Created primarily for the TWU course Literature for Children and Young Adults, this site provides a place for book reviews and critiques by Montclair staff and students.

Monday, July 30, 2007

Rules of the Road by Joan Bauer


In Rules of the Road by Joan Bauer, readers meet Jenna Boller, a 16-year old that is too tall for her age, not very good in school and has an alcoholic father. Her one talent (in her eyes) is her talent for selling shoes. She has a job that she loves in Gladstone’s Shoe Store where Jenna takes delight in giving customers quality merchandise and excellent service. When her father arrives in the store drunk, Jenna is sure that she will be fired. Instead, the irascible Mrs. Gladstone, owner of the entire Gladstone chain of stores asks Jenna to be her driver on a trip to visit other Gladstone stores. Jenna is very nervous about accepting the job, leaving her family, and spending so much time alone with Mrs. Gladstone. While on the trip, Jenna meets Harry Bender, “the world’s best shoe salesman”. She also discovers, with the help of Mrs. Gladstone that she has an eye for shoddy quality and sloppy service. When Harry dies suddenly, Jenna strives to be the kind of person that Harry was and is able to save the day when she stands up to Elden Gladstone, the sleazy son of the chain’s owner. Jenna arrives home a changed person who is finally able to let go of the past and stand up to both her fears and her father.

Bauer writes a wrenching tale of a young girl’s coming of age. The story is told through Jenna’s eyes as she “comes to admire and love her boss and eagerly enters into an alliance of loyal employees to save the company” (School Library Journal, 1998). Although the story portrays Jenna’s dealings with her alcoholic father, the overall tone of the book is hopeful, encouraging readers to face their problems head-on and accept help from those who love them most. The dialogs between Jenna and Mrs. Gladstone, Jenna and Harry, and even Jenna and Elden reflect the true feel of a slightly insecure teenager who feels that she has been thrust in a situation beyond her control. “It’s an unlikely hero’s journey, and Bauer’s dry humor assures readers that all’s well that ends well, if not in corporate takeovers, at least in the business of growing up” (Kirkus Reviews, 1998).

I would recommend this book for students in grades 6-11

Keywords associated with this book: coming of age, alcoholism, shoes, driving, road, boss, relationships, contemporary realistic fiction, young adult fiction

The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker by Cynthia deFelice


In 1849, Lucas Whitaker has lost his entire family to consumption. The morning after he buries his mother, he leaves his family farm and wanders around aimlessly. He happens upon a house with a sign—“Apprentice wanted”. Dr. Uriah M. Beecher, the local dentist, apothecary, barber and undertaker accepts Lucas as his apprentice. As with Lucas’ community, the community where Dr. Beecher works is being faced with the spread of consumption. The local people want to try a grizzly technique that Lucas has heard of, but has never seen performed. The technique involves digging up the body of the first family member to die from consumption, cutting out the heart and burning it. The ailing people breathe in the smoke and even drink a potion made from the ashes. Lucas feels sure that the technique is worth trying, but Dr. Beecher isn’t so sure. This story by Cynthia deFelice looks at the medical practices of the past and takes us into Lucas’ life as we realize how far we have come.

Cynthia deFelice may be known to some readers as an author of supernatural fantasy tales. She brings a bit of the macabre to nineteenth century medicine as Lucas and the community members attempt to stop the spread of a deadly disease; “the inclusion of corpses and exhumations, though not described in detail, adds—for some readers—an appealingly grisly touch” (Kirkus Associates, 1996). Through Lucas’ eyes, readers see his evolution from a grief-stricken victim of a deadly epidemic to a more thoughtful, modern-thinking character in this fast-paced story that gives readers a glimpse into the historical attitudes regarding health, hygiene, and superstitions.

Due to the macabre images and subject matter, I would recommend this book for students in grades 4-7.

Keywords associated with this book: consumption, apprentice, medicine, doctor, grief, hygiene, cure, epidemic, tradition, historical fiction

Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles


“I come from a family with a lot of dead people”. So begins Deborah Wiles’ Each Little Bird That Sings, a 2006 Bluebonnet Award nominee and a Junior Library Guild Selection. Comfort Snowberger is a 10-year old girl who lives with her family above their funeral parlor. Comfort has grown up attending funerals and although death and dying do not bother her, no one in her family is prepared when 90-year old Great-great-aunt Florentine Snowberger dies in the family vegetable garden. When the day for the funeral arrives, Comfort’s irritating cousin Peach Shuggars arrives and Comfort is deserted by her best friend Declaration Johnson, making Comfort realize that not all emotions are easy to control, especially when they all impact at once. Readers will identify with Comfort as she copes with the loss of a family member, the apparent defection of her best friend and the loss of her dog, Dismay. Throughout the story, “Wiles succeeds wonderfully in capturing ‘the messy glory’ of grief and life” (Booklist, 2005).

