Keep Calm & Wonder On

I knew I liked Jack Will... I knew he was a good egg. 

The Music of Wonder

This little baby doesn't come out until Valentine's Day (After you read it, you will know how perfect that is.) But, to get you in the mood, and to give you a little tease, I present you with these videos. When you read the book you will see that each section starts with a song or book quote... a precept. I love this idea. I can always look back on my life and think of songs that got me through or inspired me... music is so very important to me.  Music can capture the emotions where words fail. These are all of the precepts and the songs/books that go with them. If this doesn't get you interested... (oh, and this will win the 2013 Newbery. Just you wait and see!)

Auggie 

"Fate smiled & destiny laughed as she came to my cradle..." 

Wonder 

by Natalie Merchant

Via 
"For above the world Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing I can do..." 
Space Odity 
by David Bowie


Summer 
"You are beautiful no matter what they say. Yes, words can't bring you down..." 
Beautiful 
by Christina Aguilera

Jack 
"Now here is my secret. It is very simple. It is only with one's heart that one can see clearly. What is essential is invisible to the eye." 
The Little Prince 
written by Antoine de Saint Exupery


Justin 
"Sometimes I think my head is so big because it is so full of dreams."
The Elephant Man
written by Bernard Pomerance

Miranda
"I forgot that I might see so many beautiful things I forget that I might need to find out what life could bring." Beautiful Things 
by Andain


Auggie
"You're gonna reach the sky. Fly... beautiful child." 
Beautiful Child 
by The Eurythmics



Auggie & Nate Pullman 
"I'm the ugliest guy on the lower east side but I've got wheels and you want to go for a ride." 
The Luckiest Guy on The Lower East Side 
by The Magnetic Fields



Mr. Browne
"Just follow the day and reach for the sun." 
Light & Day 
by Polyphonic Lightning Spree

Book Talk: Hound Dog True

Hound Dog True by Linda Urban

F URB

2011

Cybils VS Newbery

I wonder if people place money on ALA winners in January.  May be I should fly out to Vegas and put some money down on my picks! Who would your money be on? I am about ready to tell you who my money would be on!

I also wonder if The Cybils can be used to determine the ALA winners.  Let's look to the past to see if we can predict the future.  

One thing that The Cybils rely on is kid appeal- and I promise you that not all past ALA winners have that going for them.  Also, Cybils may be nominated by anyone. After nominations, a group of revered book bloggers read the books and vote on a winner for each category.  The winners of The Cybils are announced on Valentine's Day- after ALA announces their winners. 

To bring you up to speed, this is a little information of each award:

From The Cybils Website: (Children's & Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards)

Our purpose is two-fold:

-Reward the children’s and young adult authors (and illustrators, let’s not forget them) whose books combine the highest literary merit and "kid appeal." What’s that mean? If some la-di-dah awards can be compared to brussel sprouts, and other, more populist ones to gummy bears, we’re thinking more like organic chicken nuggets. -We’re yummy and nutritious. Foster a sense of community among bloggers who write about children’s and YA literature, highlight our best reviewers (and shamelessly promote their blogs) and provide a forum for the similarly obsessed. 

From The Newbery Manual:

In 2008, ALSC membership voted to change the committee composition, beginning with the 2010 committees, to eight elected, six appointed, and one appointed Chair. New committees are chosen every year. Members meet at ALA Annual Conference and Midwinter Meeting to discuss books that have been published during the year and to vote for the award winners. All members of the Association for Library Service to Children are eligible to serve on the Newbery and Caldecott awards committees. The only restrictions are that a person must agree to be present at the summer and midwinter meetings at which discussion takes place and at which the selections are made. 

The Bizarro Newbery was developed by me, last year, when I wasn't happy with the winners selected by The ALA. I nominated them, I read them and I voted for them. I looked for kid appeal and Kelly Butcher appeal. 

Here is a comparison of the awards from 2006 to last year. What do you think? Why the very noticeable difference between the winner from The Cybil middle grade division and The Newbery?  Does one winner influence the other? Do book bloggers know something about the reading habits of kids that Newbery Committee members don't? I can't wait to see how this year pans out! Can we use The Nerdies to predict any of the 2011 winners?

Book Talk: Okay for Now

I put off reading Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt. because of all the hype- hype kills books for me. So I started reading it and put it down- the dad reminded me too much of my mother. I was encouraged to pick it up and try again- and I did. I started it at 5:00 and didn't go to bed until I finished this morning at 2 AM. The hype? All deserved. As I told Kirby Larson- I'm not lying, this may be the best book I've ever read. I am not going to waste your time with yet another review of Okay for Now. If you want a review, I suggest Betsy Bird's, found here or Travis Jonker's found here. Instead, I give a list of 10 things that you oughta know about before you read this book. Oh- and one more thing, don't be surprised if this book wins the 2012 Newbery Award.

