Bibliography
Kinney, Jeff. 2007. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID. New York: Amulet Books. ISBN 978-0810993136
Plot Summary
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID chronicles the trials and tribulations of Greg Heffley’s seventh grade year. Greg begins writing in his diary at the behest of his mother. Each page entry tells of another one of Greg’s misguided decisions to hopefully lead him to greater social standing among his classmates or to impress the girl. He manages to fail miserably each time. One of Greg’s most endearing qualities is his uncanny ability to not see beyond himself and to honesty believe he is always doing the right thing.
Critical Analysis
In this “novel of cartoons,” Greg is a character just about every boy, age 9-13, will identify with very quickly. Jeff Kinney adeptly addresses nearly every thought and fear of the middle school boy. Dealing with questions of popularity, girls, friendship, family, and embarrassing moments never to be forgotten. Greg tries so hard to improve his social status through such plots as strategically sitting himself in the middle of a bunch of girls to writing a comic strip for the school newspaper. Inevitably, each of his schemes backfires and leaves the reader laughing out loud.
Nothing Greg does is out of the realm of possibility for the boys (and girls) who pick this book up. The reader is hard pressed to put the book down wanting to know what Greg will possibly come up with next. The simple drawings with the comedic (mostly sarcastic) word balloons only add to the hilarity of the story.
Themes of growing up, friendship, the role of family, loyalty and honesty are peppered throughout without be overt. The reader cannot help but feel badly for Rowley, Greg’s supposed best friend. Greg is downright mean to Rowley and the reader is forced to think about Greg’s actions and the consequences. Greg is no better in the way he treats his family. Of course, Kinney relates these lessons in a light-hearted way, but the reader is still getting the message.
As long as there are pre-teen and tween boys out there figuring out there place in the world- at least in middle school- Jeff Kinney will have an audience. The book, with simple sentences and sparse pages accompanied by crude drawings, will lure in boys for generations to come.
Awards Won And Reviewed Excerpt(s)
ALA Notable Book
2008 & 2009 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards: Favorite Book
#1 New York Times Best Seller (three times)
Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “…a laugh-out-loud "novel in cartoons,"…”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Kinney does a masterful job of making the mundane life of boys on the brink of adolescence hilarious.”
BOOKLIST: “The simple line drawings perfectly capture archetypes of growing up, such as a preschool-age little brother, out-of-touch teachers, and an assortment of class nerds. Lots of fun throughout.”
Connections
*The after reading the book version, kids can watch the film version to compare print to media. Students could also discuss how the movie version differed from the one in their head.
*After reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid, middle schools could write their own middle school experience diary entries to be shared with incoming 5th graders.
Other books in the series:
Kinney, Jeff. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES. ISBN 978-0810994737
Kinney, Jeff. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE LAST STRAW. ISBN 978-0810970687
Kinney, Jeff. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: Books 1-4. ISBN 978-1615579181
Other graphic novels:
Fisher, Jane Smith. WJHC: ON THE AIR. ISBN 0974423505
Holm, Jennifer. BABYMOUSE. ISBN 978-0375832291
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Fiction, Fantasy, and YA: When You Reach Me
Bibliography
Stead, Rebecca. 2009. WHEN YOU REACH ME. New York: Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN 978-0-385-73742-5
Plot Summary
“I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own. I must ask two favors. First you must write me a letter.” This is the first of four cryptic letters six grader Miranda receives and sends what is left of her orderly world in to disorder.
Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know the ins and outs of their neighborhood. They know to stay away from the pack of older boys and the laughing man under the mailbox. Things begin to fall apart when Sal is punched without reason and pushes her out of his life. Then the house key comes up missing causing her mother to go into panic mode, and then she receives the first letter.
Three more letters are to follow, no less cryptic. The third letter includes three events that have yet to happen as proof that the letters are true. Miranda only knows one of her friends needs saving and begins to believe she is the only one that can do it.
Trying to find a connection to her life, Miranda begins considering the possibilities, until one day it all finally comes together. Keith, the boy who punched Sal, tries to apologize to him one afternoon after school. Sal, afraid of being punched again, runs away and into the street. The laughing man runs into the street pushing Sal to safety. It is at this moment that all the pieces fall into place and Miranda knows for certain the letters are from someone in the future who also happens to be someone in her present.
Critical Analysis
Every reader will be able to connect with 6th grader Miranda, be they a middle-schooler themselves or having been in middle school before. She is a latch-key kid of a single parent with the pains of changing relationships. When she is shut out by her best friend, she must quickly find a new best friend so that she is not alone- every middle-schoolers worst nightmare. She is also experiencing her first crush and is torn between her loyalty to her new best friend and her own feelings. Another common crisis for tweens.
The story line is part mystery and part fantasy. The reader is looking for clues as to the author of the mysterious letters and deciphering the cryptic messages. The reader is not aware that there is more than meets the eye until the end. Miranda is caught up in the real book A Wrinkle Before Time and tries to understand the concept of time travel. Although there is plenty of foreshadowing leading the reader to several AHA! moments as the mystery begins to come together, it is Keith’s many discussions about time travel that make the reader question not only who wrote the letters, but when did they come from.
The realistic setting of New York City in the late seventies adds to the mysteriousness of this story. The reader easily believes in Miranda’s story as it is not far-fetched. Her story is not that different from the story of millions of kids out there. There are even plausible explanations for the existence of the letters. For instance, the first note was found in an old book and only addressed to M. M could be anyone and the letter could have been left in the book from long ago.
Readers will learn that friendships are not static and they change, just as the people in the relationship change. Miranda eventually learns that Sal did not shut her out because he was punched, but that he had actually started to pull away before that. He needed space to become Sal and not just a part of the Sal and Miranda due that had been since infancy. This is often a tough lesson to learn, especially as a fragile pre-teen, but it is important for them to understand change does not have to me loss.
Readers will also gain insight into cause and effect. A hard lesson for teens, with little frontal lobe development, to learn. Keith punches Sal to see what would happen- testing a theory. This eventually leads to Sal running into the street into on-coming traffic. Future Keith experiments with time travel so that he can come back to save Sal, knowing he causes his death.
When You Reach Me makes and excellent bridge into the world of fantasy for students who think they do not like the genre. Kids will not have a hard time making a connection with the main character or the story line and will enjoy the mystery intertwined within.
