Book Review - AMERICAN BORN CHINESE - TWU LS 5603 assignment

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Yang, Gene Luen.  2006.  AMERICAN BORN CHINESE.  Coloring by Lark Pien.  New York: First Second.  ISBN:  9781596431522

PLOT SUMMARY

This has three different story-lines that come together and connect at the end of the novel.  The first is about the Chinese fable Monkey King, who wants to become a god in human form.  The second concerns Chinese-American Jin Wang, who wants to become Caucasian.  The third is how Chin-Kee, a negative Chinese stereo-type, continues to plague his cousin’s, Danny, life.  The plot for all three stories revolves around not liking who you (or your family) are; wanting to change into someone else.  The characters do not like their ethnicity; they all feel inferior as themselves.  The story culminates with these three characters finding out how their lives are inter-twined and how to live the life they were born into.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This graphic novel is eye-appealing; from the front yellow cover with only half a face showing throughout the pages that are colorful, yet subtle.  The graphics are clear and crisp, with several different styles of panels per page that keep the scenes from becoming monotonous. 

This realistic fiction story can take place in any child’s life, in any school, in any city, in any country.  It is a universal coming-of-age theme, working through and accepting who you are, no matter what your race, color, religion, or ethnicity is.

AWARDS

2007 Michael L. Printz Award Winner
2007 Eisner Award Winner Best Graphic Album – New
2006 National Book Award Nominee
American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults
YALSA Great Graphic Novel for Teens
NPR Holiday Pick
Chinese American Librarians Association Best Book Award
Harvey Award
Reuben Award Winner
Booklist Editors' Choice
Booklist Top 10 Graphic Novel for Youth
Library Media Editor's Choice
Publisher's Weekly Comics Week Best Comic of the Year
Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books of the Year
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year

REVIEWS

PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: “it's a fable for every kid born into a body and a life they wished they could escape….fable is filtered through some very specific cultural icons…each character's expressions and actions are always perfectly familiar…this story's clear, concise lines and expert coloring are deceptively simple yet expressive…Yang accomplishes the remarkable feat of practicing what he preaches with this book: accept who you are and you'll already have reached out to others.”

EDUCATIIONAL LEADERSHIP:  “weaves together a coming-of-age narrative, Eastern mythology, and a sitcom-style story of contemporary teen life.”

NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW:  “Yang makes growing up Chinese in California seem positively terrifying…seems to use Chin-Kee to express his deepest fears of how others perceive Asian-Americans…reminding us that the image of a Chinese student filling out all the SAT bubbles correctly can be as damaging as one eating ''flied cat gizzards.''
            “blends Chinese and American cultures in inventive, unexpected ways. Structurally, its interwoven stories form a trilogy -- a familiar Western construction -- but the tale of the Monkey King is dominated by groups of four….a cursed number in Chinese numerology….in the book's most clever ethnic synthesis, he turns four to his favor, becoming one of four emissaries to the West who replace the wise men in their pilgrimage to see Jesus.
            “also functions well as a comic book…art blends the clean lines of anime with a bold American palette…Yang has created that rare article: a youthful tale with something new to say about American youth.”

MELUS:  “mature in artistic design and visually engaging.  Yet what makes it especially appealing to both young and mature readers is its narrative depth…the three separate tales are cleverly woven together in a dramatic climax, highlighting the work's focus on ethnic self-acceptance and empowerment…Yang uses the idea of transformation to give the novel thematic and structural unity…The legendary trickster figure [Monkey King] has been repeatedly re-imagined by Chinese American writers as a source of cultural strength, a symbol of subversion and resistance, and a metaphor for cross-cultural and interracial negotiation…[transforming] provides an illuminating parallel to Jin Wang's/Danny's coming-coming-of-age narrative…The blatant racial stereotype that Chin-Kee stands for has long denied Asians a place in American culture…[yet Chin-Kee] emerges as the epitome of transformation and subversion…Yang's reinvention of such a figure is an effective way to dispel the century-old image of the "Heathen Chinese."

LIBRARY JOURNAL:  “the three stories suddenly merge,…Coalescence comes almost too quickly, but the trivision approach and treatment are unique and moving. The art is simple, colorful, and both attractive and effective.”

AMAZON.COM:  “The artwork, rendered in a chromatically cool palette, is crisp and clear, with clean white space around center panels that sharply focuses the reader's attention in on Yang's achingly familiar characters.”

LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTION:  “It’s a nice combination of a fable and contemporary stories to convey the wonderful lesson of accepting one’s culture and identity with pride…has engaging art, and at times, funny dialogue.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:  “lt's tough to talk about today's most serious issues (such as racial prejudice, self-acceptance, and spirituality) without seeming sanctimonious or sappy. But graphic artist Gene Yang deftly sidesteps that quicksand in this zippy, heartfelt tale of what it means to grow up Asian American.”