#1 Joe Pepitone: In 1964, Joe Pepitone played first base for the New York Yankees. He won 3 Golden Gloves during his career and played in all three consecutive All Star Games during the first 3 years of his career. He was a homerun hitter and won the 1964 World Series against the St Louis Cardinals with a grand slam. Pepitone was a tough guy from Brooklyn and it's rumored that he spent his entire signing bonus on the drive from New York to Florida- he was said to have bought a Thunderbird, a boat, a dog and a shark skin suit. 

#2 Jane Erye: Jane Erye was a book written in 1847 by Charlotte Bronte. It is a coming of age novel about an orphan who suffers physical and emotional abuse as she bounces from place to place. For a book written in 1847, it was ahead of its time. Although Jane was a girl, she was portrayed with strength and strong character. She was a survivor and not a damsel in distress. 

#3 John James Audubon: Audubon was a French-American painter and naturalist who came to The US  from what is now Haiti in 1803 to avoid The Napoleonic Wars. In 1820 he floated down The Mississippi River to draw all of the birds of North America. By the time he was finished, he had drawn over 435 life-sizeds. It took 14 years, his own money and hard work but his book was finally published in England in 1826. The birds below are by Audubon and play a very important role in the book.

#4 The Vietnam War: I didn't know how much impact The Vietnam War would have on this book... no idea. Long story short: Vietnam is a small country in Southeast Asia. It belonged to France and The USA helped Vietnam gain their freedom. After they defeated France, Vietnam split into 2 parts: North and South. The North was communist (government control of people, resources and information) and The South wasn't. The North wanted to get rid of The US in The South and make all of Vietnam 1 communist country. Although The USA was in Vietnam since 1954, The Vietnam War officially began in 1957 when The USA helped The South fight off the communist regime.  8,744,000 <yes, that is 8 million, 7 hundred 44 thousand> (7,484 were women) personnel had served on active duty. By the time the war ended, 303,704 people were wounded in action.  Of those wounded, 75,000 were considered disabled,  23,214 were classified 100% disabled. 5,283 lost limbs (arms or legs), 1,081 sustained multiple amputations (removing their arms or legs). Of the 8 million, 7 hundred 44 thousand sent to Vietnam,  58,156 were killed. Imagine those 303,704 soldiers returning to normal American life... easy? No siree, buster. Not easy at all.

#5 Horseshoes: It would be helpful to know a little bit about the game of horseshoes before Doug & his family go to The Annual Ballard Paper Mill Harvest-Time Picnic.

#6 Orchids: Even though orchids look dainty and fragile, they are actually quite hearty. Orchids will thrive... unless they get a "pest" or they are "over watered". Orchids will bloom and when they do- they are breathtaking. Once their bloom has fallen, it takes a long time for a new one to return. Orchids like to be in the light... but not too much light. Orchids have been known to symbolize beautiful perfection. (Ok, for those of you who have read the book, you know that there are 2 orchids in this book that Doug tends to... one if Lil and the other is his mother. You also know who the "pest" is and how they may have been "over watered" in this book.) Interesting that these are the only 2 characters who receive Orchids from Mr. Ballard.

#7 Apollo 11 Moon Landing:

#8 Coca Cola: In case you didn't know, back in the day, Coca Cola was sold in glass bottles. I am convinced that it tastes better out of a glass bottle and that is why I only drink it out of glass today- not plastic for me No siree, buster! Here are some facts you may not know about Coke: (click to enlarge)

#9 Aaron Copland "Duo for Flute & Piano": Just enjoy this music... and remember it.

#10 1953 Royal Deluxe Typewriter: Like Coca Cola, typing in my day is different than it is now. You use a computer to type your stories, or an iPad... but in my day we used typewriters. Yes, I took typing class in Jr High- not computer keyboarding. We learned how to load the "ink ribbon" and unjam the keys and use white out. In the book, a lady by the name of Mrs. Windermere uses a typewriter (not by choice, it's all there was). I imagine that she uses this typewriter, a 1953 Royal Typewriter, in gray. Why do I imagine it like this? Because the author of this book, Gary D Schmidt wrote Okay for Now on the exact same machine. He says that he likes to use a typewriter because it slows him down and he is forced to revisit the words he types over and over again.

 

A little bonus for you:

#11 Librarians: Yes. Librarians. Librarians are awesome, as you know and they play a very large role in this book. I would have loved the book without librarians, but I love it even more because of them. My favorite quote from the entire book is when Doug questions whether Mr. Powell the librarian knows what he is doing and he says "I am a librarian. I always know what I am doing."

Book Talk: Bigger Than a Bread Box

Everybody's parents fight, right? It's normal. They disagree, say things they don't mean, forget birthdays and anniversaries- but they forgive each other... right? Well, not always. Sometimes parents don't make up. Sometimes a mom or a dad can only take so much before they just need a break. A break- from being married, a break from the person they married. Does this mean they don't love each other? I guess that's what the break will tell them. But what about the kids? When a mom and dad decide to take a break- what happens to them? Do they get a choice in the matter? Probably not... parents usually make those kinds of decisions without consulting the kids. 

