Module 15 - King and King by Linda de Haan

Bibliography:

de Haan, Linda. (2002). King and King. Berkeley: Tricycle Press. ISBN: 9781582460611

Summary:

There is a kingdom where the queen rules...and she is tired of it. So, she decides that her son, the crown prince, must marry. She wakes him up from his slumber to tell him her decision and continues to talk and talk and talk to her son about it until he finally agrees to marry, although he mentions that he was never that fond of princesses. Upon getting the okay from her son, the queen calls up every princess in the world, near and far, and they all show up the next day to meet the prince, hoping he will choose them. There was a princess from Austria, who sang opera, a princess from Texas who preforms magic acts and there was a princess from Mumbai with really long arms and legs. There was even a princess from Greenland, and although the prince was not interested in her, the prince's page fell in love with her at first sight. The queen and prince began to lose hope, until finally the page announced the arrival of Princess Madeleine and her brother, Prince Lee. It was love at first sight between the princes. The prince and queen were very happy, and then a beautiful wedding was held for the princes, with the wedding cake having two grooms on top. The queen passes on control of the kingdom to her son and has time for herself, and the princes become king and king. The king and king share true love's kiss. The page and his love, the two kings, and the queen all live happily ever after.

Impressions:

I thought this book was very cute. Although it slightly differs from other books falling into the happily ever after fairy tale sort, moving from boy meets girl, to boy meets boy, I think it accomplishes the same things, while also quietly addressing homosexuality. It may be a greatly opposed book because of this, but I see nothing wrong with this book being available for children to read. It leads children to have an open mind about homosexuality, which is better for us as a society. Everyone is equal, no matter who they love romantically. The illustrations are also very appealing, although unusual and unique, sticking to the whole theme and uniqueness of the whole book. I liked the book a lot and was happy that I was able to find it in my library (although, apparently it was only added in the library system last month although the book has been published since 2002).

Reviews:
"The text is brief and lighthearted, and it presents the gay relationship with matter-of-fact ease. But it's the illustrations that really shine. Whimsical, textured collages mix beautiful papers, fabrics, and bright paint in scenes that show the bossy queen, the wildly imagined town, the eclectic princesses, the wedding, and finally, a kiss between the two starry-eyed princes. Adults will know what's coming early in the story, but many kids won't. They'll simply like the fun artwork and the final twist on conventions."

Engberg, Gillian. (July 01, 2002). American Library Association.  [Review of the book King and King.]. Booklist. Available from booksinprint.com

"Indeed a book whose time has come, this is no pusillanimous bibliotherapy; it is, rather, a joyful celebration that at the same time firmly challenges the assumptions established and perpetuated by the entire canon of children's picture books. Hurrah to newcomers de Haan and Nijland and to the publisher for bringing them to an American audience."

 (February 01, 2002). Kirkus Reviews. [Review of the book King and King.]. Kirkus Reviews. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:

This book would be perfect for introducing issues associated homosexuality to young readers. By doing this, their minds are open to such things, instead of growing up closed minded and prejudiced about the whole affair. I think its a great book to show that whether you are in love with a man or woman, happily ever afters can still happen, and its okay. Not only that, but by reading this at a young age, things such as bullying could be weeded out later for students that are gay or that have gay parents. A discussion could be had about the matter and any prejudiced thoughts that might have been passed on from others could be addressed. Children should know that even if a person happens to love someone of the same sex, we are all equal.

Module 14 - A Curious Collection of Cats by Betsy Franco

Bibliography:

Franco, Betsy. (2009). A Curious Collection of Cats. Berkeley: Tricycle Press. ISBN: 9781582462486

Summary:

This is a book of poems, all about cats. Readers are introduced to over thirty cats, each with their own personality and spunk. There are cats that want to catch squirrels, there are cats that hang from a dog's mouth, there are cats that sleep on folded laundry and there are cats that pee on hats. Each poem is about a cat (or a couple), that artistically portrays each cat. For the cat who has a long tongue to lick her neck, the words are written in the shape of the long tongue. For the cat who paces in between legs, the words are written in such a way to show the cat pacing. The book combines poetry and illustrations perfectly, illustrating cats and the world they live in.

Impressions:

Being a cat lover and owner myself, I absolutely loved this book. I thought it was adorable. I loved how each poem perfectly described the quirks of cats. What made the book even better was the way in which the poems were illustrated and the words arranged. I loved how it wasn't just a simple book filled with poems in a structured form. The book clearly shows how much fun poetry can be and that there are no limits. The poems made me laugh and the pictures made me smile. The arrangement of words had me flipping the book over and sideways to continue reading, and the whole thing was a blast. I never knew reading poetry could be so much fun.

Reviews:
"Words and pictures blend in these concrete poems about cats, written in forms that include haiku, limerick, and free verse. Once kids get the feel of how to follow the lines up and down or in curving jumps or around the page borders--they will have fun with the playful images."

Rochman, Hazel. (March 15, 2009). American Library Association.  [Review of the book A Curious Collection of Cats.]. Booklist. Available from booksinprint.com

"Franco understands the nuanced world of the fluffy, fractious, and faithful feline friend. Thirty-two unusual, concrete poems, one per page with a single exception, are matched by Wertz's monoprints. The words move in several directions and sometimes inhabit multiple objects. The poems are so embedded within the illustrations that it is hard to imagine them without the artwork; they are virtually inseparable."

 Pfeifer, Teresa. (April 01, 2009). Library Journals LLC. [Review of the book A Curious Collection of Cats.]. School Library Journal. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:

I think this book would be a great way to introduce poetry. There are a wide range of forms and types of poetry included in the book, but more than that, these poems are fun and they are written in such a way to make them that way. This book shows readers that poetry can be fun and that it is not just about structure. In my opinion, this book should be read and passed around before any talks of structure even happen. A love of poetry and their meanings should be acquired before diving in deeper to such things as structure. This would be the puurrfect book to do that, especially since it deals with a topic everyone can relate to: cats!

