Module 7: July 17-24 Informational Nonfiction/Biography

The books we read this week were from the following categories:
Informational picture books
Informational book
Picture book biographies
Biography/autobiography for middle or high schoolers

I'll be sharing about these two: George Washington's Teeth by Deborah Chandra and I Am Scout: A Biography of Harper Lee by Charles J. Sides.

Chandra, D. (2003). George Washington's Teeth. New York, NY: Farrar Straus Giroux.

Such a fun book! This tells the story of George Washington's life long dental problems. Clever writing accompanied by wonderful illustrations follow George from the time he's twenty-one (with a mouth full of black, rotten teeth), through the Revolutionary War (teeth either falling out or being pulled on a regular, and painful, basis), through his presidency (spending about $100 a year on medical bills while doling out about $1000 a year for dental bills) and up to his death (believed to be from an infection in rotten tooth-roots that spread through his body). Readers learn that George made many of his own dentures, had cotton in his cheeks in some of his famous portraits to keep his face from looking so sallow, and that none of the false teeth he used were made of wood.

This is a great book for readers of ANY age but is a must have in an elementary library. The timeline/facts in the back of the book enhance the simply told story. Really makes you reconsider your own dental pain when you learn how much George Washington suffered while he was doing so much for our country!

Following are reviews from Kirkus and Through the Looking Glass:

·                     Kirkus' Review

GEORGE WASHINGTON’S TEETH (reviewed on December 15, 2002)

Now It Can Be Told: that severe, square-jawed look that the Father of Our Country flashes in his portraits reveals not only strength of character, but also his struggle to hide the fact that he was nearly (entirely, later in life) toothless by keeping a succession of spring-loaded false teeth in place. Drawing information from Washington’s own writings, the authors deliver a double account of his dental tribulations: first in sprightly rhyme—Martha “fed him mush and pickled tripe, / But when guests came to dine, / He sneaked one of his favorite nuts. / Then he had only nine”—followed by a detailed, annotated timeline. Cole’s (Larky Mavis, 2001, etc.) freely drawn, rumpled-looking watercolors document the countdown as well, with scenes of the unhappy statesman at war and at home, surrounded by family, attendants (including dark-skinned ones), and would-be dentists, all in authentic 18th-century dress. Contrary to popular belief, Washington’s false teeth were made not of wood, but of real teeth and hippo ivory; a photo of his last set closes this breezy, sympathetic, carefully-researched vignette on a note that will have readers feeling the great man’s pain—and never looking at his painted visage the same way again. (source notes) (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-9)

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Pub Date: Feb. 3rd, 2003

ISBN: 0-374-32534-0

Page count: 40pp

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews

George Washington's Teeth

Deborah Chandra, Madeleine Comora
Illustrator:   Brock Cole 
Nonfiction Picture Book
For ages 4 to 7
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003   ISBN: 0374325340

A toothless George Washington! How is it that we have never heard about this side of our first president's life? It is with great enjoyment that we read the amusing rhyming lines about poor George Washington's trials and tribulations on the teeth front. One by one his teeth fell out as he bravely went forth and fought the British. When Washington came home at last, the redcoats vanquished, he only had five teeth in his head. Then, try as he might, those five fell out too. What was this leader of leaders to do?
It is with great relief that we read that it was George Washington's own ingenuity which saved the day. He found all the teeth he lost and had a pair of false teeth made. As we follow Washington on his various adventures, we participate in events of those early days of the American Republic, and we see that even the most famous of people had very commonplace problems. With lively watercolor illustrations this is a book to read again and again.

Review Written by Marya Jansen-Gruber

http://lookingglassreview.com/books/george-washingtons-teeth

Shields, C.J. (2008). I Am Scout: A Biography of Harper Lee. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Co.