This story is a touching tribute to a family who performs a service that makes life more bearable for others. The author tells the story through the eyes of Comfort, who although she has lived with death for her entire life, has trouble accepting the death of her great-great aunt and her beloved dog Dismay. Readers will laugh as they read Comfort’s “Life Notices” (as opposed to Death Notices) and her “Top Ten Tips for First-rate Funeral Behavior”. “In this heartfelt and quintessentially Southern coming-of-age novel, Comfort will charm young readers with her wit, her warmth, and her struggles as she learns about life, loss, and ultimately, triumph” (Amazon.com, 2007).

I would recommend this book for students in grades 3-5.

Keywords associated with this book: death, dying, family, flood, funeral, grief, realistic fiction, humor, friendship, pet

Monday, July 23, 2007

Henny Penny


Many of us remember the cry—“The sky is falling, the sky is falling”. Paul Galdone retells this classic story in his own definitive manner. In Henny Penny, the unfortunate character has been hit in the head by a falling acorn and thinks that her cry is true. She makes the decision to run off and tell the king and meets several “fowl” friends along the way—Cocky Locky, Ducky Lucky, Goosey Loosey and Turkey Lurkey. Henny and her friends head on toward their end in more ways than one. The ending of this tale is not the happily ever after that some readers might expect, but Galdone explains the ending with an endearing family picture of Foxy Loxy, his wife and seven cubs—they were only feeding themselves.

The simple text in this book is wonderful for younger students. The bright, action filled illustrations draw the eye and keep readers anxiously awaiting the next stop on Henny Penny’s cumulative journey. Although readers may find Henny Penny’s version of reality impossible (who would really think the sky is falling), the characters she meets along the way have no problem believing her. As with other traditional literature, Henny Penny “reflects society, providing insight into the human condition as well as representing the good, the bad, the strengths, and the flaws in all of us” (Murphy, Lecture Notes, 2007). This cumulative tale will be a favorite among readers of all ages, despite its less than ideal ending. Galdone’s retelling and illustrations make this a great choice for a folk tale unit or for a read aloud.

I would recommend this book for students in grades K-2.

Keywords associated with this book: folk tale, traditional fantasy, hen, bird, humor, fox, and trickery

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane


“And then one day, he was lost”. With these words, Kate DiCamillo begins our journey of love and loss—with a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. With a story reminiscent of The Velveteen Rabbit, DiCamillo personifies Edward, a toy that is loved unconditionally by Abilene Tulane. At the beginning of Edward’s story, the pampered toy listens to a bedtime story about a beautiful princess who loved no one and cared nothing for love. The story had a very abrupt and sad ending—at least for the princess. Edward heard the story and got shivers at the way Pellegrina, Abilene’s grandmother, looked at him, but still did not let himself feel love for anyone other than himself. When Edward was lost at sea, he spent 297 days thinking about the family he had lost and feels his first emotion—fear. This is Edward’s first step on a long journey to learning to love. Readers will alternately feel angry at Edward for his arrogance and feel sorry for his losses as he journeys. “The tender look at the changes from arrogance to grateful loving is perfectly delineated” (School Library Journal, 2006).

Edward’s journey is beautifully illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. She uses sepia toned gouache to illustrate each chapter’s beginning with a small drawing that defines the story to come and full color plates to take readers into Edward’s world. Whether you have loved and lost or never loved at all, readers of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane will come back again and again to believe in the power of love.

I would recommend this book for students in grades 4-7.

Keywords associated with this book: fiction, fantasy, rabbit, toy, love, relationships

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

The Egyptian Cinderella


“Long ago, in the land of Egypt, where the green Nile widens to meet the blue sea, there lived a maiden called Rhodopis.” Thus begins Shirley Climo’s The Egyptian Cinderella. This blending of fact and myth from ancient Egypt tells the story of Rhodopis, a girl who was taken from her homeland of Greece to be a slave in Egypt. Because her fair skin and blonde hair made her different than the Egyptian house servants, they teased her and made her do their work along with her own. Her disinterested master did not notice how Rhodopis was treated, but one day saw her dancing by the river. He was so impressed, that he had a special pair of slippers made for her, making the Egyptian girls more jealous than ever. When they are invited to Memphis to meet the Pharaoh, Rhodopis is left behind where a falcon, symbol of the god Horus takes one of the slippers and delivers it to the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh Amasis begins a search for the one girl who fits the slipper to make her his queen. The search is the stuff of fairy tales and ends with a happily ever after that makes readers cheer for the “most Egyptian of all”.

