Summer Reading and Writing Challenge

Hello to all,

  To most, Memorial Day weekend means the 'unofficial' start to summer. I look forward to summer each year, mostly because it means no homework for the kids. Although, I will be taking graduate school classes this summer, so it means that I will still have homework to do!

  I don't know about y'all, but if I'm not careful, summer will be filled with all kinds of fun things - but not with regular writing. So I'm determined this summer to make sure I don't let my personal writing goals get sidetracked.

  I decided to start a summer writing challenge for myself, and thought it would be more fun to get others involved - and help increase my accountability! Plus, because I'm hoping that summer will mean a little more time to read or listen to audiobooks, I thought it might be good to add that challenge to the mix too.

  So for the writing challenge: If you write novels, you can pick a word/page count per day or per week. If you write picture books, mix it up however you want since obviously the word counts will vary. If you're revising a current project, then maybe set a page count or time limit each day or week.

  For the reading challenge: Pick a number of books you want to pick to read this summer or maybe you want to read all the books by a certain author, or all the books on a list (such as the Texas Bluebonnet list or the NY Times Bestseller list or even your kids' summer reading list).

  So here are the rules (although they are really mostly guidelines ;)

  1. Post a comment and let me know you want to participate in this challenge or you can email me at ebgrje (at) gmail (dot) com.

  2. Pick your challenge! It can be the writing challenge, the reading challenge, or both!

  3. For accountability - every week I'll ask for everybody to post or email me their results. I wish I could handle a daily email check-in, but I think with vacations and homework, once a week will work better for this challenge.

  4. Join at any time over the summer - as Flylady says "You are not behind! I don't want you to try and catch up; I just want you to jump in where we are."

  5. Have fun! This is really just a challenge so we don't let our creative juices dry out over the summer or maybe to help restart you if you've been off your writing/reading game for a while.

  My part - in addition to asking for accountability each week, I'll be posting about the writing/reading life to help keep us inspired and moving forward throughout the summer.

 So here are my goals: Writing: 500 words 5 days a week (total 2,500 words a week). Reading: Read all the books on the current Texas Bluebonnet list and the 2X2 Reading list (see my previous post for links to these lists).

  What are your writing and reading goals this summer? Hope you join me in the challenge!

  Take care, McCourt

May - Houston SCBWI Book Report

Hi everyone!

  I hope that everyone who was able to attend our Houston SCBWI conference enjoyed it as much as I did. Thanks to all of y'all that did so much hard work to put such a fabulous line-up together.

  Here are the books that I talked about at this month's meeting:

  Night Light by Nicholas Blechman (PB) Orchard Books ISBN 9780545462631

  Don't Play with Your Food! by Bob Shea (PB) Disney-Hyperion Books ISBN 9781423168072

  The Year of the Book by Andrea Cheng, Illustrated by Abigail Halpin (Elem/MG) HMH Books for Young Readers ISBN 9780544022638

  Athlete vs Mathlete by W.C. Mack (MG) Bloomsbury USA Children ISBN 9781599908588

  How to Write a Novel: 47 Rules for Writing a Stupendously Awesome Novel That You Will Love Forever by Nathan Bransford (Writers) ISBN 9780615925165

  Also, I mentioned some of the different reading lists that the Texas Library Association (TLA) puts out each year.

  Here are some of the links for those lists for the 2014-2015 school year:

  Texas 2 X 2 List (Age 2 - Grade 2)

  Texas Bluebonnet List (Grades 3-6)

  Texas Lone Star Reading List (Grades 7 & up)

  Happy Reading!

The Reviews are In! Genre 6 Fiction, Fantasy, and Young Adult (YA)

Hi everyone!

  I really got to enjoy some wonderful books this module which covered fiction, fantasy, and YA. I finally figured out why all those Babymouse books fly off the library shelves - they're charming! I was also glad for the chance to tackle some more of the books on my TBR (to be read) pile. I hope you enjoy my reviews for The Graveyard Book and The Scorpio Races.

