Module 9/SLIS 5420 Mysteries

Nightmare

by Joan Lowery Nixon

2004 ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers






Summary

Emily Wood is a teen who witnesses a murder as a small child and represses the memory. She is raised in a family with two older, overachieving sisters, but Emily would prefer to be invisible. She has recurring nightmares of the murder scene, but is incapable of sharing the dreams with others. Her parents enroll her in Camp Excel, a summer camp for under-achievers, never dreaming that their daughter could be in danger. Emily realizes that she has seen something that somebody in the camp will do anything to keep covered up, because even if she has forgotten the past, the murderer has never forgotten her.

My Impressions

Nightmare moves quickly, and offers a suspenseful, although somewhat predictable plot. The characters are believable, and the constant attention given to Emily by the 'well-meaning' psychologists is actually quite frightening, considering they're status as murder suspects. The climax seems a little contrived; Emily and her friends are deathly afraid of leaving her alone, but she still descends (without her friends) into a dangerous cave with all of the murder suspects. Hmm... not very smart. However, Nightmare is still an entertaining thriller that will keep young readers engaged from the beginning to end.

Reviews

Since childhood, 10th-grade Emily has had nightmares about a shadowy, slimy place where she is entangled with vines and sees a body lying in water. She is so petrified by this dream about the open-mouthed and blankly staring corpse that she is unable to confide in anyone. Her parents are upset because she won't let them help her and are frustrated because she doesn't take after her two brilliant sisters. They send her to Camp Excel, an experimental program for underachievers, where Emily has a sense of deja vu, and her true nightmare begins when she realizes her life is in danger. Elements of suspense and mystery are cleverly integrated with the teen's problems resulting from what she witnessed as a child. Readers will once again fall under Nixon's spell as they enjoy this page-turner.
Susan Cooley, formerly at Tower Hill School, Wilmington, DE for School Library Journal

The nightmare has haunted teenage Emily Wood since she was a child: a crumpled body lying half in and half out of the water; dead eyes in a pale, bloody face; a mouth open in a scream that no one can hear. Did it really happen? Whose body is it? Who was the killer? And who is now stalking Emily at Camp Excel, the summer camp for underachievers that her parents have forced her to attend?.... Readers will rush with Emily to solve the puzzle, even as they shudder at the occasional terse statements by the killer, who is steadily getting closer to another victim. The climactic confrontation in a creepy cave in the Texan Hills is unforgettable. Hazel Rochman for Booklist

Activities

Have the students solve some murder mysteries. Here are some links to murder mysteries that can be solved by a classroom of students:

http://www.cambridge.org/us/ESL/letstalk/support/optional/l3u03oa.htm

http://www.onestopenglish.com/section.asp?catid=58148&docid=154249

http://www.lessonplanspage.com/LAMurderMysteryAgathaChristieGameLesson912.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_2108914_host-mystery-classroom.html

Bibliography

Nixon, Joan Lowery. Nightmare. New York: Delacorte Press, 2003. ISBN: 0440237734

Module 8/SLIS 5420 Fantasy and Science Fiction

Inkheart

by Cornelia Funke



2004 ALA Notable Children's Book
2006 Zilveren Griffel
2004 Book Sense Book of the Year
2005 Spellbinding Award


Summary

Meggie's father Mo is a talented bookbinder who possesses an unusual gift: he brings things to life out of books when he reads out loud. This curious talent puts his entire family in danger when he reads Capricorn, one of the most evil villains of all time out of a book called Inkheart. The situation is worsened when Mo realizes that he read Meggie's mother into the book. Now, with the help of Dustfinger the fire eater, her great Aunt Elinor, and Fenoglio the author, Meggie must discover her own talents to help her father escape the evil Capricorn and bring her mother back to the real world.

My Impressions

Inkheart is a wonderful tale that takes the reader on an imaginative and unusual adventure ride. The action moves quickly and is filled with suspense as Meggie unravels the mystery of Inkheart and the characters that dwell within its pages. As she tries to help her father, Meggie is aided by many noble characters that selflessly do their best to bring her and her family back to safety. Meggie learns much about herself, and gains the confidence she needs to save the day at the end.

