Module 10: Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride

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Book Summary: This book gives the reader a look at what happened the night that Amelia Earhart took Eleanor Roosevelt up in an airplane after being invited to the White House for dinner. Based on actual events, the author describes the view of Washington, D.C. from above, with all the monuments lit up and shining bright for them to see. After landing back at the airport and heading back to the White House, Amelia and Eleanor decide to sneak off for a ride in Eleanor's car, which she knows how to drive.

APA Reference of the book: Ryan, P. M. (1999). Amelia and Eleanor go for a ride. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

Impressions: This story is one that has an almost magical quality to it, at least for me. As a kid, Amelia Earhart was one of my heroes, even though I didn't personally have any ambitions about becoming a pilot. This story shows a different side of both Amelia and Eleanor, and shows that while they both could be serious, each had a mischievous side and knew how to be playful. The illustrations in the book help lend an air of excitement to the story, which slowly unfolds as the reader gets to see what the characters might have seen when flying that night. The unexpected twist at the end of the story with the women sneaking off to go for a ride in Eleanor's car shows how alike they were in pursuing skills that weren't necessarily considered feminine at the time. Overall, I think the book gives insight into two of the most influential women in the United States at that time, and shows that even historical figures, who are often portrayed as overly serious, knew how to have fun.

Professional Review: "In this sparkling picture book based on a true incident, Ryan (Riding Freedom, with Selznick) proves that Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt truly were "birds of a feather." Friends in real life, America's First Lady invited the "First Lady of the Air" to dinner at the White House in 1933. Eleanor, inspired by Amelia's descriptions of Washington viewed from her plane at night, accepts the pilot's offer of an after-dinner flight over the capital. Before dessert can be served, and over the protests of the Secret Service agents, the two are off to the airport and up in the sky, thrilling to the brilliance of the city below. Hewing closely to documented accounts, Ryan's inviting text adds drama and draws parallels between the two protagonists with fictional touches: she places them alone together in the plane (an author's note explains that in fact they were accompanied by two male pilots) and adds a final scene in which Eleanor takes Amelia for a zippy ride around the city in her brand-new car. Selznick's illustrations, black-and-white graphite accented with touches of purple pencil, both capture the vibrancy of his subjects and evoke the feel of a more glamorous era. A brief but compelling slice from the lives of two determined, outspoken and passionate women. Ages 5-9. (Oct.)"

Roback, D. and Brown, J. M. (1999). Forecasts: Children's Literature [Review of Amelia and Eleanor go for a ride by Pam Munoz Ryan]. Publishers Weekly, 246(39), p. 105. Retrieved from: http://www.publishersweekly.com/

Library uses: This book could be used in a display about books from that particular time period. Also, it could be used to discuss the similarities and differences with students between Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt.

Module 9: The Case of the Missing Marquess

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Book Summary: When Enola Holmes's mother disappears without a trace on her 14th birthday, Enola is convinced that she needs to find her. However, her brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft, are determined that she should go to finishing school and become the proper lady that her mother never made sure she was. With money left behind for her by her mother, and discovered by Enola alone after using the book of ciphers left for her by her mother, Enola leaves her home of 14 years for London, thinking that will be the best place to find her from. On her way there, she stumbles on the case of a missing boy, who has disappeared  as suddenly as she. Determining that he has run away rather than been kidnapped, she follows him to London, and finds herself with adventure aplenty as she plots her new life spent dodging her brothers and searching for her mother, who has run away from a life of the expectations of London society.

APA Reference of the book: Springer, N. (2006). The case of the missing marquess: an Enola Holmes mystery. New York: Puffin.

