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!