Forge

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Mrs.N

Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson

Anderson’s follow-up to Chains is written from Curzon’s point of view, which was a huge improvement in my mind. I found him much more likable and easy to relate to than Isabel.  He clearly has a very deep attachment to Isabel though, and despite not finding her likable at all, I did try to see her through his eyes.  It’s something I had a hard time reconciling myself to because I really don’t care much for her.

The book begins as a war book, and it does not skimp on the war.  It certainly helps to be interested in Revolutionary War troop conditions and fighting if you’re reading Forge.  I’m pretty big into history although not necessarily wars/battles but I did find it all fascinating.  Then about two-thirds of the way in, the book shifts and we are no longer on the battlefield.  I was very sad to leave Curzon’s wartime friends and enemies and meet up with Isabel again. I might have been even sadder though that Forge also ends in a cliffhanger, this time giving notice that the story will be continued in Ashes.

As in Chains Anderson starts each chapter with a wordy quotation, exactly the type of thing I would skip when I was a young reader.  But considering that I don’t think overall Anderson has done a great job of accounting for the interests of young readers it’s not shocking.  Again this reads more like something teachers would love to assign than something kids would love to read, but I actual would recommend it to students seeking war stories.  Advanced readers in sixth grade plus older students would be able to read this book, with it being easier for those with some background in colonial history/the Revolutionary War.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – Isabel’s hip is touched and her backside smacked by her owner.  There is kissing.
Profanity – “damned,” “negar,” and “injun”, “son-of-the-devil,” “gottam”.  Often we are told of swearing without the words being reported.
Death, Violence and Gore – Wolves dig up and eat dead bodies. There is a very graphic scene of about the death of a man who is shot in the stomach. At times, it is a continuous litany of war wounds, bayonet to thighs, bullets lodged in skulls, tongues and teeth shot out, amputations. Beatings and whippings seem mild in comparison.  There is a hanging.  Burns are described graphically including weeping pus. Smallpox causes deaths.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – Men drink spruce beer (which may or may not be alcoholic).
Frightening or Intense Things –Eben tells a story about a two headed calf that has the head of a cat and of a goat.  Isabel had an encounter with a violent man, she won’t say more about it.  My mind goes toward rape, but no idea what others would read into it.  Isabel believes in ghosts.

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Chains

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Mrs. N

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

As you can see from the cover, this book is qualifying for and winning all sorts of awards. I fear that at some point the whole cover illustration will be obscured.  I wasn’t going to include it in my Black History Month selections, in part because it is written by a white author, but how can you avoid this much hype?

Isabel and her sister Ruth were to be freed upon the death of their owner.  But the lawyer who was in charge of the will has vanished, and the girls are sold off by the heir of the estate.  They end up in New York and the city is in chaos.  Their owners are strong Loyalists in a city full of the Continental army.  Angry over her fate and coaxed by promises of freedom, Isabel spies on her owners, risking everything in a bid to free herself and Ruth.  She soon learns that nothing is fair in wartime especially for a slave.

From a historical perspective, this was certainly fascinating.  Despite five years of American Revolutionary history courtesy of a Social Studies curriculum that was sorely lacking, I had only limited knowledge of how the war played out in New York City.  Anderson certainly made the city come alive.  On the side of character though, I wasn’t as impressed as I was supposed to be.  I was continually surprised by Isabel’s naivety.  She always trusts that people will help her, even when she is faced with evidence that promises are often broken.  Also, I was uncertain as to how realistic a character portrayal it was given the times.  While in keeping with our modern ideals of what a young woman and feisty slave should be like, I wasn’t sure how Isabel fit with how someone of the era would have actually behaved.  Also, call me cold-hearted, but I just never really connected with the character.