As a long-time fan of To Kill A Mockingbird, I was anxiously looking forward to reading this biography of Harper Lee. It was wonderful. This is the scaled-down version of Shields' earlier publication, Mockingbird, which is a more detailed biography aimed at adult readers; I'm looking forward to reading it so I can compare/contrast his two offerings. I Am Scout is basically Nelle (Ellen spelled backwards - an homage to her grandmother) Harper Lee's life story. It's packed with information about her childhood, her family, her hometown, her friendship with Truman Capote, her time at the University of Alabama (of particular interest to me since I'm an alumni!), how To Kill A Mockingbird came to be, what it was like to make the movie, and how she has purposefully stayed out of the spotlight in the years since.

Perfect for middle school/high school readers since To Kill A Mockingbird is often assigned reading for that age group. Obviously interesting to anyone who loves the book, but also recommended for anyone interested in Truman Capote or in the writing/publishing world. Fans of Gregory Peck will also find some interesting details about his acting process. Highly recommended!

Following are reviews from School Library Journal and Kirkus:

SHIELDS, Charles J. I Am Scout: The Biography of Harper Lee. 272p. photos. reprods. bibliog. index. notes. CIP. Holt. Apr. 2008. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-8334-7. LC 2007027572.

Gr 6 Up—This biography is a reworking of the best-selling Mockingbird (Holt, 2006), adapted for young adults. Shields spotlights Lee's lifelong friendship with Truman Capote and the creation of To Kill a Mockingbird, showing how the publication and success of that book affected the rest of her life. Shields uses previously conducted interviews with Lee and her family, friends, and neighbors. He pulls from books, magazine articles, newspapers, and radio and television interviews to piece together this life story of the notoriously press-shy Lee. The author's clear and appealing style is much the same as in Mockingbird and this adaptation appears to have been not so much edited as streamlined. Photos include Lee, her family, friends, and the famous Hollywood actors who made the film version of her book. I Am Scout moves along at a good pace, and Lee's quiet life makes for a surprisingly fascinating read. Perhaps because Shields is pulling from so many sources, the occasional turn of phrase comes across as oddly formal, but generally, this is an immensely readable, intriguing tale of a quiet, private author.—Geri Diorio, The Ridgefield Library, CT

http://www.libraryjournal.com/slj/printissuecurrentissue/858919-427/grades_5_amp_up.html.csp

Kirkus

Shields, Charles J. I AM SCOUT: A BIOGRAPHY OF HARPER LEE

I AM SCOUT (reviewed on March 15, 2008)

The life of one of literature’s greatest one-hit wonders is presented for young readers in an adapted version of the author’s Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee (2006). Starting with Lee’s childhood, he chronicles her Southern upbringing in a family that, while not open to discussions about emotional issues, always supported intellectual pursuits. Encouraged by her father and sister, both attorneys, Lee attended college and later moved to New York to pursue a writing career. The text does an excellent job of conveying the facets of Lee’s personality that made her a writing success, including her honesty, tenacity, sense of justice and adaptability of interpersonal style. In addition to detailing her writing of To Kill a Mockingbird, Shields demonstrates Lee’s critical role in the creation of longtime friend Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood. Prior knowledge of both works is not absolutely necessary, thanks to an absorbing and easy narrative style; still, readers may not pick this up unless they already have an interest in Lee’s life. (black-and-white photos, notes, bibliography, index) (Biography. YA)

As usual, lots of ideas for library/classroom activities with these books. George Washington's Teeth is a great choice for anything associated with the founding fathers, the Revolutionary War, or the presidents. It'd also be great to use in units that promote healthy teeth and gums (it'd be great to see copies in dental offices!). And, as mentioned, I Am Scout is an obviously tie-in to teaching To Kill A Mockingbird......and since that particular is sometimes on the banned/challenged list, it would also work well during Banned Book Week promotions so students could read about the author of a banned book! Additionally, it'd be addition to a unit/lesson about authors, particularly female authors.

Module 6: July 11-16 Historical Fiction

This is the module I've been waiting for! Historical fiction has been my favorite genre for many years and the books I read this week did not disappoint!

The books we read this week came from the following categories:
Picture book historical fiction
Historical fiction books for middle or high school

As usual, it was super hard just to pick two to talk about, but these are my choices: The Greatest Skating Race by Louise Borden and The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly.

