Nation

By Terry Pratchett

1. Bibliography

Pratchett, Terry. 2008. Nation. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780061433030.

2. Plot Summary

Nation is a coming of age story about a boy, Mau, and a girl, Daphne that are brought together through an unfortunate situation.  Mau was on a nearby island completing a rite of passage in order to become a man when he notices a change in the surrounding waters.  Mau travels home through rough seas only to find that the entire population of his island, called Nation, has been wiped out by a gigantic wave.  Daphne is a young lady from England, who was traveling on a ship through the Great Southern Pelagic Ocean in order to go live with her father.  Daphne’s father was sent to Rogation Sunday Island to act as its governor for England.  Daphne’s ship is shipwrecked in the same storm and by the same wave that wiped out Mau’s people.  She soon learns she is the only survivor of her ship and discovers that she is not alone on the island. 

Daphne and Mau form a bond of friendship and learn to communicate through hand motions and pictures until survivors from other islands come seeking refuge.  A few of the survivors can speak some English and help Daphne communicate.  Throughout the story Mau struggles with the fact that he is a boy because he never completed his rite of passage and is still trying to make sense of the death of his people and why the God that his people worshipped did not protect them.  Daphne is struggling to survive and to let go of the rules and propriety that her grandmother drilled into her and the fact that she may never make it back home.  Together Mau and Daphne face many problems from birthing a baby to fighting off cannibals and pirates. Through a series of life changing events Mau becomes a chief to the survivors of the wave and Daphne becomes a healer. They come to the realization that the traditions and rules of their people do not define them and become stronger, smarter, and braver then they ever thought they could be. 

3. Critical Analysis

Nation is a coming of age tale about two people that come together through tragedy in order to survive and rebuild a civilization.  The story takes place in a parallel world that resembles our own in a time period that is similar to our 19^th Century.  The author Terry Pratchett uses the main characters Mau and Daphne to relay themes of loss, growing up, and rebellion against the norms of society and religion.  Mau is a boy that is in the process of completing the rituals of his people in order to become a man, when tragedy strikes.  Mau is on a neighboring island when he realizes something isn’t right and returns home to his island only to find that a giant wave wiped out all of his people.  The other main character, Daphne is a proper English girl who is traveling on a ship in order to go and live with her father when the wave hits.  Daphne soon finds out she is the only survivor and is shipwrecked on the island called Nation.  Mau and Daphne form a bond born out of the need to survive and a need for company. 

Throughout the book Mau and Daphne face many challenges together and break free of the norms of their societies.  Mau’s people have many religious traditions and rituals and Mau is constantly plagued by a need to uphold them.   Daphne comes from a wealthy English family where women are raised to be prim and proper and their sole purpose is to marry and have children.   In the aftermath of the wave, refugees from neighboring islands arrive on the island of Nation seeking shelter.  Mau and Daphne begin to find themselves and take on new roles as a leader and healer in order to do what it takes to help the people and rebuild the civilization.  Daphne delivers a baby, amputates a leg, and even poisons a man for the good of the Nation.  Mau nurses a wild hog in order to find milk for a baby, saves a man from a shark, and acts as both a protector fighting off pirates and a guide for his people.  All of these experiences slowly heal Mau’s broken heart and lesson Daphne’s fear of never returning home.  The two of them not only rebuild a civilization they rebuild themselves.

Terry Pratchett uses stylistic elements such as humor and thought provoking dialogue to make the reader question what is really important to a civilization.  Throughout the book you learn that in addition to basic needs, freedom to be ones self and knowledge and learning are necessary elements for a civilization to thrive.  This book has the right balance of humor, adventure, and self discovery to make it a favorite among teens.  It is a great read and because of its complex themes and vocabulary I recommend it for students ages 13 and up. 

4. Review Excerpts

Michael L. Printz Honor Book 2009

ALA Notable Children’s Book 2009

ALA Top 10 Best Book for Young Adults 2009

ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice Book 2008

Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book

Chivago Public Library Best of the Best

School Library Journal Best Book

Kirkus Review Best Children’s book

Bulletin Blue Ribbon

Publishers Weekly Best Book

Booklist Starred Review- “Somewhere in the South Pelagic Ocean,” a tidal wave wipes out the population of a small island—except for Mau, who was paddling his dugout canoe home after a month spent alone, preparing to become a man. The wave also sweeps a sailing ship carrying Daphne, an English girl, up onto the island and deposits it in the rain forest, where Mau finds her. Over the months that follow, they learn to communicate while welcoming more people to their shores and building a community of survivors. Mau searches for the meaning behind his people’s gods, while Daphne applies her nineteenth-century knowledge of science and history to the many puzzles she discovers in this unfamiliar place. Broad in its scope and concrete in its details, this unusual novel strips away the trappings of two very different nations to consider what it is people value and why. Certain scenes are indelible: Mau’s nonverbal communication to Daphne that a pregnant woman has landed, and she must help with the birth; or the terrifying yet awesome descent into a cave. Quirky wit and broad vision make this a fascinating survival story on many levels. Grades 7-10. --Carolyn Phelan

Kirkus Starred Review-“A searching exploration of good and evil, fate and free will, both as broad and as deep as anything this brilliant author has produced so far. ”

Publishers Weekly Starred Review-“Neatly balancing the somber and the wildly humorous in a riveting tale of discovery, Pratchett shows himself at the height of his powers.”

