The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron

BIBLIOGRAPHY :
Patron, Susan. 2006. The higher power of Lucky. Ill. by Matt Phelan. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 1416901949.

PLOT SUMMARY:
Fascinated by the twelve-step anonymous meetings held at nearby Found Object Wind Chime Museum and Visiting Center, ten year old Lucky Trimble feels that she is need of a life altering event. Hoping to gain some wisdom from the anonymous meetings, Lucky seeks to find her own “Higher Power” that will change her life for the better. With the accidental death of her mother and an absent father who pawns her off on his first ex-wife, from France, Lucky struggles with her feelings of abandonment and fear of being shipped off to be a ward of the state.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

Characters are revealed through narration, conversation and through the thoughts of the main character. Five year old Miles is described by Lucky as “only five, and … not a neat eater, plus he didn’t mind when HMS Beagle licked his hands.” Another character Dot was considered, “the bossiest and crabbiest person in Hard Pan [California]…”. The main characters strengths and weaknesses are also revealed through action and narration. Lucky spies on various twelve-step annonymous meetings, her favorites being “…alcoholics, gamblers, smokers and overeaters…”. And in narration, “Lucky had a little place in her heart where there was a meanness gland.” Not the typical 10 year old girl, the character of Lucky is devoid of typical girlish stereotyping. Her guardian is an unrelated French woman who was lucky enough to be Lucky’s fathers first wife. Multiculturalism is added in with French words, such as maman (mother) and bisou (kiss). Illustrations in pen, ink and pencil bring the characters and desert California landscape to life.

Recently orphaned, Lucky has Brigette as her guardian until a foster family can be found. When her plot to find a Higher Power and a better life, fail to come about, Lucky decides to run away. Preparation for the event is evident in Lucky’s survival kit backpack mentioned through out the story and when she thinks to herself, “A ward must stay alert, carry a well-equipped survival kit at all times, and watch out for danger signs – because of the strange and terrible and good and bad things that happen when you least expect them to.”

The desert setting of Hard Pan, California a town with a population of only 43 people provided Lucky with a view consisting of a “jumble of trailers, sheds, outhouses, shacks and rusty vehicles”. Lucky’s own living arrangement consisted of three trailers connected together. The setting matches Lucky’s predicament of being stuck between a proverbial rock and a hard place.

Concepts of self identity, self worth and sense of community are evident in this story. Lucky see’s herself as a budding scientist as she searches for her Higher Power. After successfully removing a snake from her family clothes dryer and pondering on the ways to prevent snakes from entering in again, Lucky knows that she is a “… highly evolved human being.” She emphasizes with the numerous anonymous twelve-step meetings which detail the communities need for survival day to day. Lucky thinks to herself, “It’s almost impossible to get control of your life when you’re only ten.” The misguided solution to her dilemma is to run away and gain control of her life. The dialogue is straightforward and the author does a good job of balancing narration and dialogue.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S):

Review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “This character-driven novel has an unusually complicated backstory, and a fair amount of exposition. Yet, its quirky cast and local color help to balance this fact, and the desert setting is fascinating. Lucky's tendency to jump to conclusions is frustrating, but her struggle to come to terms with her mother's death and with her new life ring true. Phelan's cover and line drawings are simple and evocative, a perfect complement to the text.”

Review from BOOKLIST: “With a personality that may remind some readers of Ramona Quimby, Lucky, who is totally contemporary, teeters between bravado--gathering insect specimens, scaring away snakes from the laundry--and fear that her guardian will leave her to return to France. … Patron's plotting is as tight as her characters are endearing. Lucky is a true heroine, especially because she's not perfect: she does some cowardly things, but she takes pains to put them to rights.”

Review from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “Patron's poignant Newbery-winning story about a girl who fears being abandoned by her legal guardian-and her only semblance of a family-sails along with believable childlike rhythms and kid's-eye-view observations.”

AWARDS
Newbery Award 2007
American Library Association Notable Books for Children 2007
FOCAL (Friends of Children and Literature) Award 2007

CONNECTIONS
Activities
*Encourage students to create Acrostic poems for each main character in the story.
*Have students construct “Brown Bag Book Reports” by collecting objects with which to retell or summarize the story.
*Create bookmarks illustrating scenes from the story to share and trade.
*Science connection: Have students research Charles Darwin, the HMS Beagle and insects mentioned in the story.
* Encourage students to read books mentioned in other books by sharing the location of the two books, Tree of Life by Peter Sis and Are You My Mother? by P. D. Eastman, in The Higher Power of Lucky, in the school library.
*Have students draw, list or construct survival kits for school, bug collecting and other situations, such as camping, etc. Encourage students to share instances where survival kits might have been useful in their lives.

the first part last by Angela Johnson

BIBLIOGRAPHY :
Johnson, Angela. 2003. The first part last. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689849222.