Ruth Heller illustrates the tale using “powerful visual presentations reminiscent of the figures on Egyptian frieze paintings and carvings” (School Library Journal, 1989). She uses bright colors to illustrate the story with colorful images that represent Egypt—lotus flowers, hippos, the great falcon, and of course, the River Nile. The text and illustrations are cleverly intertwined, ensuring that readers will enjoy this imaginative variation of a beloved favorite.

I would recommend this book for students aged Kindergarten—third grade.

Keywords associated with this book: Cinderella, Egypt, falcon, Pharaoh, fairy tale, picture book, slippers

Monday, July 16, 2007

The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses


Once there was a girl who loved wild horses. Her family loved her enough to let her live with the creatures that she loved. In this Caldecott winning Native American folk tale, Paul Goble tells the story of a girl who understands horses in a special way. One day, she falls asleep just as a terrible storm approaches. She is awaked by thunder and lightning and jumps on the back of her horse as the entire herd attempts to outrun the storm. When they finally stop running, the horses are lost. The next morning, they are greeted by herd of wild horses who welcome them all to live with them. Readers will be enthralled by the tale of the girl who becomes part of the world that she loves more than anything.

The brilliant illustrations that accompany Goble’s simple text draw the reader into the Native American culture most effectively. Though simplistic in appearance, the drawings express the movement of horses, the violence of the thunderstorm and the beauty of the world we live in. The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses shows the way a family loves their daughter enough to let her go and live the life she dreams of. This amazing story will give readers of all ages the courage to believe in the fantastic and to live their dreams.

I would recommend this book for students in grades 2-4.

Keywords associated with this book: Native American, horse, legend, folk tale, picture book, Caldecott

You Wouldn't Want to be an Egyptian Mummy


An ancient Egyptian mummy known as the “screaming mummy” was buried alive and wrapped in sheepskin, probably as a punishment. This and other interesting, and yes, disgusting things can be discovered by reading David Stewart’s You Wouldn’t Want to be an Egyptian Mummy!: Disgusting Things You’d Rather Not Know. This fascinating installment in the You Wouldn’t Want to Be…series provides readers a step-by-step process for becoming an Egyptian mummy. In addition to becoming a mummy, Stewart also discusses the mourning process, the afterlife the mummy can expect and even famous mummy’s and the “Pharaoh’s curse”. Readers will be disgusted, intrigued and amused by the droll language used and will enjoy a little blood and guts to go along with their history.

Although you may have been told not to judge a book by its cover, this book is the exception. The bright attention-grabbing cover is just a prelude to the colorful illustrations by David Antram that you’ll find inside. Antram provides large, comic-type pictures to illustrate such gory facts as putting the liver, lungs, stomach and intestines in separate jars. The sidebars are filled with items that will be needed for the mummification process and the afterlife. The illustrations are filled with humor and expression and will encourage readers to find something new each time the book is opened.

I would recommend this book for students in grades 3-6.

Keywords associated with this book: Egypt, mummy, embalm, afterlife, nonfiction, picture book

Lives of the Musicians


When Kathleen Krull was a child, she played Bach, Joplin, and Satie on the piano with the window open. She transformed her love of music into a fascinating look into the lives of several well-known musicians. In Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (And What the Neighbors Thought), Krull gives us more of an informal, behind the scenes type biography of twenty musicians ranging from Vivaldi to Joplin to Woody Guthrie. Each life story begins with a one-sentence synopsis of the musician’s life and includes one or two of their well-known works. The biographies are short, easy to read, and are written with typical Kathleen Krull humor that will make you giggle while you learn.

All of the biographies are enhanced by Kathryn Hewitt’s clever illustrations. Hewitt uses full-page, portrait-type caricature, each filled with images of important details about the life of each subject. Hewitt uses subdued colors that highlight her ability to capture the personality and temperament of each composer. “Lives of the Musicians will appeal to those who love music, to those who like to hear the story behind a famous name, and to just about everyone else” (from front flap).

I would recommend this book for students in grades 2-4.

Keywords associated with this book: musician, composer, biography, music, picture book

Shelf Suggestions

  • Hubert Invents the Wheel by Claire and Monte Montgomery
  • Mandy by Julie Andrews
  • Fablehaven and Fablehaven--Rise of the Evening Star
  • Emily Windsnap Series by Liz Kessler
  • Ingo by Helen Dunmore
  • You Wouldn't Want to Be... Series
  • The Young Wizards Series by Diane Duane
  • Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan