When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Module 3/SLIS 5420/June 21-27

Bibliography

Stead, Rebecca. (2009). When You Reach Me. New York: Wendy Lamb Books
ISBN: 978-0-385-73742-5

Summary

Miranda and Sal used to be best friends - until a strange boy, on the New York City sidewalks, punches him on the way home from school. After that, Miranda's life won't be the same. New friends, new feelings, a wacky but insightful mom and a great cast of characters all help Miranda through some stick adolescent adventures. Once Miranda starts receiving cryptic notes from the future - anything is possible!

My Impressions

Stead tells Miranda's story in the perfect voice for the tween crowd. Even though the story is set in 1979, it's apparent that the foibles of late elementary/ early middle school are universal. Although I was hoping for more time travel, I am now settling into the idea that the book balanced fantasy and reality quite well. A quick read, and definitely a book that will stand the test of time for tweens in the future.

Reviews

School Library Journal - Starred Review. Grade 5-8–"Sixth-grader Miranda lives in 1978 New York City with her mother, and her life compass is Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. When she receives a series of enigmatic notes that claim to want to save her life, she comes to believe that they are from someone who knows the future. Miranda spends considerable time observing a raving vagrant who her mother calls the laughing man and trying to find the connection between the notes and her everyday life. Discerning readers will realize the ties between Miranda's mystery and L'Engle's plot, but will enjoy hints of fantasy and descriptions of middle school dynamics. Stead's novel is as much about character as story. Miranda's voice rings true with its faltering attempts at maturity and observation. The story builds slowly, emerging naturally from a sturdy premise. As Miranda reminisces, the time sequencing is somewhat challenging, but in an intriguing way. The setting is consistently strong. The stores and even the streets–in Miranda's neighborhood act as physical entities and impact the plot in tangible ways. This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers." –Caitlin Augusta, The Darien Library, CT
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Publishers Weekly - "Twelve-year-old Miranda, a latchkey kid whose single mother is a law school dropout, narrates this complex novel, a work of science fiction grounded in the nitty-gritty of Manhattan life in the late 1970s. Miranda's story is set in motion by the appearance of cryptic notes that suggest that someone is watching her and that they know things about her life that have not yet happened. She's especially freaked out by one that reads: 'I'm coming to save your friend's life, and my own.' Over the course of her sixth-grade year, Miranda details three distinct plot threads: her mother's upcoming appearance on The $20,000 Pyramid; the sudden rupture of Miranda's lifelong friendship with neighbor Sal; and the unsettling appearance of a deranged homeless person dubbed 'the laughing man.' Eventually and improbably, these strands converge to form a thought-provoking whole. Stead (First Light) accomplishes this by making every detail count, including Miranda's name, her hobby of knot tying and her favorite book, Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. It's easy to imagine readers studying Miranda's story as many times as she's read L'Engle's, and spending hours pondering the provocative questions it raises. Ages 9 — 14. (July)" Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Awards

2010 John Newbery Medal

Suggested Library Use

Excellent book for middle school-ers. I think pairing this book as a suggested read with A Wrinkle in Time would be perfect for a summer reading book discussion.

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Module 3/SLIS 5420/June 21-27

Bibliography

Bray, Libba. (2009). Going Bovine. United States: Delacorte Press.
ISBN: 978-0-385-73397-7

Summary

Cameron Smith isn't the most enthusiastic 16-year-old. Although smart, school doesn't interest him and it doesn't help that his "perfect" twin sister, Jenna, is part of the in-crowd - and he's not. His parents are drifting apart, both from each other and him, and his dating life is nonexistent. On top of all that, he finds out that he has mad cow disease, and the outlook is grim. Luckily, with the help of a hypochondriac dwarf name Gonzo, a viking yard gnome and a punk angel named Dulcie, he is on an adventure to discover the meaning of life and, hopefully, a miracle.

My Impressions

Who knew a book about a teen dying of mad cow disease could be so hilarious? I know how that sounds, but read the book before you judge! With most of the adventure story taking place in the main character's "fever dream" or mad cow dream state, the story takes the reader on a ride to discover the true meaning of life - living in the moment, no matter what might come. Character development is superb, plot is exciting and the ending is satisfying. What a great read - and one that both teens and adults can enjoy.

Reviews

School Library Journal - Grade 8 Up—"In this ambitious novel, Cameron, a 16-year-old slacker whose somewhat dysfunctional family has just about given up on him, as perhaps he himself has, when his diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jacob, "mad cow" disease, reunites them, if too late. The heart of the story, though, is a hallucinatory—or is it?—quest with many parallels to the hopeless but inspirational efforts of Don Quixote, about whom Cameron had been reading before his illness. Just like the crazy—or was he?—Spaniard, Cam is motivated to go on a journey by a sort of Dulcinea. His pink-haired, white-winged version goes by Dulcie and leads him to take up arms against the Dark Wizard and fire giants that attack him intermittently, and to find a missing Dr. X, who can both help save the world and cure him. Cameron's Sancho is a Mexican-American dwarf, game-master hypochondriac he met in the pot smokers' bathroom at school who later turns up as his hospital roommate. Bray blends in a hearty dose of satire on the road trip as Cameron leaves his Texas deathbed—or does he?—to battle evil forces with a legendary jazz horn player, to escape the evil clutches of a happiness cult, to experiment with cloistered scientists trying to solve the mysteries of the universe, and to save a yard gnome embodying a Viking god from the clutches of the materialistic, fame-obsessed MTV-culture clones who shun individual thought. It's a trip worth taking, though meandering and message-driven at times. Some teens may check out before Cameron makes it to his final destination, but many will enjoy asking themselves the questions both deep and shallow that pop up along the way."—Suzanne Gordon, Peachtree Ridge High School, Suwanee, GA

Publishers Weekly Review - "Cameron Smith, 16, is slumming through high school, overshadowed by a sister 'pre-majoring in perfection,' while working (ineptly) at the Buddha Burger. Then something happens to make him the focus of his family's attention: he contracts mad cow disease. What takes place after he is hospitalized is either that a gorgeous angel persuades him to search for a cure that will also save the world, or that he has a vivid hallucination brought on by the disease. Either way, what readers have is an absurdist comedy in which Cameron, Gonzo (a neurotic dwarf) and Balder (a Norse god cursed to appear as a yard gnome) go on a quixotic road trip during which they learn about string theory, wormholes and true love en route to Disney World. Bray's surreal humor may surprise fans of her historical fantasies about Gemma Doyle, as she trains her satirical eye on modern education, American materialism and religious cults (the smoothie-drinking members of the Church of Everlasting Satisfaction and Snack 'N' Bowl). Offer this to fans of Douglas Adams's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy seeking more inspired lunacy. Ages 14 — up. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Awards

2010 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature

Suggested Library Use

I might integrate this book into a book talk about classics and modern re-tellings or books that are inspired by the classics. Integrate a few classic novels with more contemporary novels and encourage students to try the contemporary picks before diving into the more dense, classic literature.

Flotsam by David Weisner

Module 2/SLIS 5420/June 16-20

Bibliography

Weisner, David. (2006). Flotsam. New York: Clarion Books.
ISBN: 0-618-19457-6

Summary

Told completely through vibrant illustrations, Flotsam, is the story of a curious boy who loves collecting objects on the beach to examine. One sunny day, he finds an underwater camera that has drifted ashore from the deep blue sea. Eager to see what is on the film of this old-fashioned camera, he takes the photos to be developed and generations-old mystery is unlocked.

My Impressions

Flotsam is the kind of story I would have cherished if it were around when I was a child. The images are incredible - often panning in and out of shots as if a movie camera - but what stands out is the incredible story telling that these pictures are able to accomplish. It's one thing to have beautiful images illustrate a book, but it's another when those images not only tell a story well, but unlock a mystery, one page at a time and tell a compelling story that you want to read over and over again.

