family, but I have read a few books along the way. Here are a few about families with problems.
Werlin, Nancy. Rules of survival. 2006.
Matt and Callie protect Emmy as much as they possibly from the ranting and raving of Nikki, who has been a constant presence in their lives. Unfortunately, the few people who might be able to help them come into their lives for an indeterminate amount of time or don’t seem to have the courage to help this teen brother and sister keep their youngest sister safe from the psychological abuse they endure from the one person who is supposed to protect them; their mother. Read how Matt, Callie and Emmy grow up with a mother who they fear and love.
Lester, Julius. When dad killed mom. 2003.
Is there any way to still love your dad after he has killed your mom? Jenna and Jeremy’s mom is a great mom, an artist and was just murdered on the street by their father, a psychologist at the local college. The turmoil and grief they endure during the ensuing days and months of the murder highlight Jenna’s and Jeremy’s loss not only of their mother but also their father, their home and their way of life. Though their lives will never be the same, their lives will go on and how they live their lives and what kind of person they each become will stem from how they go on with their lives in the aftermath of their mother’s murder.
MacCullough, Carolyn. Stealing Henry. 2005.
Savannah lives with her once nomadic mom, Alice; Jake, her stepdad; and Henry, her 8-year-old half brother. That is until Savannah hits her stepfather in the head with a frying pan, grabs her brother and heads for her mother’s hometown. Savannah’s mother, Alice, was a bored teenager in a small town when she falls for a stranger, becomes pregnant and leaves her small town for something better. A decade of wandering in search of something better ends when she meets Jake. Savannah wants her nomadic mom back, the free spirit and friend of her youth so she embarks on a trip back to her mom’s youth in the hopes that going back home will also mean going back to the way it was. Read Stealing Henry to find out if Savannah gets her mom back as a friend, as a responsible adult or not at all.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
This and that
Here is a diverse collection of novels that I have recently enjoyed and thought you might too.
Clarke, Judith. One whole and perfect day. 2007. Michael L. Printz Honor 2008.
Do you believe in coincidence and serendipitous occurrences? Lily now does. The only thing this teenager wanted was one whole and perfect day. This day she decided should be her grandfather’s 80th birthday party where she and her family could be happy, together. This seemingly could never happen as her mother is over-worked and likes to bring home clients from the senior day care facility, her father left when she was a baby and her brother can never seem to get his life in order. Her extended family is just as bad; her grandfather is racist and grandmother has an imaginary friend. Lily is the responsible adult in the family and she is getting tired of trying to take care of everything and everyone especially since nothing ever seems to go right anyway. Everyone’s life seems to be unraveling and Lily’s wish seems less likely to come to fruition but a turn of events here and a couple of coincidences there and somehow Lily’s whole and perfect day might actually happen.
The stories and characters are intertwined so flawlessly that it feels that Lily’s whole and perfect day was meant to be.
Whelan, Gloria. Listening for lions. 2005.
Rachel Sheridan is a warm, loving girl. Valerie Pritchard is a spoiled girl. Rachel had supportive, kind parents. Valerie has greedy parents. Rachel loves her life in Africa. Valerie hates her life in Africa. Rachel respects and befriends the Africans. Valerie feels herself above everyone. If Rachel and Valerie are so different, why then does Rachel assume Valerie’s identity, at Valerie’s parents’ insistence, when Valerie dies from influenza? And how will Rachel ever become Rachel Sheridan again, if ever?
Hobbs, Will. Downriver. 1992.
No adults, no permit, no map. But they are still going downriver for the time of their lives or will it be the end their lives? They are the seven kids from Discovery Unlimited, an outdoor education program that they each have been sent to for various reasons. Somehow it is suggested that they “borrow” the white water gear from the Discovery Unlimited van while Al, their adult leader, is occupied. Everyone agrees to the adventure and they begin to have the time of their lives exploring caves, hiking up waterfalls and plunging through the rapids. But Troy, who emerges as the magnetic and ultimately frightening leader leads them farther and farther from safety. When Jessie and others voice concern over Troy’s leadership, events unfold that could have deadly consequences. River thunder is the sequel to Downriver.
Henkes, Kevin. Olive’s ocean. 2003. Newbery Honor Book 2004
Martha Boyle never knew Olive and never will. Olive is dead, hit by a car. Martha never knew Olive but Olive knew who Martha was and wanted to be her friend. She wrote that in her journal before she died. She also wrote that she wanted to be a writer, just like Martha does and that she wanted to visit the ocean. Now what is Martha to do with this knowledge? She just wanted her last weeks of summer vacation to be fun especially when she is at the ocean with her family visiting her grandmother and seeing the Manning boys again, especially Jimmy. But now there is Olive and her journal entry stating “I hope that I get to know Martha Boyle…(and) that we get to be friends. She is the nicest person in my whole entire class”.
