NUM8ERS by Rachel Ward

NUM8ERS by Rachel Ward

Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes

Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes

Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes

Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes

Shattering Glass

Shattering Glass

Module 10- Graphic Novels/Censorship Issues: Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale

*Summary:

This book is a twist on the traditional Rapunzel story, taking the basic Grimm fairy tale to its roots. A farmer couple finally gets pregnant after years of trying, but the wife develops a craving for Rapunzel, a type of lettuce, planted in the garden of the couple’s witch neighbor. Her craving grows so strong that her husband has no choice but to scale the wall surrounding the Gothel's garden and steal some of the lettuce. The husband is spared, but is told that he will have to pay the price at some point. Little did the couple know, that Gothel would come to collect their child when it was born. Later, after Rapunzel escapes Gothel's garden and find out who her real mother is, Gothel has no choice but to lock Rapunzel up in a tower in the woods. This book is the tale of what happens when Rapunzel is able to escape the tower.

*Bibliography:

Hale, D., & Hale, S. (2008). Rapunzel's revenge: graphic novel. London: Bloomsbury.

*My Rating:

I LOVED this book! I would definitely use this book as a way to compare formats between graphic novels, traditional novels, and picture books.

*Reviews:

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 5 Up–This is the tale as you've never seen it before. After using her hair to free herself from her prison tower, this Rapunzel ignores the pompous prince and teams up with Jack (of Beanstalk fame) in an attempt to free her birth mother and an entire kingdom from the evil witch who once moonlighted as her mother. Dogged by both the witch's henchman and Jack's outlaw past, the heroes travel across the map as they right wrongs, help the oppressed, and generally try to stay alive. Rapunzel is no damsel in distress–she wields her long braids as both rope and weapon–but she happily accepts Jack's teamwork and friendship. While the witch's castle is straight out of a fairy tale, the nearby mining camps and rugged surrounding countryside are a throwback to the Wild West and make sense in the world that the authors and illustrator have crafted. The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive. Knowing that there are more graphic novels to come from this writing team brings readers their own happily-ever-after.–Cara von Wrangel Kinsey, New York Public Library

From Booklist

This graphic novel retelling of the fairy-tale classic, set in a swashbuckling Wild West, puts action first and features some serious girl power in its spunky and strong heroine. Young Rapunzel lives a lonely life, never knowing what lies beyond the high garden walls of her mother’s royal villa until one day she climbs the wall to see what’s on the other side. When she finds that the world outside is a dark place oppressed by her mother’s greed for power and uncovers the real secret of her own birth, she is imprisoned in a magic tree tower. In her years of captivity, she learns a lot about self-reliance and care for her exceptionally long hair, and eventually she is able to escape, vowing to bring down her mother’s cruel empire. Hale’s art matches the story well, yielding expressive characters and lending a wonderful sense of place to the fantasy landscape. Rich with humor and excitement, this is an alternate version of a classic that will become a fast favorite of young readers. Grades 5-8. --Tina Coleman 

http://www.amazon.com/Rapunzels-Revenge-Dean-Hale/dp/product-description/159990070X/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

*Uses in a library:

A librarian could read excerpts from this book showing all of the great illustrations. Then, the librarian could give kids pre-made comic book pages where kids create their own graphic novel using another well-known fairy tale story like Cinderella or Snow White.

Module 10- Graphic Novels/Censorship Issues: Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

*Summary:

Go Ask Alice depicts the fall of a 15 year-old girl into drug addiction. The book is written in diary form, and very intimately describes her every action and emotion. The main character is just like any other 15 year old when her family moves into a new house. She finds it harder than she had imagined to make new friends and become depressed. When she visits her old neighborhood she is surprised when the popular kids invite her to a party. At that party she is accidentally introduced to LSD. From then, she falls in love with drugs. Her life goes from normal to a life of drugs, unprotected sex, selling drugs, and running away from home. The reader watches as she tries to overcome her addiction repeatedly, only to fail over and over again.

*Bibliography:

Go ask Alice. (1971). New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

*My Rating:

This book was so powerful. I think the fact that this book was based on the diary of a real 15 year old girl made it all the more powerful. It was very enlightening to see how fast the fall into addiction can happen. The diary format was very effective for the author's purpose. I felt like I got to know the main character very well, and I was always rooting for her, hoping that she would be able to overcome the addiction. This book was also very well written. I loved how the writing style gradually changed to reflect the changes in the main character; it felt very authentic.

