Module 15: Scary Stories

Citation:


Schwartz, Alvin. Scary stories to tell in the dark. HarperCollins, 1981. Print.


Summary:


This is a collection of short stories, poems and songs that all focus on the macabre.  They are originally legends and folktales collected mainly in the U.S. but from around the world as well.  The author's intent is to collect them in one place and pare them down into tales that kids can enjoy and use to scare one another for fun.  There are even directions in parentheses within the tales telling the storyteller what to do when to make them scarier. 


Personal Impression:


This collection and the one that follows were published in the early '80s.  It has been challenged quite often since then.  It even made the ALA's Top Ten most challenged list in 2008 and earlier.  Reasons: occultism, violence, religious viewpoint, insensitivity, unsuited to age group.  It topped the 100 most challenged books between 1990-1999.  Why? The drawings are creepy, the writing is truly suited to the age group, and the subject matter is something kids have flirted with from time immemorial though they were told orally.  So, obviously the objection is to the stories being written down in a permanent format.  Furthermore, the fact that modern parents are STILL challenging the book is ridiculous in my opinion.  They let their children watch shows, movies, and cartoons all depicting "occultism" and violence on a regular basis.  Not to mention the video games that are popular now make the type of violence in this book look like...well, child's play.  The amusing thing is that the book I borrowed from the library had been checked out by kids that obviously thought the same considering the notes that had been made in the margins.


Reviews:


From School Library Journal, January 1, 1982


Gr 3-8 - This folklore collection is unusually good.  True to the genre, the stories contained are suitable for telling, particularly at Halloween and around the campfire.  Contemporary and humorous stories are blended with spooky ones.  The scholarship in the source notes and bibliography will be useful to serious literature students.  Although the cover art is not charming, it hints at the peculiarly macabre, shadowy black-and-white illustrations inside.  The stories are not unbearably grotesque; they are suitable even for the low elementary grades. -- Leslie Burk Chamberlin, Napa City-County Library, Calif.


Retrieved from UNT Electronic Resourses, Ebsco Academic Search Complete database; http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2104/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=112&sid=adf4de62-8a39-4091-be77-a908b3b21a0f%40sessionmgr115&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=a9h&AN=5572422

From World's Strongest Librarian Blog:


"my theory on why Scary Stories is always on somebody’s hit list: it makes these fun, scary folktales seem plausible...The Verdict: If somebody tell me that The Handmaid’s Tale

is going to corrupt our children because it’s irreligious, I get bored quickly. If somebody says The Chocolate War can’t be on our library shelves because it’s full of cruel teenagers and sexuality, I think: “Get a hold of yourself and go splash some water on your face.”

If someone says “Scary Stories is full of disgusting and scary pictures and stories,” I’m going to agree. But then I’ll say, “Isn’t it great! If there’s a heaven for deviant author/illustrator combos, I hope that I’m allowed to go visit Schwartz and Gemmel” on a field trip.”

Be aware of what you can handle and stay within your limits. Your limits are yours. Quit trying to ban books."  -- Josh Hanagarne, May 23, 2009

Retrieved from http://worldsstrongestlibrarian.com/1814/book-review-scary-stories-to-tell-in-the-dark-series/

Use in a Library Setting:


A Halloween program would benefit from the use of this series;  at night, in the dark, with flashlights pointed at their faces while each child takes a turn reading a story or poem.  Which would be fun if parents would allow such a thing to take place.  Another use could be in a book club that focuses on controversial books or in a display or separate section in the library that focuses on banned and challenged books.

Module 14: Moccasin Thunder

Citation:


Carlson, Lori Marie. Moccasin Thunder: American Indian Stories for Today. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children's Books, 2005. Print.


Summary:


This is a collection of ten stories from a variety of authors.  Their common thread is the fact that the main characters are all American Indian.  These are modern tales that address modern problems that the members of this ethnic minority face everyday.  The stories are from a variety of backgrounds from the desert to Canada and the subjects include group identity as well as the normal teenage angst as well as participation in the drug culture.