Clarke, Judith. One whole and perfect day. 2007. Michael L. Printz Honor 2008.
Do you believe in coincidence and serendipitous occurrences? Lily now does. The only thing this teenager wanted was one whole and perfect day. This day she decided should be her grandfather’s 80th birthday party where she and her family could be happy, together. This seemingly could never happen as her mother is over-worked and likes to bring home clients from the senior day care facility, her father left when she was a baby and her brother can never seem to get his life in order. Her extended family is just as bad; her grandfather is racist and grandmother has an imaginary friend. Lily is the responsible adult in the family and she is getting tired of trying to take care of everything and everyone especially since nothing ever seems to go right anyway. Everyone’s life seems to be unraveling and Lily’s wish seems less likely to come to fruition but a turn of events here and a couple of coincidences there and somehow Lily’s whole and perfect day might actually happen.
The stories and characters are intertwined so flawlessly that it feels that Lily’s whole and perfect day was meant to be.
Whelan, Gloria. Listening for lions. 2005.
Rachel Sheridan is a warm, loving girl. Valerie Pritchard is a spoiled girl. Rachel had supportive, kind parents. Valerie has greedy parents. Rachel loves her life in Africa. Valerie hates her life in Africa. Rachel respects and befriends the Africans. Valerie feels herself above everyone. If Rachel and Valerie are so different, why then does Rachel assume Valerie’s identity, at Valerie’s parents’ insistence, when Valerie dies from influenza? And how will Rachel ever become Rachel Sheridan again, if ever?
Hobbs, Will. Downriver. 1992.
No adults, no permit, no map. But they are still going downriver for the time of their lives or will it be the end their lives? They are the seven kids from Discovery Unlimited, an outdoor education program that they each have been sent to for various reasons. Somehow it is suggested that they “borrow” the white water gear from the Discovery Unlimited van while Al, their adult leader, is occupied. Everyone agrees to the adventure and they begin to have the time of their lives exploring caves, hiking up waterfalls and plunging through the rapids. But Troy, who emerges as the magnetic and ultimately frightening leader leads them farther and farther from safety. When Jessie and others voice concern over Troy’s leadership, events unfold that could have deadly consequences. River thunder is the sequel to Downriver.
Henkes, Kevin. Olive’s ocean. 2003. Newbery Honor Book 2004
Martha Boyle never knew Olive and never will. Olive is dead, hit by a car. Martha never knew Olive but Olive knew who Martha was and wanted to be her friend. She wrote that in her journal before she died. She also wrote that she wanted to be a writer, just like Martha does and that she wanted to visit the ocean. Now what is Martha to do with this knowledge? She just wanted her last weeks of summer vacation to be fun especially when she is at the ocean with her family visiting her grandmother and seeing the Manning boys again, especially Jimmy. But now there is Olive and her journal entry stating “I hope that I get to know Martha Boyle…(and) that we get to be friends. She is the nicest person in my whole entire class”.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Animal Tales
The following novels are a few favorite animal tales.
The first animal novels I read were Marjorie Rawlings' The yearling and then John Rawls' Where the red fern grows. Both tear jerkers which kept me away from animal stories for a while. But these two novels are also two of the best stories about love for a pet, and I highly recommend each. Another animal tale that many might have heard about is, Sheila Burnford's The incredible journey. This story is more about a pet's love for his/her human family and what lengths a pet will go to in order to be reunited with them. This is a great tale with a lot of adventure.
Henry, Marguerite. King of the wind. 1948. Newbery Medal 1949.
Agba is a mute horse-boy who loves his horse Sham. Sham is a small, very fast Arabian stallion. Sham was to win races and sire a new breed of fast horses for the king of France. But the trip from Morocco weakened both horse and horse-boy and in France Sham pulls the cook’s cart. Agba and Sham’s life in Europe is hard, lonely and sometimes cruel. This is Agba and Sham’s story of their devotion to each other and their courage during their difficult years. Their luck changes and life improves for them both but Sham is still not a champion. One day Agba and Sham take matters into their own hands and perhaps destroy the friendships they have fostered and any hope of Sham’s racing glory. Read King of the Wind and enjoy this tale of a feisty horse and his mute and loyal friend.
Armstrong, Alan W. Whittington. 2005. Newbery Honor Book 2006.
Whittington is a cat who joins a family of ragtag animals in the barn of good natured Bernie to spend the winter. He helps to pass the time for the animals and for Bernie’s two parentless grandchildren, Abby and Ben, by storytelling. The story he tells is of his ancestor and namesake Dick Whittington and his cat and the good fortune that comes to Dick because of his cat. Throughout Whittington’s storytelling there is the underlying problem that Ben, at age eight, cannot read. He does not trust his teachers to help him but his world expands with Whittington’s storytelling ability and ultimately, he has to make a decision about his own abilities and what he can accomplish.