Module 13 - Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale

Bibliography:

Hale, Shannon. (2008). Rapunzel's Revenge. New York: Bloomsbury. ISBN: 9781599900704

Summary:

In this graphic novel remake of the classic fairytale, Rapunzel takes her happy ending into her own hands. Growing up in a beautiful villa, but always surrounded by a very tall wall, Rapunzel climbs over the wall of her "mother's" house, who happens to be an evil witch, and discovers who her real mother is, a mother who is a slave to the evil witch, Gothel. She finds out that Gothel stole Rapunzel from her parents when she was a young girl because Rapunzel's father stole into Gothel's garden to bring his pregnant wife some Rapunzel lettuce. Upon discovering the truth, Rapunzel lashes out against Gothel, her fake mother, and in turn Gothel has Rapunzel taken into an over grown forest and locked in a room inside a very large tree. Because of Gothel's growth magic in the tree, Rapunzel's hair grows and grows. She finally manages to escape by learning how to wield her hair as a lasso and weapon. Upon escaping, she meets the handsome prince that is to rescue her, but she realizes he is a rich snob, so she deserts him and eventually meets up with Jack, as in Jack and the Giant Beanstalk, and his goose (whom he is waiting to lay a hefty egg..)and they decide to travel together, in through the land that Gothel has made barren with her powers. Rapunzel travels in the efforts to right the wrongs Gothel has created and to help people along the way, but most importantly, to try to save her real mother. Rapunzel and Jack are constantly chased by the evil witch's henchmen as well as people after Jack. But eventually, they manage to free Rapunzel's mother, destroy Gothel's magic as well as Gothel, and restore the land back to its healthy, green self. Not only that, but Jack and Rapunzel realize their love for one another and kiss, which is apparently the moment the goose was waiting for to lay her golden egg.

Impressions:

Growing up, I have read my fair share of graphic novels, and so its almost hard to impress me with one. I enjoy reading them all the time, and I enjoyed reading this one just as much. Even better, I was really impressed! The plot was interesting, giving a twist to a classic tale. It was fun and fast paced, which lends a hand to the action packed storyline. I also enjoyed the fact that it has a strong female main character, a girl who can take care of herself and others. The illustrations were great, and they bring the story to life. I thought it was a very clever remake of a classic fairytale story, and everyone should read it.

Reviews:
"This graphic novel retelling of the fairy-tale classic, set in a swashbuckling Wild West, puts action first and features some serious girl power in its spunky and strong heroine...Hale's art matches the story well, yielding expressive characters and lending a wonderful sense of place to the fantasy landscape. Rich with humor and excitement, this is an alternate version of a classic that will become a fast favorite of young readers. "

Coleman, Tina. (September 01, 2008). American Library Association.  [Review of the book Rapunzel's Revenge.]. Booklist. Available from booksinprint.com

"The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive. Knowing that there are more graphic novels to come from this writing team brings readers their own happily-ever-after."

 Kinsey, Cara von Wrangel. (September 01, 2008). Library Journals LLC. [Review of the book Rapunzel's Revenge.]. School Library Journal. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:

I think this graphic novel would be great to introduce interesting reading material for struggling readers. With a fast paced story, as well as great illustrations, I believe struggling readers would find this book interesting and overcome their hesitations in order to read through it. I think graphic novels are a great first step for struggling readers, whether they are struggling because of their reading abilities (graphic novels include pictures that help tell the story just as much as the words), or if they struggle with motivation (graphic novels are a great way to get students reading).

Module 12 - Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein by Don Brown

Bibliography:

Brown, Don. (2004). Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN: 0618492984

Summary:

Albert Einstein was born in Germany in the year1879. Upon his arrival in the world, his family thinks he is too fat and a huge head. Although his head stays misshaped, he otherwise appears to be normal until his parents start to worry about when Albert will start speaking. When he finally does start to speak, his words and sentences are clever and sharp. When Albert is three, his parents have another child, a girl named Maja. He is shown being mean to his sister as well to his tutors, having a wicked temper. He had very few friends. While the other boys at school liked to play sports, Albert did not. He did not give much effort to things he did not like or have an interest in, even at school. But things he was interested in, he devoted all of his attention. He excelled in math and puzzles. But still, people and teachers wondered if he was dull witted. Albert later makes a friend named Max Talmud, who introduces Albert to geometry, and from there, Albert's love of math expands. Although Albert eventually graduates college, attains a job, and marries and becomes a father, Albert is still engaged in the wonder of mathematics in the world around him. He creates a view of space and time and energy that changed the world, changing the world for everyone. Because of his contributions, Albert Einstein is not the odd boy out anymore, but a revolutionary and great thinker.

Impressions:

I thought this book was a great view into who Albert Einstein was as a person, as a boy growing up. It was nice to see that Albert had problems and issues just like "normal" children growing up, and that he struggled as well. But in a way, it is important to see the differences in how he struggled because he was so brilliant. The illustrations help illustrate this with illustrations that are sometimes funny, such as a teacher running from Albert's cruelty, but more importantly, the illustrations show how lonely Albert must have been, such as Albert sitting by himself while other boys played. This book makes Albert Einstein a person as well as one of the most brilliant and magnificent thinkers of all times. I also enjoyed how on the last page of the book, it illustrates what he has done for us, not only in his magical creation of E=mc^2, which younger readers might not be able to understand and appreciate yet, but he also illustrates Albert's contribution in a way young readers can appreciate, such as automatic doors and television.

Reviews:
"Young readers won't come away from Brown's newest picture-book biography understanding the theory of relativity, but they will be heartened by the parallels between their own experiences and those of an iconic science guy. "

Mattson, Jennifer. (September 01, 2004). American Library Association.  [Review of the book Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein.]. Booklist. Available from booksinprint.com

"Through eloquent narrative and illustration, Brown offers a thoughtful introduction to an enigmatic man. This book will pique the interest of readers with little or no knowledge of Einstein."

 Taniguchi, Marilyn. (October 01, 2004). Library Journals LLC. [Review of the book Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein.]. School Library Journal. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:

I think this book would be great to use in a set of books about inventors who have influenced our life today. Reading this book and then talking about the effects that Albert's works on light, energy, space and time have made on our daily lives would be a great introduction into such a topic. It is important for children to understand why we have the things we do, and that these were real people, with real problems who created these solutions. Not only that, but this book could also be tied into a science class when introductions to the E=mc^2 equation are being taught. It would give a nice background to the lesson.

