Module 8: The Dollhouse Murders

Book Summary: Amy is a twelve year old girl who has to take care of her special needs sister Louann who seems to ruin everything for Amy.  She runs away her friends and limits her ability to have fun.  Amy gets so upset that she runs away to go visit her Aunt Clare who is living in her great-grandparents house.  Her comes up with the idea for her to come live with her for a while to get a break from her sister.  Her parents reluctantly allow her to go and Amy is thrilled.  While living with her aunt she stumbles upon an old dollhouse in the attic that is an exact replica of the house they are living in.  Her great-grandmother gave it to her aunt when she was young.  Well strange things start to occur with the dollhouse.  Amy finds out that her grandparents were killed and the doll that is her grandmother trying to tell her who did it!  Her aunt Clare thought it was her fault all this time that they were killed, because of her relationship with an older guy.  Well soon the answer is revealed when Amy and her sister Louaunn sneak up to the attic at night of her slumber party and realize the answer is in the parlor.  When they go they search the room and Louann stumbles upon a note that was in a book.  The note was written from the grandmother stating that it was the gardener.  Aunt Clare and Amy's father can now rest easy knowing that they have answers. Amy is happy to return home and live with her annoying sister who is not so bad after all.

Reference: Wright, B. R. (2008). The dollhouse murders. New York, NY: Holiday House.

Impression: This book had me sitting on my couch turning the pages quickly with my eyes wide open.  It had just the right amount of "scare" to it and the plot was written simple for the audience.  It has a great lesson behind it with the relationship that Amy and her sister Louann had.  It could appeal to a lot of tweens who may have to be their siblings keepers and would rather just be a kid.  It also gives you an idea of  how taking care of a specials needs person takes patience and sometimes parents feel guilty and put a lot of pressure on the siblings to look after them.  This can be stressful for a child who just wants to be a child and have fun.  

Professional Reviews:
From Publishers Weekly
Wright's taut, suspenseful novel proves a solid choice to kick off the Live Oak Mysteries audio series. The attic is always a great place to look for nuggets of one's family history, but when 12-year-old Amy explores her great-grandparents' attic, she uncovers clues to a chilling family secret. As Amy and her Aunt Claire sift through clothes, trinkets and other memorabilia, Amy comes across Aunt Claire's long-forgotten dollhouse, a finely crafted replica of the house they are in. Aunt Claire seems unusually distressed about the dollhouse and Amy is determined to find out why. The real fun begins when Amy learns that the dolls in the dollhouse move of their own will and that they seem to be trying to tell her something. After a little sleuthing at the local library, Amy learns that her great-grandparents were murdered years ago and that Aunt Claire's fiance? (who died in a car accident that same night) was the prime suspect in the unsolved case. Before long, Amy unravels the mystery, helping Aunt Claire to resolve her feelings about the past. A subplot about Amy's relationships with her parents, younger sister and best friend adds depth and warmth to this crisply paced tale. Stewart handles the narration with aplomb, using her voice to give listeners a hint of each character's personality. Her portrayal of Aunt Claire, who delivers a few chillingly snappish retorts to Amy, is particularly strong. Ages 8-up. (Mar.)

Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

References:
Publisher's Weekly. (1999). [Review of the book The dollhouse murders, by B. R. Wright]. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-87499-523-7

Library Uses: This is book could be used as a good display during Halloween and also read to show children how we should treat everyone the same no matter their disability.

Module 8: Cam Jansen: The Mystery of Flight 54

Book Summary: This Cam Jansen mystery, Cam and her brother are on their way to pick up their Aunt Molly from the airport with their mother.  She is visiting them on  her birthday and they are surprising her with a birthday party once she arrives.  When they arrive to the airport the flight has arrived early and now they are searching for their aunt.  They find her at the baggage claim and while there she realizes that they have lost her bags.  Then there is another passenger who they cannot find. Cam steps in and puts her detective skills into work.  They search for the young lost passenger, named Simone, who cannot speak English and realize that she has gotten on the bus that has taken her into the city.  Their father drive them to where the bus unloads and they find her!

Reference: Adler, D. (2004). Cam Jansen: The mystery of flight 54. New York, NY: Puffins Books.

Impression: This book was short and sweet and to the point.  I liked the light-hearted adventure that Adler provided.  I can see children from ages 8-10 grabbing a couple of these books and reading them for the adventure.  There is humor mixed with suspense that keeps you turning the page. There are a illustrations throughout the book that are helpful for giving you a visual of what and how the characters look in a particular situations.  This helpful for the desired age group, to keep their imagination going down the right track.

Professional Reviews:

Action-packed from the seemingly innocent beginning to the satisfying end. (School Library Journal)


References:
School Library Journal. (n.d.). [Review of the book Cam Jansen: The mystery of flight 54, by D. Adler]. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Cam-Jansen-Mystery-Flight-54/dp/014240179X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438103195&sr=1-1&keywords=Cam+Jansen+Flight+54


Library uses: I would use this book to practice sequencing of stories.  This book is great to list details and put them in order to figure out the ending.  Students could also make their own mystery story based on the sequencing of this one.

Module 7: Tito Puente/Mambo King

Book Summary: This vibrant story gave the life of the King of Mambo, Tito Puente.  It is a children's biography, that begins when Tito was little until he was an adult.  When he was younger he would hit pots and pans and make a big ruckus in his neighborhood, that everyone told his parents to get him music lessons.  When they did his career took off.  He would enter talent shows at his church and win everytime with his dancing and playing.  He formed his own band when he was a teenager right before having to go into the navy.  While in the navy he was in the band and played the saxophone. He then got out and dreamed of being the band leader of his own band. Not too long did that dream come true and he went on to win Grammy's and play with other well known Latino musicians and artists.  

Reference:Brown, M. (2013). Tito Puente, New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.

Impressions: This book was fun and colorful with information about Tito Puente.  Brown succeeded in making a children's biography simple and unique for the audience.  She used language that was appropriate for ages 5-8 and illustrations that would appeal to young and old.  

Her use of red, orange, blue and white made the books come a love with the theme of dance and music.  She used cartoon-like illustrations that over exaggerated the look of the people but gave an idea of what Tito Puente would look like.  

She also has a short biography at the end of the story in English and Spanish that validates what has been written in the book.  This book would be great to use in a dual language program or ESL classroom because of the translation of text.  I would recommend this book to ages 5-8/grades K-2.

