Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson

Bibliography
Larson, Kirby. 2006. Hattie Big Sky. New York: Delacorte Press.  ISBN 9780385735957

Plot Summary 

This historical novel centers around the adventures of 16 year old Hattie Brooks who after living with various family members for most of her life, moves to Montana when she inherited her late uncle's land in the year 1917.  Hattie learns how to work the land and brave the elements while making close friends with her German neighbors and others in her new community.  During this time, anti-German sentiments were common in the community.  Hattie was often torn between proving she was a loyal American and a loyal friend to her neighbors who have helped her so often during her struggles on the frontier.  

Critical Analysis  

The characters in Hattie Big Sky are well developed and relatable.  Hattie herself is much like many teenage girls.  She is a little shaky on her feet but thirsts for adventure and independence.  She also goes through different periods of self doubt where she questions what she might have gotten herself into.  This is something teenagers face often and although Hattie speaks differently, dresses differently, and lives a much different day to day life, they will still find something in common with her.  

The plot and setting of this book are strong points of the novel.  The plot uses simple terms so that the reader can understand what life was like back in the that time without feeling overwhelmed with facts and other details.  The author does a great job of describing the setting so that the reader can easily paint a picture of what is happening in their mind.  One particular vividly painted scene was when Hattie described her house upon arriving.  "Gaps in the siding revealed black tar paper, like decay between haphazard teeth.  Two wood-block steps led up to a rough-hewn door." This helps readers understand just how bad the house was and just how different it is from what we are used to in our modern times.  

The theme and style of Hattie Big Sky accurately reflect that of the early 1900s.  Hard work, kindness, and hospitality are strong throughout the novel.  The speech patterns and mannerisms are simple and polite reflecting what many of us would imagining when thinking of this time period.  

This novel is authentic in that the author did a lot of research when writing Hattie's story.  She started with letters and journals from her own family history and continued with visits to museums, personal interviews, and research from historical societies.  In the back of Hattie Big Sky, readers will find a bibliography of further readings about the Montana frontier life and World War I.  

Review Excerpts:

• Newbery Honor Book
• School Library Journal- "Larson creates a masterful picture of the homesteading experience and the people who persevered."

Connections:

*Visit an online exhibition of World War I:  http://www.firstworldwar.com/

*Bake a few dozen servings of Hattie's Lighter than Lead Biscuits to share with the class.  Recipe is found in the back of the novel.  

Eyes of the Emperor by Graham Salisbury

Bibliography
Salisbury, Graham. 2005. Eyes of the emperor. New York: Wendy Lamb Books.  ISBN  9780385729710

Plot Summary 

This is a book from the historical fiction genre about 16 year old Eddy, a Japanese American, who lies about his age so that he can enlist in the Army.  After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Eddy and his fellow Japanese American soldiers are given menial jobs and start to see that they are being treated differently because of their ethnicity.  Eddy and his friends are then moved to Cat Island in Mississippi where they are forced to partake in a secret mission that trains dogs to sniff out the scent of Japanese people.  Eddy and his friends are viciously attacked by some of the dogs and the experiments do not stop until government officials come in and see that the training was failing.  Eddy and his fellow soldiers were then finally sent off to Europe to fight in World War II. 

Critical Analysis 

This is a very moving story filled with historical information that readers of any age can learn from.  Eddy and his friends are very relatable characters so it is easy for readers to connect with their emotions and sympathize with the discrimination they face.  The characters seem to act their age and although they are soldiers, they still maintain mannerisms and behaviors of teenage boys. 

The plot and setting of the book are very colorful and intense.  The plot could be summarized as being serious with light airs of humor to break up the somberness.  The setting is a strong aspect of the story because it takes place in Hawaii during the Pear Harbor attack.  The aftermath of the attack is explicitly detailed from the chaos in the streets to the panic in the citizens of Hawaii. 

Racism is an important theme throughout the entire story as readers learn more and more about what Japanese Americans experienced during this time.  Eddy and his friends were true American patriots but treated like threats and then later like they were disposable.  Though they were treated like dirt, they persevered and never lost their patriotism or will to serve their country.

The authenticity of this story seems very sincere to readers.  In the author's note, Graham Salisbury thanks the 26 Cat Island veterans he interviewed to help gather information for his novel.  He also took a personal tour of Cat Island and offered a follow up to some of the soldiers in the book, some of which who were later killed in action.  The novel also includes a list of resources for further information about the Japanese Americans in World War II.   

Review Excerpts

• Leslie Bradshaw Award for Young Adult Literature
• School Library Journal- "The immediacy of the writing allows readers to imagine themselves as one of the boys. A story with huge implications for observers of current events."

Connections

*Read Graham Salisbury's book Under the Blood-Red Sun which also takes place during this time period.  ISBN 978-0553494877

*Visit the United States War Dog Association website and learn more about the roles dogs have played in our military.  http://www.uswardogs.org

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

Bibliography 
Gantos, Jack. 2011. Dead end in Norvelt. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.  ISBN 9780374379933

Plot Summary 

This semi-autobiographical, historical fiction novel takes place in 1962 and centers around a young Jack Gantos after he is grounded for the whole summer for mowing down his mother's corn crop.  He is then forced to help his elderly neighbor, Miss Volker, to write their small town's obituaries.  Jack ends up truly enjoying his time with Miss Volker and through the obituaries, he experiences lessons in history and adventure, including a town murder mystery.

Critical Analysis
There are many colorful characters in this novel that readers will find themselves rooting for as the story develops.  The main character, Jack, is especially relatable from the very beginning when we see an interaction with him and his mother.  Jack is relieved school is finally out and ready to begin his summer until his mother comes out and starts hassling him to be careful with the weapons he is playing with and informs him that he must help Miss Volker this summer.  Jack is not happy about this and readers will sympathize with his dilemma.

The plot and setting of this novel are very strong and make it easy for the reader to transport their imaginations to the early 1960s as they read along.  The plot is simple and mostly realistic in that it is possible for readers to imagine the same scenarios happening to them.  The setting is strong because it vividly paints a picture of the typical 1960s life in small-town America.  World War II weapons, drive-in movie theaters, Hells Angels, and typewriters are among the many items in this book that take the reader to a different time when things like this did not just sit in museums.

Death is a strong theme in this book and is something all readers can relate to no matter what time period they are living in.  From the writing of obituaries to the slow death of Jack's home town, readers are constantly reminded that life and other things do come to an end eventually.  Readers today will be able to relate to this theme because it is still something we see in our time.

The style of this book is strong because readers are hearing the stories of young Jack Gantos from adult Jack Gantos.  When reading the novel, it feels like hearing the words straight from his mouth giving it a personal and sincere touch.  The language used in the book is not so different from today which makes it easy for readers to connect and understand the story. This also lends to the authenticity.  There are no citations or recommendations for further reading but because the author wrote this book loosely based on himself, the descriptions of life in the early 60s are believable.

Review Excerpts

• 2012 Newbery award winner
• School Library Journal- "A fast-paced and witty read.”

Connections

*Take a few minutes to watch this interview from Jack Gantos where he discusses Dead End in Norvelt. http://youtu.be/neiTB_YvTPo

*Explore Norvelt through this website that focuses on Pennsylvania history.  http://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=1-A-2D6

Charles Darwin by Kathleen Krull

Bibliography
Krull, Kathleen. 2010. Charles Darwin.  Ill by Boris Kulikov. New York: Viking.  ISBN  9780670063352

Plot Summary 

This book is a biography about the great science innovator, Charles Darwin.  Author Kathleen Krull creates an incredible personal look in Darwin's life and shows the reader a side of him that we might not know such as his shy nature and love for his children and grandchildren.  This book covers Darwin's life from birth to death as well as his personal and professional life. 

Critical Analysis 

Kathleen Krull is a well known author and has a strong reputation for writing children's books about science.  Accuracy is supported in this book by a bibliography section in the back pages.  The book is organized in a simple, sequential way so that it is easy to follow and it also contains a table of contents in the beginning. 