Awards Won And Reviewed Excerpt(s)
Newbery Medal Winner
New York Times Notable Book
Booklist Children's Editors' Choice
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
ALA Best Books for Young Adults Top 10
Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “An exciting, engaging mix of science fiction, mystery, and adventure.”
Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “Credible and absorbing. Young readers will find this journey worth taking.”
Starred review in KIRKUS REVIEW: "When all the sidewalk characters from Miranda's Manhattan world converge amid mind-blowing revelations and cunning details, teen readers will circle back to the beginning and say,' Wow ... cool.”
Connections
*After reading this novel, students can do a research project on time travel to present to the class.
*A discussion on cause and effect, using the punching scene as a catalyst. Can also bring in for Newton’s Law of Motion: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Other books about social situations:
Lowry, Lois. THE GIVER. ISBN 978-0385732550
Collins, Suzanne. THE HUNGER GAMES. ISBN 978-0439023481
Dashner, James. THE MAZE RUNNER. ISBN 978-0385737944
Stead, Rebecca. 2009. WHEN YOU REACH ME. New York: Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN 978-0-385-73742-5
Plot Summary
“I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own. I must ask two favors. First you must write me a letter.” This is the first of four cryptic letters six grader Miranda receives and sends what is left of her orderly world in to disorder.
Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know the ins and outs of their neighborhood. They know to stay away from the pack of older boys and the laughing man under the mailbox. Things begin to fall apart when Sal is punched without reason and pushes her out of his life. Then the house key comes up missing causing her mother to go into panic mode, and then she receives the first letter.
Three more letters are to follow, no less cryptic. The third letter includes three events that have yet to happen as proof that the letters are true. Miranda only knows one of her friends needs saving and begins to believe she is the only one that can do it.
Trying to find a connection to her life, Miranda begins considering the possibilities, until one day it all finally comes together. Keith, the boy who punched Sal, tries to apologize to him one afternoon after school. Sal, afraid of being punched again, runs away and into the street. The laughing man runs into the street pushing Sal to safety. It is at this moment that all the pieces fall into place and Miranda knows for certain the letters are from someone in the future who also happens to be someone in her present.
Critical Analysis
Every reader will be able to connect with 6th grader Miranda, be they a middle-schooler themselves or having been in middle school before. She is a latch-key kid of a single parent with the pains of changing relationships. When she is shut out by her best friend, she must quickly find a new best friend so that she is not alone- every middle-schoolers worst nightmare. She is also experiencing her first crush and is torn between her loyalty to her new best friend and her own feelings. Another common crisis for tweens.
The story line is part mystery and part fantasy. The reader is looking for clues as to the author of the mysterious letters and deciphering the cryptic messages. The reader is not aware that there is more than meets the eye until the end. Miranda is caught up in the real book A Wrinkle Before Time and tries to understand the concept of time travel. Although there is plenty of foreshadowing leading the reader to several AHA! moments as the mystery begins to come together, it is Keith’s many discussions about time travel that make the reader question not only who wrote the letters, but when did they come from.
The realistic setting of New York City in the late seventies adds to the mysteriousness of this story. The reader easily believes in Miranda’s story as it is not far-fetched. Her story is not that different from the story of millions of kids out there. There are even plausible explanations for the existence of the letters. For instance, the first note was found in an old book and only addressed to M. M could be anyone and the letter could have been left in the book from long ago.
Readers will learn that friendships are not static and they change, just as the people in the relationship change. Miranda eventually learns that Sal did not shut her out because he was punched, but that he had actually started to pull away before that. He needed space to become Sal and not just a part of the Sal and Miranda due that had been since infancy. This is often a tough lesson to learn, especially as a fragile pre-teen, but it is important for them to understand change does not have to me loss.
Readers will also gain insight into cause and effect. A hard lesson for teens, with little frontal lobe development, to learn. Keith punches Sal to see what would happen- testing a theory. This eventually leads to Sal running into the street into on-coming traffic. Future Keith experiments with time travel so that he can come back to save Sal, knowing he causes his death.
When You Reach Me makes and excellent bridge into the world of fantasy for students who think they do not like the genre. Kids will not have a hard time making a connection with the main character or the story line and will enjoy the mystery intertwined within.
Awards Won And Reviewed Excerpt(s)
Newbery Medal Winner
New York Times Notable Book
Booklist Children's Editors' Choice
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
ALA Best Books for Young Adults Top 10
Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “An exciting, engaging mix of science fiction, mystery, and adventure.”
Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “Credible and absorbing. Young readers will find this journey worth taking.”
Starred review in KIRKUS REVIEW: "When all the sidewalk characters from Miranda's Manhattan world converge amid mind-blowing revelations and cunning details, teen readers will circle back to the beginning and say,' Wow ... cool.”
Connections
*After reading this novel, students can do a research project on time travel to present to the class.
*A discussion on cause and effect, using the punching scene as a catalyst. Can also bring in for Newton’s Law of Motion: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Other books about social situations:
Lowry, Lois. THE GIVER. ISBN 978-0385732550
Collins, Suzanne. THE HUNGER GAMES. ISBN 978-0439023481
Dashner, James. THE MAZE RUNNER. ISBN 978-0385737944
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Fiction, Fantasy & YA: The First Part Last
Bibliography
Johnson, Angela. 2003. THE FIRST PART LAST. New York: Simon & Shuster. ISBN 978-1442403437
Plot Summary
In this sequel to HEAVEN, Bobby, a 16 year old boy from New York City, tells two parts of the same story. He explains how he came to be a single father to Feather at the same time his is telling the story of how he came to be a man, the father Feather needs him to be.
Bobby-the kid- learns he is to be a father on the same night he turns sixteen. He and Nia, his girlfriend, pretend to live a normal life while dealing with the reality that it is no longer normal. Together, they must decide what to do with the baby once she is here.
Bobby-the single father- is left to care for his daughter mostly on his own as his parents take a hands-off approach and Nia is absent. He struggles with staying up all night and going to school during the day.
Bobby quickly realizes for him to be a man, to be the father Feather deserves, he must make a hard choice.