BOOKLIST:  “with vibrant colors and visual panache…each of the [three] characters is flawed but familiar…stories have a simple, engaging sweep to them, but their weighty subjects – shame, racism, and friendship – receive thoughtful, powerful examination…Yang helps the humor shine by using his art to exaggerate or contradict the words, creating a synthesis that marks an accomplished graphic storyteller.”

VOYA:  “This graphic novel first appeared as a long running web comic on http://www.moderntales.com, where it enjoyed an enthusiastic following. The artwork is clean and distinctive, with varying panel styles and inking that is visually appealing . . . This graphic novel could be especially cathartic for teens and adults of Asian descent, but people of any ethnicity would find themselves reflected in the universal themes of self-acceptance, peer pressure, and racial tensions.”

CONNECTIONS

Books to Read

Varon, Sara.  ROBOT DREAMS.  ISBN:  1596431083
Abadzis, Nick.  LAIKA.  ISBN:  1596431016
Tan, Shaun.  THE ARRIVAL.  ISBN:  0439895294
Tamaki, Mariko.  SKIM.  ISBN:  088899964X
Kim, Derek Kirk.  GOOD AS LILY.  ISBN:  140121381

Used as a resource in:
Knowles, Elizabeth and Martha Smith. 2007. UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY THROUGH NOVELS AND PICTURE BOOKS. ISBN:  9781591584407

Lessons

Teaching history:http://us.macmillan.com/Content.aspx?publisher=firstsecond&id=3737

Gene Luen Yang lesson plans:http://www.webenglishteacher.com/yang.html

English/Social Studies: http://www.getgraphic.org/GG_Kits/American%20Born%20Chinese/ABC%20Lesson%20Plan%20Stereotype.pdf

ELL US History II- Reconstruction to the Present – Grade 11 and 12 (Students in these classes are limited English proficiency. They have minimal background in US History. In addition, language is as an important component in the class as content knowledge. ): http://www.gse.uml.edu/rtah/docs/Morgensterndrivenout.doc

Telling stories:  http://www.kennedy-center.org/education/pwtv/studyguides/GeneYang.pdf

History lesson:  http://www.firstsecondbooks.com/teachers/abcLesson.html

Factoring with Mr. Yang & Mosley the Alien: Webcomics Lessons for Algebra Students: http://www.humblecomics.com/factoring/

YA lesson plans: http://yareviews.wikispaces.com/American+Born+Chinese+by+Gene+Luen+Yang

Book Review - THE GRAVEYARD BOOK - TWU LS 5603 assignment

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Gaiman, Neil. 2009.  THE GRAVEYARD BOOK.  Narrated by Neil Gaiman.  Ohio:  Findaway             World.  ISBN 9781436198783

PLOT SUMMARY

Bod Owens is a unique boy raised by ghosts and other supernaturals in a graveyard.  He learns many things: respect (he addresses many spirits in their own diction), boundaries (through trial and error), compassion, tolerance/acceptance of other [beings], and commitment to family and friends.  He is befriended by Scarlett, in the real world.  He also learns about loss; his family has been murdered and he too is being hunted by the murderer, Jack.  His exploits in the graveyard, ether worlds, and outside the graveyard combine to help make him ready to face life in the real world.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

I listened to the book on a Playaway.  It is narrated by the author.  His voice is deep, clear, calm, and pleasant to the ear; occasionally it drops too low to hear well when the music is playing.  The music is sprightly, hinting at mystery, but not dark.  The story is easy to listen to and follow.

Gaiman has created a handful of main characters, two of which – Bod and Scarlett - grow and mature during the story.  Other main characters – Jack, Mr/Mrs Owens, Silas, Miss Lupescu – are true to their own characteristics, whether dead or alive.  And then there are the delightful background graveyard/ether characters that help nurture Bod; the ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ proverb.  The story is prolific with characters as there are at least a dozen more ‘real’ people that Bod encounters during his worldly episodes.

The plot – murder, the main setting – graveyard, and the theme – good vs. evil, are so intertwined as to be believable.  Yes, an 18-month old can disappear quickly. Yes, a bunch of ghosts, with nothing but time on their hands, could become infatuated with a baby and decide to raise it.  Yes, evil exists and wins occasionally, but the good guys keep trying to stop them.

Gaiman’s  style is entertaining intrigue.  Bod reminds me of Dennis the Menace; what trouble is he going to get into next?  And like Dennis, his charm and wit, along with his ‘family and friends’, aid him through all his adventures.  In his last graveyard quest, Bod loses two dear friends; but even this loss teaches Bod important lessons for his future.