PLOT SUMMARY:
When Bobby finds out he is going to be a father on his sixteenth birthday, his life and attitude about life changes forever. He accepts his new responsibility with maturity and plays a supportive role in his girlfriend Nia’s pregnancy. Bobby is an average, young African American teen struggling to come to terms with his new life, the commitment of being a single teenage father and the needs of his baby daughter.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Another realistic fiction book about teen age pregnancy told from the teen father’s perspective. This short novel alternates between past and present perspectives demonstrating cause and effect. An urban tale set in modern day New York, this story centers on the self discovery of an African-American teen becoming a “man” and father for his newborn baby girl, Feather. As he walks away from the social worker and the notion of adoption, Bobby thinks to himself “I know I’m being a man, not just some kid who’s upset and wants it his way. I’m being a man.” Teens will easily relate to the notion of teen pregnancy and its affect on family and friends.

The mood of the story is full of sorrow and yet hopeful. The positive perspective of the teens support group aids in avoiding stereotyping. Characters are revealed though dialogue, the narration and thoughts of the main character. Half-listening to his literature teacher, Bobby thought “…he’s going to tell me how he’ll give me a break on my grades or something. …But that ain’t happening. He just hopes I’m getting help.” His mother allows him to experience parenthood without interference “She only changed, fed or rocked Feather to sleep when I didn’t need her help.” Stereotyping is again avoided when his girlfriend’s parents don’t interfere in his decision to raise his baby daughter alone and even support his decision to care for their granddaughter, “We’ll support you keeping the baby, Bobby,” was all they said in the end. But when they looked at the baby through the nursery glass, it was like they were saying goodbye.”

Figurative language is also used to tell the story from a teen perspective, from his mention of when he told his parents (Fred and Mary sat real still...I thought what I just told them about Nia being pregnant had turned both of them to stone.) to the the description of his girlfriends house (Stark white and so neat and clean you could probably make soup in the toilet.) His girlfriend’s revelation that she does not want to be a mother brings another perspective of realism into the story “I don’t want to be anybody’s mother. I’m not done with being a kid myself. I’m way too young and so are you.” Teen realism is again seen when Bobby has a “tagging” incident that details his need to let his frustrations out through the illegal artistic means of spray painting buildings.

Though not original or fresh, the plot, with no inclination of the climax towards the end, ends in an unpredictable manner that adds additional realism to this award winning novel. Even Bobby’s epiphany of “… if the world were really right, humans would live life backward and do the first part last. They’d be all knowing in the beginning and innocent in the end.” (the only mention of a moral to the story) soon fades as the plot progresses.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Starred Review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “At 16, Bobby struggles to be a father to his newborn daughter while keeping up with school, maintaining his boyhood friendships, and trying to live up to his parents' expectations. Told in alternating passages of "Now" and "Then," the back-story that has brought Bobby to this point falls steadily but deliberately into place, with the revelation of why Bobby is a single father arriving only near the very end.”

Starred Review from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “In this companion novel, Johnson's fans learn just how Bobby, the single father for whom Marley baby-sits in Heaven, landed in that small town in Ohio. Beginning his story when his daughter, Feather, is just 11 days old, 16-year-old Bobby tells his story in chapters that alternate between the present and the bittersweet past that has brought him to the point of single parenthood."

Review from VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES: "Told through Bobby's eyes in spare, eloquent prose, this affecting prequel to Heaven (Simon & Schuster, 1998/VOYA February 1999) is no stereotypical teenage pregnancy story but the heartfelt tale of one young man's decision to keep his child, no matter the consequences. … This compelling tale of a teenage father provides a stellar addition to young adult fiction."

Teen Review from VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES: "I'm really glad that Johnson wrote this prequel to Heaven. Bobby was a character that everyone wanted to know more about. This well-written book is not like anything that I've ever read before. It goes fast and has realistic fiction, romance, and suspense all in one. Most teen pregnancy books are about what the girl goes through, but this one is written from a different, exciting angle. Both girls and boys can read it." -Teens' Top Ten nominator, age 13.

AWARDS
Coretta Scott King Award 2004
Michael L. Printz Award 2004

Connections
Other books by Angela Johnson on coping with loss, death and adoption:
Johnson, Angela. 1994. Toning the Sweep. ISBN 0590481428.
Johnson, Angela. 1998. Heaven. ISBN 0689822294.
Johnson, Angela. 2002. Looking for Red. ISBN 0689832532.

Activities:

*Read during Black History Month and as the introduction to Coretta Scott King Award discussions.
*Suggest this as a book club selection for upper grades.
*Share audio clips with classes during book talking sessions.
*Provide students with opportunities to create poetry or journal responses.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Pullman, Philip. 1995. The golden compass. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0679879242

PLOT SUMMARY:
Eleven year old, Lyra Belacqua is an orphan child living on an Oxford College in a fantasy Victorian England. She and other humans of her world have an emotional connection to life long companions called dæmons who change and shift into different animal forms. When children start disappearing, Lyra fears that they and her now missing best friend may be intended for the rumored scientific experiments involving children in the Arctic regions. Thus begins her journey to save her best friends life. Aided by witches, armored bears, a gypsy-like clan, her dæmon and a golden compass to guide her along her way, Lyra finds herself in danger and on a quest to save children from evil scientists.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Mr. Pullman’s modern fantasy world is akin to England and the cold Arctic regions of Earth. With scholars, masters, lords and servants this story begins in Victorian Era England at Jordan College, which has “no rival, either in Europe or in New France, as a center of experimental theology.” This high fantasy novel includes: a good versus evil theme, a heroine, special magical animal characters called dæmons and a supernatural object in the form of a golden compass. With four clock like “hands” and thirty-six symbols, it is meant to resemble the old-world style mechanical objects. Good versus evil is the main theme in this story. Good and evil are personified in humans, their dæmons and the other creatures (armored bears, witches) of Lyra’s world.