Borden, L. (2004). The Greatest Skating Race. New York, NY: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

This is a really fun book! It's set in the Netherlands during WWII and tells the story of a ten-year old boy named Piet who loves to skate. His family owns a shop that makes ice skates, so he has grown up around skates and skating. He is fascinated by skaters who have completed a race called the Elfstedentocht that takes them to towns all around the country. Piet is called upon to escort the children of some family friends to Belgium to keep them safe during the war. His route is different from the Elfstedentocht, but it's his personal "greatest skating race" since they follow canals across borders and pass numerous German guards along the way. Borden cleverly  builds Dutch words and definitions into the story so that readers are learning while they are being entertained.

Picture books are great for readers of all ages, and this one is no exception. I would definitely recommend it for an elementary school library, but would love to see it in middle school/high school/ and public libraries as well since it's such a great teaching tool.

Following are reviews from Kirkus and School Library Journal:

THE GREATEST SKATING RACE (reviewed on September 15, 2004)

One winter day in 1941, in a German-occupied Dutch town called Sluis, ten-year-old Piet Janssen’s ice-skating skills are put to a dangerous test. It’s WWII, and Piet’s schoolmate Johanna Winkelman’s father has been arrested for espionage. Since his friend and her brother are no longer safe at home, Piet must help them escape to their aunt’s house in Brugge, skating over icy canals and outsmarting German soldiers until the three cross the Belgian border. The story of this perilous, bitterly cold flight—a race against time—is told in Piet’s earnest first-person voice and formatted like poetry, with frequent, often inexplicable line breaks. Themes of bravery, strength, and tradition echo throughout—like the “Swisssshh, swissshhh” of the children’s skates. Daly’s lovely illustrations, complete with rosy-cheeked innocents and autumnal tones, effectively evoke a sense of time and place in this slow-moving (but nonetheless moving) tale of a child’s wartime heroism. (information about the Elfstedentocht, author’s note on the history of skating, map) (Picture book. 8-11)

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Pub Date: Oct. 1st, 2004

ISBN: 0-689-84502-2

Page count: 48pp

Publisher: McElderry

BORDEN, Louise. The Greatest Skating Race: A World War II Story from the Netherlands. illus. by Niki Daly. S & S. RTE $18.95. ISBN 978-0-689-84502-4.
Gr 2-6–A ten-year-old boy's participation in the famous 200-kilometer one-day Elfstedentocht event (Eleven Towns Race) allows him to help two children escape to Belgium by ice-skating past German soldiers and other enemies. Daly's illustrations lend simple charm and comfort to this story that reveals the bravery and heroism of people that had everything to lose.

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6402585.html

Kelly, J. (2009). The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. New York, NY: Henry Holt.

I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but I really LOVE this book! My daughter's name is Virinia so I have a soft spot for any character that shares her name and Ms. Calpurpnia Virginia Tate (Callie Vee) is a prime example. Callie is the middle child of seven kids - three older brothers and three younger brothers. They live in south Texas; the year is 1899. Callie is twelve and is facing a long, hot summer! She develops a close relationship with her grandfather, strengthened when he trusts her with his leather-bound copy of Charles Darwin's Origin of Species. Much to her mother's dismay, Callie is more interested in being a scientist than she is in being a debutante or learning to make even stitches on her sampler. Filled with discoveries of all kinds (about science, about friends, about family, about herself), this is a charming story of a young girl finding her place in the world.

This would be a great addition to any middle school library! High school age would probably enjoy it as well since there is a touch of romance surrounding Callie's older brothers. Would be great for getting girls interested in science (or deepening their interest) and would hold the boys' attention too since there are lots of bugs, bats, and whiskey stories woven together!