Critical Analysis
THE FIRST PART LAST is no doubt a book many kids, both male and female, will connect with. The narrator, Bobby, a teenager who must deal with the consequences of his choices, finds himself to be a single father at sixteen. Many kids at this age are dealing with tough choices and the very real consequences of their actions. Many of these same kids will find it easier to connect with him because he is not a bad kid. Some might falsely assume that being from New York City he will be into drugs, gangs, have absent parents, be a high school dropout, etc. The refreshing truth is that he is a kid with two parents who love him, are successful themselves, and instill values in their kids such as responsibility, respect, and education. He is not perfect, but he is not dreadful either and kids will respect this about him.
Written is mostly simple sentences, the story line is easy to follow, even though it goes back and forth between now and then. By choosing to tell different parts of the same story at the same time, the reader is given an interesting glimpse into the person Bobby was and who he is becoming. Even though Nia, the girlfriend, appears periodically, the story does not shine a light on her. The reader is left wondering where she is in all of this. Did she decide to back out? Did Bobby insist on keeping the baby? What happened to her? Even though there are hints, some foreshadowing, it is not until the end that the reader learns the shocking and sad truth.
Right from the beginning, the setting is clearly New York City as Bobby describes his fantastic birthday which included a ride to the top of the Empire State Building. The reader feels for Bobby as he describes how he must leave the house at 5AM to make it to the babysitter on time to make it to school on time as he has several bus changes on the way. The reader can only feel sympathy for him as he describes his real fear of leaving her on the subway in his sleep deprived state and losing her forever.
In this story, Bobby weaves his way through a crisis point in his life to come out the other side a man. He used to laugh when “Just Frank” would ask if he was being a man. The day he took his daughter home, he finally knew he was being a man.
Just about any teenager who picks up this book will be captivated from the very beginning. It is a compelling story and the reader is pulled into this impossible situation of the character. The reader wants him to succeed and to do the right thing. The question is what is the right thing? and that keeps the reader reading page after page.
Awards Won And Reviewed Excerpt(s)
ALA Michael L. Printz Award
Coretta Scott King Award
Abraham Lincoln Book Award Master List (IL)
ALA Best Books For Young Adults
Booklist Editors' Choice
Starred review in BOOKLIST: “Johnson makes poetry with the simplest words in short, spare sentences that teens will read again and again.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “…gem of a novel…”
Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “The author skillfully relates the hope in the midst of pain.”
Connections
*THE FIRST PART LAST could be used as a required reading for a unit on sex ed in a Health class. Students could discuss the choices Nia and Bobby made and the consequences of those choices.
*In one section, Bobby describes Just Frank and his haunting question, “Are you being a man?” Prior to reading the story, a journal question can be posed: What is a man? Or What does it mean to be a man? At the end of the novel, either a discussion or another writing can be assigned again asking the same questions or asking if Bobby was being a man.
*A discussion about childhood innocence versus adult reality could be discussed throughout the novel.
*This story can also be used in conjunction with character education classes. The story lends itself beautifully to discussions on integrity, responsibility, trustworthiness, respect, caring, compassion, courage, commitment, and perseverance to name a few.
Other books in the Heaven Trilogy:
Johnson, Angela. HEAVEN. ISBN 978-689822902
Johnson, Angela. SWEET, HEREAFTER. ISBN 978-0689873850
Other books about teen life:
Booth, Coe. TYRELL. ISBN 978-0439838801
Draper, Sharon M. NOVEMBER BLUES. ISBN 978-1416906995
Meyers, Walter Dean. MONSTER. ISBN 978-0064407311
Johnson, Angela. 2003. THE FIRST PART LAST. New York: Simon & Shuster. ISBN 978-1442403437
Plot Summary
In this sequel to HEAVEN, Bobby, a 16 year old boy from New York City, tells two parts of the same story. He explains how he came to be a single father to Feather at the same time his is telling the story of how he came to be a man, the father Feather needs him to be.
Bobby-the kid- learns he is to be a father on the same night he turns sixteen. He and Nia, his girlfriend, pretend to live a normal life while dealing with the reality that it is no longer normal. Together, they must decide what to do with the baby once she is here.
Bobby-the single father- is left to care for his daughter mostly on his own as his parents take a hands-off approach and Nia is absent. He struggles with staying up all night and going to school during the day.
Bobby quickly realizes for him to be a man, to be the father Feather deserves, he must make a hard choice.
Critical Analysis
THE FIRST PART LAST is no doubt a book many kids, both male and female, will connect with. The narrator, Bobby, a teenager who must deal with the consequences of his choices, finds himself to be a single father at sixteen. Many kids at this age are dealing with tough choices and the very real consequences of their actions. Many of these same kids will find it easier to connect with him because he is not a bad kid. Some might falsely assume that being from New York City he will be into drugs, gangs, have absent parents, be a high school dropout, etc. The refreshing truth is that he is a kid with two parents who love him, are successful themselves, and instill values in their kids such as responsibility, respect, and education. He is not perfect, but he is not dreadful either and kids will respect this about him.
Written is mostly simple sentences, the story line is easy to follow, even though it goes back and forth between now and then. By choosing to tell different parts of the same story at the same time, the reader is given an interesting glimpse into the person Bobby was and who he is becoming. Even though Nia, the girlfriend, appears periodically, the story does not shine a light on her. The reader is left wondering where she is in all of this. Did she decide to back out? Did Bobby insist on keeping the baby? What happened to her? Even though there are hints, some foreshadowing, it is not until the end that the reader learns the shocking and sad truth.
Right from the beginning, the setting is clearly New York City as Bobby describes his fantastic birthday which included a ride to the top of the Empire State Building. The reader feels for Bobby as he describes how he must leave the house at 5AM to make it to the babysitter on time to make it to school on time as he has several bus changes on the way. The reader can only feel sympathy for him as he describes his real fear of leaving her on the subway in his sleep deprived state and losing her forever.
In this story, Bobby weaves his way through a crisis point in his life to come out the other side a man. He used to laugh when “Just Frank” would ask if he was being a man. The day he took his daughter home, he finally knew he was being a man.
Just about any teenager who picks up this book will be captivated from the very beginning. It is a compelling story and the reader is pulled into this impossible situation of the character. The reader wants him to succeed and to do the right thing. The question is what is the right thing? and that keeps the reader reading page after page.
Awards Won And Reviewed Excerpt(s)
ALA Michael L. Printz Award
Coretta Scott King Award
Abraham Lincoln Book Award Master List (IL)
ALA Best Books For Young Adults
Booklist Editors' Choice
Starred review in BOOKLIST: “Johnson makes poetry with the simplest words in short, spare sentences that teens will read again and again.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “…gem of a novel…”
Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “The author skillfully relates the hope in the midst of pain.”