New York Times Review-“A wonderful story, by turns harrowing and triumphant.”

Horn Book Starred Review-“It is hard to imagine a reader who won’t feel welcomed into this nation.”

Booklist Starred Review-“Quirky wit and broad vision make this a fascinating survival story on many levels.”

School Library Journal Starred Review-“A rich and thought-provoking read.”

5. Connections  

What would you do if you found that you were shipwrecked on an island with a native from the island who didn’t speak English?  How might you communicate?  What survival skills would you use to survive in the wild?  Share and example of what you, as the teacher or  librarian, might do in this situation.  Then have the students write a one page paper about the prompt and share there thoughts with a partner. 

Read other books by Terry Pratchett and discuss common themes.  Many of these books are from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series.

A Hat Full of Sky: The Continuing Adventures of Tiffany Aching and the Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett ISBN: 9780060586621

Night Watch by Terry Pratchett ISBN: 9780613673426

I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett ISBN: 9780061433047

Truckers by Terry Pratchett ISBN: 9780552551007

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett ISBN: 9780060012380

Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett ISBN: 9780060890339

In the book Nation, Terry Pratchett bases his fantasy world off of our world.  Though there is no island called Nation, The Great Southern Pelagic Ocean Islands in the book are based off of the islands in the South Pacific Ocean.  Research and learn more about the islands in our South Pacific near Australia and New Zealand.  Have the students each pick and island and make a poster showing facts about it.

Here are a few websites that tell more information about the history of the islands in the South Pacific.

http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ac05

http://www.ck/

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107975.html

http://gohawaii.about.com/od/south-pacific/a/south-pacific-101.htm

http://www.suite101.com/southpacifichistory

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

By Grace Lin

1. Bibliography

Lin, Grace. 2009. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. New York, NY: Little Brown and Company. ISBN 9780316038638.

2.  Plot Summary

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a fantasy novel about a young girl named Minli who lives in a village in the Valley of Fruitless Mountain.  Minli’s family and village are very poor and the people work hard all day in order to produce enough rice to support their families.  Many of the people in her village are tired, worn out, and sad.  However Minli is happy and has a bright spirit because her father tells her stories every night.  He tells her the tale of how Fruitless Mountain got its name and the story of the Old Man in the Moon. The old man in the moon is portrayed as a wise man that brings people together and can change a person’s fate.  Minli’s Ma thinks the stories Ba tells are rubbish and often complains about how poor they are.  One day a man selling lucky fish comes to Minli’s village.  Minli believes that if she buys a fish maybe it will bring them luck and make Ma happy.  She takes one of her coins and buys a fish.  Ma is very upset and complains that the fish is just another mouth to feed, so Minli decides to take the fish and release it into the river.  The fish turns out to be a magical fish and tells Minli where to find the Old Man in the Moon.  Minli believes if she finds him she can ask him how to increase her families’ fortune.

Minli sneaks out of her house and sets off on a journey to find the Old Man in the Moon, who lives on the top of Never Ending Mountain.  Throughout Minli’s journey she makes many friends that help her along the way.  One of her new friends is a dragon that cannot fly and decides to go with her to speak with the Old Man in the Moon.  They face many dangers together from wild monkeys to an evil green tiger and make a lot of friends that help them reach their destination.  As Minli travels she continues to hear tales of the Old Man in The Moon, dragons, and the life of a wealthy magistrate who decided to defying the Old Man in the Moon by taking fate into his own hands.  The folktales Minli hears turn out to be true and show how ones actions and outlook on life can often lead to a good or bad fate.  This exciting tale is also filled with beautiful illustrations that add to the rich descriptions of the people, places, and stories that Minli hears.   

3. Critical Analysis

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is an exciting and adventurous tale of a young girl named Minli who decides to run away from home in order to find the Old Man in the Moon.  She believes if she finds him she can ask him how to change her families’ fortune.   Minli makes many friends along the way that help her on her quest; such as a talking fish, a dragon, a boy with a buffalo, a powerful King, and two adorable twins named Da-Fu and A-Fu.  One of Minli’s good friends is a dragon who cannot fly and together they face many challenges, from wild monkey’s to an evil green dragon. 

The author Grace Lin weaves many beautiful tales of the Old Man in the Moon, the Jade Dragon and the Green Dragon or evil Magistrate throughout the story of Minli’s journey to find the Old Man in the Moon.  As Minli gets closer and closer to finding the Old Man in the Moon the folktale like stories began to come together like pieces in a puzzle.  The tales that Minli hears are very old and she finds out that they are true.  The author shows the reader how the actions of the characters in these tales have directly influenced the current fate of many of the characters in the story that Minli meets. 

Grace Lin uses short chapters, rich descriptions, and easy to read text and vocabulary to create the charming story of Minli’s quest to change her families fortune.  Lin portrays the themes and ideas of changing one’s fate, how ones attitude or outlook can affect their life, and the concept of understanding what’s really important in life throughout the story. The theme of changing one’s fate is most evident in the tales of the Green Dragon and the Old Man in the Moon.  Lin weaves a tale of how the Green Dragon or evil Magistrate tries to out smart the Man in the Moon who has told him that his son will marry a grocer’s daughter.  The Magistrate has the grocer’s family killed so that his son is free to marry someone else.  As the tale unfolds we learn that the women with whom his son marries is an orphan who was adopted by one of the emperor’s grandchildren.  We find out that it was the same woman that the Magistrates son was fated to marry.  Minli and her parents also learn a powerful lesson in this story.  That changing ones fortune or having a big fortune is not what will make them happy; its being with their loved ones and enjoying and being grateful for what they have that’s important. 