  Happy Reading!

Genre 6 - Fiction, Fantasy, and Young Adult (YA)

Review for Babymouse: Queen of the World by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

*This review is coursework for LS 5603 at TWU

Holm, Jennifer L. and Matthew. Babymouse: Queen of the World! New York: Random House, 2005. ISBN 9780375932298.

            Babymouse: Queen of the World, by brother and sister pair Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm, is the first in a popular series of graphic novels. In this story, Babymouse desperately wants to be invited to the party of the most popular girl in school, Felicia Furrypaws. Babymouse, who has an active imagination, tries to come up with ways to convince Felicia to invite her to the sleepover. But it isn’t until Babymouse agrees to give Felicia her book report that she finally is invited. Babymouse skips out on her plans with her longtime best friend, Wilson the weasel, in order to go to the party. Once there, Babymouse struggles to fit in and figures out what true friendship is all about.

            Babymouse is an engaging character whose daily drama will ring true with its elementary and middle school audience. Her struggles with friends, school, activities, and just staying focused definitely has a lot of appeal. The character is written with a lot of spunk, spirit, and heart. The scenarios that Babymouse faces in school, such as not being invited to a big party, may not be the most original story ideas, but they are built on themes relatable to kids of all ages. Babymouse’s depiction as an avid reader results in her vivid imagination, which transports Babymouse within the story on all types of adventures throughout the book. These ‘side trips’ of Babymouse’s imagination are her entertaining excursions from the monotony of school, another theme sure to be relatable to many readers.

The story is told in graphic novel style, with a comic book feel. The color palette uses solely pink, black, and white, which gives the novel a distinctive style. When Babymouse is lost in her imagination, the artist uses mostly a pink palette, which helps differentiate those scenarios from the regular day-to-day ones. There is a narrator who interacts with Babymouse in the story, often making comments on her zany adventures. Babymouse talks to the narrator, so it feels as if she is addressing the reader directly, which helps draw them further into the story.

In its starred review, Horn Book says, “Nobody puts Babymouse in the corner." The Children’s Bulletin calls Babymouse, “almost an absurdly likeable heroine.” Babymouse: Queen of the World won the 2006 Gryphon Award and New York Book Show Award. It also was the first graphic novel to be named an ALA Notable Children’s Book.

Luckily for fans of Babymouse, the 18^th graphic novel in the series, Happy Birthday Babymouse, was just released in April. The other books in the series are all charming as well, including Babymouse #4 Rock Star, Babymouse #5 Heartbreaker, and Babymouse #7 Skater Girl. Jennifer L. Holm and her brother Matthew also have another graphic novel series, Squish, starring an amoeba, which is geared toward Babymouse fans. Other graphic novel series to recommend include the Lunch Lady series by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney, the Dork Diaries series by Rachel Renée Russell, Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke, Big Nate by Nathan Peirce, and Robot Dreams by Sara Varon. Older readers who want to try Jennifer L. Holm’s novels may check out her three Newbery honor books, Our Only May Amelia, Penny from Heaven and Turtle in Paradise. Of course, for a fun activity, have students design their own graphic novel. What would a day at their school look like? Babymouse is definitely a springboard for imagination and inspiration.

Quote from Jennifer L. Holm: “I wear slippers to work.”

References:

"Babymouse #1: Queen of the World!” by Jennifer L. Holm and Matt Holm." Randomhouse.com. http://www.randomhouse.com/book/82051/babymouse-1-queen-of-the-world-by-jennifer-l-holm-and-matt-holm (accessed April 30, 2014).

Holm, Jennifer L. and Matthew. Babymouse: Queen of the World! New York: Random House, 2005.

Jennifer, Holm. "Jennifer L. Holm, Author: Babymouse." Jennifer L. Holm, Author. http://www.jenniferholm.com (accessed April 30, 2014).

 

Review for The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

*This review is coursework for LS 5603 at TWU

Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2008. ISBN 9780060530945.

