What To Do About Alice?

Bibliography

Kerley, Barbara. 2008. What To Do About Alice? Ill. By Edwin Fotheringham. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN 978-0439922319.

Plot Summary

Alice Roosevelt’s mother died when she was only 2 days old. She drove her father crazy with her rambunctious and free spirit. Because she was such a tomboy, her father sent her to boarding school to learn to be lady-like. However, he hated seeing her unhappy at school, so he allowed her to stay home and school herself in their library the next year. As she grew, Alice searched for adventure and continued to do things her own way, despite others objections.

Critical Analysis

This book helps to explain how Alice Roosevelt helped to break the image of what women were expected to do at that time. It also explains the roles that Alice had as a president’s daughter, such as being a goodwill ambassador and traveling to Asia as part of the American delegation. Even marriage couldn’t tame her adventurous spirit.

The author uses bold, all caps print to emphasize things of importance said by Alice and her father. Many of the tidbits shared are humorous and endearing, such as Alice saying that her rowdiness was just, “eating up the world.”

The colorful illustrations are delightful and help highlight Alice’s mischievous side. You can see the chaos she caused when she threw her braces off while riding a bicycle, slid down the stairs on a tray, or dressed up like a boy to join an all-boys club. The newspaper headlines give the reader more to explore as you seek to understand Alice a little more.

The back of the book includes an Author’s Note which explains her nicknames of “Sister” and “Princess Alice.” It also includes a bibliographic information about the books that the author used to help write this book.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Awards

2015 Caldecott Honor Book
2015 Sibert Medal Winner

Review Excerpts

Kirkus Starred Review: “Kerley’s precise text presents readers with a devilishly smart, strong-willed girl who was determined to live life on her own terms—and largely succeeded.”

Booklist Starred Review: “Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was.”

Connections

* Students can learn about the children of other U.S. presidents.

*Other biographies about the Roosevelt family:

·         Kimmelman, Leslie. Mind Your Manners, Alice Roosevelt! ISBN 9781561454921.

·         Burgan, Michael. Who Was Theodore Roosevelt? ISBN 9780448479453.

·         Thompson, Gare. Who Was Eleanor Roosevelt? ISBN 978-0448435091.