1.BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cushman, Karen. 1995. The midwife's apprentice. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN: 9780064406307
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In medieval England, a nameless, homeless and abused orphan girl called Brat and Dung Beetle who sleeps in dung heaps for warmth and eat whatever she can scavenge is taken in by a sharp-tempered midwife who finds potential of free labor and allows Beetle to work as her apprentice in exchange for food. In spite of obstacles and hardship, eventually gains the three things she most wants: a full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world. While under the "employ" of the mean midwife, Beetle learns not only the art of midwifery, but also about herself, human nature, and the resilience of the human heart. Later on Birdy or Beetle is named Alyce.
Once Alyce faced an obstacle fearing she could not deliver the baby of the
Bailiff’s sister’s and ran away and found a job in a nearby inn. One day she over heard the midwife saying babies do not stop being born and a midwife cannot quit trying to help them into the world and went back begging the midwife to take her back as an apprentice. Though rejected, she persisted and vowed she would not quit again and was taken back by the midwife.
A small step at a time, Alyce knows she is not a bug but a person and works her way upward into being accepted and success.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The critical analysis would be presented base on characters, plot, setting, theme, as well as style.
Characters
Beetle is strong, young and courageous but does not have a confidence in herself. She is kind, gentle and persevering character. Later on she learns to believe in herself and becomes a successful midwife. Growing up unwanted most of her life has left a dent in her self-confidence. Learning to be persistent and never quit, Beetle, later on known as Alyce, finally finds success in life.
On the contrary, Jane, the midwife, is mean, sharp-tongued, and quick-tempered yet she is a hard working person who does not quit in her responsibility.
Plot
The plot is not presented by the overwhelming realistic events of the time period. The story just follows the story lines with the historical background of people, language and cultures in the settings. In the story, Cushman superbly depicts the midwifery in medieval England. The “Author’s Note” gives an accurate explanation on the occupation of the midwife at which time several women who practiced this used several potions, tricks, and even spells, as in the excerpt from the book below:
“In the afternoon Beetle left the village for the woods, where she gathered honey, trapped birds, and collected herbs, leeches, and spiders’ webs.”
As well, Cushman tells of the gritty ways that women experienced childbirth when dealing with a midwife like Jane Sharp,
“Then she slapped Emma’s great bulge of a belly, lifted her from behind her shoulders, and gave her a good shake.”
These little things help young readers to understand the real life pictures of those days quite well.
Setting
The story sets itself in the medieval England where it was dangerous, primitive and raucous. The advent of the midwifery also suits well in that era. The scenery, the inn and the way people and places are described yields the story as authentic.
Theme
The Midwife’s Apprentice is a children fantasy historical fiction. It is initially about a sad life young street urchin who does not have a name who is taken in by the local midwife to be trained as her midwifery apprentice. The theme of the story is Alyce’s journey of self discovery to develop her self confidence, which helps bring her to a better life. The book demonstrates the valuable lessons via Alyce’s life of never giving up. This is a timeless truth. Young readers can learn from Alyce’ example and try to endure to the end, so they can overcome obstacles and become successful as well.
Style
The writing style is fantasy with spare and straight-forwardness about the everyday vulgarities of life in the Middle Ages. Though it is a little dry and lacks the humor and spirit like some other stories, it is relevant to the theme of the writing. The language is fit for the era. For example, ‘… unless you be a priest..’ and ‘Good Miss, be you an angel or a saint?’
Additional Criteria
Though the book does not have any reference or footnote to authenticate the events, social or cultural settings, judging by the descriptions, the practices and the language use in the story, I believe the story as a fiction to be authentic.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Best Books for Young Adults, 1996
Children's Notable Books 1996
Newbery Medal Winners, 1996
Tayshas High School Reading List 1996-1997
Starred reviewed this book is a fascinating view of a far distant time.
5. CONNECTIONS
The first connection book is also a Newbery Honor Book from the same author. The historical fiction book described a 13th-century English girl’s perspective and experiences from an English nobleman family during medieval era around 1290.
Cushman, Karen. 1995. Catherine, called Birdy. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN: 0064405842
The other connection book is also a historical fiction based on the time before the Civil War. In 1859, twelve-year-old Clotee was a house slave; therefore she must hide that she could read and write. She was the main character to portray her experiences and concern freedom from her daily journal. I picked up this connection book because it portrays a lot of African American slavery history and some racism issue.
McKissack, Pat. 2002. A picture of freedom: the diary of Clotee, a slave girl. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 0439381096
2011年4月21日 星期四
Historical Fiction review: Hattie Big Sky
1.BIBLIOGRAPHY
Larson, Kirby. 2006. Hattie Big Sky. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN: 0385903324
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In 1917, while America was in a full swing involvement in the World War I against Germany, an orphaned 16 years old girl who had been bouncing back and forth from one cousin to another was living with her uncle and aunt as a charity case in Arlington, Iowa, the last in the series, received a letter from her deceased unknown uncle in Montana that she was an heir to his 320 acre claim. In January 1918, after receiving the letter, she decided to move out of the suppressive aunt’s behavior and ventured to be on her own, a homesteader. The homestead life was not a grand one but it was adventurous. In a blistering cold she arrived Montana to find out she had less than a year to cultivate and prove the land to win the claim. Through the harsh times, a kind German family Mueller and a few other neighbors helped make her life bearable. The World War I sentiments did not make things easier for her. The local anti-German had caused a lot of troubles for her and her neighbors. Hattie proved herself to be more mature than she was thought to be and won not only the admiration but also the fight though she finally lost the battle due to the big hailstorm destroying her crops.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The critical analysis would be presented base on characters, plot, setting, theme, as well as style.
Characters
Hattie was the protagonist of the story. She was just a simple 16 year old girl who had to weather through a lot of hardship and sentiments just like any common people like anyone else. She lived a realistic life through events, hardships and times with endurance to the end. Though the story was written in 2010, the author has depicted Hattie in a very vivid picture of a person in 1900s especially in the attitudes, the language used. The terms ‘chomps,’ ‘beau’ and others though sounded funny to today’s ears were real to the time.
Kirby Lawson has created a wonderful character in Hattie. She was a tough girl who was willing to work to make it on her own. But, Hattie is more than just determination--she's also kind and compassionate without being silly or sentimental. In 1918 Montana, anti-German sentiment was strong, yet Hattie stood up to her wild Montana neighbors and supported her friend Karl Mueller when he was attacked, both physically and verbally, for being German-born. Additionally, Hattie's feelings for her school friend, Charlie, who was away at the front, and whom Hattie might have fallen in love with, are true to character as you may find it in the following paragraph:
"So maybe I did spend a night now and then dreaming silly girl dreams about him, even though everyone knew he was sweet on Mildred. My bounce-around life had taught me dreams were dangerous things--they look solid in your mind, but you just try to reach for them. It's like gathering clouds."
Plot
The historical plot was presented very clearly and accurately. The accuracy of the timing during which America was very sentimental against ‘Huns’ was correct for that time period. The advent of ‘new bicycle,’ ‘motorcycle’ and automobiles like the ‘Touring’ were also timely. The presentation of historical facts or information was not overwhelming because they came in bits and pieces through out the story. On the contrary, it helped young readers to remember those facts easily through the narration Hattie made. For example, when Jim rode the new bicycle into the haystack and when he celebrated the armistice by riding throughout the homestead areas on his motorcycle.
Setting
The setting was very explicit and with full authenticity. The story started in Arlington, Iowa and moved on to Montana area stating the names of towns and places like Wolf Point, Montana and Vida. At the end of the story, it mentioned the move of the Muellers to Seattle, a place in Washington State, where there were a lot of German populations in the country at that time.