Lisle, Janet Taylor. Highway cats. 2008.
Three tiny kittens are abandoned in the median of a busy highway. They should not have survived the short trip to get off the highway but they do. They are noticed first by Shredder, an old cynical cat, who has no use for the kittens. Soon the other feral cats, who eek out a living alongside the highway, notice the kittens. The affect they have on everyone they meet, including the once-beautiful Siamese Khalia Koo, is apparent. The kittens are a salve on the harden hearts and souls of the cats. Then bulldozers arrive to tear up their little patch of trees to build an off-ramp. What happens to the cats and ultimately to the kittens will surprise you and make you laugh. Read Highway cats for something different.
Newman, Leslea. Hachiko waits. 2004.
Hachi is an Akita dog who loves his owner, Professor Eizaburo Ueno. In fact, Hachi travels with the professor every morning to the train station to see his owner off to work. He passes the time during the day until he arrives back at the train station in time to meet his owner on the train returning from work. Hachi always waits for his owner. A young boy, Yasuo, returns on the train in the afternoons at the same time as the professor and becomes Hachi’s friend. One day, the professor dies while at work and does not come home on the afternoon train but Hachi waits and waits. Read this moving tale to discover the depth of love and devotion felt by Hachi to his owner and Yasuo to Hachiko that ends long after the professor’s death.
The first animal novels I read were Marjorie Rawlings' The yearling and then John Rawls' Where the red fern grows. Both tear jerkers which kept me away from animal stories for a while. But these two novels are also two of the best stories about love for a pet, and I highly recommend each. Another animal tale that many might have heard about is, Sheila Burnford's The incredible journey. This story is more about a pet's love for his/her human family and what lengths a pet will go to in order to be reunited with them. This is a great tale with a lot of adventure.
Henry, Marguerite. King of the wind. 1948. Newbery Medal 1949.
Agba is a mute horse-boy who loves his horse Sham. Sham is a small, very fast Arabian stallion. Sham was to win races and sire a new breed of fast horses for the king of France. But the trip from Morocco weakened both horse and horse-boy and in France Sham pulls the cook’s cart. Agba and Sham’s life in Europe is hard, lonely and sometimes cruel. This is Agba and Sham’s story of their devotion to each other and their courage during their difficult years. Their luck changes and life improves for them both but Sham is still not a champion. One day Agba and Sham take matters into their own hands and perhaps destroy the friendships they have fostered and any hope of Sham’s racing glory. Read King of the Wind and enjoy this tale of a feisty horse and his mute and loyal friend.
Armstrong, Alan W. Whittington. 2005. Newbery Honor Book 2006.
Whittington is a cat who joins a family of ragtag animals in the barn of good natured Bernie to spend the winter. He helps to pass the time for the animals and for Bernie’s two parentless grandchildren, Abby and Ben, by storytelling. The story he tells is of his ancestor and namesake Dick Whittington and his cat and the good fortune that comes to Dick because of his cat. Throughout Whittington’s storytelling there is the underlying problem that Ben, at age eight, cannot read. He does not trust his teachers to help him but his world expands with Whittington’s storytelling ability and ultimately, he has to make a decision about his own abilities and what he can accomplish.
Lisle, Janet Taylor. Highway cats. 2008.
Three tiny kittens are abandoned in the median of a busy highway. They should not have survived the short trip to get off the highway but they do. They are noticed first by Shredder, an old cynical cat, who has no use for the kittens. Soon the other feral cats, who eek out a living alongside the highway, notice the kittens. The affect they have on everyone they meet, including the once-beautiful Siamese Khalia Koo, is apparent. The kittens are a salve on the harden hearts and souls of the cats. Then bulldozers arrive to tear up their little patch of trees to build an off-ramp. What happens to the cats and ultimately to the kittens will surprise you and make you laugh. Read Highway cats for something different.
Newman, Leslea. Hachiko waits. 2004.
Hachi is an Akita dog who loves his owner, Professor Eizaburo Ueno. In fact, Hachi travels with the professor every morning to the train station to see his owner off to work. He passes the time during the day until he arrives back at the train station in time to meet his owner on the train returning from work. Hachi always waits for his owner. A young boy, Yasuo, returns on the train in the afternoons at the same time as the professor and becomes Hachi’s friend. One day, the professor dies while at work and does not come home on the afternoon train but Hachi waits and waits. Read this moving tale to discover the depth of love and devotion felt by Hachi to his owner and Yasuo to Hachiko that ends long after the professor’s death.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Two to Love
I recently read and loved these two books. They were both in the juvenile section of my public library but I thought they were better suited to teen readers especially The Underneath. The Underneath is not what I expected at all and while a profoundly sad book does not leave one despondent.
