Module 13 - The Storm in the Barn

 

Phelan, M. (2009).  The storm in the barn. Somerville, Mass.:  Candlewick Press.

Summary:

This is a graphic novel about an eleven year old boy named Jack who lives with his family in Kansas during the Dust Bowl in 1937.  His family’s farm is suffering due to the four year long Dust Bowl.  Jack feels helpless to change things, his sister has ‘dust’ pneumonia, and Jack is often teased by the local bullies.  His only friend seems to be the general store owner who tells him stories.  The doctor thinks Jack might have ‘dust’ dementia.  Jack fears this is true after he begins to see a terrorizing figure in the abandoned barn.  He learns that this monster is ‘Rain’ who wants everyone in town to worship him.  Jack fights the monster, which results in rain for the community.

My Impression:

I am not a fan of graphic novels, and this book did not really change my mind.  I enjoyed the storyline up until the part about the monster, which made the story confusing for me.  However, I think fans of graphic novels would enjoy this book.  It’s a good example of historical fiction educating readers about a specific time in history.  It does contain the words ‘hell’ and ‘damn’ which I feel are used appropriately to convey the way characters are feeling.  There is also some violence as men in the town round up the rabbits and kill them with bats and clubs.  This book was a Bluebonnet nominated book in Texas for 2011-2012. 

Library Usage:

This novel could be used as a writing activity.  Students could choose a page, or one could be assigned, and write a paragraph about that page.  Peers could then read the paragraph and compare it to the page in the graphic novel.  The writer would need to include enough elaboration and details in the paragraph to convey what the page from the graphic novel showed.

Review:

Matt Phelan's debut graphic novel is part thriller, part historical fiction and part coming-of-age story. Long obsessed with the photographs of Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans that chronicled the Dust Bowl, Phelan was eager to introduce a new generation to one of the most storied eras in American history. "Any kid is going to be blown away by the starkness and the amazing spectacle of dust," says Phelan. "The drama of the environment catches their imagination." The Storm in the Barn tells the story of Jack Clark, 11, who lives in Kansas in 1937, in the heart of the Dust Bowl. As Jack and others around him try to make sense of the war that the environment is waging against them, Phelan wields his mighty watercolor brush to evoke life in a haunting palate of browns that transport the reader back in time. "By limiting the palette, I had more control over the use of color as a tool in the storytelling," says Phelan. Ironically, the artist chose to work with watercolor. "With watercolor you don't know what you're going to get," he says. "You stick your brush in the water and see what happens. I had a medium that I couldn't control, just like the dust, which was going to go where it was going to go." (Ages 10 & up)

Storm in the Barn. (2009). Kirkus Reviews, 77(22), 12.

Book Trailers

Book Trailer for Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way by Peter Golenbock:


http://animoto.com/play/93eIGMaILu2NgpHPWlyjNQ







Book Trailer for Frogs by Nic Bishop:

http://animoto.com/play/A5TwMnBFVswJXuiSwrQkgA






Book Trailer for All of a Kind Family by Sydney Taylor:

http://animoto.com/play/3tEW8AZy2By5z71TTPWJ1w

Module 12 - Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way

Golenbock, P. (2001). Hank Aaron:  Brave in every way.  New York:  Gulliver Books.

Summary:

This picture book tells the biography of Hank Aaron.  It begins with his childhood, highlighting the fact that he was very poor, but lived in a house full of love.  His parents’ high expectations for him are emphasized, with their advice of “be the best you can be, and keep your eyes on the goal” repeated throughout the book.  His baseball career is told from his beginning in the minors through his time with the Minnesota Braves.  As he begins to approach the record Babe Ruth made hitting home runs, the reader is reminded of both his determination and his parents’ advice.  The hate mail and death threats he received as he approached his goal are discussed, and examples of them can be read in the illustrations.  The story also tells about the thousands of letters of support he receives when a newspaper publishes an article about the hate mail.  The story ends with Hank Aaron making his 715^th home run, breaking Babe Ruth’s record.  As he crosses the home plate, he is met by his mother. 

My Impression:

I did not expect to like this book as I don’t have an interest in baseball.  I had no idea that Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s home run record.  I certainly had no idea about the hate mail and death threats he received.  The book is told in such a tender way, the reader feels the love in his family.  At the end of the book, when the other players make room for his mother as he crosses the home plate, I became teary.  This is a wonderful book.  It not only tells about Aaron’s life, but includes opportunities to discuss families, determination, racism, and overcoming obstacles.  I am so glad I read it.