Following are reviews from Kirkus and Through the Looking Glass:

·                     Kirkus' Review

THE EVOLUTION OF CALPURNIA TATE (reviewed on April 1, 2009)

“Mother was awakening to the sorry facts: My biscuits were like stones, my samplers askew, my seams like rickrack.” The year is 1899, the place Texas and the problem is 11-year-old Calpurnia Virginia Tate, who is supposed to want to cook, sew and attract future beaux, not play in the dirt, examine insects and, perhaps most suspect of all, read Darwin’s controversial The Origin of Species, the source of the novel’s chapter introductions. A natural-born scientist, she alone among her six brothers has discovered the rare specimen under her own roof—a funny-smelling, rather antisocial grandfather who preoccupies himself with classifying flora and fauna...when he’s not fermenting pecans for whiskey. Their budding friendship is thoughtfully and engagingly portrayed, as is the unfolding of the natural world’s wonders under Calpurnia’s ever-inquisitive gaze. Calpurnia is not a boilerplate folksy Southern heroine who spouts wise-beyond-her-years maxims that seem destined for needlepoint—her character is authentically childlike and complex, her struggles believable. Readers will finish this witty, deftly crafted debut novel rooting for “Callie Vee” and wishing they knew what kind of adult she would become. (Historical fiction. 10-14)

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Pub Date: May 1st, 2009

ISBN: 978-0-8050-8841-0

Page count: 352pp

Publisher: Henry Holt

Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Jacqueline Kelly
Fiction
For ages 12 and up
Henry Holt and Co., 1992   ISBN: 978-0805088410

Calpurnia Tate lives in a big house with her father, mother, grandfather, and her six brothers. It is summertime in 1899 and to say that it is hot is an understatement. It is so hot in fact that everyone is too uncomfortable and tired to keep a close eye on what Callie is doing. Being a clever girl, Callie takes full advantage of this situation, and she spends a good deal of her time floating in the river. She also decides that she is going to be a naturalist. After all, why not?
And so, Callie starts writing down her observations in a notebook. She wonders why dogs have eyebrows and why the cardinals are behaving so strangely. Then Callie notices that there are two kinds of grasshoppers around. Usually there are only small green ones, but this summer there are large yellow ones. No one seems to know where these newcomers came from, and Callie finally decides that she has no choice, she is going to have to ask her frightening grandfather.
Grandfather tells Callie to "figure it out," which is what, in time, Callie does. After much thought she decides that the yellow grasshoppers are a different version of the green ones. They are basically the same animal! Full of excitement, Callie tells her grandfather what she has learned, and he discovers that he has a granddaughter who loves to learn, to question, and to observe.
Thus begins a wonderful summer for Callie. She and her grandfather become good friends, the old man helping his granddaughter to learn the scientific method. He lets her borrow his books – including the controversial Origin of Species – and he encourages Callie to use her mind in new ways. The problem is that Callie lives in a time when people do not believe in educating girls. Will Callie ever be able to pursue her interest in science, or will she be forced to spend her time learning "cookery" and how to tat lace?
In this wonderful title, Jacqueline Kelly tells a story that is funny, thought provoking, and thoroughly addictive. Callie's evolving relationship with her grandfather is fascinating to observe, and the various misadventures that her family members experience are enormously entertaining. One brother falls in love, while another grows too fond of the Thanksgiving dinner turkeys.
Set in a time of great change, this story combines humor, beautiful writing, and unforgettable characters, to give readers a book that they will remember long after the last page is read.

Review Written byadmin

http://lookingglassreview.com/books/the-evolution-of-calpurnia-tate

These are both great books for getting kids interested in history. They bring the past to life in a story format, so they're very "user friendly". The Greatest Skating Race could be used in conjunction with other winter sports books, other stories about WWI, other stories about the Netherlands, or other stories about skating (what little girl is not fascinated with ice skating?) - would be a great tie in when the winter Olympics were happening.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate would work well as supplemental reading in a science class. Charles Darwin (or the delightful Charles and Emma) would be easy bio tie-ins, as would stories about female scientists since that's what Calpurnia wants to be. Examples of scientific drawings, National Geographic magazine/pictures, state-fair samplers, or bug collections are some other examples of things from the book that would be of interest to kids in a library or classroom lesson.

