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.    

Module 8: Blood and Chocolate

Citation:

Klaus, Annette Curtis. Blood and Chocolate. New York, NY: Delacorte Press, 1997. Print.

Summary:

Vivian is a teenager who finds herself displaced after a tragedy along with the rest of her "family." The event has put a strain on the dynamics of the group and Vivian uses her school as her escape from the turmoil.  Love leads to pain and worse, danger, as Vivian and the rest of the pack struggle to regain balance.

Personal Impression:

I saw this movie a few years ago and was unimpressed.  However, knowing that books and movies are often vitally different, I decided to give the book a try when it showed up on the reading list for this class.  I'm glad I did.  The book is infinitely better than the movie and furthermore, it is a good read.  Despite the fact that werewolves form the majority of the characters, it serves up a good lesson in realizing that there are consequences to your actions no matter your species. 

Reviews:

Gabriel—raw and sharp like blood; Aiden—rich and smooth like chocolate. It’s Aiden, sensitive and gentle, whom Vivian thinks she desires, but he is a “meat-boy,” a human, and Vivian is a werewolf, a worshiper of the Moon and part of a small sect of werewolves living double lives in a contemporary Maryland suburb. Should Vivian reveal her proud, sleek animal self to the boy she loves? By the author of the Silver Kiss (1995), this violent, sexy novel is a seamless, totally convincing blend of fantasy and reality that can be read as feminist fiction, as smoldering romance, as a rites of passage novel, or as a piercing reflection on human nature. Vivian is a strong main character, tough yet vulnerable, and her every move reflects her duality. Klause’s imagery is magnetic, and her language fierce, rich, and beautiful, whether she is describing a frightening, vicious fight to the death among Vivian’s werewolf clan or the moment when Vivian realizes that showing her true self has been a tragic mistake. Passion and philosophy dovetail superbly in this powerful, unforgettable novel for mature teens. — Stephanie Zvirin

Retrieved from Booklist Online; http://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pid=2810020

From Kirkus Reviews

Klause returns to the steamy sensuality of her first book, The Silver Kiss (1990), for this tale of a hot-blooded teenage werewolf who falls for a human ``meat-boy.'' Grieving for her father and unimpressed by the age-mates in her pack, Vivian defies her mother and fellow lycanthropes by setting her sights on suburban poet-schoolmate Aiden Teague. It's an experiment that's doomed from the start. Vivian may look human (when she chooses), but her attitudes, instincts, and expectations are decidedly wolflike; short-tempered, direct in action and emotion, rough in love and play, shapeshifters make dangerous companions, their veneer of rationality as thin as their senses are sharp. Poor Aiden--as a prospective lover he's not so different from prey; to Vivian his smile flashes like heat lightning, and at times he looks so delicious she wants to ``bite the buttons off his shirt.'' When, after a series of sultry but frustrating dates, Vivian reveals herself to him, he responds, not with the pleasure and lust she expects, but stark terror. Extrapolating brilliantly from wolf and werewolf lore, Klause creates a complex plot, fueled by politics, insanity, intrigue, sex, blood lust, and adolescent longings, and driven by a set of vividly scary creatures to a blood-curdling climax. The werewolves' taste for risky pranks and the author's knack for double--and even triple--entendres add sly undercurrents to this fierce, suspenseful chiller. (Fiction. 12-14) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Retrieved from Amazon.com; http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Chocolate-Annette-Curtis-Klause/dp/product-description/0440226686/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

Use in a Library Setting:

I have had the idea for the past year of setting up a book club focusing on the paranormal which entails books that have vampires, witches, ghosts, and werewolves (among other things) involved.  This would be a prime example of a book to include in such a group.  

Book Trailer Project

Module 7: My Louisiana Sky and Fat Kid Rules the World

Citation:

Willis, Kimberly. My Louisiana sky. Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), 1998. Print.

Summary:

Tiger Ann is the daughter of two mentally challenged parents.  The three of them live with her grandmother.  She is coming of age in an unusual situation that becomes dramatically more so with the death of her grandmother.  She has to choose between a life caring for her parents in a small town or with her sophisticated (to her) aunt in the city.