The main characters include Lyra, her mysterious Uncle Lord Asriel, her best friend and kitchen servant, Roger, the equally mysterious and dangerous Mrs. Coulter and their personal dæmons, shape-shifting, talking animal “alter egos”. The characters are revealed through the shape and emotional state of their dæmons. When the humans reach adulthood, “their dæmons [lose] the power to change and [assume] one shape, keeping it permanently.” These fantasy creatures are connected magically and emotionally to their human counterparts and add to the fantasy world that is not quite real.

This story is told from the heroines point of view. The writing is at times stratightforward and at other times figurative. The dialogue is natural and suited to the differing characters and their roles. The overall mood of the story mirrors the main character. Lyra, the orphan protagonist, is a willful child of eleven wise beyond her years, due to lack of proper supervision by her guardians, the college scholars. She is deemed a “barbarian” and “a coarse and greedy savage” by the narrator of the novel. With past times of skipping lessons, stealing apples, and waging “deadly war” on other children, on the college grounds and in the adjacent town, the heroine has gained the experience and fortitude needed for her quest to rescue her abducted best friend from the evil experiments in the Arctic regions. The original plot builds to a suspenseful climax and contains unforeseen twists and turns. This first installment of a triology series ends with an introduction to an unknown new world and a new mystery and adventure for the young heroine.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “A novel set in London and in the Arctic regions of a world that is somewhat like our own. Lyra, apparently an orphan, lives among the scholars at Jordan College, Oxford. She becomes aware of a nefarious plot to steal children and transport them to the far north. As Lyra is drawn deeper and deeper into this mystery, she finds that the children are being made to suffer terribly. What she does not and must not know is that she is the keystone in an ancient prophecy...”

Review from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “Young Lyra Belacqua and her daemon companion Pantalaimon leave their sheltered life among the scholars and caretakers at Oxford University to find Lyra's best friend, Roger, who has been kidnapped. Lyra's quest leads her to the Far North where she encounters battle-ready witches, talking polar bears and a team of evil scientists who plan to perform a hideous experiment on Roger and the other children they have captured.”

Review from KIRKUS REVIEWS: “This first fantastic installment of the His Dark Materials trilogy propels readers along with horror and high adventure, a shattering tale that begins with a promise and delivers an entire universe.”

AWARDS
Carnegie Medal 1995
Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year 1996

CONNECTIONS
The other Dark Materials Trilogy books - by Philip Pullman:
Pullman, Philip. 2007. The Subtle Knife. ISBN 0375946721
Pullman, Philip. 2007. The Amber Spyglass. ISBN 037594673X

Other books by Philip Pullman:
1996. The Tin Princess. ISBN 0606099794
2003. The Ruby in the Smoke. ISBN 0375825452

Activities:
*Science/History connection: Have students create a time line of scientific tools and compare them to those used in the story.
*Discuss the themes of courage, fear, love, betrayal and good versus evil.
*Have students create a venn diagram comparing and contrasting themselves with a chosen character from the story.
*Encourage students to learn more about author's and their works, by visiting Mr. Pullman's website at http://www.philip-pullman.com/index.asp

Babe Didrikson Zaharias: The Making of a Champion by Russell Freedman

BIBLIOGRAPHY :
Freedman, Russell. 1999. Babe Didrikson Zaharias: The making of a champion. New York: Clarion. ISBN 0395633672.

PLOT SUMMARY:
Mildred “Babe” Didrickson Zaharias excelled at every sport she tried from childhood to her early forties. Nicknamed “Babe” by her childhood friends, due to her baseball abilities, she was naturally athletic and a hardworking young woman with the determination to be the best at each sport she tried.

She participated in and won a gold medal for Track and Field in the 1932 Olympics. At a time when women were still considered unequal to men in social, business and athletic ventures, she was named Woman Athlete of the Year four times and Outstanding Woman Athlete of the Century. Babe participated as an amateur and professional athlete in several sports, including track and field, basketball, tennis, baseball, diving, golf and bowling. Her personal life included many struggles and hardships, many of which she overcame with her positive attitude and determination.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Russell Freedman has written a complete biography that spans from her young childhood growing up in Beaumont, Texas to her adult life. This well written biography provides a balanced view of the real person, not a glorification of an athlete. A quote from a letter she wrote sums up her attitude and feelings about her early basketball teammates. “Heck, ‘Tiny, … if I get me another [offer], I’m gonna take it…These girls are just like they were in Beaumont High School. Jealous and more so because they are all here and trying to beat me. But they can’t do it.”

