Homework Machine

Biblio Bits The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman, Simon and Schuster, 2006 (ISBN 0689876785)

Reading Level/Interest Age 690 lexile/Ages 10+

Genre Realistic Fiction, Humor

Plot Summary

A homework machine seems too good to be true, but the other members of the D Squad believe it when they see it. The D Squad is a small group of four fifth graders, who all have last names beginning in "D," put together by their teacher, Miss Rasmussen: lackluster Kelsey, smart-aleck Snikwad, goody-goody Judy, and Brenton, the class brain who invented the Homework Machine. Brenton agrees to let his group-mates use his invention but, oddly enough, he doesn't want anything in return for the favor. That just proves how eccentric Brenton is; he invented the Homework Machine because he didn't like the busy-work that his teacher was giving out, he'd much prefer to pursue his own interests and studies. The four students start going to Brenton's house after school to use the Machine and begin to get to know each other a little better. And they quickly get hooked by the ease of using the Machine and don't want to "go back." But someone is trying to find out more about what they're doing each day after school. Is it the CIA? The FBI? The secret has leaked: what is the D Squad going to do?

Critical Evaluation

This book might appeal to reluctant readers, since the narration is in short segments, by the various players in this drama. It's a fantasy that many of us have dreamed of: the ease of life without the time-drain of homework. Gutman's writing style is straight-forward and conversational, as though the narrators are speaking directly to the reader. The plot moves quickly with a bit of mystery thrown in, as the D Squad tries to discover who has leaked the story of the Homework Machine. Each character responds differently to this new development and pretty soon the conclusion winds up, with a couple of plot twists that are quite unexpected. The primary characters slowly develop a friendship through this drama, even though they have some prejudices about each other (slacker, goody-goody, trouble-maker, geek).

Reader's Annotation

A machine to do your homework for you? Sounds like every kid's dream, right? More free time to do the things you want, great grades, and it's all so easy. Except you're living a lie.

Author Information

Dan Gutman was born in 1955 in New York City and grew up in New Jersey. He obtained his Bachelor's Degree from Rutgers University, in psychology. He turned his attention to writing after a couple of years in graduate school, and began writing humorous essays in 1980. Gutman has 86 published works to date including fiction and nonfiction, for adults and children. HE currently lives in New Jersey with his wife and two children. (Information for this author biography is from his official site.)

Challenge issues

Some people don't like the word "sucks" and that's in here. There are devious kids here, bucking the time-cherished tradition of homework, and that's pretty scary too.

Booktalking Ideas

Someone mentioned that this book might be a good one to recommend to fans of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series (Kinney, 2007). Though this one is lacking the copious illustrations, I think that it's a good read-alike for the school setting, friends/enemies, and the humorous aspects. I think a booktalk called "If you like the Wimpy Kid books, try these next..." could be a good one. Other books might include Sideways Stories from Wayside School (Sachar, 1985), Julia Gillian (and the Quest for Joy) (McGhee, 2009), The Boys Start the War (Naylor, 1993), and Frindle (Clements, 1996).

Curriculum Ties

Certainly an obvious curricular connection would be related to instruction and guidelines on academic honesty. When did Miss Rasmussen begin to suspect that there was something up? How do people get caught cheating? Can teachers "tell" if you've plagiarized? Why do people cheat? Are these the same reasons (or are there different ones) that the D Squad started using the Homework Machine? Also, students might draft their own Ten Commandments of Homework, like Miss Rasmussen's.

Why this book?
Aren't you just a little intrigued by the title? I tried listening to it on audio but found the full-cast narration to be confusing since there are so many (and frequent) switches in point of view. It seemed like a pretty great selection for this list, so I went back to it in book form.

Series/Sequel

The Return of the Homework Machine (2009), which I see from Gutman's site addresses the one remaining loose end of the first book: What the heck was that red blinking light on Brenton's computer, that never went off even when the power was killed?

Awards
Maine Student Book Award, Second Place, 2007-2008; Booklist Editors' Choice, Books for Youth, Middle Readers Category, 2006.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes.