Personal Impression:


Since this is a collection of short stories, the writing is not the same for every tale.  Some are better than others.  I happen to like short story collections because if there is one that is not to your taste then you can skip over it but still keep reading the book.  There was one tale in this particular set that almost physically hurt to read.  Not that it was written badly but because it was such a painful tale to witness that it was hard to finish.  All in all I enjoyed the book.  I think it is necessary that the world see that Native Americans or American Indians if you will, are not the stereotypes that many people imagine; dwelling on the past, surviving the present drunk, and all hating outsiders.  Young adults have the same types of problems the world over.  Its called growing up and finding yourself.


Reviews:


From School Library Journal:


Starred Review. Grade 9 Up–The young people's experiences in these 10 short stories will resonate with Native readers and inform and affect non-Natives as well. Joy Harjo writes about a boarding-school experience. Sherman Alexie talks about the slow painful separation and divorce of parents, and the needs of a boy to be seen/heard/taught by his father. Cynthia Leitich Smith shows an example of the everyday struggles Native people have with stereotypes, and the pain it causes on all sides. Richard Van Camp offers a glimpse into a life of addiction, loss, and the struggle to overcome poverty. Linda Hogan demonstrates the pride, generosity, and determination of an elder living on the reservation selling eggs and grain to make ends meet. Lee Francis shares a story of self-realization, oral tradition, and ways things are passed from one generation to the next. This distinguished anthology offers powerful, beautifully written stories that are thoughtful and important for teens to hear.–Marlette Grant-Jackson, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


From Booklist:


Gr. 8-11. Ten stirring contemporary short stories by Indian writers, including Linda Hogan, Louise Erdrich, Sherman Alexie, and Susan Power, show teens--lost, loving, funny, uncertain--coming of age on the reservation and in the city. Joseph Bruchac's Abenaki youth mocks the "noble" tourist stereotypes of beads and feathers; he is bitter because he is "a homegrown immigrant in his own land." Richard Van Camp tells of a high-school dope dealer who wants to be a teacher but messes up. In Joy Harjo's story, two girls at boarding school go wrong, but the principal helps them. Often tempering the harsh realism of poverty, drink, drugs, racism, and, sometimes, sexual abuse in the stories is often a grandmother, a source of hope--not perfectly wise, but a caring link with rich tradition. Resentful of patronizing charity as well as prejudice, these strong older women help move the characters toward a deep spiritual connection. Readers will welcome the change from generic reverential images of primitives stuck in the past. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Retrieved from Amazon.com; http://www.amazon.com/Moccasin-Thunder-American-Indian-Stories/dp/0066239575

Uses in a Library Setting:


A program or club that focuses on short stories would benefit from the use of this book.  A program bringing attention to the lives of American Indians would also benefit from using this book, even if just in the display.  In a school library setting for older students, this book would be an excellent accompaniment to a lesson focusing on American Indians or modern problems for youth.

Module 13: The Dreaming

Citation:


Chan, Queenie. The Dreaming. Scholastic Exclusive. Los Angeles, CA: Tokyopop, 2006. Print.


Summary:


Amber and Jeanie are twins who have recently transferred to an exclusive boarding school out in the bushlands of Australia.  For some reason they are asked by their aunt, the headmistress, to not reveal the fact that they are twins.  Even more mysterious, their aunt leaves immediately after their arrival after a few cryptic remarks about rumors concerning the school.  Soon, they discover a dark past filled with missing girls.


Personal Impression:


I was not one of those readers who bought into the Japanese anime and manga craze though many of my friends did.  I like this story though sometimes the illustrations confused me enough sometimes that I had to re-read a page or two in order to make sure I was understanding things correctly.  I do want to finish the three book series in order to see what the ending is though I might prefer this as a standard book.  However, I can understand why some people might prefer it as a graphic novel with the illustrations.  The illustrations add much to the story detail though as I said they sometimes confused me because I could not follow which twin was saying what so that their characters because confused in my mind.