Another side of Babe is seen in her attention to the crowds who came to see her play. She would entertain them with “trick shots and wisecracks.” Sources for direct quotes are documented in the author’s “Notes” at the back of the book. Crude comments and her lack of femininity earned her some disrespect from the men in the sports business. One sportswriter even coined the phrase “Muscle Moll” in reference to her unladylike behavior and lack of attention to her appearance.

The design and layout are attractive and inviting to the reader. The large sized black and white photos aid in providing accuracy. She is pictured with Will Rogers, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope all well-known Hollywood actors of their time. The pictures themselves provide a photobiography chronicling her life in all her chosen sports and her personal life. This book includes a table of contents, Authors Note, Acknowledgements and and Picture Credits, bibliographical references and an index.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
Starred Review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Freedman is on top of his game with this engaging profile of one of this century's most remarkable athletes and larger-than-life personalities. … This attractive, oversized photo-biography recounts her life story and sets it into the larger context of the evolving role of women's athletics, and the development of professional sports in the U.S.”

Review from HORNBOOK GUIDE: “Freedman's measured yet lively style captures the spirit of the great athlete. The book is at its best in the chapters about Babe's track-and-field triumphs; the later account of her golf career drags a bit. Freedman's enthusiastic admiration, however, provides enough reason to read. Plenty of black-and-white photos capture Babe's spirit and dashing good looks, and the documentation is impeccable.”

Review from BOOKLIST: “Children used to athletes who limit their focus to one sport will marvel at Babe's accomplishments. Freedman does a good of job tracing her rise from scrappy neighborhood games to stardom and gives readers a sense of the way she was worshipped on the playing field and vilified for her unladylike appearance … .”

AWARDS
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year 1999
American Library Association Notable Books for Children 2000

CONNECTIONS
Other biographies written by Russell Freedman:
Freedman, Russell. 1998. Martha Graham: A Dancer's Life. ISBN 0395746558
Freedman, Russell. 2000. Lincoln: A photobiography. ISBN 0395518482
Freedman, Russell. 2000. Eleanor Roosevelt: A life of discovery. ISBN 0395845203
Freedman, Russell. 2006. Out of darkness: The story of Louis Braille. ISBN 1422354385

Activities

*In March, for Women’s History Month, have student’s research famous American women and their achievements.
*Encourage students to create a biography collection of famous Olympic athletes.
*Have students create a “scrapbook” of other famous historical figures, including pictures and journal entries. Have students cite the sources for their findings.
*Have students read other Russell Freedman biographies and write an author and a biography book review for the library website.

Worth by A. LaFaye

BIBLIOGRAPHY :
LaFaye, A. 2004. Worth. New York: Simon & Schuster for Young Readers. ISBN 0689857306.

PLOT SUMMARY:
After an accident leaves, eleven-year-old Nathaniel Peale crippled, he is unable to help out on the family farm. Questioning his worth and his fathers love, Nathaniel resents the orphan, John Worth, brought home by his father to help out around the farm. As both boys struggle to cope with their new roles and lives, they end up helping each other and saving the community.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
The plot of ranchers versus farmers is a story students have been introduced to in textbooks, movies and other literature. The setting of 19^th century Nebraska is brought to life with the authors rich descriptions of the farm. The first person narrative of the main character tells the story of a young man in anguish over his situation. After he is told he may never walk again, Nate thinks to himself, “Half wished my mind would fog up again so there’d be no room for the new thoughts rolling in. I’d be a cripple. … Might not even be able to stand. What’s a man to do if he can’t stand? Sit around collecting dust while the rest of the world earned their living.” The attitudes of the times reflect in his thinking of himself as a man at eleven years old with a need to help his family by working on the farm.

Terms like Ma and Pa, “plugging chinks in the soddie” and “correcting my sums” convey the speech patterns of the time and add authenticity to the author’s historical fiction. Nate’s immigrant school friends from Greece and mention of Greek mythology add a multicultural view of early America. The themes of self-worth, family love, acceptance and courage are interwoven in this historical novel suitable for elementary and the upper grade levels.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Review from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “There's a world of pain in LaFaye's (The Year of the Sawdust Man) spare, lyrical novel set in 19th-century Nebraska. The author here assumes an unusual perspective on the Orphan Train theme, focusing on the adoptive family. … LaFaye paints a realistic picture of the hardships for average families at the time the Orphan Train rode the rails.”

Review from VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES: “The easy lilting cadence of the language combined with details of farming successfully evoke nineteenth-century frontier life, a time when a man's value was determined by his actions and capabilities. … This historical novel is solid in plot; Nate's reflective narrative balances the various conflicts smoothly. The subplot introduces a Greek family with whom Nate becomes acquainted, adding an unexpected multicultural flavor to the novel.”

Review from BOOKLIST: “Through Nate's narrative comes a sense of the grueling daily work, the family struggle to try to hold on to the land and avoid failure. In addition, there's some late-nineteenth-century history about the local wars between cattle ranchers (who want grazing land) and farmers (who need room for crops), … A great choice for American history classes.”

