Dead End in Norvelt

Bibliography

Gantos, Jack. Dead End in Norvelt. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2011.  ISBN 9780374379933

Plot Summary

Twelve year old Jack Gantos lives in the historic town of Norvelt, Pennsylvania. He thinks that the summer of 1962 will be fun and exciting, but he ends up grounded after a variety of offenses. He ends up spending his summer helping his elderly neighbor, Miss Volker, write obituaries. Miss Volker weaves memorable tributes with bits of history tied in. As Jack learns of the history of Norvelt, he discovers an unlikely friendship and an unforgettable summer of adventure.

Critical Analysis

This zany tale is the mostly false story of the author’s childhood in the summer of 1962. Jack Gantos is a 12 year old boy living in the small town of Norvelt. The characters are quirky but believable.  Jack is a typical boy that loves baseball and often finds himself in mischief. He is often embarrassed by the awkwardness of his constantly spewing bloody nose. His parents like most are well meaning, but sometimes don’t see eye to eye.

The historical details are expertly woven into the story to give readers a glimpse of life in the unique town of Norvelt. The opening chapter describes how Jack would watch movies at the drive-in movie theater from his house using binoculars. Many children now have not experienced a drive in theater and will be intrigued by the idea of it.  The Cold War is mentioned throughout the book and his family even considers building a bomb shelter. Miss Volker plays a key role because she helps bring history to life with the details she includes in the obituaries.

There are some stereotypes included in the book, but it is typical for the time period. One example of this is the use of the terms “Commie” and “Jap.” This can create some teachable moments in a classroom and give you the opportunity to talk about stereotypes and people’s sentiments at this time.

Awards

2012 Newbery Medal

2012 Scott O’dell Award

Review Excerpts

The Horn Book starred review:  “There's more than laugh-out-loud gothic comedy here. This is a richly layered semi-autobiographical tale, an ode to a time and place, to history and the power of reading.”

School Library Journal: “A fast-paced and witty read.”

Connections

*Have students research a date and create a “This Day in History” article.

*Other books that have won the Scott O’dell Award for Historical Fiction:

·         Schlitz, Laura Amy. The Hired Girl. ISBN 9780763678180

·         Larson, Kirby. Dash. ISBN 978-0545416368

Williams-Garcia, Rita. One Crazy Summer. ISBN 978-0060760908

The Midwife's Apprentice

Bibliography

Cushman, Karen. The Midwife’s Apprentice. New York, NY: Clarion Books, 1995. ISBN: 0395692296

Plot Summary

The Midwife’s Apprentice is set in a small village in England during the 14^th century. A young girl is discovered by the midwife, Jane Sharp, after huddling in a dung heap for work. The midwife recognizes the girl’s intelligence and allows her to work in exchange for a small amount of food and a place to sleep. The young girl, who the midwife calls Beetle, works tirelessly for the midwife. She begins to form an identity of her own and adopts the name Alyce. After helping a local boy deliver calves, Alyce takes more of an interest in the work of the midwife and begins studying her in great detail. Her confidence grows when she helps the baliff’s wife deliver a baby that the midwife didn’t think would survive. Later when she is called upon to help deliver another baby, she fails and runs away in shame. She is taken in by an inn keeper in exchange for work. While at the inn, she successfully helps to deliver a baby. This bolsters her confidence and she is finally able to return to the village to resume being the midwife’s apprentice.

Critical Analysis

The main character, Alyce, is likeable and relatable. Unfortunately too many kids understand what it means to be homeless or to live in poverty. Alyce also struggles with self-confidence. This is evident when she fails at delivering the baby and runs away instead of trying again. Her confidence has been beat down by so many circumstance and people that she doesn’t value herself.

The setting takes place in medieval England. Many elements and details in the book help the reader to understand how different life was during this time. During this time period, it was not uncommon for people, children included, to starve in the streets or from lack of protection from the cold. There were not services and organizations to protect people, like we have now. It was also not uncommon for children such as Alyce to lack an education and be unable to read. The act of delivering babies was also very different. The book describes that the mothers would lie on a bed of straw. The midwife was also looked at as having some type of magic spells that helped in the delivery.

Awards

1996 Newbery Medal

Review Excerpts

School Library Journal:  “Characters are sketched briefly but with telling, witty detail, and the very scents and sounds of the land and people's occupations fill each page as Alyce comes of age and heart. Earthy humor, the foibles of humans both high and low, and a fascinating mix of superstition and genuinely helpful herbal remedies attached to childbirth make this a truly delightful introduction to a world seldom seen in children's literature.”

Publisher’s Weekly: “Cushman has an almost unrivaled ability to build atmosphere, and her evocation of a medieval village, if not scholarly in its authenticity, is supremely colorful and pungent.”

Connections

*Karen Cushman provides a discussion guide on her website.

http://www.karencushman.com/pdfs/DG_midwife.pdf

*Other historical fiction books set during WWII:

·         Cushman, Karen. Alchemy and Meggy Swan. ISBN: 9780547577128

·         Cushman, Karen. The Ballad of Lucy Whipple. ISBN: 9780547722153

·         Cushman, Karen. Catherine, Called Birdy . ISBN: 978-0395681862

Gingersnap

Bibliography

Giff, Patricia R. Gingersnap. New York: Wendy Lamb Books, 2013.  ISBN 9780375838910

 Plot Summary

Jayna and her brother Rob only have each other since he rescued her from the foster homes she lived in after the death of their parents. As World War II is reaching its peak in 1944, Rob must answer the call of duty. Much to her dismay, Jayna is left in the care of their landlady, Celine. Before leaving, Rob tells Jayna about a box of mementos that he has put away in his closet. Jayna searches the box and finds what she believes to be a recipe book and a photograph belonging to their grandmother. She follows the clues and sets out on a journey to Brooklyn to find this mystery grandmother. With the help of her turtle, a stone girl, and a ghostly companion, Jayna finds the truth and a whole lot more.

 Critical Analysis

This book is set during World War II. The author included accurate historical details to help the reader understand life during this time. Messages arrive by telegraph instead of email, and food is rationed. With sugar being rationed, it would be difficult to keep a bakery going during this time, yet a bakery is the type of business that people would find comfort in during such a tumultuous time.   

The story is told from Jayna’s point of view. Her actions and thoughts seem accurate for a girl her age. During a difficult time, she finds comfort and companionship from a ghost. Many children can relate to a time when they had an imaginary friend.

The book focuses on the themes of hope and family. Food is also a central theme in the book. Many readers can relate to having certain meals or foods that bring comfort to them or help bring their family and friends together. I listened to the audio book, but I feel that it would be a quick read in print.

Review Excerpts

Kirkus starred review: ““Jayna’s journey is a memorable one.”.”

Booklist: “Though parts of the story seem as improbable as daydreams, readers will be swept along by Jayna’s first-person narrative and moved by the novel’s ending.”

Connections

*Research what life was like during WWII.
*Students can make a soup to share with the class.

*Other historical fiction books set during WWII:

·         Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker. The War That Saved My Life. ISBN 9780147510488

·         Thor, Annika. The Lily Pond. ISBN 9780385908382

·         Peck, Richard. On the Wings of Heroes. ISBN 978083730816

The Right Word

Bibliography

Bryant, Jen. 2014. The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus. Ill. By Melissa Sweet. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978-0802853851.

Plot Summary

Peter Mark Roget was a young boy when his father passed away. His family moved frequently, which made it difficult for him to make friends. It was during this time that he discovered that books were good friends, and began his own book. Instead of writing stories, he wrote lists. Rogets went to medical school and became a doctor, but never lost his love for words and lists. He continued working on his word lists and finished his first book when he was a young doctor. He spent several years adding to his book of word lists. In 1852 Roget published his Thesaurus, and it was an instant hit.

Critical Analysis

This compelling picture book biography portrays a vivid history of the man that created the Thesaurus. On several pages, the text is written in list form. Word bubbles in the illustrations help add to the dialogue. There are also small excerpts that look like they were taken from his word lists.

The illustrations help make the story come alive. The illustrator used a combination of watercolor, collage, and mixed media to give depth to the vibrant illustrations. Words of varying sizes and fonts add to the charm of this book.

The back of the book features a “List of Principal Events.” This is basically a timeline of Roget’s life that includes important world events as well. The main events from Roget’s life appear in black, while world events are written in red. The book also inlcudes notes from the author and illustrator, and a bibliography of sources used.

Awards

2015 Caldecott Honor Book
2015 Sibert Medal Winner

Review Excerpts

Booklist Starred Review: “In brilliant pages teeming with enthusiasm for language and learning, Bryant and Sweet joyfully celebrate curiosity, the love of knowledge, and the power of words."

School Library Journal Starred Review: “Those who have relied upon a thesaurus . . . will gain a greater appreciation for the reference tool in this beautifully designed picture book biography of its creator, Peter Roget. . . . Busy and exuberant, Sweet’s charming watercolor illustrations, layered over collages of vintage images and fonts, capture Roget’s passion for classification while also providing readers new opportunities for discovery."