Module 5: July 4-10 Fantasy and Science Fiction

This module probably intimidated me the most when I first looked at my reading list.....then I realized how many books that I truly love are part of this category (hello.....Wizard of Oz - 'nuf said!) and will now sing it's praises to all who ask!

This week we read books from the following categories:
Fantasy - both Upper Elementary/Middle School & High School
Science Fiction

I will be enticing you to read these two: Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner and The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson.

Simner, J.L. (2009). Bones of Faerie. New York, NY: Random House.

This is one of those books you have trouble putting down once you start reading. Magic, faeries, shape-shifting - all things that can happen in Liza's world, but not without consequence. This is a post-apocalyptic fantasy that leaves you with as many questions as it answers. Liza and Matthew set off from their village to find Liza's mother in what used to be St. Louis. It's scary, but not frightening; keeps you wondering what will happen next as you turn each page. What happened to Liza's mother? What happened to St. Louis? What happened to magic? What is good and what is evil?

I picked this up at a middle school book fair, but I think it'd be better for high school age kids. It's just scary enough to warrant the older-age group suggestion. Readers that enjoy dystopian societies and solving mysteries as the story unfolds will really enjoy this.

Here's an excerpt from  a review on School Library Journal:

Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner

Posted by Diane Chen on May 15th, 2009

......I want to ask you why you haven’t read this yet......
I’m glad I did snatch up Bones of Faerie because this book hooked me with it’s opening, shocked me with it’s twists, frustrated me with it’s racing through the magical knowledge transformation, satisfied me with interweaving locales I’d recognize like St. Louis’ arch, and most of all because this book left me hanging and wanting more. 
Jannie Lee Simner has created characters that intrigued me, left me wondering how they did that and what motivated them. I think we are seeing a new world here with the opportunity for many voices to tell their stories. While many reviewers commented on the quickness of the read, I enjoyed it. I like books that leave me wondering about the details and that enable me to create my own suppositions on the past and predictions for the future. 
Bones of Faerie is complicated and daring. It has horrifying and appalling moments, yet the overall book is not as dark as I predicted. I think this title will fit nicely on my list of "after the disaster" titles. I like the interweaving of fantasy and ecothriller. Any novel where you fear the plants is deliciously scary. 

And here's one from Kirkus:

BONES OF FAERIE (reviewed on December 1, 2008)

Magic in Liza’s barren town is verboten due to a disastrous war with Faerie, and those who are magical are thought to be evil. When Liza realizes she can no longer deny her own magic and becomes plagued by visions of her runaway mother, she leaves town accompanied by her shape-shifting friend, Matthew. The two find their way to a community where magic is the norm. There, Liza is encouraged to follow her visions and find her mother in a place that used to be called St. Louis. The setting, characters and plot are ones every fantasy and science-fiction reader has seen before: the dystopian world, evil faeries, a protagonist with extra-strong, extra-special magic, a hunt for a lost mother. Simner keeps things interesting with a fair amount of action and the constant introduction of new characters. The postapocalyptic environment is haunting but not downright scary—the most frightening things are the people, not the magic. With its dark, sharply imagined world, this will appeal to readers of Holly Black and Cassandra Clare. (Science fiction/fantasy. 12-16)

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Pub Date: Jan. 27th, 2009

ISBN: 978-0-375-84563-5

Page count: 256pp

Publisher: Random

Pearson, M. (2008). The Adoration of Jenna Fox. New York, NY: Henry Holt.

Another one of those "can't put it down" books! Jenna has just awoken from a comma and can't remember anything about her life. Her mother has given her a set of CDs that chronicle the first sixteen years of her life so she watches them sequentially to try to piece together what happened and try to stimulate some memories. Jenna's grandmother suggests that she watch the last CD first if she really wants some answers, but Jenna doesn't take her advice....at least not right away. As she starts to make friends and find out things about who she was before she woke up, Jenna comes to learn that she may not actually be a "person" anymore - her father has developed a type of gel that clones body parts, organs, even parts of the brain, and an accident reveals that she has more gel than blood in her body. Set in the future, the story raises question about how much is too much in regard to technology and scientific processes. Jenna has lots more questions than she does answers.