AWARDS
Scott O’Dell Historical Fiction Award 2005

Connections
Other books about pioneer/frontier life:
Greenwood, Barbara. 1998. A pioneer sampler: the daily life of a pioneer family in 1840. ISBN 0395883938
Moss, Melissa. 2001. Rachel's journal: The story of a pioneer girl. ISBN 015202168X
Wilder, Laura Ingalls. 2007. Little house in the big woods. ISBN 0061289809

Books about orphan trains:
Buchanan, Jane. 2002. Hank's story. ISBN 0142302112
Cushman, Karen. 2005. Rodzina. ISBN 044041993X
Kerr, Rita. 1994. The Texas orphans: a story of the orphan train children. ISBN 0890159629

Matilda Bone by Karen Cushman

BIBLIOGRAPHY :
Cushman, Karen. 2000. Matilda Bone. New York: Clarion. ISBN 0395881560

PLOT SUMMARY:
Fourteen year old orphan, Matilda sent to live as an apprentice to a bone setter in medieval England finds that her skills of reading, writing and factoring are not needed. Matilda struggles to learn and use the new manual labor skills necessary for her new occupation. Matilda struggles with the idea that her previous pampered life is over and a new life style is to take its place.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
This historical fiction account of medieval medicine is from a female protagonist’s point of view and includes other female characters. It includes an Author’s note and references of the book sources the author consulted for accuracy. The author explains the strangeness of women bonesetters and physicians with the comment from Matilda’s new guardian, Peg. “This,” said Peg to Matilda as she stirred, “is our physician, Margery Lewes – a woman, of course, for no true physician would work here on the alley with barbers and bonesetters.” Accuracy is also seen in the teenage thoughts included in italics made by Matilda. “Of course, Mistress Peg,” Matilda said. I sincerely doubt it, Mistress Peg, Matilda thought. Medieval medicinal practices of using astrology, observing a patient’s urine and using leeches to remove bad blood are included in the accounts of traditional medicinal practices of the day.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
Starred Review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “A fascinating glimpse into the colorful life and times of the 14th century. … Cushman's character descriptions are spare, with each word carefully chosen to paint wonderful pictures. This humorous, frank look at life in the medical quarters in medieval times shows readers that love and compassion, laughter and companionship, are indeed the best medicine.”

Review from HORNBOOK: “Before her arrival at the Bonesetter's abode where she is to take up residence and labor, Matilda's life with Father Leufredus was steeped in prayer, and her very seriousness accounts for much of the novel's humor. In an afterword Cushman reveals her concern that her research on the medicine of the day not overwhelm her story; the truth is, this information is just as interesting as Matilda's tale.”

Review from VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES: “Students studying the Middle Ages will find this novel a delightful way to learn about fourteenth-century English town life, and those who enjoy historical fiction will treasure the independent spirit of young Matilda Bone.”

AWARDS
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year 2000

CONNECTIONS
Other books by Karen Cushman:
Cushman, Karen. 2002. Catherine called birdy. ISBN 0758702469
Cushman, Karen. 2002. The midwife’s apprentice. ISBN 0758702027

Activities
*Encourage students to re-enact Matilda Bone in Readers Theatre or a skit.
*Research Medieval clothing and have students create poster presentations.

*Discuss the history of medicine and the role of women in medicine. Research and create a timeline of women in medicine.

An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 - - by Jim Murphy

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Murphy, Jim. 2003. An American plague: The true and terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0395776082.

PLOT SUMMARY
An American plague and the public’s differing responses, in time of need and suffering, are recounted in this look into 18^th century American history. From 1793 to the present, the yellow fever epidemic has changed history, both scientifically and politically. First hand accounts written in journals, letters, and newspapers are pulled together in to detail occurrences in Philadelphia from the August 1793 to January 1794.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Quotes, letters, notes, advertisements, maps and other memorabilia from 1973 are imbedded in this informational text. Illustrations and text sources cited, acknowledged and credited relay accuracy. Black and white illustrations add to the sense of the dated time period. In chapter two, the death of “thirty-three-year-old Catherine LeMaigre” is accompanied by the Federal Gazette printing of her death notice on the facing page. Newspapers such as the Federal Gazette, Philadelphia Daily Advertiser and National Gazette documented the daily and weekly events occurring during the yellow fever epidemic. A headstone epitaph included reads, Stay passenger see where I lie / As you are now so once was I / As I am now so You shall be / Prepare for Death and follow me. Reference aids include a map of 1793 Philadelphia; table of contents, index, and sources listed with explanations, divided into useful subheadings. Other reference aids include an Acknowledgements section listing sources of researched information and a note about the illustrations.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Starred Review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “This book tells the story of the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia and its effect on the young nation. Students will become immersed in the dramatic narrative as they read how fear and panic spread throughout the country's capital.”