Connections
*THE FIRST PART LAST could be used as a required reading for a unit on sex ed in a Health class. Students could discuss the choices Nia and Bobby made and the consequences of those choices.
*In one section, Bobby describes Just Frank and his haunting question, “Are you being a man?” Prior to reading the story, a journal question can be posed: What is a man? Or What does it mean to be a man? At the end of the novel, either a discussion or another writing can be assigned again asking the same questions or asking if Bobby was being a man.
*A discussion about childhood innocence versus adult reality could be discussed throughout the novel.
*This story can also be used in conjunction with character education classes. The story lends itself beautifully to discussions on integrity, responsibility, trustworthiness, respect, caring, compassion, courage, commitment, and perseverance to name a few.
Other books in the Heaven Trilogy:
Johnson, Angela. HEAVEN. ISBN 978-689822902
Johnson, Angela. SWEET, HEREAFTER. ISBN 978-0689873850
Other books about teen life:
Booth, Coe. TYRELL. ISBN 978-0439838801
Draper, Sharon M. NOVEMBER BLUES. ISBN 978-1416906995
Meyers, Walter Dean. MONSTER. ISBN 978-0064407311
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Historical Fiction: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
Bibliography
AVI. 1990. TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE. New York: Orchard Books. ISBN 978-0380728855
Plot Summary
Charlotte Doyle is a proper young lady attending a finishing school in Britain when her father is transferred back to the United States. Rather than have her miss that last of her schooling, her parents decide to let her stay behind to finish the year before having her board one of her father’s company ships for America. Ms. Doyle is to travel in the company of two other proper families, who mysteriously bail at the last moment leaving young Ms. Doyle to travel by herself in the company of some less than respectable gentlemen.
Ms. Doyle’s travels are not without trials and tribulations. The one proper gentleman on board, the Caption, turns out to be less of a gentleman than any man on board. Feeling guilty for the deadly wrath of the Captain against his crew, Ms. Doyle feels it is her duty to make it right by becoming one of them. Unable to break her, the Captain frames her for murder and acts as judge and jury to find her guilty. Ms. Doyle is rescued by her shipmates and she makes it home “safely.”
Before her parents left her in England, her father gave her a journal he expected her to write in every day, which she did faithfully. Her father asked for the journal when she returned home and was shocked to find such horrible fantasies written about the Captain, the crew, and his own daughter. He refused to listen to her and instead punished her by banishing her to her room for weeks. Realizing she is no longer the proper lady her parents had left behind months before, Ms. Doyle steals away to join her mates the night they set sail.
Critical Analysis
The story begins with a warning to the reader: Not every thirteen year old girl is accused of murder, brought to trial, and found guilty. The reader is immediately drawn into the story wanting to know what this teenager could possibly have done to be convicted of murder. This warning is want gets the reader through the somewhat mundane introduction. Although many clues are provided to the reader of things to come, the beginning is a bit lacking. Assuming the reader is hooked by the warning and keeps going, they are in for a treat when the ship reaches the high seas.
Full of drama, mystery, suspense, and adventure, the reader is sure to be taken for a ride if they stick with it. The reader may find him or herself talking out loud to the young Ms. Doyle, in outrage, in protection, and is support of her. The reader is given small tidbits of information that Ms. Doyle is not privy too, so the reader thinks they know more than she does, and they do, but not as much as they think they do, which keeps the reader on the edge of their seat every time she makes a move.
Avi, keeps the turns coming right through to the end when the reader lets their guard down because Ms. Doyle has finally made it home to safety. But alas, we find her to be held captive in her own home in near solitude for telling the truth. We praise her once again when she runs to join her kind.
Awards Won And Reviewed Excerpt(s)
Newbery Honor Book
Boston Globe–Horn Book Award
Starred review in KIRKUS REVIEWS: “A thrilling tale.”
Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “A breathtaking seafaring adventure.”
Starred review in BOOKLIST: “Riveting. Nonstop action on the high seas. A story hard to forget.”
Connections
*In small groups, students can discuss how Charlotte’s upbringing (her family’s values) motivated her actions. They can then discuss how their own values motivate their actions.
*Given the action and extensive dialogue, students can choose sections for reader’s theater or skits.
Other books with women as the main character and seafaring adventures:
Frank, Anne. DIARY OF ANNE FRANK. ISBN 978-0582017368
Deford, Deborah H. AN ENEMY AMONG THEM. 978-0395701089
Herlong, M. H. THE GREAT WIDE SEA. ISBN 978-0670063307
Cadnum, Michale. PERIL ON THE SEA. ISBN 978-0374358235
AVI. 1990. TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE. New York: Orchard Books. ISBN 978-0380728855
Plot Summary
Charlotte Doyle is a proper young lady attending a finishing school in Britain when her father is transferred back to the United States. Rather than have her miss that last of her schooling, her parents decide to let her stay behind to finish the year before having her board one of her father’s company ships for America. Ms. Doyle is to travel in the company of two other proper families, who mysteriously bail at the last moment leaving young Ms. Doyle to travel by herself in the company of some less than respectable gentlemen.
Ms. Doyle’s travels are not without trials and tribulations. The one proper gentleman on board, the Caption, turns out to be less of a gentleman than any man on board. Feeling guilty for the deadly wrath of the Captain against his crew, Ms. Doyle feels it is her duty to make it right by becoming one of them. Unable to break her, the Captain frames her for murder and acts as judge and jury to find her guilty. Ms. Doyle is rescued by her shipmates and she makes it home “safely.”
Before her parents left her in England, her father gave her a journal he expected her to write in every day, which she did faithfully. Her father asked for the journal when she returned home and was shocked to find such horrible fantasies written about the Captain, the crew, and his own daughter. He refused to listen to her and instead punished her by banishing her to her room for weeks. Realizing she is no longer the proper lady her parents had left behind months before, Ms. Doyle steals away to join her mates the night they set sail.
Critical Analysis
The story begins with a warning to the reader: Not every thirteen year old girl is accused of murder, brought to trial, and found guilty. The reader is immediately drawn into the story wanting to know what this teenager could possibly have done to be convicted of murder. This warning is want gets the reader through the somewhat mundane introduction. Although many clues are provided to the reader of things to come, the beginning is a bit lacking. Assuming the reader is hooked by the warning and keeps going, they are in for a treat when the ship reaches the high seas.