*Review:

Children's Literature

Alice is your typical teenaged girl. She worries that she is too fat. She wants a boyfriend: "I wish I were popular and beautiful and wealthy and talented." She frequently makes resolutions in her diary to do better in school, work toward a calmer relationship with her mother, and lose weight. Her life changes when she goes to a party and is given acid in her drink. She loves the feeling the drug gives her: "Closed my eyes and the music began to absorb me physically. I could smell it and touch it and feel it as well as hear it." She wants more and quickly becomes a part of the drug scene. For about a year and a half Alice goes on and off drugs and runs away from home twice. Each time she manages to find her way back to her parents. They take her in, get her help, and all seems to be rosy until Alice is once again given acid without her knowledge. This time, she has a bad trip, ends up in the hospital, and then a mental hospital. Her parents stick by her, but her life of drug abuse ultimately ends with a fatal overdose—whether it is intentional or accidental is not known. Go Ask Alice has become a classic story of warning against the use of drugs. For the teen scene of 2006, this story will appear as slightly dated. The issues of relationships both in and out of school have not changed much in the last thirty years, but there are subtle differences in the culture that may prove distracting for a young person reading this book today. The basic story remains a chilling cautionary tale. 2005 (orig. 1971), Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster, , and Ages 14 to 18.
—Wendy M. Smith-D'Arezzo

 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/go-ask-alice-anonymous/1100300729?ean=9780671664589

*Uses in a library:

As a librarian I probably would not read excerpts from this book out loud, but I could definitely see including this book on a list of recommended titles for high school age students during a drug awareness week of programming.

Module 9- Poetry, Short Stories, and Series: Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba by Margarita Engle

*Summary:
In a free-verse poetry format, Margarita Engle tells the tale of a 13 year old boy named Daniel who has escaped from Nazi Germany during the Holocaust. Daniel finds himself on a ship that turned away from several ports before being allowed to dock in Cuba. Daniel hangs on to the hope that one day he will be re-united with his parents and refuses to really let himself get settled in Cuba. Eventually, Daniel realizes that this dream may not come true and he makes several friends on the island, including a young girl named Paloma and an old man named David. The three friends' friendship grows as they face a situation that Daniel could have never anticipated: the persecution of another religious group. Daniel, David, and Paloma work together to keep an elderly couple safe from persecution.

*Bibliography:

Engle, M. (2009). Tropical secrets: Holocaust refugees in Cuba. New York: Henry Holt.

*My Rating:
I think I am biased in my rating of this book. As a Cuban-American, I found this story really interesting because of all the twinkles of Cuban culture thrown into the book. I also loved the book's format, which was all free-verse poetry. I learned a lot about a part of Cuban history that I had no idea about, without having to read a strictly informational text about the concept. I like that instead of providing a historical account of Holocaust refugees, Engle chose to humanize this experience so that readers could relate better. I also really liked the characters in this book, and feel like the poetry format allows the reader to get a more intimate view into each character's mind. 

*Review:

This moving free-verse historical novel tells the tale of thirteen-year-old Daniel, a Jewish refugee who escapes Nazi Germany in 1939 in hopes of finding safety abroad. After being turned away from several ports, Daniel's ship finally brings him to Cuba. Daniel's young life is already rife with tragedy ("Last year in Berlin/ on the Night of Crystal,/ my grandfather was killed/ while I held his hand"), and he lives only for the dream that someday he might be reunited with his parents. In Cuba, Daniel meets others with secrets of their own, most notably Paloma, a young Cuban girl, and David, an elderly Ukrainian refugee who, because he speaks Yiddish, provides Daniel with a linguistic bridge in his early months. The story's central conflict shifts dramatically when, two years into Daniel's residency on the island, Pearl Harbor is bombed, and Cuba's anger at the Axis powers translates into a strong anti-German sentiment. The poems alternate among the voices of Daniel, Paloma, David, and, occasionally, Paloma's father; as the novel progresses, their stories are more fully revealed. Whereas Engle's previous offerings (The Surrender Tree, BCCB 5/08, The Poet Slave of Cuba, BCCB 7/06) focused on real historical figures, this book instead presents a fictional portrait of a specific time and place. The historical context remains a core feature of the novel, but the emphasis on the inner life of the characters gives the narrative an emotional drama that transcends its period. Offer this to readers attracted to strong, introspective characters, or use it as a group readaloud in conjunction with a Holocaust unit. A brief author's note ties themes of the story to the author's own life, and an historical note provides background info on Jewish refugees in Cuba.

Glantz, S. (2009). Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refuqees in Cuba. Library Media Connection, 28(2), 75.

*Uses in a library:
This book could be included in a Holocaust display alongside such books as The Diary of Anne Frank, and other popular Holocaust books. This would provide patrons with a more wide array of information and perspectives about the Holocaust. 

Module 9- Poetry, Short Stories, and Series: Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes

*Summary:

Bronx Masquerade is a Coretta Scott King Award winning novel that follows a class of 18 students and their journey through self-discovery via poetry. Before walking into Mr. Ward’s English class, these students faced hardship, struggle, and poverty. Students such as Wesley, Sheila, Devon, and Tyrone all face struggles such as low self-esteem, teen pregnancy, gang violence, and bullying; but through a weekly Open Mike night they build connections, express themselves emotionally, and grow to love writing. The story is told through the perspectives of each student, and then the main narrator, Tyrone, gives his reaction to the poem of his class mate. 

*Bibliography:

Grimes, N. (2002). Bronx masquerade. New York: Dial Books.

*My Rating:

I love, love, LOVED this book! The format of the book is what made it most appealing to me. Grimes organizes the book by characters and give you a few page introduction to each student and then a poem from each student. This novel is fast-paced, and the poems are great. I teach 7^th grade English at a school where most students are economically disadvantaged, I think my students would really enjoy this book!

*Reviews:

In a world of stereotypes and fear, the 18 teenagers in Bronx Masquerade find a dignity in themselves they never knew they had. It all starts when Mr. Ward, their English teacher, suggests Open Mike Friday, a weekly poetry reading where anyone who wants to participate brings in a poem they have written to read. These hardened teens, used to heartbreak and aware all too soon that if they do not take care of themselves, no one else will, begin to pour their hearts and souls into the poetry they write and perform. Through the poetry, all of the classmates learn more about each other and come to realize that first impressions are not always correct. People can surprise you. They remove their masks and crack open the stony shells that block off emotion to look beyond the masquerade.
In so many unexpected ways, Tyrone, Wesley, Janelle, and the rest of Mr. Ward's English students are brought together and changed by Open Mike Friday. I would recommend this captivating novel to anyone who enjoys the beauty of poetry or wants a good read.

Ford, K. (2002). Bronx masquerade. Voices from the Middle, 10(2), 67. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/213931849?accountid=7113

*Uses in a library:

This novel would be an awesome way to introduce students to poetry. Since poetry is now a STAR tested objective (dun, dun, DUUUNNN...I used the "S" word in my blog!), it is even more important to get students interested in it. This particular verse novel would be a great introduction to poetry because it is high-interest, and provides a context for each poem in the pages prior to the poems. If a librarian wanted to create a Slam Poetry club or competition this would be a fun way to introduce the concept. The librarian could read excerpts from the novel and then show a video of someone performing slam poetry.

Module 8- Mystery: The Trouble With Chickens: A J.J Tully Mystery by Doreen Cronin

*Summary:

JJ Tully is a retired search and rescue dog who has found himself enjoying a retirement in the country, when he is approached by a chicken who has lost one of her chicks. She offers JJ a cheeseburger for his help in finding the lost chick. JJ follows many clues that lead him to Vince the Funnel, an inside dog who has it out for JJ. Yet, nothing is as it seems, and each character has their own agenda.

*Bibliography:

Cronin, D., & Cornell, K. (2011). The trouble with chickens: a J.J. Tully mystery. New York, NY: Balzer + Bray.

*My Rating:

Out of all the mystery books I read this week, I waited to read this one last. I thought that it would be predictable and silly. I was wrong! This was such a refreshing read for me! I loved the silliness in this book and the mystery had me guessing the whole time. Kids would love this book and it had me laughing out loud more than one time. Also, the illustrations were really funny.

*Review:

JJ. Tully, retired search-and-rescue dog, is one tough cookie - laconic, unflappable, and master of speech noir: "Sometimes there's a plan, sometimes there's only adrenaline. Sometimes adrenaline is all you need." He is lured out of retirement by a determined chicken who promises him a cheeseburger if he'll take on the case of her kidnapped offspring. The perp is Vince the Funnel, who looks like "a cross between a dachshund and a lamp" (he's a wiener dog with a cone on his head), and the victims (or so we think) are a couple of chicks, Poppy and Sweetie. Perfect pacing and reliably placed zinger lines keep us engaged and pulled into the next short chapter. A genial denouement involving the pleasures of community and the power of reading is fully earned. Tidily embedded clues, a generous scattering of vignette and full-page illustrations, a dandy plot twist, and a cast of hilarious characters add up to a treat of particular delight to fans of the mystery genre, dog lovers, and the chicken positive. SARAH ELLIS

Ellis, S. (2011). The trouble with chickens: A J.J. tully mystery. The Horn Book Magazine, 87(2), 113-114. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/852999894?accountid=7113

*Uses in a library:

A librarian could use this book to create a mystery program at the library. Kids could look for clues throughout the library that lead to this particular book. The first to get there could win a prize. 
Here is a book trailer from this book that the author has created: 
http://readinginaction.org/bookcasts/trouble-chickens-jj-tully-mystery