Review from VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES: “Every aspect of the epidemic is brought to life, from the overall living conditions in Philadelphia just prior to the outbreak to the Constitutional crisis that seemed imminent because of President Washington's inability to convene Congress in a plague-ridden city. The disease itself is covered from symptoms to cause, as are the eighteenth-century treatments for yellow fever: bleeding and isolation. Murphy ends with bringing the reader up to date on the state of this terrible disease, including the chilling revelation that there is still no cure for yellow fever. This book represents nonfiction at its best.”

Review from HORNBOOK GUIDE: “Murphy culls from a number of historical records the story of the yellow fever epidemic that swept Philadelphia, skillfully drawing out the fear and drama of the time and making them immediate to modern readers. Attentive to telling detail, Murphy offers representative images, from black-and-white portraits to plague scenes. Thoroughly documented, with an annotated source list, the work is both rigorous and inviting.”

AWARDS

School Library Journal Best Books of the Year 2003
American Library Association Notable Books for Children 2004
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award 2004
NCTE Orbis Pictus Award 2004
James Madison Book Award 2004

CONNECTIONS

Activities
*Share title with teachers. Integrate into the curriculum/thematic unit on politics, history, or historical scientific discoveries.
*Introduce and examine the usefulness of reference aids.
*Conduct a Readers Theatre production complete with costumes of the time period.
*For older students, use as a non-fiction book club selection.

Other informational texts on historical epidemics:

Grady, Denise. 2006. Deadly invaders: Virus outbreaks around the world, from Marburg fever to avian flu. ISBN 0753459957
Sherrow, Victoria. 2001. Polio epidemic: Crippling virus outbreak. ISBN 076601556

Strange Mysteries from Around the World by Seymour Simon

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Simon, Seymour. 1997. Strange mysteries from around the world. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 0688146368.

PLOT SUMMARY
Of all the unexplained phenomenon that occurs around the world, some seem too outrageous to be true. True and fantastic tales of animals falling with rain, unexplained flying objects, strange lights and mysterious sounds are retold with quotes and references to actual scientific reports. These strange but true mysteries pique the interest and imagination.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Documented facts, including detailed dates and quotes add a depth of accuracy in this nonfiction work. Science, Nature, Scientific American magazine and others are cited and provide scientific authority to the author’s tales. The author’s point of view is clear and free of bias. Scientific facts explaining some of the mysteries are shared along with theories on the unexplainable. The story of the Mysterious Treasure of Oak Island especially captivates the imagination. The exact treasure is not known, nor is the identity of those who originally dug the “money pit”, as it is called. This mystery has no explanation and has remained unsolved since its discovery in 1795. Black and white photographs add dimension to this mystery of the past. A table of contents is provided to guide the reader to a particularly enticing or intriguing story by its title.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Simon's enticingly simple and clear descriptions make the subjects accessible with no unsubstantiated speculations. Worn-out copies of the 1980 edition can be safely replaced with this updated version. The mysteries it describes are as intriguing now as they were when they first became mysteries.”

Review from HORNBOOK GUIDE: “Some natural and historical events--raining animals, strange lights and sounds--cannot be definitively explained by science or rational thought. Simon tells the intriguing stories of nine such events, presenting scientists' and historians' best guesses for the causes of such phenomena and showing how some mysteries are closer to being solved than others.”

Review from BOOKLIST: “In smooth fashion, with plenty of anecdotes, Simon introduces nine scientific conundrums, among them, the periodic appearances of mysterious lights in the sky (he roundly debunks interplanetary visitations) and odd occurrences of animals and plants falling to earth like rain. The emphasis is on the event, but there's a touch of scientific theory as well.”

AWARDS
Emphasis on Reading Award 1997

CONNECTIONS

Activities

*Invite student to read for pleasure and share new found information.
*Discuss the difference between scientific explanations and theories.
*Practice note taking skills and research. Use the internet to uncover new discoveries on each mystery provided by Mr. Simon’s book.

Other books relating to the mysterious:

Allen, Judy. 2006. Unexplained: An encyclopedia of curious phenomena, strange superstitions, and ancient mysteries. ISBN 0753459507
Emert, Phyllis Raybin. 1995. Strange unsolved mysteries: Mysteries of the mind and the senses. ISBN 0613761847
Herbst, Judith. 2005. Lands of mystery. ISBN0822516306

Life on Earth: The Story of Evolution by Steve Jenkins

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jenkins, Steve. 2002. Life on earth: The story of evolution. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618164766.

PLOT SUMMARY
For those who have pondered, “How old is the Earth?”, “How did life begin?” and “Why do many different types of animals exist and go extinct?”. This informational book answers these questions along with many others. The story of the history of life on earth leads up to the evolutionary theory that explains how and why life on earth developed. Charles Darwin’s travels and theories are explained in detail using scientific terms. A helpful, easy to read, 24 hour time-line is used to relate the history of the Earth and its events to each other.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The picture book quality is inviting to both older and younger readers and the chronological layout invites browsing of material at the reader’s leisure. A bibliography list and key to the illustrated animals placed at the back of the book confirm accuracy. Natural selection and mutation are illustrated with pictures to bring these abstract concepts to life.