Professional Reviews:

   From Booklist

“¡Tum Tica! ¡Tum Tica! The dancers twirled, the lights swirled, and the mambo went on and on.” Like so many of Brown’s biographies, such as Waiting for the Biblioburro (2011) and Side by Side/Lado a lado: The Story of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez/La historia de Dolores Huerta y César Chávez (2009), Tito’s story introduces readers to a vibrant Latino figure. As a baby, Puente made music with pots and pans, and he later grew up to fulfill his dreams as a musician and beloved bandleader. Award-winning illustrator López brings Tito’s story to life in vibrant acrylic salsa reds and oranges, which are splashed behind every shake of Tito’s hips and wink of his eyes. The swirling, whirling compositions add to the text’s rhythmic beat. To continue the rumba after Tito’s story has ended, the last page of the book offers a simple melody to play on its own or alongside the book. An author’s note (in both English and Spanish) sheds more light on Puente’s life. Grades K-3. --Angie Zapata

From Kirkus ReviewBrown and López, who previously teamed for the award-winning My Name Is Celia (2004), collaborate anew in this energetic bilingual tribute to the salsa drummer and band leader extraordinaire.Brown’s narrative, simply phrased and peppered with exclamation points, takes her preschool and primary audience from Tito’s toddlerhood, banging “spoons and forks on pots and pans,” through childhood loves: drum lessons, dancing and stickball on the streets of Harlem. Bouncing through the musician’s adulthood, Brown highlights early gigs, a Navy stint (where he learned to play sax) and regular shows at the Palladium in New York City. Puente’s dream of heading his own band comes true in a single page turn (though López’s depiction of the now white-haired drummer does attest to time’s passage). A percussive refrain, fun to read and hear, pops up as part of the Spanish text but resonates in either language: “¡Tum Tica! / ¡Tac Tic! / ¡Tum Tic! / ¡Tom Tom!” López’s pictures, layered acrylics on prepared wooden boards, convey salsa’s rhythmic exuberance via a riotous palette that includes electric orange, chocolate brown, pale teal, and touches of pink and purple. Multihued swirls and plumes emanate from Tito’s timbales and drumsticks; Celia Cruz (a frequent collaborator) soars in a costume whose fuchsia feathers seem to morph from the sea green waves below.A vibrant, reverent celebration of the godfather of salsa. (biographical note; brief musical notation for rumba beat included in the text) (Bilingual picture book/biography. 4-8)

References:

Kirkus Review. (2013). [Review of the book Tito Puente/Mambo King, by M. Brown]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/monica-brown/tito-puente-mambo-king-tito-puente-rey-del-mambo/

Zapata, A. (n.d.). [Review of the book Tito Puente/Mambo King, by M. Brown]. Booklist. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/Tito-Puente-Mambo-King-Rey-del-Mambo-Monica-Brown/pid=5733875

Library Uses: I would use this book during Hispanic Heritage month and suggest it to my music and dual language teachers to use in their room.  The book offers information that is helpful for the music teachers to use as a history lesson on Tito Puente and because it is in English and Spanish it offers a good lesson for duallanguage learners.

Module 7: A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin

Book Summary: This book was about the artist Horace Pippin who dreamed of being a famous artist when he was a little boy.  He came from a poor family and when he was young he passed a poster that said he could win a prize if he drew the picture on the poster.  He went home and drew the picture and entered it into the competition.  He won the competition and received his first set of brushes, paint, and crayons.  The book goes on to tell you about how he would draw random things that he saw all around him.  Every time he would draw he would color or paint something in the picture red.  That became his trademark in his pictures.   He got married and was in the service where he was shot in the shoulder and it injured his right (dominant) arm.  He thought he would not be able to draw anymore but he found a way around it. He then began to hold his right arm with his left and he was able to draw wonderful pictures.  He was discovered by the president of an artist club and became famous!  His paintings were everywhere and he could be seen sitting by his window drawing with his left hand guiding his right.

Reference: Bryant, J. (2013). A splash of red: The life and art of Horace Pippin. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

Impression: I LLOOOVEEEDDD this book!! I could see sooo many children wanting to grab and read this book to see the colorful illustrations inside.  The story is inspiring and Bryant nails the flow of the sentences.  The order of the words have you turning the pages so that you can read what happens next.  She turned a biography into art with her storyline.

Melissa Sweet is the illustrator and she does a fabulous job at trying to capture Pippins style and blending some of the text into the illustrations. Each page is completely filled with art and action.  The style is a collage with bright and bold colors of self-portraits and drawings from Pippin.  The cover of the book is inviting and the back cover gives a nice and inspiring phrase from Pippin that states, "Pictures just come to my mind...and I tell my heart to go ahead."  She gives a blurb at the end of the book of how she really wanted to come close to Pippin's style so that the reader would have an idea of how his life was and his art.  I would have to say that Her and Bryant did it and deserve a medal for this book.  It has all of the elements of a good children's book that I have learned from my classes.  I would recommend this book to all children of all ages who are aspiring to be artists.

Professional Reviews: 

From Booklist
*Starred Review* Born in Pennsylvania in 1888, Horace Pippin loved to draw and paint as a child. When he was in eighth grade, his father left the family. Horace quit school and worked to support them. Later wounded as a soldier in WWI, he never regained full use of his right arm. Back home, Pippin began painting again, using his left arm to guide his right. Painting subjects drawn mainly from observation, memory, family stories, and the Bible, this self-taught African American artist was eventually discovered by the art community. Major museums display his works, and their locations are indicated on the U.S. map on the back endpapers, along with small reproductions of six paintings. In a well-structured narrative with recurring themes and a highly accessible style, Bryant writes short sentences full of memorable details, from Pippin’s first box of colored pencils to the scavenged house paints he used to paint his wartime memories. Combining drawings and printed elements with watercolor and gouache paints, Sweet’s mixed-media illustrations have a refreshing, down-home style and a brilliance all their own. The artwork incorporates large-print quotes, giving Pippin a voice here as well. Outstanding. Grades 1-4. --Carolyn Phelan

From Kirkus Review
This outstanding portrait of African-American artist Horace Pippin (1888-1946) allows Pippin’s work to shine—and his heart too.
“The colors are simple, such as brown, amber, yellow, black, white and green,” says pencil-lettered text on the front endpapers. These are Pippin’s own humble words. His art and life aren’t really simple at all, but here, they’re eminently accessible. On that spread, brush and pencil lie on overlapping off-white papers—lined, gridded, plain—decorated in pencil hatchings and a painted progression of hues between each primary color and its complement. From Pippin’s young childhood (working for pay to help his family; sketching with charcoal and paper scraps until he wins his first real art supplies in a contest), to his Army service in World War I, to the well-deserved fame that arrived only late in his life, he “couldn’t stop drawing.” When a military injury threatens Pippin’s painting ability, he tries wood burning—“[u]sing his good arm to move the hurt one”—and works his way back to painting. Sweet’s sophisticated mixed media (watercolor, gouache and collage), compositional framing, and both subdued and glowing colors pay homage to Pippin’s artistic style and sometimes re-create his pieces. Bryant’s text is understated, letting Pippin’s frequent quotations glimmer along with the art. Backmatter provides exceptional resources, including artwork locations.
A splash of vibrancy about a self-taught master. (historical note, author’s note, illustrator’s note, references) (Picture book/biography. 5-11)

References:

Kirkus Review. (2012). [Review of the book A splash of red: The life and art of Horace Pippin, by J. Bryant]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jen-bryant/splash-red/

Phelan, C. (n.d.). [Review of the book A splash of red: The life and art of Horace Pippin, by J. Bryant]. Booklist. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/A-Splash-of-Red-The-Life-and-Art-of-Horace-Pippin-Jen-Bryant/pid=5703567

Library Uses: I could use this story during Art Appreciation Month and Black History Month. The different techniques used in the illustrations would work well with introducing collage and primary colors to younger students. Doing a research project on Horace Pippin would be fun for students during Black History Month.  Displaying his art or having the students to duplicate his work would work well also.