Module 11 - Aliens are Coming!: The True Account of the 1938 War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast by Meghan McCarthy

Bibliography:

McCarthy, Meghan. (1988). Aliens are Coming!:The True Account of the 1938 War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast . New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN: 0375835180

Summary:

Aliens are Coming! begins with a brief explanation of the context surrounding the 1938 radio broadcast of War of the Worlds. After explaining the significance of radio programming to Americans in 1938, readers are informed of a particular prank phenomena that occurred during this time. After establishing the time an setting, the day before Halloween in the United States, readers are given an impression of how the broadcast must have sounded - as a legitimate new flash rather than part of a radio play. Following this setup, the book mainly uses actual dialogue from the War of the Worlds broadcast itself. Seeing this dialogue, readers follow how radio listeners in 1938 would have perceived the broadcast as a series of genuine news reports, elaborating interstellar disturbances from Mars, followed by the arrival of a UFO in Grovers Mill, New Jersey, and then the hostile first contact between witnesses and alien technology. Once the dialogue from the broadcast culminates into a doomsday warning and report of alien ships appearing nation-wide, the book takes a turn, describing the significance of the radio play in terms of the reactions caused. It tells of both the mass panic as evidenced by crowded highways and evacuations, as well as specific anomalies such as one man's confused identification of a water tower as an alien vessel. Only after this hysteria do the broadcasters conclude that aliens have not actually invaded, but that the whole broadcast was nothing more than a Halloween special. 

Impressions:

I thought this was a cute depiction about the true event of the radio scare in 1938. I liked how the books contained an author's note, giving a denser version than the story itself. Although the story is fully, if simply, explained in the earlier, thoroughly illustrated pages, it is followed by an author's note much longer than the rest of the book, which provides much more detailed information about the event for more advanced readers.The note lends help towards giving a more thorough understanding of the event. The illustrated section makes learning about the even entertaining and more suitable for younger audiences. The illustrations are comical and unique and easily reflect the time era in which the broadcast occurred. The illustrations are stylishly cartoonish, making it enjoyable for young readers, and me. It amazes me that the nation was taken in by such a widespread prank, even though they were warned that it was just a play. It makes me wonder if such a thing could happen today with our advanced technology.

Reviews:
"Using a 1930's art style, and a palette comprising mostly muted grays and reds, McCarthy evokes an era gone by, at the same time creating a cozy nostalgia. Even somewhat older, media savvy kids, who may view the gullibility of the characters with a disdainful eye, will be disarmed by the depictions of panicked faces and slimy Martians, eyes on stalks, that appear amid eerie red light. An abrupt ending notwithstanding, this is packed with age-appropriate thrills and scares."

Karp, Jesse. (February 01, 2006). American Library Association.  [Review of the book Aliens are Coming!:The True Account of the 1938 War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast.]. Booklist. Available from booksinprint.com

"The interplay between the text of the play and the author's description of actual events is effective, and the illustrations are exaggerated and funny. A unique treatment of a fascinating topic, and sure to have wide appeal."

 Vilmar, Rachael. (April 01, 2006). Library Journals LLC. [Review of the book Aliens are Coming!:The True Account of the 1938 War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast.]. School Library Journal. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:

I think this book would be great to read aloud, and even better, given to the children to read in dramatic announcer voices. Its a good opening for general education on the importance radio used to have in day to day life, as well as a great opener for any lessons on the 1930's. The kids could act out the crazy event, taking turns giving the "devastating" news. The book also includes questions throughout its pages, that would be great to talk about with the kids, such as "What would you do?", "Would you have been fooled?", and "What would you do if an alien came to visit you?" These are great starters for fun conversations that could get the ball rolling on more intellectual conversations.

Module 10 - The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

Bibliography:

Yolen, Jane. (1988). The Devil's Arithmetic. New York: Viking Kestrel. ISBN: 0670810274

Summary:

Hannah is a young Jewish girl, living in present day New York who feels forced to participate in the Jewish holidays and traditions. She feels that her family is weird; they act out, especially the older ones, and always talk about remembering. But Hannah is tired of remembering, especially with the boring traditions, and only wants to have fun. But, during Seder, Hannah gets transported into the past as a young Jewish girl named Chaya during the time of WWII. The people there believe her to be Chaya, and with no one believing her when she protests, she finally lets it be and goes with it, thinking eventually she will get back home. On the day of her "cousin's" wedding, the Nazis come and force all the Jews into vans to relocate them. Hannah finally figures out what is going on, and tries to warn everyone, but they do not listen. They are forced onto cramped trains, where many die, and finally come to a concentration camp where they are forced to separate from the men, forced to strip, shower in a huge room together, shave off all their hair, and given a tattooed number on their arm: their new identity. They are forced to work everyday. Weak workers or sick workers are killed in the ovens. Hannah and the others concentrate on surviving one day at a time. A lot of her friends die, including some that tried to escape and instead were caught and made to line up, then shot. Caught gossiping one day with three of her friends, a guard forces the three friends with Hannah to follow him to the ovens, but Hannah takes the place of her friend Rivka and tells her that she must remember before walking away to die. Upon walking into the ovens, she realizes she is back at home. She notices that her Aunt Eva's number on her arm is the same that Rivka had. Her aunt and Hannah discuss what happen and what happened after Chaya saved her life. Hannah now understands the importance of all the remembering and the importance of her heritage and family.

Impressions:

Although the time travel is far-fetched, I didn't see a problem with it, and I really think it was played off well. Besides, how else would you get a girl from today's day and age to witness the holocaust? Readers are able to connect with her easier because of that fact. I think its a great book to go with teaching about the Holocaust. I think children will relate to the protagonist because she is a girl from our time and age who somehow gets thrown back in time. And with this connection to this girl, readers are also able to make the connection to the past, and the characters and events there. I loved being able to see impressions of this horrific event, that I know is based on facts. Reading something like this is one of the ways that readers today can help make sure that nothing like that ever happens again.

Reviews:
"Through Hannah, with her memories of the present and the past, Yolen does a fine job of illustrating the importance of remembering. She adds much to children's understanding of the effects of the Holocaust, which will reverberate throughout history, today and tomorrow."

Harding, Susan. (November 01, 1988). Library Journals LLC.  [Review of the book The Devil's Arithmetic.]. School Library Journal. Available from booksinprint.com

"The book's simplicity is its strength; no comment is needed because the facts speak for themselves. This brave and powerful book has much it can teach a young audience."