AWARDS

Book2009 Newbery Medal
2010 Carnegie Medal
2009 Hugo Award
2009 Locus Award
ALA Notable Children's Book
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Booklist Editors' Choice
Best Indie Young Adult Buzz Book
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book
Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (Vermont)
Horn Book Fanfare
Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book
New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
New York Public Library Stuff for the Teen Age
Time Magazine Top Ten Fiction

AudioAudiobook of the YearAlaska - Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award 2011: Grades 7-9 - Audiovisual List
Arizona - Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominees 2011: Tween Books - Audiovisual List
Arkansas - Arkansas Teen Book Award Nominees 2010: Grades 7-9 - Audiovisual List
Arkansas - Arkansas Teen Book Award Winners 2010: Grades 7-9
Delaware - Diamonds Book Award Nominees 2009-2010: High School - Audiovisual List
Hawaii - Hawaii Nene Award Reading List Nominees 2012 - Audiovisual List
Idaho - Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award 2011: Grades 7-9 - Audiovisual List
Literary Prizes - School Library Journal starred
Montana - Pacific Northwest Iowa - Iowa High School Battle of the Books List 2010-2011 -        Audiovisual     List
Young Reader's Choice Award 2011: Grades 7-9 - Audiovisual List
New Jersey - New Jersey Garden State Teen Book Award Nominees 2011: Fiction Gr.6-8 -          Audiovisual List
Oklahoma - Oklahoma Sequoyah Intermediate Book Award Nominees - 2011 - Audisvisual List
Oregon - Oregon Readers Choice Book Award Nominees 2011: Intermediate Division -   Audiovisual List
Oregon - Young Reader's Choice Award 2011: Grades 7-9 - Audiovisual List
Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Nominees 2011-2012: Grades 6-8 - Audiovisual List
Washington - Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award 2011: Grades 7-9 - Audiovisual List
Washington - Washington Evergreen Young Adult Book Award Nominees 2011 - Audiovisual    List

Wisconsin - Golden Archer Award Nominees 2009-2010: Middle School/Junior High -     Audiovisual List

Wisconsin - Wisconsin Battle of the Books 2009-2010: Middle Div. Gr.6-8 - Audiovisual List

Wisconsin - Wisconsin Battle of the Books 2009-2010: Senior Division - Audiovisual List

REVIEWS (for the book)

KLIATT (Starred Review):  “Gaiman has a true gift for narrative and a delightfully light touch, and there are humorous details along with spine-chilling ones. YAs will race through this fine tale and enjoy every magical, creepy moment.”

KIRKUS REVIEWS (Starred Review):  “Wistful, witty, wise—and creepy. This needs to be read by anyone who is or has ever been a child.”

VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES (VOYA) (Starred Review):  “Gaiman writes with charm and humor, and again he has a real winner.”

BOOKLIST (Starred Review):  “an utterly captivating tale that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of ghostly characters. There is plenty of darkness, but the novel’s ultimate message is strong and life affirming…this is a rich story with broad appeal and is highly recommended for teens of all ages. ” 

NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW:  “by turns exciting and witty, sinister and tender, shows Gaiman at the top of his form…The story’s language and humor are sophisticated, but Gaiman respects his readers and trusts them to understand…follows in the footsteps of long-ago storytellers, weaving a tale of unforgettable ­enchantment. “

THE GUARDIAN:  “narratives tend toward the episodic…Every page is crowded with invention, both funny and scary”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:  “amid suspense, spot-on humor, and delightful scene-setting…Gaiman has created a rich, surprising, and sometimes disturbing tale of dreams, ghouls, murderers, trickery, and family”

REVIEWS (for the audio)

AUDIO FILE MAGAZINE: “Neil Gaiman is one of the true gems in the audio industry… gives each specter a different—and wholly appropriate—voice, but he doesn't stop there. He even goes so far as to change a character's accent ever so slightly after she comes back from years and years abroad… performs a shift of character voice that is an absolute showstopper when he reveals the villain”

HTTP://WWW.GREENMANREVIEW.COM/BOOK/BOOK_GAIMAN_GRAVEYARDBOOK_AUDIO.HTML:  “is the audio version going to bring anything extra to the story… he conveys the range of characters and their emotions through subtle tones and inflections… Gaiman's silver-and-shadow reading style is equally suited to both older and younger readers… only made creepier by Gaiman's dry and understated delivery, as if he were channeling Alfred Hitchcock telling a bedtime story… it features a brilliant version of "The Danse Macabre" performed by Béla Fleck on the banjo”

THE INDEPENDENT:  “Neil Gaiman's slightly spooky voice is perfect for reading his slightly spooky story”

