The Great Wall of Lucy Wu

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Mrs.N

The Great Wall Of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang

This review was originally posted January 14, 2012

“In Chinese if you want to say that something good may turn into something bad or vice versa, you say ‘Sai weng shi ma,’ or ‘The old man at the frontier has lost his horse.’ ”

Lucy Wu wishes that she had never said she thought this year would be perfect.  Because as we all know, things rarely go as you plan.  Instead of having a bedroom all to herself, Lucy finds she’ll have to share with her long-lost great-aunt, Yi Po.  And she doesn’t plan on liking Yi Po at all.  No one can replace her beloved grandmother who has passed away.  Not to mention her whole life is going to be wrecked now that her parents want her to go to Chinese school instead of play basketball.  But no year is either completely perfect or completely ruined, and Lucy makes her way through many ups and downs during her sixth grade year.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – The girls have crushes on boys and “like” them.  Older brother Kenny has a girlfriend.  A coach and his wife are expecting a child and go to child-birth classes. Lucy and her friends know that it has taken them awhile and have overheard the grown-ups whispering about IVF and hormone injections.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore – In a cautionary tale a boy breaks his legs and people are killed in battle.  A girl arranges it so a chair collapses under another student.  There is historical information about how the Japanese killed millions of Chinese.  The Red Army is also mentioned, including details about their ruthless treatment of people during the revolution.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – Lucy finds a picture of her father when he was in college and he is smoking in the photograph.
Frightening or Intense Things – There is a lot of bullying here.  The end result is positive, but I think the sheer nastiness of middle-school girls really comes across in this book.  What may seem overblown to people who have forgotten what it is to be that age will seem very real to kids who live through it every day.  It especially rings true (in an incredibly sad way) when the children who are experiencing the bullying choose not to tell adults because they worry about retaliation from their bullies.  In this case, while the bullying is not purely racist in motive, it becomes racist in tone.

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Miracle on 49th Street

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Mrs.N

Miracle on 49th Street by Mike Lupica

Well, this certainly was interesting.  Molly’s mother has recently passed away from cancer and Molly is in the care of one of her mother’s oldest friends.  But Molly dreams of a relationship with the father she has never known, who just happens to be the star point-guard of the Boston Celtics and a recent league MVP.  Of course, he doesn’t know about Molly so it’s up to her to convince him that he wants his long lost child in his life.  And this is something that won’t be easy.  Despite the fact that Molly evidently displays an uncanny physical resemblance to her dad and mad basketball skills despite never having played or practice, her father is very hesitant to accept her as his own.  Of course, much drama ensues.

There’s an interesting conflict in this book between the limited amount of actual basketball and the amount of basketball knowledge you’d have to have to really understand the book.  If you like basketball, you’re going to wish the book had more of it. And if you don’t, there’s going to be a lot you don’t get.

I also am interested to hear the thoughts of others who have read this regarding some of the choices Lupica made regarding the premise.  It is a fact that the NBA is predominantly African-American, especially when it comes to its stars.  And yet, while never explicitly stated, Molly and her father, Josh Cameron, seem to be white (I say this because some other characters are identified by race).  So did Lupica make this choice because he didn’t want to create a scenario that played into stereotypes of African-American players having children they don’t know about with women they’re not married to?  I would almost give him some credit for that, if it weren’t for a major plot point.  The major plot point being that Josh’s agent is determined to remove Molly from Josh’s life because he’s worried about the effect her existence will have on Josh’s reputation.  Because he’s so different from the other players.  And not like that.  Which then raises the question of why he would be held to a different, higher standard than other players in the league.  Or the question of exactly when basketball fans (and I ask this as an actual basketball fan myself) cared about whether players had illegitimate children who could potentially cost them deals with Nike.  Really?  Yes, Tiger Woods is an athlete (although golf may well be different than basketball) that took a major fall based on personal indiscretions, but I don’t exactly recall LeBron James not being offered endorsements because he had children with a woman who was his girlfriend, not his wife.  So is it wrong for Josh to do this because he’s white?  And that’s beneath him?  I’m just not sure I like what I’m picking up.

I think this would be best enjoyed by students in Grades 4 and up.  I wasn’t bored by it despite my issues, so I think it has pretty good staying power for the middle and tween years.  The content could be okay for advanced third grade readers depending on your own family values or standards.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – Molly has to tell her father that he is her father.  Her mother never told him.  He doesn’t believe her.  Kimmy has a crush on a professional basketball player.  Josh Cameron has an actress girlfriend.  There’s talk about how women shakedown professional athletes by showing up with a kid and claiming the athlete was the father.  Sam’s mother always brought money with her on a date in case she got mad and wanted to go home.  The agent is really worried about how it will look that Josh is unmarried with a kid.  Clearly he has never been exposed to the world of professional sports.  Molly holds hands with a boy.
Profanity – “stupid,” “bloody,” “jerk,” “heck,” “shut up,” “God,” “darn,”
Death, Violence and Gore – Molly’s mom died of cancer.  This information is relayed within the first few pages of the book.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – None.
Frightening or Intense Things – None.

Posted in Middle Grades, Teen, Tween | Tagged , | 1 Comment

March Madness

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Mrs.N

This is not going to be a month of lions and lambs, nor will it be filled with leprechauns.  No, this March is for Madness.  And not of the literary March Hare variety.  Of the new, modern basketball variety.  So while the college players battle their way to the NCAA championship, cheered on by any number of people with money on the line, we’ll have some themed basketball reading at the ready, so that even if your picks aren’t winning, your heart can still be in the game.

As a side note, my own life is a bit mad these days and I truly appreciate your patience and continued reading through these days of sparse posts.

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Bear Wants More

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Mrs.N

Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson

Karma Wilson’s Bear is not featured in a single story.  She’s created a veritable empire out of Bear, with 8 books, many available in special sets or board book editions for the smallest hands.  My introduction to Bear was Bear Wants More, no doubt randomly chosen from a Scholastic book order back in the day, but quickly a favorite among my young students.  Bear has just woken up from his long winter’s nap and is ravenously hungry (who can’t sympathize with that?)  The illustrations by Jane Chapman are adorable.  The text is not only rhyming but repeatedly features the title catchphrase, “Bear Wants More,” which little listeners are overjoyed to repeat along with you.

Definitely one for the littles!

Sex, Nudity, Dating – None.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore – None.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – None.
Frightening or Intense Things – None.

Posted in Little Ones, Primary Grades | Tagged , | Leave a comment

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Mrs.N

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen

Way back when I was student teaching, I was in a first grade classroom for nearly the entire year.  And it was that class, so many years ago, that first introduced me to We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. But not in book form as you might expect.  They did it as a sort of chant, with hand motions (a bit like Michael Rosen himself does here) and it was adorable.  The book itself is simple and fun, with charming old-fashioned illustrations.  I’d definitely consider it a new classic!

Sex, Nudity, Dating – A girl raises her skirt while wading through a river, revealing her underpants.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore – None.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – None.
Frightening or Intense Things – The bear chases them all the way home, and can be seen peering through the back door.  The bear is drawn to be fairly cute, and runs on his hind legs, but I suppose some could find it scary.

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A Bear Called Paddington

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Mrs.N

A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond

Paddington is among the most famous of literary bears, but despite his fame, many people don’t really know Paddington aside from his love of marmalade, famous blue coat and yellow hat and tag pleading “PLEASE LOOK AFTER THIS BEAR.” Several years ago, I had the opportunity to reacquaint myself with Paddington and I fell in love all over again. I’d handed off my battered childhood copy to a student who was both an insatiable reader and someone who trusted me completely. I had no idea what I started. Every day during reading she sought me out, either wanting clarification on a Britishism, or laughing hysterically over something in the story and wanting to share the joke. The rest of the class was captivated. WHAT was so interesting? They begged and cajoled and finally I consented to read it aloud to them. Once I’d finished, I had an index card completely filled with names, a waiting list for each book of the Paddington series that I owned. Another student demanded that I explain interlibrary loans to her mother so that she could read even more Paddington. Forget Diary of a Wimpy Kid, forget Harry Potter (which was waaaay too hard for most of them anyway), these kids wanting Paddington. He really is one very special bear.

The vocabulary and reading level is probably such that it can be read independently by advanced third graders, with some help on the British terms for things.  But Paddington makes an ideal read-aloud for young listeners.  The chapters are often a small story about Paddington and are fairly self-contained.

A minor complaint – It is a bit too bad that Paddington is expected to completely abandon his Peruvian past – in fact, he admits to having a Peruvian name “which no one can understand”.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – Paddington only wears a hat to begin with.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore – None.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – None.
Frightening or Intense Things – Paddington has trouble keeping his head above water when alone in the bath.

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Gentleman Bear

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Mrs.N

Gentleman Bear by William Pene du Bois

“Bears build character.” How’s that for a positive message?  The main character of Gentleman Bear is one Billy Browne-Browne who goes through life with his stuffed bear Bayard by his side.  This does not render him emotionally crippled, emasculated or perpetually adolescent.  Instead, Bayard provides Billy with much needed support and in fact, helps Billy to become a better boy and eventually a better man.  With Bayard by his side, Billy competes in the Olympics, faces Hitler and performs heroically on the battlefront.

The vocabulary and tone skew a bit high for a book about a boy and his bear, but as a read aloud, it might do well with second and third graders who were interested in the subject.  Especially children who are yearning to cling to their childhood a bit longer and looking for some outside permission to do so.  This also appears to be a picture book from the exterior, but is in fact a chapter book.

Sex, Nudity, Dating –The story starts before the birth of the main character, Billy Browne-Browne.  We learn how his parents meet.  His father kissed his mother. They agree to marry.  Lady Betty is kissed by her father-in-law.  Billy is born (the phrasing used is “a son was born to…”  Billy says “I didn’t recognize you with your clothes on” to a female diver (he means as opposed to a swimsuit, not that he’s seen her naked). Avis kisses Bayard.  There is another wedding.  Friends keep the bear from going on honeymoon with the couple.  There’s a sort of odd passage where an old man convinces a group of friends to be pilots but says that he speaks “romantically” of flying and refers to the “seduction” of the men. During a costume party a young boy swats girls backsides with a cutlass.

Profanity – “shut up,”
Death, Violence and Gore – The “horrible war” ended when Billy was two.  World War II happens. Billy and his friends are pilots.  They come under German fire.  There is an illustration of planes going down and a parachuting bear who has been hit by the bullets.  He’s been strafed by bullets, losing an ear and having a chunk taken out of his arm. Billy is told that the daily business of Scotland Yard involves sadistic murder and political assassinations.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – They stop at an inn that smells of beer.  When he is twenty, Billy drinks champagne, wine, vodka and aquavit.  Given the era and the setting (Europe) he was likely of age to drink.  He seems intoxicated although there’s no actual statement to that effect.  Upon losing his bear, Billy downs glass after glass of champagne.  Billy is told that Scotland Yard handles drug smuggling. An illustration of the bear is labeled keep the whiskies coming.
Frightening or Intense Things – Two men burst into tears at having survived the war.  Hitler is first mentioned in the context of the Olympics of 1936 and is largely beloved by the German people.

Posted in Middle Grades, Primary Grades | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Mrs.N

The World of Pooh: The Complete Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne

This was originally posted to this blog on July 31st, 2010.

There’s no denying that Pooh is a very famous bear.  For years he’s been winning people over with his plump belly and honey slurping ways.  But these days it seems that he’s better known for his appearances on Disney-licensed merchandise rather than his adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood.

So why is it that our beloved friend is so well known, and so little read?  There is a bit of a problem. You see, Winnie-The-Pooh is written on a fourth grade (or higher) level, with difficult vocabulary words like herbaceous, deception, hostile and spinney, as well as some complicated phrasing. However, the stories are made for children who are much younger. This division between the reading level and the interest level is what keeps these classics on the shelf rather than in kids’ hands, which is really too bad.  The stories are cute and children especially enjoy moments when they find they are more clever than poor Pooh.

Great For: Reading aloud. If you have a soft spot for Pooh, skip the babyfied Disney versions and go for the real deal. Ernest Shepard’s original illustrations are charming, and frequent enough that you may be able to read with your little listeners tucked up next you. You will be able to explain confusing words and sections as you go, and ask your children questions to see if they can outsmart Pooh. Just make sure to get your best character voices ready, and don’t be afraid to sing the songs Pooh creates – kids love it!

This book is also a great choice if your little reader is very advanced. It’s rare that a first or second grader would be able to read and understand this independently, but I know it does happen. If you have a super reader on your hands, this may be a way to provide a challenge without having to worry about the content.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – Unless you have a problem with anthropomorphic animals being partially or completely naked, you’re all set here.
Profanity – None
Death, Violence and Gore – In Winnie-The-Pooh Christopher Robin owns a gun. It is not referred to as a toy gun, although it may well be a toy guy. He accidentally shoots Pooh while aiming at a balloon. The book is careful to say that Pooh was not hurt.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – In The House at Pooh Corner we discover that Tigger enjoys Extract of Malt, which is a medicine of Roo’s. He eats it for every meal.
Frightening or Intense Things – Pooh and Piglet frequently face situations that they find scary, such as heffalumps, woozles and jagulars (that’s elephants, weasels and jaguars to you), being surrounded by bees, getting lost and caught in an animal trap.  At one point the other animals successfully kidnap Roo (a baby kangaroo). It is treated as a big joke; the tone is light. Some small children may be scared, but as this is best used as a read aloud, you’ll be able to monitor and comfort as needed. It’s likely that by the time children are advanced enough to read this independently they will also be mature enough to handle the small scares facing Pooh and his friends.

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More Bears

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Mrs.N

More Bears! by Kenn Nesbitt

An author is writing a bearless book (he’s CERTAIN), but there are some strenuous objections.  Off-page, children keep demanding “MORE BEARS!”  And honestly can you blame them?  So the author finds himself adding bears willy-nilly until they take over his book entirely.  At that point, drastic measures are needed and the bears are sent off, leaving the author with his bearless book.  But the off-page voices, of course, have a new request.

I was prepared to love this book.  I harbor a certain fondness for bears myself and can always get behind a cheer of more bears.  But sadly, rather than bother with an actual story, Nesbitt simply adds bears in list form, giving each a distinguishing characteristic or two.  Also disappointing, despite the cover bear being completely adorable, many of the interior illustrations are not.  Unfortunately, this book leaves me wanting more (BEARS).

With the story lacking but the vocabulary reasonably complex, this book is probably for the very young crowd, listeners only. I’d go with an age group that would want to shout the refrain of MORE BEARS in order to help read, but wouldn’t really care that the rest of the story isn’t that cute.

Sex, Nudity, Dating –A bear wears his underwear outside of his pants.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore – None.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – None.
Frightening or Intense Things – None.

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FeBEARary in the LiBEARy

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Mrs.N

There are so many people who made me a reader: my parents, of course, my teachers, my friends. But Mrs. Ingenbrandt, my elementary school librarian deserves a special mention. As a first grader I could read, not just picture books, or easy readers, but real chapter books.  My teacher somehow arranged things so that I could spend long periods of time in the library reading, exempt from classroom work.  Perhaps because of this, of all the rooms in my elementary school, the library is the one I remember the most. Mrs. Ingenbrandt was installed in the basement in a room that was prone to flooding with linoleum floors and a carpeted reading area flanked by low bookshelves. The picture books were on the left as you entered and the non-fiction shelves stood serious and foreboding at the right. But straight ahead along the far wall, stretching from the very edge of the room across to the circulation desk, rose the fiction chapter books. They couldn’t have possibly stretched up to the ceiling, but it certainly seemed that way to me. By Mrs. Ingenbrandt’s desk was a special forbidden cart, books reserved for the Third Grade Book Club, books I was allowed to take out even before I was in third grade. From the first day I spent in that library, it was my home. For four years, Mrs. Ingenbrandt was my guide, one of those rare people who somehow can always match a book with a reader. It is because of her that I was introduced Caddie Woodlawn, a pioneer girl I much preferred to Laura Ingalls. When I was quite small, she gave me Carolyn Haywood book after Carolyn Haywood book. Not just the “B” Is for Betsy series, but Primrose Day as well.  I treasured (and of course had to hunt down as an adult) In Place of Katia. So many of my childhood favorites were her recommendations.  But it wasn’t just her seemingly magical knack for knowing exactly what I should read next that made her special.  It was that she made the library the kind of place you would want to be.  I loved the cosy basement haven she created as much as I loathed the new addition they built after her retirement. The new room was spacious, rays of sunlight streaming through the tall windows, gleaming new tables standing tall on fresh carpeting.  But it held no charm for me, because libraries aren’t just about the books and the rooms that house them.  A good library has to have a soul.  And Mrs. Ingenbrandt was the soul of that library and when she retired, the magic was somehow gone.  This February I’m honoring her by doing what she did every bitter cold, gray winter: having FeBEARary in the LiBEARy.  When the winter was at its worst, the library would fill up with teddy bears and the displays would, of course, be all books about bears.  So you go ahead and get your favorite stuffed bear, I’ve got plenty of books to get us through.

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