I loved the adventurous plotline, the charming characters, and exciting folktales that were weaved throughout this story.  The magical elements such as dragons, talking fish, and the Old Man in the Moon were unnatural but believable and added greatly to the mystery of the plotline.  This book is for reader’s ages nine and up.  It has some complex words and the folk like tales mixed in with the plot line could be confusing for younger readers. 

 

4. Review Excerpts

2010 Newbery Honor
NY Times Bestseller (Feb 4th, March 14th 2010)
IndieBound Bestseller
2010 Bank Street College of Education Josette Frank Award
2010 Indies Choice Book Awards Finalist For Middle Reader Book of the Year
Al Roker's TODAY Show Kid's Book Club Pick, December 2009
2010 Mythopeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature
Booklist Top 10 SF/Fantasy for Youth:2009
2009 Parents' Choice Gold Winner
2010 CCBC Choices List
2010 EB White Read-Aloud Honor Book
2010 Massachusetts Book Award for Children/Young Adult Literature

School Library Journal Starred Review-Gr 3-6 Living in the shadow of the Fruitless Mountain, Minli and her parents spend their days working in the rice fields, barely growing enough to feed themselves. Every night, Minli's father tells her stories about the Jade Dragon that keeps the mountain bare, the greedy and mean Magistrate Tiger, and the Old Man of the Moon who holds everyone's destiny. Determined to change her family's fortune, Minli sets out to find the Old Man of the Moon, urged on by a talking goldfish who gives her clues to complete her journey. Along the way she makes new friends including a flightless dragon and an orphan and proves her resourcefulness when she tricks a group of greedy monkeys and gets help from a king. Interwoven with Minli's quest are tales told by her father and by those she meets on the way. While these tales are original to Lin, many characters, settings, and themes are taken from traditional Chinese folklore. The author's writing is elegant, and her full-color illustrations are stunning. Minli's determination to help her family, as well as the grief her parents feel at her absence, is compelling and thoroughly human. Jennifer Rothschild, Prince George's County Memorial Library System, Oxon Hill, MD

Booklist Starred Review- In this enchanted and enchanting adventure, Minli, whose name means “quick thinking,” lives with her desperately poor parents at the confluence of Fruitless Mountain and the Jade River. While her mother worries and complains about their lot, her father brightens their evenings with storytelling. One day, after a goldfish salesman promises that his wares will bring good luck, Minli spends one of her only two coins in an effort to help her family. After her mother ridicules what she believes to be a foolish purchase, Minli sets out to find the Old Man of the Moon, who, it is told, may impart the true secret to good fortune. Along the way, she finds excitement, danger, humor, magic, and wisdom, and she befriends a flightless dragon, a talking fish, and other companions and helpmates in her quest. With beautiful language, Lin creates a strong, memorable heroine and a mystical land. Stories, drawn from a rich history of Chinese folktales, weave throughout her narrative, deepening the sense of both the characters and the setting and smoothly furthering the plot. Children will embrace this accessible, timeless story about the evil of greed and the joy of gratitude. Lin’s own full-color drawings open each chapter. Grades 3-6. --Andrew Medlar

5. Connections

Minli and her parents learn a valuable lesson in the book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.  As a class discuss what lessons Minli learns and her parents learn.  Ask the students what they believe the Green Dragon or Magistrate should have learned from his mistakes and discuss your answers?

This is a writing prompt to use with your class.  Imagine you have traveled to speak with the Old Man in the Moon.  What wish would you ask him for if you could pick one wish?  It must be a good wish that will benefit your family or the world.  Write a paragraph about what you would ask the Old Man in the Moon for and why. 

In the book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, the main character Minli hears many tales that are based on real Chinese folktales.  As a class read other Chinese folktales and talk about common elements if any that are found in many of the folktales. 

Chinese Fairy Tales and Fantasies Translated and Edited by Moss Roberts ISBN: 9780394739946

The Dragon Emperor: A Chinese Folktale Retold by Wang Ping ISBN: 9780822567448

Kingdom retold by Shelley Fu, Illustrations by Patrick Yee ISBN: 9780804838078

Tales of a Chinese Grandmother: 30 Traditional Tales from China by Frances Carpenter and Malthe Hasselriis ISBN: 9780804834094

Treasury of Chinese Folk Tales: Beloved Myths and Legends from the Middle

The Weaving of a Dream Retold by Marilee Heyer ISBN: 9780140505283

This is Grace Lin’s website where you can find more information about her and other books she has written to share with the students.

http://www.gracelin.com/content.php?page=wherethemountainmeetsthemoon

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute

By Jarrett J. Krosoczka

1. Bibliography

Krosoczka, Jarrett. 2009. Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute. New York: Knopf. ISBN 9780375846830.