CONNECTIONS

Books to read

Gaiman, Neil.  NEVERWHERE: A NOVEL.  ISBN:  978-0060557812
Kadohata, Cynthia.  KIRA-KIRA.  ISBN  978-0689856402
Perkins, Lynne Rae.  CRISS CROSS.  ISBN  978-0060092740
Stead, Rebecca.  WHEN YOU REACH ME.  ISBN  978-0375850868
Vanderpool, Clare.  MOON OVER MANIFEST.  ISBN  978-0385738835

Lessons

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Search/graveyard+book/All/All/All/All
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/printables/harpercollins/graveyard-book_rg.pdf

Book Review - SPEAK - TWU LS 5603 assignment

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anderson, Laurie Halse.  1999.  SPEAK.  Platinum Edition.  New York:  Penguin.  ISBN
            0142407321

PLOT SUMMARY

Where is the pre-party Melinda?  Who is the post-party Melinda?  Anderson explores the confusion, heartache, and fears of a young teen girls’ freshman year of high school following a tramatic summer event.  Melinda traverses the high school halls of horror alone and lonely, trying to block out what happened .  This terrible secret envelopes Melinda’s life, casting a shadow over her former self, and taking its toll over her emotional well-being.  She can’t ‘speak’ of what happened, who would believe me?  Basically, she doesn’t ‘speak’ much at all.  Melinda is befriended by her art teacher, Mr. Freeman, and works through a lot of her emotions with art class projects.  She also receives support from two new friends, David and Ivy.  It is with Ivy by her side that Melinda exercises her first act of ‘speaking up’ (p. 175), “I hold the cap in my teeth.  I start another subject thread on the wall:  Guys to Stay Away From.  The first entry is the Beast himself:  Andy Evans.”

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Anderson captures Melinda’s sense of lost identity and need to hide on page 124, “Eyes after eyes after eyes stare back at me.  Am I in there somewhere?...I pull the side flaps of the mirror in closer, folding myself into the looking glass and blocking out the rest…” Even Melinda is having trouble figuring out who and where the girl is that she once was.

The author demonstrates her understanding of fear, confusion, and heartbreak in her passage on page 132 where Melinda is fighting with herself about whether to go have pizza with David:
            Melinda One: “Get a life…You worry too much…You’re never going to let us have any fun…I can’t stand you”
            Melinda Two: “The world is a dangerous place…Assume the worst.  Plan for disaster. Now hurry up and get us home.  I don’t like it out here. It’s too dark”
            She ends with, “If I kick both of them out of my head, who would be left?”
This passage reeks with self-loathing, terror, and lonliness.

 Anderson includes several different styles of language.  This [profound] statement by David is an example of the strength and power of the author’s symbolism (p. 159), “But don’t expect to make a difference unless you speak up for yourself.”

This topic cuts across generations, genders, and cultures.  It tackles a subject matter that must be given a voice; men, women, boys, and girls need to feel free to ‘speak’ about such atrocities.

AWARDS

1999 National Book Award Finalist in Young People’s Literature
2000 Michael L. Printz Honor Book
New York Times Children’s Best Seller: September 11, 2005
2008 ALAN Award
2009 Margaret A. Edwards Award

REVIEWS

YOUNG ADULT LIBRARY SERVICES (YALS)l:  “Non-traditional  form…divides her novel into four sections that reflect a school year’s traditional grading periods…then presented in a series of short scenes told in the first person voice of protagonist”

BOOK LINKS:  “The story presents a realistic picture of American highschool life and its concomitant social pressures”

Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy:  “The novel is written in an unconventional style including short, vignette-like chapters and life-like visual representations of Melinda’s report cards…a skillfully written novel, is a book that might ‘speak’ to teen readers and help them cope with problems”

HORN BOOK MAGAZINE: “Melinda’s smart and savvy interior narrative slowly reveals the searing pain of that 911 night....nightmare discloses itself in bits throughout the story…we feel her choking on her untold secret”

PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY:  “is remarkable for both Melinda's strong voice--an ironic twist for a character who rarely speaks but has a pungent internal monologue--and for its taut structure”

CONNECTIONS

LESSONS

http://www.bookrags.com/lessonplan/speak/funactivities.html http://madwomanintheforest.com/teachers/youngadult-speak/ http://www.viterbo.edu/perspgs/faculty/GSmith/LessonPlanforSpeak.htm

Books

Alexie, Sherman.  THE ABSOLUTELY TURE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN.  ISBN    978-0316013697Anderson, Laurie Halse.  WINTERGIRLS.  ISBN  978-0142415573Asher, Jay.  THIRTEEN REASONS WHY.  ISBN  978-1595141880Cisneros, Sandra.  THE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET.  ISBN  978-0679734772
Myers, Walter Dean.  MONSTER.  ISBN  978-0064407311

Book Review - LILY'S CROSSING - TWU LS 5603 class assignment

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Giff, Patricia Reilly.  1997.  LILY’S CROSSING.  New York:  A Yearling Book.  ISBN 0780792971

