Rapunzel's Revenge

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Bibliography:

Hale, Shannon & Hale, Dean. (2008). RAPUNZEL’S REVENGE. Ill. by Nathan Hale. New York: Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781599900704

Summary:

In this Old West fractured yarn of Rapunzel, a young gal takes a gander over the wall of her lush villa and sees a sight most unexpected, barren land and slaves.  Wanting to understand how this could be, she climbs over and learns who the woman posing as her mother truly is and about the woman in her dreams.  A despicable scheme is afoot.  Now Rapunzel wants revenge for the wickedness done to her and her family.

Critical Analysis:

Shannon and Dean Hale offer adolescent readers a powerful, full of spirit heroine in their fractured fairy tale of Rapunzel.  In keeping with the original version, Rapunzel has long hair and is held in a tower by Gothel, who poses as Rapunzel’s mother, only to escape to find out who she truly is.  However, the Hale's outlandish home-spun fractured yarn, reminiscent of a tall tale, weaves together a girl with long hair, a thief, a golden-egg laying goose, a beanstalk, and a greedy old woman with a heck of a temper.  Punzie is full grit and determination as she adventures to escape from Gothel and save her momma.  Along the way she uses her hair to lasso a rip-snortin’ wild boar to ride, saves a girl from Heck Burnbottom’s gang, drives a herd of ferocious beasts like they were doggies, and lives happily ever after.

On the outside, it seems as though Rapunzel’s Revenge  is a typical picture book held within, but readers are offered something more enticing in this generation of pushing the boundaries in book publishing, a graphic novel. Ultimately, it’s Nathan Hale’s comic style illustrations that make this yarn a grabber for kids.  The eye-catching illustrations easily tell the fractured tale of Rapunzel.  In addition, they aren't cluttered with so much detail that they make a reader not able to focus on the picture and story as a whole, thus overall making the pages more pleasing to the eye.

Overall Shannon, Dean, and Nathan Hale have constructed a traditional tale in a non-traditional way.  They have entered a new style of book publishing that kids are leaning towards.  Anyone new to graphic novels will enjoy Rapunzel’s Revenge to get their feet wet.

Awards:

ALA 2009 Notable Children's Book

YALSA 2009 Great Graphic Novel for Teens

Eisner Award nominee

Review Excerpts:

“A dash of typical fairy-tale romance, a strong sense of social justice and a spunky heroine make this a standout choice for younger teens.” - Kirkus Review

“Witty dialogue and romantic ending.”  - Publishers Weekly

“The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive.” - School Library Journal

Connections:

-Read the sequel, Calamity Jack

-Fracture a folk tale and create a graphic story

-Compare and contrast the original fairy tale of Rapunzel with Rapunzel’s Revenge

-Refer to the teacher’s guide provided by Squeetus: http://www.squeetus.com/stage/Rapunzel_TG.pdf

Flora and Ulysses

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Bibliography:

DiCamillo, Kate. (2013). FLORA AND ULYSSES. Ill. by K.G. Campbell. Mass: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763660406

Summary:

Holy bagumba!  Are Flora’s eyes playing tricks on her?  Did she really just see a squirrel lift a vacuum cleaner?  Join Flora and Ulysses on their illuminated adventure in conquering villains and finding their way home.

Critical Analysis:

The fantasy novel Flora and Ulysses was written by nationally acclaimed author, Kate DiCamillo.  True to her style, DiCamillo immediately hooks readers with her original characters.  Furthermore, making the plot entertaining for young readers is DiCamiilo’s ability to follow the natural form of the typical rising and falling action of a superhero story.  A superhero is born, villains are battled, the superhero and sidekick are in distress, but have no fear the superhero saves the day, and all is well in the world. In DiCamillo’s story, Flora is a self-described cynic at heart, but has illuminated adventures with her superhero poetry-writing-flying squirrel, Ulysses, which lead them to home and ultimately the meaning of love.  Together, Ulysses and Flora vanquish villains and learn the universal truth that you have to believe in something bigger than yourself. Additionally, the superhero ending of all is well is confirmed by the ending of Flora and Ulysses with, “He flew to her; his small, warm, hopeful body hit her with a thud that almost knocked her off her feet.  She wrapped her arms, her hands, her self around him.  ‘Ulysses,’ she said.  ‘I love you.”