But think about it. How would you feel if one morning you woke up and your mom had packed the car and told you that you were going to Atlanta- right this minute. No chance to say goodbye to your friends, or pack your favorite things or turn in your homework. You had to get in the car and leave everything... including your dad. And what if your dad hugged you goodbye and your mom drove away? What if you looked back to see your dad chasing the car and yelling at your mom to come back? How would you feel?
Bigger Than a Bread Box, by Laurel Snyder will show you how you might feel. In this book, Rebecca is the girl who wakes up to find that her mom is leaving her dad in Baltimore and driving to Atlanta to stay with her mother (Gran). Rebecca knew that her parents had been having trouble- but enough trouble to leave her dad behind? And what is worse? Rebecca had no idea. Rebecca had no choice.

After a silent drive from Baltimore to Atlanta, Rebecca, her brother Lew and her mom arrive at Gran's house. When Gran tells her about the new middle school she will be starting on Friday, Rebecca realizes that they aren't there for a few days. She hides in the attic so she doesn't have to talk to her mother. While in hiding, she looks through some of Gran's things and finds a collection of bread boxes. (Bread boxes were used back in the day to keep bread fresh- before it was made with all the preservatives we use today... it would go stale so fast. It also kept out the bugs and the mice)  
Rebecca is drawn to a beautiful red bread box that seems to stand out from all of the others. As she sits in the attic, bored and covered with dust, she wishes, out loud, that she had a book to read. Instantly, she hears a thud come from the red bread box. She opens it up and finds an old ratty copy of a Nancy Drew book. Rebecca takes the book and the bread box back to her room. She wishes that she had 20 bucks- again, the box makes a sound, Rebecca opens it and there is a 20 dollar bill. Rebecca realizes that she can wish for anything that will fit into the bread box and it will appear... it's magic. 
Rebecca decides to use this box to her advantage- she wishes for things that will help her adjust to her new situation. (new jeans for her, lip gloss for the new girls at school, gravy fries to ease her homesickness). Eventually, her wishes start to backfire on her. Everything she wishes for ends up causing her trouble. But when she wishes for something to get her parents back together, the box sits empty. 
What good are wishes when you can't get what you really want? What does Rebecca really want? She wants to go home to Baltimore. She wants her parents to fall in love again. She wants her mom to notice her. She wants the kids at school to think she's cool. She wants to fit it. She wants to make her own decisions. She wants people to listen to her. But can a bread box, even a magical one grant these wishes? May be what she really wants is bigger than a bread box. May be you can't wish for love and have it magically appear... may be love is something that has to appear on its own.

   
In Bigger Than a Breadbox, Rebecca has a memory of her parents when they were their happiest- they would listen to this song and dance around the living room.

I think this is what Rebecca really wanted to find in that box.

This book will be very popular with kids in grades 4-8. From my experience, it will be the girls who devour this book. Most (or some) boys just can't read a book with all of these emotions and feelings and self discovery. If the bread box turned into a robot that destroyed the city of Atlanta with its laser eyeballs, they would love it.  If they give it a chance, they will love this story too. Even though there is a magic breadbox in this book, it still reads like realistic fiction. The times when Rebecca is at her worst- when she is completely devastated by her parent's separation, your heart breaks. You feel every single raw emotion that this little girl feels and you are helpless- you have to watch her go through this storm alone. As a parent, my heart aches to think about how kids take in all of the things that adults do to them, thinking it is for them. They may be kids, but they are little humans who have feelings, desires and opinions. We, adults, are quick to dismiss them because they are shorter than us. I am guilty of this as well. but will be making a concerted effort to change. 

Don't be too quick to play biblio-therapist with this book. It would be easy to say "Oh, Kelly's parents got divorced, she needs to read this book." or "Leah's parent's aren't divorced, she wouldn't relate." But this book has greater appeal than "just the divorced kids". All kids (girls AND boys) want to be loved, all kids want their parents to love each other... all kids have a list of things that they would wish for if they had an unlimited supply of wishes... so let them wish, let them be loved, let them be heard and let them read. 

This is how I picture Rebecca's home in Baltimore

This is how I picture Gran's house in Atlanta

Book Talk: Hidden

I am so impressed with the books that are coming out for tweens this year. Tweens (kids 8-12) are a special group of kids. They are pretty much done learning to read and most of them are now reading for pleasure. You can tell  that I have tweens in the library because you will see them flocked around me asking me for a great book to read. It's like a pre-game huddle and I am the QB. I grab books from the shelf and give a quick booktalk- then the kids fight over who gets to check out the books. : ) I have been blown away by the quality of books that are available for these kids so far this year. The Newbery Committee is going to have a very difficult time selecting a winner this year.  A book that I am sure will be fought over in The Lemme Library is Hidden by Helen Frost.