PLOT SUMMMARY

Lily Mollahan is headed to Rockaway, the family’s usual summer residence; but this summer, 1944, Lily will have to spend the summer without her best friend and without her father.  The war will take both to other parts of the country.  Lily, reluctantly, meets Albert, a Hungarian war refugee.  They become the best of friends, but Lily has a habit of telling ‘little white lies’ and one of them  ignites a yearning and determination  so strongly in Albert, that he almost loses his life in the process of trying to assuage his guilt of leaving his little sister in France.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Ms. Giff draws upon personal recollections and experiences of her WWII summers in the New York/ Rockaway area for the setting and other memoriablia in the story such as songs, radio shows, businesses, black-out strategies, rationing, and victory gardens.  She drives home the point of controlled alarm/apprehension/trepidation in her description of the reactions of those who witness the training plane flying overhead, the blackout curtains being used, and the partially painted vehicle headlights.

There are two areas of authenticity concern.  One, is that Albert speaks English so well; it mentions he has an accent, but his sentence structure and syntax are American.  Second, for being 10-years-olds, the children seem to have too much freedom, especially considering they are on the water and there is the anxiety of a possible air/sea attack.

AWARDS

A 1998 Newbery Honor Book
An ALA Notable Children's Book
A Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book

REVIEWS

NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW: “easygoing language and swift, short paragraphs, the impact of the war on an American child is brilliantly told… For young readers, Lily's story is an energetic introduction to their grandparents' world. The paraphernalia of the mid-1940's are here in abundance. There are soap operas on the radio (''Portia Faces Life''), victory gardens, gas rationing, ''Lux Radio Theater,'' the liberation of Paris:… Spam, Shirley Temple movies, Kate Smith singing ''God Bless America.''

HORN BOOK MAGAZINE: “Details such as snatches of popular songs, movie titles, and blackout precautions are woven with great effect into a realistic story of ordinary people who must cope with events beyond their comprehension.”

BOOKLIST: “wry comedy and intense feeling…the happy ending is too contrived... The friendship story is beautifully drawn: both Lily and Albert are wary, reluctant, and needy; they quarrel as much as they bond, and in the end, they help each other to be brave.

PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: “Exceptional characterizations and a robust story line….characters cope with wartime shortages, stumble into tragedy as sons and brothers fall in battle – in shor, lead complicated lives with the hope of redemption.”

NEWSMAGAZINE: “this book has two virtues rarely encountered in children's literature today. First, its two 11-year-old protagonists are not the wise ones; they recognize that they have much to learn from their elders. Second, both have suffered great loss.

TEACHING PRE K-8: “The book portrays very well the World War II era and the feelings that drive Lily. Gram is wonderful: she's strong, often difficult and she has a sense of propriety that often frustrates Lily, but sustains them both. “

CONNECTIONS

Books

Blume, Judy.  STARRING SALLY J. FREEDMAN AS HERSELF.  ISBN:  0440482534
Choi, Sook Nyul.  YOUR OF IMPOSSIBLE GOODBYES.  ISBN: 0440407591
Couloumbis, Audrey.  GETTING NEAR TO BABY.  ISBN:  0698118928
dePaola, Tomie.  26 FAIRMOUNT AVENUE.  ISBN: 0698118642
Drucker, Malka and Michael Halperin.  JACOB’S RESCUE.  ISBN: 0440409659
Fenner, Carol.  YOLONDA’S GENIUS.  ISBN:   0689813279
Fox, Paula.  THE SLAVE DANCER.  ISBN:  1606862227
Holm, Jennifer L.  OUR ONLY MAY AMELIA.  ISBN:  0064408566
Lowry, Lois.  NUMBER THE STARS.  ISBN: 0440227534
Maclachlan, Patricia.  JOURNEY.  ISBN:  0385304277
O’Dell, Scott.  MY NAME IS NOT ANGELICA.  ISBN: 0547406304
Speare, Elizebeth George.  CALICO CAPTIVE.   ISBN: 0618150765

Lessons

http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385321426&view=tg

Social Studies
During World War II, the U. S. government began rationing supplies. Ask students to find out what items were rationed. What was the purpose of a "Victory Garden"? Margaret's father goes to Detroit to make B-24 Liberator Bombers. What other jobs on the home front helped the war effort?

Encourage students to use reference sources and a map of Europe to trace the invasion of France by the Allies. Ask them to begin with the military's landing on Omaha Beach and follow their maneuvers through the small towns and cities that they liberated in France.

Math
Albert comes to Rockaway from Hungary via Austria, Switzerland, France and Canada. Ask students to calculate the approximate mileage over land and water of his trip. Have students call a travel agency and find out the flight time, including layovers, that Albert could expect if he were traveling today from Kennedy Airport in New York to Budapest, the capital of Hungary. How much would his flight cost?