            The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman is the story of a young boy, who escapes to a nearby graveyard when his family is killed. Mrs. Owens, one of the graveyard’s ghost residents, pleads to the other ghosts to allow the boy to stay and have Freedom of the Graveyard. The residents of the graveyard reluctantly agree, and the Owens adopt the boy, who they name Nobody Owens. ‘Bod’, as he is called, grows up the only living among the dead. He has a guardian, a supernatural creature named Silas, and many others from the graveyard who help teach him about the ways of both the living and the dead. Bod’s curiosity and youthful questions often get him in trouble, and his misadventures with live humans (and even some dead ghouls) never seem to turn out very well. Even though Bod lives hidden away in the graveyard, he is never safe. Silas discovers that the man ‘Jack’ who killed Bod’s family is still searching for him. Finally, Jack catches up with him, and Bod must use all the knowledge he’s gained from the dead in the graveyard to preserve his chance for life amongst the living.

            Neil Gaiman has said the idea for The Graveyard Book came from watching his young son pedal his bike comfortably around a graveyard, and thought he “could write something a lot like The Jungle Book, and set it in a graveyard.”  That seems an apt description for this tale. It has classic elements, but seems original in almost every way. The chapters can be separated as short stories, which is the style Rudyard Kipling set up The Jungle Book. The residents of the graveyard are lifelike in their personalities and peculiarities, and Bod himself is an especially endearing character. It is hard not to root for someone orphaned at such a young age, in such a brutal manner. Which brings up a word of warning, although on a whole the book is not violent; the opening scene where Jack murders Bod’s family with a knife while they sleep is definitely one that could upset some readers. Another topic that may cause concern is the issue of suicide as a means of death for some of those in Potter’s Field, which may not be a subject that some readers are familiar or comfortable with, and could prompt discussion. However, even with the macabre setting of the graveyard, Bod finds a true and honorable family there and the story is filled with the themes of loyalty and love.

            The author himself, Neil Gaiman, narrates the audiobook version of The Graveyard Book, produced by Harper Audio. Gaiman does an excellent job in drawing the listener into the world of the graveyard, setting just the right tone for the novel.

            The Graveyard Book won the Newbery Medal and the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2009. It 2010, it was awarded the Carnegie medal. It was also a #1 New York Times Bestseller, spending 61 weeks in the top ten. The audio version was awarded the Audio Publishers Association Audie Award and Audiobook of the Year in 2009. The Washington Post says, “Like a bite of dark Halloween chocolate, this novel proves rich, bittersweet, and very satisfying.” The New York Times Book Review states, “The Graveyard Book, by turns exciting and witty, sinister and tender, shows Gaiman at the top of his form.”

            Those who enjoy The Graveyard Book may also want to check out Gaiman’s novels Fortunately, the Milk and Coraline. Coraline was also turned into an animated movie of the same name, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year. Readers may also want to turn to the partial inspiration of the novel, The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling, or at least enjoy the Disney movie version of The Jungle Book, which has retained its charm and popularity since its 1967 release. For readers who enjoy the spooky elements of the novel, try Doll Bones by Holly Black, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz, The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier or The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire Legrand.

Quote from Neil Gaiman: “Sometimes fiction is a way of coping with the poison of the world in a way that lets us survive it.”

References:

Motoko, Rich. “The Graveyard Book Wins Newbery Medal”. The New York Times. 2009.

Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2008.

Review for The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

*This review is coursework for LS 5603 at TWU

Stiefvater, Maggie. The Scorpio Races. New York: Scholastic Press, 2011. ISBN 9780545224918.