Appelt, Kathi. The Underneath. 2008. National Book Award Finalist, 2008; Newbery Honor Book 2009.
“There is nothing lonelier than a cat who has been loved, at least for a while, and then abandoned on the side of the road”.
This is a haunting, beautifully written story about a lonely, pregnant calico cat who wanders the bayou until she hears the baying of an old hound. She alone understands his song of loneliness. They become a family when her two kittens are born. Their lives, while filled with love, are also filled with fear for they live underneath the home of Gar Face, the human owner of Ranger, who has kept him chained to the porch for years. What Gar Face does to the little family when he discovers a curious kitten venturing out from the underneath sets off a chain of events that ultimately brings to conclusion a thousand year span of the intertwining lives of the characters in the story. This story is not a simple tale of loneliness, loss and love but a richly entwined saga that you will not soon forget.
Farmer, Nancy. The Ear, the Eye and the Arm. 1994. Newbery Honor Book 1995.
What do you do when you are exposed to nuclear radiation whilst in the womb and are born with certain unusual abilities? You do what any young man in 22nd century Zimbabwe would do – you and your friends become detectives. The Ear has super-sensitive hearing with ears the size of an elephant, the Eye has vision a rabbit would envy, and the Arm has long spider-like limbs and is sensitive to emotions. Their unique abilities come into play when they are hired by the wife of the Chief of Security of Zimbabwe when their three children are kidnapped off the street, after they escape from the gated, guarded compound that is their home. The children, Tendai, Rita and Kuda spend the entire novel trying to escape from someone or somewhere. Each time they escape or are rescued, they eventually need to escape again. Their saga begins at Dead Man’s Vlei with the She Elephant, who uses them as slave labor in the toxic waste dump. Their saga continues through many adventures and narrow escapes. The detectives from the Ear, the Eye and the Arm Detective Agency are always a step behind them until they finally meet up in a climatic scene and unexpected strength and character is seen from all involved.
Appelt, Kathi. The Underneath. 2008. National Book Award Finalist, 2008; Newbery Honor Book 2009.
“There is nothing lonelier than a cat who has been loved, at least for a while, and then abandoned on the side of the road”.
This is a haunting, beautifully written story about a lonely, pregnant calico cat who wanders the bayou until she hears the baying of an old hound. She alone understands his song of loneliness. They become a family when her two kittens are born. Their lives, while filled with love, are also filled with fear for they live underneath the home of Gar Face, the human owner of Ranger, who has kept him chained to the porch for years. What Gar Face does to the little family when he discovers a curious kitten venturing out from the underneath sets off a chain of events that ultimately brings to conclusion a thousand year span of the intertwining lives of the characters in the story. This story is not a simple tale of loneliness, loss and love but a richly entwined saga that you will not soon forget.
Farmer, Nancy. The Ear, the Eye and the Arm. 1994. Newbery Honor Book 1995.
What do you do when you are exposed to nuclear radiation whilst in the womb and are born with certain unusual abilities? You do what any young man in 22nd century Zimbabwe would do – you and your friends become detectives. The Ear has super-sensitive hearing with ears the size of an elephant, the Eye has vision a rabbit would envy, and the Arm has long spider-like limbs and is sensitive to emotions. Their unique abilities come into play when they are hired by the wife of the Chief of Security of Zimbabwe when their three children are kidnapped off the street, after they escape from the gated, guarded compound that is their home. The children, Tendai, Rita and Kuda spend the entire novel trying to escape from someone or somewhere. Each time they escape or are rescued, they eventually need to escape again. Their saga begins at Dead Man’s Vlei with the She Elephant, who uses them as slave labor in the toxic waste dump. Their saga continues through many adventures and narrow escapes. The detectives from the Ear, the Eye and the Arm Detective Agency are always a step behind them until they finally meet up in a climatic scene and unexpected strength and character is seen from all involved.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Boy's Lives
Avi. Nothing but the truth. 1991. Newbery Honor 1992.
What would happen if everyone told the truth but everyone’s version of the truth was different? What if you told the truth but not the whole truth? What if the media told the truth but only the truth that would entice viewers to watch? This is what happens in Nothing but the truth. Philip wants to join track but, he is failing English, therefore, he can’t join the track team. His anger at his English teacher manifests itself when Philip breaks a rule in class and is sent to the principal’s office. When he is punished, Philip’s version of the truth becomes an important topic for a lot of people and sentiment rises against his English teacher, who has her own version of the truth. Philip’s version of the truth takes on a life of its own and the outcome for all involved is up in the air. This story will make you question the truth of every sensational story you hear.
Carter, Alden. Between a rock and a hard place. 1995.
