Inside Out and Back Again at OneTrueMedia.com

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

The Boy Who Saved Baseball at OneTrueMedia.com

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Junonia by Kevin Henkes

This book trailer was created for the students at West Foundation Elementary School. Enjoy the book trailer AND the book!

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know

Sones, Sonya. 2007. WHAT MY GIRLFRIEND DOESN’T KNOW. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc. ISBN 978-0-689-87602-8

Fourteen-year-old Robin Murphy is a teenager in a love – for the first time. He’s been the brunt of jokes since the middle of fourth grade, and now Sophie, his girlfriend, is the target. As a freshman in high school, Robin has been specially selected to take art classes at Harvard being accepted by friends he’s never had. Will Robin and Sophie’s relationship survive? Will the Harvard students find out Robin is still in high school?

In this romantic story of rising above the odds, Sones captures the yearnings  and emotions of an awkward adolescent boy in this poetic first person narrative. “Robin emerges as an appealingly flawed character whose desires – for love, for acceptance, for sex – will be instantly recognized by readers (2007).” Well-placed lines and occasional changes in font size emphasize moments and feelings in Robin’s life. Although mostly written in free verse, Sones uses a variety of other poetic forms like list, shape, and even, a dictionary entry of his name – a slang term that means “loser.” Concrete shape poems assist the reader in understanding the meaning like in the poem “I Do Not Have a One Track Mind” the only words are “Yeah, right,” but they are in the shape of a girl’s breasts or in the poem “Is My Nose Growing?” which is shaped like Pinnochio’s when he has lied. Vivid word imagery help readers grasp the degree of emotion such as in the phrases, “feeling about as powerless as a dead battery” or “big black in-your-face letters.” Because of its fast pace and all too familiar high school topics – sex, relationships, bullying, and not fitting in, What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know will be a hit with relunctant readers and artistic students who need a place to belong.

If you haven’t read they other novel in verse about Robin and Sophie,What My Mother Doesn’t Know, it’s a must read! Sophie’s voice is heard in this novel as she tells about her life. Comparing and contrasting the two novels can show how the same events can be seen from different perspectives depending on the person’s point of view. “Many teens will see themselves, and they’ll cheer when Sophie and Robin thwart the bullies and reclaim their social standing (Engberg, 2007). Bullying, social standings in high school and the desire to be accepted would be good discussion topic in correlation with this book.

Recognized by Booklist as one of 2007’s Top 10 Youth Romances, What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know was also one of YALSA’s Quick Picks for Relunctant Young Adult Readers in 2008. It was also considered a 2008 Best Children’s Books of the Year by the Bank Street College of Education and recognized as a Pure Poetry Pick on 2007 by Voice of Youth Advocates.

References

2007. “WHAT MY GIRLFRIEND DOESN’T KNOW.” Kirkus Reviews 75, no. 10:509. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed December 3, 2011).

Engberg, Gillian. 2007. “What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know.” Booklist 103, no.15:49. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed December 3, 2011).

Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired by Twentieth-Century American Art

Greenberg, Jan, editor. 2001. HEART TO HEART: NEW POEMS INSPIRED BY TWENTIETH-CENTURY AMERICAN ART. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. ISBN 0-8109-4386-7

In this anthology Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired by Twentieth-Century American Art, readers view a compilation of art with poetic interpretations much like going to an art museum with an docent illuminating each pieces qualities. Each poem uniquely accompanies the work of art. As Lois Parker-Hennion in VOYA so aptly put it, “This delightful book… celebrates the connections between poet and artist and between reader and viewer.” Editor Jan Greenberg grouped these poems and art according to the poet’s response to the poem – to tell a story, add voice to the piece of art, share a poet’s impressionistic description if the artwork, or explores the artist’s form, light or space in their work through poetic form. Overall, forty-three poetic works are incorporated in this fine collection; including those from Kristine O’Connell George, Tony Johnston, and Jane Yolen, as well as, artistic pieces from Grandma Moses and Georgia O’Keefe. These art pieces of the 1900s represent a variety of media and range from folk art to modern pop art. Readers will enjoy a variety of poetic forms that enrich each art piece – shape, pantoum, diamante, sonnets, rhymed verses, and free verse. The poems are filled with vivid imagery bringing life to both the poems and art. In “Dream Horses” by Nancy Willard, she describes the horses as, “one carries me home, the other shadows her on the slippery trail shifting and shaking….” Or where Janine Pommy Vega uses a metaphor to describe Georgia O’Keefe’s Poppy beginning with “In the carmine extravagance the skirts of a Spanish dancer swirl flamenco rhythms….” In some of the poems, text is creatively arranged expressing more than just the words themselves. “An innovative book to integrate art history and creative writing (Follos, 2004).”  

Included are a brief introduction by editor Jan Greenberg sharing her love of art as a child and the explanation of each section. Concluding the volume, biographical notes on the authors and artists, photograph credits, and an index listing artists, poets, poetry titles, and  the titles of the artwork are included. 

Readers of all ages will enjoy this anthology reading it again and again. Teachers can use this great book as a springboard for their own classroom anthologies pairing student’s poems with other famous artwork. Even using some of these same art pieces can encourage students to express their own interpretation of the work. 

Awarded the Michael L. Printz Award in 2002, Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired by

Twentieth-Century American Art has also been included on state and professional journal book lists. Some of which are the 2001 ALA’s Booklist Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth, The 2002 ALSC Notable Children’s Books list, 2001 School Library Journal Best Books list, YALSA’s 2002 Best Books for Young Adults list, and the 2001 Capitol Choices. 

References

Follis, Alison. 2004. “Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired by Twentieth-Century American Art (Book).” School Library Journal 50, no. 11:66. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost(accessed December 1, 2011).

Parker-Hennion, Lois. 2001. “Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired by Twentieth-Century American Art (Book Review).” VOYA, No. 3:24.

Rapunzel’s Revenge

Hale, Shannon and Dean Hale. 2008. RAPUNZEL’S REVENGE. Illustrated by Nathan Hale. New York: Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children’s Books. ISBN 978-1-59990-288-3

 

Take the traditional Rapunzel fairy tale, add a typical Old West setting and another fairy tale character, and then mix it all together to create a hilariously action-filled tale in which Rapunzel uses her lasso-like braids to save the day, more than once, and takes revenge on bullies. Rapunzel’s Revenge is a delightfully witty graphic novel spinning off of a classic story. Set in the west, Rapunzel’s outlandish escapades are reminiscent of Slue-Foot Sue’s adventures in tales with Pecos Bill.

 

Divided into four parts, readers can easily follow Rapunzel’s adventures from panel to panel and on the hand-drawn map buried in the pages of the novel. Rapunzel changes from a shy demure teenage girl to a strong resourceful young heroine. Humorous and sarcastic dialogue adds to the enjoyment like when Rapunzel reflects by saying, “we passed a whole hour sleeping in our luxurious accommodations” as she and Jack sleep on the sidewalk in Pig Tree Gulch; or as Rapunzel “swings gracefully from [her] prison” crashing onto the forest floor. Themes of justice, heroism, and self-preservation permeate the story as Rapunzel and her side-kick, Jack, take on “Mother Gothel,” bandits, and “devourers.” The authors add a little romance with Rapunzel partnering up with Jack, his goose and his magic bean. Illustrator Nathan Hale depicts Rapunzel’s flashbacks to her earlier years with sepia-toned panels while each panel representing the present story is colorfully illustrated. His illustrations match the atmosphere of the story bringing the Old West to life. Each character’s expressions match their actions and words. “The easy-to-follow panel arrangements with their multicultural cast of characters guide even reluctant graphic-novel readers seamlessly through the fast-paced narrative (Coats, 18).” Cara von Wrangel Kinsey of the New York Public Library states, “…the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive.” Those that have read about Rapunzel will enjoy this twist on an old tale. Readers of all ages will enjoy this witty graphic novel.

 

Rapunzel’s Revenge has received various awards and recognition to include: 

• Young Reader’s Choice Award in 2011
• ALA Notable Children’s Book Award in 2009
• YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens Award in 2009
• Leah Adezio Award for Most Kid-Friendly Work Winner in 2009
• Cybils Award Winner in Graphic Novels in 2008 

If you are new to using graphic novels in the classroom, BloomsburyKids.com has a Teacher’s Guide just for you! Use this guide to help you get started sharing these literary treasures. http://www.bloomsburykids.com/sites/www.bloomsburykids.com/files/Rapunzel's%20Revenge%20Teacher's%20Guide_0.pdf. Or read the next episode of this graphic novel series called Calamity Jack!

 

Reference

 

Coats, Karen. “Rapunzel’s Revenge (review).” Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books 62.1 (2008): 18-19. Project MUSE. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2255/ .

Von Wrangel Kinsey, Cara. 2008. “Rapunzel’s Revenge.” School Library Journal 54, no. 9:215. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed November 29, 2011).

 

 

 

33 Things Every Girl Should Know: Stories, Songs, Poems, and Smart Talk by 33 Extraordinary Women

Bolden, Tonya, editor. 1998. 33 THINGS EVERY GIRL SHOULD KNOW: STORIES, SONGS, POEMS, AND SMART TALK BY 33 EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN. New York: Crown Publishers, Inc. ISBN 0-517-70999-6

Delving into this book, Tonya Bolden starts by stating, “It’s no secret. This book is about girl build-up” noting immediately the audience she intends to appeal to and the purpose of the collection. Within in the pages, readers will appreciate the variety of literary approaches such as essays, comix, interviews, poems, a campaign slogan, a letter, book excerpts, diary episodes, a commencement speech,and short stories. Each of these written especially for this book by thirty-three strong, vibrant women offering advice on and experience about growing up as a teenaged girl to include actress Sigourney Weaver, author Sandra Cisneros, and successful businesswoman Anita Roddick. “The transition from childhood to adulthood isn’t easy, and the selections here are comforting and inspirational, with the contributors serving as both mentors and coaches (Rosenfeld).” Each of these authors has a unique style, voice, and perspective reaching out to girls of all kinds. Although each addition holds a message of its own, they are organized so each segues into the next with a similar, yet unique message especially building the self-esteem, self-acceptance, and self-respect of teen girls. Other subjects dealt with are popularity, overcoming obstables, sexual orientation, speaking up for oneself, talking to boys, success, and dealing with the formidable road to womanhood.

Photographs and graphics are complementary to each authors’ piece such as the photographs of Grechin Rosenkranz from birth to age 14 showing her will to surpass her obstacles with spina bifida or the picture of a diary/journal with Joan Jacobs Brumberg’s piece “It’s Okay to Talk to Yourself” encouraging young adults to keep a diary. Some might consider this a handbook for teenage girls because of its tone of empowerment and encouragement. Judith Oritz Cofer encourages readers to “embrace each and every day,” and Taibtha Soren lets girls know that “the process of self-acceptance takes time.”

The book is well-organized and offers features that enhance its use. The table of contents provides an easy way for readers to find what they are looking for listing the title of the selection, the author and page number. Varied fonts, font sizes, sidebars, speech bubbles, bulleted lists, and borders also add appeal to the text. Those wishing to learn more about the contributor of a selection can read about that person in the “About the Contributors.” The editor, Tonya Bolden also provides information about herself and Acknowledges the original works that these excerpts have been taken from.

Credited as a 1999 Best Adult Book for High School Students by the School Library Journal, 33 Things Every Girl Should Know: Stories, Songs, Poems and Smart Talk by 33 Extraordinary Women was also listed as a 1999 YALSA Best Book for Young Adults. It has also been included in the H.W. Wilson Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog in its eighth and ninth editions, 2000 and 2005 respectively.

References

Rosenfeld, Shelle. 1998. “33 Things Every Girl Should Know: Stories, Songs, Poems and Smart Talk by 33 Extraordinary Women.” Booklist May 15, 1998: 1611+. Literature Resource Center (accessed November 22, 2011).

A Northern Light

Donnelly, Jennifer. 2003. A NORTHERN LIGHT. New York: Harcourt Inc. ISBN 0-15-205310-7

Based on a true story, A Northern Light tells about the death of a young girl in 1906 at a renowned Adirondacks hotel through the eyes of 16-year-old Mattie Gokey who has been given letters from the young girl to destroy. In this first person narrative, this historical novel alternates between Mattie’s life before she became a serving girl at the hotel and her experiences at the time of Grace Brown’s drowning. Mattie yearns to be a writer some day, yet feels responsible for her family and a promise she made to someone. Yet to herself, she emotes,“Voice is not just the sound that comes from your throat but the feeling that comes from your words!”

In her second YA novel, Jennifer Donnelly blends historical fiction, mystery, and romance into an intriguing young adult coming-of-age novel set in the early 1900s. The setting rings true to the time and place showing Donnelly’s dedication to researched details bridging today’s readers to the past. Poverty, single-parent families, racism, and pregnancy are handled honestly and as depicted of that time. Another well-developed theme is the coming-of-age of Mattie and her friends – Weaver an aspiring African-American lawyer, Minnie the mother of twins, and Royal the furture farmer. The chapters alternate between moments on the farm before Mattie goes to her job at the hotel signified by chapter titles of her syllabicated “words of the day” or during Mattie’s job at the hotel (and murder) that are not titled. Donnelly creatively includes the “vernacular of the Mississippi” with local terms which Maggie uses like “tottish” and “meaching” as her words of the day. Aspiring to be a writer, Maggie also refers to literature and authors of the time weaving them into the story yet not dragging the story down. Each character’s personality is distinctive in a way that endears the reader to them or to rally against them. For example, “Cook is snappish” when it comes to working in the kitchen, yet opens her heart to feed Tommy Hubbard, a poor boy from a family of seven. Or Royal Loomis, Mattie’s betrothed, who helps take care of the farm when her father and sisters are sick, but ruthlessly bids on the impoverished Hubbard family’s homestead when they can’t pay the taxes. According to Courtney Williamson of The Christian Science Monitor, “The best thing about this book, however, is Mattie’s smart, vulnerable voice. We share her desires, if not her unique challenges, on every page.”  

“Many teens will connect with Mattie’s deep yearning for independence and for stories, like her own, that are frank, messy, complicated, and inspiring (Engberg, 2003).” Students may like to “word duel” like Mattie and Weaver did or taste candies of the era – lemondrops or maple sugar. Those wishing to discuss the book can use the Multnomah County Library Discussion Guide - http://www.multcolib.org/talk/guides-northern.html. In the paperback edition, Donnelly includes Author’s Notes about the original event of Grace Brown’s murder, Acknowledgements, Sources and Suggestions for Further Reading, information about herself, an interview with Donnelly, and a Reader’s Chat Page offering additional discussion questions.

A Northern Light received the 2004 Michael L. Printz Honor Book Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature and was listed on the YALSA’s 2004 Teens’ Top Ten List. It was also listed on numerous best book and state reading lists including the 2004 Amelia Blooomer List a part of the ALA Social Responsibilities Round Table, the 2004 Booklist Top Ten Historical Fiction for Youth, and the 2003 School Library Journal Best Books list.

References

Engberg, Gillian. 2003. “A Northern Light (Book).” Booklist 99, no.18:1663. MAS Ultra-School Edition, EBSCOhost (accessed November 22, 2011).

Williamson, Courtney. 2003. “[A northern light] [book review].” The Christian Science Monitor (Eastern Edition) 95, 17. Book Review Digest (H.W. Wilson), EBSCOhost (accessed November 21, 2011).

Hole in my Life

Gantos, Jack. 2002. HOLE IN MY LIFE. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 978-0-374-43089-4

Jack Gantos, author of Rotten Ralph children’s books and the Joey Pigza series, shares his life and his ambition to become a writer in this compelling autobiography, Hole in My Life. Gantos starts his story as a prisoner in the medium-security Federal Correctional Institution in Ashland, Kentucky rewinding to his years in high school. He then shares his entire life circling back to his time in prison arriving at the moment he leaves and briefly sheds light on his future endeavors. He begins his novel with a quote from Oscar Wilde – “I have learned this: it is not what one does that is wrong, but what one becomes as a consequence of it.” This is a powerfully meaningful quote describing Gantos’ life in that although he had a troubled life, he used his difficulties to become a writer and a better man. “Above all, this is the story of a young writer trying to find inspiration for his work. Ultimately, he finds the greatest inspiration within himself (Hames, 2002).”

In his autobiography, readers will be lead through the harsh reality of Gantos’ life especially while in prison. Although a writer of children’s books, this is a book for older teens or adults as he describes his experimentation and addiction to alcohol and drugs, the brutal fights in prison, and the gang rape of an acquaintance. Teens will appreciate his candor about the events in his life. Gantos effectively uses descriptive imagery to convey his experiences when he describes his and Hamilton’s ability, or lack of, to steer the boat as “crash(ing) into them like kamikaze yachtsmen,” when he drank too much and “power barfed,” and the moment he entered his new apartment at The King’s Court he encountered “musty smelling sheets folded over an exhausted pillow.” Helping readers related to the time period, he includes events of the 70s such as the racial turmoil in Puerto Rico and culture of easily-attained drugs. Gantos weaves quotes and snippets from authors he admires relating his life at times to things he’s read. The tone of the book seems almost comical when Gantos relates his high school year then becomes fearful and somber as his life spirals into a life of drugs and crime. Students dealing with difficult situations will be able to relate to Gantos’ trials and find hope in that things can get better. “Gantos’s honesty and directness in describing the whole experience make reading this book a gut-wrenching experience (Blasingame, 2002).”

Hole in My Life has received many honors to include the 2003 Michael L. Printz Honor Book Award and the 2003 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal. It was also included in numerous best book and state book lists such as the 2002 Children’s Literature Choice List, the 2003 YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, the 2002 Smithsonian Magazine’s Notable Books for Children, and the 2002 School Library Journal Best Books list. Students, teachers and librarians wishing to learn more about Jack Gantos and his books can visit his website at http://www.jackgantos.com/.

References

Blasingame, James. 2002. “Home in My Life Book Review.” Voice of Youth Advocates, 25.2. Library Lit & Inf Full Text. WilsonWeb (accessed November 21, 2011).

Hames, Thomas Nigel. 2002. “Clip and File YA Book Reviews: Hole in My Life.” The ALAN Review, 29: 3.http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/v29n3/ (accessed November 21, 2011).