            The Scorpio Races is a tale of high adventure set on the mystical island of Thisby. Each year on the island, a race is held, truly placing man vs. beast. The waters around the island of Thisby are home of the legendary capaill uisce. The capaill uisce are flesh eating water horses; and during the Scorpio Races, men trap and train them to race. It has always been men, and it has always been water horses, until this year. This year, Kate Connolly (nicknamed Puck) has decided to enter the race, riding her regular mare, Dove. She enters the races to try and save her family’s home from bankruptcy, and to try and keep her older brother, Gabe, from leaving the island. Things heat up on the island when it becomes apparent that many residents aren’t too happy about Puck entering the race. Sean Kendrick, multi-time winner of the races, takes up her cause and they form a friendship, which hints at romance. Sean trains with Puck to help her survive the race, but he has his eyes on the prize this year for a different reason. For years, he has ridden the capaill uisce named Corr for Malvern stables. Now, Mr. Malvern has finally agreed to let Sean buy Corr, but only if he wins the race. The island of Thisby is flooded with visitors who come to watch the deadly races. When race day finally arrives, it’s no longer each man for himself, as Puck, Dove, Sean, and Corr battle their competitors for victory - but there can only be one winner.

            The Scorpio Races is a beautiful lyrically written novel, with lush, detailed descriptions of both the coastline and the local towns. The novel is written in alternating viewpoints - back and forth between Puck and Sean. Stiefvater slowly builds up the race (sometimes agonizingly so), which gives her time to truly delve into the personalities of the people and even animals that inhabit Thisby. Themes of family and finding one’s place are wound throughout the novel. With a vast cast of characters, the story’s plot really focuses on Puck’s ambition to try and save her brothers and her home, and Sean’s ambition of finally owning the only family he has left - Corr. Stiefvater uses the ‘ticking clock’ plot device well in this story. The pace may be slow, but the reader is always constantly aware that the life-changing race is only steps ahead, and it helps keep the reader turning the pages (or sitting in the car listening to the audio version even after you’ve arrived at your destination!).

            The audio version of the book, produced by Scholastic Inc., is narrated by Steve West and Fiona Hardingham. The narration is very well done, with both voice actors having strong, engaging voices that sweep you into the story. In fact, the characters are so distinct, that the format of staying in one character's voice each chapter can be a little disconcerting. For example, when you are listening to Puck, and she has a conversation with Sean, then the voice of Sean sounds different than when you are listening to Sean’s narration. The same goes for when Sean narrates Puck’s voice. However, much of the novel is based on the character’s inner thoughts, so the voice discrepancies are more of a nuisance than a real distraction. One interesting note about the audio version is the music that accompanies the book was actually composed and performed by the author herself, Maggie Stiefvater. Obviously, she is a multi-talented woman.

            The Scorpio Races won the Michael L. Printz Award Honor in 2012 and appeared on numerous ‘Best of’ lists including The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Chicago Public Library, the Children’s Book Committee, Amazon, ALA and YALSA. The audio version also won the Odyssey Honor Award for 2012 Best Audio Production and the YALSA Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults 2012. The Scorpio Races received five starred book awards, including one from Kirkus that says it is “Masterful. Like nothing else out there now.” Horn Book states, “Stiefvater’s novel, inspired by Marx, Irish, and Scottish legends of beautiful but deadly fairy horses that emerge from the sea each autumn, begins rivetingly and gets better and better… all the way, in fact, to best.”

            Fans of The Scorpio Races may want to read Stiefvater’s other works, including The Raven Cycle series (The Raven Boys, The Dream Thieves, and Blue Lily, Lily Blue - coming in October 2014) and the Shiver series (Shiver, Linger, and Forever).  Readers who enjoy the dangerous competitiveness of The Scorpio Races could also try The Hunger Games series (The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay) by Suzanne Collins or the Divergent series (Divergent, Insurgent, and Allegiant) by Veronica Roth. If the readers are horse fans, try Catch Rider by Jennifer H. Lyne, The Girl Who Remembered Horses by Linda Benson, Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry,  or even classics like The Black Stallion by Walter Farley, Black Beauty by Anna Sewell or National Velvet by Enid Bagnold. Many consider the movies for The Black Stallion, Black Beauty, and National Velvet classics, and readers who enjoyed Puck may especially enjoy Elizabeth Taylor’s performance in National Velvet. Teen readers might enjoy checking out author Maggie Stiefvater’s website (maggiestiefvater.com), which includes book trailers, cover art, tour information, and links to her blog.

