Matilda

Biblio Bits Matilda by Roald Dahl, narrated by Ron Keith, Recorded Books, 1994 (ISBN 0788701398)

Reading Level/Interest Age 840 lexile/Ages 9-11

Genre Magical Realism

Format Audio Book

Plot Summary

Matilda is a child genius of two very dull parents who have no idea about her mental capacity. At an early age, she discovers the library and the kind librarian, as an alternative to sitting at home, alone in front of the television (while her mother plays Bingo). Matilda spends her afternoons, at age four, reading classic works of literature. When she enters school, she already knows how to read, do complex math, and spell. Her teacher, Miss Honey, would like to promote her to the top form but Miss Trunchbull has been warned by Matilda's father about this new trouble-maker. Miss Trunchbull is the headmistress, a true Dahl villain, who hates children and reserves a special closet for punishment in her office. So Matilda stays with Miss Honey, who offers her extra work and lessons to augment what she is teaching. Matilda is not conceited about her abilities and has several friends at school. She develops the ability to move things with her mind and these moments, like the clever tricks she plays on her parents, are triumphant. A classic tale of a misunderstood child who finds support outside of her family and ultimately triumphs.

Critical Evaluation

Roald Dahl is a terrific tween author because his protagonists have those qualities of the psychological moment of tweendom---taken to Dahl levels of extremism! Feeling misunderstood? So are Matilda, Sophie (BFG) and James (of Giant Peach fame). Feeling like everyone is out to get you? (Ditto the previous examples!) Are your parents dull and stupid? (Matilda's are!) Dahl's stories have the quality of a fable, since the characters are extremes: so lovely (Miss Honey) or so horrible (Miss Trunchbull). In Matilda, readers will empathize with the awful, embarrassing scene of the boy who is forced by Miss Trunchbull to consume an entire, enormous cake as punishment for sneaking a piece (we are not ever sure that he really did), in front of the whole school. While it is unlikely that readers will have experienced this particular cruelty, we have probably all experienced moments of unjust accusation and public humiliation by adults. The reader, Ron Keith, does an amazing job of giving unique voices to so many characters, with excellent emphasis and sense of drama.

Reader's Annotation

Classic Dahl! Matilda is ignored and maligned by her parents but saved by the lovely Miss Honey, who recognizes her as the child genius she is. The true villain is the nefarious Miss Trunchbull, headmistress of the school.

Author Information

Roald Dahl was born in Wales to Norwegian parents, in 1916. He attended private schools in England and was not considered a student with promise, as this statement from one of his report cards at Repton indicates: "Vocabulary negligible, sentences mal-constructed. He reminds me of a camel." (Gale Cengage, Literature Resource Center). He was a pilot for the Royal Air Force during WWII, also serving as an intelligence agent. Dahl was married to Patricia Neal for 30 years and they had five children; he subsequently remarried Felicity D'Abreau Crosland. Dahl died in Oxford in 1990. (Information in this author biography are from the Gale Cengage, online database Literature Resource Center, and from Wikipedia.)

Challenge issues

Matilda, and other works by Roald Dahl, appear on ALA's list of most frequently challenged books/authors. This book portrays neglect and outright cruelty, as well as telekinesis.

Booktalking Ideas

I would love to have this in a book/movie talk, as I think the film adaptation was excellent. Others might include Because of Winn-Dixie, Mary Poppins, Holes, and Hoot. Or perhaps this could be part of a booktalk of award-winning audio books, with others from the ALSC Notable Recordings list.

Curriculum Ties

Roald Dahl deserves his own author study in a language arts unit. Activities might include a project in which students develop a wiki about this author, his narrative themes, characterization, and style.

Why this book?
Because everyone loves a book where the villains are justly rewarded! A favorite scene from this book is when Matilda puts super-glue on her father's hatband so that the hat gets absolutely stuck on his head. And when it is finally cut off, the hair is pulled off also!

Awards
ALSC Notable Recording, 1995. Matilda also appears on many statewide reading lists, according to NoveList K-8 Plus.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes.