Mark and Randy are lost in the Minnesota wilderness where they are on a 10-day coming of age canoe trip that is a tradition in their family. Both boys, who are cousins, have had doubts about their ability to complete the journey. Mark’s older brother is perfect and Mark, as he sees himself, is woefully flawed in many ways. Randy’s parents are on the brink of divorce and seem to be staying together because he has diabetes. But they start their canoe trip and after a while they begin to enjoy themselves, savoring both the scenery and the camaraderie. Their enjoyment is short-lived, though, when a bear comes into their camp and sets into motion events that put the lives of both boys in jeopardy. Read how they cope with their situation and each other.
Paulsen, Gary. Harris and me. 1993.
Harris is the nine-year-old cousin of the narrator of this fun frolic on the farm. Harris and “Me” (the narrator, an eleven-year-old boy, who is never named) have good times while playing and working hard during the summer the narrator stays with Harris’ family. The narrator’s family consists of two drunken parents, so the loving family life of the Larson’s is something that he has never experienced. The playing and the escapades and the narrow escapes that the two survive during the course of the summer bonds them like brothers. Gary Paulsen writes his descriptions so vividly that you laugh with the turn of every page. The friendship and love that develops between the narrator and the Larson family seems like a perfect resolution to the narrator’s lack of a family. But the summer does come to end and what will happen to the family life that the narrator has experienced for the first time.
Sonnenblick, Jason. Notes from the midnight driver. 2006.
There is a garden gnome under the wheels of the car Alex was driving. This is not a terrible thing in and of itself; but the fact that Alex got drunk, stole his mom’s car; and was trying to get to his father’s house to see if he was there with his girlfriend, all combines together to get Alex 100 hours of community service. To be served visiting with Solomon Lewis at the old folk’s home. Was it worth it? Yes, because Solomon while acerbic and cantankerous is also warm, funny and caring. Alex and Solomon each bring something to the relationship. Alex realizes that he might actually have to take responsibility for his actions instead of blaming others and Solomon shows Alex that forgiveness and love go together. See how each of them grows because of their friendship.
Sonnenblick, Jason. Drums, girls and dangerous pie. 2004.
Steven’s life is normal for an eighth-grader. School’s okay, he enjoys playing the drums, he’s starting to think about girls and his parents and little brother are okay considering they are his parents and little brother. All that changes when tests show that Jeffrey, Steven’s five-year-old brother has leukemia. Life as Steven knew it is gone. His mom spends most of her time with Jeffrey and dealing with his illness, his dad is in his own world and Steven is left to try and figure out how to navigate through the eighth grade by himself. But things happen during that awful year including good things that show Steven and his family that love and hope can happen even in the midst of leukemia.
What would happen if everyone told the truth but everyone’s version of the truth was different? What if you told the truth but not the whole truth? What if the media told the truth but only the truth that would entice viewers to watch? This is what happens in Nothing but the truth. Philip wants to join track but, he is failing English, therefore, he can’t join the track team. His anger at his English teacher manifests itself when Philip breaks a rule in class and is sent to the principal’s office. When he is punished, Philip’s version of the truth becomes an important topic for a lot of people and sentiment rises against his English teacher, who has her own version of the truth. Philip’s version of the truth takes on a life of its own and the outcome for all involved is up in the air. This story will make you question the truth of every sensational story you hear.
Carter, Alden. Between a rock and a hard place. 1995.
Mark and Randy are lost in the Minnesota wilderness where they are on a 10-day coming of age canoe trip that is a tradition in their family. Both boys, who are cousins, have had doubts about their ability to complete the journey. Mark’s older brother is perfect and Mark, as he sees himself, is woefully flawed in many ways. Randy’s parents are on the brink of divorce and seem to be staying together because he has diabetes. But they start their canoe trip and after a while they begin to enjoy themselves, savoring both the scenery and the camaraderie. Their enjoyment is short-lived, though, when a bear comes into their camp and sets into motion events that put the lives of both boys in jeopardy. Read how they cope with their situation and each other.
Paulsen, Gary. Harris and me. 1993.
Harris is the nine-year-old cousin of the narrator of this fun frolic on the farm. Harris and “Me” (the narrator, an eleven-year-old boy, who is never named) have good times while playing and working hard during the summer the narrator stays with Harris’ family. The narrator’s family consists of two drunken parents, so the loving family life of the Larson’s is something that he has never experienced. The playing and the escapades and the narrow escapes that the two survive during the course of the summer bonds them like brothers. Gary Paulsen writes his descriptions so vividly that you laugh with the turn of every page. The friendship and love that develops between the narrator and the Larson family seems like a perfect resolution to the narrator’s lack of a family. But the summer does come to end and what will happen to the family life that the narrator has experienced for the first time.
Sonnenblick, Jason. Notes from the midnight driver. 2006.