Adding to the entertaining writing of DiCamillo is the illustrations of K.G. Campbell.  The enjoyment of the comic style black and white illustrations is of superhero proportions.  They only add to the pleasure of DiCamillo’s words and the superhero emphasis of the plot.  In the beginning, Campbell illustrates a scene where Ulysses is seeking out Mrs. Buckman’s typewriter in the darkness of night and typing words to defeat the evil.  Readers feel as if they are standing behind Ulysses, whispering words of encouragement while he types his first word, “Squirtel!” 

Overall, DiCamillo and Campbell present readers, fourth grade and up, a fantasy novel of superhero proportions.  Readers will cheer Flora and Ulysses on while the themes of divorce, love, believing, and friendship are to be reckoned with in Flora and Ulysses.  

Awarded:

Winner of the 2014 Newbery Medal

Review Excerpts:

“Kate DiCamillo is a master storyteller.” —Booklist

“Original, touching, and oh-so-funny.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Amusing glimpses at the world.” —School Library Journal

“There’s real emotion at the heart of this story.” —Publishers Weekly

Connections:

-Use the Flora and Ulysses website for additional resources: http://www.floraandulysses.com/home.html

-Read and perform Flora and Ulysses as a readers’ theatre using the script from The Texas Bluebonnet Award: https://texasbluebonnetaward2015.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/rtfloraulysses.pdf

-Sequence the events of the story in a comic strip

-Do an author study of Kate DiCamillo

-Compare and contrast the characters from other Kate DiCamillo books.

-Brainstorm a new superhero and create a comic

The Book Thief

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Bibliography:

Zusak, Markus. (2005). THE BOOK THIEF. Ills. by Trudy White.  New York: Random House. ISBN 0375831002

Summary:

In this tale narrated by Death, an adolescent girl, Liesel Meminger, perseveres in Nazi Germany.  Death tells the tale of Liesel’s lose of family, gaining a new one, and hiding a Jew.  All the while, in this time of laughter and sadness, through words Liesel is given life and earns the nickname, “Book Thief.”

Critical Analysis:

Award winner Markus Zusak created a poignant tale for young adults of the atrocious time in Germany during the 1930’s and 1940’s.  However, he uses a fresh approach to writing about a much covered topic, Nazi Germany, in this realistic fiction piece.  He chose Death as the narrator of the story, which is a very fitting narrator to a time when so many lives were lost like the domino effect portrayed on the book cover.  Zusak however does not take the obvious approach to Death’s character, "By the way — I like this human idea of the grim reaper. I like the scythe. It amuses me."  Instead, Death is portrayed in a heart-felt manner.  In his journey, Death picks up Liesel’s book The Book Thief that she was working on when the bombs destroyed Himmel Street.  As he read her words about humans, he “pitied them, though not as much as [he] felt for the ones [he] scooped up from various camps in that time.”

In addition to Death, Zusak creates an identifiable main character in Liesel Meminger.  She is an audacious young girl that endures tragedy on her way to her foster family, the Hubermann’s.  Soon after, a pivotal point occurs when she learns what it means to really live in Germany while attending a book burning organized for Hitler’s birthday on April 20, 1940.  That day Liesel donned her Hitler Youth uniform and as she marched, “There was a swell in her chest as people clapped them on.”  After the parade, a Nazi leader rose to the podium to address the spectators.  He spoke of putting an end to the immoral, “We stop them from reaching into our minds…” and then goes on to speak of the immoral as the Jews and “Kommunisten.”  Liesel thinks to herself, “That word again.  That old word.”  Up until now the Hitler Youth had spoken of Germans as being the superior race and the Jews were the “main offender in regard to violating the German ideal,” but no one had ever mentioned the communists as being “offenders.”  Her mother and father were communists.   Here is where she makes the complicated realization that Hitler is responsible for her loss of family.  She “pivoted with nausea to exit crowd.”  Later that day as she sits with her Papa on the church steps, Liesel grapples with the fact that on the outside she has to pretend to be something she’s not, an ideal German.  With this realization, Liesel steals her second book.

In spite of the devastating times in Molching, Germany, with the Hubermann’s Lisel gains a family, love, and words.  She enjoys the friendships of Rudy, the kid next door, and Max, the Jew hiding in her basement.  With Rudy, who makes Death “cry,” Liesel finds a best friend and her first love.  With Max, she shares the gift of words and a snowman.  Furthermore, she gains a complicated friend in the mayor’s wife, Ilsa Hermann.  Ilsa is a haunted woman with a library full of books.  Liesel steals her third book from her as an act of retribution for the current times caused by Hitler.  However, it is Ilsa in that end that comes looking for Liesel when all seems lost.

Adding to Markus Zusak’s touching words are the illustrations of Max’s stories by Trudy White.  White uses a simplistic pen and ink medium in her sketches.  It’s as though the reader is truly looking at what Max created for Liesel down in the basement of 33 Himmel Street.  One can imagine the meticulous effort it took Max to cover the pages of Mein Kampf with white paint, then planning out what he wanted to write with a paintbrush, so that he didn’t make waste of his precious materials.
Overall, Markus Zusak has created a story that will stand the test of time and be treasured by those who read it.  He delivers readers a very powerful story of realistic fiction that brings readers closer to the heart of what living in Nazi Germany was truly like.  Even though there is happiness in hard times to be had by all, this is not an overwhelming tale of happiness.  Readers are faced with the grim reality that some survive and have many stories to tell, while other’s stories are cut short.  

Awards:

2006: Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book (South East Asia & South Pacific)

2006: School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

2006: Daniel Elliott Peace Award

2006: Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of the Year

2006 : National Jewish Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature

2006: Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book

2007: Michael L. Printz Honor Book

2007: Book Sense Book of the Year Award for Children's Literature

Review Excerpts:

“The writing is elegant, philosophical and moving. Even at its length, it’s a work to read slowly and savor. Beautiful and important.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Brilliant and hugely ambitious new young-adult novel is startling in many ways.” -New York Times

“As a storyteller, Death has a bad habit of forecasting ("I'm spoiling the ending," he admits halfway through his tale). It's a measure of how successfully Zusak has humanized these characters that even though we know they are doomed, it's no less devastating when Death finally reaches them.” -Publisher’s Weekly

Connections:

-Read other works by Markus Zusak.

-Read the informational text, Hitler Youth by, Susan Bartoletti

-Create a story narrated by something other than a human.

-Research World War ll

-Write an ending to Max’s story.  Where did he end up?  Did he marry Liesel?

Dead End in Norvelt

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Bibliography:

Ganto, Jack. (2011). DEAD END IN NORVELT. New York: Square Fish. ISBN 9781250010230

Summary:

Jack Gantos thought he was going to have a fantastic summer, that is until his mother walked up and ruined it. But how boring can a summer be when writing obituaries, Hell’s Angels, driving a car, and throwing balloons filled with red paint out of an airplane are involved?  Read this hilarious and somewhat true adventure of an eleven year old boy’s summer of being grounded for life in Norvelt, PA.

Critical Analysis:

Author Jack Gantos offers readers insight into his boyhood town of Norvelt, Pennsylvania with the creation of the fictional Jack Gantos, whose comical happenings are loosely based on the author’s life.  The town of Norvelt was founded by Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1930’s on the concept of bartering and trading for what one needs.  However, as Jack finds out firsthand, times are changing in their little town in the summer of 1962.  While being grounded “for life” for shooting his dad’s Japanese sniper rifle, which he wasn’t suppose to touch, his mom loans him out to help Miss Volker write the town obituaries and learns, “History lasts forever.”  Author Gantos seamlessly weaves Hell’s Angels, Marilyn Monroe's death, Monopoly, and Bambi as a sign of the times, along with other historical events and facts from Miss Volker’s daily “This Day in History” into the protagonist, Jack Gantos’s, comical daily life.  All of this history occurs while the boy Jack Gantos helps solve the mystery of why all the founding members of Norvelt are dropping like flies.  Overall, readers will enjoy this comical and somewhat true twist of history while taking away the wise words of Miss Volker, “I just love the circle of history, you know it’s so generous.”

Awards:

2012 Newbery Medal

2012 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction

Review Excerpts:

“This is a story like no other.” -John Scieszka, founder of guysread.com

“Laugh-out-loud gothic comedy.” -The Horn Book

“Wildly entertaining.” -Publishers Weekly

“Those with a nose for history will be especially pleased.” -Booklist

Connections:

-Use the Dead End in Norvelt Study Guide provided by Jack Gantos

http://www.jackgantos.com/uploads/study-guides/Dead_End_in_Norvelt.pdf

-Read the sequel, From Norvelt to Nowhere

-Read The Wednesday Wars by, Gary Schmidt - also set in the 1960s, compare and contrast the novels

-Research Eleanor Roosevelt and her contributions to the United States of America

-Have students write an obituary summary for the book

Storyteller

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Bibliography:

Giff, Patricia Reilly. (2010). STORYTELLER. New York: Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN 9780375838880

Summary:

Elizabeth and Zee are relatives with parallel lives, but are separated by two hundred years.  One lives in the twentieth century while the other during war-torn American Revolutionary Times.  Their stories unfold as Elizabeth, while staying with her aunt, learns about the picture of a woman hanging in the hallway that looks just like her.  Through Elizabeth’s journey of discovery, both girls journey on a path of finding out who they truly are.

Critical Analysis:

Patricia Reilly Giff portrays two girls across the span of time that have similar lives in Pennsylvania, even though they are separated by two hundred years.  In the twenty-first century Elizabeth has to go stay with her aunt Libby while her Pop goes on a business trip to Australia.  Resentfully she goes to Libby’s house, and her life is forever changed once she glimpses the picture of Zee hanging in Libby’s hall.  As time progresses, Elizabeth finds out the story of her distant relative Zee, whom she looks like.  However, not only do they look alike, but their lives and stories are one of overcoming self-worth, tragedy, and ultimately triumph in finding out how strong they really are.  In addition, Giff give readers a look into the strife of living in America at the beginning of Revolutionary times through the voice of Zee.  These times were tragic, friends turned against friends, loved ones were lost, and much tragedy was to be had for the price of freedom from Britain.  Adding to the strong historical significance, Giff alternates chapters between Elizabeth’s life, written in third-person, in the twenty-first century and Zee’s life, written in first-person, in the eighteenth century to give readers a feeling of deeper understanding of the times and the growing stories of strength that each girl achieves.  Ultimately, this book is a good read for for anyone interested in American history and the times during the Revolutionary War.

Review Excerpts:

“Giff again demonstrates her own gift for storytelling.” -Publishers Weekly

“This is a lovely story about love and loss, a little-known aspect of Revolutionary history and the way the past informs the present, and the ending is gratifying.” -Kirkus Reviews

Connections:

-Research the American Revolution

-Write a story mirroring the frame of Storyteller by creating a character from present day point of view and picking a point in history to create another character to portray their view from that time.

-Draw a character sketch of Elizabeth and Zee

-Compare and contrast the characters and their lives

The Wednesday Wars

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Bibliography:

Schmidt, Gary D. (2006). THE WEDNESDAY WARS. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 9780618724833

Summary:

As it is, middle school is hard enough, but for Holling Hoodhood it seems even worse.  On Wednesdays, being the only Presbyterian at Camillo Junior High, he is left behind to stay with Mrs. Baker while half his class goes to Catechism and the other half to Hebrew School.  Holling is certain that Mrs. Baker hates “him with heat whiter than the sun” because he is in her way of an afternoon off.  However, as time goes by, he learns just how special these days truly are.

Critical Analysis:

Gary Schmidt does a considerable job combining humor, drama, and history in his book The Wednesday Wars.  The plot is laugh out loud funny as Holling, who lives on Long Island,  battles boredom, janitorial duties, and Shakespeare with “white feathers waving on [his] butt,” however the gravity of becoming a person that stands up for himself is not downplayed by the hilarity of Holling’s comical catastrophes.  In addition, it’s as though readers are actually hearing Walter Cronkite giving his nightly updates as Holling's father catches up on the evening news and has no time to give fatherly advice.  Readers also get a glimpse into the time period of 1967-1968 with Vietnam, Mickey Mantle, the rage of becoming a flower child, and the like by which Schmidt successfully weaves portions of history into Holling’s life.  Overall, Gary Schmidt offers middle schoolers and older an entertaining read with The Wednesday Wars.

Awards:

2008 Newbery Honor

2010 Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award.

Review Excerpts:

“Schmidt has a way of getting to the emotional heart of every scene without overstatement, allowing the reader and Holling to understand the great truths swirling around them on their own terms.” -Kirkus Reviews

“The serious issues are leavened with ample humor, and the supporting cast—especially the wise and wonderful Mrs. Baker—is fully dimensional. Best of all is the hero, who shows himself to be more of a man than his authoritarian father.” -Publishers Weekly

“Holling's unwavering, distinctive voice offers a gentle, hopeful, moving story of a boy who, with the right help, learns to stretch beyond the limitations of his family, his violent times, and his fear, as he leaps into his future with his eyes and his heart wide open.” -Booklist

Connections:

-Read Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy also by, Gary Schmidt

-Read Dead End in Norvelt, by Jack Gantos - also set in the 1960s, compare and contrast the novels

-Research the 1960’s, the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, Vietnam