Dragon Rider

Biblio Bits Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke, translated by Anthea Bell, read by Brendan Fraser, Random House/Listening Library, 2004 (ISBN 9781400090907)

Reading Level/Interest Age Ages 10-12

Genre Fantasy

Format Audio book

Plot Summary

When humans threaten to expand into the desolate north and into dragon country, the dragon Firedrake decides to search for the Rim of Heaven, a place of safety that only the oldest of dragons even remembers hearing about. Sorrel, Firedrake’s brownie companion, goes along for the adventure, though she’s not always happy about the lack of tasty provisions. Ben, a homeless human orphan, joins the mission, and frequently serves as a mediator between the human and non-human worlds. The party of travelers quickly learns that they are not the only ones seeking the Rim of Heaven, and sinister elements are aware of their progress towards that goal. The pace of the story builds toward an action-filled conclusion and the cast of supernatural characters (dwarves, djinns, humunculi, and mapmaking rats, for example) will delight fans of fantasy. Listeners of all ages will appreciate this wild adventure, full of humor, plot twists and unlikely heroes.

Critical Evaluation

This book comes alive through Fraser’s reading: he uses unique and memorable voices that augment the characterizations from the text. This story is a bit lighter than Funke's other works (like The Thief Lord and the Inkworld series), and has engaging chapters that alternate between various angles of the story. This technique creates suspense for the reader, as the action in the different story threads may be deferred for a chapter or so, while we hear about other elements and characters. Funke gives readers/listeners a solid, classic fantasy story, by using elements of humor and excellent character development and relationships to balance the suspenseful plot twists and action.

Reader's Annotation

Looking for a great audio book to take on your next family car trip? Fan of fantasy? Do you like a solid adventure story full of great plot twists and humor? Try this one!

Author Information

Cornelia Funke was born in Germany in 1958. She worked as a social workerand then decided to work as a children's book illustrator. When she became bored with the stories she was illustrating, she decided to start writing stories that would be more interesting to illustrate. In 1996, Dragon Rider was Funke's international debut and was on the New York Times' bestseller list for 78 weeks. Her books have been very popular in the US, and include the books in the Inkworld series and The Thief Lord, both of which are appropriate for tweens. She now resides in Los Angeles, CA with her two children.

Challenge issues

I guess that there are people that might object to anything, but seriously, with this one it's pretty much just a good story----nothing overly mature, rude, no swear words, sex, etc.

Booktalking Ideas

Stressing the relationships part of this book would be the angle I would recommend, something that identifies the interesting cast of characters: from the terrifying djinn, to the tetchy Gilbert Graytail, to the moody but loveable Sorrell. It is a book with a quest and a cast of unlikely heroes, and will have plenty of booktalking bedfellows in the fantasy genre. What is unique here is that Funke includes so much humor in the story, without making it overdone.

Curriculum Ties

This would make a fabulous read-aloud, if you can't get the Fraser reading of it. One fun way to link this to curriculum is with map-making. Gilbert Graytail's map for the travelers includes many colorful areas to indicate regions of danger, safety, cultures, friends and foes. However, he delivers this information to Sorrel and Ben orally; there is no key on the map to remind them of what the various colors mean. Students could draw maps to scale of their school playground, their route to school, or some place like a park or recreation area. With shading, students could indicate social groupings (for example on the playground), geographic features, and farming/industry/business. They could create keys for themselves but have other students guess at what the colors might indicate.

Why this book?
Truly, it is not often that I would recommend the audio version of a story over the book format, but in this case, Brendan Fraser's reading is exemplary. This may be the audio book that we have listened to, as a family, more than any other and each time, it delights us again.

Awards
None.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes.

Mystery of the Third Lucretia

Biblio Bits The Mystery of the Third Lucretia by Susan Runholt, read by Krista Sutton, Random House/Listening Library 2008 (ISBN 978073936747).

Reading Level/Interest Age 920 lexile/ages 13+

Genre Mystery, Realistic Fiction

Format Audio book

Plot Summary

Kari and Lucas are two fourteen year-old best friends. When Kari's journalist mom gets a new job that requires her to travel more, she agrees to take both girls with her on some of her international business trips. On a visit to the Minneapolis Art Institute, in their home city, they notice an artist set up to copy a Rembrandt painting. When they want a closer look, they are growled at by the artist to "Go. Away!" They term this unfriendly fellow Gallery Guy and don't think much more of the incident. Months later at London's National Gallery, on their first international trip with Kari's mom, they head for the Rembrandt room and suspect that the artist copying another Rembrandt painting is their Gallery Guy, in disguise. The girls shift into surveillance mode, hoping to observe Gallery Guy and glimpse the painting, without his knowledge. They employ disguises of their own, but realize that the stakes are high when the regular guard of the Rembrandt room is suspiciously killed. When a new Rembrandt is discovered in Amsterdam, the girls decide to share their hypothesis with Kari's mom, but are unsure of how to get the art world critics to believe their story.

Critical Evaluation

Two strong female characters, a mix of art, art history, international travel, and culture, not to mention a great mystery---what's not to like? Krista Sutton does an excellent job reading a pretty diverse cast of characters; she conveys a variety of accents with subtle differences, and also pronounces Dutch street and place names with apparent ease (no mean feat!). This debut novel has many appealing elements, particularly the realistic friendship between Kari and Lucas. Their minor spats and tiffs, as well as their sillier moments (conducting giddy mock interviews in the bathroom at the National Gallery), are just as I remember my friendships in middle school. The initial coincidences begin to arrange themselves into a mystery and the girls trust their instincts and each other as they follow the clues. Sometimes their instincts are not always that brilliant, as when they decide one night to venture into The Quarter (the seediest part of Amsterdam), dressed to blend in (as prostitutes), in an effort to conduct surveillance on Gallery Guy's studio. The conclusion was definitely intense and nerve-wracking, as the threads of the story wove together. Fans will be glad to know that more Kari and Lucas mysteries are planned.

Reader's Annotation

Lucas and Kari are just two girls in middle school with the usual family problems. But their lives take an unexpected---and dangerous---turn when they suspect a major art forgery during their European travels. How will they get the grown-up art world to believe their story?

Author Information

Susan Runholt is a fan of travel, music, food, art, and feminism. She is the single mother of a grown daughter, who has been a consultant on this title and the subsequent installments. Runholt and her daughter, Annalisa, attended many exhibits at the Minneapolis Museum of Art when Annalisa was young. They attended a Rembrandt exhibit there that moved Annalisa to tears, and this event was an inspiration for The Mystery of the Third Lucretia. This is Runholt's first published work. (Information in this author bio is from here.)

Challenge issues

There are some mature themes here that contribute to the subplots of the story, such as the prostitution industry in Amsterdam, rape, and sexual abuse. There are no explicit details, but the references might spark further questions and discussion.

Booktalking Ideas

This would be a natural book to include in a booktalk on art and artists, particularly Rembrandt or Dutch masters, and a great pairing (if a little more mature) with the series by Blue Balliett that begins with Chasing Vermeer (2004).

Curriculum Ties

Oooooh, lots of great links for art teachers! The true crime genre of art theft and forgery has a lot of appeal for kids and adults. I could envision this book tying into an art class on painting and old masters. Many middle school art classes include an assignment where students are asked to paint a reproduction of a famous painting. There are some great passages that describe the need to observe the texture of the paint, the colors, etc. in person, which is what Gallery Guy is up to. What can students still observe from good-quality reproductions? What is lost/gained?

Why this book?

In the mood for a good mystery, and knowing that certain tweens I know have trouble finding mysteries amidst all the fantasy and vampire books out there, I checked the Debut Dagger Awards site and noted that Susan Runholt had been "commended" for this work of young adult fiction.

Series/Sequel

Rescuing Seneca Crane (2009)

Awards
None.

Rockport Public Library owns?

No.

Pandora Internet Radio

http://www.pandora.com

Interest Age Ages 13+

Genre All

Plot Summary

Pandora is a Web 2.0 tool for music, that is a product of the Music Genome Project. A user creates a profile and then can generate up to 100 (with the free account) customized radio stations. A user could search for an artist that she likes, say the Jonas Brothers or Black-Eyed Peas, and by selecting that artist's name, the Music Genome Project will generate a playlist of music that shares certain similarities (tonality, vocalist's gender, rhythm, etc.) with the artist you have identified. You will not be getting a playlist of only Jonas Brothers music, though you will get some, but you will be getting similar music. If the playlist includes a song that you don't think is a good fit, you may give a thumbs down, and likewise, if you really like a song, you may give a thumbs up. In this way, the Music Genome Project "gets smarter" about what you like and what you're looking for. With the free account, users must watch a brief advertisement once per hour, or each time you select a new station.

Critical Evaluation

Pandora seems like a great way to sample music and perhaps find some new artists; once you've listened to a few things on your playlist, you might want to purchase an album or new songs. It's fun to play around with it and make new stations to fit your listening mood: quiet instrumentals, raucous pop music, old-school rap, folk, indie, etc. This is a powerful tool to explore and underscores the Web 2.0 concepts of customization, "if you like this, try this..." and modifying results to return even better matches. The interface is easy to understand, and users have the ability to purchase a single song from a link box at the bottom. There is also information about the artist, album, song, their contributions to their genre, and lyrics. Users have the option to share a song through Twitter, Facebook, and email.