There is a garden gnome under the wheels of the car Alex was driving. This is not a terrible thing in and of itself; but the fact that Alex got drunk, stole his mom’s car; and was trying to get to his father’s house to see if he was there with his girlfriend, all combines together to get Alex 100 hours of community service. To be served visiting with Solomon Lewis at the old folk’s home. Was it worth it? Yes, because Solomon while acerbic and cantankerous is also warm, funny and caring. Alex and Solomon each bring something to the relationship. Alex realizes that he might actually have to take responsibility for his actions instead of blaming others and Solomon shows Alex that forgiveness and love go together. See how each of them grows because of their friendship.
Sonnenblick, Jason. Drums, girls and dangerous pie. 2004.
Steven’s life is normal for an eighth-grader. School’s okay, he enjoys playing the drums, he’s starting to think about girls and his parents and little brother are okay considering they are his parents and little brother. All that changes when tests show that Jeffrey, Steven’s five-year-old brother has leukemia. Life as Steven knew it is gone. His mom spends most of her time with Jeffrey and dealing with his illness, his dad is in his own world and Steven is left to try and figure out how to navigate through the eighth grade by himself. But things happen during that awful year including good things that show Steven and his family that love and hope can happen even in the midst of leukemia.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Girl Adventurers
Here is a selection of adventure and historical fiction novels that I enjoyed reading. They all have young female protagonists who come of age while undergoing an adventure of one kind or another. I hope your interest is piqued by these book talks and you enjoy reading one or all of them yourself.
As a note to/for younger teen and preteen readers; Julie of the wolves has a passage relating the sexual advances of the boy that Julie was married to and Copper sun has many passages which graphically relates the hardships of slaves and the unwanted sexual advances by masters and their sons.
McCaughrean, Geraldine. The white darkness. 2006. Michael L. Printz Award 2008.
What does Symone, a shy, 14-year-old fatherless girl want more than anything - to visit the Antarctic. She inherited her passion for the Antarctic from her father and now it has been fostered by the two most important men in her life, her father's oldest friend Uncle Victor and Captain Lawrence "Titus" Oates, who was an explorer who accompanied Robert Scott on his doomed expedition to the South Pole in 1912. Her wish to see the Antarctic is granted when her Uncle Victor takes her there on an excursion with other tourists. At first Symone is in awe of her surroundings and her Uncle Victor. Unfortunately, Symone's Uncle Victor is dangerously obsessed with seeking Symme's Hole, an opening that supposedly leads to the center of a hollow Earth and its inhabitants. This obsession puts Symone and others in peril. But, through the whole ordeal, Symone's imaginary "Titus" is there to help her survive her adventures in the Antarctic and ultimately recognise the deceptions and betrayals that have surrounded her. The white darkness is a story of love, obsession, survival and greed all within the backdrop of the killing white ice of the Antarctic. It is an adventure to remember.
George, Jean Craighead. Julie of the wolves. 1972. Newbery Medal 1973.
Miyax lives in an Eskimo village where she is a 13-year old orphaned child bride. There is nothing she can do about being an orphan but a child bride; she can do something about that. Since she can’t stop the marriage, she can leave. Miyax decides to run away to San Francisco where she has a penpal who knows her as Julie and is always asking “When are you coming to San Francisco?” Julie decides to walk from Point Barrow to Point Hope and then work her way to her friend. Along the way, Julie becomes lost in the cold, frozen land of the tundra. She has no food or shelter but she does have her Eskimo heritage, her father’s teachings and her own instincts that guide her through the coming months especially when she comes upon a wolf pack. It is with their help that she survives and becomes accepted into the pack. Her time with the wolves is, at times, loving but at other times she learns first hand the hardships animals face everyday. Before her adventure end, Miyax/Julie has to come to terms with her heritage and who she is – Julie of the wolves or Miyax.
O'Dell, Scott. Island of the Blue Dolphins. 1960. Newbery Medal 1961.
What would you do if your entire village were leaving the only home you had ever known for a new land. What if, as the ship were leaving your island, you realized that your little brother was wandering alone on the beach with no food, water or shelter and no one to take care of him? Would you jump off the ship to be with him until the ship returned? What if the ship didn’t return; what if you had to find your own food, water, shelter? Karana answered these questions without thinking when she jumped off the ship to be with her little brother. Karana survives on her island, tames the leader of a pack of feral dogs, builds a home and explores her island. She does not leave the island when she first has the opportunity, find out why and how she eventually leaves her beloved island when you read Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell.
Draper, Sharon. Copper sun. 2006. Coretta Scott King Literature Award 2007.