Module 6: Penny from Heaven

Book Summary: Penny is a pre-teen who is loved by her father's side of the family and her mother's.  She lived with her mother, grandmother, and witty grandfather in a house in New Jersey.  Her father's side is Italian and they all spoil her unconditionally in an efforts to replace that love that she missed from her father.  He died before she was born and is the reason for her name.  When he was away in he told his family that she was like a penny from heaven. Her mother's side have resentment towards Penny's fathers side because her mother feels they are the reason he is dead.  They tell Penny that her father died because he was sick but later on in the story once she is in a tragic accident.  The truth is revealed and the families reunite and make amends with each other.  Her spontaneous cousin Frankie is like her best friend and gets her through her hard and good times throughout the story. 

Reference: Holm, J. (2007). Penny from heaven. New York, NY: Random House Books for Young Readers.

Impression: This historical fiction story was great in meaning, but slow in plot.  It was stagnant in the middle and did not really pick up speed until the last four chapters.  The back and forth of scenes, from her father's side to mother's made for an uninteresting page turner. Although I felt the book was good overall, it did not pick up and make me want to NOT put it down.  The conversation dialogue did not flow that well in some parts of the book, which is one reason that I felt it became stagnant.  The vocabulary was easy to read and I do feel that a pre-teen to teen would enjoy the humor that the books shared from Frankie. His character and the grandfather is what kept me reading the book. I wanted to know what they were going to do and say.  

The story was of a true story from the author's own family history.  Her grandmother was Penny, but she was named after her father's mother who in the story was known as Nonny.  Her real name is Genevieve but they called her Jenny.  She gives the history of how the Italians were treated during this time and that's where the influence of the story came from.  There are pictures from her family that influenced the characters in her book and gives you a visual of how they looked. This actually brings the story together and gives it home.  I would recommend this book as a read aloud only because it may have more leverage if read out loud with vocal inflections.

Professional Review:

From Booklist
Gr. 5-8. Penny lives with her "plain old American" mother and grandparents, but she has an open invitation to visit her deceased father's Italian family, where the delicious aromas are as inviting as the boisterous relatives who welcome her. Against the backdrop of these contrasting 1950s households, the author of Newbery Honor Book Our Only May Amelia (1999) charts the summer of Penny's twelfth birthday, marked by hapless episodes as well as serious tensions arising from the estranged families' refusal to discuss her father's death. Penny is a low-key character, often taking a backseat role in escapades with high-spirited cousin Frankie. However, Holm impressively wraps pathos with comedy in this coming-of-age story, populated by a cast of vivid characters (a burping, farting grandpa; an eccentric uncle who lives in his car--"not exactly normal for people in New Jersey"). Concluding with a photo-illustrated endnote explaining Holm's inspirations in family history, this languidly paced novel will appeal most to readers who appreciate gentle, episodic tales with a nostalgic flavor. Hand selling may be necessary to overcome the staid jacket illustration. Jennifer MattsonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

From Kirkus Review
Penny, almost 12, is caught between two extremes: her mother’s small, uptight, WASP family, and her dead father’s large, exuberant, Italian one. Summers, she moves freely between them, mediating as best she can between the two. Her best pal is her cousin Frankie, with whom she delivers groceries from her uncle’s store, worships at the shrine of the Brooklyn Dodgers and gets into trouble. No one talks about her father’s absence, and that’s beginning to bother her more and more. And even worse, her mother has begun dating the milkman. Holm has crafted a leisurely, sprawling period piece, set in the 1950s and populated by a large cast of offbeat characters. Penny’s present-tense narration is both earthy and observant, and her commentary on her families’ eccentricities sparkles. Various scrapes and little tragedies lead to a nearly catastrophic encounter with a clothes wringer and finally the truth about her father’s death. It takes so long to get there that the revelation seems rather anticlimactic, but getting to know Penny and her families makes the whole eminently worthwhile. (Fiction. 9-13)

References:
Kirkus Review. (2006). [Review of the book Penny from heaven, by J. Holm]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jennifer-l-holm/penny-from-heaven/

Mattson, J. (n.d.). [Review of the book Penny from heaven, by J. Holm]. Booklist. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/Penny-from-Heaven-Jennifer-L-Holm/pid=1614626

Library uses: I would use this book to discuss family trees and how families can be different.  Fourth graders could read the book and do a research project on their own family history using resources from research databases.

Module 6: Pink and Say

Book Summary: This children's historical fiction book is based on a real person whose name was Pinkus Aylee who was an African American union soldier in the Civil War.  He finds Sheldon Curtis who goes by Say and rescues him from the attack of the Confederate soldiers.  They go to Pink's mothers house and hideout until Say, who is also injured, gets well for them to leave.  Pink does not want his mother to be in any danger because she is fostering union soldiers on Confederate territory.  Before they can go, the house is raided by marauders and Pink's mother was killed.  Pink and Say were hiding in the underground shed and when they came out to look for his mother, they realized she was dead. They leave the house and return back to their grounds.  They were then captured and separated from each other.  Pink was killed within hours of being captured and Sheldon was kept alive to tell the story to his children.  

Reference: Polacco, P. (1994). Pink and say. New York, NY: Philomel Books.

Impression: I truly enjoyed this book and will definitely be using it during Black History Month and referring it to my teachers to use in their social studies lessons.  Polacco does a phenomenal job of making a serious subject, child friendly and interesting.  She uses words and phrases that are true to the dialect during the Civil War time, such as "No child, Pinkus brung you home to me-don't you remember?".  She brings the situation of this real character to light as a hero with the storyline of him saving Say.  