 (October 14, 1986). PWxyz, LLC. [Review of the book The Devil's Arithmetic.]. Publishers Weekly. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:

I think this novel would be a great book to tie into the history lessons of the Holocaust, of WWII, of the Nazis, of the whole gruesomeness of the whole affair. With history books, people are left out, and only numbers and facts are written, but reading this while studying the same thing in history would help put things into perspective. Discussions could arise, and kids could begin to grasp the realness of it all. The book could either be read aloud or individually, with discussions as a group.

Module 9 - Wolf Rider by Avi

Bibliography:

Avi. (1986). Wolf Rider. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN: 0020415133

Summary:

Andy and his father just moved to an apartment a year after Andy's mother died in a car accident. As Andy was getting ready to leave to go to a party that night, the phone rings. Andy answers it and the voice on the other line claims that he just killed someone, a girl named Nina. The voice says is name is Zeke, and that the girl went to the college in town. Andy tries to keep Zeke on the phone for as long as he could, having sent his friend to cross the road and use a phone there to call the police to have them trace the call. But the call ends and the police don't trace the call. This starts Andy off on an investigation to discover who this Zeke person is once he realizes that Nina is a real person, attending the college in town where Andy's father works as a math professor. As Andy continues his investigation, people at all turns think he is crazy and that the phone call was a prank. They think he should just forget about the whole thing, but Andy is determined to help Nina. So, even though his father gets angry and upset at him many times, straining their relationship, and the police constantly turn him away, and the guidance counselor at school makes him attend meetings with her, he still strives to figure out the truth. Even Nina, when Andy confronts her about the whole matter, thinks he is mad and calls the police on him. But in the end, Andy reasons that Zeke must be a part of the math department, as they would be the only one with their new phone number, which wasn't listed yet. He calls each person in the department under the guise of calling from the newspaper, and finally finds the voice of Zeke: Dr. Lucas. With a series of phone calls to Dr. Lucas, Andy gets him to come to a meeting point where he knows Nina to be, hoping that Dr. Lucas will reveal himself as Zeke and have proof for the police. But, instead, Dr. Lucas kidnaps Andy and drives him out to a cliff. There they have a struggle, and the car drives off the cliff with Andy managing to get out of the car in time. In the end, he decides to tell no one about what happened. His father, upon finding a cufflink that he knows belongs to Dr. Lucas in Andy's pocket, decides not to confront his son about it and throws it away to protect his son.

Impressions:

This book was a very fast read. From the very first page I was hooked and wanted to figure out who the killer was. Although I thought that the story could have been filled out a little more, for I felt there were a lot of stray questions that Avi left unanswered, I thought the book was a good read. I enjoyed how Avi gave insights into not only Andy but Dr. Lucas and Andy's father as well. The ending caught me off guard, for I felt that Andy should have told his father the truth, if only so that he could finally been believed. It bothered me that no one seemed to trust what he was saying, even Nina I felt should have listened to him a bit more. But when faced with the truth that someone wants to kill you, I can understand her overreacting. I also didn't like the idea that Andy's father could be thinking that Andy killed Dr. Lucas somehow, when this wasn't the case; it was all an accident and Andy had actually tried to save Dr. Lucas. But Andy's father thinking that Andy murdered Dr. Lucas could put a strain on their relationship that could last a lifetime if the truth is not spoken. I also learned, while looking for reviews that the book has an alternate ending in which Andy dies on the plane ride to his aunt's house. I think if I had read this ending, I would have been a little more upset with the ending of the book. But all in all, I enjoyed reading the book and think that others would enjoy reading it as well.

Reviews:
"A charged beginning electrifies a plot that sizzles with suspense every inch of the way. Avi fortifies this excitement with staccato dialogue and a fast pace"

(November 01, 1986). American Library Association.  [Review of the book Wolf Rider.]. Booklist. Available from booksinprint.com

"His attempts to ferret out Zeke and protect Nina, while compromising his own safety, make for an exciting tale of the terror lurking beneath everyday surroundings and behind ordinary events."

 (December 26, 1986). PWxyz, LLC. [Review of the book Wolf Rider.]. Publishers Weekly. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:

This book could be read aloud and it would instantly attract the attention of it's listeners. The book has a great hook and it is fast paced, with the readers/listeners wanting to know things like what's going to happen, is Nina going to die, and who is Zeke? As well as being fast-paced and an interesting mystery, a discussion could be held later about different actions Andy could have taken, or about the ending of the book when Andy decides to not bother his father with what happened with Lucas, and Andy's father decides not to ask, although he knows his son had something to do with the death of Lucas, maybe even killed him. The ending leads much to speculation and would lead to a great conversation. Talks could also be had about what would be different in today's age, seeing as this was written in 1986. For example, most people don't have a home phone anymore, and even if they do, everyone has caller ID now.

Module 8 - Fire by Kristin Cashore

Bibliography:

Cashore, Kristin. (2009). Fire. New York: Dial Books. ISBN: 9780803734616

Summary:

There is a land full of beautiful monsters that lure victims to their death by their captivating beauty and ability to influence minds. Fire is one of these monsters, the last human monster of her kind. Her father before her was a human monster too, but knowing the cruelty of her father, and the way she controlled the king, and thus the country, and was leading it to its destruction, Fire enters into the mind of her father and leads him to his death in the claws of a leopard monster when she was a young teen. She gets swept up in the war and politics of her country as she is able to influence the minds of other living things. She ends up leaving her country home and best friend (and former lover), Archer, to head to the city to do her part in helping interrogate prisoners and spies. Prince Brigan is in charge of her safety, and although he hated her in the beginning because of who her father was, he later learns the truth of things, and Brigan and Fire fall in love. In the city, Fire learns of the growing threat of two opposing lords as well as the fact that some men have been found with an emptiness in their mind that she later traces the source to a child with one red eye. Eventually she helps in the murder of the two lords and afterwards gets kidnapped by a group of men under the child's control, for he controls the mind of men with his words. She discovers that the child, Leck, had Archer killed and she loses it. She burns his houses and leaves on the back of a horse, thinking the child dead. She is later found, freezing and frostbitten, by her guards and taken to safety. The war ends and Brigan and Fire finally move in together. The book ends with Fire's finally forgiving herself for her actions.