The design of this book is also simple and easy to follow with well-detailed, and often times humorous, illustrations to accompany the texts.  The illustrations show Darwin carrying bugs in his mouth or riding on the shell of a tortoise.  These illustrations add to the idea that Darwin was a typical guy just like the rest of us by showing him in silly situations. 

The style of the book showed Charles Darwin in a light that many may not think of him in.  The author made sure to humanize him by focusing on his personality and family life.  This was refreshing and readers will find themselves rooting for his success and happiness as they read through the book.  The book explains Darwin's theories in ways that are easy to understand and also helps to clear up some of the misconceptions we might have about him.     

Review Excerpts

• Voya's Nonfiction Honor List 2010
• School Library Journal-"Krull does a fabulous job of making Darwin real, from boyhood to adulthood."

Connections

*Visit this website devoted to Charles Darwin.  Users can read his complete works as well as more personal items such as marriage notes and journal entries.  http://darwin-online.org.uk/

*Read more biographies in Kathleen Krull's Giants of Science series such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Isaac Newton, Sigmund Freud, Marie Curie, and Albert Einstein. 

Blizzard!: The Storm that Changed America by Jim Murphy

Bibliography
Murphy, Jim. 2000. Blizzard! the storm that changed America. New York: Scholastic Press.  ISBN 9780590673099

Plot Summary

This book focuses on the massive snow storms that moved across the country in March of 1888 which completely shut down the northeast.  The book pays close attention to the events that happened in New York City giving the reader an inside look at what citizens went through as they battled the bitter cold storm that brought down power lines, trapped people in their homes without enough food or supplies, and brought many to their deaths.  Jim Murphy takes the reader through the events that led up to the storm, what happened during the storm, and the challenges of life after the storm in this exciting book.  

Critical Analysis

The accuracy of this books appears to be strong and is discussed in detail by the author in the notes section. The author discusses the many sources he used including letters written by the Society of Blizzard Men and Blizzard Ladies, the New-York Historical Society, and many, many books that were written on the topic of this snow storm.  The author also detailed newspapers he consulted that were published all the way back to 1888 on the days of the storm.  Photographs and illustrations used in the book also give specific citations indicating where they were taken from.  

The organization and design of this book are strong in that it shows clear sequence and the use of graphics nicely compliments the text.  The author breaks the story into a day by day account giving the reader a feel as if they are experiencing a look at the storm in the same way the people in the book did.  There is also a table of contents in the beginning book.  The design complements the subject matter in that the graphics are all sepia toned to lend to the old fashioned feel of the 1800s.  Some graphics are actual photographs of the storm while others are illustrations.  Both types help the reader to visualize what they are reading.  

The style of this book is particularly impressive.  Readers will feel a sense of excitement as they go through the book and see the destruction that the snow storm creates.  The author also takes opportunities to educate the young readers so that they are understanding the technicalities of what they are reading.  An example of this can be seen when he defines a blizzard as "any storm where snow is accompanied by temperatures of 20 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, plus winds of at least 35 miles per hour."   

The aspect of this story that is particularly interesting is how the citizens reacted to the storm and worked together to survive.  Many people extended their homes to strangers, provided shelter to homeless, and worked tirelessly to repair the damage caused by the storm.  The book shows how rich and poor alike survived or succumbed to the elements and this is what I found to be most interesting of all. 

Review Excerpts

• Chosen as an outstanding book by the Junior Library Guild
• School Library Journal-"Overall, a superb piece of writing and history."

Connections

*View a youtube video that features an eyewitness account from a man that experienced the blizzard.  http://youtu.be/YylGRE1HzrM

*The Great Fire-a similar title by Jim Murphy that chronicles The Great Fire of 1871 in Chicago.  ISBN 9780439203074

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Bibliography
Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. 2005.  Hitler Youth: growing up in Hitler's shadow. New York: Scholastic Nonfiction. ISBN 978-0439353793

Plot Summary

This is an informational, or nonfiction, book about the young boys and girls who followed Hitler during his reign over Germany.  Young German children were drawn to Hitler's promises of a great Germany during a time when unemployment and poverty were prominent in the country.  This book shows the readers a day in the life of Hitler's youth army from their early days of outdoor adventures, to their slow take over of Germany, and finally to the devastating days of war and the eventual surrender of Germany to allied forces.  