Amari lives a wonderful life in her African village until the day slavers arrive, kill her family and shackle her and other villagers together and they are led to the coast and put on a slave ship bound for the Carolinas. She is bought as a birthday gift for Percival Derby’s son’s 16th birthday. Thus begins Amari’s life as a slave. She makes friends, including Polly, an indentured servant, Teenie, the slave cook and Tidbit, her son. But her days are filled with work and her nights are at the whim of a 16-year old boy who is as cruel as his father. Amari’s life is graphical portrayed; including the struggles she faces trying to live with the whims of a master who treats slaves as though they have no feelings. Tragic events occur that cause Amari and others to flee. Their journey to freedom is as unlikely as any you might encounter not only in their struggle to get there but also in their chosen destination.
Farmer, Nancy. A girl named Disaster. 1996. Newbery Honor Book 1997.
Nhamo (which means “disaster” in Shona) is a young girl living in a small village in Mozambique. Her mother has died and her father has long ago left for Zimbabwe because he killed a man. Now Nhamo has to marry the brother of the man her father killed so that her village can be rid of a cholera epidemic. What was she to do? Her grandmother tells her to run away and find her father in Zimbabwe, so she does. Her journey, by canoe, is one of isolation, loneliness and adventures including living with baboons, becoming lost and exploring islands. But her cultural heritage and her dreams provide guidance and her perserverence enables her to continue when misfortune strikes. Nhamo ends her journey a year after she starts it and ends up in a place she never expected. Read Nancy Farmer’s adventure tale to experience Nhamo’s incredible journey.
Cushman, Karen. Catherine, called Birdy. 1994. Newbery Honor Book 1995.
Life as a “lady” in 13th century England leaves a lot to be desired for Catherine, called Birdy. Her life consists of spinning, embroidery and avoiding marriage. Her father is determined to find a wealthy suitor for Birdy, and his character and age have no bearing on his suitability as a husband for Birdy. Birdy, therefore, is determined to drive off each potential suitor. We learn about Birdy, her family and her way of life through journal entries she makes for her brother Edward. He is studying to be a monk and thinks that writing in a journal for this important 14th year of her life will be good for her. She starts her journal with this entry: “I am commanded to write an account of my days: I am bit by fleas and plagued by family. That is all there is to say.” Thankfully Birdy has much more to say about her life and her desires for adventure not typical for girls of the period including her antics revolving around her father’s unending quest to marry her off.
Avi. True confessions of Charlotte Doyle. 1990. Newbery Honor Book 1991.
Charlotte Doyle is an upper-class, young lady who is forced to travel by ship unchaperoned from England to Rhode Island in 1832. Not only is she alone but she is the only passenger and the only female on the ship. She is sheltered and believes strongly in proper and respectful behavior especially towards her elders and persons of like social standing. She is, therefore, relieved to find the captain of the ship, Captain Jaggery, a gentleman. She agrees with the captain that he must maintain order on the ship by whatever means. Thus, she becomes an unwitting spy for the captain which sets off a chain of events that culminates with Charlotte joining the crew as a sailor. Charlotte the upper-class, young lady and Charlotte the sailor cannot coexist. When the ship lands in Rhode Island the lives of the entire crew have changed. Can Charlotte go back to her old life and her family and how will her life change in light of her new and unconventional experiences?
As a note to/for younger teen and preteen readers; Julie of the wolves has a passage relating the sexual advances of the boy that Julie was married to and Copper sun has many passages which graphically relates the hardships of slaves and the unwanted sexual advances by masters and their sons.
McCaughrean, Geraldine. The white darkness. 2006. Michael L. Printz Award 2008.
What does Symone, a shy, 14-year-old fatherless girl want more than anything - to visit the Antarctic. She inherited her passion for the Antarctic from her father and now it has been fostered by the two most important men in her life, her father's oldest friend Uncle Victor and Captain Lawrence "Titus" Oates, who was an explorer who accompanied Robert Scott on his doomed expedition to the South Pole in 1912. Her wish to see the Antarctic is granted when her Uncle Victor takes her there on an excursion with other tourists. At first Symone is in awe of her surroundings and her Uncle Victor. Unfortunately, Symone's Uncle Victor is dangerously obsessed with seeking Symme's Hole, an opening that supposedly leads to the center of a hollow Earth and its inhabitants. This obsession puts Symone and others in peril. But, through the whole ordeal, Symone's imaginary "Titus" is there to help her survive her adventures in the Antarctic and ultimately recognise the deceptions and betrayals that have surrounded her. The white darkness is a story of love, obsession, survival and greed all within the backdrop of the killing white ice of the Antarctic. It is an adventure to remember.
George, Jean Craighead. Julie of the wolves. 1972. Newbery Medal 1973.