Theme
The historical them, the wartime struggle, was a very notable one. The morals of the time of the writing were almost as real as those of today’s; the sentiment against Germans versus the sentiment against the Muslims who have been terrorizing many different parts of the world. Besides the wars outside of the US being so parallel, the internal war was also comparable. The war sentiment towards the ‘enemy within—the Germans ‘Huns’ in the US in 1917-1918 and the sentiment towards the Muslims in the US in the present years. The lingering of the ‘short wars’, which were supposed to be short but had become lengthy and costly ones was also parallel to each other.
Style
The story style was woven together interestingly. The story employed configurative narration style with a lot of creativity in it. In almost every chapter, there would be a letter or pieces of the letters to either Charlie or Uncle Holt with the message within related to the narration Hattie was telling in the story. The author, besides narration, used a lot of dialogs to make the story active and vivid and full of interactions. One thing to observe was the fact that the story telling style made readers full of anticipation though the guesses often time was wrong. For example, the story would be narrated about the mob and I would think there would be a hanging of a ‘Hun lover’. Yet, it turned out positive through some interventions. The language itself is easy and appropriate for children age 12 as the author stated to be the intended audience. Yet the story captures also adult readers. The sentences were short. The messages were precise. The style was according to the time of the story.
In summary, the story is authentic. This in a way is possibly comparable to reading Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little Home in the Prairie though it is shorter and completed in one book. The story and resources were well researched and can be authenticated. City names like Wolf Point and Vida are real cities in Montana. The authenticity of the war sentiments during the time of 1917-1918 is also true. The readers, through reading the fiction will learn appropriate amount of historical events and information from the story, though not overwhelming but enough to rouse readers’ interest.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Newbery Honor Books 2007
Best Books for Young Adults ; 2007.
Children's Notable Books ; 2007.
Starred Review ”writing in figurative language that draws on nature and domestic detail to infuse her story with the sounds, smells, and sights of the prairie, she creates a richly textured novel full of memorable characters.”
5. CONNECTIONS
The fences between us: the diary of Piper Davis is the first connection book I found with similar war event in the setting. The story was portrayed that a 13-year-old Japanese American girl named Piper Davis Seattle went through the hard time at school after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Larson, Kirby. 2010. The fences between us: the diary of Piper Davis. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 9780545224185
The other connection book I found is also a historical fiction book. The main character is similar to Hattie Brooks in Hattie Big Sky. The setting is around 20 century during the epidemic of 1918. Eleven-year-old Lydia Pierce and her fourteen-year-old brother are taken by their grieving uncle to be raised in the Shaker community at Sabbathday Lake after being orphaned. The story includes author's note about the Shakers.
Lowry, Lois. 2011. Like the willow tree: the diary of Lydia Amelia Pierce. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 9780545144698
Larson, Kirby. 2006. Hattie Big Sky. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN: 0385903324
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In 1917, while America was in a full swing involvement in the World War I against Germany, an orphaned 16 years old girl who had been bouncing back and forth from one cousin to another was living with her uncle and aunt as a charity case in Arlington, Iowa, the last in the series, received a letter from her deceased unknown uncle in Montana that she was an heir to his 320 acre claim. In January 1918, after receiving the letter, she decided to move out of the suppressive aunt’s behavior and ventured to be on her own, a homesteader. The homestead life was not a grand one but it was adventurous. In a blistering cold she arrived Montana to find out she had less than a year to cultivate and prove the land to win the claim. Through the harsh times, a kind German family Mueller and a few other neighbors helped make her life bearable. The World War I sentiments did not make things easier for her. The local anti-German had caused a lot of troubles for her and her neighbors. Hattie proved herself to be more mature than she was thought to be and won not only the admiration but also the fight though she finally lost the battle due to the big hailstorm destroying her crops.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The critical analysis would be presented base on characters, plot, setting, theme, as well as style.
Characters
Hattie was the protagonist of the story. She was just a simple 16 year old girl who had to weather through a lot of hardship and sentiments just like any common people like anyone else. She lived a realistic life through events, hardships and times with endurance to the end. Though the story was written in 2010, the author has depicted Hattie in a very vivid picture of a person in 1900s especially in the attitudes, the language used. The terms ‘chomps,’ ‘beau’ and others though sounded funny to today’s ears were real to the time.
Kirby Lawson has created a wonderful character in Hattie. She was a tough girl who was willing to work to make it on her own. But, Hattie is more than just determination--she's also kind and compassionate without being silly or sentimental. In 1918 Montana, anti-German sentiment was strong, yet Hattie stood up to her wild Montana neighbors and supported her friend Karl Mueller when he was attacked, both physically and verbally, for being German-born. Additionally, Hattie's feelings for her school friend, Charlie, who was away at the front, and whom Hattie might have fallen in love with, are true to character as you may find it in the following paragraph:
"So maybe I did spend a night now and then dreaming silly girl dreams about him, even though everyone knew he was sweet on Mildred. My bounce-around life had taught me dreams were dangerous things--they look solid in your mind, but you just try to reach for them. It's like gathering clouds."
Plot
The historical plot was presented very clearly and accurately. The accuracy of the timing during which America was very sentimental against ‘Huns’ was correct for that time period. The advent of ‘new bicycle,’ ‘motorcycle’ and automobiles like the ‘Touring’ were also timely. The presentation of historical facts or information was not overwhelming because they came in bits and pieces through out the story. On the contrary, it helped young readers to remember those facts easily through the narration Hattie made. For example, when Jim rode the new bicycle into the haystack and when he celebrated the armistice by riding throughout the homestead areas on his motorcycle.
Setting
The setting was very explicit and with full authenticity. The story started in Arlington, Iowa and moved on to Montana area stating the names of towns and places like Wolf Point, Montana and Vida. At the end of the story, it mentioned the move of the Muellers to Seattle, a place in Washington State, where there were a lot of German populations in the country at that time.
Theme
The historical them, the wartime struggle, was a very notable one. The morals of the time of the writing were almost as real as those of today’s; the sentiment against Germans versus the sentiment against the Muslims who have been terrorizing many different parts of the world. Besides the wars outside of the US being so parallel, the internal war was also comparable. The war sentiment towards the ‘enemy within—the Germans ‘Huns’ in the US in 1917-1918 and the sentiment towards the Muslims in the US in the present years. The lingering of the ‘short wars’, which were supposed to be short but had become lengthy and costly ones was also parallel to each other.
Style
The story style was woven together interestingly. The story employed configurative narration style with a lot of creativity in it. In almost every chapter, there would be a letter or pieces of the letters to either Charlie or Uncle Holt with the message within related to the narration Hattie was telling in the story. The author, besides narration, used a lot of dialogs to make the story active and vivid and full of interactions. One thing to observe was the fact that the story telling style made readers full of anticipation though the guesses often time was wrong. For example, the story would be narrated about the mob and I would think there would be a hanging of a ‘Hun lover’. Yet, it turned out positive through some interventions. The language itself is easy and appropriate for children age 12 as the author stated to be the intended audience. Yet the story captures also adult readers. The sentences were short. The messages were precise. The style was according to the time of the story.
In summary, the story is authentic. This in a way is possibly comparable to reading Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little Home in the Prairie though it is shorter and completed in one book. The story and resources were well researched and can be authenticated. City names like Wolf Point and Vida are real cities in Montana. The authenticity of the war sentiments during the time of 1917-1918 is also true. The readers, through reading the fiction will learn appropriate amount of historical events and information from the story, though not overwhelming but enough to rouse readers’ interest.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Newbery Honor Books 2007
Best Books for Young Adults ; 2007.
Children's Notable Books ; 2007.
Starred Review ”writing in figurative language that draws on nature and domestic detail to infuse her story with the sounds, smells, and sights of the prairie, she creates a richly textured novel full of memorable characters.”