Library Usage:

This book could be read to third and fourth graders prior to a research project on the Civil Rights movement.  The book contains dates that Aaron achieves certain goals, and students could find out what was occurring in United States at those times.  They could create a timeline for Aaron’s life and compare it to a timeline of Martin Luther King, Jr’s life.  Students could discuss how King’s work influenced Aaron’s life and choices. 

Review:

Gr 1-3 --This richly illustrated biography tells the story of the Hall of Famer by placing him in the proper historical context and attempting to humanize him. Aaron, a southern country boy, followed his dreams under the strict, but loving guidance of his parents. Despite his mother's wish that he attend college, he took a job on a professional team and rose quickly to the top as a home-run hitter. However, with racial tensions at an all-time high in the United States, his journey was not without problems. Hate mail and threats began to chip away at his hopes for success, until Aaron's adoring fans helped keep his dream alive. What Golenbock does well is capture the feel of 1960s' America, swelling with civil-rights tension. He deftly tells the athlete's story and proves that his subject certainly was "brave in every way." At times the narrative is a bit slow and the style is dry. Still, this baseball giant is brought down to earth as readers learn of his humble past and his personal struggles. Lee's strong, full-page acrylic illustrations in rich tones and textures work well and give the story depth and intensity.

Jones, T. E., Toth, L., Charnizon, M., Grabarek, D., Larkins, J., & Sneeringer, H. T. (2001).     
          Hank Aaron: Brave in every way. School Library Journal, 47(8), 168.

Module 11 - Children of the Great Depression

Freedman, R. (2005). Children of the Great Depression.  New York: Clarion Books.

Summary:

Children of the Great Depression is an informational text describing the lives of children during the 1930s and early 1940s, a time of severe economic hardship in the United States.  The author includes children whose lives were impacted by various degrees during the Great Depression.   The way in which families attempted to deal with the crisis is told through interviews and letters.  Several excerpts are included from letters children wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt.  The change in schooling is described, and also the fact that many children left school to go to work.  The effect of the Dust Bowl on families in that region is described, and the attempt of those families to find work elsewhere is described.  Another chapter of the book describes the lives of boxcar kids, children who survived by traveling in groups and hopping trains.  Throughout the book, the lives of black children are compared to those of white children, highlighting the segregation that was common in the country at that time.  The book also includes some bright moments during the depression, such as games and movies popular during that time period.  The book concludes with an explanation of how World War II brought closure to the Great Depression.

My Impression:

The photographs in the book tell as much about the time period as the text.  Vivid photos of poverty stay with the reader for a long time.  The text is easy to read.  Exploring the Great Depression through the effects it had on the children of the time makes it relatable to students today.  The author does not shy away from the horrors of racism and discrimination that occurred during that time period.  I think this is a very important book for children to have access to, especially as we begin to lose those that lived through this period of time.  I would recommend it for upper elementary and above.

Library Usage: 

This is great book to use for a writing prompt by using the photographs in the book.  Students can choose a child in a photograph, and using the text and clues from the picture, write a first person narrative describing an event in that child’s life.

This is also a wonderful book to use with fiction books dealing with the Great Depression.  The chapter titled “Go Home, Okies,” would be an excellent resource to use if a class is reading Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. 

Review:

In this magnificent volume, superb photographs by Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, Russell Lee, Arthur Rothstein, Ben Shahn and others help to tell the story of the Great Depression. Every spread includes either a full-page photograph or severalIn this magnificent volume, superb photographs by Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, Russell Lee, Arthur Rothstein, Ben Shahn and others help to tell the story of the Great Depression. Every spread includes either a full-page photograph or several smaller shots. Great use is made of letters, diaries and memoirs to tell the story so beautifully complemented by the photographs. Freedman is a master of the photo-essay, and this is one of his best. More wide-ranging than most histories of the era, this tells, in clear and simple prose, the story of dust storms, soup kitchens, Hoovervilles, kids at work, kids on trains, popular culture and the beginning of WWII. Chapter notes are thorough, and the selected bibliography includes some of the best resources for young readers. An excellent companion to other fine photo-essays on the period, such as Elizabeth Partridge's Restless Spirit (1998) and This Land Was Made for You and Me (2002). (picture sources, index) (Nonfiction. 9+)

Children of the Great Depression. (2005). Kirkus Reviews, 73(23), 1274.