Impressions: This was a book I happily consumed in a few short hours and actually went back to the library to get the rest in the series. Having read a few of the original Holmes mysteries, I found this take on "the great detective" as he is often referred to in the story, to be interesting. In the book, Sherlock is shown as being the reasonable brother, whereas Mycroft is determined that he knows best and tries to force Enola into a life she does not want, to which she responds by running away. Because of this, we see a more sympathetic version of Sherlock than is presented in the original stories, but he is still an interesting character. As for Enola herself, she takes after her younger brother, having both his skills of deduction and a penchant for getting into trouble. She is a strong female character who uses her knowledge of the world gained from free access to her mother's library as a child and her knowledge of society to maneuver through difficult situations and solve whatever mystery is at hand. Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the rest in the series.

Professional Review: "Gr. 5-8. Springer, author of the popular Tales of Rowen Hood series featuring Robin Hood's daughter, mines the classics once more, and finds Sherlock Holmes' 14-year-old sister, Enola Holmes, who also has keen powers of observation. Enola lives alone with her mother on the family estate. Mrs. Holmes has always been a free spirit, but Enola is shocked when, on her birthday, her mother goes missing. Sherlock and Mycroft, , Enola's long-absent, much-older brothers, arrive and assure her they will look into the disappearance; she will be sent away to boarding school. Determined to avoid that fate, and anxious to find her mother on her own, Enola leaves for London, where she thinks her mother may be--a plan as shaky as the bicycle she sets off on. Along the way, she becomes enmeshed in another disappearance, the case of a young marquess, who seems to have been kidnapped, and in true Holmes fashion, Enola uses her powers of deduction to figure out his fate. This is a terrific package. Springer not only provides two fine mysteries (complete with clues and ciphers to solve), breathtaking adventure, and key-eyed description but she also offers a worthy heroine, who will be the center of a new series (the cover proclaims this "An Enola Holmes Mystery.") Enola is a high-spirited girl, just the right mix of nascent nineteenth-century feminist and awkward teen, with a first person voice that's fun to hear. Reader can move from this to Phillip Pullman's Victorian thrillers, the Sally Lockhart trilogy, which begins with Ruby in the Smoke (1987)."

Cooper, I. (2005). [Review of The case of the missing marquess: an Enola Holmes mystery by Nancy Springer]. Booklist, 102(7), p. 42. Retrieved from: http://www.booklistonline.com/

Library uses: This book could be included in a display of mystery novels. It could also be compared in a lesson to the original Sherlock Holmes mysteries to see how the characters of Sherlock and Mycroft are portrayed in comparison to original books and even in current television and movies (i.e. the BBC series Sherlock, and the Sherlock Holmes movies starring Robert Downey Jr.)

Module 8: Numbers

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Book Summary: For as long as she can remember, Jem has been able to see a set of numbers each time she looked somebody in the eye. It wasn't until her mother's death on October 10, 2001, that she realized the numbers, in her mother's case, 10102001, was the person's death date. This information haunts her throughout her years spent in the foster system and Jem avoids as much as possible forming close connections to people, because she doesn't want to get close enough to see when people around her are going to die. This doesn't work with Spider, one of her classmates, who Jem can see is going to die in only a few short weeks, and when the two cut school and go into central London to ride on the London Eye, something happens that will change both their lives. When Jem looks around and sees that all the people in the square have the same number, she realizes that something is terribly wrong, and convinces Spider to leave mere minutes before the explosion that destroys part of the London Eye and kills many people in the vicinity. They are caught on tape running from the scene and are soon on the run from a police hunt as possible witnesses to the attack. Jem and Spider get as far away from London as possible in order to escape the questions that come with such a narrow escape. 

APA Reference of the book: Ward, R. (2010). Numbers. New York: Chicken House/Scholastic.