5. CONNECTIONS
The fences between us: the diary of Piper Davis is the first connection book I found with similar war event in the setting. The story was portrayed that a 13-year-old Japanese American girl named Piper Davis Seattle went through the hard time at school after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Larson, Kirby. 2010. The fences between us: the diary of Piper Davis. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 9780545224185
The other connection book I found is also a historical fiction book. The main character is similar to Hattie Brooks in Hattie Big Sky. The setting is around 20 century during the epidemic of 1918. Eleven-year-old Lydia Pierce and her fourteen-year-old brother are taken by their grieving uncle to be raised in the Shaker community at Sabbathday Lake after being orphaned. The story includes author's note about the Shakers.
Lowry, Lois. 2011. Like the willow tree: the diary of Lydia Amelia Pierce. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 9780545144698
Historical Fiction review: One crazy summer
1.BIBLIOGRAPHY
Williams-Garcia, Rita. 2010. One crazy summer. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN: 9780060760885
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Eleven-year-old Delphine has only a few fragmented memories of her mother, Cecile, who abandoned the family in Brooklyn after giving birth to her third daughter. In the summer of 1968, Delphine’s father decides that seeing Cecile is “something whose time had come,” so Delphine boards a plane with her sisters to Cecile’s home in Oakland, California. Upon their arrival, Delphine and her sisters found a cold welcome as they discovered that their mother, a dedicated poet and printer, is resentful of the intrusion of their visit. There were no Disneyland and movie stars. “No one told y’all to come out here,” Cecile says. “No one wants you out here making a mess, stopping my work.” Like the rest of her life, Cecile’s work is a mystery conducted behind the doors of the kitchen that she forbids her daughters to enter. For meals, Cecile sends the girls to a Chinese restaurant and later to the local, Black Panther–run community center, where Cecile is known as Sister Inzilla and where the girls begin to attend youth programs.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The book does not cite sources or recommend further reading. Yet, I believe the author has thoroughly done a research on the subject and presented a balanced fact and fiction though it may present a lot of stereotyping ideas children age younger then 8 or 9 may not be able to understand or differentiate. The critical analysis would be presented base on characters, plot, setting, theme, as well as style.
Characters
Delphine is presented as a regimented, responsible, mature, self-controlled, smart and strong-willed person. She is a caretaker and the protector of her young sisters. Though only eleven, she is the most responsible of her age. She knows how to act quiet and say the right words to avoid danger. Yet, she is only eleven. She fears standing up to her mother whom she is visiting for just 4 weeks. Each of the sisters emerges as a distinct, memorable character, whose hard-won, tenuous connections with their mother build to an aching, triumphant conclusion. She also displays some attitudes towards prejudice when she punches boys who tease her due to her sex, age and color.
This book is about experiences many of us share, for example, on the lighter side, taking airplane trips for the first time, being teased about some cherished possessions and feeling attracted to the opposite sex. One Crazy Summer has strong characters, attitude and humor, which all help create an enjoyable read. It also however reveals tough truths about racism
Plot
Though the story is in 1960s, today’s girl readers will be able to identify with Delphine and her sisters on several levels. They are confused, struggling and trying to survive and overcome. They live in the world of conflicts and abandonment. Through struggling and being a big sister, Delphine had to become a strong leader and supporter of her little sisters whom she has cared for since her mother left them. Her time and todays’ children’s time are not much different.
The story tells of an ethnic group’s life and social conflicts. It started with Delphine’s father seeing that it is time for his children who were abandoned by his wife, Cecile, to see meet up with their mother. He sent them, though being rejected my Big Mama, his mother, to see Cecile in Oakland, California. They arrived to find to be unwelcomed by their mother. They had to struggle to live. Their mother sent them to get their own meals and put them in the Black Panther training camp. Through the training, they learned new attitudes towards the society. They had new experiences seeing those social struggles in the people of color’s minds especially when Bobby, a Black Panther member who hid away from the police was shot dead in their house.
The plot is a little strong for children who may not have paid attention to social changes and development.
Setting
The time of the setting is in 1960s (1968 to be exact) during the African-American social revolution. There are two sides of the African American’s social differences to be compared. One is of those of Delphine’s grandmother and the other of those her grandmother calls ‘no good’ blacks of her mother and the Black Panther. Being in Manhattan, New York, seems to be different from in Oakland, California. On venturing to Oakland, the girls had seen hippies and have experienced the social uprising of the Black Panther. The author has presented an authentic and a realistic setting in this story through time, events and location for things really happening in the history. Manhattan and the Bronx are there. Alabama (where there were a lot of black people) where grandma came from was mentioned. Hippies and Black Panther social revolution mentioned were real in the 60’s, especially in San Francisco.
Theme
The book centers its theme on the Black Panther movement through the story of three little girls’ summer camp provided by the Black Panther in Oakland. It processes by depicting a clear picture of social differences between blacks and whites. It moves from the three girls being at the airport where their grandmother is trying to talk to the ‘Negro’ stylish lady through her own social class but was politely ignored by the lady’s gentle smile. It further goes on into the story of the girls travel on the airplane until their being among their mother’s social circle, the Black Panther. There, the girls learn to live among people of different attitudes, purposes and activities. They also learn to survive. Until today, this social struggle still holds true. Children and readers of this era can find the parallelism between the historical truth of the 60s and the present day’s.
Style
In the narrative, the tones of the story are quite strong and captivating. The language use of the black people is also used to make it realistic from the beginning. One can tell it when they call themselves ‘Sister Mukumbu’ and ‘Sister Delphine’ what social group the characters are from, for example. Their language use is captivating. They are ‘interactive and terse.’ They are dialoguing and not monologous or monotonous. The conversations are crisp inviting readers to follow on. As well, the attitudes, personal and socially, are portrayed clearly in the characters throughout the events of the story. They author has beautifully brought together the reality of social group, language, attitudes, struggles and historical revolution in one place. One intriguing thing is the mentioning of the historical moments challenging readers to find out more. For example, when she mentions the Party without overexplaining. What is COINTELPRO? Who si Li’l Bobby Hutton? What happened the night he died? Who is Edridge Cleaver? Why do they call the cops “pigs’? and some others. Those are history in themselves.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction (Awards)
Coretta Scott King Author Award Winners 2011
Newbery Honor Books , 2011
From the Amazon.com, Teri Markson reviewed that this book had memorable characters (all three girls have engaging, strong voices) and a powerful story, this is a book well worth reading and rereading.
5. CONNECTIONS
Like Sisters on the Homefront is the first connection book I have found from the same Coretta Scott King Author, Rita Williams-Garcia. The main character named Gayle Whitaker, a fourteen-year-old girl, was sent by her mother to stay with her Aunt and Uncle when she got a trouble. It is also portrait of contemporary black culture and the changing life experience from one place to the other place.
Williams-Garcia, Rita. 1998. Like Sisters on the Homefront. New York : Puffin. ISBN: 0140385614
The second connection book I found is the typical historical fiction. Myers created a setting and character in World War II. This book is a Printz winner of a book. The story describes that a seventeen-year-old soldier from central Virginia recorded his battle experiences during the war.
Myers, Walter Dean. 1999. The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins: A World War II Soldier. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 0439050138
Williams-Garcia, Rita. 2010. One crazy summer. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN: 9780060760885
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Eleven-year-old Delphine has only a few fragmented memories of her mother, Cecile, who abandoned the family in Brooklyn after giving birth to her third daughter. In the summer of 1968, Delphine’s father decides that seeing Cecile is “something whose time had come,” so Delphine boards a plane with her sisters to Cecile’s home in Oakland, California. Upon their arrival, Delphine and her sisters found a cold welcome as they discovered that their mother, a dedicated poet and printer, is resentful of the intrusion of their visit. There were no Disneyland and movie stars. “No one told y’all to come out here,” Cecile says. “No one wants you out here making a mess, stopping my work.” Like the rest of her life, Cecile’s work is a mystery conducted behind the doors of the kitchen that she forbids her daughters to enter. For meals, Cecile sends the girls to a Chinese restaurant and later to the local, Black Panther–run community center, where Cecile is known as Sister Inzilla and where the girls begin to attend youth programs.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The book does not cite sources or recommend further reading. Yet, I believe the author has thoroughly done a research on the subject and presented a balanced fact and fiction though it may present a lot of stereotyping ideas children age younger then 8 or 9 may not be able to understand or differentiate. The critical analysis would be presented base on characters, plot, setting, theme, as well as style.