Reviews

Despite the presence of several well-developed, sympathetic characters, the plot is often driven by the decidedly menacing, less-convincing villains...Like many other fantasies, this will appeal to a broad age range, though the writing is far less child-centered than it is, for example, in the Harry Potter series. Carolyn Phelan for Booklist

It is hard to avoid preciosity in books about books, but here Funke pulls off the feat with vigor....Master translator Bell takes the German text and spins out of it vivid images and heart-stopping language that impel the reader through this adventure about narratives-a true feast for anyone who has ever been lost in a book. Kirkus Reviews

Activities

Have the students perform a little research project: they need to find a collection of heroes and heroines from various books that they would most like to see come to life. Each student could choose their favorite book character, and you could host a "cocktail party" in which the students mingle and have to explain three things about their character.

Bibliography

Funke, Cornelia. Inkheart. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 2003. ISBN: 0439531640

Among the Hidden

by Margaret Peterson Haddix

1999 ALA Best Books for Young Adults
2001 Maud Hart Lovelace Award
2000 ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
2002 Nutmeg Book Award

Summary

Among the Hidden explores a post-famine futuristic America in which a totalitarian government rations food and regulates childbirth. Third-born children are illegal, and the Population Police roam the country searching for families that have defied the law. Luke, a third-born son, has been able to live somewhat comfortably that first twelve years of his life, but all that is changing. His relatively secluded farm near the forest is being transformed into a housing development, and now Luke must spend his days and nights hiding in the attic. Luke also learns that there are other "Shadow Children" living across the country. However, he also learns that finding a way to live free and help the other Shadow Children will be a dangerous, even deadly challenge.

My Impressions

I really enjoyed reading Among the Hidden, but I had a hard time comprehending why a mother who was so devoted to her child was unable to see how miserable and impossible life as a third child would be. Luke is essentially a non-entity in his family--they have to ignore him on every level because they are so paranoid about somebody finding out about his existence. The book reveals that Luke won't even ask for butter for his toast, because his family is too afraid to cross the kitchen in front of the window to hand it to him. They have to give the appearance that they are a happy family of four, so Luke grows up feeling guilty for even being alive.

Reviews

Born third at a time when having more than two children per family is illegal and subject to seizure and punishment by the Population Police, Luke has spent all of his 12 years in hiding... To what extent is he willing to defy the government in order to have a life worth living? ... the loss of free will is the fundamental theme of an exciting and compelling story of one young person defying authority and the odds to make a difference. Readers will be captivated by Luke's predicament and his reactions to it. Susan L. Rogers for School Library Journal

The plot development is sometimes implausible and the characterizations a bit brittle, but the unsettling, thought-provoking premise should suffice to keep readers hooked. Publishers Weekly, 1998

Activities

Have the students look at "dumb laws" from the state where they reside (go to dumblaws.com; careful, some of the laws might need to be edited for children)

http://www.dumblaws.com/laws/united-states

Lead a discussion on why inapplicable, obsolete, or bizarre laws are passed.

Bibliography

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Among the Hidden. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1998. ISBN: 0689817002

Module 7/SLIS 5420 Realistic Fiction (Young Adult)

The Penderwicks
A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy

Written by Jeanne Birdsall

2005 Newbery Honor Book
2005 National Book Award



Summary

Meet the Penderwick Family; sensible Rosalind, energetic Skye, Jane, the author, batty the four-year old, Mr. Penderwick the pre-occupied botanist, and Hound the dog. Their summer vacation house has been sold, so they must embark on a new vacation plan by renting a cottage from the snooty Mrs. Tifton, who lives in the adjacent mansion. Her son, Jeffrey, captures the attention of the four Penderwick daughters, and the group of them have a host of adventures. The girls do what they can to "rescue" Jeffrey from being sent to military school by his mother, who dreams of her son following in her father's footsteps. Jeffrey, however, only dreams of playing the piano. Both the Penderwicks and the Tiftons learn valuable lessons about friendship, responsibility, and unselfish love.

My Impressions

The Penderwicks is a tale reminiscent of those written by Elizabeth Enright and Edward Eager. The girls are raised by a single parent who encourages free thought and intellectualism; references are made to classic literature, music, and art, and the father frequently speaks in Latin. The Penderwicks explores class distinction through exaggerated characters. The father is an educated college professor who is the epitome of kindness and wisdom, while the antagonist is the horrible rich woman and her boyfriend of lower than average intelligence who frequently say nasty things about the Penderwick's social status. The story is improbable, and the resolution questionable. However, it's a fun read that young readers (especially well-read ones) can really enjoy-- if only because of the loveable quality of the well-defined characters.