Connections

* Students can create a timeline of their life, similar to the one in the back of the book.

*Students can create their own mini thesaurus.  

*Other biographies about people who loved words:

·         Bryant, Jen. A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams. ISBN 978-0802853028.

·         Sweet, Melissa. Some Writer!: The Story of E. B. White. ISBN 978-0544319592.

Action Jackson

Bibliography

Greenberg, Jan and Sandra Jordan. 2002. Action Jackson. Ill. By Robert Andrew Parker. Brookfield, CT: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 978-0312367510

Plot Summary

Action Jackson chronicles a time period in Jackson Pollock’s life when he painted Lavender Mist using his famous drip method. He started by spreading a canvas on the ground. Unlike other artists, he did not cover his canvas with white paint or use oil paint or watercolor. He preferred to let the ordinary house paint soak through and leave bare patches peeking through. When he painted, he used his whole body to create movement. He was like an athlete with a paintbrush. He didn’t finish the painting all at once. He believed that, “the painting has a life of its own.” After completing his mesmerizing painting, he returned to his normal routine at home with his wife.

Critical Analysis

On the first page, the author explains that some of the book is imagined. No one knows exactly what transpired on a daily basis during the time Jackson was painting Lavender Mist. The author did base the story on many firsthand reports. In the Notes and Sources section, he references the exact quotes that he used to construct the story.  He also included a bibliography. The back of the book also includes a 2 page biography detailing Jackson’s upbringing and struggles. It includes a few small pictures of Jackson and some of his artwork.

The book has a logical, chronological sequence. It gives a snapshot of an important time period in Jackson Pollock’s life. The simple watercolor illustrations help paint the picture of Jackson’s life.

Review Excerpts

School Library Journal: “This is an exemplary picture-book biography, with lyrical prose and appealing illustrations that capture the moods of its subject, plus fascinating biographical details, photographs, and source notes.”

Publisher’s Weekly: “Whether capturing the intensity of the creative process and the artist's unique choreography or the spare vistas of sea and sky near the artist's Long Island home, Parker's impressionistic pen-and-watercolor illustrations pay homage to the painter's sweep of line and color ("energy and motion made visible," to quote Pollack).”

Connections

*Students can examine some of Jackson Pollock’s artwork and write about how it makes them feel.

*Students can create their own Jackson Pollock inspired artwork.

*Other biographies about artists:

·         Winter, Jeanette. Henri’s Scissors. ISBN 978-1442464841.

·         Rosenstock, Barb. The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art. ISBN 978-0307978486.

·         Winter, Jeanette. My Name Is Georgia: A Portrait by Jeanette Winter. ISBN 978-0152045975.

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.

Creature Feature

Bibliography

Jenkins, Steve. 2014. Twenty-Five Animals Explain Why They Look the Way They Do. Ill. By Robin Page. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0544233515

Plot Summary

Have you ever wondered why a giraffe’s tongue is purple? Or why a giant panda has black eyes? Creature Feature answers those questions and 23 others about animals from around the world. Many of the animals are familiar, such as the bighorn sheep, hamster, and pufferfish. Other animals such as the babirusa, axolotl, and rock hyrax are probably new to most readers. These short conversations are sure to be a delight to readers both young and old.

Critical Analysis

Creature Feature is set up in a question and answer format. The narrator asks an animal a question about a particular facial feature. The animal responds with a short, but informative answer. Each animal’s response is full of humor and charm. The answers are accurate and inspire further exploration. A bibliography of sources is included in the back of the book.

Each question and answer pair is accompanied by an up close and personal portrait of the animal’s face. The illustrator created cut-and-tear paper collages to highlight each animals’ unique features. In each picture, the texture of the paper is able to mimic the animal’s fur, feathers, and skin texture.

 The book also includes a double page spread that has a silhouette of each animal’s body in comparison to an adult human. This allows children to compare the sizes of the various creatures. It also includes facts about the animals’ diet and location.

Review Excerpts

School Library Journal: “Loaded with nuggets of information and layered in humor, this is a winning picture book that is sure to inform as well as entertain.”

Booklist: “It’s a splendid introduction and a memorable read-aloud for young children.”

Connections

*Students can choose one of the animals to research further.

*Other non-fiction books about animals:

·         Jenkins, Steve. What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?. ISBN 978-0618997138.

·         Jenkins, Steve. Actual Size. ISBN 978-0547512914.

·         Jenkins, Steve. Biggest, Strongest, Fastest. ISBN 978-0395861363.