Full of drama, mystery, suspense, and adventure, the reader is sure to be taken for a ride if they stick with it. The reader may find him or herself talking out loud to the young Ms. Doyle, in outrage, in protection, and is support of her. The reader is given small tidbits of information that Ms. Doyle is not privy too, so the reader thinks they know more than she does, and they do, but not as much as they think they do, which keeps the reader on the edge of their seat every time she makes a move.
Avi, keeps the turns coming right through to the end when the reader lets their guard down because Ms. Doyle has finally made it home to safety. But alas, we find her to be held captive in her own home in near solitude for telling the truth. We praise her once again when she runs to join her kind.
Awards Won And Reviewed Excerpt(s)
Newbery Honor Book
Boston Globe–Horn Book Award
Starred review in KIRKUS REVIEWS: “A thrilling tale.”
Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “A breathtaking seafaring adventure.”
Starred review in BOOKLIST: “Riveting. Nonstop action on the high seas. A story hard to forget.”
Connections
*In small groups, students can discuss how Charlotte’s upbringing (her family’s values) motivated her actions. They can then discuss how their own values motivate their actions.
*Given the action and extensive dialogue, students can choose sections for reader’s theater or skits.
Other books with women as the main character and seafaring adventures:
Frank, Anne. DIARY OF ANNE FRANK. ISBN 978-0582017368
Deford, Deborah H. AN ENEMY AMONG THEM. 978-0395701089
Herlong, M. H. THE GREAT WIDE SEA. ISBN 978-0670063307
Cadnum, Michale. PERIL ON THE SEA. ISBN 978-0374358235
Historical Fiction: The River Between Us
Bibliography
Peck, Richard. 2003. THE RIVER BETWEEN US. New York: Dial Books. ISBN 0-8037-2735-6
Plot Summary
THE RIVER BETWEEN US starts in 1916 with Howard Leland Hutchings describing a trip his father is making with him and his brothers to meet his grandparents for the first time. As Howard is telling the story his father told him, the scene flashes back to 1861 and his grandmother, Tilly Pruitt, becomes the narrator.
Tilly lives with her mother, twin brother Noah and psychic sister Cass in southern Illinois. New Orleans is about to be taken by Confederate soldiers and two girls, Delphine Duval and Calinda come to town under suspicious circumstances. Tilly’s mother invites the young women to board at her house while they wait for a chance to move one to St. Louis.
Tilly relates how her twin can’t wait to join the war and her sister Cass’s visions are destroying her. The town is split between the Union and the Confederacy and the Pruitt home is inside out and upside down by these two strange and intoxicating visitors. Delphine is breathtaking and a handful and Calinda, another of Cass’s kind may be her slave.
Tilly’s world seems to be moving along just fine when her brother finally runs off to join the Army. Tilly’s Mama goes mad with worry and sends Tilly off with a command to not come home without him. Tilly and Delphine board a train to go south to find him bringing with them many kinds of snake oils to cure the boys. Delphine’s secret is finally revealed and so is the family secret of Howard Leland Hutching.
Critical Analysis
Richard Peck starts off somewhat slow in this novel, taking the reader on a journey of a father and his three boys. What the reader doesn’t know is this is only a frame for the real story that is about to be told and that Howard, the originating narrator, is in for the shock of his life.
Although the story seems to be about this outcast family and their mysterious boarders, it is more about the effects of war on those left at home and the prejudices that existed in those times. When Noah joins the Army, his mother goes insane and we find out later she kills herself when she can no longer take the suffering of her loss. Tilly, still a young teenager, is sent away by her mother and told not to come back without him. This young girl travels further from home than she ever has before in search of her brother and comes to learn firsthand the harsh realities of war. The reader can only imagine the fear and pain such a young girl must be feeling dealing with such complex realities.
The reader is shocked to learn that Delphine, and her sister Calinda, are in fact black. Through this revealing, Peck educates the reader not only about the prejudices that existed, but also about an unspoken society within New Orleans that creates another class of people between the whites and the blacks of town. If nothing else, this is an interesting history lesson often left out of the books.
Peck’s writing is clever, with unexpected twists throughout the story. One cannot even begin to predict the plot as it seems to keep changing, but somehow he manages to tie it all together and shock the reader even in the end when young Howard learns the truth about his father’s heritage and the realization of what it means for him.
Awards Won And Reviewed Excerpt(s)
National Book Award: Finalist
Scott O'Dell Award
ALA Notable Book
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
Booklist Editor's Choice
IRA Book Award
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “Peck masterfully describes the female Civil War experience....”
BOOKLIST review: …”riveting story…”
Starred review in THE BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN”S BOOKS: “Historical fiction fans should enter this at the top of the must-read list.”
Connections
*The story can lend itself to a discussion about racism then and now.
*Students can discuss customs in their own families and communities and then write about how those customs play a role in their own lives.
*Discussion about women’s roles in history and their experience during times of war. History lessons often leave out those left behind, but they play an important role as well as seen in the story.
Other books about the Civil War and women on the homefront:
Mattern, Joanne. THE BIG BOOK OF THE CIVIL WAR: FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT THE CIVIL WAR, INCLUDING HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS, MAPS, AND DOCUMENTS. ISBN 978-0762428564
Rinaldi, Ann. AMELIA'S WAR. ISBN 978-0439326667
Rinaldi, Ann. AN UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP: A NOVEL OF MARY TODD LINCOLN AND ELIZABETH KECKLEY. ISBN 978-0152063986
Peck, Richard. 2003. THE RIVER BETWEEN US. New York: Dial Books. ISBN 0-8037-2735-6
Plot Summary
THE RIVER BETWEEN US starts in 1916 with Howard Leland Hutchings describing a trip his father is making with him and his brothers to meet his grandparents for the first time. As Howard is telling the story his father told him, the scene flashes back to 1861 and his grandmother, Tilly Pruitt, becomes the narrator.
Tilly lives with her mother, twin brother Noah and psychic sister Cass in southern Illinois. New Orleans is about to be taken by Confederate soldiers and two girls, Delphine Duval and Calinda come to town under suspicious circumstances. Tilly’s mother invites the young women to board at her house while they wait for a chance to move one to St. Louis.
