Books by Richard Peck

I just finished reading another book by Richard Peck. But rather than tell you about that only, I thought I'd share with you the other great books that I've read by this author, and the summaries that I'd written years ago.

The first book is A Long Way from Chicago. This 1999 Newbery Honor book follows siblings Joey and Mary Alice, who are from Chicago - a city where you can experience everything from Shirley Temple to John Dillinger. But they ain't seen nothing until they spend one week every summer in a small central Illinois town with Grandma Dowdel.

As Mary Alice said, "I don't think Grandma's a very good influence on us." The city kids sure learn a lot about country living: using a privy, catching fish in traps baited with cheese, making soap, and going to church rummage sales. And Grandma Dowdel teaches them plenty about justice, blackmail, and living the private life in the midst of public scrutiny.

As the kids get older, they dread going to Grandma's house more and want to leave her house less. While the Wabash Blue Bird pulls out of the station headed for Chicago, Joey and Mary Alice already wonder what next summer's visit will hold.

Next comes Peck's 2001 Newbery Medal Winner, A Year Down Yonder. At the end of the Depression, the 1917 recession has put Mary Alice's father out of work. Joey's out West working with the Civilian Conservation Corps, and Mary Alice is sent to spend a year by herself with Grandma Dowdel back in central Illinois until her folks can get back up on their feet.

Although Mary Alice is two years older since her last visit, Grandma hasn't changed at all. She's still up to her old tricks: besting the school bully, catching and punishing pranksters at Halloween, overcharging folks at the turkey shoot in order to support a war veteran, and revealing the true ancestry of one of the town's elite.

As the year comes to a close, Mary Alice dreads going home and leaving Grandma to make it on her own. But you never have to worry about Grandma - she'll outlive and outgive everyone around.

The third Richard Peck book I experienced takes a pause from the Grandma Dowdel stories. And yet The Teacher's Funeral is just as delightful a story. Russell Culver is a boy who lives in the backwoodsiest county in Indiana shortly after the turn of the 20th century. He, along with this brother Lloyd and best friend Charlie, is hopeful that school won't begin in August, on account of the fact that their teacher has died. Russell has dreams of going to the Dakotas and finding his fortunes there - but not if his sister Tansy has anything to say about it.

Tansy becomes the one-room school's next teacher, without even a high school education. Eight students will keep the school open, and when she doesn't have enough, Tansy goes looking for one more. She drills the kids in orinthology, geography, and mathematics, and readies herself for a visit from the man who will examine her for a teaching certificate. But all is not smooth sailing. There are plenty of mishaps around the school, many involving boys vying for Tansy's attention.

And yet the school year Russell never wanted to have turns out to be one of the best!

And so it was with great anticipation that I opened this most recent Peck novel, excited that once again it was a story that included the infamous Grandma Dowdel. A Season of Gifts takes place 15-20 years after A Year Down Yonder, and it is told from the perspective of 12-year-old Bob Barnhart, the preacher's son who's just moved in next door to Mrs. Dowdel.

Reverend Barnhart's church is run-down and his congregation is dried up. Mrs. Dowdel says that if you want to have the people come in, you've got to have a good funeral, and she knows just who to bury! Mrs. Dowdel doesn't "neighbor", but she lets little Ruth Ann follow her around and teaches her how to make pies and speak with colorful (but not naughty!) language. Mrs. Dowdel even has Bob drive the family car to go cut down a Christmas tree - only to find out that the tree belongs to someone else! It's classic Grandma Dowdel all over again.

I didn't find this book as entertaining as the others, but it was still a fun story to read. My favorite line is the Reverend's response to Bob's question as the two prepare for the "funeral":

"Dad, am I going to have to be a minister when I grow up?"

"If you hear the Call, you'll have to answer it."

"Oh," I said.

But then Dad said, thoughtful and far-off, "Or you may just want to let it ring."

I haven't read all of Richard Peck's novels, so they might not all be great to recommend, but I'd recommend these as great summer read-alouds for your kids.

The Boy Who Dared

Last night I finished my most recent book, The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti. It is a work of historical fiction based on the life of Helmuth Hubener. Helmuth was a young boy in Germany during the time that Hitler was coming to power. He was awed by the men in uniform and envious of the older boys who got to be part of the Hitler Youth. Helmuth wanted to help Germany be a strong nation again.

But things started to change. Hitler outlawed anything that wasn't German, which included listening to non-German music, reading non-German books, and fraternizing with people who were not really German - like the Jews. Although Helmuth's Mormon faith told him to give respect to those in government, Helmuth believed he could not go against his conscience. Although to the outside world he acted like a good Nazi, late at night he began to write and distribute pamphlets that spoke about the truth of what was really going on in Hitler's regime, based on the information he learned from the BBC radio broadcast out of London.

Eventually Helmuth was suspected of acting against the Nazis. He was put in jail, convicted of treason, and was executed a little over two months later.

The story is told in third person, beginning on the morning of the day that will be Helmuth's last. As he is waiting to find out if he will be executed, he goes back in his mind and remembers what brought him to this place. Therefore, the story is told almost exclusively in flashback. That does help to increase the suspense a bit, but overall, the telling of this story was pretty tame. It was educational to read a novel from this angle of history. But I would be more interested in reading the memoirs of Helmuth's two friends who also distributed the illegal pamphlets. If you would like to check them out, here are the titles:

Before the Blood Tribunal by Rudi Wobbe
The Price by Karl-Heinz Schnibbe

By the way, The Boy Who Dared is not the only fictionalized account of Helmuth Hubener's life. Another book entitled Brothers in Valor was published by Michael Tunnel seven years before this book hit the shelves. Have any of you read these books? Let me know what you think of them!

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy

I love books, but they rob me of sleep. I've been trying to read a chapter or two each night before I go to bed, but last night I just HAD to finish Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt. I read the last five chapters in one sitting.

This book is based on the true account of the disposal of a group of people living on Malaga Island, off the coast of Phippsburg, Maine. Many of the islanders were poor, black or mixed race. They didn't have jobs, didn't have nice homes, and really didn't own the land upon which they lived.