So was it good? Absolutely.  I read it quickly and wanted to get back to it when I put it down.  Do I think kids will connect with it?  I honestly don’t know. My public library has it filed in Teen, which I believe has more to do with the sometimes violent content than interest.  I think it would be great to use with a captive audience (teaching, reading aloud and discussing), but I don’t know how many teens would pluck it off the shelf themselves. I’m really curious and can’t effect my own experiment as my students are way too young for this.

And yes, I think advanced readers in grades 6 and up could manage it.  There is a lot of required background knowledge about the Revolutionary War, but I think kids would be able to fight through it all right.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – A pregnant soldier’s wife has a baby.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore –It’s slavery and it’s war.  Slaves are hit, beaten, branded, whipped, and yes those are characters we know and care about. There is domestic violence where a husband beats his wife.  Men are hung for their crimes.  There is a massive fire in New York.  Due to the war, dead bodies abound.  We are treated to sights of the war, including a cannonball ripping off a man’s head.  Wounds during wartime often lead to amputations and of course, flesh is crawling with maggots.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – Rum is sold from the islands. Men smoke pipes.
Frightening or Intense Things – This book is about slavery, so there are many details about slavery that are unpleasant, of course including the buying and selling of people. Illness is also a major factor in this book.

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Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs #6 – Stars and Sparks on Stage

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Mrs.N

Stars and Sparks on Stage
by Sharon Draper
Stars and Sparks on Stage brings us to the final book in the Ziggy series.  The boys are eager to win a $200 prize in their school talent show, planning to trick out their clubhouse.  When a newcomer arrives, they just may have to change their plans.  Tulip was made homeless due to Hurricane Katrina.  Now she’s safe in Ohio, but she certainly could use the prize money and she’s got a killer voice.  What will the boys do?

In wrapping up my Ziggy reviews, I’d like to address some complaints I’ve read about the series.  There are people who don’t like that Draper takes the time to discuss the skin tone of each of the boys and feels that the insertion of Ziggy (a Jamaican) is a form of tokenism.  Frankly, having read books aimed at this age group for years, this is something that author’s often do.  I’m guessing that they do it to make the book appeal to the broadest possible audience.  If the boys in Ziggy all have different families and have different skin tones, there is a great chance of a kid finding that one character that they can connect with.  It’s done all the time – think of the girls in The Babysitter’s Club, the use of a brother sister pair in The Magic Treehouse series, consider how often one character in a story is a brunette in the story and another is a blonde.  Draper is not approaching this differently from any of these other authors except with one notable exception:  she’s black and she’s writing about black characters.  Believe me, this audience deserves to be able to find themselves in book, no matter how hokey it seems to describe country of origin or skin tone or family structure.  We all do.  I can’t begin even tell you how heavily biased I was towards brunette characters as a child, I felt so marginalized by the blonde is better mentality.  It’s even harder for children of color to find books featuring characters that look like them, and yet it’s something that is really important to children.  I’m siding firmly with Draper on this one.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – The boys clearly think Tulip is something special.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore – None.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – None.
Frightening or Intense Things – None.

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Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs #5 – The Backyard Animal Show

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Mrs.N

The Backyard Animal Show
by Sharon Draper
When construction begins on an apartment complex it destroys the habitat of many local creatures.  The Black Dinosaurs find themselves involved when they witness the death of a mother deer and are determined to help her orphaned fawn.

I grew up in deer country, so the whole premise of finding a baby deer in need and giving it shelter was a little odd for me.  Especially the part where the construction workers promise to bury the mother deer.  While I can’t say I approve of bringing home wild animals to raise, it’s clear that Ziggy’s mother was with me on this and she insists the boys bring the deer to a local wildlife refuge as soon as it is old enough.

Of course, this leaves just enough time for the boys to concoct a completely harebrained scheme to host an animal show in Ziggy’s backyard.  They’ll get a chance to show off their deer and let their friends show off their own pets while raising money for the wildlife refuge.  I can definitely stand behind raising money for a good cause and really admired the entrepreneurial spirit the boys showed.  And readers of any age will start shaking their heads when they hear the combination of animals invited to the show.  It would be a miracle if it went off without a hitch!

