Book review - The Lunch Lady And the Cyborg Substitute

1. Bibliography
 Krosoczka, Jarrett J. 2009. Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute. New York: Random House. ISBN: 978-0-329-71453-6.

2. Plot Summary
 This graphic novel presents a school lunch lady who is a secret agent crime fighter.  She cleverly uncovers the evil plot of a substitute teacher to replace all the great teachers at the school with robots.

3. Critical Analysis
 Readers of every age can relate to the school cafeteria serving pizza for lunch.  Those days are always exciting because everyone loves pizza, even school pizza! This book is the first installment in a series of crime-fighting surprises that students are sure to love! Like most graphic novels, the characters are a bit underdeveloped, but the appeal is over the top. This unlikely hero, with the help of her assistant, Betty, fights crime when she isn't serving lunch.  The author provides clever touches at every turn.  The spy gadgets and crime-fighting tools are all lunchroom-related.  Lunch Lady's laptop computer is a lunch tray and her nun-chucks are disguised as fish sticks. Betty creates helicopter spatulas, exploding chicken nuggets, and other surprising tools that help Lunch Lady get the job done.  The lunchroom theme is carried out in every way.  Instead of exclaiming, "Oh no!", Lunch Lady shouts, "Good gravy!"  The students in the story, referred to as the "Breakfast Bunch", are characters the readers can relate to.  They face a bully and band together to stand up against him.  
The artwork, done by Krosoczka, are clean, uncluttered ink drawings which have been digitally colored add to the overall appeal of the book. The single color of ink (yellow) give the book a nice, unified look.

4. Review Excerpts
 2009 Booklist: "Little details invite and reward repeat readings with visual as well as verbal punning."
2009 Kirkus Review: "Filled with goofy puns and gray-scale are with cheery yellow accents, this is a delightfully fun escapist read.  Be sure to recommend this to fans of Captain Underpants."
2009 Publisher's Weekly: "With plenty of silliness and slapstick in the text and panel art alike, this comic should alleviate lunch-line boredom with visions of servers wielding fishstick-nunchucks"
5. Connections
*Read other Lunch Lady books, such as Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians. Discuss plot development, characters, discuss alternate endings.
*Web links:  http://www.lunchladycomics.com/index2.html
*Create a whole class take-off story.  Allow students to decide on another unlikely hero and create a similar story line.  Students good at art can create the illustrations, good writers can collaborate on the text, and others can come up with a way to present it to others such as creating a short movie or using another web based tool.

Book Review - A Step From Heaven

1. Bibliography
Na, An. 2001. A Step from Heaven. Asheville, N. C.: Front Street. ISBN 978188690584.

2. Plot Summary
The story begins with what seems to be a flashback into Young Ju's childhood in Korea. She is four years old and her family is preparing to move to "Mi Gook", America.  The family is very excited to be moving and they decide that America is not heave, but is just "A Step From Heaven." After arriving in America, her parents work hard but have many trial and difficulties.  Though the end of the story is sad because Young Ju's father returns to Korea, leaving the rest of the family to go on as best as they can.  However, there is hope as well as Young Ju pursues "the American dream" by heading off to college.
3. Critical Analysis
 An Na’s tale of poverty, acculturation and abuse is told in first-person present-tense narration. Na uses brief sections that are more like titled anecdotes than chapters. Her inclusion of Korean terms requires the reader to employ the use context clues and possibly some rereading at the beginning but then they become almost unnoticed as the story continues. She also allows the reader to experience what it is like to be in a new situation and not being able to understand what is being said, like when Young Ju first arrived at school.“Tees es Yung,” the witch teacher says. “Wah ko um, Yung,” they say. Through Young Ju’s narratives the reader discovers each character. Her father Apa grows increasingly violent and defensive as he drinks more. Her mother Uhmma tries to make the best of their situation and works hard to keep the family together. Her brother Joon is the long awaited boy who is allowed to do things that would be considered unacceptable for a girl to do. “Young Ju, Apa says, shaking his head. Joon Ho is a boy. It is natural for him to pee outside.” The ongoing coming-of-age theme is intertwined with Young Ju’s struggle of not becoming too American as her parents fear and being ashamed of her family’s situation. But Young Ju is portrayed as an intelligent girl who continues to thrive despite her situation. She receives moral support to succeed from her mother “I am proud of you, Young Ju, Uhmma says, looking down into my eyes. You are a smart girl and someday you will be a smart woman.” And as the story ends, the reader sees her connect with her mother and fully understand where they have come from.

4. Review Excerpts
2001 ALA Best Books For Young Adults  
2001 Booklist Starred: "As in the best writing , the particulars make the story universal."
2001 Horn Book Starred: “Each of these vignettes displays an astonishing and memorable force.”
2001 School Library Journal Starred: “A beautifully written, affecting work."