Year of the Dog

Biblio Bits The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin, Little, Brown, and Co., 2006 (ISBN 9780316060004)

Reading Level/Interest Age 690 lexile/Ages 9-12

Genre Realistic Fiction, Humor

Plot Summary

It's the Year of the Dog, by the Lunar Calendar, and Grace's Taiwanese-American family is ringing in the new year! Grace has two sisters and the family lives in upstate New York; Grace's family is the only Chinese-American family in her community and at Grace's school. But wait, is she Chinese-American or Taiwanese American? Or both? This is a question that Grace herself puzzles over. Though Grace knows she's different, her classmates and teacher are supportive and inclusive of her ethnic and cultural heritage. One day, a new girl comes to school and she's also Taiwanese-American. Melody and Grace become fast friends who share many interests, like music, writing, and art. They team up for the class science fair and try an experiment with plants: they plant four pea seeds and water each one with a different liquid to see how the plants grow. Unfortunately their scientific method is not quite perfect and their results are skewed. When the girls get an assignment that combines art and language arts, to write and illustrate their own book for a national competition, Grace is stumped for an idea that is original. Will Grace discover her own inner talent this year, which is one of the possibilities in the Year of the Dog?

Critical Evaluation

Lin has created an engaging narrative in this semi-autobiographical work. This was the type of book that she wanted to read as a young girl, since none of the books she had access to were about people like her. Lin has peppered the text with lovely black and white illustrations. The story is occasionally interspersed with other stories, such as How Grandpa Got Rich, and Mom Sleeps in School. These stories-within-a-story help to provide round out the story of Grace's family and their experiences while living in Taiwan. There is a lot of cultural information here, but it's wrapped in an appealing story of a "regular" American girl who wants the lead role in the school play, who wants to fit in with her peers, and who wants to be able to be herself. Grace's narrative shows that she is beginning to understand who she is, both within and outside of the bounds of her ethnic and cultural heritage.

Reader's Annotation

The Year of the Dog is supposed to be about finding yourself and learning what your special talents are. But Grace doesn't win the science competition and she doesn't get the part she wants in the school play, so what's left for her?

Author Information

Grace Lin grew up in upstate New York with her two sisters and parents. Though she wanted to be a professional ice skater, she was much better at drawing herself as a professional ice skater. She attended the Rhode Island School of Design and began illustrating children's books. This book was Lin's debut as an author/illustrator for older children. She currently lives in Somerville, MA, with her husband. (Information in this author biography is from this site)

Challenge issues

Pretty innocent story here and not much to object to. Unless you might have someone who thinks that the library should only have books about WHITE Americans. (A troubling thought!)

Booktalking Ideas

This would be another great book to include in a booktalk on diversity and families. What makes our familieis different? What makes our families the same? Other titles might include Drita My Homegirl (Lombard, 2006), Granny Torrelli Makes Soup (Creech, 2003), Sahara Special (Codell, 2003), and How Tia Lola Came to (Visit) Stay (Alvarez, 2001).

Curriculum Ties

What are those stories that we hear over and over again in our families? The Time Sylvan Sleepwalked and Peed on the Floor, or When Jonas Almost Rolled Off the Doctor's Examining Table, or The Time the Thanksgiving Table Collapsed, or Things That Poppie Has Left Behind and Driven Away From By Mistake. Students could identify, collect, and write down some of these stories that exist in their own families. It could be a great writing project to give just before the winter break, that way students could review those stories with relatives and jot down a rough draft or notes.

Why this book?
Like Drita My Homegirl (Lombard, 2006) this book packs a big message about diversity. Though we may have different cultural heritages, our strengths are in the qualities we share in our relationships with friends and family.

Series/Sequel

This book is followed by The Year of the Rat (2008).

Awards
ALA Notable Children's Books, Middle Readers Category, 2007; BookList Editors' Choice, Books for Youth, Middle Readers, 2006.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes.