Phippsburg was a ship-building community, but their business days were running out. They figured the only way they could keep the town going was by becoming part of the tourism trade - building a big hotel that overlooked the granite cliffs, enticing big city folks to come and rest a spell and enjoy their magnificent vistas - which only extended to the coastline of Malaga Island with its eyesores.

The story follows that of fictional character Turner Buckminster, only son of the preacher Phippsburg brought to town. Rev. Buckminster soon finds out that the majority of the people in the church want him to support them in their efforts to "clean out" Malaga Island. Turner, meanwhile, innocently meets Lizzie Bright, a black girl who lives with her preacher grandfather on the Island. Turner visits their home, but the residents of Phippsburg disapprove of the preacher's son cavorting around with a negro girl. The Reverend forbids Turner from seeing her again. But that's not what happens.

What I love most about this book is Schmidt's masterful description. He uses the most interesting phrases to describe the different seasons as they come to Phippsburg. The story is worthwhile, too, but I think it falls into the same category (no pun intended) as One-Eyed Cat which I recently reviewed. They are both books I would recommend, but I'm not sure my students would see the value in them.

There are some shocker moments in this book, but for the most part it moves more slowly than I would tend to prefer. Still, that doesn't stop me from recommending it for your own reading. (But if you're going to read the last 5 chapters all at once, start earlier than 10:30pm!)

A Small Snail and an Even Smaller Ant x 2

I really like the author Avi. I've read several of his books and have enjoyed them thoroughly. And so when these two little books came along - The End of the Beginning and A Beginning, A Muddle, and An End - I snatched them up. While on vacation this week, I eagerly sucked them up in a couple of hours.

And then I spit them back out.

Oh, Avi! What happened?

Back in college, I was forced to read Waiting for Godot. I say "forced" because it was an assignment. And I assure you that is the only reason I read it. For me, it could have been more appropriately named I'm Waiting to Go Die. A slow painful death it would be. Granted, this is only my opinion. But sadly, it's the same opinion I have of these books.

What we have with these two little books is two little characters (nice enough) who go essentially nowhere, do essentially nothing, and grow essentially not at all. They are the literary version of Seinfeld, the show about nothing. They are full of philosophical musings, puns, and plays on words - enough to choke a horse. You could almost hear the drum's "ba-dum, ba-dum, bum...chhhh" in the background.

Avi, where are the interesting characters, the surprise twists, the rich description? Where is the stinkin' plot, for crying out loud?

Booklist, Parenting Magazine, and School Library Journal all had nice things to say on the back cover. Are these people in touch with kids at all? I think my students would hate these. I'd ask some of the kids to read them, but I think they'd expect some kind of payoff at the end.

I give these books two thumbs down. I'd give them worse...but I've only got two thumbs.

The Thief Lord

My husband is irritated regularly by the things I don't remember. What he doesn't realize is that I do remember a lot of things. Some things you just don't forget - and many of them are inconsequential bits of memories.

For example, I remember which student recommended that I read The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke. It was Rachel. That was 7 or 8 years ago - she's a junior in college now. She really liked it - and I must agree. Although the book was nothing like I expected.

As a general rule, I tend not to have expectations of books I've never read. That way, I either avoid a great deal of disappointment or gain a great deal of enjoyment in my reading. With that in mind, I'm going to give you the briefest overview of this book, so as not to spoil it for you.

Brothers Prosper and Bo were sent to live with their aunt after their mother died. But Aunt Esther only wants blond-haired 5-year-old Bo, not his 12-year-old brother. Prosper decides that the only way for them to stay together is by running away. Their mother always spoke longingly of Venice, Italy, so that is where they go. The boys are befriended by a small group of orphans/runaways who make their home in an abandoned theater and make their living by pickpocketing. But the children are led by another child - the elusive Thief Lord - who brings them the valuable items he has stolen from some of the wealthiest homes in Venice. The kids take these items and sell them to Barbarossa, the antique store owner.

Barbarossa surprises the children with a job for the Thief Lord. As the group heads through the city to meet with the unknown Conte, unbeknownst to them, the detective Aunt Esther hired to look for Bo is following them. Victor Getz, in spite of his many disguises, is found out by the children. And yet, in trying to discover where the gang is living, he makes an even greater discovery. Among the thieves, there is a liar!

Go ahead and read this one - see if I'm a liar in my opinion, or a thief of your time.

The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles

What do Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, The Princess Diaries, and The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles have in common? If you said Julie Andrews, you'd be right! The same Julie Andrews, here Julie Andrews Edwards, whose music and movies I loved from the time I was a little girl, is the author of this delightful book.

Siblings Ben, Tom, and Lindy Potter make the acquaintance of Noble Prize winner Professor Savant by chance twice - first when they have a conversation him at the zoo about an unusual animal, and secondly when Lindy accepts a dare and unknowingly knocks on the door of his creepy looking house on Halloween night. The professor invites them in, and the children ask more about the Whangdoodle that he had spoken of a few days earlier.

The Whangdoodle is the king of Whangdoodleland. He was considered the wisest, most generous, and most endearing of all creatures. Many Whangdoodles used to live all over the world, and they were at their height when people believed in other fanciful creatures. But as man gained knowledge and became more involved in technology and industry, they dismissed fanciful thoughts, and the Whangdoodles disappeared with them.

The children are enthralled. They ask the professor how they can travel to go see the Whangdoodle. The professor tells them that they have to travel by way of their imaginations. But first they must learn how to use their imaginations, and so the children spend many afternoons training with the professor. Finally, the professor gives them special hats to help them make the journey - and viola! With effort and concentration, Professor Savant and the children find themselves in Whangdoodleland.

And that's when the adventure begins! The group encounters many creatures, lots of danger, and pushes their mental abilities to the limits. The professor, who has been trying to reach the Whangdoodle for years, tires and falters and almost gives up. But the children push him on toward fulfilling his dream and theirs.