Personal Impression:

I found this to be a sweet tale.  Unfortunately, it happens often that a child has to grow up to fast in order to care for a parent that is incapable of truly parenting.  In this instance, there reason is not bad choices, simply nature.  Tiger Ann shows true grit and compassion with her choices as well as her youth and inexperience.  

Reviews:

From Publishers Weekly

In this "unusually auspicious debut," a girl living in a small Louisiana town in 1957 must choose whether to care for her mentally slow parents or to move in with a glamorous aunt in Baton Rouge. "The author presents and handles a sticky dilemma with remarkable grace," said PW in a starred review. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc

Retrieved from Amazon.com; http://www.amazon.com/Louisiana-Sky-Kimberly-Willis-Holt/dp/0312660952/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1303144743&sr=1-1

Set in central Louisiana in the 1950s, this lyrical first novel brings fresh perspective to the guilt and anger and caring that surround the mentally disabled. Tiger Ann’s parents are “retarded,” and her love for them is mixed with shame, especially when the local kids jeer at her simple, childlike mother. Strong Granny keeps them together in their small, rough house in central Louisiana; but then Granny dies suddenly, and 12-year-old Tiger is tempted to take up an offer from her worldly aunt, Dorie Kay, and move with her to Baton Rouge. Of course, we know that in the end Tiger will not abandon her home, but her spare first-person narrative is full of surprise as she discovers complicated secrets about family and responsibility. Why did Dorie Kay leave town? What was the tension between her and Granny? All the characters, including Tiger’s parents, are drawn with warmth but no patronizing reverence. First-novelist Holt knows this place: its cruel segregation and abuse as well as its loving support. Tiger must give up being a child, but she finds courage in her Louisiana home. — Hazel Rochman

Retrieved from Booklist Online; http://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pid=259068

Suggestions in a Library Setting:

Much of the novel revolves around the fact that it is in Louisiana during a certain time period.  This book would be an excellent choice for a showcase of the state.  It could also be used in a school library in conjunction with social studies on the time period as a demonstration of what it was like before civil rights even though that is not truly the focus in the book, it does permeate it.  

Citation:

Going, Kelly L. Fat kid rules the world. Putnam Pub Group, 2003. Print.

Summary:

Troy is fat.  That fact rules his life.  Everything in his mind revolves around that one simple statement.  As a teenager, it is an unforgivable sin especially in New York where appearance is everything.  Enter Curt MacCrae, an apparent punk scene guitar god who sees past the miserable fact of Troy's size to the person within.  Even though Curt is far from perfect, he changes Troy's life for the better and helps him to get past the fat.

Personal Impression:

I have shared Troy's problem since mid-high school.  As a teenager, dwelling on problems comes naturally as does being so totally absorbed in your own internal world that you miss everything around you.  I think the book has a good message though I find it hard to believe that anyone is as totally self-absorbed as Troy.  

Reviews:

His name is Troy, but to the world--and in his internal dialogues--he is the Fat Kid. Really Fat. Almost 300 pounds of sweating, unhappy insecurity. Then out of a moment of despair comes magic. As Troy considers whether to splatter himself on a subway track, Curt MacCrae, a charismatic punk rocker/homeless kid/dropout, comes along and stops him. For the price of a meal, Curt befriends Troy, and he sees something under all those layers: a potential musician, a friend, and someone with the ability to see through life’s bull. First-time novelist Going has put together an amazing assortment of characters. Troy is the ultimate fat kid, the kind whose every move, every thought is predicated on what it is like to wear a coat of blubber. Curt, as thin as Troy is fat, is a combination of Kurt Cobain, Ratso Rizzo, and a fairy godfather. He sprinkles Troy with the dirt and grime of punk rock and brings out the prince hiding inside the weight (to the book’s credit, Troy doesn’t get any thinner). Equally well drawn are the lesser characters, including Troy’s father, a former Marine with an innate sense of what kids need. The narrative could have been tighter in places, but this is an impressive debut that offers hope for all kids--dross transmuted into gold. — Ilene Cooper

Retrieved from Booklist Online; http://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pid=216172