Quote from Maggie Stiefvater: “It’s true that the characters are what I care about. I mean, I care about the other things, but as a reader, the characters are what I remember. Mostly, I just long to make my readers sick at heart that they will never meet my characters in real life. That’s my goal. Does that sound sinister? I mean it in the nicest possible way.” 

References:

Bartel, Julie. "One Thing Leads to Another: An Interview with Maggie Stiefvater." The Hub RSS. http://www.yalsa.ala.org/thehub/2014/01/09/one-thing-leads-to-another-an-interview-with-maggie-stiefvater/ (accessed April 20, 2014).

Stiefvater, Maggie. "Maggie Stiefvater." Maggie Stiefvater Whats New Comments. http://maggiestiefvater.com (accessed April 20, 2014).

Stiefvater, Maggie. The Scorpio Races. New York: Scholastic Press, 2011.

Stiefvater, Maggie. "The Scorpio Races | Maggie Stiefvater." Maggie Stiefvater The Scorpio Races Comments. http://maggiestiefvater.com/the-scorpio-races/ (accessed April 20, 2014).

April SCBWI Meeting Book Report selections

Hi everyone! Here are the book titles that I talked about at this month's meeting:

April Book Report titles:

Never Smile at a Monkey: and 17 Other Important Things to Remember by Steve Jenkins (NF)
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children ISBN 9780618966202

The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller (YA)
Entangled Teen ISBN 9781620612385

The Black Rabbit by Philippa Leathers (PB)
Candlewick Press ISBN 9780763657147

If you'd like to see my review for Never Smile at Monkey by Steve Jenkins, check out my Genre 4 nonfiction reviews.

Hope to see many of you at the conference!

The Reviews are In! Genre 5 Historical Fiction

Hello everyone!

  I hope that you are ready to read some really wonderful award-winning historical fiction books. What exciting, clever, and funny stories! My reviews include Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool, The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman, and Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos. All three of these books had been on my 'to be read' list, so I was grateful for the class giving me the push I needed to read them. All three are Newbery winners and all three are definitely worth checking out.

Enjoy!

Genre 5 - Historical Fiction reviews

Review for Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

* This review is coursework for LS 5603 at TWU

Vanderpool, Clare. Moon Over Manifest. New York: Delacorte Press, 2010. ISBN 978037585829.

            12-year-old Abilene Tucker has been a wanderer all of her young life, riding the rails with her father from town to town. But in the summer of 1936, her father sends her to his hometown of Manifest, Kansas, while he works on the railroad line.  While getting settled into her new home with family friend Pastor Howard, Abilene discovers a hidden cigar box full of mementos from 1918. When Abilene and her new friends, Lettie and Ruthanne, start digging into Manifest’s past, they discover the town has secrets that it’s not ready to share. Abilene starts visiting Miss Sadie, the town diviner, and the mystery begins to unravel; but will the stories lead to the town’s further decline or to redemption? As Abilene realizes her father’s role in the town’s history, she has to wonder – will he return for her, or is his past something that he will hide from forever?

            In Moon Over Manifest, Clare Vanderpool takes readers on a double journey into the past. This novel begins in 1936 with the struggle of the main character, Abilene, as she tries to find her way in a new town. Once she begins to investigate the town’s past; however, the story shifts to 1918, and the new characters of Jinx and Ned appear with their own story. Vanderpool weaves the two stories together, combining mystery with history.  Stylistically, the story is told with two different fonts – one for 1936 and one for 1918, which is helpful for readers to keep the story straight. There is also a list of characters included in the novel to help readers keep track of the many different people in the story. From the beginning, the setting of the book, Manifest, Kansas, is almost a character of it’s own. The town has an interesting history as a true “melting pot” of immigrants from around the world, many who have come to work in the coalmines. When entering the town in 1918, visitors are greeted by a sign that says “Manifest: A Town With A Rich Past And A Bright Future”, but in 1936, then faded sign only says “Manifest: A Town With A Past.”

According to the publisher, the reading level is ages 9-12, but older children can easily enjoy the book as well. Kirkus recommends it up to age 14, and Library Media Connection suggests up to 16. In the novel, Vanderpool explores themes that should appeal to readers of those ages, dealing with belonging, family, and forgiveness. Abilene’s inquiries help the town to take a look at its history, forgive itself for the past, and offers hope for the future. Rich details and word choice from the time period of both the Depression and World War I eras helps to create an authentic and nostalgic feel to the novel. In addition, the author’s note includes a glossary of some of the terms and historical events within the book to help clarify parts of the story based on real historical events or places. A list of sources and suggested reading is also included in the novel’s back matter.

Moon Over Manifest won the 2011 Newbery Medal, making Vanderpool the first author since Joan Blos in 1980 to win the award for their debut novel. Moon Over Manifest was a New York Times bestseller, a Junior Library Guild Selection and an NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People. Kirkus’ starred review said, “The absolute necessity of story as a way to redemption and healing past wounds is at the heart of this beautiful debut, and readers will cherish every word up to the heartbreaking yet hopeful and deeply gratifying ending.” Booklist starred review states, “With believable dialogue, vocabulary and imagery appropriate to time and place, and well-developed characters, this rich and rewarding first novel is ‘like sucking on a butterscotch. Smooth and sweet.’”

Moon Over Manifest covers the time periods including the Depression as well as World War I. Topics such as immigration, coal miners, prohibition, and the Spanish influenza are introduced, so a range of opportunities for exploring history are opened up through the novel. Other Newbery winners touching on some of these topics include Bud, not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis, Year Down Under by Richard Peck, Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse, and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor. Other selections include Winnie’s War by Jenny Moss, Theodore Roosevelt: Letters From a Young Coal Miner by Jennifer Armstrong, the graphic novel The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan, the picture book Potato: A Tale from the Great Depression by Katie Lied, and the DK Eyewitness Books: World War I. Classroom or library activities could include researching the history of a student’s hometown or having readers make their own memento box of special items.

Quote from Clare Vanderpool: “I came across a quote from Moby Dick. ‘It is not down in any map: true places never are.’ That’s when the wheels began turning. What is a true place? What would a true place be fore someone who has never lived anywhere for more than a few weeks or months at a time?”

References:

Donovan, Mary. "Moon Over Manifest." Moon Over Manifest. http://moonovermanifestpresentation.weebly.com/clare-vanderpool.html (accessed April 6, 2014).

  

"MOON OVER MANIFEST." Kirkus Reviews. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/claire-vanderpool/moon-over-manifest/ (accessed April 6, 2014).

Vanderpool, Clare. Moon Over Manifest. New York: Delacorte Press, 2010.

Review for The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman

* This review is coursework for LS 5603 at TWU

Cushman, Karen. The Midwife's Apprentice. New York: Clarion Books, 1995. ISBN 9780547722177.

            The Midwife’s Apprentice begins in an unusual place – a dung heap. The main character, who has only known the name ‘Brat’ in her 12 or 13 years of life, is trying to stay warm by sleeping there. She is discovered by the village midwife, who calls her ‘Dung Beetle’, which quickly becomes her new name. Beetle is cold, starving and homeless, and is taken in by the midwife, Jane Sharp, as an assistant. Thus begins Beetle’s journey from waif to apprentice in the small medieval English village. Despite having a floor to sleep on, and small pieces of bread and cheese to eat, Beetle’s life is still difficult. She is the brunt of village boys’ jokes and often the target of their cruelty. Jane Sharp is a difficult and demanding woman, who worries about Beetle learning too much and surpassing her role as midwife in the village. Beetle befriends a cat, who becomes her constant companion, and eventually stands up to the boys who were taunting her. She begins to pay attention and learn the trade of the midwife. One day at the village fair, Beetle is mistaken for a girl who knows how to read – and she decides to take the girl’s name ‘Alyce’ for her own. When things go wrong during a delivery, Alyce runs away to a nearby inn; but after a while, she realizes that what she wants most is a “full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world,” and she returns to the village to make that happen.