Module 10 - Henry's Freedom Box

Levine, E. (2007). Henry's freedom box. New York: Scholastic Press.

Summary:

This book is based on a true story about Henry 'Box' Brown.  He was born a slave, and eventually was separated from his mother.  He worked in a tobacco factory for his new owner.  The book often refers to birds that Henry watches, admiring their freedom.  Henry eventually marries and has children of his own.  One day he is informed that his wife and children are being sold.  Henry runs to the auction and sees his children and wife being taken away.  He goes into a depression which the book describes as a dark time when he could not sing or hum.  One day he sees a bird and decides he wants to be free as well.  He goes to a white man, who believes in freedom, and they think of a plan.  Henry burns his hand with oil of vitriol, which enables him to stay home from work without his master becoming suspicious.  With the help of friends, he packs himself in a wooden crate and mails himself to Philadelphia.  There friends of the white man helping Henry will unpack the crate.  Amazingly, Henry survives the journey and the crate is opened in Philadelphia where he is now a free man. 

My Impression:

This is one of my favorite picture books.  The artwork, by Kadir Nelson, is wonderful and it was a Caldecott Honor Book in 2008.   While the characters in the book are not allowed to share how they are feeling, Nelson shows their feelings in their faces through his art. This book describes the heartbreaking parts of slavery, including family separation and not having a birthday to celebrate.  Henry is presented as a good man, who follows all of the rules, only to be subjected to abuse and sadness.  When the box is opened in Philadelphia, the reader realizes they have been rooting for Henry all along.

Library Usage:

I think this would be a great book to read aloud to students during Black History Month.  Henry Brown is indeed a hero, willing to risk his life to escape slavery.  Younger students (K-2) could be asked to think about what they would put in a box to keep safe.  They could draw what they would want to keep safe, and write a sentence or two about why it is so important to them.  The librarian can help them make the connection between their important thing and the importance of Henry's freedom.

Older children can research to find out more about Henry Brown.  He traveled from Virginia to Philadelphia in 27 hours.  He took with him some water and a few biscuits.  Students could write a narrative passage pretending to be Henry and describe his experience in the box in first person.

Review:

Gr 2-5 --In 1849, after seeing his wife and children sold on the auction block, Henry "Box" Brown had himself shipped North to freedom in a wooden crate. The straightforward, sympathetic text imagines Brown's history while darkly radiant and haunting paintings reflect his emotional pain, determination, and eventual triumph.

Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story. (2007). School Library Journal, 5326.



Module 9 - The Body of Christopher Creed

Plum-Occi, C. (2000).  The body of Christopher Creed.  San Diego: Harcourt.

Summary: 

Torey is a high school student with a seemingly perfect life in a ‘perfect’ suburb.  When a classmate named Christopher Creed,who has always been somewhat ostracized, goes missing, Torey’s life and the suburb change.  As people take sides on whether or not Christopher is dead, Torey finds himself involved with Ali and Bo, two students who he typically would not hang out with.  As the three of them try to find out what happened to Christopher, they discover things about his family that were not quite right.  Torey learns that Ali is having a difficult time at home that is causing her behavior to drastically change.  He also that Bo, a kid from the wrong side of town who has been in trouble a great deal, has a challenging home life.  He also discovers Bo’s good points.  The story begins with Torey admitting he spent some time in a psychiatric hospital before leaving town and going to boarding school.  He then proceeds to tell the story, and the reader sees what led up to the hospitalization and boarding school.  The story’s ending manages to answer all the questions the reader has throughout the book.

My Impression:

 I loved the psychological aspects of this book.  It looks at the home lives of adolescents and shows how much it influences them.   Torey is somewhat naïve about what his classmate’s deal with at home, and being exposed to different things changes his thinking, and his behavior.  As he searches for answers to Christopher’s disappearance, he learns about himself and the outside world.  When he is traumatized towards the end of the book, he begins the process of putting all the things he has learned together in a way that makes sense.  His family provides a lot of support for him, and even his friends at times, and this allows the reader to see a healthy family.

Library Usage:

This is a great book to use for discussions on families and how they influence us.  It can lead into a discussion about what you want to take from your family, and ways you want to be different from your family.  As a social worker, I could see using this book with patients who come from those ‘dysfunctional’ families that are not overtly abnormal.  Sometimes children have a difficult time knowing what is not normal when it is subtle.  As the book mentions, this can be the most difficult type of ‘abuse’ to deal with.