Reader's Annotation

Your own personal music stations to fit your individual tastes and moods, right from your own computer. Pandora makes it possible to get into your musical groove and discover new artists at the same time.

Author Information

The write-up from the website seemed so succinct that I have included it in its entirety here:

Since we started back in 2000, we have been hard at work on the Music Genome Project. It's the most comprehensive analysis of music ever undertaken. Together our team of fifty musician-analysts has been listening to music, one song at a time, studying and collecting literally hundreds of musical details on every song. It takes 20-30 minutes per song to capture all of the little details that give each recording its magical sound - melody, harmony, instrumentation, rhythm, vocals, lyrics ... and more - close to 400 attributes! We continue this work every day to keep up with the incredible flow of great new music coming from studios, stadiums and garages around the country.

(For more information and to read more, check out Pandora's official site.)

Challenge issues

As with any online application, users are giving out personal information when they sign up: age, gender, location, etc. This may make some users uneasy, as data mining is so prevalent and internet privacy is of great concern for some users.

Booktalking Ideas

I would love to see Pandora included in a booktalk on music history and theory, perhaps mixing in some biographies of famous historical and contemporary composers.

Curriculum Ties

Listening to Pandora could be an interesting assignment for a music class (if all students are over 13 and parents agree to it), particularly comparing and contrasting the songs that Pandora "thinks" a user will like. Can we hear the similarities also? Does the Music Genome Project always get it right?

Why this site?
I have heard some tweens talking about playing around with Pandora as a way to explore new artists, for free, and you get to hear the whole song, unlike with iTunes.

Awards
None.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Available on the internet.

Twilight: The Movie

Biblio Bits Twilight, produced by Godfrey, Mooradian, Morgan, and Rosenfelt; screenplay by Rosenbery; directed by Hardwicke. Summit Entertainment 2009.

Reading Level/Interest Age Rated PG-13

Genre Pop culture, horror, romance, magical realism

Format DVD

Plot Summary

When Bella moves to Forks, Washington (from sunny Arizona and life with her mom), she expects a small, boring town and a quiet life with her dad. Bella reconnects with a childhood friend, Jacob, who lives on a nearby reservation. Her attention is captivated by the Cullen family: five gorgeous, adopted siblings who attend Forks High School with her, and keep to themselves. It turns out that Bella and Edward are assigned as biology lab-partners, but Edward is unbelievably rude and Bella is mystified. When Edward saves Bella's life with a demonstration of superhuman strength and speed, she begins to suspect that Edward might be something other than human. Romance, and plenty of complications, soon follow.

Critical Evaluation

Condensing a nearly-500 page best-selling novel into a feature-length film is a tough job. Overall, I was impressed with the choices the screenwriter made in selecting the most significant portions of the book to portray onscreen. I was also pleased with many of the casting choices (Bella, her dad, Jacob, James, Jessica), the visual "look" and filming-style, and the way the relationships played out onscreen. However, Robert Pattinson (teen heartthrob) just didn't do it for me, as Edward, particularly his flat-sounding voice. And I have tried to listen to this on CD and hated the sound of the reader's voice. In my mind, Edward has a timeless appeal (and not those ridiculously dark eyebrows!), like a younger George Clooney. I, and others, are eagerly awaiting the release of the next installment: New Moon (November 20, 2009).

Reader's Annotation

You've read all the books, you have to see the movie! The real question is: are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?

Author Information

Stephenie Meyer received her degree in English from Brigham Young University. The idea for the characters in this popular series came to her in a dream; she worked on the first installment at odd moments and late at night, while her three sons were little. All of the Twilight Books have appeared on bestseller lists and she was named one of the most promising authors of 2005 by Publishers Weekly. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three sons. (Information in this author bio is from the author's official site.)

Challenge issues

Mature themes like throwing yourself so wholeheartedly at a boy (vampire) that you exclude all other interests and friends are just one of the ways that viewers might object to this film. Also, giving vampires a place in our world---and having their world be attractive---is another shivery concept.

Booktalking Ideas

Another one you won't have to booktalk (movietalk?) because it will walk off the shelves and probably stay off the shelves. It would be natural to include this movie in a booktalk about the supernatural or a Halloween/spooky theme, but it would also work in a booktalk with a romance theme.