Miyax lives in an Eskimo village where she is a 13-year old orphaned child bride. There is nothing she can do about being an orphan but a child bride; she can do something about that. Since she can’t stop the marriage, she can leave. Miyax decides to run away to San Francisco where she has a penpal who knows her as Julie and is always asking “When are you coming to San Francisco?” Julie decides to walk from Point Barrow to Point Hope and then work her way to her friend. Along the way, Julie becomes lost in the cold, frozen land of the tundra. She has no food or shelter but she does have her Eskimo heritage, her father’s teachings and her own instincts that guide her through the coming months especially when she comes upon a wolf pack. It is with their help that she survives and becomes accepted into the pack. Her time with the wolves is, at times, loving but at other times she learns first hand the hardships animals face everyday. Before her adventure end, Miyax/Julie has to come to terms with her heritage and who she is – Julie of the wolves or Miyax.
O'Dell, Scott. Island of the Blue Dolphins. 1960. Newbery Medal 1961.
What would you do if your entire village were leaving the only home you had ever known for a new land. What if, as the ship were leaving your island, you realized that your little brother was wandering alone on the beach with no food, water or shelter and no one to take care of him? Would you jump off the ship to be with him until the ship returned? What if the ship didn’t return; what if you had to find your own food, water, shelter? Karana answered these questions without thinking when she jumped off the ship to be with her little brother. Karana survives on her island, tames the leader of a pack of feral dogs, builds a home and explores her island. She does not leave the island when she first has the opportunity, find out why and how she eventually leaves her beloved island when you read Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell.
Draper, Sharon. Copper sun. 2006. Coretta Scott King Literature Award 2007.
Amari lives a wonderful life in her African village until the day slavers arrive, kill her family and shackle her and other villagers together and they are led to the coast and put on a slave ship bound for the Carolinas. She is bought as a birthday gift for Percival Derby’s son’s 16th birthday. Thus begins Amari’s life as a slave. She makes friends, including Polly, an indentured servant, Teenie, the slave cook and Tidbit, her son. But her days are filled with work and her nights are at the whim of a 16-year old boy who is as cruel as his father. Amari’s life is graphical portrayed; including the struggles she faces trying to live with the whims of a master who treats slaves as though they have no feelings. Tragic events occur that cause Amari and others to flee. Their journey to freedom is as unlikely as any you might encounter not only in their struggle to get there but also in their chosen destination.
Farmer, Nancy. A girl named Disaster. 1996. Newbery Honor Book 1997.
Nhamo (which means “disaster” in Shona) is a young girl living in a small village in Mozambique. Her mother has died and her father has long ago left for Zimbabwe because he killed a man. Now Nhamo has to marry the brother of the man her father killed so that her village can be rid of a cholera epidemic. What was she to do? Her grandmother tells her to run away and find her father in Zimbabwe, so she does. Her journey, by canoe, is one of isolation, loneliness and adventures including living with baboons, becoming lost and exploring islands. But her cultural heritage and her dreams provide guidance and her perserverence enables her to continue when misfortune strikes. Nhamo ends her journey a year after she starts it and ends up in a place she never expected. Read Nancy Farmer’s adventure tale to experience Nhamo’s incredible journey.
Cushman, Karen. Catherine, called Birdy. 1994. Newbery Honor Book 1995.
Life as a “lady” in 13th century England leaves a lot to be desired for Catherine, called Birdy. Her life consists of spinning, embroidery and avoiding marriage. Her father is determined to find a wealthy suitor for Birdy, and his character and age have no bearing on his suitability as a husband for Birdy. Birdy, therefore, is determined to drive off each potential suitor. We learn about Birdy, her family and her way of life through journal entries she makes for her brother Edward. He is studying to be a monk and thinks that writing in a journal for this important 14th year of her life will be good for her. She starts her journal with this entry: “I am commanded to write an account of my days: I am bit by fleas and plagued by family. That is all there is to say.” Thankfully Birdy has much more to say about her life and her desires for adventure not typical for girls of the period including her antics revolving around her father’s unending quest to marry her off.
Avi. True confessions of Charlotte Doyle. 1990. Newbery Honor Book 1991.
Charlotte Doyle is an upper-class, young lady who is forced to travel by ship unchaperoned from England to Rhode Island in 1832. Not only is she alone but she is the only passenger and the only female on the ship. She is sheltered and believes strongly in proper and respectful behavior especially towards her elders and persons of like social standing. She is, therefore, relieved to find the captain of the ship, Captain Jaggery, a gentleman. She agrees with the captain that he must maintain order on the ship by whatever means. Thus, she becomes an unwitting spy for the captain which sets off a chain of events that culminates with Charlotte joining the crew as a sailor. Charlotte the upper-class, young lady and Charlotte the sailor cannot coexist. When the ship lands in Rhode Island the lives of the entire crew have changed. Can Charlotte go back to her old life and her family and how will her life change in light of her new and unconventional experiences?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)