Impressions: The premise of this book, that Jem can see the death date of anyone she looks in the eye, is an interesting one, but the overall book did not have much of a science fiction feel to it, for me at least, which I kept waiting for throughout the book. Despite this, it was an interesting, if somewhat depressing, read. Ward effectively shows the reader the bleakness of life on the run from law enforcement and the desperation of the characters to stay unnoticed whenever possible. In many ways this book reminded me of Safekeeping by Karen Hesse, in which the main character, during political unrest in the U.S., walks north to Canada for safety, all the while avoiding others on the road who may wish to do her harm. Overall the journey of Jem and Spider was fairly bleak, although there were moments of levity, and the ending had a sad sort of symmetry, in showing that the dates Jem sees cannot be averted, as events Jem has been trying to avoid finally come to pass. It is a book that will definitely give the reader something to think about.

Professional Review: "Gr 8-10--10102001. That's Jem's mother's number. Jem saw it whenever she looked into her mother's eyes, but it wasn't until four years after the woman's fatal heroin overdose when Jem was 11 that she realized that the number was the date her mother would die. And it's not just that number that the teen sees--she knows when everyone will die by looking into their eyes. Isolating herself from the rest of humanity seems to be the only solution until Spider, a freakishly tall, twitchy mess of a boy, refuses to leave her alone. In spite of the fact that she knows his death date is only months away, she can't resist his overtures of friendship. One afternoon, while ditching school, they head for the London Eye tourist attraction. When Jem realizes that several people standing in line are fated to die that very day, she panics and takes off. Newspapers and television pick up the story, and Jem and Spider, targeted as the terrorists responsible for destroying the Eye, or at least witnesses, are on the run in a stolen car. Ward's debut novel is gritty, bold, and utterly unique. Jem's isolation and pain, hidden beneath a veneer of toughness, are palpable, and the ending is a real shocker. Teens who read Charles De Lint, Holly Black, and Melvin Burgess will take to this riveting book and eagerly await the upcoming sequel."

Baird, J. H. (2010). [Review of Numbers by Rachel Ward]. School Library Journal, 56(1), p. 115-116. Retrieved from: http://www.slj.com/

Library uses: This book could be used in a display of science fiction works, or in a display on books about people who can foresee different things, whether that be a person's death date, as in the story, or events from the future, etc. It could also be used to discuss the terror attack on the London Eye in 2010.

Module 7: Warp Speed

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Book Summary: For Marley, middle school is not a pleasant experience. He is bullied on a regular basis by three boys he calls the Gorn, a reference to the original series of Star Trek, as well as by Digger, who forces Marley to do his history homework with the threat of getting his dad to buy and tear down the Rialto, the theater where Marley and his parents live. He does have friends, however, in Ramen, who is obsessed with Star Wars, and Max, who is a Batman fanatic. The three regularly argue over which is best. Marley does learn that things can get better when he accidentally wins the Tiggy Tiger Turkey Trot, and becomes known throughout the school for how fast he can run. Marley is the center of a fast-paced adventure about what can be the hardest time in a person's life: middle school.

APA Reference of the book: Yee, L. (2011). Warp speed. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books

Impressions: This book gave a very interesting insight into what it is like to be bullied. It is easy to sympathize with Marley, and feel his dread when he comes face to face with Digger or the Gorn. I also cheered with Marley when things started looking up at school and loved seeing his relationship with his parents. The copious Star Trek references were entertaining, especially since I am a Star Trek fan myself, although my knowledge of Star Trek is not as comprehensive as Marley's. They add color to the story, but don't necessarily detract from it if you are a huge fan of Star Trek. There are also many Star Wars references thrown in by Ramen, which also help add to the story and make the characters unique. Overall, the book is one that I would read again and would recommend to others. It has also made me want to read some of the other books in that series.

Professional Review: "Gr 5–9--Marley Sandelski is invisible. At Rancho Rosetta Middle School, he's chased by bullies, threatened into sharing his homework, and ignored by everyone else. An admitted geek, he loves Star Trek, AV Club, and the Rialto, an old movie theater that serves as both his home and his parents' business. His empathetic nature shines through, and he's not without allies, including his closest buds Ramen and Max. And of course, there's always the Trekkie action figure of the day in his pocket to help him out of jams (he frequently asks himself, "WWSD--What Would Spock Do?"). Though he's resigned to hiding behind the shadows of those standing on the sidelines, his ability to outrun bullies catches the track coach's eye. During the school's annual Tiggy Tiger Turkey Trot race, Marley finds himself running for his life, away from the Gorn (a trio of tormentors nicknamed after the "evil, slow-moving beasts" in a Star Trek episode), and accidentally winning the trophy. Suddenly sky-rocketed into the spotlight, Marley's the star of the school. As his external universe alters, he must re-evaluate himself and set a new course for his place in the cosmos. Yee's previous protagonists, Millicent, Stanford, and Emily, all make cameo appearances. Once again, the author addresses a serious issue with a light touch. An entertaining read and a solid example of bibliotherapy."

Roth, R. (2011). [Review of the book Warp speed by L. Yee]. School Library Journal, 57(5), p. 126-127. Retrieved from: http://www.slj.com/

Library uses: This book could be used in a display about school bullying or to spark student discussion on the subject of bullying.

Module 7: Rules of the Road

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Book Summary Jenna expects to spend her summer selling shoes and hanging out at home, but finds her plans unexpectedly changed when the owner of her shoe store, Mrs. Gladstone, hires her to drive her around to all the different stores in the chain over the course of the summer. During the trip, Jenna lends her keen eye for selling shoes to evaluate the other stores and helps Mrs. Gladstone brainstorm ways to keep control of the shoe store chain out of the hands of her cheapskate son, Elden. Throughout the summer, Jenna learns a number of valuable lessons as she travels the country with Mrs. Gladstone, particularly when it comes to dealing with her alcoholic father.

APA Reference of the book: Bauer, J. (1998). Rules of the road. New York: Putman's

Impressions: This book was, interestingly enough, shelved in the adult section of my public library. However, I think it could fit in just as well in the teen section as the protagonist is a teenager, albeit a very adult-like one, and is dealing with issues some teens will be able to relate to, like having an alcoholic parent, or gaining some independence from home for the first time. Throughout the story, I could relate to the character of Jenna, and understand what she was feeling and thinking, even though I have not necessarily experienced her struggles myself. I also enjoyed her relationship with Mrs. Gladstone, and how she learned over time when to listen to what she had to say, and when to speak up for herself, or in some cases, for Mrs. Gladstone herself. Overall, I greatly enjoyed the book, and finished it almost in one sitting.

Professional Review: "YA comedy? You might have thought it an endangered species, but here's Joan Bauer with a fast and funny tale of one big-boned (and big-hearted) gal's summer of discovery on the road. Jenna, newly armed with a driver's license, thought she had her summer all worked out--until the imperious Mrs. Gladstone, owner of the national shoestore chain where Jenna works in Chicago, shows up and asks Jenna to be her driver. To Texas. And on the way, there will be a little spying, both on the other Gladstone's outlets and on the competition, for Mrs. Gladstone (think of Lou Grant's boss Mrs. Pynchon) is battling a merger engineered by her slimy son Elden. Jenna is a great shoe-seller ("Told her nonjudgmentally to think about clipping her big toenail so it wouldn't push against the shoe and ruin the fit") and an ebullient raconteur ("I love traveling and meeting new people. I met a retired couple from Canada who said that talking to me made them feel good about American teenagers. I said talking to them made me feel good about Canada, although I'd never had a reason not to"). Her badinage with Mrs. Gladstone recalls some of Richard Peck's spirited cross-generational dialogue, and the story runs as smoothly as Mrs. Gladstone's plush Cadillac. A subplot about Jenna's alcoholic father (and his counterpart, a bluff and hearty shoe salesman-cum-AA counselor) is a little heavy-handed but does not impede the pedal power; Jenna is a heroine who, along with providing a story with plenty of mileage, has some good shopping tips--don't buy another pair of shoes until you've heard her out."