I'd recommend this for upper middle/high school readers. The story is fascinating and really makes you think about what our world will be like if we keep chemically enhancing food, creating/growing body parts to replace those that are lost through accidents or disease. It also addresses issues of environmental responsibility and what could happen after natural disasters. Great conversation starter!

Following are reviews from School Library Journal and Kirkus:

The Adoration of Jenna Fox

Jessica Miller, New Britain Public Library, CT -- School Library Journal, 09/02/2008

The Adoration of Jenna Fox (unabr.). 6 CDs. 7:30 hrs. Macmillan Audio (macmillanaudio.com). 2008. ISBN 978-1-4272-0443-1. $29.95.
Gr 9 Up–Mary Pearson’s novel (Holt, 2008) provides a thought-provoking and intriguing examination of what really makes us human and where to draw the line with fast developing technological and medical advances. Jenna Fox wakes from a coma more than a year after having an “accident.” With no memory, she slowly learns to function physically, but she can’t seem to connect emotionally. Written in a beautiful symphony of revealed memories, Jenna slowly begins to recognize that a secret is being kept from her and something complex and dangerous is going on. When she realizes that she essentially died in the infamous “accident” and was reborn through her father’s controversial discovery, Jenna begins to question biomedical ethics and human nature. Narrator Jenna Lamia excels at evoking the haunting, yet detached way that Jenna begins to connect the events in her life. Combining science fiction, medical mystery, and teen relationships into an excellent package that is satisfying from beginning to end, this is a must-have for all collections.

Kirkus:

THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX (reviewed on March 15, 2008)

Outstanding examination of identity, science and ethics. “I used to be someone. / Someone named Jenna Fox. / That’s what they tell me,” begins the hypnotic first-person narration. She woke from an 18-month coma two weeks ago, but she doesn’t know how to smile or who her parents are. She watches recordings of each childhood year but they ring no bells. Why has her family brought her to a hidden cottage in California, distant from home and doctors? Mental flashes reveal a void of paralysis where “darkness and silence go on forever.” Was that her coma? Voices call Jenna, hurry! into her ears—are those from the night of the accident, which she can’t remember? Jenna recognizes that her gait is awkward and her memory peculiar (spotty about childhood while disturbingly perfect about academics), but asking questions provokes only furtive glances between her parents. Pearson reveals the truth layer by layer, maintaining taut suspense and psychological realism as she probes philosophical notions of personhood. A deeply humane and gripping descendent of Peter Dickinson’s classic Eva. (Science fiction. YA)

So many ideas for library/classroom lessons.......both are set in the future in societies where the "rules" have changed...Bones of Faerie includes magic while Adoration of Jenna Fox is more "real".....either would be great discussion starters for what students think the future will look like. They could tell/write about what they think their hometown/state will be like in the future - how would people live?, would there still be a central government?, has science/technology helped or hurt the future society? They could create alternate endings for the stories or add characters that would change the way the story is told......and, the old fall back, the books could be used as part of a display of futuristic/dystopian societies to get kids interested in the genre.

Module 4: June 27- July 3 Realistic Fiction

Happy Birthday America!

This week we read books from the following categories of realistic fiction:
Elementary/Young Middle School
Middle School
High School

Lots of fun stuff this week! The two I'll be sharing about are Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little by Peggy Gifford and Mockingbird (mok ing burd) by Kathryn Erskine:

Gifford, P. (2008). Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little. New York, NY: Schwartz and Wade Books.

What a fun book! Moxy and my eight year old have very much in common! They both love to read but they both also love swimming, cartwheels, bugs, summer, playing outside, not cleaning their room, running, jumping, laughing, etc. etc. Moxy has a summer reading assignment - she is supposed to finish Stuart Little before the first day of the new school year. She really wants to read the book, plans to read the book, means to read the book......but it's the day before the first day of school and Moxy still hasn't read the book!

