EllRay Jakes Rocks the Holidays

Posted on December 7, 2014 by Mrs.N

EllRay Jakes Rocks the Holidays! by Sally Warner

Fact: When I read a great book, usually I immediately want to pick up another book and start reading it.  When I read a book I don’t enjoy I find it very hard to start a new book.

So let’s be completely honest.  I did not enjoy EllRay Jakes Rocks the Holidays! and I would not recommend it.  There is absolutely no reason for this to be set at the holidays.  There’s a holiday concert. That’s it.  And this holiday concert could just as easily be any type of school performance or talent show. Because the holidays don’t have anything to do with anything here.

What this book did have to do with was race.  And it’s handled awkwardly and uncomfortably.  By a white author.

EllRay talks about his parents and how they make a big deal if they they think any trouble at school has any relationship with race.  It’s obvious that he is really uncomfortable that his parents (particularly his father) feel this way.  And it may be a valid issue.  Maybe kids want to fit in badly enough that there is shame in their parents acting this way, but coming from a white author, it is tinged with an undertone of “because race isn’t really an issue”.

Then there’s the whole fact the whole matter that classmates spend a lot of time considering that EllRay and another student, Kevin, “match” or should be friends because they share the same skin tone.  While I find it believable that there may only be two black students in a class, I find myself wondering why all the other students are white.  Aren’t there students of any other different backgrounds and skin tones?  Why are these two the only ones identified as having skin that is “not white.” The teacher herself, Ms. Sanchez, is Latina.

But why focus on race.  It’s really our genders that separate us, you know?  Because boys don’t have feelings (or so EllRay thinks until proven wrong)!  And girls do things differently!  I cannot even begin to count the times boys and girls are different comes up.

So if you’re looking for a book that utterly lacks holiday spirit, enforces gender stereotypes and reduces racial issues to something a third grader rolls his eyes at, well, I’ve got it for you, right here.

Race – There’s a brief mention about moving to a place where not many people have brown skin and how his father is waiting for something to happen but nothing has. Evidently another preschooler was charging people a penny to touch Ellray’s sister’s hair because it is “different”. There were parent meetings about this and it was called a misunderstanding and people “moved on.” Mom misses her hair salon so much she drives back to the city for it. There’s a lot of talk about brown faces and which shade of brown crayon should be used – all dictated by a white girl, who is supposedly an artist. Then a white girl suggests he be partners with the only other black kid in class because “they match” which is an issue in the book. EllRay’s dad tells him that he and Kevin have to stick together even if they have nothing in common. That they are “linked”. Kevin (the one other black kid) drops the letter g from words like playing and talking. He uses phrases like “throwing shade” and “dissing” and “dog,” which EllRay says he got from his older sister who is into hip-hop. EllRay’s sister Alfie says that her white barbie is winning the pretend beauty contest she is having. EllRay suggests that maybe the one with “Beyonce-colored” skin should be winning but Alfie says no. There’s a bit about how his dad’s father (a Navy doctor) was worried about gang activity in the area.
Sex, Nudity, Dating – One girl’s father lives in England “with his new family”.  EllRay is dared to tell a girl he loves her (he does not).  The girls are told to “tone down” their dance moves.
Profanity – “shut up,” “dumb,” “darn,” “dang,”  Some kids dare EllRay to yell out a swear at the holiday show.
Death, Violence and Gore – There’s a random simile involving a vampire slurping up blood.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – None.
Frightening or Intense Things – None.

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Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters

Posted on December 5, 2014 by Mrs.N

Christmas In The Big House, Christmas In The Quarters

Hiding in the guise of a holiday picture book, this Coretta Scott King award winner is really about a country on the brink of war. I was concerned at first that it would be providing an overly saccharine take on slave life in order to draw parallels between Christmas celebrations of the whites and blacks at the time, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I should have know to trust Patricia and Fredrick McKissack who are excellent African American authors. Right from the outset, the Author’s note sets the historical tone for the book.

As the book continues, it covers traditions typical of plantation owners and slaves from the time leading up to Christmas through the New Year. It contains many specific references to songs and practices that would have been common at the time. But as I said before it is not simply about Christmas and the winter holidays. It is about the chatter in the drawing rooms about the unrest in the country. It is about the hopes of slaves that they will find a way to be free.

Since the book is told manly from the slave’s perspective, it keeps from idealizing the “Big House” Christmas too much and also uses this to call attention to the faults of the “Massa”. Despite the fact that a relatively sympathetic slave owner is depicted here, it is clear that you really can’t have a good owner.

Because of it’s historical information, this book is actually quite complex. I would recommend it for third graders with considerable adult assistance (such as in a teaching setting) or older. There are frequent references to important historical figures and events which will largely be unknown to students who have not had formal teachings regarding the Civil War and the years leading to the secession. Additionally, quotes from period songs are used and dialect is common throughout. This will provide an additional challenge for young readers.

All in all, it’s an interesting book, but there are mismatches between the content (better understood by much older students) and the format (resembles a picture book) and the tone (likely appropriate for middle grades readers).

Religion – There’s no question that a Christmas book has a fair chance of touching upon religion. Expect stories you know and some you don’t (Had you heard that the first frost is really stardust sprinkled over the land by the archangel Gabriel, sent to announce the Coming?)
Sex, Nudity, Dating – In a joke or riddle from the time kissin’ in briefly mentioned. A song talks of “courtin’ couples” who are “kissing the one they love best”. There’s talk of kissing under mistletoe.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore – Boys got their hides tanned. There is a Christmas Eve hunt. A song says that someone killed a yellow cat. There is a “playful” ghost. A boy gets a pocket knife. There’s a song about preparing a possum for eating by carving him to the heart. They talk of John Brown’s hanging. Cholera killed many freed slaves. Many soldiers died in the Civil War. The notes at the end recount many hangings. Thirty people were killed in a revolt.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – Eggnog made with whiskey is consumed by slaves and Massa. Fruitcakes ripen in brandy. Sherry and Madeira are served. A pie recipe suggests using a tablespoon of rum. Men smoke after dinner. Guests sip cordials and egg nog. Slaves drink persimmon wine. Tobacco is sometimes given as a gift.
Frightening or Intense Things – There’s talk of being sold away from loved ones. Slaves are sold away. During the war, plantations burned. Some slaves are invited to come to the house to join the family, the master keeps track of who comes and who doesn’t, there may be retribution later even though it is technically a choice.

 

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The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Mrs.N

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood

A prim and properly trained governess, Miss Penelope Lumley, has been summoned to Ashton Place.  She is a bit taken aback when she is hired without ever meeting the children, but as it turns out, there was a reason for the secrecy.  The children she will be watching are a bit unusual.

Given only until the Christmas ball to bring the children up to snuff, Miss Lumley has her work cut out for her, and she can’t expect any help from the young mistress of Ashton Place, nor the mysterious, hunting-obsessed master.

Like many series books, this lacks a sense of resolution at the end, driving children to continue reading the next and then the next books.  On the plus side, it was an adorable and engaging book and left me actually interested in reading the sequel.

Miss Lumley’s education was quite thorough and as such, expect many literary and cultural references that will go over the heads of younger and less worldly readers.  The vocabulary can be complex at points and there is a great deal of inference necessary to make sense of the book.  I’d recommend this for bright and advanced readers, especially gifted children in grades three and up, although younger children might like it as a read aloud with some adult interpretation and discussion at the harder parts.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – The governess has no intention of harboring romantic thoughts about either her employer or a poor tutor. The children wear nothing but blankets draped over them. The boys have great difficulty with clothes and put them on all wrong.  Women see them this way, one reporting that they were “naked as monkeys”.  During dancing a man’s eyes lingered on a woman.
Profanity – “blast it,” a quote from “The Wreck of the Hesperus” reads “Christ save us all from a death like this”, “heavens to Betsy,” “where the devil,”
Death, Violence and Gore – A character worries that masked bandits might take the train hostage. A character greatly enjoys hunting. All of someone’s ancestor’s died while hunting.  A man who died while hunting had a “gruesome” death and his body was never recovered. Someone remarks that dancing is more fun than slaughtering bacon.  The children’s namesakes – Beowulf – slew monsters and dragons and met a bloody and violent end and Cassiopeia tried to sacrifice her daughter.  Some characters were nearly accidentally shot.  Penelope does not want to see pigeons caught and eaten or squirrels torn limb from limb.  There’s a reference to Dante’s Inferno.  Children are traumatized after seeing taxidermied animals.  There’s a reference to spanking.  The boys are given toy rifles. Cassiopeia says “no bite.”  There is an implication that the children might be hunted as sport.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – A cigar is smoked (by an adult).  The skipper in “The Wreck of the Hesperus” smokes a pipe.  Whiskey is consumed.  So, then there’s the party, where adults drink and flirt with each other’s spouses.  But the real issue is that Constance (Lady Ashton) has far too much to drink and is in fact, falling down drunk, slurring her words, just completely inebriated.  Her overconsumption of alcohol and subsequent behavior are not a side note, but rather a pretty main focus of the party, so adults should be prepared to address this with young readers if it comes up.  Obviously, this will be touchier with some families than others depending on what the children have been exposed to.
Frightening or Intense Things – Penelope was abandoned by her parents.

 

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Happy Holidays

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Mrs.N

As the year winds down, I’m up to my usual “read only holiday books” antics. You know I can’t keep myself from a wintery theme when Hanukkah is nearing and Christmas carols are playing! This year I’m noting how difficult it is to find holiday or wintery books with characters of color. Anyone with any favorite holiday books that feature some diversity please, leave your recommendations in the comments.

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Treasure Hunters

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Mrs.N

Treasure Hunters by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein with Mark Shulman

Treasure Hunters isn’t my thing. In the beginning, I objected mainly to the overly simple characters and wham! bam! high action/low substance plotting, but as the book continued, my feelings got a bit complicated. I wanted to like it. I think kids will really go for the action packed style and the frequent fun illustrations. There are female characters who are intelligent, well-loved (in the familial sense, not the romantic sense) and respected by their family. BUT. There are so many guns. I mean, not just a few guns, or some guns, but really, a wealth, a surfeit, an abundance of guns. And it makes me a bit uncomfortable, especially given the casual carefree nature of the story. And then again, as much as there were these intelligent female characters, well on at least one occasion, they were asked to stick together (and stay out of the way) while the male characters handled the bad guys. And one of them is larger than your standard sized female (or your standard sized fictional female anyway). Oh I liked that initially. It can be difficult to find books with characters that are anything other than thin and attractive. And this character was smart too. And her father called her beautiful! But later she referred to herself as a bloated blob. And then someone else called her Chubba-Wubba. And referred to her as hugantic (huge+gigantic, get it?) and fat chick AND Shamu the whale. The worst part might be that her brothers and sister don’t defend her, although there is an aside that the narrator doesn’t think she likes being called Shamu or Chubba-Wubba. What a huge disappointment. It just perpetuates that idea that it is normal or even acceptable to criticize people for their weight.

So despite being fast paced and likely a page turner, full of ninjas and spies and surfer dies and bodyguards with allergies, I just can’t get behind the weak writing – Oops. Did I forget to mention that I wasn’t all that impressed with Patterson et. al’s writing? Despite being chock full of similes, they are the kind of similes I’m always telling my students not to use. Ones that don’t make sense or have any connection to what is going on in the story.

Age Recommendation – This will probably go over best with third and fourth graders although it might work for older readers who are not reading on grade level. It’s nice and thick (in part thanks to all those pictures) so I know some kids will love the feeling of reading a book they perceive to be hard (based on length alone). Again, can’t say I love it with the guns and the fat bashing, but I’m guessing there are lots of kids who will, some of whom would be reading something I find far more objectionable if they weren’t reading this.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – Bick’s big brother Tommy is a “hunk” and is shown muscled and shirtless. A girl is drawn wearing a bikini top. She flirts with Tommy. In an illustration, a couple (who may resemble Jay-Z and Beyonce just a teensy-tinsy bit) share a milkshake while tiny hearts float over their heads. Tommy admires girls’ bathing suits. A girl is illustrated wearing a string bikini, some of her cleavage is visible. A boy and a girl date and there’s a joke about wedding invitations. Tommy notices that there are naked women in art works and says he should visit museums more often. He refers to one of the pieces of art as a “hottie.” Tommy suggests studying anatomy together to a pretty pre-med. Scantily clad girls appear in the illustrations. A girl kicks Tommy in the most painful place you can kick a boy. They look in a window and declare a woman needs either drapes or a bathrobe. There’s another kneeing “where it really, really hurt”.
Profanity – “heck,” “shoot,” “crapper,” “holy smokes,” “lame” which I really don’t love as an insult or adjective. “moronic,”
Death, Violence and Gore – Bick’s mother may have been shot by an Uzi submachine gun (which is a bit highly specific in the naming of guns if you ask me). In treasure hunting the family found a dagger. The kids have a funeral for their missing parents. The boat is equipped with torpedo tubes. A speargun is pointed at someone. A man carries an AK-47. One of the children aims a double-barrelled shot gun at a teenager. A fleet of ships sank (but really, this is in no way scary for readers as it happened in the past). A policeman is drawn with a gun in his holster. There’s talk of chasing fish with spearguns. A character carries a machine gun and wears bandoliers full of ammunition on his chest. This is both written and illustrated. The gun is fired (into the air). An illustration shows two pictures of a woman with a handgun and one picture of a woman knocking someone out with a kick. Another two illustrations show a man with a handgun. An empty boat is blown up. Ninjas arrived armed with weapons. Tommy heads for a shotgun. There are two special underwater AK-47s. People are armed with knives and spearguns, which is shown in an illustration as well. A spear pierces someone’s arm and shoulder. That person bleeds a lot in the water. A man travels with armed body guards. The guards point pistols at one of the kids. This is also shown in an illustration. A man threatens to kill the Kidds if he ever meets them again. A girl chases them with a sacrificial dagger. Another illustrations shows yet more men with guns. An arms dealer is mentioned. A man says his father fell off a boat and died (he was wearing cement shoes at the time – a mafia reference in case you didn’t know). A man has a pistol shaped bulge in his coat. A man aims a gun at the children (this is also shown in an illustration) and threatens them. Six men wielding guns point them at one of the kids (again, shown in the illustration as well). Guns are fired. One of the kids is used a as a human shield. The kids karate chop people injuring them and even breaking some bones.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – A lady “smoked a lot.” An ashtray is filled with cigar butts.
Frightening or Intense Things – During a storm, Bick fears for his life. After a storm, Bick can’t find any of his family members. Bick’s mom has disappeared. There’s good cause to believe Bick’s father is dead either drowned or eaten by sharks. This is discussed rather casually. There are threats made that the children will have to be taken to an orphanage. A girl is kidnapped.
Gross Out A label states “DO NOT POOP on the POOP DECK”, there’s a potty training seat that they refer to as a “toity,”

 

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Under the Egg

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Mrs.N

Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald

Often a treasure hunt begins with a series of clues to be followed.  You follow the clues and of course, you get the treasure.   Under the Egg supplies a bit of a twist, since the treasure itself, a possibly priceless piece of art, is located rather quickly.   The treasure hunt is really more of an in-depth research project that leads our heroine, Theo and brand new best friend, Bodhi, to art museums, the hospital, auction houses, libraries, a retirement home and a center for Jewish History. And in the end, things turn out quite a bit differently than the reader might have anticipated.

Theodora (Theo) has been living in Manhattan in a formerly grand house that is falling apart.  Her grandfather passed away in an accident, leaving Theo with some cryptic dying words.  Theo hopes desperately that he’s left her some clue about how to survive, because without some help, she’s in dire straits.  Left in the care of her negligent mother (whose mental health is certainly in question), with only $384 to her name, Theo must care for the house, feed herself and somehow, solve the mystery she hopes will save her.

This had the makings of a great book.  It turned out to be a really good book, but there was a hint of something more there – meaning I can’t wait for Fitzgerald’s next offering whatever it may be.  The adventure was fun to read about, but I admit that as an adult there were so many things that I understood or took for granted that I believe would difficult for a young reader to parse.  At times, it was frustrating that Fitzgerald left out relevant information that would have interested the readers, such as when Theo pays a penny for admission at the Met (the pricey fee is actually a recommendation) and when she takes a Shabbos elevator which stops at every floor (to allow observant Jews to observe the Sabbath and not press the button – more details here).  These are cool interesting details, but so few middle grades readers will even pick up on it.  I’ve seen comparisons to From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and I think that’s fair.  They both feature precocious kids and lots of references that adults will be faster to get than the actual reading audience.  And of course, both are focused in the wonderful world NYC art world.

Also, just for reference, although Theo is living with her mother, it is a situation that would qualify as criminal neglect (see childwelfare.gov page 2).  I don’t think the book makes light of her mother’s situation, but I do think it’s important to know.  Her mother is also clearly not quite well mentally.

Topical Bonus: With Clooney’s Monuments Men released just this year, there may be higher than usual interest in the Nazi’s handling of art during WWII.  This book might make for a bit of fun light reading for a seventh or eighth grader who has seen the movie.

Heads Up: As a central painting depicts Christ there’s a bit of religious information in here about Christ’s death and ascension.

Age Recommendation: This was shelved juvenile in my library, but I’m not so sure that’s quite the ideal audience.  Between Theodora’s father basically using her mother for money, the references to the holocaust, and Theo’s mother’s mental state, this might be best for grades 6 and up.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – Theodora’s father is supposedly a grifter who “seduced” her mom to get his hands on the house.  She mentions the training bra she’s wearing.  Raphael (the famous painter) is called a flirt and amorous, delighting much in women.  His death is due to “sexual excess” according to one book.  There’s talk of  a woman’s breast in reference to a painting.  One of his paintings shows a woman appearing topless except a transparent wisp help to her chest.  Not in the least sexual, but there is reference to breastfeeding.  A woman is called Raphael’s mistress.  Theo wears a slip at one point and a negligee at another, both times as her actual clothes, not as undergarments.
Profanity – “hell,”  the girls hear the echo of a “four-letter word”,
Death, Violence and Gore – Theodora Tenpenny sees her grandfather lying on the ground with blood pooled around him.  He spoke his last words to her.  A rat killed off a chicken.  Raphael (the painter) was orphaned at age 11.  Not violent, just gross – a girl can dislocate her own arm.  In recounting events of World War II there are some brief mentions of bombings, concentration camps, POW camps and guns.  There’s a brief mention of gas chambers and of Nazi labor camps.  A man and his wife were sent to Auschwitz.  The wife was gassed immediately.  A man dies escaping from POW camp.  He is shot. A grown man was 100 pounds when freed by the Americans.  Theodora’s grandfather is jokingly worried that a neighbor will smother him in his sleep.  The book reports that the Holocaust Museum in Israel contains the names of two-thirds of the holocaust victims, leaving two million victims unaccounted for. A man was registered as dead but is not dead.  A man committed suicide while awaiting execution.  He was known as the Paris Executioner and responsible for many deaths.  A girl lost both of her parents to the Holocaust.  A baby died (way, way in the past).
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – None.
Frightening or Intense Things – Theo’s mom is not all there.  She’s mentally a bit unstable and a very irresponsible (probably to the point of being unfit).  There are some absolutely not frightening references to vampires.  Theo has a very real (and realistic) fear of losing her home and also having to go to foster care.  There are some descriptions of the POW camps.  The information isn’t too graphic or scary compared to what it could be, but they do describe the men as being thin as skeletons.  The book explains that labor camps worked people to death. They explain that Jews were persecuted; businesses and synagogues were burned.

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Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Mrs.N

Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye by Geronimo Stilton

All of the flashy font styles and full-color captioned pictures in the world are not enough to compensate for the terrible writing in this one.  I don’t feel good about saying that.  My students adored Geronimo Stilton books and my classroom had quite a collection of them.  But sometimes there’s just no accounting for (nine year old) taste.

Why was I so disappointed?  Why the scathing comment about terrible writing?  Well, the book is confusing.  There’s just so much content that is completely irrelevant to the main plot. We’re talking whole chapters that you could rip out of the book, pop in a shredder and no one would be any the wiser for it.  It takes a good 70 (out of 116) pages to even get to the treasure hunting portion of the book underway and then it lacks excitement.

It’s few redeeming qualities would be the eye-catching style which definitely appeals to reluctant readers and the volume of similes (always helpful when you’re trying to teach that particular writing skill).  But in all honesty, I worry that reluctant readers (who are often, although not always, struggling readers) will have a hard time following a book that has so much extraneous and irrelevant plotting.  And who knows if kids will pick up on the the plethora of references:  Rats Authority (instead of Sports Authority), Harry Ratini (instead of Harry Houdini), Christopher Columouse (you get the idea)…

Based on this single foray into the series, I wouldn’t dissuade a kid who was set on reading it, but nor would I recommend it for most readers.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – Waterproof underwear is mentioned (and shown in an illustration). A mouse asks to take Thea to dinner. Geronimo invites a very pretty lady friend of his to play tennis. She whispers in his ear.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore – Trap says that anyone who dares to take his share of the treasure is a dead rat.  Trap mentions that in medieval times they poured boiling oil on their enemies. Thea throws a coconut at Trap and threatens to make him into earmuffs. There are illustrations of skulls. Trap falls into a pit full of bones. Thea carries a knife. Thea says she could chop a rat’s tail in two.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – None.
Frightening or Intense Things – Geronimo falls overboard, but is rescued. The ship sinks. Geronimo gets stuck in quicksand.
Gross Out Geronimo plops onto the toilet after eating bad clams and is accused of “building a stink bomb.” Trap vomits into Geronimo’s hat.

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Smells Like Treasure

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Mrs.N

Smells Like Treasure by Suzanne Selfors

Evidently this is the second book in the Smells Like Dog series.  Even before I read it, I know immediately that I am going to get along quite well with the author because she opens the book with a letter to the reader promising you that the dog will not die.  I like that kind of upfront guarantee.  That way, you can enjoy the dangerous and adventuresome parts without any nagging pit-of-your-stomach worries that perhaps something truly awful will happen.  She also encourages you to get a snack and again, how can I not love someone who urges me to munch on chocolate-covered pretzels?  Already, I am hooked.

Homer loves maps, the county fair and his smelly Bassett Hound named Dog.  The death of his Uncle Drake set in motion an adventure which revealed to him that there is a secret Society of Legends, Objects, Secrets, and Treasures (L.O.S.T.).  Now Homer has received a mysterious letter from the society (I mean, would you expect anything less?) and is highly anxious to learn what lies in store for him.

After a disastrous first day at the fair, Homer’s spirits are lifted as his adventure begins.  A friend of his uncle takes him off to meet the members of L.O.S.T.  But what he hopes will be a simple welcome to the society ends goes horribly wrong when his frenemy Lorelai appears.  Now, instead of taking his rightful place as his uncle’s heir, Homer finds himself faced with a challenge.  The winner of the challenge will get to join L.O.S.T.  It’s everything Homer has ever wanted and he is determined to beat Lorelai in the quest.  He sets off with his trusty dog and his L.O.S.T. assigned assistant, Hercules.  Only time will tell if they can emerge victorious.

My ultimate verdict is that this book was adorable. It wasn’t necessarily a book that adults want to read just for the sake of it, but it won’t steer anyone wrong as a bedtime read aloud either.  Because the adventure is relatively tame (you know the dog is safe at least), it shouldn’t result in any nightmares or bitten fingernails either.  While it’s on level for strong third grade readers (Scholastic pegs it as a 40/S) it is a safe choice for younger readers that are advanced.

Extra Bonus: Very little in the way of gender stereotypes here (there was maybe, one line that I noticed as being a bit off?).But overall the message is that girls are strong and tough! Hercules’s sister is just as rough and tumble as his brothers, while he prefers to focus on more cerebral pursuits.  The treasure hunters are male and female!  Homer and Lorelai both have strengths that will serve them on the quest.  And the story of Rumpold Smeller reveals that his sister was no slouch herself.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – Homer’s sister has a date.  A woman was supposed to be reunited with the man she loves.  A boy is told that it is his duty to get married and have a son.  A Duke’s daughter is considered a suitable match.  Someone asks Homer if a girl is his girlfriend.  She is not; she is a girl who was his friend.
Profanity – “dang,” “crud,”
Death, Violence and Gore – Homer’s Uncle Drake had a “tragic demise” which we later learn is in fact, that he was eaten by a mutant carnivorous tortoise.  Homer carries a Swiss Army knife.  The author describes a time long ago when “if your country was at peace, well, it was only a matter of time before someone invaded and set everything on fire.”  A boy is trained at sword fighting.  Homer’s sister is crazy for taxidermy (aka stuffing dead animals).  There are some details about taxidermy, such as: that the animal begins to deteriorate, it smells, the innards must be removed, certain parts are painted with lacquer.  Homer gets a fortune that he will meet an untimely end if he makes the wrong choice.  Causes of death of treasure hunters tend to be dramatic: falling off the edge of a volcano, being crushed by a boulder, etc.  Homer is warned that treasure hunters have the highest chance of being killed on the job.  A boy is pushed to the ground.  One of the characters has a fear of, well, everything. I will not list everything that he fears will happen because my fingers would fall off with the effort.  A boy’s siblings are quite rough.  They put him in the hospital for a week.  Knights are missing fingers, teeth, ears, a leg, eyes and a nose.  A peasant once tried to kill a Duke with a pitchfork.  There’s some talk of skinning rabbits for food. Someone breaks an ankle.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – A duke drinks wine.
Frightening or Intense Things – None.

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Island of Thieves

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Mrs.N

Island of Thieves by Josh Lacey

With its slick cover and exciting James Bond-referencing cover blurb, this book looks like a promising offer for the upper elementary set.  It certainly has plenty of action and adventure, but I can’t really recommend it for that age group, or even older readers.  You’ll see why.

Tom’s parents are set to leave on a long overdue vacation, without kids. But when Tom burns down their shed, no one is willing to let him come for a visit.  With nowhere else to turn, they drop Tom off with his Uncle Harvey, a man who probably should not be trusted with children.

Harvey ends up taking Tom to Peru with him where he is involved in shady business dealings with drug lords and a quest for treasure, both of which are guaranteed to put him and Tom in harm’s way, repeatedly.  It’s written like a modern action movie, with plenty of car chases, shots fired, easy coincidences to allow the plot to move forward and bad guys without the least bit of nuance or depth.

In the course of affairs, Tom ends up undertaking some pretty adult things: shooting a gun, driving a car and being at least partially responsible for the death of a character.  None of these things affect him in the least emotionally. At one point Tom even considers the death and comes to the conclusion that he feels not the least bit guilty.  While all of this keeps the tone of the book light, it also trivializes violence much in the same way as many modern video games.

I also found the characterization of the Peruvians to be pretty appalling.  With one exception (Uncle Harvey’s not-exactly a girlfriend), they are depicted as criminals, thieves or excessively poor and ignorant.  Even in the days of the explorers…the English captain supposedly believed the locals to be “dirty thieves” and so named their island “The Island of Thieves”.  And of course, all of them are bribable.   You start flashing those good old American dollars and they’ll do whatever you ask. Or you could be a rich, powerful drug lord and control them with massive amounts of money and threats.  From a hotel clerk to the governor of a prison to the police everyone has a price. I try to imagine a former Peruvian student of mine reading this and it makes me cringe.

Not particularly recommended for, but at least moderately appropriate for: I would say this would be best suited to sixth through eighth graders.  Any older and it will read as a bit juvenile and any younger, well, it’s a bit violent.  But I can’t really recommend it for anyone given the racism.  In addition to the violence, there are some passages that are quite difficult to read (a contrast to the not-particularly-complicated overall text).  A part of the adventure involves consulting an old-fashioned journal riddled with unconventional spellings, construction and references that will be largely unknown to readers.  This may make it hard for some readers to decipher.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – Tom’s parents are going on vacation without their children.  Tom expects they will have smoochy dinners. An adult’s date is mentioned.  Uncle Harvey kisses a woman.  Tom looks away at one point.  When asked if she is his girlfriend he says “yes and no” and that it is complicated and Tom will understand when he is older.
Profanity – “gringo” can be considered offensive by some, “darn,” in a few places it says that a character “cursed” but does not use any swear words.
Death, Violence and Gore – Harvey tells Tom that guinea pig and chips is the national dish of Peru; that they cut a guinea pig in half, open him out and fry him on a griddle. A man carries a pistol. A man threatens to cut off someone’s pinky.  A man punches another man. He the has his arm twisted up behind his back.  A man tries to kick another man during a struggle.  A man is hit over the head with a lamp and passes out.  A character has supposedly committed several hundred murders.  Tom has a friend who has an air rifle and whose father owns a shotgun.  Tom has a pistol pointed at him (repeatedly).  A car nearly hits a man, intentionally.  They are in a car accident that results in a blackout, some bleeding and them.  Tom is worried that they’ll be thrown off a cliff.  A man is gripped by the throat and strangled (although not to death).   A man threatens to kill people repeatedly. In the journal it tells of a man who was whipped until he bled.  A crocodile is brutally killed (stuck with swords and spikes, shot) and eaten.  Natives kill an Englishman.  Another man died of illness. Guards at a prison are supposed to shoot first, ask questions later.  The prison is filled with terrorists and murderers.  Tom wonders if the drug dealer will kill them when he gets bored or annoyed with them. Tom eats guinea pig (he is not told that he has eaten it until after the meal). Tom considers the possibility of fighting the men with guns. If people fall overboard they will almost certainly die due to huge waves and cold water.   People are shot at and hit.  A man’s face is bloodied (but not from a gun).  Tom and his uncle are surrounded by armed men.  The men have rifles and pistols. Harvey carries a knife.  Some of Tom’s ancestors were hanged.  There’s a lot of discussion about killing people. Men are punched in the face.  Tom shoots a man with a gun.  Tom imagines murdering someone. A man is run over by a car.  More shots are fired at people.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – Uncle Harvey tells Tom’s parents to drink a glass of wine.  A friend of Uncle Harvey’s mentions “sinking a few jars” which seems to be a euphemism for drinking.  A man smokes a cigar.  A man is offered whiskey for breakfast.  A major character is a drug dealer.  Men drink beer and a colorless liquid.  Sailors drink rhumm.  A woman smokes a cigarette.  An adult offers to buy Tom “many drinks”.
Frightening or Intense Things – The main character opens the book by playing with matches.  Unsurprisingly, this causes the shed he is in to catch fire and burn down.  Tom’s uncle plans to leave him unchaperoned in New York City.  Uncle Harvey says he has enemies.  A stranger urges them to get in his car; it seems like they are forced.  Uncle Harvey swears on Tom’s life.  There are all kinds of criminals in the book.  In Peru they pass children begging in the slums.  Two men nearly drown.

 

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The Lost Treasure of Tuckernuck

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Mrs.N

The Lost Treasure of Tuckernuck by Emily Fairlie

Laurie is completely miserable to be starting at a private middle school. She would give anything to be at Hamilton with her BFF, Kimmy.  But her family has always gone to Tuckernuck, with its dopey chicken mascot.

Bud’s presentation to the school board was so convincing it got all sweets banned from Tuckernuck.  Consequently it also made him a social pariah.  Bud can live without friends, but since his mother passed away, he can’t live with becoming a disappointment to his father.  This means constantly working on school work, studying extra, taking mini quizzes of his father’s invention and it means no time for extracurricular activities.

It’s not long after they’re paired together on the worst possible job in the grade, gerbil duty, that they find themselves in the middle of a treasure hunt.  Laurie hopes finding the treasure will convince her parents that she should be allowed to go to any school she wants.  Bud hopes finding the treasure will convince the school that he should give the eighth grade graduation speech (in two years).  They unite to try to find the treasure, but soon discover there’s more on the line then their own agendas.  Without the mysterious Tutweiler treasure the school might have to close forever!

Bud is a very sympathetic character and the mystery aspect is bound to be fun for children.  There are lots of fun clues and the text is broken up by memos, notes, letters and other communications.  Laurie is an obnoxious, whiny, snot.  I’m not entirely sure if being of an age when you might be an obnoxious, whiny, snot yourself makes her more likable, but from an adult perspective, it was really difficult to care about her which made reading a bit more difficult.

This book is on level for grades 3 and 4.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – A boy thinks a girl likes him. An adult asks another adult out to dinner. A boy gives a girl a note saying he doesn’t like her in that way.
Profanity – “dumb,” “stupid,” “what the…,” “butt-kisser,” “lame,” “shoot,” “what the heck,” “crap,” “shut up,” stinks,” “geez,” “moron,” plus, a boy is called “princess” as an insult.
Death, Violence and Gore – A gerbil supposedly bit off someone’s finger. A boy’s mother died. When someone is angry that person wants to rip someone else’s head off. A piano teacher hit the knuckles of students who made mistakes. Students consider mugging someone or compelling someone to do something by using a weapon.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – An adult character has littered one of his hangouts with cigarette butts.
Frightening or Intense Things – None.

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