Chronological dates are used to sequence the history of Earth and its many extinct and current species. By using the 24 hour timeline to put the history of Earth in perspective, Jenkins is creating a real life application understood by most children. The use of font type and size, white space, double page spreads and captions add to the attractiveness of the colorful cut and torn paper illustrations.

Jenkins style is evident in his clear use of appropriate vocabulary and his inviting presentation of the topic. His use of comparisons to help define scientific terms, also encourage critical thinking. For defining mutations, Jenkins uses a picture of fish and their offspring. Captions under the offspring help to define the advantages and disadvantages of mutations. The albino fish has a harmful mutation and the spotted fish has an advantageous mutation that helps to conceal it from predators.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Starred Review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “The author has taken on the formidable task of investigating the scientific theories … . His lucid text presents a terse chronology of life from its earliest beginnings as one-celled bacteria in the primordial ocean to the appearance of modern man.”

Review from HORNBOOK: “Jenkins presents a superb introduction to evolution for younger readers, in which he marvels at the amazing diversity of life on this planet; explains in detail concepts such as natural selection, variation, and mutation; and covers some historical context for the development of the theory.”

Review from BOOKLIST: “… this oversize picture book for older readers makes the overwhelming concept easier to grasp.”

Review from KIRKUS: "Because evolution is sometimes not taught in all schools, few good texts exist on it for this age. Factual and fascinating, this one belongs in every library.”

AWARDS
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year 2002

CONNECTIONS

Other books on Evolution:
Munro, Margaret. 2000. The Story of Life on Earth. Ill. by Karen Reczuch. ISBN 088899401X
Peters, Lisa Westberg et al. 2003. Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story. ISBN 0152017720

Activities

*Encourage students to follow Charles Darwin’s lead and become backyard naturalists. Create fun nature books for journal keeping. Decorate using art supplies to create fossils and imprints of leaves, shells and other nature items.
*Have students construct timelines of their lives and include future goals.
*Incorporate math skills by utilizing Jenkins chronological sequences to create and solve math questions.
*Compare Jenkins book with other books on evolution and Earth history. Create a comparison chart of several found facts.

What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sones, Sonya. 2001. What my mother doesn’t know. New York: Simon and Schuster for Young Readers. ISBN 0689841140

ORGANIZATION OF COLLECTION

What my mother doesn’t know is a collection of poems written to tell a story. Sones has written a novel in free verse to tell the story of a young Sophie, a high school freshman, her home life, friends, her boyfriend issues and boy troubles. Sophie’s mother is disconnected from her life and has no knowledge of the trials in Sophie's personal life. There is no table of contents to interfere with the prose-like reading. Background information of the poet is provided on the last page of the book and on the inside back jacket. Each poem has its own title and poem length is from one to three pages.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Authenticity of voice, universality and timeliness are present as Sones poetry rings true for many adults past experiences as a young high school student and especially those of the online computer age. Evidence of a strong persona is evident in the main character who, struggles and overcomes hardships in her personal life to do what is right. Poem format relies on line breaks and spacing to indicate free verse and rhythm. A few E-mails received by the protagonist’s friends are kept in prose format. Emotion is evident in the sensory words used to provide imagery and voice. In the lines from the poem titled, “Between Classes with Dylan”, “We fall into step / in the crowded hall / without even glancing / at each other, / but his little finger / finds mine, / hooking us / together, / and all the clatter / of the corridor fades away / till the only sound I hear / is the whispering of our fingers.” Figurative language is also used by the poet to show emotion, as in the lines from the poem titled, ”Litterbox ICG”, If I could marry a font / I’d marry his.” And then after finding her new online friend to be a pervert, in the poem titled, “Deleted”. “I felt like I was / plummeting through cyberspace / out of control, / until I took some deep breaths, / pulled myself together / and wrote: / ‘Consider yourself permanently deleted.’ ”. The intended audience for this body of work is young adult readers due to the sexual references.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “A story written in poetry form. ... In the satisfying ending, Sophie finds the perfect boyfriend-someone she's known all along. Sones is a bright, perceptive writer who digs deeply into her protagonist's soul.”

Review from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “Drawing on the recognizable cadence of teenage speech, the author poignantly captures the tingle and heartache of being young and boy-crazy … ”.

Review from VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES:

“This book was very well written. The topic was just right for Sones. Her writing style and the way she incorporates poetry into her stories is really wonderful. I think this is an incredibly good book and I would recommend it along with her other one.” Andrea A., Teen Reviewer.