Reviews

This enjoyable tale of four sisters, a new friend, and his snooty mother is rollicking fun... Problems are solved and lessons learned in this wonderful, humorous book that features characters whom readers will immediately love, as well as a superb writing style. Bring on more of the Penderwicks!-Starred Review from School Library Journal; B. Allison Gray, John Jermain Library, Sag Harbor, NY

Adults who have been longing to find books for children that remind them of their own childhood favorites need look no further. Birdsall follows in the footsteps of Elizabeth Enright, Edward Eager, and Noel Streatfeild, updating the family story yet keeping all the old-fashioned charm... On one level, Birdsall might be criticized for one-dimensional characterizations... But what this comforting family story does offer are four marvelously appealing sisters, true childhood behavior (disobeying, running away, a first crush), and a writing style that will draw readers close. So satisfying, the story begs for a sequel: it would be nice to see more of the Penderwicks. Starred Review for Booklist; Ilene Cooper.

Activities

The Penderwicks could be included in a book talk centered on a variety of topics: Summer Vacation, "Orphan" literature, Siblings/Family, and Friendship.

Bibliography

Birdsall, Jeanne. The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. ISBN: 0375831436

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl

A Novel by Barry Lyga




Summary

"Fanboy" is the smartest kid in school, is writing his own comic book masterpiece, and only has one friend-- a jock who can't be seen with him at school in front of his athletic friends. His mother is pregnant with the step-facist's spawn, and to make matters worse, he has to deal with a multitude of bullies and teachers who are willing to look the other way. Fanboy develops The List, and carries a bullet around with him everywhere he goes. It takes an unlikely friendship with Kyra the "Goth Girl" for him to find his confidence and stand up for himself and his friends. He even learns to accept his family and help Kyra in the end.

My Impressions

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl is an interesting story about two kids who wouldn't normally befriend each other. The protagonist has to deal with a myriad of problems typically faced by male teens: hormones, bullies, and feeling inadequate. He also has to deal with his separated parents, his new stepfather, and his pregnant mother. "Fanboy" becomes friends with a "Goth" girls who helps him find his confidence and potential. The book is told from the first person point of view, so we can only guess at "Goth Girl's" problems (which are many), but are allowed intimate insight into the realm of the male teen-age mind.

Reviews

On good days, Fanboy is invisible to the students at his high school. On bad ones, he's a target for bullying and violence... Lyga looks at how teens are pushed to their limits by society. Though he toys with such concepts as teen suicide and Columbine-like violence, the novel never turns tragic. His love of comics carries over into all three teen characters, breathing animation into a potentially sad but often funny story. This is a great bridge book for teens who already like graphic novels. Starred Review for Library School Journal; Stephanie L. Petruso, Anne Arundel County Public Library, Odenton, MD

...The insider comics details will slow some readers, and the open-ended questions about Kyra's personal story will frustrate others. Yet Fanboy's whip-smart, often hilariously sarcastic voice skillfully captures a teenager's growing self-awareness, and adds a fresh, urgent perspective to age-old questions about how young people cope with bullying and their own feelings of helplessness, rage, and being misunderstood as they try to discover themselves. Starred Review for Booklist; Gillian Engberg.

Activities

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl could be used as part of a lesson on bullying and violence in schools. The Columbine Shootings could also be discussed, as well as ways for students to protect themselves and find non-violent solutions to probelms in schools.

Bibliography

Lyga, Barry. The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006. ISBN: 0618723927

Module 6/SLIS 5420: Realistic Fiction (Younger Readers)

Hatchet

Written by Gary Paulson

1988 Newbery Honor
1990 William Allen White Children's Book Award
1990 Young Hoosier Book Award







Bibliography

Paulson, Gary. Hatchet (reprint). Simon & Schuster Children's, 2007. ISBN: 1416936475

Summary

Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is the only passenger on a plane, when the pilot dies of a heart attack. Suddenly, Brian must somehow land the plane and find a way to survive in the Canadian wilderness until somebody can find him. The only things he has are the clothes on his back and a hatchet his mother gave him before he took off. As Brian struggles to survive, he learns to be patient, trust his instincts, and not give in to despair.