2. Plot Summary

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute is an exciting graphic novel about a school cafeteria lady called Lunch Lady who mysteriously fights crime with her sidekick and fellow lunch lady named Betty.  The story begins with Lunch Lady capturing three robbers who stole money from a bank.  Then Lunch Lady goes to work and is seen serving breakfast to the Breakfast Bunch, made up of three students Hector, Dee, and Terrance.  As she is serving them breakfast she meets an unusual new substitute.  The substitute Mr. Pasteur says that Mr. O’Connell is out sick and he will be filling in.  Lunch Lady becomes very suspicious because Mr. O’ Connell hasn’t been sick in twenty years.  She goes with Betty to the secret boiler room behind the refrigerator and the two of them keep an eye on Mr. Pasteur and the other teachers. 

Meanwhile Hector, Dee, and Terrance are dealing with school bullies, tons of homework from Mr. Pasteur, and a desire to know who the Lunch Lady really is.  After school Lunch Lady follows Mr. Pasteur while the Breakfast Bunch is following her.  We soon learn that Mr. Pasteur is a Cyborg created by a teacher at the school and Lunch Lady and the kids land right in the middle of a warehouse full of his Cyborg army.  Will they make it out of the warehouse in one piece?  Read this adventurous story and find out what happens to Lunch Lady and Hector, Dee, and Terrance. 

3. Critical Analysis

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute is an exciting action packed graphic novel about a cafeteria lady who fights crime with the help of her sidekick and fellow lunch lady, Betty.  Lunch Lady’s real name is never revealed and she is always referred to as Lunch Lady throughout the book.  The author Krosoczka uses comic book style boxed frames mixed with full page spreads and only the colors black, white, and yellow in this visually appealing comical book.  As Lunch Lady is snooping around trying to figure out who the suspicious new substitute Mr. Pasteur is, the Breakfast Bunch kids Hector, Dee, and Terrance are wondering about who Lunch Lady really is.  Lunch Lady is trying to solve a mystery and overthrow and evil plot involving cyborgs in order to save her school and Hector, Dee, and Terrance follow her and land themselves in big trouble. 

Though this book is a fantasy novel there are realistic elements that children can identify with such as the school setting, dealing with bullies, homework and strange cafeteria food.  Krosoczka also packs this book with comical scenes such as when Lunch Lady tries out the spat-copter gadget that goes crazy and causes her to fly around the room and when Lunch Lady spies on the teachers and finds Mr. Johnson reciting poetry about beans. 

Krosoczka’s easy to read vocabulary, detailed pictures, and action words, like “crash and swoosh,” make this book easy to understand and an exciting read.  Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute has a reading level of 2^nd grade and up, but students from grades two to five would probably also enjoy reading this book.  I highly recommend the Lunch Lady series by Krosoczka for its Mystery, Humor, and Action packed plots.   

4. Review Excerpts

2009 Winner of Kid's Indie Next List "Inspired Recommendations for Kids from Indie Booksellers"
2010 Winner of Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices
Nominee of the New York State Charlotte Award

Booklist-This tongue-in-cheek super heroine graphic novel will hit the spot for chapter-book readers. Lunch Lady and Betty, her assistant in both the cafeteria and her role of wrong-­righting super sleuth, investigate the strange case of an absent teacher, his creepy substitute, and a plan to grab the Teacher of the Year Award by truly foul means. Three little kids join in the action as Lunch Lady, equipped with a variety of high-tech kitchen gadgets like a spatu-copter and a lunch-tray laptop, tracks a cleverly disguised robot to his maker’s lab, where a whole army of cyborgs require kicking, stomping, and the wielding of fish-stick nunchucks. Yellow-highlighted pen-and-ink cartoons are as energetic and smile-provoking as Lunch Lady’s epithets of “Cauliflower!” and Betty’s ultimate weapon, the hairnet. There is a nice twist in the surprise ending, and the kids’ ability to stand up to the school bully shows off their newfound confidence in a credible manner. Little details invite and reward repeat readings with visual as well as verbal punning. Grades 2-4. --Francisca Goldsmith

Kirkus Review-Punk Farm creator Krosoczka breaks out of picture books with this agreeably silly graphic novel for young readers. Classmates Hector, Dee and Terrence have always wondered about the Lunch Lady: What does she do when she’s not making chicken-patty pizza? Tending to her many cats? Taking care of her family? After some amateur sleuthing, the kids discover that their Lunch Lady is out fighting the forces of evil, of course, with her trusty sidekick, Betty. This dynamic duo uncovers a nefarious plot hatched by a villainous teacher to overrun the school with cyborg substitutes. Backed up by Betty’s ingenious arsenal of amalgamated cafeteria utensils including Spatu-copter, Chicken Nugget Bombs and Lunch Tray Laptop, the two are on the case. This graphic novel alternates between boxy, regular panels and full-page spreads, keeping readers’ visual interest piqued. Filled with goofy puns and grayscale art with cheery yellow accents, this is a delightfully fun escapist read. Be sure to recommend this to fans of Captain Underpants. Publishes simultaneously with Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians (Graphic fiction. 7-10)

5. Connections

Have you ever wondered what your teachers or cafeteria ladies are like out of school?  In Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute the students follow Lunch Lady after school to learn more about her.  A better way of learning more about someone is to interview them.  Teach the students about interviews and what kinds of questions are usually asked in an interview.  Ask different teachers and faculty for permission to let your students interview them.  Then put the students into groups and have them conduct their interviews during a set aside time and share interesting facts about the person they interviewed with the class.