CONNECTIONS

Related books

Other books by Sonya Sones:

Sones, Sonya. 2007. What my girlfriend doesn’t know. New York: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. ISBN 0689876025
-- 2001. Stop pretending: What happened when my big sister went crazy. HarperCollins. ISBN 0064462188
-- 2004. One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies. New York: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. ISBN 0689858205

Activities

* Challenge students to find and locate other novels in verse in the school library.
*Encourage students to create one book review on a 3x5 card for one novel in verse book they read. Place the book and review on display by the checkout counter.
*For those students interested in Sonya Sones as an author, invite them to review her webpage at http://www.sonyasones.com/index.html

Behind the Wheel: Poems About Driving by Janet Wong

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Wong, Janet. 1999. Behind the wheel: Poems about driving. New York: Margaret K. McElderry. ISBN 0689825315

ORGANIZATION OF COLLECTION

Wong uses free verse to share her comparison of learning to drive and life’s trials. Thirty-six poems are arranged in a thin volume about teens, their family and driving, including such issues, as teen angst, hitchhiking, teen drinking and death. A table of contents lists the poems in no particular order. Praise for Janet Wong’s previously published works, including mention of her Chinese and Korean heritage, appears on the inside back jacket.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Authenticity is apparent as Wong relates her life experiences in monologue fitting free verse. There is a universality and timeliness in poems related to teen driving, as all young adults cope with learning to drive under the microscope of their watchful family. Spacing and line breaks help to identify this collection as poetry that easily reads as prose. In the poem titled “Crash”, onomatopoeia is present as the “crackety-crack” of grandmothers knuckles right before a car wreck. In another poem titled , “Restraint”, personification and imagery are present in the lines, When the poet came / to visit our school / to make us write some poetry, / people from our families / turned into trees / and owls and slugs. / My sister was a hurricane. / … .

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Review from BOOKLIST: “Wong's brief, clear lines will be accessible even to the most reluctant poetry readers, and readers of all ages will be moved by the intersection of poignancy and humor as she describes the thrilling freedom of the car and an emerging adult's awareness that, although she's traveled, her road still leads to home.”

Starred Review from VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES: “In her fourth book of poetry, Wong writes for soon-to-be driving teens in thirty-six free verse poems that describe this American rite of passage. Told through different voices, most have the sound perhaps of an older cousin or sibling-someone close but not so close that the trappings of rivalry or jealousy get in the way of hearing sound advice.”

CONNECTIONS

Other poetry books by Wong
Wong, Janet. 1999. The rainbow hand: Poems about mothers and children. 0689821484
Wong, Janet. 1996. A suitcase of seaweed and other poems. ISBN 0689807880
Wong, Janet. 1994. Good luck gold and other poems. 0689506171

Activities

*Share with high school students during a class poetry break.
*Encourage students to create a poem about their own related teen driving experience.
*Invite students to visit Janet Wong’s webpage to listen to audio clips of her poems online. http://www.janetwong.com/

Insectlopedia: Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Florian, Douglas. 1998. Insectlopedia. Ill. by Douglas Florian. San Diego: Harcourt Brace and Company. ISBN 0152013067

ORGANIZATION OF COLLECTION
Published poet, Douglas Florian, captures the essence of an encyclopedia with twenty one poems about well known children’s insects. From fighting army ants to evil weevils he writes about insects, their names and occupations. Each insect is listed in the helpful table of contents and given its own two page spread in this thin, over-sized book. The poet's background information is provided on the back cover of the book jacket along with a fun watercolor likeness of the author/illustrator as an insect complete with antennae and proboscis (insect mouth tube).

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book is a collection of poetry and paintings done by Douglas Florian himself. The poems are universal, short, one page and easy to read. Anthropomorphism is apparent in the poetry and illustrations which adds to the appeal to young children. Font and format add to the appeal of the poetry. In the poem titled, “The Inchworm”, the three lines of the poem bend to form the likeness of an inchworm moving forward. And in the poem about whirligig beetles the poem is printed and read clockwise. Line breaks are apparent in his poems to signal meaning, rhythm, sound and as a substitute for punctuation. Puns are also highlighted in his poems as bold text as in the poem titled, “The Praying Mantis”, Upon a twig / I sit and pray / For something big / To wend my way: / A caterpillar, / Moth, / Or bee – / I swallow them / Religously. Florian's watercolor and collage paintings add extra interest and make this collection a visually appealing picture book for all ages. The walking stick on page 27 is so masterfully camouflaged that a red arrow is used as an aid in finding him on the page.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Starred Review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “"The silly, imaginative verses about whirligig beetles and waterbugs (almost) match the exquisite pictures in playfulness and wit. The result is downright stunning."

Review from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “… Florian offers 21 short, inventive poems and paintings that create playful images of animals. Here, the subjects are arthropods such as the mayfly, praying mantis, hornet, black widow spider, and weevils. The verse form is as varied as the creatures presented.”

AWARDS

American Library Association Notable Books for Children 1999
ABC Children’s Booksellers Choices Awards 1999
Beehive Children’s Poetry Book Award 2002

CONNECTIONS

Other books by Douglas Florian
Florian, Douglas. 1998. Beast Feast. ISBN 0152017372
Florian, Douglas. 2000. On the Wing. ISBN 0152023666
Florian, Douglas. 2001. In the swim. ISBN 0613348389

Activities
*Use this book to discuss a unit on insects or poetry.
*Encourage students to create a poem about their favorite animal.
*Have students read/share their favorite poem from the Douglas Florian collection during a poetry reading.
*Poll classes on their favorite poet or poem and have the class favorites read aloud during morning announcements during National Poetry Week (August 31 to September 09).