Once the boy finds an antique camera washed ashore, he develops the pictures to find out that the underwater sea life live much more fantastical and exciting life than we could ever imagine... but it's what he finds at the end of the roll that pulls the story together into an unforgettable tale. I don't want to give it away - you have to pick it up yourself and experience Flotsam.

Reviews

School Library Journal: " Kindergarten-Grade 4–A wave deposits an old-fashioned contraption at the feet of an inquisitive young beachcomber. Its a Melville underwater camera, and the excited boy quickly develops the film he finds inside. The photos are amazing: a windup fish, with intricate gears and screwed-on panels, appears in a school with its living counterparts; a fully inflated puffer, outfitted as a hot-air balloon, sails above the water; miniature green aliens kowtow to dour-faced sea horses; and more. The last print depicts a girl, holding a photo of a boy, and so on. As the images become smaller, the protagonist views them through his magnifying glass and then his microscope. The chain of children continues back through time, ending with a sepia image of a turn-of-the-20th-century boy waving from a beach. After photographing himself holding the print, the youngster tosses the camera back into the ocean, where it makes its way to its next recipient. This wordless books vivid watercolor paintings have a crisp realism that anchors the elements of fantasy. Shifting perspectives, from close-ups to landscape views, and a layout incorporating broad spreads and boxed sequences, add drama and motion to the storytelling and echo the photographic theme. Filled with inventive details and delightful twists, each snapshot is a tale waiting to be told. Pair this visual adventure with Wiesners other works, Chris Van Allsburgs titles, or Barbara Lehmans The Red Book (Houghton, 2004) for a mind-bending journey of imagination." –Joy Fleishhacker
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Booklist: PreS-Gr. 2. "As in his Caldecott Medal Book Tuesday (1991), Wiesner offers another exceptional, wordless picture book that finds wild magic in quiet, everyday settings. At the seaside, a boy holds a magnifying glass up to a flailing hermit crab; binoculars and a microscope lay nearby. The array of lenses signals the shifting viewpoints to come, and in the following panels, the boy discovers an old-fashioned camera, film intact. A trip to the photo store produces astonishing pictures: an octopus in an armchair holding story hour in a deep-sea parlor; tiny, green alien tourists peering at sea horses. There are portraits of children around the world and through the ages, each child holding another child's photo. After snapping his own image, the boy returns the camera to the sea, where it's carried on a journey to another child. Children may initially puzzle, along with the boy, over the mechanics of the camera and the connections between the photographed portraits. When closely observed, however, the masterful watercolors and ingeniously layered perspectives create a clear narrative, and viewers will eagerly fill in the story's wordless spaces with their own imagined story lines. Like Chris Van Allsburg's books and Wiesner's previous works, this visual wonder invites us to rethink how and what we see, out in the world and in our mind's eye." Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Awards

Winner of the 2007 Randolph Caldecott Medal
New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book
Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of 2006
Booklist Editor's Choice 2006
School Library Journal Best Book of 2006
Horn Book Fanfare Title
Book Sense Children's Pick, Autumn 2006
Washington Post Top 10 Picture Book of the Year
Parents' Choice Award Winner
New York Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading & Sharing
Chicago Public Library, Best Books of the Year

Suggested Library Use

Flotsam is a great book to use during an ocean program - because of it's lovely illustrations. But, and even more interesting program or activity to use along with Flotsam would be a time capsule. Having kids come up with their own time capsule idea - or something similar to the camera in the story would be a great way to incorporate a discussion about the history and ancestors that came before us and how we can link our past with our future and connect to those that will come after us.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Module 2/SLIS 5420/June 16-20

Bibliography

Selznick, Brian. (2007). The Invention of Hugo Cabret. New York: Scholastic Press.
ISBN: 0-439-81378-6

Summary

Orphan, Hugo Cabret lives in the walls of a Paris train station running the clocks for his long-disappeared uncle. Making a living by pilfering goods from local shops at the station, Hugo eventually gets caught by a local toy seller and his life changes forever. With a mystery revealed at virtually every page turn, The Invention of Hugo Cabret will keep you on the edge of your seat.