Another good idea and alternative to an interview would be to have guest speakers come and speak to your class or in your library such as policeman, fireman, or parents of the students.  The students can create and choose good questions to ask the guest speaker. 

Read other books in the Lunch Lady series by Jarrett J. Krosoczka.  Do a character analysis of Lunch Lady using a graphic organizer such a character map.  What qualities does Lunch Lady have that make her a hero?

Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians: Lunch Lady #2 by Jarrett J. Krosoczka ISBN: 9780375846847

Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta: Lunch Lady #3 by Jarrett J. Krosoczka ISBN: 9780375860942

Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown: Lunch Lady #4 by Jarret J. Krosoczka ISBN: 9780375860959

Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit: Lunch Lady #5 by Jarrett J. Krosoczka ISBN: 9780375867293

Lunch Lady and the Field Trip Fiasco: Lunch Lady #6 by Jarrett J. Krosoczka ISBN: 9780375867309

Research and learn more about Jarrett J. Krosoczka and read other books he has written besides the Lunch Lady Series.

Annie Was Warned by Jarrett J. Krosoczka ISBN: 978-0375815676

Baghead by Jarrett J. Krosoczka ISBN: 978-0553111729

Good Night, Monkey Boy by Jarrett J. Krosoczka ISBN: 978-0440417989

Max for President by Jarrett J. Krosoczka ISBN: 978-0440417897

Punk Farm by Jarrett J. Krosoczka ISBN: 978-0440417934

Punk Farm on Tour by Jarret J. Krosoczka ISBN: 978-0375833434

This is Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s website where you can find more information about him.

http://www.studiojjk.com/

The Wednesday Wars
Written By Gary D. Schmidt

1. Bibliography

Schmidt, Gary. 2007. The Wednesday Wars. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 9780547237602

2. Plot Summary

The Wednesday Wars is a comical historical fiction book that takes place in 1967 in Long Island, New York.  The story follows Holling Hoodhood a seventh grader at Camillo Junior High, who just happens to be Presbyterian in a town where everyone is either Catholic or Jewish.  This wouldn’t ordinarily be a problem except that Holling is the only Presbyterian in his class and is convinced that his teacher, Mrs. Baker, hates him because on Wednesday afternoons all the other students leave to go to either Hebrew School or Catechism.  Mrs. Baker subjects him to series of chores on Wednesdays, a few of which end with horrible results, like letting Mrs. Bakers rats loose in the school when cleaning their cage.  She finally decides to have him read and discuss Shakespeare on Wednesday afternoons, which Holling believes is all a part of her plan to “bore him to death.”  Throughout the story Holling deals with many other issues besides Mrs. Baker, such as trying to be the perfect son to parents that neglect him, having to act in an embarrassing town play, and taking first girl friend on a date.  This exciting tale with the ever present Vietnam War in the back drop will make you laugh, cry, and lead you on a journey of self-discovery with Holling Hoodhood in 1967.

3. Critical Analysis

The Wednesday Wars is a coming of age story about a seventh grade boy named Holling Hoodhood, who lives in Long Island, New York.  The story takes place from 1967 to 1968 during the Vietnam Era and touches on topics such as war, racism, neglect, love, and growing up or finding yourself, as Hollings sister would say.  Gary Schmidt, the author, cleverly uses Shakespeare’s plays and compares them to real life events that Holling, the main character experiences.  In the background of this story is the Vietnam War.  Schmidt touches on the themes of racism, loss that pertain the events happening in the war.  When the husband of Mrs. Bigio, the school cafeteria lady, is killed in the war, someone vandalizes the Catholic Church where Mai Tai, a student in Hollings class and a refugee from Vietnam, lives.  Holling relates this event to The Tempest by William Shakespeare, stating that “Sometimes there isn’t a Prospero to make everything fine again.  And sometimes the quality of mercy is strained.” 

Even though this story often touches on serious topics Schmidt also inserts humorous events throughout the book. A couple of examples are when Holling has to play Ariel, a fairy from The Tempest who wears yellow tights with feathers on them, in a town play, and when he accidently lets the class pets, which are rats, loose in the school.  The comical events in this story really appeal to the reader and lighten the mood of the darker themes.

One of the more serious themes in the story is neglect.  Schmidt shows us what it’s like living in a home that gives the appearance of being “perfect.”  Holling has parents who are never there for him when he needs them, even when he ends up in the hospital.  Holling soon realizes who his real friends and family are and that his teacher, cares for him and does not hate him as he first thought.  Schmidt shows us how Holling grows up during the story and gains “guts” as his sister suggests he do on one occasion.  At the end of the book he defies his stubborn father by going to rescue his sister Heather.  She ran away from home in order to find her-self and became stranded in Milwaukee.  With Holling’s help Heather finally makes it home and the two of them realize that finding yourself is not what’s important; sometimes its being found that really matters.   

This story is for students in sixth grade and up.  The author often rights about serious topics and current events during the Vietnam Era that may be inappropriate for younger students.  I highly recommend this book and found it to be thought provoking, interesting, and funny.  Gary Schmidt really did the research and pants a realistic tale of what life was like growing up in New York during the Vietnam War.