5. Connections
* Author Interview
* Read other Korean American fiction:
Czech, Jan M. An American Face. ISBN 9780878678183
Lee, Marie G. Finding My Voice. ISBN 9780395621349
Recorvits, Helen. My Name is Yoon. ISBN 9780374351144
Shin, Sun Yung. Cooper’s Lesson. ISBN 9780892391936
Son, John. Finding My Hat. ISBN 9780439435383
*Discussion and writing prompts: 
What, exactly is immigration? What would make a family leave their homeland to seek a new life in another country? What kinds of problems could an immigrant face while building a new life?  What are some of the problems faced by the family in the story? 
Prompt: If your family moved to a foreign country, what challenges would be hardest to face?



 

Book Review - The Underneath

1. Bibliography
Appelt, Kathi. 2008. The Underneath. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. 978-1-4169-5058-5.

2. Plot Summary
A calico cat about to have kittens, hears the lonely howl of a chained-up hound deep in the backwaters of the bayou. She dares to find him in the forest, and the hound dares to befriend this cat, the creature he is supposed to hate. They are an unlikely pair, about to become an unlikely family. Ranger urges the cat to hide underneath the porch, to raise her kittens there because Gar-Face, the man living inside the house, will surely use them as alligator bait should he find them. But they are safe in the Underneath, as long as they stay there.

However, kittens are notoriously curious creatures and one kitten's curiosity sets off a chain of events that is astonishing and enormous in its meaning.  Kathi Appelt spins a harrowing, yet sweet tale about the power of love, and its opposite - hate. The fragility of happiness and the importance of making good on your promises are constant themes in this rich story.  

3. Critical Analysis 

 The Underneath is about friendship, love, hate, sacrifice, revenge, death, and life in all its shades and colors. It is bittersweet, but beautiful. It's sorrows and joys are pure and heartfelt. "There is nothing lonelier than a cat who has been loved, at least for a while, and then abandoned on the side of the road. A small calico cat. Her family, the one she lived with, has left her in this old and forgotten forest, this forest where the rain is soaking into her soft fur."
It is appropriate that Louis Sachar is quoted on the cover – the twin story line format (one ancient, one current) of his outstanding “Holes” is also present in “The Underneath”.  For Appelt, it would seem that words aren’t just words, they’re physical matter. Words can be breathed in, coughed out, and they can roll you over. Words, and the emotions they embody, figure prominently in this story. It has a poetic beauty that is both realistic and mystical, and tells a gripping, suspenseful story that is full of heart. Appelt has written several poetry books, a short story collection, and more than a few picture books.  Her storytelling is powerful, effective, and magically spellbinding.
There is the possibility that this story might be a bit much for children or even young adults.  The subject matter and the manner in which it is presented can bring out raw emotions even in adult readers. The sophisticated style of its descriptions will require a sophisticated reader to appreciate them.  This is probably best for middle school readers, or a rare mature fifth grader.

4. Review Excerpts
2009 Newberry Medal Honor
2009 National Book Award Finalist
2008 Booklist starred: "most children will be pulled forward by the vulnerable pets’ survival adventure and by Small’s occasional, down-to-earth drawings, created with fluid lines that are a perfect match for the book’s saturated setting and Appelt’s ebbing, flowing lyricism."
2009 Horn Book: " this fine book is most of all distinguished by the originality of the story and the fresh beauty of its author's voice -- a natural for reading aloud."

5. Connections
*Read other books by Kathi Appelt: 
978-0-8050-7362-1 My Father's Summers - A Daughter's Memoir
978-0-8050-6978-5 Poems from Homeroom: A Writer's Place to Start
978-0-0602-9135-8 Down Cut Shin Creek
978-0-1520-5127-3 Kissing Tennessee

*Science connection:  study bayous and discuss the features of that biome.
*Writing connection: Allow students to write a passage based on a prompt such as: A great friendship is important because....

 

 

 

Book Review - The Green Glass Sea

1. Bibliography

Klages, Ellen. 2006. The Green Glass Sea. New York: Viking. ISBN: 9780142411490.
2. Plot Summary
The year is 1943 and eleven year old Dewey Kerrigan must travel from St. Louis to Los Alamos, New Mexico all alone.  Her grandmother is in poor health and cannot take care of her, her mother abandoned her as an infant, and her father is working for the government to help with the war effort.  His top-secret work forces Dewey and her father to live at a strange government compound along with other families who are in the same situation.  Dewey, somewhat of a misfit, becomes friends with someone who is almost her polar opposite.  
3. Critical Analysis
In this book, Klages unwraps a fresh, appropriate account of  actual events during World War II that inexplicably disrupted families and placed them in a unique situation.  This presentation brings to readers historical events and difficult situations that the audience might not encounter otherwise.  Descriptions of music and pastimes of Americans during that era, give readers a sense that this book relates real events from the past.  Readers will come away with a clearer understanding of what happened right here in America that impacted the war.  
Klages also presents themes that readers can relate to such as losing a parent, learning to accept those who are different from yourself, and the impact of war on people everywhere.  This text's fresh approach to a fascinating, though almost forgotten, subject, makes it unlike other books available for young adult readers. 
4. Review Excerpts 
Scott O'Dell Award
2007 Horn Book Starred: "History and story are drawn together with confidence in this intense by accessible page-turner."    
2006 Publishers Weekly: "Klages makes an impressive debut with an ambitious, meticulously researched novel set during WWII."
2006 School Library Journal: "Many readers will know as little about the true nature of the project as the girls do, so the gradual revelation of facts is especially effective, while those who already know about Los Alamos's historical significance will experience the story in a different, but equally powerful, way."

5. Connections

*Research WWII and American civilians' contributions.  Present a product and share findings with classmates.

*Read Ellen Klages' sequel, White Sands, Red Menace. Discuss how the author finishes the story and how she might have taken a different approach.

*Author's Website:  http://ellenklages.com/index.html

Book Review - Turtle in Paradise

1. Bibliography

Holm, Jennifer L. 2010. Turtle in Paradise. New York: Random House. ISBN:  978-0-375-83688-6.
2. Plot Summary
Eleven year old Turtle is sent to live with her aunt during the great depression.  During a time when people took any kind of work they could find, Turtle's mother got a job as a housekeeper working for a woman who did not like children.  Turtle's time with her cousins is challenging and adventurous. 
3. Critical Analysis
"Everyone thinks children are sweet as Necco Wafers, but I've lived long enough to know the truth: kids are rotten." From the beginning of this adventurous tale to the end, Jennifer L. Holm engages readers of every age. The characters are completely believable.  Turtle, an eleven year old girl, narrates the story and draws the reader in through the entire tale.  Her cousins, all boys, experience fun and adventure that even children living some eighty years later can think, "they seem like us!" The tone of the story is sometimes somber, portraying the hardships of the Great Depression, but it is frequently punctuated with humor and fun. 
Many children can relate to moving from one city to another so Turtle's move from Pennsylvania to Florida is an obviously huge adjustment for her.  The story's main setting, the Florida Keys, is so intriguing and is presented in such a way that even someone who has not lived near a beach can relate. Though some of the references are exclusive to the time, they are presented in such an authentic manner that the reader knows and understands what is being referred to. This authentic historic fiction is a very enjoyable work and captures the hearts of readers.

4. Review Excerpts
2010 Booklist starred: "Turtle is just the right mixture of knowingness and hope; the plot is a hilarious blend of family dramas seasoned with a dollop of adventure."
2010: Horn Book Starred:  "Though her narrative is peppered with references from the time, modern-day readers will have no trouble relating, and the fast-moving plot will keep them interested to the end."
2010 Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee
5. Connections
Research the 1930s to gain knowledge about something specific about the time such as entertainment, popular foods, or other areas of interest to students and compare them to current trends.
Read other books from the same time period such as The Gawgon and the Boy by Lloyd Alexander. Compare the stories and the writing styles of the two authors.
Write a poem or story about going to a beach.  Conduct research or read other texts in order to gain more information about a beach, if needed.  

Book Review - Pictures of Hollis Woods

 

1. Bibliography

Giff, Patricia Reilley. 2009. Pictures of Hollis Woods [Audiobook, unabridged]. Listening Library. Hope David, Reader. ASIN: B00271Q5NE.  

2. Plot Summary 

Abandoned as a baby and bounced around all her life, Hollis Woods (named after the place where she was found) is an intelligent, artistic girl.  Her insecurities prevent her from loving and allowing herself to be loved.  She learns from each of her situations and eventually finds what she "W" wants, wished for - a family.

3. Critical Analysis

The sound recording, performed by Hope Davis, a professional actress, is the perfect way to experience this touching story.  Davis is able to seamlessly weave in and out of each character so that the reader/listener is able to know the characters at a level that would not be achieved through reading it in a traditional, one voice manner.  The first few chapters give valuable background events that enlighten the reader about where Hollis has been in order to understand the importance of seeing her all the way to the blissful end. Giff artfully describes scenes that Hollis draws using such descriptive language as, sitting "under a lamp that tossed rainbows across the table." Getting to know Hollis, readers understand her fears and regrets, her longings and her hopes and they will undoubtedly root for her to fulfill her dream of belonging to a family.  This moving tale inspires young readers to take ownership of their own actions, to take a step back and view their situation from a new vantage point, and to help others in need.  The way Beatrice and Josie help Hollis gain confidence and to see her situation from a new perspective can help the reader relate this valuable life lesson to his or her own life.  The family that Hollis has always wished for is finally found, helping the reader enjoy the excitement and knowledge that good things can come from bad situations.  

4. Review Excerpts

2002 Kirkus Review Starred:  "This touching story will leave readers pleasantly drained, satisfied with the happy ending, and eager for more about Hollis's future."

2003 Horn Book Starred:  "this is a remarkably well-observed novel"

2003 Newbery Honor/Medal

5. Connections

Lead students at write a passage with a prompt such as: If you moved from family to family, what item would you treasure most?

Discuss how the pictures Hollis draws are described. Instruct students to imagine a special place or event and use words to "draw" it, then share their description with their classmates. 

Research New York to find out about Long Island - where it is exactly, what is there for tourists, etc.  Also, find out about the typical weather patterns for each year and compare their findings to our seasonal weather in Texas.