            The Midwife’s Apprentice tackles an unusual subject for a children’s book – midwifery. Set in a medieval English village, The Midwife’s Apprentice rings true to the period with its setting, language, characters and intricacies of village life. Great detail is given in describing the daily life and routines of the cast of characters who inhabit Alyce’s world. Medieval medicines and herbal remedies are given in particular detail, especially those that apply to assisting childbirth. Cushman paints a realistic and sometimes crude picture of life during those times. While not delving into too much graphic detail, Cushman does depict the medieval practices of childbirth. While fascinating, it may not appeal to some younger readers who are confused or uncomfortable by the descriptions. Questions may definitely arise about some of the practices used by midwifes of the period, and Cushman provides an Author’s Note to explain some of the history of midwifes and their techniques.

            Throughout the book, it is enjoyable to watch the character of Alyce as she develops and grows from a homeless waif to a young lady with a goal and a purpose. Her journey to find her true self and her place in the world will most likely ring true to its tween and teen readers. Alyce’s strength in the face of adversity, and even cruelty, creates a memorable character.

            The Midwife’s Apprentice won the Newbery Award in 1996. It was an ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults and a School Library Journal Best Book. In a starred review, Kirkus calls the language of the book, “simple, poetic, and funny.” Horn Book calls it a “fascinating view of a far distant time.” School Library Journal highlights the “Earthy humor, the foibles of humans both high and low, and a fascinating mix of superstition and genuinely helpful herbal remedies attached to childbirth make this a truly delightful introduction to a world seldom seen in children’s literature.”

            Readers who enjoy The Midwife’s Apprentice should also try Cushman’s Newbery Honor winning book Catherine Called Birdy, as well as her other novels such as Will Sparrow’s Road and the Alchemy and Meggy Swan.  If the medieval life captures their attention, try other Newbery winners, Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi, The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli and Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz.  Other nonfiction books with a fun twist include How Would You Survive in the Middle Ages by Fiona MacDonald and David Salariya, MacDonald also has several in a fun series of nonfiction history books including: You Wouldn’t Want to be in a Medieval Dungeon, You Wouldn’t Want to Work on a Medieval Cathedral, or You Wouldn’t Want to be Sick in the 16^th Century by Kathryn Senior. For interactive activities, try Knights and Castles: 50 Hands-On Activities to Experience the Middle Ages by Avery Hart and Paul Mantell.

Quote from Karen Cushman: “I'm so proud and so moved when readers write me to tell me what a book meant to them or how it helped them or what it reminded them of in their own life.”

References:

Cushman, Karen. The Midwife's Apprentice. New York: Clarion Books, 1995.

Lane, Kirby. "Kirby's Lane: A Place for Readers and Writers: Karen Cushman." Kirby's Lane: A Place for Readers and Writers. http://kirbyslane.blogspot.com/2009/07/karen-cushman.html (accessed April 8, 2014).

"Midwife's Apprentice." The Midwife's Apprentice. http://www.karencushman.com/reviews/midwife_r.html (accessed April 8, 2014).

           

Review for Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos – Audiobook

* This review is coursework for LS 5603 at TWU

Gantos, Jack. Dead End in Norvelt. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2011.

ASIN B005MM7FIG (Audible Audiobook – Macmillan Audio 2011)

            Dead End in Norvelt tells of all that can happen to an almost 12-year-old boy one summer when he is “grounded for life”. The character of Jack Gantos (attesting to some of the autobiographical elements of the novel) lives in the small town of Norvelt, Pennsylvania in 1962. His mom still loves the town, but ever since returning from the war, Jack’s dad wants to fly to Florida for a new start in life. The town is quickly disappearing off the map, as many of the original Norvelt residents are starting to pass away at an alarming rate. Jack is allowed to help his elderly neighbor, Miss Volker, write the obituaries, and for each one, she adds a bit of history. Things around town get even worse when an autopsy shows that the residents have been poisoned, and everyone looks like a suspect. By the book's end, the mystery is solved and Jack finally gets un-grounded; but once he goes for a ride in his dad’s refurbished airplane against his mom’s wishes, he may just be back where he started.

            Dead End in Norvelt is a zany tale filled with all kinds of outlandish characters and situations. The character of Jack Gantos is a sympathetic and likeable boy, who quickly draws in the reader (or listener) into his world. Norvelt is more than just a town, it is truly a way of life. The town was developed by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt as a community with affordable housing. The city of Norvelt and its future become a major focus of the book, as more and more residents are moving away or dying off. The author Gantos does a remarkable job of weaving history into the book. Readers will close this book having learned about much more than life in 1962, but also about centuries of the past. The author cleverly touches history through his creative incorporation of historical facts through Miss Volker’s obituaries, her “This Day in History” columns, and Jack’s own reading while he’s grounded.  However, readers never lose sight of the fact that they are firmly in 1962. The author’s details about the time period, from the types of cars driven to the types of storage bags used (wax folded bags) truly give the story an authentic feel.

          One word of warning though for the faint hearted, the book definitely has some cringe-worthy moments. Throughout the story, Jack has a problem with chronic nosebleeds any time he gets upset or excited about something. Well, with all the crazy things going on in Norvelt, Jack gets A LOT of nosebleeds, and the author spares no detail in describing them, as well as the rising body count at the funeral home. Despite the more macabre moments, the author manages to pull off charm, sensitivity, humor and heart throughout the story.

            The Macmillan audio version of the story (2011) is read by Jack Gantos himself and is an excellent way to experience Dead End in Norvelt. Gantos seamlessly switches between the voices of the characters. Most distinctive, of course, is Jack Gantos’ version of Jack Gantos, which rings true as a 12-year-old boy. At the end of the audiobook, there is an interview with the author. Gantos helps explain how much of the story is completely original, and how much is based on his own upbringing in the town of Norvelt.

            Dead End in Norvelt won the Newbery Medal and the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction in 2012. Horn Book starred review states, “There’s more than laugh-out-loud gothic comedy here. This is a richly layered semi-autobiographical tale, an ode to a time and place, to history and the power of reading.” In the Children’s Book-A-Day Almanac, Anita Silvey says, “Norvelt weds slapstick comedy to historical fiction and a mystery novel, an unusual blend of elements that keeps readers guessing about what is really happening in town until the final pages.”

            Fans of Dead End in Norvelt will be happy to know that the sequel From Norvelt to Nowhere is now available. Readers may also like Gantos’ popular Joey Pigza series, including National Book Award finalist Joey Pigza Loses His Key and Newbery Honor Joey Pigza Loses Control. Older readers may want to read Jack Gantos’ autobiography Hole in my Life. Readers who want more historical fiction with male protagonists can try The Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt. Other authors who write strong male characters include Gordon Korman’s books such as Ungifted and Schooled, Louis Sachar’s Holes and The Cardturner, and Carl Hiaasen’s Hoot and Chomp. Activities based on Dead End in Norvelt could include creating a ‘Day in History’ column and making a timeline of all the historic events mentioned in Miss Volker’s obituaries.

Quote from Jack Gantos: “The main reason that I’m a children’s author is that I know that kids are the best readers. You know how to live in books, how to imagine books. You can travel emotionally and mentally into books. You are the most absorbent readers there are. I feel lucky to have you.”

References:

Gantos, Jack. Dead End in Norvelt. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2011.

Gantos, Jack. "Jack's SECRET TIPS for Aspiring Authors." Jack Gantos RSS. http://www.jackgantos.com/jacks-secret-tips-for-aspiring-authors/ (accessed April 9, 2014).

Silvey, Anita. "Book-A-Day Almanac." BookADay Almanac RSS. http://childrensbookalmanac.com/2013/04/dead-end-in-norvelt/ (accessed April 9, 2014).