Science
Lily feels close to her mother through the stars pasted on her bedroom ceiling. Each summer she brings one star with her to Rockaway. Why are the stars so important to her? Lily makes reference to the Big Dipper, Orion's Belt, and Cassiopeia. Ask students to research these constellations and draw a diagram of each. Some students may enjoy extending their research by locating other constellations that Lily might find in the summer skies at Rockaway.

Drama
Gram and Lily listen to "Portia Faces Life" on the radio. Divide the class into groups and ask each group to write a radio script for an episode of a show entitled "Lily Faces Life." Encourage each group to perform their script for the entire class.

Art
Mrs. Sherman has two war posters hanging in her shop. One says, "Loose Lips Sink Ships," and the other says, "Someone Talked." Ask each student to design a poster using one of these slogans.


Prepared by Pat Scales, Library Media Specialist, Greenville Middle School, Greenville, South Carolina.
VOCABULARY

Ask students to search for words in the novel such as convoy (76) that specifically pertain to the war. Then, ask them to locate words such as swell (116) and jetty (86) that refer to the coastal setting of the book. Have the class discuss the meaning of each word located.

Other sites for lessons and resources

http://www.galeschools.com/pdf/guides/LilysCrossing.pdf

http://warehouse.tecknoquest.com/samples/ENTr/lgls0508s.pdf

http://eduscapes.com/newbery/98c.html

http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~elbond/crossing.htm

http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~elbond/lily.htm

Book Review - LIZZIE BRIGHT - TWU LS 5603 assignment

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Schmidt, Gary D.  2004.  LIZZIE BRIGHT AND THE BUCKMINSTER BOY.  New York: 
            Clarion Books.  ISBN  9780618439294

PLOT SUMMARY

Turner Buckminster moves to Phippsburg, Maine in 1912 and becomes friends with Lizzie Bright, an African-American slave descendent, who lives on Malaga Island across from town.  The towns’ leaders and Turner’s father are against this friendship and want to relocate the people on Malaga Island in order to bring in tourism as a new economy for the town.  Turner and Lizzie are befriended by Mrs. Cobb, whose death brings an unexpected windfall to Turner and sets the stage for more racial strife.  Tragedy assaults the residents of Malaga Island and the Buckminster family; the town and a prominent family are financially compromised.  But, friendship and forgiveness wins out.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS 

Gary Schmidt has delicately described the racial and economic/poverty tensions of this community during the early 1900’s.  Until the actual removal and burning of the Malaga Island people, there were not any other incidents leading up to the catistrophic conflict.

The friendship between Turner and Lizzie is quite plausible, two outcasts that find solace with each others simple outlook on life.  The eventual friendship between Turner and Willis is also credible; they are drawn together because of the injustice to people they care for.

This incident apparently did not draw national attention, but was an import episode to the history of Phippsburg.  Interestingly, there was no economic improvement from all the destruction.  Today, communities encounter similar conflicts when older sections are targeted to undergo revitalization.

Schmidt includes some historical facts in an Author’s Note, but does not offer any resources or bibliographies.

AWARDS 

2004 – Lupine Award
2004 – Voice for Youth Advocates (VOYA) Top Shelf
2004 – Booklinks Lasting Connections Selection
2004 – Kirkus Editors’ Choice
2004 – NY Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading
2004 – School Library Journal Best Book of the
2005 – Michael L. Printz Award
2005 – Newbery Honor Book
2005 – ALA Best Book for Young Adults
2005 – ALA Notable Children’s Book
2005 – Thumbs Up! (MI) Honor Book
2005 – New York Times Bestseller
2005 – Kansas State Reading Circle Recommendation
2005 – Capitol Choices Selection
2005 – Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book
2005 – Disney Adventures Finalist
2006 – Young Hoosier Book Award (IN) Nominee
2007 – Volunteer State (TN) Book Award Master

REVIEWS 

LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTIONS:  “The friendships, which cross several generations, are believable and  moving…. This shameful incident is recounted with sensitivity and humor.”

BOOKLINKS:  “Based on Malaga's actual destruction in 1912, this complex historical novel is by turns funny and tragic, and Turner's earnest, memorable voice drives the story.”

HORN BOOK MAGAZINE:  “In 1911, Maine officials ejected the African-American, Native-American, and foreign-born residents from Malaga Island because they feared their presence would inhibit a projected tourist business. This historical incident ignites a rich novel… create a drama that examines the best and worst of humanity. Schmidt anchors this tragedy firmly within its historical setting, metaphorically connecting the natural surroundings with religion and society, revealing a place where appearances sometimes trump, and often mask, realities, but a place where one boy can see the eye of God in both the body of a whale and the soul of a man.”