My impressions

The story of Brian's survival in the wilderness is gripping and intense. The problems Brian faces and overcomes in Hatchet are improbable, but realistic. Brian’s character is easy to relate to because he keeps thinking about his divorced parents, and stumbles around the wilderness before he finally figures out how to survive. I especially like how Brian comes to terms with his situation and allows himself to become part of his surroundings. To "understand and use it-- the woods, all of it." After he finds the survival pack and is rescued, he manifests a deep understanding of his place in nature, and a deep appreciation of what he has. Having been involved with Cub and Boy Scouts for many years, I love these books-- and I know my boys do, too.

Reviews

When the pilot of a small, two-person plane has a heart attack and dies, Brian has to crash land in the forest of a Canadian wilderness... This is a heart-stopping story: it seems that at every moment Brian is forced to face a life-and-death decision, and every page makes readers wonder at the density of descriptive detail Paulsen has expertly woven together. Poetic texture and realistic events are combined to create something beyond adventure, a book that plunges readers into the cleft of the protagonist's experience (Publishers Weekly).

Brian Robeson, 13, is the only passenger on a small plane flying him to visit his father in the Canadian wilderness when the pilot has a heart attack and dies. The plane drifts off course and finally crashes into a small lake. Miraculously Brian is able to swim free of the plane, arriving on a sandy tree-lined shore with only his clothing, a tattered windbreaker, and the hatchet his mother had given him as a present... An epilogue discussing the lasting effects of Brian's stay in the wilderness and his dim chance of survival had winter come upon him before rescue adds credibility to the story. Paulsen tells a fine adventure story, but the sub-plot concerning Brian's preoccupation with his parents' divorce seems a bit forced and detracts from the book. As he did in Dogsong (Bradbury, 1985), Paulsen emphasizes character growth through a careful balancing of specific details of survival with the protagonist's thoughts and emotions. (Barbara Chatton, College of Education, University of Wyoming, Laramie for Library School Journal).

Activities

Have the students build a diorama or model of Brian's camp and the lake.

Give the students lessons on basic wilderness survival, and have them make their own tools. Here are some great websites that have nice lessons on wilderness survival:

http://www.e-scoutcraft.com/activities/wilderness_survival.html

http://bcadventure.com/adventure/wilderness/survival/

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/

http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Falls/9200/wilderness_survival.html

http://www.usscouts.org/safety/safe-desert.asp

Module 5/SLIS 5420 Picture Books

The Wreck of the Zephyr

Written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg




1984 Horn Book Fanfare Best Book
1984 ALA Notable Book for Children

Bibliography

Van Allsburg, Chris. The Wreck of the Zephyr. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1983. ISBN: 0395330750

Summary

While sailing his boat in a storm, a boy is swept out to sea and lands on a mysterious island. The sailors there use special sails that lift their boats out of the water and into the air. The boy, who considers himself to be the best sailor in the world, tries to learn the craft, and manages to fly his boat back home. Unfortunately, he crash-lands his sailboat high on the top of the cliffs overlooking the sea.
The remarkable tale of the flying boat is told by an old man who is sitting next to the ancient wreckage at the beginning of the book. Van Allsburg's text leads the reader to believe that the old man could be the boy in the story, and that his final words, "got some sailing to do," infer that the man is still trying to find his way back to the mysterious land to get some new "flying" sails.

My impressions

The masterful storytelling and vibrant illustrations found in The Wreck of the Zephyr combine to produce an enchanting picture book. The illustrations that accompany this imaginative tale draw readers into a magical realm where they get to experience the boy's exhilaration. Van Allsburg's subtle paintings are visually stunning, but leave plenty of room for the reader to indulge in their own imagination. I particularly like how Van Allsburg paints hidden or ambiguous faces on his characters; it makes it easier for the reader to make the story his or her own. This is a book that can be enjoyed over and over again by multiple ages of children (and adults).

Reviews

Rich design and a subtle use of color conjure the changing aspects of light as they support a haunting story of a boy touched by magic who momentarily became the greatest sailor ever (School Library Journal, 1983).

The full-color pastel drawings are the work of a master: stunning, luminescent, and conveying a sense of the mystical and magical (Publishers Weekly, 1983).

Activities

Have a "Raingutter Regatta!" First, after studying the basic physics of sailboating, have the children make their own sailboats out of milk cartons, egg cartons, or paper cups. There are some fun, easy ideas here: http://www.create-kids-crafts.com/sailboat-crafts-for-kids.html
Then, take sections of raingutters (found at hardware stores), stop up the ends, fill them halfway with water, and have the children race against each other. Super fun!!

Here is a great site with teaching ideas for Van Allsburg's books:

http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/zathura/bookshelf.shtml