Did I miss Draper’s history lessons in this one?  Sure, but kids so often love to read about animals, so I think many will enjoy this book.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – Ziggy tells the fawn he’ll need to find a girl deer to marry.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore – A female deer is killed.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – None.
Frightening or Intense Things – None.

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Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs #4 – The Space Mission Adventure

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Mrs.N

The Space Mission Adventure by Sharon Draper

The Space Mission Adventure is quite different from the earlier Ziggy books. No longer learning about local history in Ohio, the boys head off to Space Camp in this Ziggy installment.  While it’s nice to learn about space, I missed all the African-American history that Draper so effortlessly wove into the prior books.

Full of information about space camp and how astronauts eat, sleep and even go to the bathroom in space, this book is bound to interest your budding astronaut.   Lovers of the Ziggy series may miss the feeling of adventure present in the first three books.  The boys have a mystery to solve, but it is not nearly as serious as the earlier ones.

Working in some last minute diversity,  Draper name drops some astronauts of color, however she provides little background information about them and instead uses a fictional African-American female astronaut in her story.   At the end of the book, she does provide a page of website links at the end for readers who want to learn more.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – None.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore – The Challenger explosion is mentioned.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – None.
Frightening or Intense Things – None.

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Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs #3 – Shadows of Caesar’s Creek

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Mrs.N

Shadows of Caesar’s Creek (Clubhouse Mysteries)
by Sharon Draper

Ziggy and his pals are all set for another adventure.  This time, it’s a camping trip sponsored by the Black Heritage Club.  Along with a group of girls, the boys will be staying overnight in Caesar Creek State Park. But of course, the trip is educational in addition to being fun.  Their tour guide Noni tells them all about the history of the area.

In the third book of the series, Sharon Draper explains how African-American history and Native American history sometimes intertwined.    Draper discusses how Europeans in some areas did try enslaving Native Americans, but that they were generally unsuccessful because the Native Americans knew the land better than the Europeans and they could not be fully separated from their people who were then able to help them.  Europeans begin bringing in slaves from Africa who had no such knowledge of the terrain and no one to assist them.  Over time however, many runaway slaves discovered that some Native Americans would assist them and shelter them, with some former slaves even becoming tribal members and leaders over time.

Again, the Ziggy books do not have very difficult vocabulary and are able to be read by advanced second graders and many third graders while maintaining an interest level that will even appeal to fifth graders.  This is essential for teachers and parents who have children who are reading below their grade level as it can be difficult to find books that will engage those readers and will not make them feel as though they are reading something babyish.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – Rashawn shows he likes a girl by trading away a chocolate chip cookie for a cupcake.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore –  We learn that some Indians would chew poisonous leaves if captured by settlers.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – None.
Frightening or Intense Things – The boys worry they are being chased by a bear.

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Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs #2 – Lost in the Tunnel of Time

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Mrs.N

Lost in the Tunnel of Time
by Sharon Draper

This is the second book in Sharon Draper’s terrific series for young readers. This time, the boys get caught up in the history and mysteries of the Underground Railroad. Like many students, Ziggy isn’t all that interested when its part of the assigned Social Studies reading, but when Mr. Greene starts telling stories the boys’ interest is piqued. When they are given a historical map of local hiding spots and learn that their own school may have been built above tunnels, well, the Black Dinosaurs can’t resist an adventure! Again Draper infuses her book with history, this time mainly focusing on how slaves escaped to freedom. There’s even a little plug for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – There are some girls in this book, and they try to catch the boys attention and sigh over mentions of love stories, but there’s nothing racy at all.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore – None.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – None.
Frightening or Intense Things – A mention of ghosts. As with all of the Ziggy books, this one deals in African-American history which includes slavery. The boys are caught in a tunnel collapse.

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Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs #1 – The Buried Bones Mystery

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Mrs.N

The Buried Bones Mystery
by Sharon Draper

NB: It seems this series has been rebranded as the “Clubhouse Mysteries”. No idea what was behind the change.

A few years back I was desperately trying to add some diversity to my classroom reading library.  I had books with minority characters but so many of them seemed to be “issues” books.  There was just no way I was getting a third grader who wants to grow up to be a baller to sit down and read The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963.  Setting aside the fact that it would be too hard for many of my third grader readers, I wanted something current, fun and featuring characters that my students could connect with.   I felt like I’d won the lottery when I read this series by Sharon Draper.  I’d known her as an author of young adult books and was thrilled to find she was writing for younger audiences.  Ziggy is not only interesting and entertaining, it features characters with a variety of backgrounds and family structures.  PLUS, it’s infused with black history.  Seriously, sign me up.

Ziggy and his friends have their summer ball playing plans destroyed when they find the basketball poles at their local park have been dissected by a chain saw.  They decide to form a club, but end up with a mystery to solve, a mystery that ends up teaching them about local history and making them a new friend!

As I mentioned before, the boys learn about black history and there are cool references throughout: Tuskegee, kalimba, Nairobi.

Also, you may want to check out Draper’s website for more cool information and for a discussion guide.

Great for: This covers an amazing interest range.  The reading level is somewhere in between grades 2-3.  The characters are in fifth grade though, so it’s a really good choice for older kids who are reading below grade level.  There are no serious content concerns (which often happens with books about older kids) and yet I believe there’s enough depth that older children won’t feel like they’re reading baby stuff.  Sharon Draper you are a genius and my hat is off to you.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – None.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore –  The boys are in possession of firecrackers which is dangerous, but there is much discussion of whether or not they should have them.   The boys find human bones in a trunk buried in the yard. I promise that it is not nearly as scary as it sounds.  An man threatens to bury the boys.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – None.
Frightening or Intense Things – Aside from the aforementioned bones and some mentions of cemeteries, nothing should spook even younger readers.

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Flygirl

Posted on February 5, 2011 by Mrs.N

Flygirl by Sherri Smith

For our next African-American history month selection, we’re staying in Louisiana.  Ida Mae Jones learned to fly with her daddy, in a small plane, dusting crops.  As World War II begins, Ida finds herself wanting to help out, but facing the double whammy of being both black and woman.  When her little brother reads about the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) in the paper, he immediately encourages Ida to join.  She quickly realizes while her gender may no longer keep her from flying, her race most certainly will.

But Ida is light skinned, so light that she can choose to pass as white.  It is this dangerous decision that enables Ida to finally realize her dream of being a pilot.  Flygirl does not handle this decision lightly.  It includes a great deal of information about all the levels of discrimination occurring due to skin color:   the obvious color line between blacks and whites; the experience of passing as white; the discrimination and exclusion practiced by blacks themselves against darker blacks.  And while it’s possible that there’s never enough deliberation over whether or not to pass, Flygirl absolutely depicts this as a fraught and weighty decision.

Due to content and vocabulary this book is best for middle schoolers and older.

Great for: Lovers of history and pioneers.  Flygirl does a great job of depicting life during WWII from collecting nylons to make parachutes to living with rationing.  Ida idolizes Bessie Coleman, and through her readers can also be inspired by the first African-American woman pilot.  This is also fabulous for teaching about the bravery of women throughout history and the risks they had to take to prove themselves the equals (or betters) of men.  But Flygirl also shows the struggles women had gaining acceptance for their choices even among their female friends and family.

Historical vocabulary: In keeping with the time period in which it was set, Flygirl uses the terms colored and Negro throughout to refer to African-Americans and high yellow to refer to light skinned African Americans.  Oriental is also used rather than Asian.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – The airwomen get called easy and loose.  The gossips at the hair salon think Ida’s been off having babies.  Or not having them.  There is interracial dancing/ romance/kiss.  An engaged couple kisses. A girl gets married and spends her wedding night with her husband (we are given NO details, it’s just mentioned because they were not going to be able to stay together due to the war. A married woman is pregnant.
Profanity – “hell” multiple times,  “damn”multiple times, “n—-r” is written out in its entirety three times (please note, the author of this book is black, her choice to use the word is her own, but as a white reviewer it is not my place to write it out or comment on her use of it),  “oh my God”, “Nips” and “Japs” (both are racial slurs used for the Japanese during WWII).
Death, Violence and Gore – Set in the time immediately preceding, and during WWII, you can expect guns, bombs etc. Due to the type of deaths that occur during war there is talk of the deceased being burned up or sent home in many pieces.  Brief talk of the losses at the beaches.  Ida’s father died. With the historical information on Coleman, we learn she was killed in a crash.  Ida’s mother slaps her.   A main character is killed when her plane crashes.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – Ida is given a sip of whisky when she feels ill.  Older girls drink rum and coke.  Ida says that she’d want a drink, if she drank.  A girl smokes a cigarette.
Frightening or Intense Things –  The girls get their dental records taken in case they burn up in a crash, which is reasonably morbid.  There are many moments of danger for Ida in her choice to pass as white.  She receives warnings from other blacks that she will get herself “killed or worse” passing. Her brother reports on being tortured during the war and for a period of time her brother is missing.

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Ninth Ward

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Mrs.N

Ninth Ward is a small book of exquisite beauty. A stark contrast to all the epic stories out there these days, Ninth Ward gives us a mere ten days with our characters: the days immediately prior to Hurricane Katrina, through the floods that followed the levee failures. Even in this brief time, author Jewell Parker Rhodes makes New Orleans come alive.

Lanesha was born in a caul, which to superstitious folk means she walks between to worlds. In plain words, she can see dead people. She’s being raised by Mama Ya-Ya, the midwife who tended her birth and being brought up with a great sense of spirituality, the special mix of voodoo and Catholicism that is practiced in by many in New Orleans. It is this spirituality that will guide her as she faces the storm and struggles to survive.

Age Recommendation: This is a great choice for middle grades readers. Lanesha is an intelligent and well-spoken role model. Terrific vocabulary words are used and immediately defined which will assist readers who would otherwise struggle with them.

Great for: Giving a sense of the power and destruction of Hurricane Katrina in a way that will not cause nightmares. It’s a book about an incredible tragedy and our characters do not escape unscathed, but the overall message is one of strength, love and hope rather than fear and loss. Death is handled in a very age appropriate manner.

Non-Traditional Family – Lanesha is raised by the midwife that birthed her, her mother is dead and her father unknown.  She is not a legal dependent.
Sex, Nudity, Dating – Lanesha does not know who her father is.
Profanity – We’re told TaShon is cursing but are not told any of the words.
Death, Violence and Gore – There are a few separate categories here. Much of what I considered the goriest stuff was in the description of Lanesha’s birth, how the bloody membrane was cut from her, how tea was made with a drop of blood from the caul and the caul buried. The next category involves the ghosts – if you’re going to have ghosts, we’re going to hear how some of them died, in childbirth, from drive-bys or robberies. Additionally, we’re told of some of the hardships of the type of people who live in the Ninth Ward – a man who lost his foot in Vietnam, another who is a double amputee due to diabetes. Finally, there is a death involving a major character in the story. It is handled in a very reassuring way and is not scary or gory at all.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – Some adults in the French Quarter drink. Some in the Ninth Ward offer Lanesha mojitos, but the realize that she’s too young. People drink liquor like it’s Mardi Gras.
Frightening or Intense Things – This book is set in New Orleans and the main character is said to have “the sight”.  Given that, expect some ghosts and talk of the dead.  A boy was born with extra fingers and his father cut them off.  There is an episode involving abuse of animals (kicking a dog, rumors of setting fire to a cat).

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