There are is a time in the story where there is just a page with a picture of Pink and Say walking and trying to make it to Pink's mothers house.  It spoke volume because it gave you a time to process what was going on.  Having the think time in a story adds and builds to the plot.  The oil painting with the mixtures of gray, white, brown, and accents of red gives the illustrations the solemn feel during the Civil War.   Polacco sets a somber mood with the colors as well and gives the characters facial expression of hope and sorrow.  The way the characters are drawn on the page to portray movement helps the reader to be in the moment and imagine the intensity of the struggle of carrying someone up a hill.

I am a fan of Polacco and this book definitely did not let me down.  The meaning behind the story warmed my heart and I cannot wait to share with my students.  I would recommend this story to ages 4 and up, because of the history and illustrations given.

Professional Review:

From Booklist
Ages 5-9. Hands and gestures have always been important in Polacco's work. Here they are at the center of a picture book based on a true incident in the author's own family history. It's a story of interracial friendship during the Civil War between two 15-year-old Union soldiers. Say, who is white and poor, tells how he is rescued by Pinkus (Pink), who carries the wounded Say back to the Georgia home where Pink's black family were slaves. In a kind of idyllic interlude, Pink and his mother nurse Say back to health, and Pink teaches his friend to read; but before they can leave, marauders kill Pink's mother and drag the boys to Andersonville prison. Pink is hanged, but Say survives to tell the story and pass it on across generations. The figure of Pink's mother borders on the sentimental, but the boys' relationship is beautifully drawn. Throughout the story there are heartbreaking images of people torn from a loving embrace. Pictures on the title and copyright pages show the parallel partings as each boy leaves his family to go to war. At the end, when the friends are wrenched apart in prison, the widening space between their outstretched hands expresses all the sorrow of the war. Then, in a powerful double-page spread, they are able to clasp hands for a moment, and their union is like a rope. Say once shook Lincoln's hand, just as Say held Pink's hand, and Say tells his children, who tell theirs, that they have touched the hand that touched the hand . . . Hazel Rochman

From Kirkus Review
A white youth from Ohio, Sheldon Russell Curtis (Say), and a black youth from Georgia, Pinkus Aylee (Pink), meet as young soldiers with the Union army. Pink finds Say wounded in the leg after a battle and brings him home with him. Pink's mother, Moe Moe Bay, cares for the boys while Say recuperates, feeding and comforting them and banishing the war for a time. Whereas Pink is eager to go back and fight against "the sickness" that is slavery, Say is afraid to return to his unit. But when he sees Moe Moe Bay die at the hands of marauders, he understands the need to return. Pink and Say are captured by Confederate soldiers and brought to the notorious Andersonville prison camp. Say is released months later, ill and undernourished, but Pink is never released, and Polacco reports that he was hanged that very first day because he was black. Polacco (Babushka Baba Yaga, 1993, etc; My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother, above) tells this story, which was passed down for generations in her family (Say was her great-great-grandfather), carefully and without melodrama so that it speaks for itself. The stunning illustrations -- reminiscent of the German expressionist Egon Shiele in their use of color and form -- are completely heartbreaking. A spectacular achievement. (Nonfiction/Picture book. 4- 8)

References:

Kirkus Review. (1994). [Review of the book Pink and say, by P, Polacco]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/patricia-polacco/pink-and-say/

Rochman, H. (n.d.). [Review of the book Pink and say, by P. Polacco]. Booklist. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/Pink-and-Say-Patricia-Polacco/pid=980777

Library uses:
This book would be great during Black History Month and as a informational tool during a social studies lesson of the Civil War in the library.

Module 5: The House of the Scorpion

Book Summary: The House of the Scorpion lives up its name and cover image as a science fiction no. A powerful ruler, El Patron, of a country names Opium, creates a clone of himself to use for it's body parts so that he can live a long life.  Well this one particular clone is not like the others and is special to El Patron.  He hides the clone until he is about 7 years old, which is around the time that Matteo Alacran (Matt) realizes that something is different about him.  When he is exposed he is look down upon as if he were an animal.  He is mistreated and punished for some weeks.  When El Patron hears about it he releases Matt and soon begins to have him educated and trained.  Matt finds friendship in a little girl named Maria who is not afraid of him and they have a bond that last throughout the book.  When Maria has to go away to live in a convent, Matt knows that his enemy Tom will torture him.  His "mother" Celia and bodyguard Tam Lin help to make sure Matt knows all that he needs to know in order to escape from Opium.  The day that El Patron finally dies because Celia has poisoned Matt so that his body parts cannot be used to save El Patron.  Tam Lin has Matt to run away so that he will not be harmed.  His voyage lands him in the world right outside of Opium.  He soon realized that they are not friendly or kind to orphans and he decides to runaway from there as well.  He meets up with Maria again, whose mother is a powerful woman of the convent, and she has him to go back to Opium to take over El Patron's estate to change the world back to what it should be.  He succeeds in his quest to go back and he is now the ruler of a new Opium.


Reference: Farmer, N. (2002). The house of the scorpion. New York, NY: Antheneum Books for Young Readers.


Impression:  What an interesting book with lots of twists and turns and information that you think about things that happen in "real life" today.  The symbolism behind some of the science fiction concepts were intriguing as well.  With the "eejits" who have chips inside of them to be workers of one task and they have to be told when to start, stop, eat or drink.  This seemed to be the daily lives of many workers in society.  El Patron found the real life beneath him and dumb because they chose to live their lives to a certain expectancy and then die.  With his clones, he can live forever (at least he thought he could) and rule the estate.  He was feared by many and hated by all, but no one crossed him and they respected his wishes.  Matt was a brilliant clone who could play the piano and read unlike other clones who were suppose to be brainless and dumb.
You can tell that the book is geared towards an older young reader because of the length of it and its' vocabulary. The chapters are not that long however the language use would not be appropriate for a younger audience.  The book is broken up in to the stages of Matt and how he grows into a young man.  The text font size is spaced out for easy reading and the dialogue between the characters flow into each other as well.  There is also a family tree in the beginning of the book to help you connect how everyone is related in the book.  As the character are mentioned in the book you can flip back to see the connection. That helped me tremendously because I was starting to confuse some of the characters names.
This book would be excellent for those readers who like science fiction and are heavy thinkers of science and how it can change the world.  I feel as if Farmer did not water down is vocabulary and she stayed true to her audience.  I would recommend this book to ages 12 and up because adult readers would enjoy this book as well.