Sutton, R. & Adams, L. (1998). [Review of Rules of the Road by J. Bauer]. Horn Book Magazine, 74(3), p. 339. Retrieved from: http://www.hbook.com/horn-book-magazine-2/

Library uses: This book could be used to discuss discovering independence with students or in a display of books about summer. It could also be used to discuss the issue of having an alcoholic parent.

Module 6: The Duckling Gets a Coookie!?

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Book Summary: When the duckling receives a cookie (with nuts) simply by asking politely for it, the pigeon is shocked, and commences a tirade lamenting all the different things he did not receive, even when he asked for them. However, when the duckling offers him the cookie, the Pigeon is pleasantly surprised and accepts as humbly as he is able.

APA Reference of the book: Willems, M. (2012). The duckling gets a cookie!? New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

Impressions: The first time I read this book, I was reading it by myself, and I thought it was fairly entertaining. Later the same say, I took it with me to babysit and read it about five times to the kids I was babysitting, one of whom kept up a running commentary on the pigeon's actions. Both ways of reading the book showed me what an effective and entertaining book it is to read. The illustrations provide an easy way to read the moods of the characters and the pigeon's increasingly indignant antics at not receiving a cookie make it amusing both that he doesn't realize the he would only have to ask politely himself to receive a cookie, and that he doesn't realize just how lacking his manners are. At the end of the book, the reader realizes the duckling's ulterior motive for giving the pigeon the cookie, as he requests another cookie, this one without nuts.

Professional Reviews: "Pigeon is back, in all of his indignant, passive-aggressive glory, overwrought this time at one gross injustice: a cute little duckling is now on the scene and has been rewarded a cookie (with nuts) for doing nothing more than asking for it politely. Pigeon pulls out all of the usual pigeon stops—coy glances, cartwheels, and crocodile tears—in the hopes of securing a cookie for himself . . . and it works! The duckling shares. As with the other titles in the Pigeon series, simple pencil drawings on pale, blank backgrounds focus our attention on the characters’ interactions. Willems has an extraordinary ability to convey immediate, deep characterization with a few deft strokes. He knows, too, how to spread the action across a picture book, carefully managing the panels and page turns to ramp up the drama. Fans will delight at another outing, and the protagonist’s indelible pigeonality will welcome newcomers to the club.

 

Barthelmess, Thom. (2012). [Review of the book The duckling gets a cookie!?, by Mo Willems]. Booklist, 108(15), p. 76. Retrieved from: http://www.booklistonline.com/

"K-Gr 2--Duckling, familiar to readers of The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! (Hyperion, 2004), asks politely and receives a cookie with nuts. Incredulous, Pigeon rants about the many things that he has asked for and failed to receive--a chance to drive the bus, hot-dog parties, a walrus, one more story, his personal iceberg, etc. In classic Pigeon fashion, the lovably emotional bird relates the unfairness of it all through a hilarious monologue until finally exploding in clenched-fist (or, rather, clenched-wing) anger. But every pigeon has his day, for the duckling offers him the cookie (never mind that Duckling doesn't like nuts), and he accepts the gift with gracious humility. Confident, un-ornamented strokes characterize Willems's seemingly simple illustrations. Postures and expressions are spot-on, conveying the nuances of Pigeon's feelings and the comedy in his passionate behavior. While just plain fun to read aloud, this book is an excellent conversation starter on the topics of politeness and making reasonable requests. This meta-tale that references the gamut of the Pigeon oeuvre will please fans and newcomers alike."

Damron, Jayne. (2012). [Review of the book The duckling gets a cookie!?, by Mo Willems]. School Library Journal, 58(3), 139-140. Retrieved from: http://www.slj.com/

 

Library uses: This would be a good book to use with younger students to discuss how to read expression when looking at characters. The pigeon and the duckling both show a wide variety of expressions and students can help identify what emotions the characters are showing in individual pictures. The story also lends itself to being a funny lesson in manners.