KIRKUS REVIEWS: “Schmidt takes his time with his tale, spinning gloriously figurative language that brilliantly evokes both place and emotion. Turner himself is a wonderfully rich character, his moral and intellectual growth developing naturally from the boy the reader first meets. There can be no happy ending to this story, but the telling is both beautiful and emotionally honest, both funny and piercingly sad.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “From the sad and shameful actual destruction of an island community in 1912, Schmidt weaves an evocative novel.  Although the story is hauntingly sad, there is much humor, too. Schmidt's writing is infused with feeling and rich in imagery. With fully developed, memorable characters and a fascinating, little-known piece of history, this novel will leave a powerful impression on readers.”

BOOKLIST:  ‘The novel may be too long and detailed for some readers, with every plot strand and character accounted for. But the removal of the Mal-aga community really happened, and Schmidt weaves that history into a powerful tale of friendship and coming-of-age, adding a lyrical sense of the coastal landscape.  Characters are drawn without reverence in this haunting combination of fact and fiction”

CONNECTIONS 

Here are a few of the over 200 similar books found at: http://bookwizard.scholastic.com/tbw/bookAlikeSearch.do?Ntk=TBW_BookAlike7_SI&workId=4179&gradeOffset=0

Nonfiction

Haskins, James.   GET ON BOARD: THE STORY OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
             ISBN 978-0590454193

Nelson, Marilyn.  CARVER: A LIFE IN POEMS.  ISBN 978-1886910539

Nelson, Marilyn.  A WREATH FOR EMMETT TILL.   Ill. by Philippe Lardy.  ISBN 978-
            0547076362

Oppenheim, Joanne  F.   DEAR MISS BREED: TRUE STORIES OF THE JAPANESE
            AMERICAN INCARCERATION   DURING WORLD WAR II AND A LIBRARIAN
            WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE.  ISBN 978-0439569927

Fiction

Holm, Anne.  I AM DAVID.  ISBN 978-0152051600

 Lerangis, Peter.  SMILER’S BONES.  ISBN 978-0439344852

Lessons

http://www.mcelmeel.com/curriculum/yalit/LizzieBright_by_Ruppel.pdf
Four writing lessons can be found here: persuasive letter, epilogue, compare/contrast two characters, and Hoffner’s “What Really Happened” chart

http://www.mrsoshouse.com/ext/lizbbuckboy.html

Use your online research skills to find resources to assist you in answering the following ten sets of questions. These questions cover geography, science, literature, social sciences, health, animal science, math, and more.

Extras:

·         Sarah Burke wrote a review of the novel. Do you agree with her or disagree with her? Why?

·         Write a biography of Lizzie Bright or Turner Buckminster - Use the resources at Biography Maker,
references in the book, and your imagination

·         Design a PowerPoint™ presentation of the story elements - adapt to this book

·         Making Book Trailers with Photo Story 3 free software and free tutorial

·         Conduct a debate. Role play the opposing sides of the development issues exposed in the story
or a current development issue in your community, region or state.

·         Make a GoogleLitTrip for the story

http://www.mrsoshouse.com/ext/inthuntlitmshs.html

·         Make a crossword puzzle with vocabulary words

·         Make a travel brochure for Malaga, Maine

Book Review - THE GREEN GLASS SEA - TWU LS 5603 assignment

Bibliography 

Klages, Ellen.  2006.  THE GREEN GLASS SEA.  New York:  Viking.  ISBN: 0670061344

Plot Summary

The date is November 1943 – August 1945 in Los Alamos, NM; a community that does not officially exist.  11-year-old Dewey Kerrigan has traveled alone across country by train to join her father, a scientist, who is working on a secret project, called ‘the gadget’, for the army.  Here she meets [famous scientists] Feynman and Oppenheimer, who are also working on the project.

It is during this tumultuous time in U. S. history that Dewey herself is going through difficult personal times.  Even living with her father, every day is a challenge to traverse and find acceptance in the female-pretentious school-age community. When tragedy strikes, Dewey’s ‘family’ changes once again.

Critical Analysis

Klages made a personal trip to New Mexico to the Trinity site.  She researched several different university libraries and historical museums. She even found assistance on eBay from people who sent her vintage items.

She does a good job giving more weight to Dewey’s struggles and achievements, yet allowing the reader to understand that the science community was tackling their own obstacles and problems, morally as well as scientifically.

The appearance of heroic comic books/characters in this story adds a creditable pastime for these children.   Kids of this era also entertained themselves by creating ‘things’ from used/thrown away items, just as Dewey and others did in the novel. 