Professional Reviews:

Amazon.com Review
Fields of white opium poppies stretch away over the hills, and uniformed workers bend over the rows, harvesting the juice. This is the empire of Matteo Alacran, a feudal drug lord in the country of Opium, which lies between the United States and Aztlan, formerly Mexico. Field work, or any menial tasks, are done by "eejits," humans in whose brains computer chips have been installed to insure docility. Alacran, or El Patron, has lived 140 years with the help of transplants from a series of clones, a common practice among rich men in this world. The intelligence of clones is usually destroyed at birth, but Matt, the latest of Alacran's doubles, has been spared because he belongs to El Patron. He grows up in the family's mansion, alternately caged and despised as an animal and pampered and educated as El Patron's favorite. Gradually he realizes the fate that is in store for him, and with the help of Tam Lin, his bluff and kind Scottish bodyguard, he escapes to Aztlan. There he and other "lost children" are trapped in a more subtle kind of slavery before Matt can return to Opium to take his rightful place and transform his country.Nancy Farmer, a two-time Newbery honoree, surpasses even her marvelous novel, The Ear, The Eye and the Arm in the breathless action and fascinating characters of The House of the Scorpion. Readers will be reminded of Orson Scott Card's Ender in Matt's persistence and courage in the face of a world that intends to use him for its own purposes, and of Louis Sachar's Holes in the camaraderie of imprisoned boys and the layers of meaning embedded in this irresistibly compelling story. (Ages 12 and older) --Patty Campbell --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly
Farmer's (A Girl Named Disaster; The Ear, the Eye and the Arm) novel may be futuristic, but it hits close to home, raising questions of what it means to be human, what is the value of life, and what are the responsibilities of a society. Readers will be hooked from the first page, in which a scientist brings to life one of 36 tiny cells, frozen more than 100 years ago. The result is the protagonist at the novel's center, Matt a clone of El Patron, a powerful drug lord, born Matteo Alacr n to a poor family in a small village in Mexico. El Patron is ruler of Opium, a country that lies between the United States and Aztl n, formerly Mexico; its vast poppy fields are tended by eejits, human beings who attempted to flee Aztl n, programmed by a computer chip implanted in their brains. With smooth pacing that steadily gathers momentum, Farmer traces Matt's growing awareness of what being a clone of one of the most powerful and feared men on earth entails. Through the kindness of the only two adults who treat Matt like a human Celia, the cook and Matt's guardian in early childhood, and Tam Lin, El Patron's bodyguard Matt experiences firsthand the evils at work in Opium, and the corruptive power of greed ("When he was young, he made a choice, like a tree does when it decides to grow one way or the other... most of his branches are twisted," Tam Lin tells Matt). The author strikes a masterful balance between Matt's idealism and his intelligence. The novel's close may be rushed, and Tam Lin's fate may be confusing to readers, but Farmer grippingly demonstrates that there are no easy answers. The questions she raises will haunt readers long after the final page. Ages 11-14.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

References:Campbell, P. (n.d.). [Review of the book The house of the scorpion, by N. Farmer]. Amazon.com. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/The-House-Scorpion-Nancy-Farmer/dp/0689852231/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0SP2YP31B0RWDDBFSF1E

The House of the Scorpion. (2002). [Review of the book The house of the scorpion, by N. Farmer]. Publishers Weekly. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-689-85222-0

Library uses: This would be a great book to use to inform younger boys on the changes of their body. Also, this could be used as a reference for information on clones.

Module 5: Doll Bones

Book Summary:  This fantasy fiction novel is about three middle school friends who play fantasy games with toy dolls and figures everyday.  They make up these elaborate storylines and become the characters as they are playing.  Well one day Zach's father decides that he needs to grow up and throws the bag away that he carries all of his toy figures in.  When Zach goes to look for his bag to go and play with his friends, he finds out what his father did and is furious.  He doesn't want to tell Poppy and Alice that he can no longer play because it will ruin their lives AND the game.  Well Poppy has a porcelain doll who has become the Queen of their fantasy story and they decide because they can no longer play the game that they need to go bury her in her grave that is in East Liverpool. So they go on an adventure to try to get to East Liverpool and back home before their parents realize they are gone.  Things do not go as plan and they end up caught by a librarian in East Liverpool, who calls their parents to come get them.  While at this library Zach finds out the real story behind Queen and realizes that she was made from bones of a dead child.  They find the grave and bury the doll. They return home with a sense of pride knowing that they have finished their quest.

Reference: Black, H. (2013). Doll bones. New York, NY: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Impression: When I saw the cover of this book I knew that I would be a fan.  I LOVE scary movies and fantasy fiction is one genre that I do not mind reading every now and again.  The sentences flow from one line to the next and the dialogue between the characters is on-going.  You practically run over the words to see what the other person will say as your reading. The spacing on the page is easy to read and the chapters are good lengths for the age level.  

The illustrations are in black and white and the way the expressions on the faces and over-exaggeration of the legs and arms, plays into the eeriness of the story.  The pictures are cartoon-like and pencil is used to give the drab appearance of the children's faces and actions.  The cover of the book gives you insight as to what to expect in the book. With the children in the foreground in a boat, to the doll sitting there so life-less.  The whole time I was reading, I would picture her face as seen on the cover and could understand the feelings the characters had about her.

Overall, I would have to say that I can see why Black was recognize for a Newbery Honor because she has you entranced from the first chapter to the last.  I would recommend this book to ages 9-12 and grades 4-8.

Professional reviews:
From Booklist

*Starred Review* A trio of adolescents goes on a quest to satisfy the demands of a ghost. Sounds like standard middle-grade fare, but in Black’s absolutely assured hands, it is anything but. Zach, Poppy, and Alice have been playing the same make-believe game for years, one involving pirates and mermaids and, of course, the Great Queen—a creepy, bone-china doll at Poppy’s house. Then Poppy reveals that she’s been haunted by a girl whose ground-up bones lie inside the Great Queen, so the doll must be properly buried. Begrudgingly, the three agree to play one last game and hope against hope for “a real adventure, the kind that changed you.” With heart-wrenching swiftness, Black paints a picture of friends at the precipice of adulthood; they can sense the tentative peace of youth that is about to be demolished. The tightly focused, realistic tale—bladed with a hint of fairy-tale darkness—feels cut from the very soul of youth: there is no sentimentality, no cuteness, only the painful, contradictory longing to move forward in one’s life without leaving anything behind. Stories about the importance of stories (“Maybe no stories were lies,” thinks Zach) don’t come much more forthright and affecting than this one. Wheeler’s sketches ameliorate some of the tension and dread—not a bad thing. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Black’s best-selling Spiderwick Chronicles pave the way for this powerful stand-alone, which comes with an author tour, in-theater promos, and more. Grades 5-8. --Daniel Kraus