Great book for elementary age readers, especially those just getting started with chapter books. They'll feel a great sense of accomplishment while reading since some of the chapters in this book are only a page (sometimes just one word) long! Accompanying the text are "photos" taken by Mooxy's brother - they're very kid-friendly and really bring the story to life. Great addition to a school or classroom library!

These are reviews from Kirkus and School Library Journal:

·                     Kirkus' Review

MOXY MAXWELL DOES NOT LOVE STUART LITTLE (reviewed on April 1, 2007)

A chapter-book picaresque hilariously chronicles one day in the life of almost-fourth-grader Moxy Maxwell. From the heretical title to the short chapters, headed in fine 18th-century style (“In Which Moxy Realizes Her Mother Is Home”), and Fisher’s snort-inducing “documentary” photographs, everything about this offering reaches out to draw the reader in. A slyly intrusive narrator relates the events of August 23 (the day before school begins), occasionally commenting on the action or offering an alternative interpretation as Moxy struggles with Stuart Little, the assigned summer reading she has avoided for months. Moxy is an exuberantly unforgettable character, her reluctance to settle down to read partially explained by her list of 211 Possible Career Paths. Newcomer Gifford surrounds Moxy with equally memorable family and friends, from twin brother Mark, who finished Stuart Little on the first day of summer, to Mom, whose “consequences” loom ever larger as the disastrous day progresses. With its brilliantly accessible application of a usually complex narrative technique, this work represents a significant raising of the bar for writers of chapter books. Technique or no technique, kids will recognize Moxy—and they will love her. (Fiction. 7-11)

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Pub Date: May 8th, 2007

ISBN: 978-0-375-83915-3

Page count: 112pp

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little

From SLJ July 2007

Pat Leach, Lincoln City Libraries, NE -- School Library Journal, 08/06/2007

GIFFORD, Peggy. Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little. photos. by Valorie Fisher. 92p. CIP. Random/Schwartz & Wade Bks. 2007. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-375-83915-3; PLB $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-93915-0. LC 2006016869.
Gr 2-4–How many ways can a soon-to-be fourth grader find to avoid reading Stuart Little? It's the one book that Moxy Maxwell has to read over the summer. Her remarkable imagination, coupled with stubbornness, gets her to the night before school starts. She's kept the book with her, but just couldn't bring herself to dig in. It's not that she doesn't like to read–she just despises being told what to read. It may be no surprise that when she finally picks the book up, she loves it. Gifford's depiction of an overly exuberant nine-year-old may remind some readers of Lois Lowry's Gooney Bird Greene (Houghton, 2002). Moxy is funny, and most readers will empathize with her avoiding something simply because it's required. One might wish for a little more depth from Moxy, more moderation of her self-centeredness, and, after a few chapters, her aevoidance tactics grow a tad stale. But the photographs–touted as having been taken by her twin brother–are fresh. (He read Stuart Little the first day of summer vacation.) Moxy's sarcastic captions for them seize the tone of her day. A dryly observant narration, clever chapter titles, and the spot-on illustrations provide added lift to the story.

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6465514.html

Erskine, K. (2010). Mockingbird (mok'ing-burd). New York, NY: Philomel Books.

I cannot say enough good things about this book! I wish every teacher and every kid in every school had their very own copy to read and cherish! Caitlin, a 5th grader with Asberger's Syndrome, has just lost her beloved older brother during a school shooting. Told in her voice, this is a beautiful story of how Caitlin views the world, how she learns to feel emotions and adjust to life without Devon, and how she teaches the poeple in herlife about herself. Erskine's daughter has Asberger's, so her writing is authentic and comes from the heart. This book is a great example of how a talented writer can really make you feel you are seeing and experiencing the world through another person's eyes.

This book is appropriate for all readers - great for reading aloud to very young children, or as a read alone for middle/high school. Great way to make kids aware of how different the world is for someone on the Autism spectrum. Words have different meanings, facial expressions do too. The "rules" of friendship are not the same for these kids, but they need friends too - it's all about awareness! Highly recommended!