Review:

Christopher was the weirdo everybody picked on, the troubled soul no one bothered to befriend. When Christopher disappeared, some pointed to evidence that he simply left town, but others decided he had been murdered. The mystery of Christopher's disappearance is never solved, but several lives are irrevocably damaged in the aftermath. Torey tells the story a year later in a voice that is fresh and real, alternately humorous and devastatingly perceptive. He has learned that you should not judge anyone before making an effort to understand his or her situation. Though action and suspense abound, the book's highlights are its character studies. Even minor characters are well drawn, and the town itself becomes a character with a distinct personality. Christopher himself, although he disappeared before the book's beginning, endears himself to readers as he is painted as a boy to be pitied but also to be admired.

The body of Christopher Creed (Book Review). (2000). Book Report, 19(3), 61.

Module 8 - Flawed Dogs: The Shocking Raid on Westminster

Breathed, B. (2009). Flawed dogs: the shocking raid on Westminster. NewYork: Philomel  

         Books.

Summary:

Sam is a dachshund who belongs to Heidy, an orphan who loves him.  However, Heidy lives in ahouse with a poodle named Cassius.  Cassius is envious of Sam and sets out to destroy him.  He eventually manages to get rid of Sam, and Sam ends up at the pound.  Once at the pound, Sam learns the difference between ‘show’ dogs, and dogs that are flawed.  Sam manages to escape the pound, but has another run in with Cassius.  During their encounter, Cassius informs Sam that Heidy loves him now, and proceeds to back Sam up into a metal trap.  Sam loses his back leg and faints.  He awakens in an animal experiment lab, where he is used for experiments for three years.  Upon escaping the lab, Sam is hit by a truck.  The driver of the truck saves Sam, and creates a new leg for him out of a gravy ladle.  However, the driver needs money and arranges for Sam to fight in a dog fight.  Sam manages to escape, and meets up with other ‘flawed’ dogs.  He decides that the ultimate revenge on Cassius would be to ruin the Westminster Dog Show before Cassius could win.  He manages to do this, and is ultimately reunited with Heidy at the dog show. 

My Impression:

I chose to read this book based on the author.  Breathed was the author of the Bloom County and Opus comic series.  He illustrated the pictures that are in the book, and his style is recognizable.  I enjoyed the book, although it is not one that I would have read if I had not been familiar with the author.  The book definitely jumps around a lot, and at times it was a little bit difficult to follow.  The ending was very well done.  Even though Sam is no longer a show dog, and is now a dog with flaws, he is reunited with the girl who loves him no matter what.  Parts of the book hint at violence, but nothing is described in detail.  This is definitely a book that animal lovers would enjoy.  Even though the review recommends the book for grades 3-6, I think older students and even adults would enjoy it as well.

Library Usage:

This book is full of events.  It would make an excellent book to read aloud over a period of a couple of weeks, and then complete a sequencing activity.  Having students retell the events of the story would allow them to practice using their transition words in writing, such as:  first, next, then, finally. 

This book can also be used to discuss beauty in our society.  In the book, show dogs are valued more than the ‘flawed’ dogs.  Students could discuss ways in which that message is sent to people in our current society.  What other similarities do they see between the dog world in the book and our modern society?

Review:

3-6--This chapter book is a spin-off of Breathed's 2003 picture book of the same name (Little, Brown). Sam the dachshund was bred to be an award-winning show dog, right down to his priceless "Duüglitz tuft." But Sam has no interest in appearances; like all dogs, beautiful or "flawed," all he really wants is to belong to someone special, and to be loved. After a dramatic escape from his frightful new owner, he sneaks into a girl's luggage and soon wins her affections. But Cassius, a champion full-size poodle and denizen of Sam's new home, is not accustomed to being second in anyone's heart and is determined to get rid of him. What follows is a series of misadventures for Sam and a group of abandoned animals from the National Last-Ditch Dog Depository. Featuring some harrowing moments, this is not a story for the faint of heart, but readers will definitely be rooting for Sam and his comically imperfect band of followers. Black-and-white and full-color illustrations, done in the award-winning author's familiar style, are sprinkled throughout, adding depth to an already engaging and well-paced tale.

Marie, J. (2009). Flawed Dogs, the Novel: The Shocking Raid on Westminster. School Library Journal, 55(11), 101.