4. Review Excerpts

Newbery Honor Book Award 2008

ALA Notable Book

YALSA Best Book for Young Adults

Publishers Weekly, Starred Review: "Schmidt, who’s LIZZIE BRIGHT AND THE BUCKMINSTER BOY won both Printz and Newbery Honors, delivers another winner...deeply satisfying."

Kirkus, Starred Review: "Schmidt ... [gets] to the emotional heart of every scene without overstatement ... another virtuoso turn by the author of LIZZIE BRIGHT."

ALA Booklist, Starred Review: "Schmidt...makes the implausible believable and the everyday momentous...a gentle, hopeful, moving story."

Horn Book, Starred Review: "Schmidt rises above the novel's conventions to create memorable and believable characters."

School Library Journal: "[An] entertaining and nuanced novel.... There are laugh-out-loud moments that leaven the many poignant ones."

Booklist Starred Review: “[A] quietly powerful coming-of-age novel. . . . [Schmidt] offers a gentle, hopeful, moving story of a boy who, with the right help, learns to stretch beyond the limitations of his family, his violent times, and his fear, and leap into his future with his eyes and his heart wide open.

5. Connections

In the book The Wednesday Wars Holling is asked to do many things that he really doesn’t want to do, such as wearing tights and acting in a play or cleaning erasers for Mrs. Baker.  Talk about a time when you had to do something that you didn’t want to, but you did it anyway.  What were your reasons for doing the activity?  How did it make you feel? 

Hollings parents are never around when he needs them.  When he ends up in the hospital after he saves his sister they don’t come.   When Holling is supposed to go to the baseball game after the play his dad doesn’t show up.  When he runs a big race they don’t come to watch.  How do you think these events made Holling feel?  Do you think this made him more independent?  What characters in the book are always there for Holling? (ex. Mrs. Baker, Meryl Lee, Danny Hupfer) Write a couple of paragraphs about how you think Holling felt when his parents were not around when he needed them and about the characters that were there to support him. 

In the book The Wednesday Wars Holling reads some of Shakespeare’s plays.  Research and learn more information about Shakespeare.  Then as a class read one of his plays and discuss common themes found in the play.  Below are some of Shakespeare’s plays.

Hamlet by William Shakespeare ISBN: 978-0743477123

King Lear by William Shakespeare ISBN: 978-0743482769

Macbeth by William Shakespeare ISBN: 978-0743477109

A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare ISBN: 978-1619492233

Othello by William Shakespeare ISBN: 978-0743482820

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare ISBN: 978-0743477116

The Tempest by William Shakespeare ISBN: 978-0743482837

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare ISBN: 978-1461030218

This activity is more suited for high school students and up.  Research and learn more about the Vietnam War Era. Make a cause and effect chart based on your findings.  There are many good websites that give information on the war.  Here are some websites that give brief descriptions and are appropriate for high school students.

http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/vietnamwar/p/VietnamBrief.htm

http://www.surfnetkids.com/vietnam.htm

http://kids.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry?id=VietnamW

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietnam/

Chains

Written by Laurie Halse Anderson

1. Bibliography

Anderson, L. H. 2008. Chains. New York, NY: Atheneum Books. ISBN 9781416905851

2. Plot Summary

Chains is an exciting story about a young girl named Isabel who was born into slavery and cannot escape it.  Isabel and her sister Ruth lose their mother first and their old owner Mrs. Finch, who freed them of slavery in her Will.  However Mrs. Finch’s nephew, Mr. Robert, has other plans and sells Isabel and Ruth to a Mr. and Mrs. Lockton of New York.  Mr. and Mrs. Lockton are not the kindest people.  Mrs. Lockton parades little Ruth around like a doll to her friends until Ruth has a seizure.  Ruth has something wrong with her and is often referred to as adorable, but simple minded.  Isabel minds her manners and does her chores until one day when Mrs. Lockton sends Ruth away because she is superstitious and afraid of her and the seizures.  Isabel has no idea where her sister is and directs her anger at Mrs. Lockton, which results in horrible consequences. 

Meanwhile in the background of Isabel’s story is the beginning of the Revolutionary War in the year 1776.  Isabel befriends a boy named Curzon, who is a slave for a Rebel supporter.  Curzon convinces Isabel to help the Rebel cause by spying on Mr. Lockton and his friends who are Loyalists.  The situation becomes very dangerous for Isabel and Curzon when fighting and fires break out and the Loyalists take over New York City.  This exciting and enlightening historical fiction novel will make you want to read more about the American Revolution and Isabel’s plight.

3. Critical Analysis

Anderson masterfully weaves a tale of a poor slave girl struggling to gain her and her sisters freedom and the beginning of the American Revolution together.  Anderson’s main character Isabel is a spirited girl who would do anything to protect her little sister, Ruth, even take a beating for her.  When Isabel and Ruth are sold to Mr. and Mrs. Lockton, a Loyalist couple from New York, Isabel finds it increasingly harder to protect her sister.  Mrs. Lockton separates them by having adorable little Ruth dress up and parade around for her friends all day while Isabel is off doing chores.  When Mrs. Lockton witnesses Ruth having a fit or seizure she becomes afraid of her and sends her away.  Isabel is furious and directs her anger at Mrs. Lockton, which results in horrible consequences that will make the reader want to cry.  It is when Isabel is at her weakest that she finds a friend in Mrs. Seymour, Mr. Lockton’s older mother who tries to help her throughout the story.  Anderson clearly shows the unjust and debasing life of a slave in 1776 in New York City. 