Here's what some other folks had to say in Kirkus and Childrens Book Review:

·                     Kirkus' Review

MOCKINGBIRD (reviewed on March 1, 2010)

This heartbreaking story is delivered in the straightforward, often funny voice of a fifth-grade girl with Asperger’s syndrome, who is frustrated by her inability to put herself in someone else’s shoes. Caitlin’s counselor, Mrs. Brook, tries to teach her how to empathize, but Caitlin is used to depending on her big brother Devon for guidance on such matters. Tragically, Devon has been killed in a school shooting. Caitlin, her dad and her schoolmates try to cope, and it is the deep grief they all share that ultimately helps Caitlin get to empathy. As readers celebrate this milestone with Caitlin, they realize that they too have been developing empathy by walking a while in her shoes, experiencing the distinctive way that she sees and interacts with the world. Erskine draws directly and indirectly on To Kill a Mockingbird and riffs on its central theme: The destruction of an innocent is perhaps both the deepest kind of psychosocial wound a community can face and its greatest opportunity for psychological and spiritual growth. (Fiction. 8-12)

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Pub Date: April 1st, 2010

ISBN: 978-0-399-25264-8

Page count: 240pp

Publisher: Philomel

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: November 18, 2010

Congratulations to Kathryn Erskine! She is the winner of the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature.

Publisher’s synopsis: In Caitlin’s world, everything is black or white. Things are good or bad. Anything in between is confusing. That’s the stuff Caitlin’s older brother, Devon, has always explained. But now Devon’s dead and Dad is no help at all. Caitlin wants to get over it, but as an eleven-year-old girl with Asperger’s, she doesn’t know how. When she reads the definition of closure, she realizes that is what she needs. In her search for it, Caitlin discovers that not everything is black and white–the world is full of colors–messy and beautiful.

Kathryn Erskine has written a must-read gem, one of the most moving novels of the year.

And, here are excerpts  from a School Library Journal review that isn't very favorable (not eveyone likes the same stuff, right?!):

Review of the Day: Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

October 26th, 2010

Children’s librarians read quite a few books for kids and the result is that we tend to want to discuss them with one another. Unlucky librarians are surrounded solely by people who agree with their opinions. You’re much luckier if you happen to have a group of close folks around you who can offer alternate takes on the books you read and critique. Now, it doesn’t happen every year but once in a while children’s books (novels in particular) become divisive. Folks draw battle lines in the sand and declare that a book is either infinitely lovable and the greatest thing since sliced bread, or loathsome beyond belief, the words shaming the very paper they are printed upon. In the last few years such divisive books have included everything from The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane to The Underneath. This year, 2010, one particular book has earned that honor. Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine marks the author’s second foray into books for youth (the first being her young adult novel Quaking). It has garnered a great deal of praise, from such notable authors as Andrew Clements and Sharon Creech. It has been nominated, as of this review, for a National Book Award in the Young Person’s category. And I tell you truly, I’m afraid that it’s a book that just doesn’t do it for me. There are some great books coming out in 2010, but this is simply not one of them.....

The writing itself for the most part wasn’t problematic. However, there were little moments when I found it getting a touch cutesy. After hearing Mrs. Brook tell her that she is convinced that Caitlin can learn empathy, our heroine slips off her shoes and touches her toes to the floor. “I pull my feet off of the floor and shove them back into my sneakers. At least I tried dipping my toe in empathy.” That’s a fair example of a couple points in the story where the text becomes a little too on the nose to feel real. It doesn’t happen often, but there are moments.


Must admit, that last review caught me off guard since I really loved the book, but it's always good to consider alternate viewpoints - tolerance, yes! These books would both work great for library lessons, but probably not together since they address such different topics. Moxy is all about having fun - it would fit well with an end of year lesson - what to do (or not do!) on summer vacation. Mockingbird, on the otherhand, it a bit more serious and would fit better in a lesson about learning about how people are different, what it means to have a disability or need special services, and how to be a good friend. I can imagine role-plays developing from Mockingbird - letting the kids take turns 'being" Caitlin so theu get a feel for what her world is like.