If Julie Andrews is still looking for something to do now that her singing voice has failed her, she should consider making an audio recording this book. I think it would be great. I would recommend this book for young and old alike - anyone who is interested in "Pax, Amor, et Lepos in Iocando."

Jump Ship to Freedom

What do you get when you put a historian/professor together with his brother the writer? You get a slew of great historical fiction, including Jump Ship to Freedom.

James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier have been writing books together for my entire life. Probably their best known book is the Newbery Honor Book My Brother Sam is Dead. I can't recommend that one yet because haven't read it, but I would certainly encourage you to read this well-written book.

James and Christopher have a solid method that makes their collaboration successful. Christopher comes up with the ideas for the books, and then he does meticulous research on the time period and its people. When he has put down his ideas of what should be included in the story, he hands it over to James who puts flesh onto the bare bones. Finally, they pass the manuscript back and forth until they are happy with it, and Christopher has done one final check of the historical data to make sure everything is accurate. It's a winning combination!

Jump Ship to Freedom is a book set in the late 1700's, right at the time the Constitutional Convention is happening in Philadelphia. Daniel Arabus, the main character, and his mother are slaves in Connecticut. Daniel's father fought in the Revolutionary War in place of his master, Captain Ivers, and this service was to earn him his freedom. Captain Ivers didn't grant it, so Jack Arabus took him to court - and won! He intended to buy his wife and son's freedom with the soldiers' notes he earned in the war, but there was no government established that would pay on the notes. Shortly before this story begins, Jack Arabus is lost at sea.

The soldiers' notes are confiscated by the Ivers's, but Daniel steals them back. Captain Ivers tells Daniel to get ready to sail - something he's never done - but the captain's real purpose is to sell Daniel in the West Indies. En route, they encounter a terrible storm that debilitates the ship and washes away some of the crew, so they have to put in port in New York. This delights Daniel because his plan had been to go to New York and meet with a man who not only knew his father, but who, he hoped, would help him get money for the soldiers' notes.

But how will Daniel get the notes out of the dresser he hid them in? And how will he get away from Captain Ivers? And how does he end up being a messenger for the Quakers who are trying to put anti-slavery language into the Constitution? You'll just have to read Jump Ship to Freedom to find out.

One-Eyed Cat

Once upon a time there was a little girl and her big sister. Often the big sister would tuck the little girl into bed at night. After songs and kisses and cross of Jesus, the big sister would say, "Good night, Punk-a-wunk," and close the door.

It was the same way each time, until one night, when the big sister said, "Good night, Punk-a-wunk," the funny little girl said, "Good night, you one eye cat!"

And the rest, as they say, is history.....

After years of having this book, One-Eyed Cat by Paula Fox, sit on my shelf, I decided to read it - in honor of my little sister Elizabeth. (Yes, yes...I know you're a grown up now, and a teacher no less, but you will always be my Punk-a-wunk!)

This book is as strange as that nickname Elizabeth gave me, which came entirely out of the blue. I remember laughing right out loud that first night she said it. But there was no laughing in this book.

Ned Wallis is the only child of a preacher and an invalid mother. (She's suffering from inflammatory rheumatism.) For his 11th birthday that fall, his mother's brother, Uncle Hilary, gives him an air rifle, against his parents' better judgment. Ned's parents say he can have it in a few years, but he's drawn to the thing. That night, Ned can't sleep, and so he retrieves the loaded air rifle from the attic and takes it outside into the woods. When his eye catches a moving shadow, he doesn't think, doesn't hesitate, just shoots......at something living. Immediately he regrets his choice, and to top it off, when he comes home, he notices someone watching him out the attic window.

Guilt consumes Ned. He can't tell his parents what he's done; he can't even tell Mr. Scully, the elderly neighbor for whom he does odd jobs, and they tell each other plenty. Winter approaches, and one day Ned sees a sick cat with an empty eye socket, and he knows this must be the shadow he shot at.

Ned does all he can to help the cat. He thinks about it day and night. He plans his life around helping the cat, cancelling a Christmas vacation trip with Uncle Hilary simply because if he's gone, who will take care of the cat?

This is a hard book to recommend. It's not that I didn't like the book, but I don't think my students would like it. More so, I don't know if they would "get" it. I think the book has great irony - Ned's overwhelming guilt incapacitates him more than his mother's illness does her. And there's definitely a lesson to be learned about how disobedience, combined with withholding the truth, leads you into greater unresolved internal conflict. The longer Ned waits, the worse it gets. The guy is in some serious need of Peacemaker skills!

One-Eyed Cat is a Newbery Honor Book besides receiving a host of other honors. Plenty of people thought, and think, this book is a winner. Will you?

Peter and the Starcatchers

My latest reading voyage was filled with excitement as I tore through Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson's book Peter and the Starcatchers. You are going to finish this book in a hurry - I would bet money on it. As a matter of fact, I made a bet on this book a few days ago. One of my students was reading it too, so we made a bet as to who was going to finish it first.

I finished at 11:05pm on Friday night. How'd you do, Seth?

Peter and the Starcatchers is the first of three books (#2 - Peter and the Shadow Thieves, #3 - Peter and the Secret of Rundoon) that tells what happened prior to the Peter Pan story we all know and love. I love the authors' acknowledgement at the beginning: "And above all we thank Paige Pearson, for asking her daddy one night, after her bedtime story, exactly how a flying boy met a certain pirate." I never cease to be amazed at the well from which interesting stories are drawn, and I love the innocent way the idea for this story was planted in the authors' minds.

Without giving too much away, I will tell you that this book has orphans traveling the high seas, pirates chasing the fastest British ship so as to steal a trunk containing the greatest treasure on earth, a brave girl who can speak to mammals other than humans, and mermaids and savages and a beast named Mister Grin.

This is a must-read for boys and girls. If you don't enjoy it, I'll eat my eye-patch. I'm just sorry that I have four more books on ice - if I didn't, I'd have raced to the bookstore this weekend for the two books that follow.