8 year old Wrenn is sitting in her mom's gold mini-van when she hears a gunshot. She quickly hides in the backseat as a man enters the van and speeds off. The man has stolen the van without knowing that there is a child in the backseat. Wrenn finds herself alone, scared and unintentionally kidnapped. Each time the kidnapper opens the door that leads into his house, Wrenn gets a glimpse of his family- his wife  Stacey and 8 year old daughter Darra.  When Stacey learns that there is a stolen car in her garage, she gets a black eye. When Darra hears on the news that there was a little girl inside that stolen car, she is told to turn off the news. Darra has a feeling that the girl is hiding in the garage and worries about what will happen if her dad finds her- so she is determined to find her and help her escape. Wrenn does escape and the police are lead to the house and the man is arrested. 

Flash forward 7 years and it seems that Wrenn has grown up to be a happy, well-adjusted teenager. She is just settling into camp when she notices a new camper who is not at all happy to be there. When the new girl runs off, her mother calls after her and to Wrenn's surprise and terror, the camper is Darra- the daughter of the man who kidnapped her 7 years ago.

The 2 girls end up in the same cabin and in the same activities. They are forced to deal with feelings that they have been hiding all these years. Darra is angry- angry at Wrenn for getting her dad arrested and causing her parents to get divorced. Wrenn is overwhelmed with emotions from anger to terror- she didn't even know she felt that way until now. 

That is all I will tell you about Wrenn and Darra. This story begs to be unfolded by the reader and not the reviewer. 

At one time, Darra is out on a glass bottom boat- the kind of boat that you can look through and see right into the water. She sees all of these sunken ships that are resting on the bottom of the lake.  She realizes that no matter how calm the water looks, you never know what is hiding just under the surface. That passage sums up this novel perfectly. Children (and adults) are walking around this great big world with a whole lot of stuff on their minds- issues from their past, problems they have now and worries about the future. Just because someone puts on a happy face and looks calm on the outside doesn't mean there isn't a hurricane brewing on the inside.  This book will inadvertently teach kids to stop and think about other people before they pass judgement. An example from my experience- I am not quick to judge a rude store clerk because you never, ever know what they are going through. May be they just flunked a test or their grandma died or their parents got divorced today. You just never know- you should give people the benefit of the doubt- and I think that is a message that kids will walk away with after reading Hidden. 

Hidden is a free verse novel written in alternating chapters. Free verse novels are great for tweens. The spacing of the text on the page is perfect, providing plenty of white space. Kids tend to get overwhelmed by too much text. The second I open a book with lots of small words, they freak out! I love that a tween reader can pick up a book with great substance and not be impeded by the text. And- lots of kids who can relate to this book may be reluctant readers... I will say that I have to talk to my students about a novel written in verse before I just hand it to them. I explain that it looks a little different, but it reads just like a book. Helen Frost worked extra hard on this free verse novel, because upon further reading, kids will discover a hidden story within the story. I would hand this book to any student grades 4 and up. Because the main characters are girls, boys may hesitate to pick it up, unless you can sell them on the great story.  I dare the Newbery Committee to snub this book!

Book Talk: Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier 

(August 2011).

Picture if you will a newborn baby boy placed in a basket and left to sail the ocean alone. When he is finally rescued by sailors his eyes have been pecked out by a raven. The sailors kill the raven and turn the baby over to the local authorities. The baby is given a name- Peter Nimble-and nothing else, and sent into the world to fend for himself. He lives for a time with a mama cat and her kittens, until they are discovered and thrown into the ocean in a burlap bag to drown. Peter manages to untie the bag and make it to safety. Having nobody to care for him, Peter learns to survive on his own. Although he is an infant- and a blind infant at that- he starts his career as a thief. By the age of 3, Peter had become a true menace to society. His talents were discovered by Mr. Seamus- a beggarmonger (a man who trains orphans to beg and steal and turn their booty over to him in exchange for "food" and "shelter"). Mr. Seamus always wanted to become a thief- but he was too clumsy to follow his dream. When he met Peter, he decided to sell off his other beggars and train Peter to become an expert thief.  In fact, Peter became an expert at picking locks because Mr. Seamus locked all of Peter's meals inside an old sea chest- if he wanted to eat, he had to pick the lock.

When a mysterious haberdasher (a man who sells men's hats and ties and such)  comes to town, Peter's skills as a thief are put to the test. The boy steals a box of magical eyes from the haberdasher. The first time he touches the eyes, he knows that he must try them. He puts in the eyes and is instantly transported to a mysterious land. As it turns out, Peter had been summoned to help save The Vanished Kingdom. Using the fantastic eyes, he must set out on a fantastical quest where he befriends a part man, part kitten part horse creature, meets a dogfish bigger than a whale and gets stranded in the desert. I can't give away much more, because it will ruin the story for you- and you know I won't do that! But, I will tell you that you will read about swashbuckling, sword fighting, evil Kings, talking ravens and killer apes!

I can tell you that this is a quest that reminded me of so many great quests I have read- including The Wizard of Oz. Peter is a little bit like Dorothy who gets whisked away to a magical land where he must go on a journey to find the answers to his questions and to discover who he truly is and where he truly belongs. In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy meets many memorable characters that help her along the way. Peter meets characters that help him on his quest as well (instead of The Cowardly Lion, we have Sir Tode)- and some that try to stop him from completing his quest (Instead of The Wicked Witch of the West, we have King Incarnadine).  And like Dorothy, what Peter was looking for might have been with him all along. (Instead of ruby slippers we have... um, can't tell you!)

This a fast paced adventure that will appeal to kids grades 4-8 (boys will devour this books, but girls will love it as well). I love a good adventure story, but what made me fall in love with this book was the storytelling that took place in it. Yes, all authors have a story to tell, but not all authors weave a story in the magical way that Mr. Auxier did here. As I read, I was transported to my favorite books- The Princess Bride, Peter Pan, The Hobbit, The Tale of Desperaux... The language in Peter Nimble is delicate and would roll off your tongue if you read it aloud to your child (which you should!). The narrator coaxes us through the story, and respects us enough as readers to not interrupt the flow of the story or condescend us the way some narrators can. In fact, I missed the narrator when he wasn't speaking directly to me!

When the book ended, I was not only left with the satisfaction a great story brings, but with the idea that each one of us is important and can make a difference in the world. The idea that we need to embrace our talents and be who we are- not what people want us to be. The idea that we can learn from our past. but our past doesn't define us in the present. And the idea that people need people to love and to love them- that family is a bigger treasure than anything you will find in a sea chest. Indeed, this is a book that could quite possibly steal The Newbery right out from under all of the other books I have read so far this year.

*The book includes art done by the author.

See also this great review of Peter Nimble by Betsy Bird (of Fuse8)

2012 Newbery Watchlist: Updated!

Only 6 months until ALA awards another Newbery Medal. With my 0 for 1 record in predicting the winners, I am on a quest to get it right this year- or at least award my Bizzaro Newbery correctly!   Here are some titles that I want to read ASAP! If I had a time machine, I would use it to go into the future and buy these books.  Does anyone have one I can borrow? (A time machine that is). Now, my opinion of these books being contenders may change after I read them! I will keep you posted!

In no particular order:

1. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick (Sept 13, 2011): Relates the stories of twelve-year-old Ben, who loses his mother and his hearing in a short time frame and decides to leave his Minnesota home in 1977 to seek the father he has never known in New York City; and Rose, who lives with her father but feels compelled to search for what is missing in her life. Ben's story is told in words; Rose's in pictures.(Follett)

2, No Ordinary Day by Deborah Ellis (Sept 13, 2011): Valli has always been afraid of the lepers living on the other side of the train tracks in the coal town of Jharia, India, so when a chance encounter with a doctor reveals she also has leprosy, Valli rejects help and begins an uncertain life on the streets.(Follett)

3. Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu (Sept 27, 2011): Hazel and Jack are best friends until an accident with a magical mirror and a run-in with a villainous queen find Hazel on her own, entering an enchanted wood in the hopes of saving Jack's life. (Follett)

4. City of Orphans by Avi (Aug 15, 2011): In 1893 New York, thirteen-year-old Maks, a newsboy, teams up with Willa, a homeless girl, to clear his older sister, Emma, from charges that she stole from the brand new Waldorf Hotel, where she works. (Follett)

5. The Only Ones by Aaron Starmer (Sept 13, 2011): After leading a solitary existence on an island, thirteen-year-old Martin discovers a village filled with children who live without adults after their families and friends disappeared one afternoon, but after meeting a mysterious boy who can talk to animals Martin thinks he can find a way to reunite the children with their families. (Follett)

6. Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos (Sept 13, 2011): In the historic town of Norvelt, Pennsylvania, twelve-year-old Jack Gantos spends the summer of 1962 grounded for various offenses until he is assigned to help an elderly neighbor with a most unusual chore involving the newly dead, molten wax, twisted promises, Girl Scout cookies, underage driving, lessons from history, typewriting, and countless bloody noses. (Follett)

7. The Boy at the End of The World by Greg Van Eekhout (out now): Born half-grown in a world that is being destroyed, Fisher has instinctive knowledge of many things, including that he must avoid the robot that knows his name.(Follett)

8. Hidden by Helen Frost (out now): Years after Darra Monson's father stole a minivan with Wren Abbott hiding in the back, the girls come face to face at summer camp and together they try to work through what happened to them and the impact it had on their lives.(Follett)

Books I HAVE read that are contenders:

1. Bless This Mouse by Lois Lowry

2. Horton Halfpott: Or, The Fiendish Mystery of Smugwick Manor; or, The Loosening of M'Lady Luggertuck's Corset by Tom Angleberger

3. Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai

4. Saving Zasha by Randi Barrow
5. Sparrow Road by Sheila O'Connor 
6. The Friendship Doll by Kirby Larson
7. Warp Speed by Lisa Yee
8. Words in the Dust by Trent Berry *This one may be on the mature end for a Newbery
9. Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by John Auxier (Aug 1, 2011) Review to Come!! 

What do you think of my list? Would you add any? Take any away? Let me know!

Book Talk: Warp Speed

My name is Marley Sandelski and pretty much get my butt kicked on a daily basis.  The kids at Rancho Rosetta Middle School are ruthless. I get punched, spit on shoved into my locker, chased and taunted and nobody does anything about it. If anyone stands up to the bullies, they will get killed. So, we just grimace and bear it. 

I use to be best friends with Standford- until he became a star jock. He completely sold me out. He doesn't even look in my direction any more. I hate him. The only people I can count on are the other geeks in AV Club, I mean Technical Sciences Class. We pretty much run this school- without us, there would be no way teachers could plug in their own DVD players. I can't wait for 6th period because I know that for that short while, I won't get beat up. 

Teachers have asked if I'm ok- even my mom and dad have asked. But, I just smile and say that I'm fine. Heck, my mom is blind and she even knows something isn't right. You can't get anything past her. She can see my misery better than the stupid principal of Rosetta Middle School. He is such an idiot- he thinks that bracelets that say "Be a buddy not a bully" will keep kids like me from getting pulverized. Duh. Now when I get my butt handed to me, the bully says- "Wanna be my buddy?" 

My best friend is Ramen- yes, Ramen like the noodles. I am stuck with him because we are both geeks, I guess. He's ok, except he has this very unhealthy obsession with Star Wars. I HATE Star Wars. I'm what you call a Trekkie. I can name all of the characters, episodes and quote lines from every show from TOS (The Original Series). I guess I rely on Star Trek to help me through life. Like if I need good luck, I carry my Captain Kirk action figure with me. After school when I need to decompress, I put on my Spock ears. If I am in a sticky situation, I ask myself "WWSD?" (What would Spock do?)  Star Trek has gotten me through some rough times. I even keep my own Captain's Log where I record everything that occurred during the day.
Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse in my life, they do. My AV Club teacher, Mr. Jiang is out for 2 weeks and all the AV Club kids are stuck taking Home Science Class. (On the upside, I met the most beautiful girl in the world, and I may be in love).  The richest kid in town threatens to close down my family's theater, The Rialto if I don't do his homework. The Gorn have really stepped up their butt kicking and now chase me through town every day. And- the track coach has seen me run and wants me to join the track team. Did I mention that the new kid Max wants to narc out all the bullies on my behalf? I don't think I can take much more of this. What WOULD Spock do? I wish I knew. 

Warp Speed is by Lisa Yee (F YEE)
I think we have a Newbery contender on our hands here folks.
From my perspective, not Marley's, this book should be required reading for all kids going into jr. high. My heart ached for Marley. I was disgusted by the ignorance of the adults (except his parents) in this book... I thought "Am I this blind? Can I be making a difference?" I must confess that this is the first book of the Rancho Rosetta books that I have read. I just returned from the library with Millicent Min (I thought Marley and Millicent would make a good couple.) I would pair this book with Surviving Brick Johnson by Laurie Myers.


Now- to the kids who might be reading this blog: It is not ok to bully anyone. You might have your own problems, but preying on other kids won't help. And, if you just stand by and watch a bully without helping, you are just as bad as the bully. If you are being bullied, or abused (Like Digger) you need to find someone you can trust. A teacher, a friend, a librarian... someone that you can ask for help. We can't help you if we don't know what is going on. Trust us- most of us are a little brighter than the teachers in Warp Speed... at least I hope we are. If you want to do some reading on bullying, try these sites:
Stopbullying.gov
Dealing With Bullies
It's My Life from PBSKids
For Parents: Helping Kids Deal With Bullies 
And, you can always email me at butcher.kelly@iccsd.k12.ia.us

Book Talk: Inside Out and Back Again

I have been on a roll this week!  I have been lucky enough to pick up 3 gems at the Iowa City Public Library.  As it turns out, all 3 books are related to war and how innocent people are affected by the decisions that other people make.  The powerful messages and characters in these books make them wonderful prospects for the 2012 Newbery Medal... now, remember you read it here first!  The third book I read this week was Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai.  This is a historical fiction novel written in verse (it looks like a poem but it doesn't rhyme, and it reads like a regular book.  You just have to get use to the short lines and breaks.)  

You will have to endure a short history lesson before you get to the book talk- if you don't need it, scroll down! : )

Do you know very much about The Vietnam War?  Did you know that as the Vietnam War ended tat over 150,000 people fled the country looking for a safe place to live?  Why would people want to leave Vietnam?  Here is the simple answer:

Before World War II, Vietnam belonged to France.  A man named Ho Chi Minh didn't the fact that Vietnam belonged to France and wanted Vietnam's independence.  During World War II, The Japanese came into Vietnam and took over after Germany defeated the French.  When this happened, Ho Chi Minh declared that Vietnam was free- but when The British and Chinese came to Vietnam to rescue the Japanese soldiers, fighting broke out.  France took over the southern part of Vietnam and fought against Ho Chi Minh in the North. 

Eventually, the United States got involved and supported the South (They wanted to stop Communism).  The war lasted a very long time and many people were killed- including innocent civilians.  

The war ended when Ho Chi Minh took over Saigon, the capitol city in South Vietnam.  When this happened, hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese people fled the country.  Many of them went to a base in Guam where they were then assigned to a country.  Vietnamese people who came to The US were assigned to cities throughout the country- the US government wanted to spread our new immigrants out so they could be more like Americans, instead of putting them all together by themselves.  (Looking back, people now realize it would have helped them more to let them stick together instead of separating from their countrymen).  For a family to be assigned a city, they had to have an American family sponsor them. 

Vietnamese Refugees on a ship headed to Guam

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai tells the story of Hà, a ten year old girl living in South Vietnam as Saigon falls.  Her father is a soldier who has been missing for 9 years. Because her father was a soldier, her family is given a spot on a Vietnamese Navy ship as it flees the country.  With a small bag full of extra clothes, little food and a mouse bitten doll, Hà escapes with her family.  As the ship sails down river, they hear the sounds of bombs as Saigon is attacked.  The living conditions on the ship are dire, very little food, not much clean water, cramped spaces and tense nerves.  When one of the ship's engines dies, the circumstances go from bad to worse.  After 2 weeks at sea, the ship is spotted by The United States Navy and towed to Guam (a territory of the US in The Pacific Ocean). 

Hà's family consists of her 3 older brothers and incredibly strong and resilient mother.  Her oldest brother is able to speak English, so once in Guam he begins translating for people.  The family lives in a tent together until the mother is asked where she would like to relocate her family.  She could choose Paris, where relatives were known to live, or she could go to Canada with her brother-in-law who accompanied them on the trip.  As she is waiting to make a choice, a man behind her tells her to go to America where the boys are sure to get jobs and the US Government will pay for her children to go to college.  She chooses America.  

The family is flown to Alabama where they live in more tents.  The US Government has decided that all refugees must stay in the camp until they are sponsored by an American family.  Hà and her family are not chosen- there are 5 of them and that is a lot of mouths to feed.  Hà's mother learns that changing her religious belief to Christianity will speed up the process, so she does and is sponsored soon after.  An American cowboy takes them to his house with the promise that Hà's oldest brother will work for him as an auto mechanic.  The family arrives at the Cowboy's house (Hà thinks he is a cowboy because he wears a cowboy hat and she is certain he has a horse somewhere!).  When they arrive, the cowboy's wife is not happy and they are told to "stay out of the neighbor's eyes" and they are forced to stay in the basement.  

Weeks later, Cowboy moves the family into a small house and enrolls Hà in school.  Now- imagine how you would feel if everything you know has been shaken up- you have left your country, you don't speak English and you look different than everyone else.  How would you feel?  Hà is scared- Pink Face is a bully who torments her daily.  She is insecure- in Vietnam, she was very, very smart- but in Alabama, she is stupid... the class clapped for her when she said her ABCs.  The food is different, the people are different and the customs are different- Hà doesn't know where she fits in. She finds that learning English is very difficult and almost gives up until a friendly neighbor, Miss Washington, offers to tutor her.  Miss Washington teaches her more than English- she teaches her kindness and acceptance.  She stands up for Hà when she can't stand up for herself and she helps her find her voice.  

This is a beautiful story of how 1 family overcomes all odds that are stacked against them and start a new life in a foreign country.  The book does a remarkable job of capturing exactly how that little 10 year old girl felt.  I found myself feeling anxious as she was chased home by the bully. I was saddened when her family mourns the loss of her father.  I was overjoyed when she and her brothers find a place where they belong.  The story is full of wonderful imagery that allows the reader to experience the smells, tastes and sites of Vietnam, and then Alabama.  It would be a great novel to use when teaching visualization!  

When kids pick up a book about people fleeing a war torn country and landing in The United States- they usually think of "happily ever after"... that the family arrives and gets a job and a house and builds a new life.  This book tells it like it is.  Although Hà and her family are so grateful for everything they receive, they don't like pity and they don't like charity.  They work hard for what they have.  Because of the Vietnam War, immigrants are discriminated against- many Americans blamed these innocent people for the death sons in the war.  The sad truth is that people like Hà and her family were victims too.  They didn't want to give up their lives and move to Alabama.  They didn't want to start the war.  They didn't want American soldiers to die.  All of those things were decided for them by some man years ago.  The book ends with the hope of a bright future for Hà and her family.  

I loved this book and would recommend it for any child in grades 4-8.  I didn't know the book was written in verse until I got it home from the library.  (I don't peek at books- it ruins it for me.  I like to be surprised... it is just like opening a present!)  I must admit that this is the first free verse novel I have ever read- and it won't be my last.  I hope that kids aren't thrown off by the way the type looks on the page.  It looks like a poem, but it reads like a book.  Kids without knowledge of The Vietnam War will enjoy this book as well as those that know a lot.  This would be a great fit in any unit on family, war/peace or bullying/character education and equality.  I wouldn't hesitate to use it as a read aloud for a mixed 3-4 classroom.