Reviews:


From Booklist:


Gr. 9-12. In the first volume of a three-book manga series, identical twins Jeanie and Amber arrive at their new boarding school on the edge of the Australian bush to find it steeped in mystery. Vague rumors of students disappearing, sealed rooms, tight-lipped teachers, and a collection of disturbing paintings have the girls unnerved, and when they start experiencing the same nightmare, they really begin to worry. The subtle buildup of spooky tension culminates when one of the girls' friends goes missing, only to turn up dead. The art is traditional manga, but Chan effectively tweaks the style to create an eerie atmosphere--creepy, but not graphic or deeply scary. Readers may initially connect this to DC's Sandman graphic novels, but they'll soon find that Chan's story has a personality and direction all its own. Tina Coleman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Retrieved from Amazon.com; http://www.amazon.com/Dreaming-Vol-1-Queenie-Chan/dp/1598163825



Use in a Library Setting:


Manga often receives a bad reputation because of the well-known perversions that exist within some of the titles from Japan, occasionally.  This title would go a long way to easing parents fears about the inappropriateness of their child reading a manga.  This title could also encourage younger readers becoming interested in genre reading as this is obviously a mystery, an apparently paranormal one at that.  A third use that this title could be put to would be as part of a showcase of multinational graphic novel titles.  This has become a large market over the last few years and the titles originate in a variety of countries, not just the U.S. and Japan.  This particular manga is written and takes place in Australia. 

Module 12: Our Eleanor

Citation:

Fleming, Candace. Our Eleanor: a scrapbook look at Eleanor Roosevelt's remarkable life. AtheneumAnne Schwartz Books, 2005. Print.

Summary:

Eleanor Roosevelt is undoubtedly one of the most influential women of the 20th century.  In this biography, Fleming relates the sad story of her childhood along with tales of her marriage, friendships, and voyage of self-discovery and self-improvement.  This particular biography is presented in scrapbook format; meaning that it presents information in boxes along with pictures.  This allows the reader to gloss over that information that really doesn't interest him/her and focus on what does.

Personal Impression:

I have always admired both Roosevelts, Eleanor and Franklin.  However, I only knew the political side of both people.  This book provided me with a lot more insight into the First Lady. I had no idea of the personal battle she fought to become the woman we all know and respect.  I enjoyed the scrapbook effect.  It added a personal nature to the story; making it more intimate.  It was obvious this book was well researched.  I am very impressed.

Reviews:

FLEMING, Candace. Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt’s Remarkable Life. S & S/Athen­eum/An Anne Schwartz Bk. Tr $19.95. ISBN 0-689-86544-9.
Gr 4-8–A candid biography of an unhappy child who grew up to become an American icon. Chock-full of details and enhanced with news clips, quotations, photos, and more, this is an up-close-and-personal look at a private woman who was truly a citizen of the world. (Nov.)

Retrieved from School Library Journal, "Best Books 2005"; http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6286432.html

From Booklist

Gr. 6-9. As in Fleming's Ben Franklin's Almanac: Being a True Account of the Good Gentleman's Life (2003), which was a 2004 Booklist Top 10 Biography, this takes a pastiche approach to humanizing a legendary life. Through anecdotes and archival photos drawn from an assortment of sources, Fleming invites readers into a camaraderie with the timid, neglected little girl who grew up to become the woman many nicknamed "copresident," and whose flouting of accepted gender roles earned her admiration and ridicule in equal measure. The details of Roosevelt's life are certainly riveting; however, Fleming's jigsaw-puzzle approach is probably best suited for use in conjunction with more traditional narratives, such as Russell Freedman's Newbery Honor Book Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery (1993). In terms of Roosevelt's sexuality, for instance, the frank details about Roosevelt's bonds with known lesbians appear 15 pages before a segment that asks "Was She Or Wasn't She?" (Answer: who knows?)--a structural choice that seems to encourage assumptions rather than heading them off. That said, a broad audience, including many adults, will be intrigued by the volume's photo-album immediacy. Those eager to gain perspectives from other biographers may be frustrated by a list of related books primarily geared to younger children, although multimedia resources and exhaustive source notes offer plenty of opportunities to extend this intimate, unvarnished, and ultimately deeply moving portrait. Jennifer Mattson

Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Retrieved from Amazon.com; http://www.amazon.com/Our-Eleanor-Scrapbook-Roosevelts-Remarkable/dp/0689865449/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1304560185&sr=1-1

Uses in a Library Setting:

This would be an excellent book to use for Women's Studies and History as Eleanor Roosevelt had a huge impact on the women's movement.  This is also a good example to use for scrapbooking ideas for those who want an informative scrapbook.  

Module 11: Our Family Tree

Citation:

Westberg, Lisa. Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story. Harcourt Children, 2003. Print.

Summary:

Westberg traces the human lineage from the very beginnings of the primordial soup that formed Earth to the present day.  She touches on the one-celled organisms through amoebas, our fishy ancestors and our amphibious ones and so on.

Personal Impression:

I like the fact that someone did the research and took the time to try and condense such a complicated theory into something children would understand.  The only issue that I have is that the human line is not unbroken so many of her definitive statements that she makes in the book make me stop and go "But..."  I also like the fact that someone is publishing a book like this in an atmosphere where so much is being challenged and removed because it doesn't coincide with certain opinions and beliefs. 

Reviews:

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Evolution is a ticklish topic. It is controversial to some for religious reasons; for others, it is a challenging concept to present to a young audience without losing scientific veracity. For one thing, young children have little concept of time-a million years might be the span between birthdays. For another, the idea of slow, evolutionary change still seems somehow equal to a magician's trick. So, accomplishing a reasonable explanation of a scientific concept and its progress through millennia is worthy of note. Peters's simple text uses the "we/us" format to place Homo sapiens in the "family" of life at its very beginnings. "All of us," she states in the first sentence of the book, "are part of an old, old family," going back to Earth's beginnings. "We've changed a lot since then." Through a simple progression, amply bolstered by Stringer's striking, large acrylics, she traces "our" family tree from unicellular organisms through amphibians, therapsids, and early mammals to early primates, hominids, and our distinct "humanness" today. Enriched by two pages of additional data and a colorful time line, the whole is rounded out by carefully written author and illustrator notes. Simpler than Stephen Webster's The Kingfisher Book of Evolution (2000) and Melvin Berger's How Life Began (Doubleday, 1990; o.p.), and perhaps easier than Joanna Cole's venerable Evolution (Crowell, 1987; o.p.), this book is a wonderful companion to Steve Jenkins's equally attractive Life on Earth (Houghton, 2002).
Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-7. It seems like a great idea: tell the story of the evolution of all living things by showing that "all of us are part of an old, old family" and that we can trace our roots back to "tiny round cells in the deep dark sea." But it's not that easy to explain the minutiae of DNA and the sweep of Earth's geology and biology to a young audience. This oversize picture book, with chatty text and elaborate, packed, brightly colored, double-page illustrations, may look child friendly, but it's sometimes confusing. Readers are told that the time line, which appears in tiny print, isn't drawn to scale, but it certainly looks as if microscopic bacteria haven't been around much longer than primates. The second part of the book works best, tracing the emergence of warm-blooded creatures right up to the excitement of walking upright. This is best suited to classroom use, where adults can turn to helpful notes at the back to discuss our connections with those first tiny round cells and how we've changed since then. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Both reviews retrieved from Amazon.com; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0152017720/thingamababy-20

Use in a Library Setting:

A school library could conceivably use this book as a resource for science projects concerning the subject as the author does provide the information behind her statements in the back of the book as well as providing a timeline. Furthermore, while I am not sure that this particular book has been challenged, it could be used as an example of hot button topics that cause a lot of controversy.  

Module 10: Boxes for Katje

Citation:


Fleming, Candace, and Stacey Dressen-McQueen.Boxes for Katje. Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), 2003. Print.


Summary:


Katje is a Dutch girl whose family, along with the rest of Holland, is scrabbling to survive after World War II.  She receives a package from America; sent by an unknown family as part of a relief effort.  It contains necessities such as soap and and wool socks as well as a luxury item in the form of a chocolate bar.  She shares with her family and writes a letter of thanks.  As a result of those two simple gestures, her whole town is eventually saved through a landslide of compassion.


Personal Impression:


This is such an emotional tale.  I cried when I read it.  It is a wonderful description of the best side of human nature.  The artwork is dark when describing the sorrows and light when describing the gifts.  A wonderful picture book that I fully intend on purchasing for my daughter.