Critical Analysis

Hitler Youth shows incredible accuracy throughout the entire book.  There is a well documented and thorough bibliography section and quote sources section in the back of the book as well as a note from the author explaining how she researched her book.  Especially impressive is the amount of personal interviews the author conducted with actual former members of the Hitler Youth which are all documented in the book as a bibliographic and quote source.  Photographs throughout the book are also well documented and taken from respectable sources such as the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.  

The organization and design of Hitler Youth are also strong aspects of the book.  Each chapter focuses on a different subject of the war yet continues to go in sequential order so the story and facts run smoothly in the reader's mind.  Photographs throughout the book are also very powerful and match faces to names as we get a look at the real life people the book focuses on as well as what every day Germany looked like during this time.  

The style of this book challenges readers to learn new information without being overwhelming.  One way the author does this is by using German words throughout the text along with their accompanying English translations.  En example of this is the German translation of Hitler Youth which the author tells us is Hitlerjugend. The text keeps the reader interested without being too simplistic or condescending.  

Review Excerpts

• Newberry Honor Book
• The Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
• School Library Journal-"Bartoletti lets many of the subjects' words, emotions, and deeds speak for themselves, bringing them together clearly to tell this story unlike anyone else has."

Connections

*View the DVD titled The Hitler Youth ASIN: B000ARXFMS

*The end of this book asks young readers what they are willing to do as youth to prevent something like the Holocaust from happening today.  Use this as a writing exercise and ask students to comment on what they would do.  

Things I Have to Tell You: Poems and Writing by Teenage Girls

Bibliography
Franco, Betsy, and Nina Nickles. 2001. Things I have to tell you: poems and writing by teenage girls. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.  ISBN 0763609056

Plot Summary

This is a collection of poems written by teenage girls from every different walk of life and about subjects such as love, life, drugs, sex, body image, race, and more.  Accompanying the poems are photographs of teen girls going about their day to day activities such as hanging out with friends or getting ready for school.  Both the text and pictures show the diversity of the poets and subject matter.

Critical Analysis

Because this is a collection of poems by different teenage girls, it was interesting to look at the book as a whole.  Betsy Franco wrote a preface to the poems saying that she chose to start the collection because she remembered feeling alone as a teenager and wanted to give a voice to girls everywhere.  Submissions appeal to around the ages of 12 and up and are most likely more appealing to female readers.  The pictures in the book help the reader imagine who these girls are and where they come from.

A major element of this collection that cannot be ignored is the raw emotion that practically screams at the reader.  This collection of poems was created to give teenage girls a safe outlet to say whatever is on their minds.  It is full of what most adult readers would describe as angst but it is done in a way that takes the reader into the mind of the poet and is very relatable.  These poems remind adult readers of what it is like to be a teenage girl and gives teens themselves proof that they are not so alone.

Rhythm varies throughout each poem.  Some poems use a staccato rhythm that speeds up the rhythm and builds tension while others use long couplets that slow down the pace of the poem.  Rhyme is used only a few times throughout the collection but used well when it does appear.  "My Ode to Crank" is a poem about meth addiction that uses rhyme.  The opening line says "Rolling smoke-foggy glass/Hit it slow--so you'll go fast".  The use of rhyme works well in this poem because it makes the heavy subject matter easier for the reader to digest.

Review Excerpts

• ALA Best Book For Young Adults 2001
• School Library Journal-"Franco has succeeded in compiling one of the brightest collections out there today"

Connections

**Read Franco's collection by teenage boys titled You Hear Me?: Poems and Writings by Teenage Boys ISBN 978-0763611590

**Choose a poem from the book and create a collage representing what is happening in the poet's life at the time of writing.  