Awards

2007 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
2007 Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature
2007 New Mexico State Book Award (YA)2007 Quill Awards, Finalist (Young Adult)
2007 Northern California Book Awards, Finalist (Children's)
2007 Locus Awards, Finalist (Best First Novel)
2006-2007 Winter, Book Sense #1 Children's Pick
2007-08 Maine Student Book Award List
2007-08 Isinglass Teen Read List (New Hampshire)
2008 NeNe Award List (Hawaii)
2008 Bluegrass Award Master List (Kentucky)
2008-09 South Carolina Junior Book Award List
2009 One Book, One Nebraska for Kids2009 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Award Master List, (Illinois)
2009 Rhode Island Teen Book Award List
Reviews

BOOKLIST: “several universal themes: finding ones place in a new and (in this case) very unique community; being different; and losing a parent”

PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: (starred review)  “ambitious, meticulously researched novel set during WWII…. successfully recreates life at Los Alamos Camp, where scientists and mathematicians converge with their families to construct and test the first nuclear bomb…. Details about the era-popular music, pastimes and products-add authenticity to the story as do brief appearances of some historic figures including Robert Oppenheimer....the author provides much insight into the controversies surrounding the making of the bomb and brings to life the tensions of war experienced by adults and children alike.”

THE HORN BOOK (starred review):  “Klages evokes both the big-sky landscape of the Southwest and a community where "everything is secret" with inviting ease and the right details, focusing particularly on the society of the children who live there…. Cameo appearances are made by such famous names as Richard Feynman (he helps Dewey build a radio) and Robert Oppenheimer, but the story, an intense but accessible page-turner, firmly belongs to the girls and their families; history and story are drawn together with confidence.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:  “Clear prose brings readers right into the unusual atmosphere of the secretive scientific community, seen through the eyes of the kids and their families. Dewey is an especially engaging character…. Occasional shifts into first person highlight the protagonist's most emotional moments, including her journey to the site.... After the atomic bomb test succeeds, ethical concerns of both youngsters and adults intensify as the characters learn how it is ultimately used.”

BOOKLIST:  “The mystery and tension surrounding “war work” and what Dewey knows only as “the gadget” trickles down to the kids living in the Los Alamos compound, who often do without adult supervision… The characters are exceptionally well drawn, and the compelling, unusual setting makes a great tie-in for history classes.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:   “ Discussions of physics, mathematical functions, cultural boundaries, and censorship make this exceptional story even more fascinating”

KIRKUS REVIEWS: “well researched and undeniably earnest, this child's-eye view of the development of the atom bomb seems unlikely to find a wide or enthusiastic audience….lots of information but little insight…too much description and too little action means these characters fail to come to life, making their interactions unconvincing and uninteresting… Unusual and thoughtful, but ultimately unsuccessful.”

Connections

Non-fiction books

Taylor, Theodore.  AIR RAID--PEARL HARBOR!: THE STORY OF DECEMBER 7, 1941
             ISBN 978-0152164218

Sakurai, Gail.  CORNERSTONES OF FREEDOM™: JAPANESE AMERICAN
             INTERNMENT CAMPS.  ISBN 978-0531186909

Fiction books

London, Jack.  WHITE FANG.  Ill. by Ed Young.  ISBN 978-1613820780

Miller, Sarah.  MISS SPITFIRE: REACHING HELEN KELLER.  ISBN 978-1442408517

Hahn, Mary Downing.  STEPPING ON THE CRACKS.  ISBN 978-0547076607

Zindel, Paul.  THE GADGET.  ISBN 978-0440229513

Klages, Ellen.  WHITE SANDS, RED ME.  ISBN 978-0670062355

Speare, Elizabeth George. THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND.  ISBN 978-0547550299.

Lowry, Lois.  NUMBER THE STARS.  ISBN 978-0547577098

Taylor, Theodore.  THE BOMB.  ISBN 978-0152061654

Activities

These are found at http://teacher.scholastic.com/clubs/lit_circle_pdfs/greenglasssea_t.pdf

1. Reread the letter on page 190 that Jimmy Kerrigan writes to Dewey from Washington, D.C. Then reread the passage on page 199 in which Dewey explains to Suze what the letter really says. Exchange letters with a classmate, using a code like the one Jimmy Kerrigan used. See if you can break your classmate’s code.  What information did you try to pass along in secret?

2. Using descriptions from the text, draw a map of the Hill. Include as many places as you can remember from the book. Possible locations to plot on your map might be the Tech PX, the dump, Morganville, and the tree house. Make sure to include a legend for your map. Then, compare your map with a classmate’s map. How are the maps similar? How are they different?

3. Dewey and Suze like to read comic books. Some of their favorite characters are Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, and Captain America. Use a blank sheet of paper and colored pencils or crayons to create your own comic book hero or heroine. Give your character a name. What special powers does he or she have?  References to comic books and comic book characters can be found on pages 87, 151, 181, 195, 202, 242, and 257.