Princess Academy

It's a real treat when you pick up a book that is not what you expected - it's more than you expected. When I took Newbery Honor Book Princess Academy by Shannon Hale off my bookshelf last week, I mistakenly thought it was going to be another one of those Cinderella spin-offs. Not even close!

Miri lives in the high-mountain village of Mount Eskel among a group of people who are expert quarriers of linder stone. Their only contact with people outside their village is when the traders come to buy the linder and leave them with as little traded as possible.

Miri is small in comparison to the other girls in the village - all of whom work in the quarry. Miri's father has forbidden her to work there and has not explained why. She feels worthless in the eyes of all her neighbors.

Unexpectedly, the king's chief delegate comes to make an announcement in Mount Eskel. The king's priests had divined that the future wife of the heir to the Danland throne would come from Mount Eskel. All the girls between 14 and 18 were to go to the Princess Academy, where they would be learn poise, commerce, and Danlandian history along with reading and figures. Although none of the girls really wants to go and leave their families for a year, they set out to the Academy.

Their teacher, Olana, is cruel and thinks little of them. But she gets the girls to work harder when she shows them the beautiful silver dress that the Academy Princess, the top student, will wear when she meets the prince. In spite of the fact that Miri has strong feelings for a boy from Mount Eskel, she wants to be able to give her father and sister a better home - something she thinks they will receive should she be chosen as the prince's betrothed.

Miri's education moves beyond a simple grasp of Olana's teachings. She begins to learn things that can ultimately help her village with future trades - the first of which is that linder is a highly sought after stone, used in all the king's buildings and those of the wealthy class. And she also learns something that will save her life and the lives of all the girls at the Academy.

There was a point in this book where I started to feel the story winding down, like it was coming to its conclusion. As I was setting the book aside, I looked at the bookmark to see how close I was to finishing. Low and behold, I wasn't even half-way through! I was really surprised - and that led to my intrigue for the rest of the book. I really underestimated this novel. Just now, as I was typing, I happened to see a review on the back of the book - "This is not a fluffy, predictable fairy tale..." So true. I'm glad I didn't look at the back before I started reading. It's nice to discover things on your own. If you read Princess Academy, I hope you discover something enjoyable, too!

Books by David Kherdian

Several years ago, my sister recommended that I read David Kherdian's Newbery Honor book, The Road From Home: The Story of an Armenian Girl. I finally decided to take her advice and so I checked it out from the library this summer.

In this book, David Kherdian tells the true story of how his mother's Armenian Christian family endured persecution at the hands of the Turks. Veron Dumehjian and so many others were forced to leave their homes in what is now Turkey, and they marched across the desert towards an uncertain future. All around her was death - caused by hunger, exhaustion, illness, and despair. Ultimately she was the only member of her immediate family to survive.

An amazing set of circumstances unfolded for young Veron. She was watched over by other women who had lost their children. She chose to live in an orphanage because there she could receive an education. At one point she was reunited with an aunt and cousin. Her dream had originally been to go to college, but now she realized that she needed to make her way to America - the land of opportunity.

Although her aunt was responsible for agreeing to Veron's marriage to an Armenian man already living in America, it was Veron herself who made the choice to be married. She was only sixteen years old! And all she knew of her fiance Melkon was his photograph.

My sister may be surprised that I read this book, but wait.......
......there's more. I read the next book, too!

When I went to check out The Road From Home, there next to it on the shelf was Finding Home. I don't have a picture of it because according to my bookseller, it doesn't exist. (I wonder if it is available now under a different title.) Finding Home is the story of Veron's traveling to American and meeting her betrothed, Melkon (aka Mike) Kherdian. Mike had been living and working in "Rehscene, Vesskahntzsun" (Racine, WI) for years, sending money back to his family in hopes of bringing them over one day.

Veron travels with Mike's brother to Paris, and then to New York City. They are held up at Ellis Island, and finally make their way by train through Chicago to Racine. Veron knows essentially no English, she has never been taught how to cook, and despite her desire to learn, she has had very little education. She relies on Mike's extended family, as well as the entire Armenian community, to buoy her through the first difficult months.

Because the first book is set in Armenia/Turkey, there are some foreign words, unfamiliar names of cities, and unusual people names, but they are much easier to consume than those in The Stolen Life, which I reviewed earlier. It helped that in the first book there was a map to follow, and in the second book there was a list of terms to use. In that respect, I was not frustrated at all!

The person who is thinking about reading these two books, however, should be prepared for them. If you are hoping to read something action filled and fast-paced, then you should look elsewhere. These books are informative. They will teach you about a time and place and people in history with which we do not normally have contact. I didn't find anything offensive or objectionable within these pages, albeit I was saddened to hear of the plight of the Armenian people. My biggest frustration was in the second book - the wedding between Mike and Veron is never shared. The author just skips over that part. Additionally, the ending falls extremely flat. Last night I stayed up until one o'clock in the morning finishing this book. (It's due back tomorrow!) When I read the last sentence, I thought to myself....I stayed up 'til 1 a.m. for this!!! It was disappointing.

But that being said, I would like to read more about Veron and Mike, and how the Armenian community planted a new homeland in America. Go ahead and read these books - but know that you are reading them not for entertainment but for education!

Why? Because.... The Top Ten

This is my father. He and I are similar in many ways. (Too many ways, probably.) The reason why I bring him up at all here is that he too loves to read.

But that is where this similarity ends.

You see, about five years ago my father decided in his infinite wisdom (and I'm using that expression sarcastically - love you, Dad!) that the only kind of book worth reading.....hang on.....that the only work of literature worth reading is one that has stood the test of time and been deemed a classic by the literary elite (of which I'm sure he would like to include himself.) Although he doesn't have a sweet, rockin'-awesome blog like mine :) he does have a list of books he has read which includes titles like The Brothers Karamozov and War and Pieces of my hair that I pulled out whilst trying to finish the thing. (Okay, so that's not a real title.)