Birmingham, 1963 by Carole Boston Weatherford

Bibliography
Weatherford, Carole Boston. 2007. Birmingham, 1963. Honesdale, Pa.: Wordsong. ISBN 1590784405

Plot Summary

This is a free verse fictional account of the events that happened in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963.  Told through the eyes of a soon to be ten year old girl whose family was involved in the civil rights movement, we hear her version of the events that led up to the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing.  Beginning with a student protest that led Birmingham police to unleash dogs and fire hoses on the children, to the march on Washington where Martin Luther King Jr. made his famous speech and finally to the fateful day where her church was bombed and four young girls lost their lives.  Readers are brought back to a time in history where equality was just a dream.  

Critical Analysis

This free verse poem uses long couplets to create a somber and serious flow when reading silently or aloud.  There is no use of rhyme in this book because it would take away from the meaning and subject matter of the book.  Metaphors can be seen throughout the poem with specific examples being "Mama, Daddy, and I stood at Lincoln's feet/While King's dream woke the nation from a long night of wrongs." and "Someone tucked a bundle of dynamite/Under the church steps, then lit the fuse of hate.". This book also uses sensory words that help the reader to imagine what is happening as they are reading.  Examples of this are "snarling dogs", a "soft kiss", and "clammy palms".  

The author of this book did a great job capturing the emotion of such a tumultuous time in history.  Sorrow and hope are both seen in the same poem as the little girl talks about being sprayed with a fire hose on one page and hearing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on another page.  The narrator makes readers feel what she went through on the day of the bombing and ended the poem with a powerful statement about how she wished she was still nine years old and that that day had never happened.  

The pictures in the book pair perfectly with the poem.  Each picture is a real life still of the events that happened in Birmingham so that the reader has an actually picture of what the narrator is talking about.  The pictures are very powerful and include pictures of the church before and after the bombing as well as pictures of the four girls who died.  

Review Excerpts   

• Library Media Collection, starred review- "This is a book that should be in every library collection."
• Kirkus Reviews-"It's a gorgeous memorial to the four killed on that horrible day"

Connections

*The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis ISBN 9780440228004

*Depending on the age of the reader, view parts or all of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute interactive online gallery at http://rg.bcri.org/gallery/

What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

Bibliography
Sones, Sonya. 2001. What my mother doesn't know. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780689855535

Plot Summary 

This book is a series of poems narrated by high school student Sophie.  Sophie tells the story of falling for her first love and then falling out of that love.  We see her parent's marriage slowly crumble as her father is gone away from home more often on business trips and coming home late at night.  At a school Halloween dance, Sophie has a memorable dance with a boy in a mask who runs off as soon as the dance is over.  Time goes by and Sophie starts spending time with and eventually falling in love with the school laughing stock.  Eventually she finds out it was him behind the mask and chooses to be his girlfriend despite the ridicule she might face at school.  

Critical Analysis

The rhythm of this book varies from short staccato lines to longer couplets.  This is also true about the lengths of each poem.  They can be very short or longer.  This matches the thoughts of a lot of teenage girls who sometimes get straight to the point or tend to have drawn out thoughts that take more time to process. 

A major appeal of this book is how the language sounds so much like that of a teenage girl.  Sophie's thoughts are deep but expressed in a way that teen girls can relate to which is one of Sonya Sones most impressive abilities to me.  Some poems are silly confessions like the poem titled "Confessions" where Sophie admits to kissing her knee and pretending it is her boyfriend when he is not around.  Other poems are more serious like the one titled "Mom and Dad Used to be in Love" where Sophie talks about her parents terrible, screaming fights and how she just wishes she could escape.  All of these capture the up and down emotions of what it is like to be a teenage girl.  

Review Excerpts

• Publisher's Weekly- "Sophie's honest and earthy story feels destined to captivate a young female audience"
• School Library Journal- "Sones's book makes these often-difficult years a little more livable by making them real, normal, and OK"

Connections

*Read the follow up story to this book titled What my girlfriend doesn't know told from the point of view of Sophie's boyfriend, Robin.  ISBN 978-0689876028

*Explore the Boston Museum of Fine Arts website and see for yourself what Sophie and Robin were experiencing on their museum trips.