Arrival

Biblio Bits The Arrival by Shaun Tan, Arthur A. Levine Books, 2006 (ISBN 9780439895293)

Reading Level/Interest Age Ages 9+

Genre Science fiction, Graphic Novel

Plot Summary

This is the story of a refugee, told in pictures only. Our protagonist leaves his home, his daughter and wife, to seek a safer alternative in a new country. The illustrations indicate that there is something menacing the city he leaves behind: something big, dark, and with a spiny, tendril-like tail has taken over. We follow our protagonist on his journey across a large body of water, aboard a steam ship, and then into the grand harbor of the new world. Once there, he must be processed and made official; there are lots of lines and waiting, which is reminiscent of pictures from Ellis Island. The new world is as unfamiliar to readers as it is to the protagonist, with strange symbols that must be writing, bizarre and fantastic architecture, unusual animals, implements, and foods. Even shopping for food is different, almost like an old-fashioned automat. Our protagonist finds a place to live and works several jobs in order to save money to bring his family over. Throughout the story we meet other refugees and learn of their stories also, as our protagonist makes friends. This is a singular work that is both evocative and beautifully rendered.

Critical Evaluation

I have read and re-read this book several times and each time I find myself just as astonished and moved by the narrative as the first time I read it. Tan's book is completely unique in many ways. The book design is made to look old or worn, with interior pages that have stains or cracks, and a cover that looks like a weathered, leather album. The illustrations are rendered impeccably in a variety of black, gray, and sepia tones. Some page layouts are comprised of lots of little boxes (like the cloud spread), while others are full-page spreads. There is a soft luminosity in Tan's drawings that makes me think of Old Master etchings. And yet this is only the technical aspect of the work. The sequencing and pacing feels very cinematic: our attention is sometimes focused in on a detail through several frames, or alternatively, we start out close in and then zoom out through several frames, like the movement of a film camera. Tan also manages to convey deep emotions and stir a reader's empathy so that we are no longer reading about a refugee in a strange, new land, we are the refugee.

Reader's Annotation

I really can't tell you about this book, you just have to experience it for yourself. It's the story of a stranger in a strange land, who has come seeking safety. It sounds like a million other books, but I promise this one is different.

Author Information

Shaun Tan was born in 1974 in Australia. His father is a Chinese Malaysian and his mother is Australian, of English and Irish descent. Tan studied fine arts, English literature, and history at the University of Western Australia and graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts. Tan has received many awards for his works and, in 2010, will be the Guest of Honor at the World Science Fiction Convention in Melbourne, Australia, where he currently lives. (Information in this author biography is from Gale's World Literature Today, 2008, and Wikipedia.)

Challenge issues

There are some scary parts of this story and strong emotions that are expressed.

Booktalking Ideas

I think the best way to begin a booktalk on this title would be to talk in some kind of gibberish for the first minute or so, perhaps holding the book and "asking" listeners whether they are familiar with the story (using facial expressions and gestures). Making the switch into English, it would be easy to hook readers in by showing them a few illustrations and asking some pointed questions. Have you ever had to leave your home? Moved to a new country without your family? What if you got there and no one understood you? How would you find food and shelter? It would be an interesting book to include in a themed booktalk on immigrants, mixing fiction and nonfiction, such as Maggie's Door (Giff, 2003), A Step From Heaven (Na, 2000), Letters from Rivka (Hesse, 1992), and others.

Curriculum Ties

This would be a fabulous book to tie into a unit about immigration, in fact I might recommend beginning the unit with this book, perhaps in small groups. For students who have not been an immigrant or refugee, this exercise would offer them a chance to be one. Have students become the protagonist: leaving behind his family in unsafe conditions, his quest for food and shelter, his utter bewilderment in his new surroundings. Perhaps they could also draw an identification page, like the protagonists, with a self-portrait and Tan-inspired symbols/language to represent his status and information (as in, no words in any recognizable alphabet!).

Why this book?
Because it's unlike anything I had ever seen before and I loved the old look of the cover and intriguing cover illustration.

Awards
ALA Notable Children's Books, Older Readers, 2007; Parents' Choice Awards, Fiction, 2007; Booklist Editors' Choice, Books for Older Readers, 2007; Oprah's Kids' Reading Lists, New Releases, Age 12 and up; New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books, 2007; New York Times Notable Books, Children's Books, 2007; School Library Journal Best Books, 2007; USBBY Outstanding International Books, Grades 6-8, 2008; Australian Book Industry Awards, Book of the Year for Older Readers.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes.