When I was visiting my parents recently, Dad asked me if I ever read the classics. I had already told him before that I rarely read anything but children's literature. He looked at me with an expression that I interpreted as saying, "I feel sad for you." But all that came out of his mouth was, "Why?" So once again for Dad, and now for all of you, I give you my top ten reasons for almost always exclusively reading children's literature.

10. You won't pop a blood vessel reading children's literature. It's been said popping blood vessels are not good for your health.

9. People won't roll their eyes when I tell them what I'm reading.

8. I will sit down and read children's literature and still have energy later on for other good stuff in life - like watching HGTV.

7. I won't say things like, "Nevertheless, authors in those days had a masterful grasp of the depth of the English language as evidenced in their magnificent use of extensive vocabulary which is second only to their genius of syntax." Instead, I'll say, "Dude.... this book is lester, dude." (Sorry, inside joke - couldn't be helped.)

6. I won't look like I'm confused or in pain when I read.

5. I will be a resource for parents who want to know about current children's literature, and I'll be able to give them an honest opinion because I'm actually reading it.

4. I love reading books written by people who respect children and their ability to think, who don't dumb down a story or make it predictable just because a preteen/teenager is reading it.

3. Hopefully I will get my students excited about reading something because I recommended it.

2. I respect, admire, and envy children's literature authors. I wish I could do what they do - so I read what they write and live vicariously through them.

1. I like them. I really, really like them.

So there you have it. Oh, I just thought of another similarity between my dad and me. We've both read The Tale of Despereaux. He read it while he was visiting us this week - all because of my recommendation.

I'm sure if you ask him, he'd say I forced him to read it. Same difference. What matters is, now on his list of books read, he's got a work of children's literature! So the next time he asks me if I only read kids' books, I can say, "No, I also read the classics!"

Blue Balliett Books

Welcome to the written world of Blue Balliett! This former teacher has created a very interesting niche in my Anovelanche. Her stories combine her love of children, art, and literature. These cleverly written mysteries not only entertain but they also teach you a little bit about a certain artist.

Balliett's books are not part of a continuous series. I believe you could read them individually without feeling like you were missing something. But I would encourage you to read them in order of publication for the sake of the character development.

In the first book, Chasing Vermeer, we are introduced to good friends, Calder and Tommy. Tommy has to move away suddenly from the Chicago suburbs, and Calder begins a friendship with classmate Petra. Calder loves pentominoes, and Petra loves to write - and their teacher Ms. Hussey loves to encourage her students to think creatively. When a painting by Johannes Vermeer is stolen, the two kids search for the piece and do a lot of research to help them solve the case. Tommy shows up at the end of the book in the most unlikely of situations.

Next comes The Wright 3, a book that focuses on the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, who lived in a Chicago suburb. One of his well-known houses is being restored, and it is near to the kids' school. Ms. Hussey's class gets involved, especially Calder, Tommy, and Petra. Talk of ghosts in the house and a hidden treasure leave some people in the area worried and some a little too curious.

Finally, we have the book that I just finished reading - The Calder Game. I learned that Calder the character was named after an artist named Alexander Calder. He worked in many art mediums, but perhaps is most famous for his astonishing mobiles. When an exhibit of his mobiles opens at Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art, Calder, Tommy, and Petra's 7th grade class go to take a look. Calder's encounter with the artist doesn't end there - when his father takes him on a surprise trip to England a few weeks later, there is a Calder scuplture just outside the place where they are staying! Unfortunately, the locals in this classically traditional English town don't like the modern piece. In the first chapter, Balliett prepares the reader for what happens next - both Calder the boy and the Calder sculpture go missing in the same night. Petra and Tommy fly to England to help look for their friend.

Art is not the only thing that is a unifying factor in these books - so are the illustrations, another kind of art, I guess. All the illustrations are done by Brett Helquist, who incorporates codes from the books into his drawings. At the end of each book, you are told about the hidden codes and how to look for them, but the answers you must figure out on your own. (They make me think of Graeme Base's book The Eleventh Hour which is chock-full of codes. I spent a week the summer after I graduated from high school figuring them all out. It was so cool! If you love codes, you have got to check it out!)

Anyway, you should definitely look up books by Blue Balliett, whether you are into art or not. I can't wait to see if she writes a fourth book and who the artist might be. Maybe Da Vinci - oh wait, somebody's already written a book about his "code." (blech!)

A Stolen Life

Well, it has been a long time since I've written...and part of the reason is this book - A Stolen Life by Jane Louise Curry. I was really interested to read this book that I had gotten for my classroom library with bonus points from Scholastic. I had been intrigued by the book's description on the student order form, and when it arrived, the back of the book fueled that interest....only to have it fizzle in the first chapter.

A Stolen Life is a historical fiction novel about true events involving "spiriters," men who would lure children and entice young adults, ultimately kidnapping them and sailing from Scotland (in this story) to America, where they would be sold into servitude. However, I think the story gets jumbled by other plot elements, which I'll explain momentarily.

I have a "rule of three" when I read books - and I advise my students to use it. Sometimes when you start reading a book, it begins slowly with a lot of introducing characters or describing the setting. And you might want to just chuck the thing. But my "rule of three" is that if you aren't hooked by the end of the third chapter, then you can stop reading it. That's what happened to me with this book....except I struggled to even get to the third chapter.

The opening chapter was pretty typical with its introductory material, but it was filled with SO MANY names of people and places - and since the story begins in Scotland, all the people and places have Scottish names (duh! I know!) but that makes it very difficult to follow. Most of those names and places end up being irrelevant for the rest of the story. For example, does the reader really need to know the name of the bagpiper who was hired from the neighboring village to play in the background during the celebration? NO! (and we don't need to know the name of his village either!!!!)

Okay, deep breath...exhale slowly...drink some Pepsi...drink some more...ahhh. Alright, I'm better.

Sometimes I think I channel Animal from the Muppets.