Reviews:


In May 1945, a Dutch girl named Katje is thrilled to receive a letter and a package of socks, soap, and chocolate from Rosie, a girl she doesn’t know who lives in Mayfield, Indiana. The kids start to exchange letters, and when Rosie’s family members learn of Holland’s severe post-war deprivations, they enlist Mayfield residents to send food and clothes to Katje, who generously shares the gifts with others in her community. The sense of suffering isn’t strong here, in part because the Dutch townspeople are almost always depicted as smiling about the packages. But the story is still moving, and Dressen-McQueen’s lively illustrations, in colored pencil, oil pastel, and acrylic, pack lots of color, pattern, and historical details onto every expansive page. Fleming based the book on her mother’s experience, which she describes in an author’s note; in the real-life story, however, adults, not children, orchestrated the events, a finding that may be a little disappointing to kids who took the book, with its specific dates, town names, and heroic, generous children, as straight fact. — Kathleen Odean


Retrieved from Booklist Online; http://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pid=1139921


Use in a Library Setting:


Such a story as this needs a grand display.  This would be excellent as part of a Thanksgiving holiday celebration.  Not because it is about Thanksgiving but because it epitomizes what Thanksgiving is supposed to be about.  It also would be a good book for children to read in conjunction with studies about World War II and it's aftermath.  Finally, donation drives conducted at the library for local food banks and the Salvation Army could be paired with storytimes with books like this one.

Module 9: Ace Lacewing Bug Detective

Citation:

Biedrzycki, David. Ace Lacewing, Bug Detective. Charlesbridge Publishing, 2005. Print.

Summary:

The moth detective is hired to discover "who-dun-it" in a classic mystery for young readers.  There's been a disappearance from the royal bee family and Ace is the bug for the job. 

Personal Impression:

I'm not a big mystery fan but even I had to grin at the gritty mystery plot combined with a science lesson concerning bugs.  This was adorable. There is even a map that shows the location of the crime, in the city of Motham.  Obviously, the city's name is a play on Gotham, home of Batman.

Reviews:

When Queenie Bee, of Hive Rise Honey, goes missing, Motham City is abuzz. Tough P.I. Ace Lacewing (“Bad bugs are my business”) is on the case. Red herrings (mosquitoes, maggots, and walkingsticks in this case) abound, all with different stories, but the trench-coat-and--fedora-clad detective remains undaunted, sleuthing his way through the clues until a sticky surprise revelation. Biedrzycki (The Beetle Alphabet Book, 2003) makes his debut as an author here, and although his story is sometimes text heavy, it’s filled with snappy dialogue, wordplay, and puns that will especially appeal to kids with some knowledge of insects (words such as pupae are used). The slick, computer-assisted art has a cartoon flair; and its shadowy backgrounds have a noir flavor. Biedrzycki uses occasional pops of primary color and an array of perspectives and witty detail to add interest. Entertaining fare for those who appreciate creepy crawlies on the humorous side, this will attract both good readers and fans of seek-and-find books. — Shelle Rosenfeld

Retrieved from Booklist Online; http://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pid=1494764

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4–Motham City is abuzz with the kidnapping of Queenie Bee, and Ace Lacewing, the Sam Spade of insects, is on the case. His motto is, Bad bugs are my business. Lacewing follows the trail of honey with the help of his gal, Doctor Xerces Blue, and Sergeant Zito, a mosquito. A motley (and sometimes molting) assortment of suspects is questioned. Their character traits are based on facts: The roaches said of course they ran from the scene of the crime–it was their nature to scatter when the lights go on. Puns and wordplay abound: I've known him ever since we were pupae at the same school; The full moon hung in the sky like a large compound eye.... The digitally enhanced illustrations evoke a film noir atmosphere, with moody blue and black backgrounds. The pages are also brimming with humorous details such as glowworm street lamps, Bug Off police tape, and Slow Larvae road signs. This clever parody of hard-boiled detective stories is sure to tickle readers' thorax.–Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Retrieved from Amazon.com; http://www.amazon.com/Ace-Lacewing-Detective-David-Biedrzycki/dp/1570915695

Use in a Library Setting:

This is an excellent way to introduce young readers to one of the most popular genres of adults.  It should be included in a reader's advisory for students.  Perhaps setting up a section that divides certain exceptional books of their genre, so that children can explore it to decide what they like as far as genre reading is concerned rather than having just a list of titles to show them.  With a rotating display of titles from those genres so that covers could catch their ideas.  Hmmm. Something to think about.