My Impressions

It's clear why this book won the Caldecott Medal - it's illustrations are incredible. As a result, if one were to judge this book by its 530-page size, one would not assume it was a picture book for slightly younger readers, but it is. However, readers young and old will enjoy this story, enhanced with highly detailed and gorgeous images. The images truly boost the story by giving clues and insight into the plot that are not necessarily found in the text, and by filling in some holes in the text's lack of description. The book, as a whole, is a fun adventure, but Selznick's story-telling leaves a bit to be desired. The dialogue falls flat and is slightly contrived, while the character development is weak. Selznick "tells" rather than "shows" - but only in the text. This is why the images pick up where the text leaves off, allowing the reader a clearer and more vibrant understanding of the characters' emotions.

Reviews

"Here is a true masterpiece—an artful blending of narrative, illustration and cinematic technique, for a story as tantalizing as it is touching.Twelve-year-old orphan Hugo lives in the walls of a Paris train station at the turn of the 20th century, where he tends to the clocks and filches what he needs to survive. Hugo's recently deceased father, a clockmaker, worked in a museum where he discovered an automaton: a human-like figure seated at a desk, pen in hand, as if ready to deliver a message. After his father showed Hugo the robot, the boy became just as obsessed with getting the automaton to function as his father had been, and the man gave his son one of the notebooks he used to record the automaton's inner workings. The plot grows as intricate as the robot's gears and mechanisms [...] To Selznick's credit, the coincidences all feel carefully orchestrated; epiphany after epiphany occurs before the book comes to its sumptuous, glorious end. Selznick hints at the toy maker's hidden identity [...] through impressive use of meticulous charcoal drawings that grow or shrink against black backdrops, in pages-long sequences. They display the same item in increasingly tight focus or pan across scenes the way a camera might. The plot ultimately has much to do with the history of the movies, and Selznick's genius lies in his expert use of such a visual style to spotlight the role of this highly visual media. A standout achievement. Ages 9-12. (Mar.) " - Publisher's Weekly
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

School Library Journal: "Grade 4–9—With characteristic intelligence, exquisite images, and a breathtaking design, Selznick shatters conventions related to the art of bookmaking in this magical mystery set in 1930s Paris. He employs wordless sequential pictures and distinct pages of text to let the cinematic story unfold, and the artwork, rendered in pencil and bordered in black, contains elements of a flip book, a graphic novel, and film. It opens with a small square depicting a full moon centered on a black spread. As readers flip the pages, the image grows and the moon recedes. A boy on the run slips through a grate to take refuge inside the walls of a train station—home for this orphaned, apprentice clock keeper. As Hugo seeks to accomplish his mission, his life intersects with a cantankerous toyshop owner and a feisty girl who won't be ignored. Each character possesses secrets and something of great value to the other. With deft foreshadowing, sensitively wrought characters, and heart-pounding suspense, the author engineers the elements of his complex plot: speeding trains, clocks, footsteps, dreams, and movies—especially those by Georges Méliès, the French pioneer of science-fiction cinema. Movie stills are cleverly interspersed. Selznick's art ranges from evocative, shadowy spreads of Parisian streets to penetrating character close-ups. Leaving much to ponder about loss, time, family, and the creative impulse, the book closes with a waning moon, a diminishing square, and informative credits. This is a masterful narrative that readers can literally manipulate." —Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Booklist: "Selznick's "novel in words and pictures," an intriguing mystery set in 1930s Paris about an orphan, a salvaged clockwork invention, and a celebrated filmmaker, resuscitates an anemic genre--the illustrated novel--and takes it to a whole new level. The result is somewhat similar to a graphic novel, but experiencing its mix of silvery pencil drawings and narrative interludes is ultimately more akin to watching a silent film. Indeed, movies and the wonder they inspire, "like seeing dreams in the middle of the day," are central to the story, and Selznick expresses an obvious passion for cinema in ways both visual (successive pictures, set against black frames as if projected on a darkened screen, mimic slow zooms and dramatic cuts) and thematic (the convoluted plot involves director Georges Melies, particularly his fanciful 1902 masterpiece, A Trip to the Moon .) This hybrid creation, which also includes movie stills and archival photographs, is surprising and often lovely, but the orphan's story is overshadowed by the book's artistic and historical concerns (the heady extent of which are revealed in concluding notes about Selznick's inspirations, from the Lumiere brothers to Francois Truffaut). Nonetheless, bookmaking this ambitious demands and deserves attention--which it will surely receive from children attracted by a novel in which a complex narrative is equally advanced by things both read and seen." Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Awards