Now, I did finally finish the book. I wish it had just stuck to the main story, but it forced in other things. The main character is Jamesina, or Jamie, who has to impersonate a boy so that she remains out of danger. Her father and one brother have been killed in battle and the ownership of her family's land in Scotland may be taken by force. Jamesina has a "vision" of her father and brother, as well as her three other soldier brothers, and believes it means they are all dead. Jamesina tries to notify a justice in America that she has been spirited out of Scotland, but before she can, she is given to an indentured servant who has fulfilled his contract. That man's sons have "found" some horses in the woods, but the first night Jamesina spends in the family's make-shift cabin, Indians come and kill the family for stealing their horses. The Indians take Jamesina as a slave.....and on and on. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure all those events are historical in nature, but could they all have happened to one girl? It's a little far-fetched.

This is the first book I'm not going to wholeheartedly recommend. Oh you can read it - there's no situation that is offensive or vulgar - it's just confusing and could be better written. I'm actually kind of surprised that this author's editor let it be published this way. I'll keep it in my classroom library, but I'm not going to pull any punches when I describe it to my students.

Jacqueline Woodson Books

I first learned of author/poet Jacqueline Woodson when I started using our newest Literature series at school in 2007. A poem called "Almost Summer Sky" captivated me, but it wasn't until this school year that I investigated the book that contained that poem. The book is titled Locomotion, after the name of the main character, Lonnie Collins Motion. It was a 2003 National Book Award finalist.

Through this eleven-year-old's poetry (which he writes because his teacher has assigned it!), we learn of his life as a foster child and the reason why he has become one. Some of the poetry is written in specific forms, like a sonnet or haiku, but most is free verse poetry, which I don't particularly like but think it works very effectively in this book. I remember the first time that I read a book that was in the form of a diary - I didn't like it at first, but wow! the style is really unique! I also like this book because it gives you a very realistic look at poetry from the eyes of a kid - poetry is hard, it's boring, etc. But Lonnie Collins Motion shows you that poetry can be just about anything. This is definitely worth the 1-2 hours you'll spend reading it. I reread it today sitting in the waiting room at my doctor's appointment today. (Yes, I had to wait THAT long!!!)

The other book by Woodson that I read on Tuesday is titled Feathers. It's interesting to me how an author's writing can have it's own unique "flavor", a word I use a lot with my students. These two books definitely have the same flavor. On the page preceding the first part of the book, Woodson quotes Emily Dickinson - "Hope is the thing with feathers/that perches in the soul,/And sings the tune-without the words,/And never stops at all."

In the book, Frannie is trying to understand how hope has feathers. She is a black girl going to an all-black school in the 70's. Everything on her side of the highway is black, and the other side is all white, and this after de-segregation! One day, a new student comes to her school - he used to live on the other side of the highway. He claims he's not white, although no one can figure out why. His light skin and longer wavy hair make some of the kids think of pictures of Jesus they've seen, so they take to calling him Jesus boy. The guy receives verbal abuse from one boy in particular, but he can tell that Frannie is interested in figuring him out, especially when he uses sign language that he knows she can understand. Frannie deals with the "stupidity" of others when they react to her brother's deafness. She tries to dodge her best friend's invitations to come to church with her, and she struggles with her mother's health issues as well as her own place within the family. I didn't love-love Feathers, but often I'm grateful for reading something that helps me see things through the eyes of someone very different from me. For that reason alone, I'd recommend it to you!

The Shadow Children Series - 7 Books in 7 Days!

I first inhaled The Shadow Children sequence, written by Margaret Peterson Haddix, five years ago when only the first five books had been published. The last two books were published in 2005 and 2006, but I was busy having babies then - who had time to read? I knew that if I was going to do justice to the series, I'd have to read them again in sequential order. I read all seven books in seven days!

Also, I didn't want to recommend the whole series without reading all of it. I didn't want there to be any "surprises" in the last two books that made me regret my recommendation. I can happily say that I have no reservations whatsoever in recommending these books to boys and girls alike! In fact, just this school year, one of my 6th grade boys started reading this series, and he got hooked.

In the first book of the sequence, we meet the main character, Luke Garner. Luke is a third child. The Government decided that no family is to have more than two children because there has been a lengthy and severe drought, and the concern is that there will not be enough food for everyone in the country. So a new law was passed that makes Luke Garner and every third, fourth, or fifth child an illegal.

Luke is forced to hide from the world in his family's attic. It wasn't so bad at first. The Garners lived in the country, away from most people, and that meant at times Luke could go outside and play in his father's fields or barn. But now the forest surrounding the farm has been taken by the Government and is being cut down for new housing developments. Luke must remain indoors at all times.

Luke visits the outside by sneaking peeks out a vent in the attic. He learns all of the routines of his neighbors so well that one day he notices something that shouldn't be. He knows he's found another shadow child! When Luke gets up the courage to run over to the house next door, he meets Jen, a girl who has a plan liberate the shadow children. It sounds dangerous, and Luke just can't be a part of it.

But Jen is determined to make her plan work - no matter what the cost! Over the course of the rest of the books, Luke wonders if it was wrong of him not to join Jen in her quest for freedom. He looks for ways that he also can help other third children while at the same time protecting his family and remaining true to what he believes.

Luke's journey starts with his getting a fake ID, continues with him going to a boarding school, becomes rocky when he must impersonate the boy whose name he now uses, and reaches a precarious point when he actually joins the very group that seeks to stamp out illegal children everywhere! Often we find him struggling with his former inclinations to hide, to stay where it is safe and comfortable. But in the end, he must choose which life he wants to live!

---

Throughout the story, we meet other illegals - some of which become the main characters of certain books in the series. It's an interesting feature. Whereas I enjoyed the story in its entirety, Book Seven was the least engaging - which is disappointing since that is the final taste left in your mouth! But on the whole, this is reading worth checking out - take my word for it - or don't take my word for it and read them yourself - just don't wait several years before finishing them!

The Giver

In the fall of 1994, I was a junior in college, and I was taking a Children's Literature course. It met on Monday nights for almost four hours, and I loved every minute of it! Usually I hated evening classes, but this one was great. Each class, our professor would open up an old suitcase and begin pulling out books written for children 14 years old and younger. She would tell us a little bit about each of them. She asked each of us what our favorite childhood book was. I recognized many of the titles shared, but didn't think anyone would have heard of mine. When I said "Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle" several others chuckled and agreed with me.