Curriculum Ties

Not really applicable unless it was in a language arts class where students were asked to examine the role of Bella as the unlikely heroine in this series, or perhaps what it means for feminism that this book has become so popular with teen and tween girls.

Why this movie?
I had to satisfy my curiosity about how the movie version would measure up to the characters and visuals I had in my head, after reading the books. I saw it first in the theater (with my husband and a bunch of teen/tween girls) and revisited it for this assignment.

Awards
No.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes.

Graveyard Book

Biblio Bits The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, read by the author, Harper Children's Audio, 2008 (ISBN 9780061551895)

Reading Level/Interest Age 820 lexile/ages 10+

Genre Magical realism

Format Audio book

Plot Summary

When a calculated killer murders his family one night, it's only his penchant for escaping the crib that leads Baby to slip out of the house unnoticed. This turns out to be for the best, as the most important target was the baby himself. He makes his toddling way up the hill and into an old graveyard, but the killer has not forgotten his missed prey. The residents of the graveyard (ghosts) decide to harbor the fugitive, after much deliberation; Mr. and Mrs. Owens take him in as their ward and his guardian is the mysterious Silas, who is not quite a ghost, but not living either. Young Bod (short for Nobody), has the Freedom of the Graveyard, which affords him some of the privileges that the ghosts have, such as Fading and Haunting. But the caveat is that Bod must not leave the Graveyard or else he won't be protected from the outside forces that still seek his destruction. A magical tale of growing up and learning life's lessons both large and small, The Graveyard Book is a mix of humor, friendship, and love, and with a bit of suspense and scary thrown in.

Critical Evaluation

The audio version of this title is a true delight, read by Gaiman himself (one of the few authors who should be allowed to read their own stuff), with music by Bela Fleck interspersed between the chapters. In fact, though I want to share this book with my 11 year-old son, I may opt to listen with him rather than read it aloud, since Gaiman reads so masterfully. The only place in the story that has made me pause in my reading is the chapter when Bod enters the Ghoul Gate. During both of my readings of the book, I could see that Bod was about to get into trouble and I wanted to avoid reading about it or listening to it. The characters in this book, and their relationships, are one reason why this title is noteworthy (particularly Bod's relationship with the ghost girl, Liza, and the relationship between Bod and Silas). But really, Gaiman's everlasting talent as a writer is that he can conjure a complete and believable world of fantasy with absolutely no holes. As a reader, this allows one to fully immerse in the flow of the story and marvel at the possibilities Gaiman poses.

Reader's Annotation

Ready for a great story just in time to give you the Halloween shivers? Then you might be in the mood for the story of Nobody Owens, an orphan who lives in an ancient graveyard full of ghosts.

Author Information

Neil Gaiman was born in 1960 and grew up in West Sussex, England. Gaiman is the critically-acclaimed author of the Sandman series of graphic novels, has written poetry, short fiction, and books for adults. He has received many awards for his works, too many to name, and is primarily considered an author who writes in the fantasy genre (though there is lots of crossover). Gaiman is the father of three children and is divorced. He resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Information for this bio was gleaned from this entry and the author's official site.)

Challenge issues

The element of terror and suspense during the scenes when Bod is being actively pursued might make some parents leery of this title if they have younger children. Witchcraft is referred to because Bod is friends with a long-dead witch who was drowned, then burned.

Booktalking Ideas

I would definitely play up the supernatural elements for a Halloween-themed booktalk: a boy who lives in a graveyard and talks to ghosts, Fading, Haunting, Dream Visitations, not to mention the Danse Macabre (a traditional and ancient ball when the dead get to dance with the living).

Curriculum Ties

This makes an excellent read-aloud, even if you aren't Neil Gaiman. This would be a good selection for a language arts book, particularly because there are threads of the story that allow for some ambiguity and therefore lend themselves to interesting discussions. Who/What is Silas? Who are the Jacks? Who is Bod? Why is he the Jacks' target?

Why this book?
This book initially turned me off because the first few pages are so dark and scary. But the audio version was recommended highly by two librarians I know, so I tried it that way first (loved it), and then read the paper version.

Awards
Newbery Medal (2009); ALA Notable Book for Middle Readers (2009); Booklist Editors' Choice Award for Older Readers (2008); Hugo Award for Best Novel (2009); Audie Awards for Best Children's 8-12 and Best Audiobook of the Year (2009).

Rockport Public Library owns?

No.

3 Willows

Biblio Bits 3 Willows by Ann Brashares, Random House/Listening Library, 2009 (ISBN 9780739380420)

Reading Level/Interest Age 700 lexile/ages 12-14

Genre Realistic fiction

Format Audio book

Plot Summary

Ama, Polly, and Jo used to be best friends. Now, it's the summer before high school and each one has gone her seperate way. Jo will spend the summer at the family beach house with her mom, working as a busgirl. Ama will be attending a prestigious summer program on scholarship. Polly will be home, babysitting. But each neat plan is somehow disrupted: Jo's dad will not be coming with them this summer, since her parents are in a trial separation; Ama's summer program turns out to be a wilderness adventure course, not the academic acceleration she was hoping for; Polly becomes obsessed with her body image, convinced that she should attend modeling camp. Each story has its triumphs and heartbreaks as the girls make important self-discoveries, and over the summer they begin to understand the role their lost friendship has played in their lives.

Critical Evaluation

Geared towards a slightly younger audience than The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, this book (presumably first in a new series) was less cohesive. The story threads were engaging, but it seemed like unrealistic that the three girls would be able to find their way back to each other after so long an absence. The willow analogy felt a bit forced, with willow lore interspersed with the sections of the book. Each story thread had such a textbook teen problem (overcoming fears, dysfunctional families, and body image issues) that I felt a little preached to. Readers will enjoy the appearance of Effie (Lena's younger sister from the Sisterhood books), though she plays the mean girl here; her character is not explored, rightfully, as we see her from Jo's point of view. The reader of the audio book did a fine job conveying the various voices in a convincing way. But overall, I didn't feel the same level of engagement with these girls that I did with the Sisterhood.

Reader's Annotation

It's the summer before high school and so much has changed between Ama, Polly, and Jo: they used to be best friends but now have very different goals. How will they deal with the summer's challenges, successes, and failures without each other?

Author Information

Ann Brashares grew up in Maryland and studied philosophy at Barnard College in New York City. After graduation, Brashares took a job at a publishing house to save money for graduate school. It turned out she had a knack for editing and decided to stay in her position. Brashares wrote the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books which have become international best-sellers. (Information in this author biography was gleaned from the author's official website at Random House.)

Challenge issues

There is family alcoholism, depression, divorce, anorexia, and kissing a near-stranger on a bus in this title. Any of those might be cause for someone to have objections.

Booktalking Ideas

Chances are, as with any Sarah Dessen book, you probably won't have to booktalk this one: fans of Brashares will be eager to snatch this book of the shelf and get reading. And then they'll recommend it and booktalk it to their friends and you won't keep this book on the shelf for long. If I was forced to booktalk this book, however, I would probably link it to other titles in which fears and challenges are confronted in a contemporary, realistic setting.

Curriculum Ties

This title would be very much at home in a middle school health unit or perhaps a mother-daughter bookclub because there is a lot to discuss and talk about. Issues like body image and anorexia and imperfect families are played out in this story in an accessible way that tweens will relate to.

Why this book?
I was curious about how Brashares would create a new "sisterhood," in light of the success of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. Fans will be curious too. The simple cover was another appeal factor for me.

Awards
None.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes.

Schooled

Biblio Bits Schooled by Gordon Korman, Hyperion, 2007 (ISBN 9780786856923)

Reading Level/Interest Age 740 lexile/ages 12-14

Genre Realistic fiction

Format Audio book

Plot Summary
Capricorn "Cap" Anderson has been raised and homeschooled by his grandmother, Rain, on a now-defunct hippie commune. Up until now, he has worked the farm with her, made his own clothes, and been out of contact with any kids his own age. He knows all of the anthems of the 1960s, can play the guitar, and knows how to tie-dye, but he has never seen TV, handled money, or used the phone. When Rain breaks her hip, Cap goes to live with a social services worker and attends Claverage Middle School as an 8th grader. The culture shock is huge, and more-so because Cap is elected 8th grade president, a rigged election designed to get the biggest dork in school in public office. Cap finds himself in charge of the 8th grade Halloween dance, making many naive and innocent mistakes along the way, while also navigating the social conventions of middle school. The story is told through many voices and perspectives, not just Cap's, which adds a dimension of complexity as the relationships unfold and develop between characters.

Critical Evaluation

The reading on audio is narrated by a full cast that brings to life the voices of Cap, Naomi, Mr. Casigi (the principal), Mrs. Donnelly (his caseworker) and others. Each chapter begins with a statement of who will be narrating, so as to minimize a reader's (or listener's) confusion. The story conveys the somewhat funny, naive foibles of Cap's first taste of institutional education and the complex social realities of middle school, but leaves a reader with a feeling of growing discomfort about the unkindness of Cap's peers as they set him up to fail. You're sort of laughing along, and then realizing that a line has been crossed into cruelty. The relationships are believable, particularly the snappy scorn of Sophie, Mrs. Donnelly's 16 year-old daughter, and the dialogue and social dynamics equally so. Cap makes a believable and subtle transformation, after experiencing Claverage, when he returns to the commune; the world he knew looks different now, after gaining a broader perspective, friends, and new experiences. Less believable was the shift that his grandmother made, when she decided to ground herself in the 21st century for the sake of Cap's future.

Reader's Annotation

That long-haired, tie-dye-wearing hippie didn't walk out of a time warp into the halls of Claverage middle school, but he might as well have! Cap has been homeschooled on a now-defunct commune and has a lot to learn from the mainstream.

Author Information

Gordon Korman, a Canadian American, was born in Montreal, grew up in Ontario, and got his BA in Fine Arts from NYU in 1985. He currently resides on Long Island with his wife and three children. Korman has written extensively for kids and young adults, and his books have sold over 7 million copies. (Information for this section was found at the author's official site.)

Challenge issues

Stereotyping of hippies is about the only one I can come up with here.

Booktalking Ideas

The perfect booktalking buddy for Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl! This book would be right at home in a booktalk on those characters that break out of the mold, forge their own paths, and fly in the face of convention. You could even throw in some titles about famous people who challenged popular thinking, perhaps a biography of Amelia Bloomer, DaVinci, or the Wright brothers.

Curriculum Ties

This could actually make an interesting link to a unit that touches on the fundamentals of anthropology, since Cap is a bit like a visitor from a foreign land. He's totally out of touch with mainstream culture and social customs and yet, like Stargirl, begins to influence those around him because of the unique perspective he has. It would be a great compare/contrast discussion to Stargirl.

Why this book?
Funny and engaging through its multiple perspectives, this book portrays the social stratification of middle school in a realistic way. But through Cap's character, it fundamentally calls into question a lot of the norms of our society. An excellent choice for readers who are in the mood to experience a different perspective.

Awards
None.

Rockport Public Library owns?

No.

Bloomability

Biblio Bits Bloomability by Sharon Creech, read by Mandy Siegfried, Books on Tape, 2009 [1998], (ISBN 9780739385425)

Reading Level/Interest Age 850 lexile/ages 11-14

Genre Realistic fiction

Format Audio Book on CD

Plot Summary

Dinnie's from a nomadic family, always on the move to find better opportunities. When her teenaged sister comes home after a weekend away from home with a marriage certificate (and shortly thereafter shows signs of pregnancy) and her brother ends up in jail, Dinnie's aunt and uncle come to kidknap her (Dinnie's impression). They take her to Switzerland to the upscale boarding school at which they are both employed and Dinnie must come to terms with her new circumstances: away from her family for the first time, in a new educational setting, and in a new country. Dinnie's emotions are mixed, as she navigates a new group of friends and new experiences and begins to develop her own ideas and sense of self in this context.

Critical Evaluation

This is an engaging story that has periods of being more or less compelling. Essentially it's the story of Dinnie's self discovery, but sometimes it felt like self-absorption (completely age-appropriate, but sometimes boring to read). The secondary characters really shine here, especially Guthrie (lovable) and Lila (love to hate her), and their function in the story and in Dinnie's life were a way to explore the various ways to see the world. This volume was not as tightly constructed as Walk Two Moons or Chasing Redbird but fans of Sharon Creech will still enjoy her flair for dialogue and humor, as well as believable characters. The reader, Mandy Siegfried, did a good job of creating a wide variety of voices; at the beginning of my listening, I found her pace a little fast, but I became used to it.

Reader's Annotation

Getting whisked away to a Swiss boarding school never sounded so good. But will Dinnie just adapt into the woodwork, like she has in the other schools she has attended?

Author Information

Sharon Creech is the Newbery award-winning author of Walk Two Moons (1994) as well as many other titles for tweens and teens. She grew up in South Euclid, OH with her four siblings and parents. As a child, Creech visited her cousins in Kentucky and formed many happy memories there; she created the fictitious Bybanks, KY out of the memories of these years, which has appeared in several of her titles. She has taught high school English in Switzerland and England, and currently lives in New Jersey with her husband. She is the mother of two grown children. (Information in this author bio comes from the author's website.)

Challenge issues

Passing references to marijuana and alcohol use, as well as the teen pregnancy of Dinnie's sister.

Booktalking Ideas

This could be a good selection for a discussion about nontraditional families; Dinnie's aunt and uncle serve as her parental figures, as well as the family she creates through her friendships at school. Other themes might be living abroad or stories set at boarding schools.

Curriculum Ties

Social issues like friendship would be the obvious tie or simply growing up and changing perspectives, perhaps in a health unit.

Why this book?
I remember reading and (I thought) liking this book from when it was first published. I still enjoyed it this time around but it wasn't quite all that I remember it to be; perhaps I was remembering Absolutely Normal Chaos. Still, an appealing read for the tween that is considering what it means to fledge the nest, whether through developing new ideas or physically being apart from ones family.

Awards
Parenting Magazine Reading Magic Award 1999

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes

Savvy

Biblio Bits Savvy by Ingrid Law, read by Lily Blau, Penguin Audio, 2008 (ISBN 9780143143482)

Reading Level/Interest Age 10-12

Format Audio book

Genre Magical realism

Plot Summary
In the Beaumont family, when you turn thirteen you get your "savvy." A savvy can be anything from conjuring extreme weather to moving landmasses to bottling radio waves, and Mibs, who is about to turn thirteen herself, can't wait to find out what her savvy is. When her father ends up in the hospital because of an automobile accident on the eve of her birthday, the plans for Mibs' special day go awry. Mibs, two of her siblings, and two friends from church end up on a madcap adventure aboard a pink bus, trying to make their way to the hospital where Mr. Beaumont is in a coma because Mibs thinks she just might be able to use her savvy to wake him up. Along the way, Mibs learns more than just what her savvy is all about.

Critical Evaluation

This coming-of-age story is a tender and sometimes funny look at the challenges of growing up, magical powers aside. Mibs is a likeable and believable character who is navigating the complex waters of family, friendship, and the inklings of a first romance. This title provides an accurate portrayal of what it means to know and understand yourself and others, even as you (and the world around you) are changing. The author plays with language throughout the story, using repetition and alliteration to add emotion and emphasis. Lily Blau might not have been my first choice as reader for this title, since the southern dialect seems challenging for her and often slowed down her reading.

Reader's Annotation

Think X-Men, think superpowers, think about what it would be like to have an unusual ability AND be turning 13 and you might have an inkling about where this outrageous adventure aboard a pink bus might be headed.

Author Information

Ingrid Law grew up in upstate New York, near Lake Champlain, and currently resides in Colorado with her 14 year-old daughter. Savvy is Ingrid Law's first book. She is planning another book about savvies, though not about Mibs. (Biographic information gleaned from the author's official site and an interview on August 23, 2009.)

Challenge issues

Not witchcraft per se, but certainly magical and extraordinary powers are exhibited in these pages.

Booktalking Ideas

The idea of savvies and superpowers (which one would you pick if you could?) is certainly one that could be a theme for this booktalk, as well as trying to figure yourself out and growing up in an unusual family. The Runaway Princess (Coombs, 2006) and Saffy's Angel (and others) (McKay, 2001) are other titles that would fit with this age, on the theme of being different and being O.K. with yourself.

Curriculum Ties

Tall tales would be the obvious link here, with the idea of savvies as a modern take on this classic type of storytelling. The characters in Mrs. Beaumont's clan use their savvies for good or evil means, which is a bit different, given that most of the Tall Tale heroes (Paul Bunyan, the Jack stories) use their powers for good.

Why this book?
The idea of kids with superpowers (savvies) is a pretty compelling one to a variety of readers. Even though the main character is a girl, the sense of adventure is strong, the characters are realistic, and there are many funny moments so that it might appeal to some boys also (although the cover is a bit girly---could be a tough sell). There is also a real sense of tension that develops as Mibs tries to understand what her savvy is and the full extent of it, which is intriguing because it's not like you get a user's manual with your savvy.

Awards
ALA Notable Book 2009, Maine Student Book Award 2009-2010 Reading List, Newbery Honor 2009.

Rockport Public Library owns?
Yes.