She also shows us the secret network of Rebel and Loyalist communication during the Revolutionary War by having Isabel become a spy for her friend Curzon.  Isabel has made up her mind to avoid the situation between the two sides, until Curzon joins the Rebel cause in place of his master and ends up in jail.  In order to keep Curzon alive and fed Isabel must spy and carry messages for Curzon’s jail mates.  Anderson’s fast passed and detailed writing style keeps the reader wanting more.  The historical facts are cleverly entwined with Isabel’s story and are not overwhelming to the reader.  Chains shows you another side of history from the point of view of Isabel, who can’t see the good or the benefit of supporting either side of the American Revolution.

Anderson’s rich character development and interesting plot will quickly draw in readers.  This book has a 4.7 reading level or fourth grade, but probably will appeal more to older students because of the details of the American Revolution and harsh themes of slavery, war, and poverty.  The book also touches on the topic of survival and overcoming odds.  I highly recommend this book and cannot wait to read the sequel called Forge.

4. Review Excerpts

2009 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction

2008 National Book Award Finalist

IRA Teachers' Choices booklist for 2009

Selected by Indie Booksellers for the Winter 2009 Kids' List

2008 Booklist's Editors Choice-Books for Youth

2009 Top 10 Black History Books for Youth

2009 Notable Children's Book

The Washington Post Review- As she did so well with Fever 1793, Laurie Halse Anderson vividly captures a chaotic historical time. Shortlisted for this year's National Book Award, Chains is a nuanced portrayal of a nation and a girl bound for freedom. –Mary Quattlebaum

Hornbook Review-“Anderson's novel is remarkable for its strong sense of time and place and for its nuanced portrait of slavery and of New York City during the Revolutionary War.”

Publishers Weekly Review-Anderson (Speak; Fever 1793) packs so much detail into her evocation of wartime New York City that readers will see the turmoil and confusion of the times, and her solidly researched exploration of British and Patriot treatment of slaves during a war for freedom is nuanced and evenhanded, presented in service of a fast-moving, emotionally involving plot. Ages 10-up. (Oct.)

Kirkus Reviews-" 'Freedom and liberty' has many meanings," but enslaved Isabel knows that while Loyalists and Patriots battle for their own versions of freedom, she is "chained between two nations" that uphold slavery. She wonders, "If an entire nation could seek its freedom, why not a girl?" Anderson brilliantly recreates New York City in the summer of 1776, viewed through the eyes of a remarkable heroine. Taught to read by her previous owner, Isabel knows the Bible and has memorized poetry, and her eloquent first-person voice portrays her life as a slave even as she spies for the rebels, covertly delivers food to Bridewell Prison and plots her own escape. Readers will care deeply about Isabel and may feel frustrated by the abrupt ending to the novel, clearly poised for a sequel or two. While waiting, they can enjoy M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: Volume II, The Kingdom on the Waves, another superb take on the subject. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 10 & up)

5. Connections

Isabel’s freedom is taken from her by Mr. Finch in the beginning of the story.  She also suffers many injustices at the hands of cruel Mrs. Lockton.  How did this made you feel as a reader?  How did characters such as Mrs. Seymour, Becky, and Curzon help Isabel?  Discuss your ideas as a class or in groups, and then write two or three paragraphs about your ideas.

Laurie Halse Anderson cleverly inserts facts about the Revolutionary War into the background of this book.  Research on the internet or read other non-fiction books about the American Revolution and compare them to the historical facts found in the book Chains.

Non-fiction books on the American Revolution:

American Revolution Battles and Leaders by DK Publishing ISBN: 978-0789498892

Liberty or Death: The American Revolution: 1763-1783 by Betsy Maestro ISBN: 978-0688088026

In 1776 by Jean Marzollo ISBN: 978-0545110730

George vs. George: The Revolutionary War as Seen by Both Sides by Rosalyn Schanzer ISBN: 978-0792273493

You Wouldn't Want to Be at the Boston Tea Party!: Wharf Water Tea, You'd Rather Not Drink by Peter Cook ISBN: 978-0531124475

Websites on the American Revolution:

http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/revolutionarywar.htm

http://www.kidinfo.com/American_History/American_Revolution.html

http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/northamerica/after1500/history/revolution.htm

http://www.kidskonnect.com/subject-index/16-history/251-american-revolution.html

Do an author study on Laurie Halse Anderson.  Read other books she has written and talk about her writing style.  Compare and contrast the main characters of her other books to Isabel. 