This professor also expected us to read two children's novels - an experience that forever changed me, obviously! :) The two books were both Newbery Medal Winners. I hadn't heard of either one: Bridge to Terabithia and The Giver. They knocked my socks off! To this day, The Giver, by the fantastic author Lois Lowry (you'll see much more about her on this site), ranks highest of all the surprises/shocks I have ever had while reading a novel. It shocked me so much that I went back to the beginning and started reading it over again!

Jonas is an 11-year-old boy who is anxious about the upcoming Ceremony of Twelve. He is to be assigned his role in the community, but he has no idea what that role could be. He doesn't want to be a Laborer or a Pilot, and he could never be a Birthmother. He knows that the Selection Committee always chooses the perfect job for you.

But when Jonas is passed over at the Ceremony of Twelve, everyone thinks something is wrong. When finally called on stage, it is said that Jonas is not going to be assigned. While this would normally bring great shame to himself, his family, and his community, Jonas hears that he has been selected - selected for a position that holds the highest honor in the community. Little does Jonas know, but the position also holds the most pain.

Now, I'm purposefully not telling you more about the book. I don't want to give much away. But suffice it to say this book is going to surprise you. You'll be reading along, lah-dee-dah, and then WHAMMO!!! No socks. Oh, and spoiler alert: you're going to hate the ending. I love this book, but I hate the ending. You'll see why when you read it - and when you do, let me know what you thought of it. (Hey, why do I always have to be the giver? Ha!)

Fever 1793

About six years ago, I had a group of 7th grade girls that were absorbed with historical fiction. I'm always curious about the reading waves that go through groups of friends, so I read a few of the books they were sharing. Many were by Ann Rinaldi (and I'll share some of her books later) but the first one the girls suggested I read was Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson. A good recommendation it was!

1793 was a great time to live in the United States' capital city of Philadelphia. Business was thriving for Lucille Cook and her daughter Matilda. Running a coffeehouse was respectable for a widow, but Mattie had other ideas. She wanted to expand the coffeehouse into something grander. But that would have to wait, because the news that suffocatingly hot August was that yellow fever was killing those people who lived near the docks. And it was spreading. In three months, nearly 5000 people died.

The wealthy fled for the cooler weather of the country and mountains. Told that they couldn't catch the fever, Negros cared for the sick - but they had been misinformed. Doctors bled patients and argued over treatments. And yellow cloth was tied to railings of homes where the fever was, including the coffeehouse when Mother became ill. Mattie is sent away originally, but she is forced to return to Philadelphia, where she begins the battle for her own life. Will this determined young lady survive and realize the dreams she has set out to achieve?

I think historical fiction is a great way to learn about history. Some may view a history textbook as being rather dry - but that's sort of the way a history textbook needs to be. Publishers don't want to present a biased account of historical events, so they stick to the facts. Unfortunately, facts don't necessarily appeal to everyone's learning style, but historical fiction might engage a learner.

If you haven't had exposure to historical fiction, I would definitely encourage you to seek it out. Remember, it's not just fiction that takes place in another time period. Historical fiction is a story set within the confines of an actual historical event or era, and although the character may be fictitious, usually his or her story is also based on things that happened during that time. It's really wonderful and has a unique flavor all its own. Try it - you'll like it!

Monitoring What Your Child Reads

More and more, I am shocked and concerned by the Godless items I see on the shelves of bookstores - titles of books and cover art that are geared toward high school and middle school students (and sadly, even kids younger than that!) These books are making their way into our Christian homes and into our children's hearts. What can we do as Christian parents to prevent the infection of worldly viewpoints infiltrating our homes?

I think the answer is to monitor what your child reads - and when you are able, to do that before they start reading the book. I ask the parents of my middle school students to take the lead on this responsibility. If asked whether or not a book is a good one for kids to read, I will give my opinion, just as I do on this blog, but I expect that a parent will then follow up with his or her own evaluation of a book.

A few years ago, a student turned in a book she was reading. The title was very teenagery, but not concerning. Never having heard of the book, I thumbed through it quickly. I wasn't looking for anything because I had no reason to mistrust her or her parents. That's why I was shocked to see some of the Godless language and references when I was paging through! Wouldn't you know it, Dad stopped by my room that very afternoon, and I showed him what I'd found. He was frustrated because he'd been the one with the daughter to okay the purchase of the book. He admitted he hadn't looked at the book carefully.

Now, I share this story not to condemn the parents in this example, but to illustrate two things: first, how easy it is for this garbage to get into our kids' hands, and secondly, how easy it is sometimes to discover the garbage before it gets to them. Here are some suggestions for how you can monitor what your child reads.

1. If you can, page through the book before it's purchased or checked out from the library.
2. If an unfamiliar book comes home, look through it and read a bit.
3. If you have initial concerns with the book's title or suggested subject, read the book yourself before your child does. Make sure you communicate to your child why you are reading it!
4. Talk to other parents to see what they know or have read.
5. Research a book's subject matter online. (I did this recently, but after I read the reviews, I still read the book myself so that I could come to my own conclusions.)
6. Be smart when it comes to a book series! Don't assume that if the first book was acceptable that the rest will be okay.

Finally, keep talking to your kids. They are young in their faith development and really need us to be proactive in their lives. But they also need to know the motivation behind the action. It's not always easy to "train up a child in the way he should go." The devil sets out many stumbling blocks and hides behind facades like "modern ideals" and "political correctness." I pray that as you monitor what your children read, and as you do all the other things necessary to grow them in the grace and knowledge of Jesus, that you would know you are doing a valuable work - one that will be a blessing to them and bring honor to our loving God.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle is the first book written by Avi that I ever read. Although it has not been the last, I think it is my favorite! This book was the only Newbery Honor Book for 1991 - it lost the Medal to Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli. (No offense to Jerry, but I think Avi should have won!)