Impressions:

I had previously read Cashore's other book, Graceling, a few years before so I was excited to read this book. I was a little let down by the fact that it didn't contain the main characters of her first book, but I was instantly drawn into this book nonetheless. The characters are real; they have good and bad to them. For example, Fire pretty much murdered her father, yet she helped in saving the entire country from destruction. I was shocked at some parts at the darkness of the book. These things, such as Fire taking a drug that would prevent her from having children, Fire losing two of her fingers, or even the twisted lineage of the royal family, and all the rape, are rare to find in a young adult novel, yet I found that I liked the harsh truth to it. The ending did not have the touch of a happily ever after, but at the end of the book I was content with the progression of the story.

Reviews:
"As a fantasy writer, Cashore sets herself apart with a passionate descriptive style...'Fire' is a good addition to the young adult bookshelf. It has action, romance and mysterious creatures, and it allows readers to indulge in a primal fantasy: What would it be like to have such powers? 'Fire' may not lessen anyone's desire for transcendent beauty or the ability to read the minds of the lords and ladies of the lunchroom. But by the end, readers will better understand that even these gifts are double-edged."

Quart, Alissa. (December 06, 2009). The New York Times Company.  [Review of the book Fire.]. New York Times. Available from booksinprint.com

"This prequel to Graceling, Cashore's smashing debut, may initially frustrate readers wanting more about Katsa and Po. Fire takes place long before Katsa's birth in an adjacent kingdom called the Dells and shares only one character. But its themes-embracing your talents and moving out of your parents' shadow-are similar, as is the absorbing quality of Cashore's prose...Many twists propel the action, and although astute readers will suspect who the eventual lovers will be from their first hateful meeting, the buildup to their romance provides tension that keeps the pages turning. Cashore's conclusion satisfies, but readers will clamor for a sequel to the prequel-a book bridging the gap between this one and Graceling."

 (July 20, 2009). PWxyz, LLC. [Review of the book Fire.]. Publishers Weekly. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:

I think this book would be a good book to lead into discussions of politics and war here in the real world. Conversations and discussions could be had during the progression of chapters in the book about the thoughts of certain actions by the characters, as well as any predictions to the growing plot and confusion by all the lies told by spies and characters. After the book is read, comparisons could be made about politics in the Dells compared to our politics. Discussions could be had about the tactics taken by Fire and her companions, such as killing off enemies, and reactions to these tactics as well. It would be a great book to look into necessity vs compassion and ethics.

Module 7 - Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman

Bibliography:

Korman, Gordon. (2002). Son of the Mob. New York: Hyperion. ISBN: 0786807695

Summary:

Vince is not just any high school student. His dad is the mob boss for the area, which makes him the mob prince. But, although his brother Tommy has taken an interest in the family business, "vending machines", Vince wants nothing to do with the shady dealings of the mob. He is more interested in having a girlfriend, or hanging out with his best friend Alex. Urged to go to a college party one weekend by Alex, Vince runs into a girl named Kendra, a student at his school who once tried to interview him for the school newspaper when he quit the football team. In a wild act of insanity when Kendra tells Vince her dad works for the FBI, Vince grabs and kisses Kendra. Later, Vince finds out he has caught lice from Kendra, and they are forced to go home early from school, deciding to split the cost of the solutions at the pharmacy. They go back to Kendra's place to help each other with the lice shampoo, but when Kendra's father returns home early, Vince slips out the window. After that, Vince and Kendra start seeing each other regularly. But meanwhile, there are people coming to Vince, asking for his help to appeal to his father for more time on paying back loans. Vince is so taken in by these people that he decides to help them, getting caught up in the family business by doing so. Ray, a top dog under Vince's father, ends up helping Vince out girlfriend wise, but when Kendra breaks up with Vince the next day, Vince gets suspicious, and discovers that Ray is an inside man for the FBI. Vince gives Ray a heads up and by the end of the book, Ray is in the witness protection program, Vince is back with Kendra, and Vince's dad has taken care of the troubles Vince stirred up with his interferences.

Impressions:

When I first picked up this book and read the back cover, I immediately smiled because I knew it was a book I would enjoy. And the book didn't disappoint. The book was had realistic characters, with Vince having a family that was legally bad, but a loving and good family nonetheless. And of course, Vince was at an age where he was having to come to terms with the family "vending machine" business. But the part I loved the most was the romance between Vince and Kendra. I loved the modern, mob and FBI, Romeo and Juliet feel of the whole book. Their families are mortal enemies, yet they fall in love and are determined to make it work. I am actually really interested in reading the sequel.

Reviews:
"With its razor-sharp dialogue and bullet-fast pace, this tale could fly on either the small or big screen, yet it makes a page-turner of a novel. Korman shapes a believable and likable crew-despite the less than reputable profession of some... Funny and unexpectedly affecting, this will grab-and hold onto-even the most reluctant of readers."

(October 28, 2002). PWxyz, LLC.  [Review of the book Son of the Mob.]. Publishers Weekly. Available from booksinprint.com

"Vince is well aware of the absurdity of his situation and has a wonderfully dry sense of humor. His genuine struggle to find his own way in the face of family influences is appealing and grounds the story. Although this book will be most popular with the junior high crowd, older students who appreciate humorous writing will enjoy the clever twist on a Romeo-and-Juliet relationship."

Carstensen, Angela.. (February 1, 2003).  [Review of the book Son of the Mob.]. Voice of Youth Advocates. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:

I would put this book, as well as a few others that fall in the same category, up on display. The display could be about books that are similar to modern day Shakespearean books. This would fall into the category of being a modern day Romeo and Juliet. This display would attract a lot of attention since the topics and themes in Shakespeare are still great material today, especially when translated to modern day language and settings for readers today.

Module 7 - Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look

 Bibliography:

Look, Lenore. (2008). Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things. New York: Schwartz & Wade. ISBN: 9780375839143

Summary:

Alvin Ho is going into the second grade and he is afraid of everything except, oddly enough, things that explode. He can't speak to girls, and he can't speak in school, although he can speak on the bus. At home, he has an older brother and younger sister, and he pretends to be a superhero, Firecracker Man, routinely. But for disasters, Alvin has a Personal Disaster Kit, which he fills with things that might come in handy in case of emergencies, like band aids. His dad is teaching him how to be a gentleman, giving Alvin rules, such as never hit a girl. Alvin is determined to make a friend this year and so he asks his brother and father how to make friends and they both suggest trading baseball cards. But at school, the only person who talks to him is Flea, a girl with an eye patch and an uneven leg, like a real pirate. But he hates girls and doesn't talk to her, until she follows him home one day, sharing with Alvin's mom the book she made about Alvin's looks and how he communicates. Alvin gets mad and insults her and she leaves. Afterwards, Alvin intentionally catches chicken pox, and doesn't have to go to school for awhile, and upon returning decides to bring his dad's cool toy to show and tell, thinking the other kids will want to play with him. But, this backfires when the toy breaks on the bus. When his dad finds out, he is furious but only makes Alvin take piano lessons. But Alvin is so scared of his teacher that he runs out of the class. Alvin then decides to take some of his brother's baseball cards and try to be friends with the leader in his class, Pinky. Pinky takes the cards and makes Alvin do scary things, like watch a scary movie, in order to have the privilege of hanging out with them. Alvin watches the movie, and after, his sister comes out in her Halloween costume and scares Pinky so bad he pees his pants and leaves. Alvin realizes that he doesn't want to be friends with someone who doesn't like him for himself, and he realizes he already has a friend. He went back to Pinky, took back his brother's cards, and went to Flea's house. He apologizes to her for the mean things he did and she forgives him. They become fast mutual friends and spend the day watching action movies and playing in the backyard. Alvin thinks he is clearly becoming more of a gentleman.

Impressions:

Alvin Ho does an amazing job of capturing the thought processes of a shy and insecure second grade boy.  Despite being written as the stream-of-consciousness of a young boy, this book is appreciable by either boys or girls as Alvin's internal and external dialogue resonate with an innocence that he himself is not aware of.  The disjointed stories create a story that weaves across space and subjects, portraying a realistic sense of day-to-day life for a young child just trying to survive another day of school.  The book comes across as being lovable across generations and ages, relating to the trials of socialization for young readers, while reminding older readers of what it was like to be in a fluctuating state of security from one life event to the next.  This is a thoroughly enjoyable book, and I absolutely loved it start to finish.

Reviews:
"Whether they are fearful or brave, kids will smile at Alvin's scrapes and empathize with his concerns. Aspects of his Chinese-American background are seamlessly integrated into the story and add richness. The book is chock-full of well-placed illustrations."

Bridge, Martin. (August 1, 2008). Library Journals LLC [Review of the book Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things.]. School Library Journal. Available from booksinprint.com

"In this book, Look, who has made a career of portraying Chinese American family life in picture books and chapter books, focuses less on cultural commonalities than on the idiosyncracies of Alvin's family (a dad fond of Shakespearean insults, a grandfather who sews), filling in the Chinese American backdrop exclusively through a small amount of Cantonese vocabulary and some food references."

Mattson, Jennifer. (July 1, 2008). American Library Association [Review of the book Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things.]. Booklist. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:

This book reads aloud really well, so I think this book would work well reading out loud for story time for an elementary-middle school age group. After reading the books, conversations and discussions could follow about topics and themes in the books, especially those about friendship. Discussions about real and fake friends and even about past experiences with these kind of situations. Also, talking about any problems like those that Alvin experiences, like being unable to talk in school, could be beneficial. Knowing that there are others who are struggling could be a boost for those with similar problems.

Module 6 - Shark vs. Train by

 Bibliography:

Barton, Chris, and Tom Lichtenheld. (2010). Shark vs. Train. New York: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN:9780316007627

Summary:

As play time ensues between two young boys, they dig into the toy chest. One comes up with a train and the other a shark. From then until lunch time it is epic battle after epic battle. The settings change each time, giving the upper-hand to either the train or the shark depending on the setting, or sometimes neither. Shark takes the first win in the ocean but train comes back and beats him on the tracks. Shark can not roast marshmallows, but then train doesn't do well at trick-or-treating. Train wins at burping and shark wins at diving. Train stands on all its boxcars to win at basketball, while shark dominates at bowling. Selling lemonade proves to be difficult for shark in the ocean, and staying up in a hot air balloon proves impossible for the heavy train. But, then there are things that neither the shark or the train can win, such as playing hide-and-seek, playing the piano, and my personal favorite, playing video games with no thumbs. The battles continue until finally the boys are called for lunch and shark and train are put back into the toy chest, each taunting the other for next time.

Impressions:

I absolutely love this book! I work in the library and have shelved this book quite a few times, but had never checked it out before even though it was a 2x2 winner. But now I can see why. This book made me laugh out loud, and I think any person at any age would love it, especially children. The story is very fun and hilarious! The various scenarios are so random and entertaining. Not only that, but the illustrations are great! They make the book as funny as it is with the train and shark's facial expressions and the colorful settings. The book is very imaginative, just like a child's imagination when playing with toys. It illustrates child's play perfectly! Simply put, this book is brilliant and very entertaining, engaging and enjoyable.

Reviews:
"Energetic cartoon illustrations take full advantage of the visual possibilities. Creative use of page space and perspectives gives a fresh look to each new battle. Just-right facial expressions capture the distinct personalities of the two competitors, including an evil grin from Shark at the Ping-Pong table and Train's uneasy look during a disastrous piano recital. Subtler visual details add to the humor, including a shark-jumping Fonzie reference that adults will appreciate. This inspired pairing, executed with ingenuity and packed with action and humor, is a sure winner."

Engelfried, Steven (April 1, 2010). Library Journals LLC [Review of the book Shark vs. Train.]. School Library Journal. Available from booksinprint.com

"Barton's imaginative and wacky scenarios are knocked home by Lichtenheld's ferociously funny artwork and will leave kids measuring up their dump truck and T-Rex for the next tale of the tape."

Chipman, Ian. (April 15, 2010). American Library Association [Review of the book Shark vs. Train.]. Booklist. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:

 Kids could have a lot of fun with this book! I think it would be great to read it aloud, having the kids explain each scenario. For example, having them explain why a shark would win the dive contest, or the train would win selling lemonade. After story time, the kids could create their own scenarios with toys brought in just for this purpose. Each kid could pick out a "warrior" and pair up with another to have their own unique contests based on the settings they choose, taking turns choosing settings which would allow their warrior to win. At the end would be the time to encourage them to share any clever or funny scenarios that they created.

Module 5 - Let it Shine by Ashley Bryan

Bibliography:

Bryan, Ashley. (2007). Let it Shine. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0689847327

Summary:

The book has illustrations that serve as a backdrop to the lyrics of three different spirituals. The first is This Little Light, which talks about letting your light shine no matter the circumstances. The second spiritual was When The Saints, which expresses the desire to be among God’s chosen during the time of judgment. The final spiritual was In His Hands. This one describes the omnipresent nature of God.

Impressions:

The book makes use of vivid illustrations to capture the attention of young readers while also teaching well known spirituals. It is very fun to sing along with (which is what I did), and it’s great to see how the words are illustrated through the colorful and fun illustrations. Despite its notoriety for being given the Coretta Scott King award, the book is universal in its themes and universally appreciable. I thought the book was very entertaining and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Reviews:
"Bryan (Beautiful Blackbird) again proves himself a maestro with scissors (depicted on the endpages) in a series of arresting, kaleidoscopic cut-construction paper collages that interprets three beloved spirituals"

 (November 27, 2006). Library Journals LLC [Review of the book Let it Shine.]. Publisher's Weekly. Available from booksinprint.com

"Each double-page spread of this oversize picture book is an explosion of shapes and bright colors. Stocky figures, silhouetted against swirling colors are created from geometric shapes woven together. Rather than conceive a story to accompany the lyrics, Bryan presents series of scenes to reflect each set of lyrics."

Enos, Randall. (November 15, 2006). American Library Association [Review of the book Let it Shine.]. Booklist. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:
This book would be great to have the kids sing along with. It should be “read” more than once. The first time, the kids should be looking at the vivid and interesting pictures while the “reader” sings the songs to the listeners. While this is happening, the kids will pick up on the songs because they are so repetitive. Then, the lyrics could be given to the children and everyone could then sing and clap and dance together.

Module 5 - Snapshots from the Wedding by Gary Soto

Bibliography:

Soto, Gary. (1997). Snapshots from the Wedding. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons. ISBN: 9780399228087

Summary:

In this book Maya is telling about the wedding she attended through describing the snapshots. She was the flower girl during the wedding, and from her standing point she can look back and see the people in the pews. She describes some of the people, as in her cousin who wiggles his tongue between the spaces in his teeth, or her aunt who is crying. She describes the bridesmaids and groomsmen as well as the altar boy and the priest. She makes sure to tell the store of the groom, who broke his arm playing softball, which is why his arm is in the cast for his wedding. The couple says “I do” and then they kiss before everyone starts to cry. Everyone then heads to the party afterwards where there is food and drinks, a mariachi band, wedding cake, and lots of dancing. Maya dances and plays with the other kids during the party before getting sleepy. She has a piece of the wedding cake and dances on the tops of her father’s shoes before leaving. She falls asleep in the car ride home, and when she wakes up she declares that it was definitely a wedding to remember.

Impressions:

The author manages to narrate the book in such a way to give the illusion of a young Hispanic girl’s ramblings complete with occasional Spanish phrases without isolating English only readers. It was very clever to also include a glossary in the front of the book, for there was a word or two even I didn’t know from my brief high school Spanish classes. The artwork is unique, being that they are themselves snapshots of the dioramas of the hand crafted figurines. I thought the book was pretty funny because I could easily hear the rambling talk of a child as they narrate some event that they happened to attend. The details are random and sporadically placed, and all in all, very amusing.

Reviews:

"Created with Sculpy clay, acrylic paints, wood, ribbons, and flowers, the art is displayed in large boxes set against pages covered with lace. The doll-like members of the wedding are exaggerated just enough to be amusing; at times, just a body part or two are highlighted, as when Maya's feet are shown on top of her father's while they dance. Just like a wedding album, this will be looked at over and over." 

Cooper, Ilene. (February 15, 1997). American Library Association [Review of the book Snapshots from the Wedding.]. Booklist. Available from booksinprint.com

"Photographs of shadowboxes filled with sculpted clay figures form the eye-catching art for Soto's 'diary' of Maya, a flower girl. The text, sprinkled with Spanish words, is eloquent and …and it deftly captures the flavor of a Latino wedding, complete with mariachi band."

(January 21, 1997). PWxyz LLC [Review of the book Snapshots from the Wedding.]. Publisher's Weekly. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:
For this book, I would read it to the children and afterwards have the children draw pictures of things that happened during a major event in their life. Afterwards, they could all share with the class, giving their own narration to the pictures just like Maya. To extend this, real pictures could be brought in the next time of an event and shared in the same way.

Module 4 - The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Bibliography:

DiCamillo, Kate. (2003). The Tale of Despereaux. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 0439692202

Summary:

Despereaux is a tiny mouse who is more interested in things like light, love, music, and stories than he is in correct mouse behavior. One night Despereaux stumbles upon the King singing and playing his guitar for his daughter, the Princess Pea. Despereaux instantly falls in love with Pea and tells her so. But the king hated rodents because his dear Queen recently died from shock from a rat, Roscuro, falling into her soup. So, the King outlawed rats and soup. The king tells Despereaux to leave, but Despereaux’s brother saw that Despereaux was talking to humans and tells the other mice, who decide to send Despereaux to the dungeon where he will be killed by rats. But when Despereaux enters the dungeon, the jailer agrees to save him if Despereaux will tell him a story. The story then skips to talk about Roscuro, who is a rat who loves both the dark and the light. He left the dungeon to see the light and saw the royal family eating, which is when he fell in the soup and caused the death of the Queen. Roscuro looks back as he is leaving to see Pea looking at him with hatred. This look breaks his heart and he then decides to get revenge. For his plan he uses a girl named Mig, who was sold by her own father to a man, who cuffed her ears so many times that she becomes a little deaf. But the king’s men found her and take her back to live at the castle, as having a slave is illegal. Mig wants to be a princess and so Roscuro tells Mig that if she helps him get Pea to the dungeon then Mig will be a princess. So Mig threatens the princess with a knife and they all enter the dungeon. Despereaux, who had overheard part of this plan, enters the dungeon to save Pea with a sewing needle for a weapon. When he finds them he threatens to kill Roscuro, but Pea begs him not to. Instead, Pea tells Roscuro that if he frees them, she will give him access to soup and light. Roscuro agrees and they all leave and eat soup. Roscuro also helps to reunite Mig and her real father, who happened to be in the dungeon. He felt so bad about what he did to Mig that he treated her as a princess forever more. As for Despereaux and Pea, they become really good friends.

Impressions:

I adored this book! I loved the narration throughout the book, especially how the narrator would stop and talk to me, the reader. He would encourage the reader to look up a word, or stop and imagine something, or just as questions to make you think. I like how the book makes you think of light and dark and the things that lie in each category. It clearly points out the consequences for actions taken, and when I say clearly, I mean, the narrator has a whole conversation on the topic to make sure the point is illuminated. The book was humorous and heartwarming and I think readers of any age would enjoy it.  

Reviews:

" Forgiveness, light, love, and soup. These essential ingredients combine into a tale that is as soul stirring as it is delicious.." 

Cooper, Ilene. (July 01, 2003). Library Journals LLC [Review of the book The Tale of Desperaux.]. Booklist. Available from booksinprint.com

"With allegorical elements such as quests for love and light, and dangerous encounters that lead to forgiveness and redemption, Kate DiCamillo's novel (Candlewick, 2003) is a multi-layered fantasy."

Wysocki, Barbra. (March 01, 2004). Belden Library, Rocky Hill, CT [Review of the book The Tale of Desperaux.]. School Library Journal. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:
Because this book has such a unique narration, I think this book would be perfect for reading out loud. There are many points in the narration when the narrator stops the reader and asks a question or encourages the reader to do something, like look up a word, or imagine a certain scenario. As you are reading and you come to these parts, you could actually make your listeners do these things. Have them close their eyes and imagine; have them look up a word. When there is a question asked to the reader/listener, get their answers, their replies and their thoughts. The kids would enjoy the book and using the narration is an extra way to get them involved in the story. There is also a movie and so the movie could also be watched. After watching the movie, a comparison discussion could be had about the similarities and differences and also about which format the kids preferred.

Module 4 - Holes by Louis Sachar

Bibliography:

Sachar, Louis. Holes. (2008). New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN: 0374332665

Summary:

Stanley is a young boy who has a history of bad luck because of a curse put on the family because an ancestor who broke a promise to carry Madame Zeroni up a mountain to drink the backward flowing water. Because of this, and because of Stanley being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Stanley gets accused of stealing a pair of sneakers belonging to a famous baseball player that were going to be auctioned for charity. At court, Stanley gets the option of going to camp or jail. Stanley chooses camp- Camp Green Lake. At camp the children there are made to dig a hole five feet deep and five feet wide in all directions in a desert each day. Digging a hole soon after coming, Stanley finds a lipstick case, but another boy takes it and claims he found it in his hole to get the day off. As it turns out, the Warden is looking for treasure buried by the Kissing Kate Barlow.  Forced to dig each day, Stanley becomes friends with a kid named Zero. They make a deal that in exchange for Stanley teaching Zero to read, Zero would help Stanley dig his holes. But one day, Zero becomes so upset at the treatment of the adults at camp, he runs away. Because there is nothing surrounding the camp but a vast desert and because no one would miss Zero, the adults let him leave. Stanley, after a couple of days, decides to run away too in order to search for his friend. When Stanley finds Zero, Zero is very weak and sick. They decide to go to the distant mountain that looks like a thumb instead of going back to camp because Stanley had a grandfather who got lost in the area once and said it was “God’s thumb” that saved him. Zero collapses on the way there, and Stanley carries Zero the rest of the way. Because Zero is a descendent of Madame Zeroni, the curse is now broken (although Stanley doesn’t know this yet). Once they reach the thumb, they find mud and dig up water, also finding onions. They live on muddy water and onions for a few days before deciding to go back to camp to see if they could find the buried treasure before leaving the area with a bag full of onions and water to make it to the nearest city. The boys go back to the hole where Stanley found the lipstick case and dug until they found a suitcase. The warden then makes her entrance and demands the case, but is forced to wait as Stanley and Zero are covered in the deadly yellow-spotted lizards. But, the lizards don’t bite the boys since the lizards do not like onions. Because the curse is now broken, a lawyer shows up in time to save Stanley and Zero and put a stop to the Warden’s so called camp. The boys end up making a lot of money from the things inside the suitcase and are finally happy with their lives.

Impressions:

I am really glad I chose this book as a part of my reading for this week. The book was very humorous and satirical, and just plain entertaining. I had watched the movie, and so I kind of knew what to expect, but it still blew me away at how great a book it was. The book shows the importance of liking yourself. When you like yourself then you have the courage to stand up for yourself and the things you believe in. You have the strength to make the right choices and help others out. Stanley grew stronger at camp, but not because he was digging holes. I really liked how everything tied together in the end; everything from Kate Barlow, to Stanley’s ancestors, all comes to a dramatic conclusion in the end.  

Reviews:

" How Stanley rescues his friend Zero, who really stole Sweet Feet's tennis shoes, what the warden is desperately looking for, and how the Yelnats curse is broken all blend magically together in a unique coming of age story leavened with a healthy dose of humor." 

Lombardo, Cindy. (September 01, 1999). Library Journals LLC [Review of the book Holes]. School Library Journal. Available from booksinprint.com

"The author's ability to knit Stanley and Zero's compelling story in and out of a history of intriguing ancestors is captivating. Stanley's wit, integrity, faith, and wistful innocence will charm readers. A multitude of colorful characters coupled with the skillful braiding of ethnic folklore, American legend, and contemporary issues is a brilliant achievement. There is no question, kids will love Holes."

Follos, Alison. (September 1, 1998). North Country School, Lake Placid, NY [Review of the book Holes]. School Library Journal. Available from booksinprint.com

Suggestions For Use:
I think this book would be great to use as a read aloud that lasted a few weeks. It would interest the kids and have them coming back to hear more the following week. It might even have them checking out or buying the book themselves so they can read it even sooner. Each week could be started by talking about what happened last and what they think will happen next. After reading the book, a discussion could be had about what the kids liked about it and their favorite parts. The movie could also be watched and after watching the movie, a comparison discussion could be had about the similarities and differences between the movie and book and also about which format the kids preferred.