Historical Fiction:

Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson ISBN: 978-1416961451

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson ISBN: 978-0689848919

Some of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Young Adult Contemporary Fiction Books:

Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson ISBN: 978-0142400012

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson ISBN: 978-0312674397

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson ISBN: 978-0142411841

Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson ISBN: 978-0142405703

Lily’s Crossing

Written By Patricia Reilly Giff

1. Bibliography

Giff, P. R. 1997. Lily’s Crossing. New York, NY: Yearling. ISBN 0440414539

2. Plot Summary

Lily’s Crossing is a story about a ten year old girl named Lily Mollahan who is vacationing at her family’s summer house in 1944 in Rockaway, located in Long Island, New York.  Lily lost her mother when she was a baby and lives with her father, Poppy, and grandmother, Gram.  Lily is excited and happy to spend her summer in Rockaway until she learns that her father is going off to war and her best friend, Margaret, who lives in Rockaway, will be moving to a wartime factory town.  Lily deals with feelings of guilt at not saying goodbye to her father and suffers from loneliness until she meets a boy named Albert.  Albert is a Hungarian refugee that is staying with the Orban’s, a family that lives in Rockaway, for the summer.  Albert is shy and suffers from guilt and loneliness, just like Lily, because he had to leave his little sister behind in France and never got to say goodbye.  Lily and Albert quickly become friends, but Lily has a problem with telling lies.  She tells a lie to Albert that may put him in danger.  Lily’s Crossing shows an accurate depiction of what it’s like living on the Atlantic Coast in America during World War II, and the sacrifices that people have to make during the war. 

3. Critical Analysis

Patricia Reilly Giff paints a realistic portrait of life in Rockaway in 1944 during World War II.  Lily’s Crossing is based on historical events that Giff remembers growing up during the war and experiences she had when she visited Rockaway as a child.  Lily’s Crossing tells the story of Lily Mollahan, an outgoing little girl, who loves to write, and has a problem with lying.  Lilly often tells lies to make her-self seem more interesting or out of hurt feelings.  She tells her new friend Albert, a Hungarian refugee that had to leave his sister behind in France, a lie that Albert believes and may cost him his life.  Albert lost half his family in Hungary and would do anything to get back to his sister, Ruth.  Giff shows us in Lily’s Crossing, how friendship and family help the main characters make it through tough times.

Giff also realistically depicts what it’s like to live on the Atlantic coast of Long Island where the United States destroyer ships sail back and forth to Europe and search lights scan the coast for wartime enemies.  She tells of the lack of eggs and other items, and how the town morns the loss of her best friend Margaret’s brother, who is missing in action.  Giff uses short chapters and fast passed dialogue that will appeal to young readers.  This book is appropriate for readers ages 10 and up and has a reading level of fifth grade. 

Lily’s Crossing shows another side of America during World War II through the eyes of a child.  Lily and Albert’s bond born through loss and loneliness and their need for friendship and Lily’s ability to overcome her mistakes, really appealed to me as a reader.  I recommend this book to student’s fifth grade and up because of its difficult themes. 

4. Review Excerpts

1998 Newbery Honor Book

ALA Notable Book

Boston Globe--Horn Book Honor Book.

Publisher’s Weekly Review-"Exceptional characterizations and a robust story line...this has all the ingredients that best reward readers."

School Library Journal Review- "Giff's well-drawn, believable characters and vivid prose style make this an excellent choice."

Booklist Review-"With wry comedy and intense feeling...Giff gets across a strong sense of what it was like on the home front during World War II...The friendship story is beautifully drawn."

The Horn Book Magazine Starred Review-"Details...are woven with great effect into a realistic story."

The New York Times Book Review-"Brilliantly told."

The Bulletin-"[A] fine piece of historical fiction. . .fully satisfying.”

5. Connections

Research and learn more about America during World War II.  What kinds of sacrifices did Americans have to make for the war effort?  Put the students into groups to research and learn more about America during World War II.  Then have them make a list of items Americans had to go without or things Americans did to support the war effort.  Have the students write the list on poster board or construction paper and share their findings with the class.

Books about the American Home Front:

American Homefront in World War II: Almanac by Allison McNeil ISBN: 978-0787676513

Children of the World War II Home Front by Sylvia Whitman ISBN: 978-1575054841

Rosie the Riveter: Women Working on the Home Front in World War II by Penny Colman ISBN: 978-0517885673

World War II for Kids: A History with 21 Activities by Richard Panchyk ISBN: 978-1556524554

Websites about the American Home Front during WWII:

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/wwii/ahf/life/index.htm

http://library.thinkquest.org/15511/

http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/homefront/

http://www.ameshistoricalsociety.org/exhibits/events/rationing.htm

http://americanhistory.about.com/od/worldwarii/a/wwiioverview_4.htm

Lily and Albert have many things in common in the book Lily’s Crossing but are also different in some ways.  One example of differences is how Lily can be dishonest at times and Albert is a very honest character.  Discuss how Lily and Albert’s characters are similar and how they are different.  Make a Venn diagram and put the similarities in the middle and the differences on the outside circles.

Read other books about children during the WWII.  Discuss how the problems the characters face are similar or different to the characters in Lily’s Crossing. 

Other Historical Fiction books about children during WWII:

The Cookcamp by Gary Paulsen ISBN: 978-0439523578

Don’t you know there’s A War On? By AVI ISBN: 978-0380815449

Escaping Into the Night by D. Dina Freidman ISBN: 978-1416986485

Homefront by Doris Gwaltney ISBN: 0689868421

Journey to America by Sonia Levitin ISBN: 978-0689711305

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry ISBN: 978-0547577098

Secrets by Dorothy Hoobler ISBN: 978-0761316046

Silver Days by Sonia Levitin ISBN: 978-0689715709

Stepping on the Cracks by Mary Downing Hahn ISBN: 978-0547076607

Willow Run by Patricia Reilly Giff ISBN: 978-0440238010