2008 Caldecott Medal
National Book Award Finalist
A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2007
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2007
2007 Quill Award Winner
2007 Borders Original Voices Finalist
2007 #1 Best Book for Kids from Barnes and Noble
(Information from www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/about_brian_books.htm)

Suggested Library Use

Incorporate this book in a discussion of how pictures and images enhance a story. By discussing the plot and how the images (often treated as scenes from a movie - both panning in close and panning out) help the reader understand the characters and their thoughts and feelings is a great way to talk about how art is about more than just drawing, it's about telling a story or expressing ideas, emotions and thought.

Are you there, God? It's me, Margaret. by Judy Blume

Module 1/SLIS 5420/June 7-13

Bibliography

Blume, J. (1970). Are you there, God? It's me, Margaret. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
ISBN: 0-689-84158-2

Summary

Margaret just moved from the big city to New Jersey and is about to find out that being in sixth grade isn't as simple as it sounds. It's not cool to wear socks with your loafers, all the girls want to get their period, and she must, she must, she must increase her bust! If Margaret knew that being almost-twelve was this complicated, she might have skipped the year all together. With hilarity and charm, Judy Blume is able to encapsulate all the crazy ups and downs every sixth grader feels and tell Margaret's story so that most tween girls can relate and even feel a little better about puberty and growing up.

My Impressions

I've always adored Judy Blume, but it has been 20 years since I last read her timeless stories. I began reading her books as a third-grader, anticipating the years ahead, with Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, but, it was Margaret who taught me that I wasn't the only kid going through some weird growing pains. Margaret is confused about religion, but she has a solid relationship with God. This is an underlying theme throughout the book and really shows how strong Margaret is, despite her normal insecurities. I think a strong female like Margaret is an excellent way to show young girls that, just because you might not be developing at the same rate as all your friends - you definitely are not the only one worried about it. A poignant moment in the story is when Margaret's know-it-all friend, Nancy, gets her period. Margaret looks up to Nancy and wishes she could be so "street smart" and cool. But, in this scene we find out that Nancy is just as fragile as Margaret and is navigating the same confusing path to adolescence.

Reviews

"If anyone tried to determine the most common rite of passage for preteen girls in North America, a girl's first reading of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret would rank near the top of the list. Judy Blume and her character Margaret Simon were the first to say out loud (and in a book even) that it is normal for girls to wonder when they are ever going to fill out their training bras. Puberty is a curious and annoying time. Girls' bodies begin to do freakish things--or, as in Margaret's case, they don't do freakish things nearly as fast as girls wish they would. Adolescents are often so relieved to discover that someone understands their body-angst that they miss one of the book's deeper explorations: a young person's relationship with God. Margaret has a very private relationship with God, and it's only after she moves to New Jersey and hangs out with a new friend that she discovers that it might be weird to talk to God without a priest or a rabbi to mediate. Margaret just wants to fit in! Who is God, and where is He when she needs Him? She begins to look into the cups of her training bra for answers ..." - Amazon.com Book Review

"Gr. 5-7. Margaret, the daughter of a Jewish-Protestant union, has all sorts of questions about her role in the world; so she asks God." - Booklist, September 1, 1995

Suggested Library Use

This is a great book selection for a tween book club (especially for 5th or 6th grade). This book has been a bit controversial due to it's treatment of adolescent issues and religion - but it's classic status should rise above and make this an excellent pick to recommend to the tween readers.

This is also a great book to introduce in early sex education and "changing bodies" classes. It's a delicate balance to introduce books with these themes to young girls without making them feel embarrassed or uncomfortable - so a great alternative to verbal recommendations is to set out a display of popular tween books in the library or classroom and allow students to pick up the book themselves.

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnshon

Module 1/SLIS 5420/June 7-13

Bibliography

Johnson, C. (1955). Harold and the Purple Crayon.
United States: Harper Collins Publishers.
ISBN: 0-06-022935-7

Summary

Harold, armed with a purple crayon and a big imagination, goes on an adventure in the moonlight. After seemingly scribbling on blank pages, Harold gets an idea - wouldn't it be great to take a walk under the moon? And, so he grabs his trusty, and quite magical crayon, and draws the moon just above his head. As Harold imagines new and exciting adventures, he also realizes that his adventures are made into reality simply by putting crayon to paper (or wall?). Harold Discovers cities, captains voyages across the sea and even curls up for a good night's sleep.

My Impressions

This was one of my favorite books as a child. What a great way to spark a child's imagination! Harold creates his own reality by simply drawing his adventures. The details in the book really shine - a little trip or slip makes Harold squiggle a little water. Looking for his own bedroom window, Harold creates and entire city! I think this book resonated with me because I always wanted to create my own adventures. This book allows kids to imagine what it would be like to be Harold with a magic crayon - but also to do just what Harold is doing - tap into their creative side and start putting crayon to paper and imagine what adventures lie ahead.

Reviews

"The current vogue in children's art books begs the cultural question: Do we look at art to learn things, or to feel things? I'd vote for feeling, and that's why the art book I most recommend is HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON, written and illustrated by Crockett Johnson (HarperCollins, paper, $4.95; ages 2 and up), which came out in 1955. To be sure, it isn't officially a children's art book, at least not by current standards; it makes no reference to Monet or water lilies, and it doesn't include a glossary where you can look up art terms like ''gouache'' or ''chiaroscuro.'' No, nothing as fancy or pedagogical as that. There's just little Harold in his pajamas, heading out on an ordinary night to draw a line that runs on forever, a line that forms a moon to light his steps and a path to walk on and nine kinds of pies to eat -- as if one well-worn, stubby crayon could allow you to dream up a whole universe. Which of course it can. There's no better art history lesson than that. " - Deborah Solomon, New York Times Book Review, May 17, 1998.

" 'One night, after thinking it over for some time, Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight.' So begins this gentle story that shows just how far your imagination can take you. Armed only with an oversized purple crayon, young Harold draws himself a landscape full of beauty and excitement. But this is no hare-brained, impulsive flight of fantasy. Cherubic, round-headed Harold conducts his adventure with the utmost prudence, letting his imagination run free, but keeping his wits about him all the while. He takes the necessary purple-crayon precautions: drawing landmarks to ensure he won't get lost; sketching a boat when he finds himself in deep water; and creating a purple pie picnic when he feels the first pangs of hunger.

Crockett Johnson's understated tribute to the imagination was first published in 1955, and has been inspiring readers of all ages ever since. Harold's quiet but magical journey reminds us of the marvels the mind can create, and also gives us the wondrous sense that anything is possible." - Amazon.com Book Review.

Suggested Library Use

This is a great book to incorporate into and arts program. A story time with an arts theme or one that focuses on imagination through art and feelings is a great program for children between 4 and 8 years old. Children could listen to a reading of the book and then use a purple crayon to create their own story. Then, by incorporating other types of arts and crafts, children could paint, draw, write and learn how all kinds of art expands the imagination.

This is also a great book to spark a discussion about how imagination and creativity can fuel real-life adventures.