Charlotte Doyle is a proper young lady returning to America after receiving her education at a fine English school. She is sailing on a ship that is owned by the company for whom her father works. All is arranged - she is to have traveling companions for the journey. But on arriving at the docks, she finds no companions and a crew that is none to interested in having her board ship. But she is to follow her father's instructions, and board the Seahawk she does.

What meets her there is the beginning of a voyage unlike any other. It begins seemingly enough - a rough crew and a distinguished commanding officer. At first Charlotte trusts Captain Jaggery, but certain events that occur cause her opinion of him to be tainted. The sailing is full of mutinous conversation and sabotage. Eventually, after becoming part of the crew herself, Charlotte is convicted of murder!

Will the deceit that hangs over all the members on the ship somehow balance the scales so that justice can be served? Or will there be a revolution? Ah, mateys, you must read the book to find that out!

This novel's value was worth using my free time to create a teaching unit specifically about it. Like The Westing Game, this is among the books that I recommend to students who have difficulty finding books they enjoy reading. I actually had a boy take me up on this suggestion this year - and I think he secretly may have enjoyed the book, not that he would admit it to me! I tell you, this one will keep the kids up past bedtime reading with a flashlight - it's that good! And if you are old enough to set your own bedtime, I'd encourage you to read it too! :)

The Westing Game

It had been several years since I had read this book the first time, but I enjoyed it immensely then, and was equally captivated by it this weekend. In the 1979 Newbery Winning book The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, you have the opportunity to solve a mystery - who is the rightful heir to the Westing Fortune?

If you love puzzles and mysteries, you will absolutely love this book, and if you don't, you will absolutely love this book. It is an intriguing story of a hodge-podge group of people, all living in the same new apartment building, who find themselves listening to a dead man's will and being challenged by him to find his murderer.

Old Man Westing has left all kinds of clues for them to decipher. The occupants of Sunset Towers naturally begin to suspect each other. Only the true heir will be able to figure out the mystery. The question is: Can you unravel the mystery before the heir does?

In many ways, the book reminds me of another one in which you try to solve a mystery with clues you are given in the story - Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett - but that's another review! Over and over again, the heirs need to remind themselves of what was in the will: "It's not what you have that's important. It's what you don't have." Well, I think you will still be surprised when you get to the end. You may have been able to figure out some of the answers, but there are others that I'm sure will elude you until the conclusion!

This is one of the books I recommend to my students who aren't really crazy about reading. I think it keeps your attention, doesn't get too heady, and is a quick read. I'd love to hear what others think about it!

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

For the last few days of the school year, I have been reading The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo to my 7th graders. The book has been out for a while, and though I have wanted to read it, this was my first experience with it as well.

Edward Tulane is a china rabbit with real rabbit fur ears and very elegant clothes. He cringes at being referred to as a doll and thinks himself superior to all other toys. Edward belongs to a 10-year-old girl named Abilene who loves him very much, but Edward does not love her. In fact, he doesn't love at all!

While sailing across the ocean with Abilene and her family, Edward is inadvertantly sent overboard and sinks to the bottom of the ocean. Several months later, a fierce storm churns up the water so much that Edward is drawn up toward the surface and is ultimately caught in a fisherman's net. And this begins his journey - a journey that teaches him so many things: humility, compassion, and especially the joy that comes from loving and being loved. Edward Tulane learns that although there is pain when he loses someone he loves, getting another chance to open his heart again is worth the wait!

I didn't instantly fall in love with this book, but the more I read, the more I found to appreciate. Once again, like in The Tale of Despereaux, DiCamillo has written brief chapters that can be digested by a young audience. Most of all, I appreciate the theme of the story - that in spite of both our personal brokeness and our fractured relationships, we can find strength, healing, forgiveness, and be made whole.

The Tale of Despereaux

It was never a question for me as to which book would be my first shared on Anovelanche! If ever you are buried in the frozen tundra, a few pages read of The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo is enough to melt the polar icecaps! It is my favorite book of all time - one of those.."you had me at 'Hello'" books - except in this case I was hooked at the end of the first chapter when the Narrator addresses the Reader. It literally took my breath away.

The Tale of Despereaux...."..being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread." These words complete the title page of this enchanting story. It is the story of an unlikely hero, a tiny mouse with large ears, who is imprisoned for acting un-mousely and for falling in love with a princess. But he brings the light of a story to a jailer in the dark, and he discovers the plan of a vengeful rat and a dimwitted servant girl.

This tale is told in four sections: the story of Despereaux, the story of Roscuro the rat, the story of a girl named Miggery Sow, and finally how their lives intertwine and bring about the good of all. It is a story of love lost and love found, a story of good vs. evil, and a story of how truth and understanding bring light where darkness once was.

Whether you are looking for a hearty laugh, a good cry, a damsel to rescue, a hero to root for, or a villian to despise, this book is for you! All the chapters are brief, making it the perfect read-before-bed book. I can't wait until my boys are just a little bit older and I can share this book with them!

I'm sure many of you have read this book already and love it as I do. I can't imagine anyone NOT loving it! It was justly awarded the 2004 Newbery Medal - I knew it would as soon as I read it. Now that the book has been released as a movie, I am torn.

Are you like me? When I read the book first, I usually end up being frustrated with the movie, and if I see the movie first, then the book seems wrong. When I read, I create my own sort of movie - what I often refer to simply as "the movie in my mind." Usually, my movie is much better than what I see in the theater. And so, I have not seen the movie of The Tale of Despereaux. I guess I have too much respect for the book.

Welcome, One and All!

The idea for this blog has been a grain of sand in my oyster for quite a while! Thanks to the input and encouragement from my students and family, it's now time to harvest the treasure! I'm excited to be sharing with you my love of books for middle school kids. Some of the books I've read in the past, some I will have just finished, and some I keep reading over and over again!

I invite your feedback - sharing thoughts is what this is all about. But first, we have to prepare! Claim that cozy chair, get a snuggly blanket, fire up your fireplace when appropriate, grab a cold Pepsi, and join me as I bury myself in Anovelanche! Happy Reading!