From Kirkus Review
A middle-grade fantasy dons the cloak of a creepy ghost tale to deliver bittersweet meditations on the nature of friendship, the price of growing up and the power of storytelling.
The lifelong friendship of Zach, Poppy and Alice revolves around their joint creation, an epic role-playing saga of pirates and perils, queens and quests. But now they are 12, and their interests are changing along with their bodies; when Zach’s father trashes his action figures and commands him to “grow up,” Zach abruptly quits the game. Poppy begs him to join her and Alice on one last adventure: a road trip to bring peace to the ghost possessing her antique porcelain doll. As they travel by bus and boat (with a fateful stop at the public library), the ghost seems to take charge of their journey—and the distinctions between fantasy and reality, between play and obligation, begin to dissolve....Veteran Black packs both heft and depth into a deceptively simple (and convincingly uncanny) narrative. From Zach’s bitter relationship with his father to Anna’s chafing at her overprotective grandmother to Poppy’s resignation with her ramshackle relations, Black skillfully sketches their varied backgrounds and unique contributions to their relationship. A few rich metaphors—rivers, pottery, breath—are woven throughout the story, as every encounter redraws the blurry lines between childishness and maturity, truth and lies, secrecy and honesty, magic and madness.
Spooky, melancholy, elegiac and ultimately hopeful; a small gem. (Fantasy. 10-14)

References:
Kirkus Review. (2013). [Review of the book Doll bones, by H. Black]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/holly-black/doll-bones/

Schied, M. (2013). [Review of the book Doll bones, by H. Black]. Booklist. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/Doll-Bones-Holly-Black/pid=5889123

Library uses:
This would be an excellent book to use during fantasy and science fiction week or month in a school or public library.  The cover alone would look great as a display and to use as a book trailer for that week as well.  Find an old doll and post next to the book, would get all children grabbing for the book to read.

Module 4: The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy

Book Summary: This realistic fiction book tugged on my heartstrings with its theme of a single father trying to take care of his four daughters after their mother has passed away from cancer.  He plans their annual summer trip to a cottage in Arundel.  When they arrive, Jane, the middle aritistic sister, notices a boy in the window of the main house.  They soon discover that theboy lives there withhis mean and snobbish mother Mrs. Tifton. He enjoys the girls, especially tom-boyish Skye, but hismother does not approve of their ways of living.  The shy little sister Batty falls in love with some rabbits that were at the oldest sister Rosalind's crush' house. The whole summeris filled with adventures from running away from a bull to losing their little sister at night!  The girls are devestated when they find out that their new friend Jeffrey Tifton will be sent to a boarding schoolbecause of his recent activities with the girls.  They try theirbest to not let it happen and eventually fate is on their side and he does not have to go.  The summer ends on a good note with them making new friends and memories that last a lifetime.

Reference: Birdsall, J. (2005). The penderwicks. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

Impression: I loved this book from the beginning to the end.  It flows so well from chapter to chapter and the author uses vocabulary and language that is appropriate for each character.  I could hear the innocence in little Batty's voice and the snobbyness in Mrs. Tifton's voice as well. The setting seemed to be set in the late 90's only because of the activities and style of dress.  The author does not actually give you a time period, and there is no reference to a particular event that may have happened tohelp you to visual what era.  There are no illustrations either for you to get a visual of the chracters but the description that she gave of each one helped you to understand how each chracter should look.  The main problem in the book was that Jeffrey was unhappy living at home with a mother who ignored. She also felt she was rather better than the Penderwicks and evetually refused Jeffrey from hanging with the girls.  Especially after they ruined her chances of winning the Garden Club competition by knocking over statues and falling over in the flowers that she worked hard on.

I would recommend this book to ages 9-12 and grades 4-8.

Professional Review:

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Gr. 3-6. Adults who have been longing to find books for children that remind them of their own childhood favorites need look no further. Birdsall follows in the footsteps of Elizabeth Enright, Edward Eager, and Noel Streatfeild, updating the family story yet keeping all the old-fashioned charm. The motherless Penderwick sisters--Rosalind, 12; Sky, 11; Jane, 10; and Batty, 4--are spending the summer in a Berkshire cottage on the Arundel estate. Their botanist father and protective dog, Hound, are also in attendance, though Hound is far more involved with the girls than their absentminded professor dad. After a bad beginning, the girls become friends with Jeffrey, the son of the lady of the manor, Mrs. Tifton, whose main concern is the welfare of her garden. On one level, Birdsall might be criticized for one-dimensional characterizations (Mrs. Tifton, her boyfriend), and certain minor elements that don't ring true: Tifton's prizewinning garden would hardly be left in the hands of a teenager (on whom Rosalind develops a crush). But what this comforting family story does offer are four marvelously appealing sisters, true childhood behavior (disobeying, running away, a first crush), and a writing style that will draw readers close. So satisfying, the story begs for a sequel: it would be nice to see more of the Penderwicks. Ilene CooperCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

From Kirkus Review
Echoes of Alcott contribute to the intimate charm of this story of “summer and magic and adventure.” Not since the Marches have readers met more engaging girls than the Penderwicks: Rosalind, 12, pretty and practical; Skye, 11, smart and blue-eyed; Jane, ten, aspiring author, whose alter ego, Sabrina Starr, is fearless and clever; and butterfly wing–wearing Batty, four. Dear Father is a botanist, fond of spouting witticisms in Latin; Mommy is in heaven. This year, vacation will be spent at the cream-colored cottage at Arundel, estate of snooty Mrs. Tifton, whose house is “like a museum, only without armed guards.” Unless she has a change of heart, Jeffrey, her gentle, music-loving only child, is doomed to be sent to Pencey Military Academy, “Where Boys Become Men and Men Become Soldiers.” Despite a few mishaps, the children become fast friends and partners in the sorts of lively plots and pastoral pastimes we don’t read much about these days. Their adventures and near-disasters, innocent crushes, escaped animals, owning-up and growing up (and yes, changes of heart) are satisfying and not-too-sweet. (Fiction. 8-12)

References:
Cooper, I. (n.d.). [Review of the book The penderwicks:A summer tale of four sisters, two rabbits, and a very interesting boy, by J. Birdsall]. Booklist. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/The-Penderwicks-A-Summer-Tale-of-Four-Sisters-Two-Rabbits-and-a-Very-Interesting-Boy-Jeanne-Birdsall/pid=237403

Kirkus Review. (2005). [Review of the book The penderwicks: A summer tale of four sisters, two rabbits, and a very interesting boy, by J. Birdsall]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jeanne-birdsall/the-penderwicks/

Library:
This book could be great to use during Father's Day week or weekend to show the relationship that he had with is daughters.