Drita My Homegirl

Biblio Bits Drita My Homegirl by Jenny Lombard, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2006 (ISBN 9780399243806)

Reading Level/Interest Age 690 lexile/Ages 9-12

Genre Realistic fiction

Plot Summary

Drita is a ten year-old refugee from Kosovo who arrives in Brooklyn with her family. Her father, an engineer, escaped over a year ago and has been driving a taxi so he could bring his family to the safety of the U.S. Drita just wants to fit in and be liked by her peers, but things start out pretty lonely for her, with her limited English skills, strange-smelling lunches, and unfashionable clothes. To top it off, Drita's mother is in a deep depression about leaving home and the safety of her extended family .Maxie is an African-American girl who is in Drita's new class. Maxie is one of the homegirls of the fourth grade: she's funny and athletic and has a lot of friends, but she's often impulsive and gets into trouble. Maxie is being raised by her dad and grandmother; her mom died when she was just seven years old and Maxie really wants her back. Maxie is definitely not ready for her dad to have a new girlfriend. Maxie's teacher suggests an unusual social studies project: to study Kosovo, the homeland of the newest class member, and introduce Drita's story to the whole class. This sensitive story includes a lot more than just a book about two friends: it's about the things that we all have in common and about how our differences make the world a smaller place.

Critical Evaluation

This story includes a lot of "food for thought" without being too preachy about it, mainly because the characters and plot development are so well-constructed. The chapters are very accessible, alternating between chapters by Maxie and Drita. Chapters are short and the pace of the story is steady, which may make it a good pick for reluctant readers. Both characters have very distinct narrative voices and, just to underscore the shift in perspective, two different fonts are used in the text. The story of Drita's immigrant experience included many details that readers will find familiar (like any student at a new school) and also surprising. Lombard writes English as Drita hears it, when she is beginning to learn: "Ov curs, Drita. Tek va pass" ("Of course, Drita. Take the pass." p.37). While Maxie at first comes off as a smart-aleck, we quickly see that her antics are to cover the pain that she is hiding about her mother's death. Overall, this book was engaging and readable, a moving story of friendship and family.

Reader's Annotation

We all have things that are hard for us. Some things are obvious, like being a refugee from Kosovo and starting a new school with hardly any English skills. Some things are hidden, like when your mom dies and you don't tell anyone because that would make it real.

Author Information

This is Jenny Lombard's first novel, though she has written a nonfiction book for adults and several plays and TV treatments. She is a public school teacher in New York City and says that she got the idea for Drita's and Maxie's story when she realized that there were nine languages other than English spoken in her classroom. Since the war in Kosovo was constantly in the news at the time, Lombard began to wonder what it would be like for a refugee family. Lombard lives in New York City with her husband, son, and two cats. (Information in this author biography is from the book's official site.)

Challenge issues

Pretty wholesome story here, though some might be turned off by Maxie's behavior at times.

Booktalking Ideas

There are several books about friendship and its benefits and challenges, geared to this audience: Ruby Lu Brave and True (Look, 2004), Julia Gillian and the Quest for Joy (McGhee, 2009), Moving Day (Cabot, 2008) and Ivy and Bean (Barrows, 2006), and The Year of the Dog (Lin, 2006) to name a few. I would focus on Drita's point of view: Imagine being woken up in the middle of the night and leaving your home with only the clothes on your back...Going to a new school and not being able to talk to anyone or understand them...

Curriculum Ties

This book wants to be read aloud and discussed as a class. It would be great to read in a community where there is a large refugee population, or just to raise awareness about refugees and immigrant issues in general. How are Drita and Maxie alike? How are they different? How are their families alike/different? These questions could spark some good conversation. Perhaps this class conversation could lead to a classroom code of conduct for social behavior for all new students (making them feel welcome but not overwhelmed, introducing them to classroom culture, school culture, etc.). Or the class could come up with ideas about how to approach a non-English speaker, which may not sound like an issue for most people, but in Maine this is something we need to teach (and not just to kids!).

Why this book?
The cover of this book caught my eye and was recommended to me by a former youth services librarian.

Awards
MSBA Reading List 2007-2008.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes.