Book Reviews
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Teaching the Civil War in history class can be a tedious job going from skirmish to skirmish until the class dies of sheer exhaustion. No more need this happen. Do the Civil War by reading a chapter a day from BLACK ANGELS by Linda Beatrice Brown (Putnam, 2009, $16.99). To quote Nicki Giovanni ,” BLACK ANGELS has found a way to bring home the sadness and the hope of the Civil War.”
Three children–two black one white–find each other after a battle has left them homeless and alone. Eleven year old Luke has run off to join the Union army; nine year old Daylily is lost in the woods. Luke feels protective of Daylily and accepts the responsibility for her care. Together they find seven year old Caswell, the white son of a plantation owner.
Luke is hoping to meet up with other slaves whom he knows are heading north to join the Union army. Then three kids finally decide to work together to survive. During their journey they encounter all kinds of obstacles and problems ending up ultimately at Harpers Ferry. Here Daylily who had been taught secretly to read and write becomes a teacher to other freed slave children and adults. Caswell happily has accepted a place in a negro household until his father , a rebel Cavalry survivor , locates his son and returns him to their plantation. Luke meanwhile has found a place for himself as a man servant to a Union Officer. However the trio have many trials and tribulations along the road to their final spots. It is through these various happenings the reader come to feel and experience life during the war.
Once this book is read aloud to students they will come away with a much more definitive look at the war. No, they will not know the names of the battles or the heroes from either side, but they will have a compassion for the people around whom this horrible war raged. Each of the children represent a segment of society involved in this conflict.
The resolution of the story sets the stage for later historical events such as the Civil Rights legislation. A mesmerizing read guaranteed to keep every listener in rapt silence.
An author and friend who has contributed many wonderful reading experiences for young readers is Cynthia DeFelice. Her major work is the book, WEASEL, a story destined to become a classic for middle school readers and others. Cynthia has a variety of titles to her credit, and each of them is original and surefire winner with young readers.
In her latest book, SIGNAL (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2009, $16.99) we meet Owen McGuire , a lonely new-in-town boy , and his dog, Josie. Owen is looking forward to a nothing summer when Campion enters his life. She tells Owen her parents left her behind accidentally. Their spaceship will return for her and bring her back to their planet known as HOME. Campion enlists Owen to help her make a signal fire to direct her family’s rescue. Will Owen assist her?
While preparing the signal fire and landing site Campion tells Owen all about HOME and life on her planet. Owen works to conceal Camion from neighbors and other who might want to stop the landing. At the same time Owen works an repairing relationships with his distracted father.
The conversations between the two children offer much for young readers to ponder about their lives in today’s society. The ending? Discover the true dimensions of this talented author for young readers. Great reading for all.
One of the most unusual and at the same time captivating new books I have encountered in ARC (Advance Reading Copy) form has to be THE DREAMER by Pam Munoz Ryan with drawings by Peter Sis (Scholastic Press, 2010, $17,99). I read this in galley form so much of the proposed artwork is marked ART TO COME. However, missing those final pieces in no way detract from this powerful, powerful story.
This story combines many diverse elements like biography, poetry and magical realism as it slowly unfolds the life of an extremely uncommon boy. This curious child walks to the beat of a different drummer most assuredly. Paramount in his life however, is the menacing almost presence of his father. This wall of obstinacy counteracts all the creative aspects of this child’s life. The child acts and reacts as an almost terror stricken human. There are times and places though when his creative spirit takes control and our young child thrives and matures.
The child Neftali’s life is dominated by the harshness of his father but also is softened and nurtured by the care of his Mamadre, sister of his deceased mother, and supported by a caring older brother Rodolfo and a younger sister Luarita. The influences of these three individuals contributed immeasurably to Neftali’s development as one of Chile’s greatest poets, Pablo Neruda.
The life events of this amazing young child play significant roles in his development as poet. The arrangement of the story, the poetry and the art all combine into a reading experience one must savor for oneself. Some of the art was included in my reading copy, but this served only to make me want to see the final finished art to make my reading experience more complete.
This book should be classified as biography, but actually it is so much richer. The pages dealing with the hundreds of influences which affected this poet as a child are mesmerizing and almost bewitching. The author, Pam Munoz Ryan, weaves a spell of words on the reader. Peter Sis in his magnificent art adds another dimension to these brilliantly placed words. This book is a winner for all ages. Available April 2010.
On a more serious note another picture book by a friend introduces Michelle Obama. The book MICHELLE by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by AG Ford (Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins, 2009, $17.99 ) comes soon on the heels of many television reports talking about the heritage of this remarkable First Lady. The book opens with scenes from the inauguration of her husband as the first black man elected to the presidency. The text then shifts to following the life of Michelle. Michelle’s parents, especially her mother who taught Michelle and her brother to read by age four, emphasized the importance of a good education for anyone’s career and life. Michelle worked and studies hard and graduated from Harvard Law School, While at her first job she was asked to mentor a student hired for the summer. This student was Barak Obama and the rest is history. The story ends “… her-tall and graceful, bold and beautiful. Michelle Obama. First Lady of America.”
The text is accompanied by lovely paintings which give breath and dimension to the author’s well-chosen words. This is a lady so-well known to the entire world and this brief treatment provides insightful data on her origins.
One delightful little character is back for her second adventure, DON’T BE AFRAID, LITTLE PIP by Karma West, illustrated by Jane Chapman (McElderry Books, Simon and Schuster, 2009, $16.99 ). Learning to swim frightens our young penguin, Pip. All the young penguins are assembled at the shore and their swimming teacher, Mr. Tucks, is going to teach them how to swim properly.