Module 4:Frindle

Book Summary:  This book was about a boy named, Nick,  who was average and saw himself as a person who did not get into a lot of trouble but also was not easy to get along with.  He would challenge his teachers with questions in order to procrastinate the task given.  Nick decided that he would try his infamous "open ended question, five minutes before its time to go" on the meanest teacher in the school, Mrs. Granger.  Being that she was a veteran teacher, she knew what he was trying to do and still gave homework assignment.  His assignment was to find out where the dictionary came from and give a presentation on it.  After doing his assignment he realized that he would not be able to get away with his antics with her as he did in his previous years of school.  He then began a trend of using the word frindle for pen because she told him that anyone could make up a word, as long as it had a meaning.  Nick always called a pen frindle but it was his little secret that know one else knew.  After convincing his friends to begin using frindle for pen in school, he then began to irritate his teacher.  She tried to make him stop by giving everyone detention but that did not work.  After years and years of back and forth battle with the students and teachers, the word became a real word in the dictionary and he was famous.  He did not like the fame at first, but soon accepted and realized that what he did may not have been the greatest idea.  The money he made from the different products put him through college.  In the end he learned that although Mrs. Granger was upset about him using the word, she was also appreciating his drive and determination and proud that his word was finally published.

Reference: Clements, A. (1998). Frindle. New York, NY: Antheneum Books for Young Readers.

Impression: I would have to say that this book was entertaining.  As a teacher, I was annoyed by his antics but by the end I appreciated Mrs. Granger's note to him about being proud of him and that she really was supporting him all along.  The characters in this book are very realistic.  This is a perfect example of realistic fiction because the author gave an authentic situation and made it real.  All teachers can name a student like Nick and all children can name a teacher like Mrs. Granger.  I also like that Clements did not stop when the boy got to middle school with the story, but that she took it all the way until he was an adult.  This made you feel as if you are growing up with him as well.

The illustrations in the book were black and white and looked as if they were done with a pencil or "pen and ink" technique.  It gave you a visual of how certain characters or situations looked in the book.

I would recommend this book to ages 3-12 and grades 3-8 because of the nature and theme of the book.

Professional Reviews:

From Publishers Weekly

Trying to aggravate a tough language-arts teacher, a fifth-grade boy invents a new word for pen: "frindle." Soon, the whole country is using it. "Dictionary lovers will cotton to this mild classroom fantasy," said PW. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3^-6. Ten-year-old Nick Allen has a reputation for devising clever, time-wasting schemes guaranteed to distract even the most conscientious teacher. His diversions backfire in Mrs. Granger's fifth-grade class, however, resulting in Nick being assigned an extra report on how new entries are added to the dictionary. Surprisingly, the research provides Nick with his best idea ever, and he decides to coin his own new word. Mrs. Granger has a passion for vocabulary, but Nick's (and soon the rest of the school's) insistence on referring to pens as "frindles" annoys her greatly. The war of words escalates--resulting in after-school punishments, a home visit from the principal, national publicity, economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs, and, eventually, inclusion of frindle in the dictionary. Slightly reminiscent of Avi's Nothing but the Truth (1991), this is a kinder, gentler story in which the two sides eventually come to a private meeting of the minds and the power of language triumphs over both. Sure to be popular with a wide range of readers, this will make a great read-aloud as well. Kay Weisman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Nicholas is a bright boy who likes to make trouble at school, creatively. When he decides to torment his fifth-grade English teacher, Mrs. Granger (who is just as smart as he is), by getting everyone in the class to replace the word ``pen'' with ``frindle,'' he unleashes a series of events that rapidly spins out of control. If there's any justice in the world, Clements (Temple Cat, 1995, etc.) may have something of a classic on his hands. By turns amusing and adroit, this first novel is also utterly satisfying. The chess like sparring between the gifted Nicholas and his crafty teacher is enthralling, while Mrs. Granger is that rarest of the breed: a teacher the children fear and complain about for the school year, and love and respect forever after. With comically realistic black-and-white illustrations by Selznick (The Robot King, 1995, etc.), this is a captivating tale--one to press upon children, and one they'll be passing among themselves. (Fiction. 8-12) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

References:

Frindle. (1996). [Review of the book Frindle, by A. Clements]. Kirkus reviews. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/andrew-clements/frindle/

Frindle. (1998). [Review of the book Frindle, by A. Clements]. Publishers weekly. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-689-80669-8

Weisman, K. (n.d.). [Review of the book Frindle, by A. Clements]. Booklist. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/Frindle-Andrew-Clements/pid=1018944

Library uses: This book could be used in the following ways: realistic fiction appreciation week, teaching students how to use a dictionary and preparing teachers on classroom management.

Module 3: Holes

Book Summary: This is a realistic fiction book  about a boy name Stanley Yalnets (which is Stanley spelled backwards) who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.  He ends up having to go to Camp Green Lake where all they do is dig holes in the hot desert sun.  He really is a good kid, but with the family curse on his back he seems to find himself in trouble at the oddest times.  While at the camp he encounters other young boys who are there for doing things they should not have and ends up finding friendship with the quietest person of his group, Zero.  One day Zero runs away after an incident and Stanley feels bad because he was protecting him from the group's bullies.  Stanley decides to go and search for Zero and when he finds him they have to lean on each other for support to make it through the desert heat.  With no water or food, they luck upon a cliff that looks like God's Thumb and they find sweet onions.  They also find water, that has dirt in it but helps them out none the less.  In the end the decide to go back to camp to get more food and water and find the rest of the treasure that Stanley found before escaping.  When they return they are caught by the Warden after finding a suitcase that belonged to Stanley's long lost uncle.  Stanley is released from the camp along with Zero, because his attorney found out that he was not guilty of his crime.  In the end he found a good friend and learned some valuable lessons on life and roughing it on your own.

Reference: Sachar, L. (1998). Holes. New York, NY: Random House Inc.

Impression: I thought this book was brilliant and I could not put it down from the moment I started reading.  The characters are believable and you can relate to each ones problems and faults.  Stanley is a kid who you hear about being bullied but he seems to muster through the his day to day activities. He blames his bad occurrences on the bad karma of his family.

The author does well with using language that is challenging, yet familiar for the age range that would read this novel.  He introduces concepts and problems that occur if you are put in a predicament that may not be in your favor.

There are not any illustrations in the books but the description of the character, setting, and mood is so elaborate that you can visualize each scene in your mind. You can feel the heat of the sun beating on your neck and the panic of someone chasing you from the way the Sachar describes the actions.

Overall, I would recommend this book the ages 9-12, grades 4-8.

Professional Reviews:

Amazon.com Review
"If you take a bad boy and make him dig a hole every day in the hot sun, it will turn him into a good boy." Such is the reigning philosophy at Camp Green Lake, a juvenile detention facility where there is no lake, and there are no happy campers. In place of what used to be "the largest lake in Texas" is now a dry, flat, sunburned wasteland, pocked with countless identical holes dug by boys improving their character. Stanley Yelnats, of palindromic name and ill-fated pedigree, has landed at Camp Green Lake because it seemed a better option than jail. No matter that his conviction was all a case of mistaken identity, the Yelnats family has become accustomed to a long history of bad luck, thanks to their "no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather!" Despite his innocence, Stanley is quickly enmeshed in the Camp Green Lake routine: rising before dawn to dig a hole five feet deep and five feet in diameter; learning how to get along with the Lord of the Flies-styled pack of boys in Group D; and fearing the warden, who paints her fingernails with rattlesnake venom. But when Stanley realizes that the boys may not just be digging to build character--that in fact the warden is seeking something specific--the plot gets as thick as the irony.