Characters
Delphine is presented as a regimented, responsible, mature, self-controlled, smart and strong-willed person. She is a caretaker and the protector of her young sisters. Though only eleven, she is the most responsible of her age. She knows how to act quiet and say the right words to avoid danger. Yet, she is only eleven. She fears standing up to her mother whom she is visiting for just 4 weeks. Each of the sisters emerges as a distinct, memorable character, whose hard-won, tenuous connections with their mother build to an aching, triumphant conclusion. She also displays some attitudes towards prejudice when she punches boys who tease her due to her sex, age and color.
This book is about experiences many of us share, for example, on the lighter side, taking airplane trips for the first time, being teased about some cherished possessions and feeling attracted to the opposite sex. One Crazy Summer has strong characters, attitude and humor, which all help create an enjoyable read. It also however reveals tough truths about racism
Plot
Though the story is in 1960s, today’s girl readers will be able to identify with Delphine and her sisters on several levels. They are confused, struggling and trying to survive and overcome. They live in the world of conflicts and abandonment. Through struggling and being a big sister, Delphine had to become a strong leader and supporter of her little sisters whom she has cared for since her mother left them. Her time and todays’ children’s time are not much different.
The story tells of an ethnic group’s life and social conflicts. It started with Delphine’s father seeing that it is time for his children who were abandoned by his wife, Cecile, to see meet up with their mother. He sent them, though being rejected my Big Mama, his mother, to see Cecile in Oakland, California. They arrived to find to be unwelcomed by their mother. They had to struggle to live. Their mother sent them to get their own meals and put them in the Black Panther training camp. Through the training, they learned new attitudes towards the society. They had new experiences seeing those social struggles in the people of color’s minds especially when Bobby, a Black Panther member who hid away from the police was shot dead in their house.
The plot is a little strong for children who may not have paid attention to social changes and development.
Setting
The time of the setting is in 1960s (1968 to be exact) during the African-American social revolution. There are two sides of the African American’s social differences to be compared. One is of those of Delphine’s grandmother and the other of those her grandmother calls ‘no good’ blacks of her mother and the Black Panther. Being in Manhattan, New York, seems to be different from in Oakland, California. On venturing to Oakland, the girls had seen hippies and have experienced the social uprising of the Black Panther. The author has presented an authentic and a realistic setting in this story through time, events and location for things really happening in the history. Manhattan and the Bronx are there. Alabama (where there were a lot of black people) where grandma came from was mentioned. Hippies and Black Panther social revolution mentioned were real in the 60’s, especially in San Francisco.
Theme
The book centers its theme on the Black Panther movement through the story of three little girls’ summer camp provided by the Black Panther in Oakland. It processes by depicting a clear picture of social differences between blacks and whites. It moves from the three girls being at the airport where their grandmother is trying to talk to the ‘Negro’ stylish lady through her own social class but was politely ignored by the lady’s gentle smile. It further goes on into the story of the girls travel on the airplane until their being among their mother’s social circle, the Black Panther. There, the girls learn to live among people of different attitudes, purposes and activities. They also learn to survive. Until today, this social struggle still holds true. Children and readers of this era can find the parallelism between the historical truth of the 60s and the present day’s.
Style
In the narrative, the tones of the story are quite strong and captivating. The language use of the black people is also used to make it realistic from the beginning. One can tell it when they call themselves ‘Sister Mukumbu’ and ‘Sister Delphine’ what social group the characters are from, for example. Their language use is captivating. They are ‘interactive and terse.’ They are dialoguing and not monologous or monotonous. The conversations are crisp inviting readers to follow on. As well, the attitudes, personal and socially, are portrayed clearly in the characters throughout the events of the story. They author has beautifully brought together the reality of social group, language, attitudes, struggles and historical revolution in one place. One intriguing thing is the mentioning of the historical moments challenging readers to find out more. For example, when she mentions the Party without overexplaining. What is COINTELPRO? Who si Li’l Bobby Hutton? What happened the night he died? Who is Edridge Cleaver? Why do they call the cops “pigs’? and some others. Those are history in themselves.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction (Awards)
Coretta Scott King Author Award Winners 2011
Newbery Honor Books , 2011
From the Amazon.com, Teri Markson reviewed that this book had memorable characters (all three girls have engaging, strong voices) and a powerful story, this is a book well worth reading and rereading.
5. CONNECTIONS
Like Sisters on the Homefront is the first connection book I have found from the same Coretta Scott King Author, Rita Williams-Garcia. The main character named Gayle Whitaker, a fourteen-year-old girl, was sent by her mother to stay with her Aunt and Uncle when she got a trouble. It is also portrait of contemporary black culture and the changing life experience from one place to the other place.
Williams-Garcia, Rita. 1998. Like Sisters on the Homefront. New York : Puffin. ISBN: 0140385614
The second connection book I found is the typical historical fiction. Myers created a setting and character in World War II. This book is a Printz winner of a book. The story describes that a seventeen-year-old soldier from central Virginia recorded his battle experiences during the war.
Myers, Walter Dean. 1999. The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins: A World War II Soldier. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 0439050138
2011年4月6日 星期三
Genre 4 nonfiction: The Extraordinary Mark Twain
1.BIBLIOGRAPHY
Kerley, Barbara. 2010. The Extraordinary Mark Twain. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0545125081
2.PLOT SUMMARY
Thirteen-year-old Susy Clemens wants the world to know that her papa, Mark Twain, is more than just a humorist and sets out to chronicle a comprehensive biography of the American icon. From the book you can conclude either Twain was the best father ever lived or he was simply favored by his era, or perhaps a bit of both. The book starts with one of those tidbits writers sometimes stumble across. Kerley uses Susy’s text from a notebook filled with the neat cursive of the day to construct the dual biography, the story of Twain and the story of Susy telling about Twain. Every few pages, Kerley includes sample journal or minibooks stapled (and glued) to the spine of the book. The books, though short, tells of Twain’s life sketch from being the boy who became an artist, a steamboat pilot, until becoming a famous author. The story covers not only Twain’s life as an author but also as a family man with ordinary human life of perfection and flaws.
3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This is one of the best brief biography picture books I have read. The illustration is full of colors and humors. The story is based on the first point of view to portrait what Susy’s father, Mark Twain. The critical analysis would based on the four perspectives, including accuracy, organization, design, as well as style.
Accuracy
Barbara Kerley is the award-winning author of several picture books, a Caldecott Honor and an ALA Notable Book, and Walt Whitman: Words for America, a Sibert Honor Book. The books was presented as Susy’s own words journal therefore it can be counted as accurate from a 13 year old daughter’s eyes in 1885. The illustration actually was taken from the book by Susy and was translated into the illustration book concept by Kerley. Though the book is short, it is precise and covers a lot of ground as Mark Twain’s biography. Being a first hand biography by Twain’s own young daughter, it is quite a different kind of biography one usually reads in general. Illustrations are funny and realistic, not counting Susy’s own language errors, which otherwise makes it authentic. At the end of the book, the author has a lot of references on her sources of information, which will be a good example for readers to know that each quote comes from some referenced sources.
Organization
The layout is logical. It starts off with a rationale telling why Susy writes the journal about her father, “People probably thought they were Mark Twain experts. But they were wrong…” She wanted people to know her papa as who he was, not only a humorist in other people’s eyes but also a philosopher. The story moves along in a clear sequence of an ordinary daily life and routines with Susy’s observation. She notes not only her father’s work, personality and habits but also his relationship with his family and other people. There are also some funny parts like Twain’s forgetfulness of his own writing when he was enjoying reading one of his own books not knowing it was his own. The story is not complex and though it does not have subheadings or table of content or index, the small leaflets themselves are presented as sections each in themselves. At the end, Kerley even adds a page of guidelines to help children learn to write their own biography as well. It is a good surplus to help children kick start their interest and have a way to try it out.
Design
The book design is very attractive and inviting though it may be a little difficult for young children to ready due to its older linguistic style as well as grammatical and spelling errors (or differences.) It is designed in a journal entry format with a single sheet folded into simple leaflets pasted on one of the pages each time a page is turned. It is a cute and interesting idea. It makes readers excited to find out what is hidden behind those folded little pages. There are some readability problems from time to time, however, especially with the small fonts and the calligraphy type. Small children may find it difficult to read due to small print size and the font type. The illustrations, however, are very attractive and lively. They can make me smile. In each illustration, which has been placed appropriately, there will be a short explanation of what is going on in the pages. Coupling with Susy’s jounal, those text descriptions make perfect senses of what is going on. I consider the design effective and it communicates the subject matter very clearly. There is one observation I should make though. The journal in the leaflets at times may be too long for young children’s attention span.
Style
The illustrations and writing style is clear, lively and very interesting. It reveals the author’s passion and enthusiasm very clearly. The style and design encourage readers’ curiosity and make them wonder what will happen next. The vocabulary in the illustrative texts themselves are appropriate though those in the ‘journal’ at times are a little archaic according to the time it is supposed to be written, A.D. 1885. As earlier mentioned, there might be a little too many words in some of the journal leaflets for young children to keep their attention going on, especially when the fonts are quite small. For children of older ages and higher grades, that may not be a problem.
In summary, the book hardly is hardly the first book to spotlight Twain, though it may be one the first picture books about his life, it is a good supplement to help young and old readers understand the life of Mark Twain from the insider’s (and family member’s) perspectives.
4.REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
A Junior Library Guild selection
Kirkus in School Library Journal says, “Kerley's conversational, quotation-rich narration effectively complements Susy's insights, and the result is an affectionate portrait of Twain as writer and family man… A heartwarming tribute to both the writing life in general and the well-loved humorist-oops, sorry Susy… "Pholosopher!"
Publisher Weekly comments, "extraordinary biography" complete this accessible and inventive vision of an American legend.”
5.CONNECTIONS
The following are the three connection books you may find interesting.
The first one is another biographies book about Mark Twain.
Fleischman, Sid. 2008. The trouble begins at 8: a life of Mark Twain in the wild, wild West. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN: 0061344311
The second is a brief biography picture book with simple text by Barbara Kerley.
Kerley, Barbara. 2008. What to do about Alice? How Alice Roosevelt broke the rules, charmed the world, and drove her father Teddy crazy. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN: 0439922313
The third book is also another picture biography book for young readers about George Washington.
Giblin, James. 1998. George Washington: A Picture Book Biography. Illustration by Michael Dooling. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 0590481010
Kerley, Barbara. 2010. The Extraordinary Mark Twain. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0545125081
2.PLOT SUMMARY
Thirteen-year-old Susy Clemens wants the world to know that her papa, Mark Twain, is more than just a humorist and sets out to chronicle a comprehensive biography of the American icon. From the book you can conclude either Twain was the best father ever lived or he was simply favored by his era, or perhaps a bit of both. The book starts with one of those tidbits writers sometimes stumble across. Kerley uses Susy’s text from a notebook filled with the neat cursive of the day to construct the dual biography, the story of Twain and the story of Susy telling about Twain. Every few pages, Kerley includes sample journal or minibooks stapled (and glued) to the spine of the book. The books, though short, tells of Twain’s life sketch from being the boy who became an artist, a steamboat pilot, until becoming a famous author. The story covers not only Twain’s life as an author but also as a family man with ordinary human life of perfection and flaws.
3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This is one of the best brief biography picture books I have read. The illustration is full of colors and humors. The story is based on the first point of view to portrait what Susy’s father, Mark Twain. The critical analysis would based on the four perspectives, including accuracy, organization, design, as well as style.
Accuracy
Barbara Kerley is the award-winning author of several picture books, a Caldecott Honor and an ALA Notable Book, and Walt Whitman: Words for America, a Sibert Honor Book. The books was presented as Susy’s own words journal therefore it can be counted as accurate from a 13 year old daughter’s eyes in 1885. The illustration actually was taken from the book by Susy and was translated into the illustration book concept by Kerley. Though the book is short, it is precise and covers a lot of ground as Mark Twain’s biography. Being a first hand biography by Twain’s own young daughter, it is quite a different kind of biography one usually reads in general. Illustrations are funny and realistic, not counting Susy’s own language errors, which otherwise makes it authentic. At the end of the book, the author has a lot of references on her sources of information, which will be a good example for readers to know that each quote comes from some referenced sources.
Organization
The layout is logical. It starts off with a rationale telling why Susy writes the journal about her father, “People probably thought they were Mark Twain experts. But they were wrong…” She wanted people to know her papa as who he was, not only a humorist in other people’s eyes but also a philosopher. The story moves along in a clear sequence of an ordinary daily life and routines with Susy’s observation. She notes not only her father’s work, personality and habits but also his relationship with his family and other people. There are also some funny parts like Twain’s forgetfulness of his own writing when he was enjoying reading one of his own books not knowing it was his own. The story is not complex and though it does not have subheadings or table of content or index, the small leaflets themselves are presented as sections each in themselves. At the end, Kerley even adds a page of guidelines to help children learn to write their own biography as well. It is a good surplus to help children kick start their interest and have a way to try it out.
Design
The book design is very attractive and inviting though it may be a little difficult for young children to ready due to its older linguistic style as well as grammatical and spelling errors (or differences.) It is designed in a journal entry format with a single sheet folded into simple leaflets pasted on one of the pages each time a page is turned. It is a cute and interesting idea. It makes readers excited to find out what is hidden behind those folded little pages. There are some readability problems from time to time, however, especially with the small fonts and the calligraphy type. Small children may find it difficult to read due to small print size and the font type. The illustrations, however, are very attractive and lively. They can make me smile. In each illustration, which has been placed appropriately, there will be a short explanation of what is going on in the pages. Coupling with Susy’s jounal, those text descriptions make perfect senses of what is going on. I consider the design effective and it communicates the subject matter very clearly. There is one observation I should make though. The journal in the leaflets at times may be too long for young children’s attention span.
Style
The illustrations and writing style is clear, lively and very interesting. It reveals the author’s passion and enthusiasm very clearly. The style and design encourage readers’ curiosity and make them wonder what will happen next. The vocabulary in the illustrative texts themselves are appropriate though those in the ‘journal’ at times are a little archaic according to the time it is supposed to be written, A.D. 1885. As earlier mentioned, there might be a little too many words in some of the journal leaflets for young children to keep their attention going on, especially when the fonts are quite small. For children of older ages and higher grades, that may not be a problem.
In summary, the book hardly is hardly the first book to spotlight Twain, though it may be one the first picture books about his life, it is a good supplement to help young and old readers understand the life of Mark Twain from the insider’s (and family member’s) perspectives.
4.REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
A Junior Library Guild selection
Kirkus in School Library Journal says, “Kerley's conversational, quotation-rich narration effectively complements Susy's insights, and the result is an affectionate portrait of Twain as writer and family man… A heartwarming tribute to both the writing life in general and the well-loved humorist-oops, sorry Susy… "Pholosopher!"
Publisher Weekly comments, "extraordinary biography" complete this accessible and inventive vision of an American legend.”
5.CONNECTIONS
The following are the three connection books you may find interesting.
The first one is another biographies book about Mark Twain.
Fleischman, Sid. 2008. The trouble begins at 8: a life of Mark Twain in the wild, wild West. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN: 0061344311
The second is a brief biography picture book with simple text by Barbara Kerley.
Kerley, Barbara. 2008. What to do about Alice? How Alice Roosevelt broke the rules, charmed the world, and drove her father Teddy crazy. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN: 0439922313
The third book is also another picture biography book for young readers about George Washington.
Giblin, James. 1998. George Washington: A Picture Book Biography. Illustration by Michael Dooling. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 0590481010
Genre 4 Nonfiction: Actual Size
1.BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jenkins, Steve. 2004. Actual Size. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 0547512910
2.PLOT SUMMARY
The book discusses and gives example of the actual sizes and weights of various kinds and parts of animals to help children perceive, realize, identify and compare the creatures’ sizes to their reality. The sizes range from ones very small such as the dwarf goby which is the smallest fish of all fish to ones very large so large as the giant octopus’ eyes and the great white shark. Though it is not truly systematic in the organization of sizes from smallest to large, the book was ordered generally in that direction.
3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Steve Jenkins created a very inviting illustration book for children in this Actual Size. Each page presents a new animal or two for readers to find out. Additionally, there are facts and physical dimension comparison for each of the creatures at the actual scale. This helps children to be able to identify and compare the actual sizes of those animals to the reality of their perceptions. For example, the head size of the brown bear is even bigger than the children’s own heads. There were two fun foldouts showing the Goliath frog and the scary long teeth and mouth of the saltwater crocodile which the author dubbed as ‘a man eater.’ I also found much strength and a few considerations based on four perspectives: accuracy, organization, design, and style.
Accuracy
The author Steve Jenkins had been authoring and illustrating children’s books for more than a decade. In 1999, he was awarded the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Nonfiction, among many other awards for his children literature. He is also reputable on the topics of science as illustrated in his book Life on Earth: The Story of Evolution. It is logical to say Mr. Jenkins to be a qualified, credible and reputable author of children’s books. The only weak point I saw in this book is that it does not have citations or references to any sources he derived the information from and I am not certain that the information he has was his first hand knowledge. The facts he quoted then must be assumed correct on the basis of the author’s reputation and credential instead of referential resources. The illustrations, though may be assumable to be correct, the selection of parts of animals as the representation of their actual sizes can be confusing. For example, the showing of the great white shark’s teeth as the representation of its body size may not be imaginable for young children.
Organization
The layout seems logical, most of the time from smaller to larger sizes while at times the placing of smaller sizes to show size differences in between is also helpful though when one looks closely there does not really seem to be any logical sequence in the illustrations. However, in term of patterning from simplicity to complexity, the illustrations were done well. For example, at the beginning the author would show the whole creatures or the whole easily comprehensible body parts and at the end moved towards showing only parts of the body while explaining in texts referring to the whole body of the creatures. This may help children to use imagination though it might not be accurate. The book does not contain any subheading or any index or table of content.
Design
The design is quite attractive and natural. It complements the illustrations with the texts with the highlights and boldfaced animal names. Though there is name highlighting, at times it is unclear what the illustration is talking about especially when the illustrations are of some parts but the texts talk about the whole animals. The graphics are well sketched but colors seem monotonous. The author uses almost one color scheme for the whole book. In general the illustrations communicate the subject matter at an acceptable level. A very interesting design is the addition of some sticking flaps which can be opened up and the foldouts for the larger or longer animal parts help children to realize what the actual sizes of those animals and their parts are.
Style
The subject matter is interesting and the presentation is quite lively showing the author’s passion and enthusiasm. It also possibly can encourage curiosity and wonder among children who would like to find out further what the whole of the parts of the animals would be like. The vocabulary used was appropriate and not childish. There is also appropriate information for children to read and not get bored. One very good thing is the detail information about each animal and its whole body illustration, though not to the actual scale, was provided at the end of the book. Jenkins use some catching words to describe some animals which will help young children remember them clearly, for example, ‘man eater’ for the saltwater crocodile.
At the end of the book, Jenkins added pages with the detailed descriptions of each animal illustrated in the book. The whole body pictures of those animals help young children who are confused when they see only the parts of some animals to realize what the actual whole-body animals look like, though not at the actual sizes. It is a fun and interesting picture book even though there are a few considerations. It would be a good teaching supplement for science and math subjects for young children of possibly ages 4-5 years old. I would recommend teachers and adults to share with their children.
4.REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
The Orbis Pictus honor books for 2005.
School Library Journal calls the book “an enticing way to introduce children to diversity in the natural world.”
Amie on betterbook.com reviewed that Actual Size would be a good supplemental book to amaze and entice their students or kids to think more deeply about the animals and the world around them.
From School Library Journal, Dona Ratterree, New York City Public Schools, states Jenkins 18 animals and insects Actual Sizes is “a thoroughly engaging read-aloud and a must-have for any collection.“
Amazaon.com Review by Paul Hughes calls it an inventive, involving picture book inviting young readers to see how they measure up against a variety of different animals.
5.CONNECTIONS
The first connection book I have found is Prehistoric Actural Size from the same author, Jenkins, Steve. It is also about the animal’s size.
Jenkins, Steve. 1952. Prehistoric actual size. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN:9780618535781
Another one created by Jenkins, Steve is about animal size. The author added more perspectives on the size, strength, and the speed of animals.
Jenkins, Steve. 1997. Biggest, Strongest, Fastest. New York : Sandpiper. ISBN: 0395861365
The other connection book is to see life-size photographs of various animals, with fold-out pages and charts of interesting facts.
Earhart, Kristin. 2010. More Life-Size Zoo: An All-New Actual-Size Animal Encyclopedia. New York : Seven Footer Press. ISBN: 1934734195
Jenkins, Steve. 2004. Actual Size. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 0547512910
2.PLOT SUMMARY
The book discusses and gives example of the actual sizes and weights of various kinds and parts of animals to help children perceive, realize, identify and compare the creatures’ sizes to their reality. The sizes range from ones very small such as the dwarf goby which is the smallest fish of all fish to ones very large so large as the giant octopus’ eyes and the great white shark. Though it is not truly systematic in the organization of sizes from smallest to large, the book was ordered generally in that direction.
3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Steve Jenkins created a very inviting illustration book for children in this Actual Size. Each page presents a new animal or two for readers to find out. Additionally, there are facts and physical dimension comparison for each of the creatures at the actual scale. This helps children to be able to identify and compare the actual sizes of those animals to the reality of their perceptions. For example, the head size of the brown bear is even bigger than the children’s own heads. There were two fun foldouts showing the Goliath frog and the scary long teeth and mouth of the saltwater crocodile which the author dubbed as ‘a man eater.’ I also found much strength and a few considerations based on four perspectives: accuracy, organization, design, and style.
Accuracy
The author Steve Jenkins had been authoring and illustrating children’s books for more than a decade. In 1999, he was awarded the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Nonfiction, among many other awards for his children literature. He is also reputable on the topics of science as illustrated in his book Life on Earth: The Story of Evolution. It is logical to say Mr. Jenkins to be a qualified, credible and reputable author of children’s books. The only weak point I saw in this book is that it does not have citations or references to any sources he derived the information from and I am not certain that the information he has was his first hand knowledge. The facts he quoted then must be assumed correct on the basis of the author’s reputation and credential instead of referential resources. The illustrations, though may be assumable to be correct, the selection of parts of animals as the representation of their actual sizes can be confusing. For example, the showing of the great white shark’s teeth as the representation of its body size may not be imaginable for young children.
Organization
The layout seems logical, most of the time from smaller to larger sizes while at times the placing of smaller sizes to show size differences in between is also helpful though when one looks closely there does not really seem to be any logical sequence in the illustrations. However, in term of patterning from simplicity to complexity, the illustrations were done well. For example, at the beginning the author would show the whole creatures or the whole easily comprehensible body parts and at the end moved towards showing only parts of the body while explaining in texts referring to the whole body of the creatures. This may help children to use imagination though it might not be accurate. The book does not contain any subheading or any index or table of content.
Design
The design is quite attractive and natural. It complements the illustrations with the texts with the highlights and boldfaced animal names. Though there is name highlighting, at times it is unclear what the illustration is talking about especially when the illustrations are of some parts but the texts talk about the whole animals. The graphics are well sketched but colors seem monotonous. The author uses almost one color scheme for the whole book. In general the illustrations communicate the subject matter at an acceptable level. A very interesting design is the addition of some sticking flaps which can be opened up and the foldouts for the larger or longer animal parts help children to realize what the actual sizes of those animals and their parts are.
Style
The subject matter is interesting and the presentation is quite lively showing the author’s passion and enthusiasm. It also possibly can encourage curiosity and wonder among children who would like to find out further what the whole of the parts of the animals would be like. The vocabulary used was appropriate and not childish. There is also appropriate information for children to read and not get bored. One very good thing is the detail information about each animal and its whole body illustration, though not to the actual scale, was provided at the end of the book. Jenkins use some catching words to describe some animals which will help young children remember them clearly, for example, ‘man eater’ for the saltwater crocodile.
At the end of the book, Jenkins added pages with the detailed descriptions of each animal illustrated in the book. The whole body pictures of those animals help young children who are confused when they see only the parts of some animals to realize what the actual whole-body animals look like, though not at the actual sizes. It is a fun and interesting picture book even though there are a few considerations. It would be a good teaching supplement for science and math subjects for young children of possibly ages 4-5 years old. I would recommend teachers and adults to share with their children.
4.REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
The Orbis Pictus honor books for 2005.
School Library Journal calls the book “an enticing way to introduce children to diversity in the natural world.”
Amie on betterbook.com reviewed that Actual Size would be a good supplemental book to amaze and entice their students or kids to think more deeply about the animals and the world around them.
From School Library Journal, Dona Ratterree, New York City Public Schools, states Jenkins 18 animals and insects Actual Sizes is “a thoroughly engaging read-aloud and a must-have for any collection.“
Amazaon.com Review by Paul Hughes calls it an inventive, involving picture book inviting young readers to see how they measure up against a variety of different animals.
5.CONNECTIONS
The first connection book I have found is Prehistoric Actural Size from the same author, Jenkins, Steve. It is also about the animal’s size.
Jenkins, Steve. 1952. Prehistoric actual size. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN:9780618535781
Another one created by Jenkins, Steve is about animal size. The author added more perspectives on the size, strength, and the speed of animals.
Jenkins, Steve. 1997. Biggest, Strongest, Fastest. New York : Sandpiper. ISBN: 0395861365
The other connection book is to see life-size photographs of various animals, with fold-out pages and charts of interesting facts.
Earhart, Kristin. 2010. More Life-Size Zoo: An All-New Actual-Size Animal Encyclopedia. New York : Seven Footer Press. ISBN: 1934734195
2011年4月4日 星期一
Genre 4 Nonfiction: ALMOST ASTRONAUTS
ALMOST ASTRONAUTS: 13 WOMEN WHO DARED TO DREAM
1.BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stone, Tanya Lee. 2009. ALMOST ASTRONAUTS: 13 WOMEN WHO DARED TO DREAM. Somerville, Mass.: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763636118
2.PLOT SUMMARY
Jerrie Cobb was the first female pilot who completed the entire series of astronaut testing just like the Mercury seven men. The author portrayed the whole procedure with demonstration letters, pictures, and other background information. The author, Tanya Stone, also gave readers some detailed information about how females were allowed to fly military aircraft during World War II and how difficult the situations were that these female pilots had to face to be successful in the aviation field. Randolph Lovelace played an essential role to promote and support the advancement of women because he believed that women were as capable as men to serve in the space program. Even though he provided a large amount of testing results to Congress, they and NASA still would not allow the thirteen women into the space program. Congress thought that if they let women into the program, blacks and other minorities would be next. It took almost 20 years before the U.S. officially allowed women into the astronaut program. This amazing book reported all of the procedures and expressed how these women fought for their rights and fulfilled their dream of going into space.
3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS
As a female reader, I was so impressed and admired the thirteen pioneer female astronauts. I was not interested in space and aviation until I read this enlightening book about the struggles faced by these pioneer female astronauts. I still remembered how difficult it was for me when I took my TOEFL exam listening to the part about space and astronauts. This book makes me interested in aviation and the historical nonfiction genre. I found several strengths in the book based on the four perspectives of accuracy, organization, design, and style.
Accuracy
When I read this book, I recognized a conscientious qualitative research. The author utilized information and several sources to prove what she found as triangulation techniques in a qualitative research design. Different source information, such as illustrations, photographs, letters, and newspaper reports prove the accuracy of the information in the book. For instance, the author not only stated the situation of gender discrimination in the aviation field, she also provided several incidences from newspaper reports, a formal letter from from Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson about his opinion on women in the space program on page 64; the conversation between a reporter and Jerrie Cobb about the female role on page 20; as well as the speech by the president on page 8 about the goal of this decade to land a man on the moon and return him safely to earth. All of documents indicated that there was serious discrimination in society during that time and women were not allowed to do some of the jobs men did, especially in the aviation field.
Organization
The book followed a chronological order with a logical layout, so readers could easily read and follow. It provided a clear sequence on the procedures of astronaut testing with text and photographs. Even though I am not a major in atmospheric study, I gained a lot of knowledge and understanding about space and how an astronaut assessment took place. The author also noted some historical events based on the time in history. For example, she presented the poster the government created to encourage women to join the Women’s Army Corps in World War II. Later in the book, the author introduced Randolph Lovelace who was the visionary man behind the Woman in Space program, as well as Jerrie Cobb. Then the whole testing procedure was sequentially introduced with detailed photographs and explanations. The book kept moving through the historic period of the passing of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), so women would finally be able to become test pilots. In 1978, the first six women were admitted to the space program. The framework of the book presented the clear advancement that occurred in society for women astronauts in the U.S.
Design
The design of this book is attractive, inviting, and readable because Stone offered a great mix of illustrations and photographs for readers to better understand the complex events, including space astronaut testing. Stone told facts about women pilots' lives with lively photographs, and appalling examples of social and political discrimination. All of the graphics are clear and appropriately placed, especially the picture on page 38 which I love that presented Jerri Sloan greeting her young son. As a preschool teacher, I was so impressed with this picture. This picture represents that women were more than capable of playing the roles of mother and pilot.
Style
The book combined expressions, storylines, conversations, and poetry to introduce this historical event. On page 24, Stone provided a first person point of view about the isolation tank testing experiences. For example, “All you can hear is your heart beating, your breath as you inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale.” “It is peaceful, quiet, dark. You mind drifts…You are bored. It is too quiet.” By reading these expressions, readers are able to imagine the female astronaut’s real experiences in the tank. It is one of the most interesting books that I have ever read. I learned a lot of knowledge about how to be an astronaut. Furthermore, the historical events also encourage reader’s critical thinking about debate and argument over divisive issues. I have learned from Dr. Randolph Lovelace that he did not argue with society or NASA before he received the evidence from the test results of women astronauts. Sometimes people have to have the patience to wait for the evidence to prove what one believes when people want to persuade others to change their minds.
In summary, it is a well-designed, accurate, informative book. I really enjoyed reading Almost Astronauts. This book encourages young women to cherish what we have now because our equal rights came from these female pioneers. I would recommend this book to all young readers because it provides not only U.S. history, but a respect for both genders, and minority groups as well. It would be a good teaching supplement for a research project and a social progression study.
4.REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
2010 SIBERT MEDAL Award Winner
YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Honor
Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor
NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor
Bank Street Flora Stieglitz Straus Award
An Outstanding Science Trade Book
CCBC Choices 2010
Kirkus Best YA Books of 2009
Notable Social Studies Trade Book
Chicago Best of the Best Books,
Smithsonian Magazine Best Books of 2009
Review in Kirkus:“fascinating, dramatic story…the author offers great insight into how deeply ingrained sexism was in American society…this empowering, impassioned story will leave readers inspired.”
On Amazon.com, John Peters from the School Library Journal wrote in his review that "this passionately written account of a classic but little-known challenge to established gender prejudices also introduces readers to a select group of courageous, independent women.”
Hazel Rochman on Amazon.com indicated that the factual information and full-page photos make for a fast read for young readers, and the crucial civil-rights history will stay with readers. The book possessed detailed chapter notes and a bibliography.
5.CONNECTIONS
The first connection book I found was Spectacular Women in Space. It is a collection of ten biographies featuring women who have made an essential contribution to space exploration.
Gueldenpfennig, Sonia. 2005. Spectacular Women in Space. Canada: Second Story Press. ISBN9781896764887
The second connection book I found was Amelia Earhart, a pictorial biography. Another book by author Tanya Lee Stone introduces the first female pilot who received the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross Award.
Stone, Tanya Lee. 2007. Amelia Earhart. New York: DK Publishing. ISBN 0756625521
The final connection book I found was Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11. It is also a historic mission of space.
Floca, Brian. 2009. Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11. New York: Atheneum Books. ISBN 141695046X
1.BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stone, Tanya Lee. 2009. ALMOST ASTRONAUTS: 13 WOMEN WHO DARED TO DREAM. Somerville, Mass.: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763636118
2.PLOT SUMMARY
Jerrie Cobb was the first female pilot who completed the entire series of astronaut testing just like the Mercury seven men. The author portrayed the whole procedure with demonstration letters, pictures, and other background information. The author, Tanya Stone, also gave readers some detailed information about how females were allowed to fly military aircraft during World War II and how difficult the situations were that these female pilots had to face to be successful in the aviation field. Randolph Lovelace played an essential role to promote and support the advancement of women because he believed that women were as capable as men to serve in the space program. Even though he provided a large amount of testing results to Congress, they and NASA still would not allow the thirteen women into the space program. Congress thought that if they let women into the program, blacks and other minorities would be next. It took almost 20 years before the U.S. officially allowed women into the astronaut program. This amazing book reported all of the procedures and expressed how these women fought for their rights and fulfilled their dream of going into space.
3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS
As a female reader, I was so impressed and admired the thirteen pioneer female astronauts. I was not interested in space and aviation until I read this enlightening book about the struggles faced by these pioneer female astronauts. I still remembered how difficult it was for me when I took my TOEFL exam listening to the part about space and astronauts. This book makes me interested in aviation and the historical nonfiction genre. I found several strengths in the book based on the four perspectives of accuracy, organization, design, and style.
Accuracy
When I read this book, I recognized a conscientious qualitative research. The author utilized information and several sources to prove what she found as triangulation techniques in a qualitative research design. Different source information, such as illustrations, photographs, letters, and newspaper reports prove the accuracy of the information in the book. For instance, the author not only stated the situation of gender discrimination in the aviation field, she also provided several incidences from newspaper reports, a formal letter from from Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson about his opinion on women in the space program on page 64; the conversation between a reporter and Jerrie Cobb about the female role on page 20; as well as the speech by the president on page 8 about the goal of this decade to land a man on the moon and return him safely to earth. All of documents indicated that there was serious discrimination in society during that time and women were not allowed to do some of the jobs men did, especially in the aviation field.
Organization
The book followed a chronological order with a logical layout, so readers could easily read and follow. It provided a clear sequence on the procedures of astronaut testing with text and photographs. Even though I am not a major in atmospheric study, I gained a lot of knowledge and understanding about space and how an astronaut assessment took place. The author also noted some historical events based on the time in history. For example, she presented the poster the government created to encourage women to join the Women’s Army Corps in World War II. Later in the book, the author introduced Randolph Lovelace who was the visionary man behind the Woman in Space program, as well as Jerrie Cobb. Then the whole testing procedure was sequentially introduced with detailed photographs and explanations. The book kept moving through the historic period of the passing of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), so women would finally be able to become test pilots. In 1978, the first six women were admitted to the space program. The framework of the book presented the clear advancement that occurred in society for women astronauts in the U.S.
Design
The design of this book is attractive, inviting, and readable because Stone offered a great mix of illustrations and photographs for readers to better understand the complex events, including space astronaut testing. Stone told facts about women pilots' lives with lively photographs, and appalling examples of social and political discrimination. All of the graphics are clear and appropriately placed, especially the picture on page 38 which I love that presented Jerri Sloan greeting her young son. As a preschool teacher, I was so impressed with this picture. This picture represents that women were more than capable of playing the roles of mother and pilot.
Style
The book combined expressions, storylines, conversations, and poetry to introduce this historical event. On page 24, Stone provided a first person point of view about the isolation tank testing experiences. For example, “All you can hear is your heart beating, your breath as you inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale.” “It is peaceful, quiet, dark. You mind drifts…You are bored. It is too quiet.” By reading these expressions, readers are able to imagine the female astronaut’s real experiences in the tank. It is one of the most interesting books that I have ever read. I learned a lot of knowledge about how to be an astronaut. Furthermore, the historical events also encourage reader’s critical thinking about debate and argument over divisive issues. I have learned from Dr. Randolph Lovelace that he did not argue with society or NASA before he received the evidence from the test results of women astronauts. Sometimes people have to have the patience to wait for the evidence to prove what one believes when people want to persuade others to change their minds.
In summary, it is a well-designed, accurate, informative book. I really enjoyed reading Almost Astronauts. This book encourages young women to cherish what we have now because our equal rights came from these female pioneers. I would recommend this book to all young readers because it provides not only U.S. history, but a respect for both genders, and minority groups as well. It would be a good teaching supplement for a research project and a social progression study.
4.REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
2010 SIBERT MEDAL Award Winner
YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Honor
Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor
NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor
Bank Street Flora Stieglitz Straus Award
An Outstanding Science Trade Book
CCBC Choices 2010
Kirkus Best YA Books of 2009
Notable Social Studies Trade Book
Chicago Best of the Best Books,
Smithsonian Magazine Best Books of 2009
Review in Kirkus:“fascinating, dramatic story…the author offers great insight into how deeply ingrained sexism was in American society…this empowering, impassioned story will leave readers inspired.”
On Amazon.com, John Peters from the School Library Journal wrote in his review that "this passionately written account of a classic but little-known challenge to established gender prejudices also introduces readers to a select group of courageous, independent women.”
Hazel Rochman on Amazon.com indicated that the factual information and full-page photos make for a fast read for young readers, and the crucial civil-rights history will stay with readers. The book possessed detailed chapter notes and a bibliography.
5.CONNECTIONS
The first connection book I found was Spectacular Women in Space. It is a collection of ten biographies featuring women who have made an essential contribution to space exploration.
Gueldenpfennig, Sonia. 2005. Spectacular Women in Space. Canada: Second Story Press. ISBN9781896764887
The second connection book I found was Amelia Earhart, a pictorial biography. Another book by author Tanya Lee Stone introduces the first female pilot who received the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross Award.
Stone, Tanya Lee. 2007. Amelia Earhart. New York: DK Publishing. ISBN 0756625521
The final connection book I found was Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11. It is also a historic mission of space.
Floca, Brian. 2009. Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11. New York: Atheneum Books. ISBN 141695046X
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