Pip says she is a bird and she has wings, so she wants to fly. Learning how to fly, however, presents a variety of problems. With each attempt and subsequent failure, she learns a song. Thanks to her best friend, Merry, a near accident becomes a wonderful experience for Pip and she ends saying. “Swimming is flying!”
The artwork is magnificent. Youngster Pip really looks like a young child. Her plumage is all askew and her features reflect what one would imagine a very young penguin might resemble. Pip is expressive and and shows great fun in each spread. Any young child can easily determine Pip’s mood as she struggles to get lift-off to fly. I feel certain much laughter will accompany each reading. Loved it and I am certain kids will too.
Humor needs to play an important part in reading with youngsters. One graphic picturebook which should guarantee a chuckle or two, maybe even a giggle or four is TWO BAD PILGRIMS by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by John Manders (Viking, 2009, $16.99).
This text, while loaded with good information about the Pilgrims and the settlement at Plymouth Rock, has a counterpoint delivered by two young scamps. Their outlook and outtake on events is pretty funny. They almost desensitize the reader making ones’ memory of historical accounts seem in a way maybe more real. For example, in the construction of the communal meeting house where everybody assisted, one of the young scamps says,”Hey, this is the new world. Aren’t there child labor laws?” These asides to the reader from these BAD pilgrims make the text quite funny and helps question our memories from history lessons past.
Through the power of computers and television our young readers are involved actively in the world about them. However most of what is available is adult-oriented. Seldom do they learn about the youngsters, like themselves, involved in the activity. One way to remedy that situation is to find children’s books introducing the young people of the world.
A new book, MUKTAR AND THE CAMELS by Janet Graber, illustrated by Scott Mack (Henry Holt, 2009, $16.99) takes our young reader into an orphanage on the Kenya and Somalia border. An orphan Muktar dreams fondly of his family when he tended their camels. One day a visitor arrives with camels and books. However one of the camels is injured and Muktar offers his help to the traveler. The traveler is a librarian working for the Kenya National Library Service and not particularly adept at handling camels. Muktar is taken on and promises to return often to the orphanage to replenish their supply of books.
Lines from this text illustrating the differences between cultures are fantastic. For example after a day of travel Muktar lay beside the camel and “The tangy smell of fresh excrement makes him drowsy.” The young boy’s life differs so radically from what most American children would ever encounter. Yet, these are the young people our young people must face in the future. I feel strongly that if all cultures could ever really get to know each other, more than superficially on television, so much of the conflicts would be lessened if not eliminated.
I feel it is never too young to introduce young readers to Biography. No, one does not want to burden them with all of the details of a person’s life. But rather select one special event or characteristic upon which to build a story introducing the person.
I like to classify these picturebooks or storybooks as “Near-Biography”. A recent publication, LOUISA THE LIFE OF LOUISA MAY ALCOTT by Yena Zeldis McDonough, illustrated by Bethanne Andersen (Henry Holt, 2009, $17.00) brings the childhood and early writing career of this remarkable writer to a young audience today.
We follow the childhood of Louisa and her family through many difficult times. Louisa seemed always to be a major force within the family circle. She was diligent in her efforts to assist the family, as well as many others, to cope with the difficulties of daily life. At one point Louisa travelled to work with injured Civil War soldiers. But no matter where she went her primary concern was for the welfare of her family. She labored at many jobs until publication of LITTLE WOMEN provided her with any kind of permanent support and security.
A lovely seasonal book done by two friends of mine is THE BANSHEE by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Emily Arnold McCulley. (Clarion Books, 2009, $16.00)
Terry is awakened from sleep by a noise. Could it be a night-prowling cat or that horned owl who lives nearby? No, he is convinced it is the Irish legend, the Banshee who wails outside a house when death is near. But who could the Banshee be coming for? Terry’s Ma, his da, or brother Liam? He musters his courage and heads out to beg the Banshee to go away.
This spooky delightful story shows dramatically the Irish culture. The art done by our Chatham neighbor Emily is almost scary enough to make young listeners cuddle a bit closer to the reader. Terry’s courage going out to face the Banshee is made just that much more melodramatic through her uses of very dark colors and shades. Terry’s gift for the spirit of his prized peacock feather is a perfect ending to this clever story for Halloween .
This story certainly is not limited to Halloween, but has a definite place in any study of Irish culture for example.
For any middle school or even high school teacher who has to teach about the Holocaust, may I recommend a book from 2008, This very short book would help answer students who ask “How could this happen?” T4: A NOVEL takes today’s reader back to Germany in 1939. Hitler has issued T4 order to kill any mentally or disabled person. The government soon realizes the populace will not allow simply massacring these people. So, they get medical doctors to vouch that the disabled with be compassionately housed in institutions.
This order affects Paula Becker and family. Paula is deaf and thus condemned to die. Her family priest urges her to flee first to a friendly farm where she learns German Sign Language. After several near captures Paula and another escapee, Kurt, flee to the forest. As the war winds down Paula makes it back home, and Kurt, having no family left, joins her.
This is a novel in verse making the reading very very quick. But no matter how fast it is consumed, the emotional effect is outstanding. The reader develops keen hearing as he/she awaits the sounds of the Gestapo trying to capture Paula. Remarkable in its simplicity and brevity and a glimpse at the lives of the German people during this horrific period of history.
Novel, hardcover, available now.