The author of this book, Thanhha Lai is a poet and professor who lived the story of Hà.  Her family of 10 escaped Vietnam in 1975 and lived in Alabama.  This is her first book for children, and it could be her first Newbery Winner too.  Good luck, Ms. Lai!  I'm rooting for you just like I did for Hà!

Book Talk: Saving Zasha

Now we have a Newbery Contender for 2011!

Yes, Saving Zasha by Randi Barrow is one to watch.

This book takes place in Northern Russia not long after World War II has ended.  The country is still suffering the effects of the war- very little gasoline and food, and many of the men are still missing or dead from their battle against Germany.  The people of Russia are so angry with Germany that they have banned all things German, including dogs, namely, German Shepherds.

When Mikhail is out in the woods one afternoon, he finds an injured soldier and his dog- a German Shepherd named Zasha.  Mikhail helps the man onto his horse and back to his home where his mother, little sister Rina and older brother Nikolai run to his aid.  They get the man inside and clean him up and help him get comfortable.  When Mikhail's mother tries to shoo the dog from the house, the man puts up a fight and the dog is allowed to stay by his side.  Zasha is still by his side in the morning.  Mikhail discovered that the man died during the night.

The family decides that they must take the dead man into town and explain what happened to the police.  The children agree, but want to keep the dog.  Their family has been so sad and lonely since their father went missing during the war.  Their mother concedes and the dog is allowed to stay with them.  However, they must keep Zasha hidden.  People are not allowed to have dogs after the war, and a German Shepherd would be killed on site.  Nikolai tells his family that he saw a Russian soldier shoot and kill 2 German Shepherds in the street.  He also believes that the man they tried to save died trying to protect his dog.

When they arrive at the police station, they tell their story, leaving out the part about the dog.  While they are there, Irina, a newspaper reporter arrives, followed by the editor's nosy and snooty daughter, Katia.  Immediately Katia is in the middle of the discussion of the dead man.  She announces that she will investigate and find the story his death.  This makes Mikhail very nervous, because Katia is one of his least favorite people and he doesn't appreciate her sticking her nose into his business.

Once back at the farm, the family must decide how to keep Zasha and the family safe.  The boys find several hiding places to keep Zasha in case of an emergency.  The family falls in love with her, and she seems to bring happiness to all of them.  The boys spend time training her and she catches on quickly. As promised, Katia does investigate the death of the mystery man and ends up at the farm on several occasions.  Her guess is that the man had a dog and he was killed trying to protect it.  She tells Mikhail that she found dog hairs on the dead man's coat.  She took a sample of the hairs and discovered that the dog is a German Shepherd.  She suspects that Mikhail is hiding the dog and tells him that anyone found with a German Shepherd will be considered a traitor and the dog will be killed.

When a truck carrying 2 dog thieves show up at the farm, Mikhail and Nikolai know they have to do something more to protect Zasha.  When the dead man's wife shows up, they know that they have to tell the truth about the dog.  When a mysterious soldier claims to be opening a dog kennel, they think they have found the solution to their problem.  Mikhail will stop at nothing to keep Zasha safe.  He promises her that he will never, ever leave her... will he be able to keep his promise?

During World War II, dogs were used by the Russians in the war effort.  Dogs carried messages through battle fields, dogs were used to guard prisoners and sniff out lost soldiers.  One of the most disturbing jobs that dogs held was to carry a bomb strapped on their back, approach a German tank and blow it, and themselves up.  Russia deployed of 40,000 Anti-Tank dogs during WWII.  Once the German soldiers caught on, they were ordered to shoot all dogs on site.   Because of this, dogs disappeared from Russia.  When the government realized this, they decided to make a Russian Super Dog, and set up an official government office (The Red Star Kennel) in Moscow to take charge of breeding this super dog.  In 1955, Russia had created The Russian Black Terrier, also known as the Russian Pearl.  This dog weighed between 80 and 100 pounds and stood 2 and 1/2 feet high.  The Black Russian Terrier is a working class dog that loves to play with children and is protective (not aggressive).  Many breeds were used to create this Super Dog, including Rottweiler, The Giant Schnauzer, Great Dane and German Shepherd.  Anti Tank Dogs were trained in Russia until 1996. Randi Barrow explains that this book is a work of fiction that was inspired by the events following WWII in Russia. 

Kids at Lemme School love to read books about dogs, and they get mad at me when the dog in the book dies!  I know that this book will fly off the shelf and will appeal to any child that is an animal lover.  This book is great for tricking an unsuspecting child into reading a historical fiction book!  They will learn something at the same time they enjoy a fabulous story and they won't even realize it!  This book sends a powerful message about what man is capable during war and how innocent lives are taken in the process.