GOING,K. L. Fat Kid Rules the World. Putnam. Tr $17.99. ISBN 0-399-23990-1. Gr 8 Up–An unlikely friendship buds between 296-pound loner Troy Billings and punk-guitarist Curt MacCrae, two troubled teens who share a love of music. Told with humor and a great deal of heart, this powerhouse of a novel will resonate with teens. (May)

Retrieved from School Library Journal; http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA339559.html

Suggestions in a Library Setting:

This novel is a good example of seeing inside someone else's head.  Stereotypes are prevalent in our society.  It would be a good book to use for a reading program that focuses young adults on people who are subjected to negative environments because of stereotyping like the obese, homosexuals, and minorities.  If this type of program started while relatively young it might curb the amount of bullying issues later in puberty.

Module 6: The Enemy

Citation:

Cali, Davide, and Serge Bloch. The Enemy: a book about peace. New York, NY: Schwartz and Wade Books, 2009. Print.

Summary:

Two soldiers from opposing sides are stuck in foxholes during a battle.  They have no outside contact.  From the text of the story, you can tell that they have hidden in their holes for quite some time.  They each think the other is less than human.  They have much in common though they believe the other is evil.

Personal Impression:

I honestly think that this is a most powerful message about war.  It coincides with my own beliefs.  We demonize our opponents in order to justify our cause.  We purposefully portray them as monsters so that we can ignore the fact that they are like us in a lot of respects.  This is a timely book in that many in our society are currently doing exactly that to those who don't believe as they do.  Yet the authors set the time period through the illustrations to reflect WWI and WWII, perhaps to show just how bad things can get.

Reviews:

Gr 4–8—In an understated picture book for older readers, Cali ponders the essence and logic of war from the viewpoint of a lone soldier, isolated from his fellow troops, sitting in his foxhole within sight of his enemy. "Except for hunger, the enemy and I have nothing in common. He is a wild beast. He does not know mercy. I know this because I read it in my manual. It says that we must kill him before he kills us." The man ponders the pointlessness of war, his hesitancy to let down his guard, his fear of being alone. He is tired of sitting in a hole. He waits until the moon is at its smallest, puts on a disguise, and creeps toward the enemy's foxhole. What he finds in there (family photos and a manual like his own) surprises him. What's more, he realizes that he and the enemy, sharing similar thoughts, have traded spaces. He wishes the enemy would do something to end the war, and knows that he must end it himself. Set against stark white backgrounds, black-line cartoon characters, reminiscent of Jules Feiffer's work, are dressed in khaki green. Other items are drawn in the manner of a child's doodles. Tiny touches of red color the soldiers' manuals and people and animals that have been killed. Several photos, pages from an old war manual, and bits of torn paper folded at the edges to represent foxholes, have been added in a few places. Poignant, thought-provoking, and powerful in its frankness and simplicity, this short piece will prompt discussion on war and other means of resolving conflict.—Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH


-- Retrieved from School Library Journal; http://www.libraryjournal.com/slj/printissue/currentissue/857197-427/grades_5_amp_up.html.csp

“Every morning I shoot at him. Then he shoots at me.” The words and pictures are minimal in this picture book, with just a short sentence and a small khaki-colored ink drawing on almost every white page. A uniformed soldier in a hole shoots an enemy in a hole on the opposite page. The soldier knows from the manual that “the enemy is not a human being,” that the enemy will kill families and pets, burn down forests, and poison water. The spare trench-warfare scenarios evoke World War I as the soldier crawls to the enemy’s hole and discovers their connections, including loving family photos and battle manuals filled with untruths. In eloquent contrast to the close-ups of the two small holes and barbed wire are the big double-page views of what the soldiers share: the starry night and the stormy sky. The elemental peace message will spark discussion. Add this to the core collection column, “Peace Not War” in the November 1 issue of Booklist. — Hazel Rochman

Retrieved from Booklist Online; http://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pid=3135855

Suggestions in a Library Setting:

This book could be used in conjunction with studies about the two World Wars or about any war in order to show an alternative to pro-war attitudes.  During times like these, where multiple wars or incipient wars are occurring, we should keep in mind that the people fighting have lives outside of fighting.  It could be part of a display promoting peace.