Tilly relates how her twin can’t wait to join the war and her sister Cass’s visions are destroying her. The town is split between the Union and the Confederacy and the Pruitt home is inside out and upside down by these two strange and intoxicating visitors. Delphine is breathtaking and a handful and Calinda, another of Cass’s kind may be her slave.
Tilly’s world seems to be moving along just fine when her brother finally runs off to join the Army. Tilly’s Mama goes mad with worry and sends Tilly off with a command to not come home without him. Tilly and Delphine board a train to go south to find him bringing with them many kinds of snake oils to cure the boys. Delphine’s secret is finally revealed and so is the family secret of Howard Leland Hutching.
Critical Analysis
Richard Peck starts off somewhat slow in this novel, taking the reader on a journey of a father and his three boys. What the reader doesn’t know is this is only a frame for the real story that is about to be told and that Howard, the originating narrator, is in for the shock of his life.
Although the story seems to be about this outcast family and their mysterious boarders, it is more about the effects of war on those left at home and the prejudices that existed in those times. When Noah joins the Army, his mother goes insane and we find out later she kills herself when she can no longer take the suffering of her loss. Tilly, still a young teenager, is sent away by her mother and told not to come back without him. This young girl travels further from home than she ever has before in search of her brother and comes to learn firsthand the harsh realities of war. The reader can only imagine the fear and pain such a young girl must be feeling dealing with such complex realities.
The reader is shocked to learn that Delphine, and her sister Calinda, are in fact black. Through this revealing, Peck educates the reader not only about the prejudices that existed, but also about an unspoken society within New Orleans that creates another class of people between the whites and the blacks of town. If nothing else, this is an interesting history lesson often left out of the books.
Peck’s writing is clever, with unexpected twists throughout the story. One cannot even begin to predict the plot as it seems to keep changing, but somehow he manages to tie it all together and shock the reader even in the end when young Howard learns the truth about his father’s heritage and the realization of what it means for him.
Awards Won And Reviewed Excerpt(s)
National Book Award: Finalist
Scott O'Dell Award
ALA Notable Book
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
Booklist Editor's Choice
IRA Book Award
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “Peck masterfully describes the female Civil War experience....”
BOOKLIST review: …”riveting story…”
Starred review in THE BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN”S BOOKS: “Historical fiction fans should enter this at the top of the must-read list.”
Connections
*The story can lend itself to a discussion about racism then and now.
*Students can discuss customs in their own families and communities and then write about how those customs play a role in their own lives.
*Discussion about women’s roles in history and their experience during times of war. History lessons often leave out those left behind, but they play an important role as well as seen in the story.
Other books about the Civil War and women on the homefront:
Mattern, Joanne. THE BIG BOOK OF THE CIVIL WAR: FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT THE CIVIL WAR, INCLUDING HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS, MAPS, AND DOCUMENTS. ISBN 978-0762428564
Rinaldi, Ann. AMELIA'S WAR. ISBN 978-0439326667
Rinaldi, Ann. AN UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP: A NOVEL OF MARY TODD LINCOLN AND ELIZABETH KECKLEY. ISBN 978-0152063986
Historical Fiction: Number the Stars
Bibliography
Lowry, Lois. 1989. NUMEBR THE STARS. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0-395-51060-0
Plot Summary
Annemarie, a Christian, and Ellen, a Jew, are best friends who are living in Nazi occupied Denmark. When the local Rabbi warns his congregation that the Nazis will begin “relocating” the Jewish citizens, Ellen temporarily moves in with her best friend as her parents flee. That same night she moves in, the Nazi soldiers come looking for them. Annemarie’s quick thinking father is able to convince the soldiers Ellen is one of his own. The next day, everyone but Papa leaves for the childhood home of Mama. The girls believe they are “getting away” for a while, not realizing the real danger they are in or the significance of this trip. Annemarie, a smart girl, realizes there is more going on then she has been led to believe. As her Mama and Uncle share with her bits and pieces, she learns what it means to be courageous and a true friend.
Critical Analysis
The main character in this story is Annemarie Johansen, a young girl, who relates very well with any young reader who has an annoying younger sibling. Kirsti is only in kindergarten, and Annemarie and her friend Ellen would much prefer for her to go away than to let her tag along. But like any older sibling, Annemarie must endure like when Kirsti pushes the Nazi soldier’s hand away as he runs his hand through her curls. Annemarie is sure they are in for it. Annemarie is also proud of her country for doing what they could to curtail the invasion of the foreigners as can be felt when she tells the story of King Christian ordering the Royal Navy fleet destroyed before the Nazis could commandeer it. The reader really sees into Annemarie’s heart when she courageously runs through the early morning hours to bring her uncle a mysterious package that he needs for him to successfully smuggle Ellen and her family out of Denmark. When halted by soldiers with dogs, she is frightened beyond words, but musters up the courage to fool the soldiers into letting her go.
Although Annemarie has many conflicts, her baby sister and the Nazis to name two, her most significant conflict in the one with herself being caught between two worlds: childhood and adulthood-a struggle most readers will quickly identify with. She is definitely no longer a baby as she mentions several times in comparing herself to her younger sister, but she also realizes she is not yet an adult as seen when she ponders whether she could ever have the courage needed to stand up for another, even if it means risking her own life.
Lowry does a fantastic job at keeping the reader interested in what is going to happen next. The story starts immediately with a frightening encounter with Nazi soldiers. As the girls are racing home after school one day, a seemingly normal thing for children to do, they are suddenly told to “Halte!” by two pairs of shining black boots which Annemarie thinks to herself that also means two rifles. The story moves on to Ellen’s family, who is Jewish, being warned that the soldiers are coming for them. To help their friends, Annemarie’s family takes in Ellen so her parents can go into hiding. At this point, the reader is being given clues as to the compassion and courage Annemarie’s parents have for their countrymen and friends. After hearing many suspicious encounters between her parents and her uncle, Annemarie begins to suspect something more is going on than just hiding her friend. Through this story, the scope of the Resistance is being weaved.
The story is set during WWII in the Nazi-Occupied Denmark. Although most stories of the War focus on the Holocaust in Germany and Holland, this one teaches readers about the small country that made a huge difference in the lives of its people. The reader is introduced to the hustle and bustle of busy Copenhagen with its royal palace before taken to the beautiful countryside home of Annemarie’s mother’s childhood.
Written for the younger reader, 9-12, this story will appeal to both boys and girls, but especially to young girls who will identify with the young heroine. The story stays true to the events of the time all while telling a tale the keeps the interest of today’s readers.
Awards Won And Reviewed Excerpt(s)
1990 Newbery Medal Book
National Jewish Book Award
Sidney Taylor Award, Association of Jewish Libraries
ALA Notable Children's Book
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “Readers are taken to the very heart of Annemarie's experience, and, through her eyes, come to understand the true meaning of bravery.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY review: “The whole work is seamless, compelling, and memorable -- impossible to put down; difficult to forget."
BOOKLIST review: "While the novel has an absorbing plot, its real strength lies in its evocation of deep friendship between the two girls and of a caring family who make a profoundly moral choice to protect others during wartime."
Connections
*This book can be read in conjunction with social studies lessons on either WWII or more specifically the Holocaust.
*Students can research the resistance movement in Denmark against the Nazis as well as other movements in different situations.
*Given that the story has themes of friendship and courage, the book can be used for discussions about what it means to really be a friend or about courageous.
*Other historical fiction friendships:
Taylor, Theodore. THE CAY. ISBN 978-0440229124
Speare, Elizabeth George. THE SIGN OF THE BEAVER. ISBN 978-0440228301
Schmidt, Gary D. LIZZIE BRIGHT AND THE BUCKMINSTER BOY. ISBN 978-0375841699
*Other Holocaust books:
Yolen, Jane. THE DEVIL’S ARITHMETIC. ISBN 978-0142401095
Velde, Vivian Vande. A COMING EVIL. ISBN 978-0618747818
Lowry, Lois. 1989. NUMEBR THE STARS. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0-395-51060-0
Plot Summary
Annemarie, a Christian, and Ellen, a Jew, are best friends who are living in Nazi occupied Denmark. When the local Rabbi warns his congregation that the Nazis will begin “relocating” the Jewish citizens, Ellen temporarily moves in with her best friend as her parents flee. That same night she moves in, the Nazi soldiers come looking for them. Annemarie’s quick thinking father is able to convince the soldiers Ellen is one of his own. The next day, everyone but Papa leaves for the childhood home of Mama. The girls believe they are “getting away” for a while, not realizing the real danger they are in or the significance of this trip. Annemarie, a smart girl, realizes there is more going on then she has been led to believe. As her Mama and Uncle share with her bits and pieces, she learns what it means to be courageous and a true friend.
Critical Analysis
The main character in this story is Annemarie Johansen, a young girl, who relates very well with any young reader who has an annoying younger sibling. Kirsti is only in kindergarten, and Annemarie and her friend Ellen would much prefer for her to go away than to let her tag along. But like any older sibling, Annemarie must endure like when Kirsti pushes the Nazi soldier’s hand away as he runs his hand through her curls. Annemarie is sure they are in for it. Annemarie is also proud of her country for doing what they could to curtail the invasion of the foreigners as can be felt when she tells the story of King Christian ordering the Royal Navy fleet destroyed before the Nazis could commandeer it. The reader really sees into Annemarie’s heart when she courageously runs through the early morning hours to bring her uncle a mysterious package that he needs for him to successfully smuggle Ellen and her family out of Denmark. When halted by soldiers with dogs, she is frightened beyond words, but musters up the courage to fool the soldiers into letting her go.
Although Annemarie has many conflicts, her baby sister and the Nazis to name two, her most significant conflict in the one with herself being caught between two worlds: childhood and adulthood-a struggle most readers will quickly identify with. She is definitely no longer a baby as she mentions several times in comparing herself to her younger sister, but she also realizes she is not yet an adult as seen when she ponders whether she could ever have the courage needed to stand up for another, even if it means risking her own life.
Lowry does a fantastic job at keeping the reader interested in what is going to happen next. The story starts immediately with a frightening encounter with Nazi soldiers. As the girls are racing home after school one day, a seemingly normal thing for children to do, they are suddenly told to “Halte!” by two pairs of shining black boots which Annemarie thinks to herself that also means two rifles. The story moves on to Ellen’s family, who is Jewish, being warned that the soldiers are coming for them. To help their friends, Annemarie’s family takes in Ellen so her parents can go into hiding. At this point, the reader is being given clues as to the compassion and courage Annemarie’s parents have for their countrymen and friends. After hearing many suspicious encounters between her parents and her uncle, Annemarie begins to suspect something more is going on than just hiding her friend. Through this story, the scope of the Resistance is being weaved.
The story is set during WWII in the Nazi-Occupied Denmark. Although most stories of the War focus on the Holocaust in Germany and Holland, this one teaches readers about the small country that made a huge difference in the lives of its people. The reader is introduced to the hustle and bustle of busy Copenhagen with its royal palace before taken to the beautiful countryside home of Annemarie’s mother’s childhood.
Written for the younger reader, 9-12, this story will appeal to both boys and girls, but especially to young girls who will identify with the young heroine. The story stays true to the events of the time all while telling a tale the keeps the interest of today’s readers.
Awards Won And Reviewed Excerpt(s)
1990 Newbery Medal Book
National Jewish Book Award
Sidney Taylor Award, Association of Jewish Libraries
ALA Notable Children's Book
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “Readers are taken to the very heart of Annemarie's experience, and, through her eyes, come to understand the true meaning of bravery.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY review: “The whole work is seamless, compelling, and memorable -- impossible to put down; difficult to forget."
BOOKLIST review: "While the novel has an absorbing plot, its real strength lies in its evocation of deep friendship between the two girls and of a caring family who make a profoundly moral choice to protect others during wartime."
Connections
*This book can be read in conjunction with social studies lessons on either WWII or more specifically the Holocaust.
*Students can research the resistance movement in Denmark against the Nazis as well as other movements in different situations.
*Given that the story has themes of friendship and courage, the book can be used for discussions about what it means to really be a friend or about courageous.
*Other historical fiction friendships:
Taylor, Theodore. THE CAY. ISBN 978-0440229124
Speare, Elizabeth George. THE SIGN OF THE BEAVER. ISBN 978-0440228301
Schmidt, Gary D. LIZZIE BRIGHT AND THE BUCKMINSTER BOY. ISBN 978-0375841699
*Other Holocaust books:
Yolen, Jane. THE DEVIL’S ARITHMETIC. ISBN 978-0142401095
Velde, Vivian Vande. A COMING EVIL. ISBN 978-0618747818
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Informational Books: Confucius: The Golden Rule
Bibliography
Freedman, Russell. 2002. CONFUCIUS: THE GOLDEN RULE. Ill. by Frederic Clement. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books. ISBN 978-0439139571
Plot Summary
This biography of Confucius takes the reader through the many teachings of this great sage. Confucius was a minor government official in ancient China when he decided to leave his post to live a life of teaching his followers.
“The Analects” is a collection of his teachings based on the writings of his students and his students’ students. Confucius is not known to have ever written down any of his own ideas and teachings. He had many ideas about how governments should be run, “What is the purpose of government? It is to promote the welfare and happiness of the people—all the people” as well as on education, “”When people are educated, distinctions between classes disappear.””
Confucius’ teachings are still just as wise today as they were 2500 years ago. Many governments, including our own, based many of their laws on his teachings. His most famous is perhaps the Golden Rule: Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself.
Critical Analysis
Russell Freedman’s CONFUCIUS: THE GOLDEN RULE is a wonderful introduction to this wise man from so long ago for the young teen audience. Freedman mentions at the beginning the lack of authenticated information about this great man, but that he has based his story of Confucius on “The Analects,” writings of his disciples based on his teachings.
Freedman weaves Confucius’ teachings with his life story, but it is not overwhelming for the young teen who already feels they have been given enough advice. He also does a fantastic job of making Confucius’ teachings relevant by highlighting their use in modern democratic ideals. Confucius believed that government jobs should be given to those most qualified, regardless of social class. This ideal plays out many modern governments around the globe.
At the end of the book, Freedman notes his research process and provides a list of preferred resources for further study. He also provides an index of famous sayings.
The illustrations were provided by Frederic Clement. The Chinese-style paintings appear to be just as ancient as the great philosopher; adding to this feel is the disintegrating picture frames. Each picture in accented with berries and flowers, lending to the image of sitting under the trees listening to Confucius as leaves flutter to the ground from above. The illustrations are full page and appear on every other page adding a buffer to the large amount of text that might otherwise turn off some teen readers.
Russell Freedman and Frederic Clement have created a valuable contribution to the biographies the world’s greatest philosophers.
Awards Won And Reviewed Excerpt(s)
ALA Notable Book
Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2002
School Library Journal Best Book of 2002
Washington Post Top 10 Kids’ Books of 2002
Starred review in BOOKLIST: “Freedman’s Confucius jumps off the page…fascinating narrative…”
Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “Clément’s moody, ethereal illustrations complement the thoughtful text, yet play up the mystery of Confucius’s life.”
Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL “…Freedman compellingly conveys the profundity of his thoughts…”
Connections
*After reading the text, students can create a classroom constitution based on Confucius’ teachings.
*In small groups, students can discuss what Confucius might say about current events.
*Other books about Confucius and other ancient philosophers:
Carew-Miller, Anna and Shi-ming Zhang. CONFUCIUS: GREAT CHINESE PHILOSOPHER. ISBN 978-1590841495
Don Nardo. HISTORY MAKERS - ANCIENT PHILOSOPHERS. ISBN 978-1590182819
Usher, M. D. WISE GUY: THE LIFE AND PHILOSOPHY OF SOCRATES. ISBN 978-0374312497
Freedman, Russell. 2002. CONFUCIUS: THE GOLDEN RULE. Ill. by Frederic Clement. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books. ISBN 978-0439139571
Plot Summary
This biography of Confucius takes the reader through the many teachings of this great sage. Confucius was a minor government official in ancient China when he decided to leave his post to live a life of teaching his followers.
“The Analects” is a collection of his teachings based on the writings of his students and his students’ students. Confucius is not known to have ever written down any of his own ideas and teachings. He had many ideas about how governments should be run, “What is the purpose of government? It is to promote the welfare and happiness of the people—all the people” as well as on education, “”When people are educated, distinctions between classes disappear.””
Confucius’ teachings are still just as wise today as they were 2500 years ago. Many governments, including our own, based many of their laws on his teachings. His most famous is perhaps the Golden Rule: Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself.
Critical Analysis
Russell Freedman’s CONFUCIUS: THE GOLDEN RULE is a wonderful introduction to this wise man from so long ago for the young teen audience. Freedman mentions at the beginning the lack of authenticated information about this great man, but that he has based his story of Confucius on “The Analects,” writings of his disciples based on his teachings.
Freedman weaves Confucius’ teachings with his life story, but it is not overwhelming for the young teen who already feels they have been given enough advice. He also does a fantastic job of making Confucius’ teachings relevant by highlighting their use in modern democratic ideals. Confucius believed that government jobs should be given to those most qualified, regardless of social class. This ideal plays out many modern governments around the globe.
At the end of the book, Freedman notes his research process and provides a list of preferred resources for further study. He also provides an index of famous sayings.
The illustrations were provided by Frederic Clement. The Chinese-style paintings appear to be just as ancient as the great philosopher; adding to this feel is the disintegrating picture frames. Each picture in accented with berries and flowers, lending to the image of sitting under the trees listening to Confucius as leaves flutter to the ground from above. The illustrations are full page and appear on every other page adding a buffer to the large amount of text that might otherwise turn off some teen readers.
Russell Freedman and Frederic Clement have created a valuable contribution to the biographies the world’s greatest philosophers.
Awards Won And Reviewed Excerpt(s)
ALA Notable Book
Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2002
School Library Journal Best Book of 2002
Washington Post Top 10 Kids’ Books of 2002
Starred review in BOOKLIST: “Freedman’s Confucius jumps off the page…fascinating narrative…”
Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “Clément’s moody, ethereal illustrations complement the thoughtful text, yet play up the mystery of Confucius’s life.”
Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL “…Freedman compellingly conveys the profundity of his thoughts…”
Connections
*After reading the text, students can create a classroom constitution based on Confucius’ teachings.
*In small groups, students can discuss what Confucius might say about current events.
*Other books about Confucius and other ancient philosophers:
Carew-Miller, Anna and Shi-ming Zhang. CONFUCIUS: GREAT CHINESE PHILOSOPHER. ISBN 978-1590841495
Don Nardo. HISTORY MAKERS - ANCIENT PHILOSOPHERS. ISBN 978-1590182819
Usher, M. D. WISE GUY: THE LIFE AND PHILOSOPHY OF SOCRATES. ISBN 978-0374312497
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