It's a strange story, but strangely compelling and lovely too. Louis Sachar uses poker-faced understatement to create a bizarre but believable landscape--a place where Major Major Major Major of Catch-22 would feel right at home. But while there is humor and absurdity here, there is also a deep understanding of friendship and a searing compassion for society's underdogs. As Stanley unknowingly begins to fulfill his destiny--the dual plots coming together to reveal that fate has big plans in store--we can't help but cheer for the good guys, and all the Yelnats everywhere. (Ages 10 and older) --Brangien Davis

From Publishers Weekly

PW's starred review of the 1999 Newbery Medal winner described it as a "dazzling blend of social commentary, tall tale and magic realism." Ages 10-up. (May)

Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus ReviewSentenced to a brutal juvenile detention camp for a crime he didn't commit, a wimpy teenager turns four generations of bad family luck around in this sunburnt tale of courage, obsession, and buried treasure from Sachar (Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger, 1995, etc.). Driven mad by the murder of her black beau, a schoolteacher turns on the once-friendly, verdant town of Green Lake, Texas, becomes feared bandit Kissin' Kate Barlow, and dies, laughing, without revealing where she buried her stash. A century of rainless years later, lake and town are memories--but, with the involuntary help of gangs of juvenile offenders, the last descendant of the last residents is still digging. Enter Stanley Yelnats IV, great-grandson of one of Kissin' Kate's victims and the latest to fall to the family curse of being in the wrong place at the wrong time; under the direction of The Warden, a woman with rattlesnake venom polish on her long nails, Stanley and each of his fellow inmates dig a hole a day in the rock-hard lake bed. Weeks of punishing labor later, Stanley digs up a clue, but is canny enough to conceal the information of which hole it came from. Through flashbacks, Sachar weaves a complex net of hidden relationships and well-timed revelations as he puts his slightly larger-than-life characters under a sun so punishing that readers will be reaching for water bottles. Good Guys and Bad get just deserts in the end, and Stanley gets plenty of opportunities to display pluck and valor in this rugged, engrossing adventure.

References:

Davis, B. (n.d.). [Review of the book Holes, by L. Sachar]. Amazon.com. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Holes-Louis-Sachar/dp/0440414806/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437276432&sr=8-1&keywords=holes

Holes. (2000). [Review of the book Holes, by L. Sachar]. Publishers weekly. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-8072-8162-8

Kirkus Reviews. (2010). [Review of the book Holes, by L, Sachar]. Kirkus reviews. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/louis-sachar/holes/

Library Uses:
This book could be a tool to showcase during Bulling Week or Red Ribbon Week where you are promoting kindness towards others in the school.

Module 3: The Door in the Wall

Book Summary:  This book was about a little boy, Robin, whose father had to leave to go to war and his mother had to be maid to the queen.  At the age of 10 his mother left him under the care of the head of the village and he was forced to live without his parents.  He then had an accident where his legs stopped working and he could not work.  He was bound to his bed and was dependednt upon others to take care of him.  He missed his parents greatly and simply wanted to be like his other friends and run and play outside.  Then a plague it the town and he was moved far away to a hospice where he would receive better care.  Brother Luke, who was his educator and caregiver, taught him how to make use of his time by carving and making different items.  He soon became strong in his arms and trained himself how to walk on crutches.  He no longer had to sit in a bed and began to make harps and other items which would help make his arms stronger.  A war broke out in the town and he was the only one was able to escape to go find help for the town.  Because he did not go many places, his face was not familiar and he was able to blend in.  He escaped and found help and the war was over.  His father and mother returned home and they were ecstatic to see how he grew and matured over the years.


Reference: Angeli, M. D. (1949). The door in the wall. New York, NY: Delacorte Press.


Impression: I would have to say that this book was difficult for me to read because of the dialect and language used.  I cannot see how this book would be suited for elementary aged students only because it is set in the medieval times where the language was exaggerated and "backwards". They spoke in tangents and phrases that may be confusing to a child living today in a world where everything is "black or white".  The meaning behind the story is great, however, by the time you get pass the language you will miss the meaning if you were 10-12 years old.  There may be some children who could understand but if I had to judge this book using the students that I teach, I would have to say that it would be a "miss".  They would have a hard time relating and it would be difficult to complete.  I feel they would enjoy this book if the language could be altered to fit their needs.  The priest in the story did a very good job of being the father figure to the boy and showing him how it is to be a man and not giving up.  This message could resonate volumes of inspiration in to the young boys of the present.


The illustrations in the book seemed to be on the lines of pen and ink because they looked like someone actually drew them by hand into a notebook.  You can see the strokes and filled in spaces of a pen.  It suited the time of which the book was written.

If I had to recommend this book to a specific age group I would have to say ages 15-17.  Although it is known as junior fiction, it is highly advanced for the mental capacity that a 10-12 year old has.  However, I may be a little biased towards the students that I teach:).

Professional Reviews:

From the Publisher
Ever since he can remember, Robin, son of Sir John de Bureford, has been told what is expected of him as the son of a nobleman. He must learn the ways of knighthood. But Robin's destiny is changed in one stroke: He falls ill and loses the use of his legs. Fearing a plague, his servants abandon him and Robin is left alone.

From Kirkus Review
A new field for this author-artist, in a story of 13th century England during the reign of Edward III. One has a feeling of the authenticity of the pageantry and atmosphere of medieval England; the lavish color and detailed black and white illustrations are beautifully handled, but the story seems contrived and at times difficult for the age for which it is written. Ten year old Robin is crippled by a mysterious malady while his father is at the wars. Left in the care of a brave and adventurous monk, he eventually emerges from self pity and becomes interested in wood carving and later gets involved in exciting events at the castle of a friend. There should be sustained interest, mounting tension, but somehow the story fails to enlist the interest or sympathy of the reader, as the plot bogs down and wears thin. A lovely looking book.

References:
Kirkus Review. (n.d.). [Review of the book The door in the wall, by M.D. Angeli]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/marguerite-de-angeli/the-door-in-the-wall-2/

The Door in the Wall. (n.d.). [Review of the book The door in the wall, by M. D. Angeli]. Delacorte press. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Door-Wall-Marguerite-Angeli/dp/0440227798/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437273326&sr=8-1&keywords=The+door+in+the+wall

Library uses:
This book could be used as a Medieval Times display in the library to introduce a different era.  I would also use this book during poetry appreciation month.  Taking different prose from the book and having students to analyze the meaning into their own.