Module 15: Forever

Title: Forever

Author: Judy Blume

Summary:
This story is about some teenagers who are in the last year of their high school. They're experiencing friendship as they will be graduating soon and now they are planning to attend parties and meeting kids from other schools. Kathryn and Erica are friends who attended a New Years party at Sybil's house with other kids. It was at this party that Kathryn met a boy name Michael Wagner who was from another school and they became friends. Although Kathryn wasn't interested at Michael in the beginning but later went out to dinner and met at special places which brought them closer. They started seeing each other which then led to  dating, finally they became boyfriend and girlfriend and decided that they will always be together forever. Michael straight up front asked Kathryn if he could kiss her, and as their friendship grew Michael wanted to get closer and started touching her in places that she would never thought of. Kathryn had to pull herself away most of the time and that made Michael felt uneasy. Michael started to slow down as he didn't want Kathryn to think that it was the only thing he was after, making love. Each day they would meet and go out to dinner, he would kiss and touch her in ways that she started to want more than just kissing. Michael would always make his moves, and Kathryn felt that maybe should just do it with him. Then one night as they lay next to each other, Michael started removing his clothes and hers, and for the first time she saw his private part and touched it. After that night, they couldn't stay away from the other. Michael would use his sister's apartment or they would go to Kathryn's house after they met for dinner and have each other. One day Kathryn was told by her mother that she was hired to work at the camp. Although Kathryn tried her best not to go, she ended up going and that's where she met Theo, one of the workers at the camp. Her feelings started changing and although she loved Michael, she felt different. At the end, all of the plans that she had made with Michael were postponed, as she was sure she was falling in love with someone else. In discussing her feelings with Michael, there was no way that he could change Kathryn's mind in coming back to him so they decided to break up. Kathryn felt that maybe love wasn't only about making love, but caring for the other individuals feelings that made her decide to leave Michael and stay with Theo.

Biography:
Blume, Judy (1975). Forever. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

My Impression:
I was very surprise when I read this book as I didn't expect this type of genre and the language that was used. I enjoyed the reading and I felt that it could be very useful for older students like high school or young adults. I believe that its a very important subject and it would be difficult for parents to except this type of reading material to be on the library collection. I feel that the author is an individual that is not afraid to express her opinions, and she's very open minded. I would recommend this book as we are given that  choice to choose anything that you would want to read. It would not sit well with parents if they knew that it was in a collection in the elementary schools. Sometimes there are parents who have the hardest time explaining an important issue like this one, so having books can assist in explaining what is the best thing to do when it comes to these types of issues.

Professional Reviews:

Professional Reviews Forever...

Booklist ( October 15, 1988; 9780027110302 )

Katherine and Michael's romance progresses rapidly from kissing to sexual intercourse after Katherine gets the Pill-- but will their love last forever?

From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission. Review retrieve from:  Bowker Books in Print Use in Library: This book will be used in the library as a discussion topic. I will not use this book as a librarian in the elementary school, but in the high school, I will definitely ask the students about their opinions on the matter of sexuality. I will seek the principals advice if it's alright to have a discussion about this issue as I know students might not want to talk about these type of topics. Image retrieve from:   https://www.google.com/search?num=10&hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=568&q=the+book+%22forvever%22&oq=the+book+%22forvever%22&gs_l=img.12...4084.22755.0.27224.25.14.0.11.0.0.389.3211.1j5j6j2.14.0...0.0...1ac.1.wAZbaUiIUfc

Module 14: Dizzy in your eyes: poems about love

Title: Dizzy In Your Eyes: Poems About Love

Author: Pat Mora

Summarize:
This is a special book about various types of poems for students and anyone else in searching for something to read. The message that it brings are deep and emotional for human beings to build strong relationships on. Even individuals who are planning to have families as well as those who are living alone can depend on the readings of this book for comfort. This collection of poems is inviting for various readers, as there are challenging and intriguing to understand. As much as I think that this book is interesting and fun to read, it all depends on the readers and the choices of poems that they like. I would recommend this book though because there are many titles and various topics to choose from.

Biography:
Mora, Pat. (2010). Dizzy in your eyes: Poems about love. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

My Impression:
I'm very impressed with this book of poems because it has a lot of various topics concerning love. Poetry is not really my type of genre, but reading this book really helped me to enjoy what poems are. A reader must really have an open mind and understanding to really except this type of writing. If you really think about the words and how it is written, it will really give you a unique view of what type of people are interested in doing this type of writing. It tells you a story, and if you don't understand you won't be able to enjoy the words and its meaning, so you must have an open mind to be able to see the big picture behind the words.

Professional Review:

Booklist ( November 15, 2009; 9780375945656 )
From family and school to dating and being dumped, the subjects in these 50 poems cover teens' experiences of love in many voices and situations. Several entries incorporate Spanish words and idioms, as in Ode to Teachers, a moving tribute in English with a Spanish translation. A few poems hit a too-sweet tone with forced rhyme, but the best are wry, passionate, casual, and honest ( It's nice having a sister especially when boys come over, / and some of them like you better ). One of the best is Silence, in which a girl speaks about waiting and waiting for her childhood friend to invite her to the prom. Mora writes in free verse, as well as a wide variety of classic poetic forms including haiku, clerihew, sonnet, cinquain, and blank verse and for each form, there is an unobtrusive explanatory note on the facing page. The tight structures intensify the strong feelings in the poems, which teens will enjoy reading on their own or hearing aloud in the classroom.--Rochman, Hazel Copyright 2009 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission. Reviews retrieve from online: Bowker Books in Print Use in the Library: I would utilize this book in the library for every student to read. Each student will be given a poem to read in the class. The librarian will ask each student to write their own poem about love and have them explain it to the class. Images retrieve from:  http://www.amazon.com/Dizzy-Your-Eyes-Poems-about/dp/B006J3WQGI

Module 13: Riding Invisible

Title: Riding Invisible
Author: Sandra Alonzo

Summary:
This is a very interesting long graphic novel genre that tells about a boy name Yancy Aparicio who decides to run away from home with his horse name Shy because of his crazy brother Will. Living at home with his parents was nice up until when Will returned, bad things started happening at home and he would always get the blame from his parents, but he knew it was Will who was doing the damage. Yancy got really upset when he finds out that Shy's tail has been cut by his brother because he didn't give Will any money when he asked for money, yet their parents never say anything to Will. He takes Shy for a long ride into the mountains deciding what else to do so he wouldn't have to go home. They run out of food and drinks, now Yancy need to decide the next move so they can get some food and a place to stay. Yancy is keeping a journal and tries to write everything since day one in it, even the things at home and at school. Finally on day 4 Yancy meets a man name Gustavo Mendoza who works at a farm and trains horses. This man wants to help Yancy but needs to find out what and why he's away from home as he is still young and should be home with his parents. After telling his whole story, Tavo wants him to call home or someone to tell his parents that he is doing fine and not to worry. So Yancy decides to call his neighbor Tim and Eileen and tells them to please relay the message to his parents that he's okay. He meets the owner of the farm that Tavo works for and he gets a job by helping out as Tavo's nephew. Yancy is really happy that now he can afford to buy food and shelter for himself and his horse. After working for some time now Tavo asked Yancy that maybe its time for him to go back home, but Yancy begs Tavo to please let him stay for a little while longer, so Tavo listens and says only for a little while. Yancy remembers his phone is been charged and decides to call home, he listens to his mother calling his name but can't seem to say anything. He even hears his father then he hear his brother Will acting smart on the phone and slowly hangs up. Later on that same evening he calls home again and this time he listens to his mother saying how he should be home where he belongs, then she says how his brother got arrested for shoplifting. She kept ranting on about Will and finally she said that she wasn't worried about Will, she was worried about me because I was not at home. I finally came out and said "mom, I left home because Will was going to kill my horse". Yancy hangs up the phone but could not get his mom off his mind. Although they miss Yancy, things just gets tougher at home with Will, but his parents can't do anything as they try their best to help their troubled son.

Biography:
Alonzo, Sandra. (2011). Riding Invisible. New York, NY: Hyperion Press

My Impression:
I have never really enjoyed reading graphic novels only because they were very long stories to read, but I do love the illustrations of these story books. As I was reading this book, it had a very interesting story line and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I was very impressed with out it was like keeping a personal journal being that the author wrote daily messages of everything that was done on the daily basis. Being that the characters were young, each took their roles very seriously, with one even leaving home to do what he felt he needed to take care of his beloved animal pet the horse. I'm impress with the author expressing herself well in each character.

Professional Reviews:
Booklist
( February 01, 2010; 9781423118985 )

Alonzo's first novel features the sort of likable, embattled narrator that brings to mind Arnold Spirit from Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (2007), but instead of being tormented by negative stereotypes and poverty, 15-year-old Yancy's primary source of misery comes from his nearly sociopathic older brother, Will. The story is told entirely in diary form, complete with a handwriting-styled font and plenty of cartoony drawings (again reminiscent of Alexie's book). After Will, who suffers from conduct disorder, violently threatens Yancy's horse, teen and horse take off into the California desert. There, they encounter a kind Mexican worker, who helps Yancy begin to size up the challenges of living with his brother and the toll that it is taking upon the entire family. Alonzo skillfully handles teetering family dynamics, equestrian details, and the undertones of immigration and class, which add realistic depth. The resolution leaves a bevy of challenges and plenty of food for thought about family dysfunction.--Chipman, Ian Copyright 2010 Booklist

Reviews retrieve from: Bowker Books In Print

Library Use:
I would have students work in groups using this book. I would have each group compare and contrast between the two brothers Yancy and Will.

Image retrieve from:
http://www.readingrants.org/2010/04/10/riding-invisible-by-sandra-alonzo-illustrated-by-nathan-huang/

Module 12: Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein

Title: Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Eeinstein
Author: Don Brown

Summary:
This Bibliography Book of Albert Einstein is very interesting as it talks about some of the things that Albert enjoyed doing when he was a young boy growing up in Germany. Albert Einstein was born in an old city of Ulm, Germany on March 14, 1879. Being the first born, it doesn't sound like his family was happy on the day of his arrival because his grandma was crying, "Much too fat. Much too fat." His mother was afraid that his head was too big, so the doctor had to tell them to wait patiently and all will be well. Although he was cruel to his sister Maja most of the time, he used the time to think about things that he enjoyed like playing and building a house with cards. He loved the compass that his father gave him, as he would always tip it up and down and sideways. They moved to Munich where his parents encourage his independence, and at 4 years old he would wonder the streets alone. He soon started school but he never liked playing sports as some of the boys would taunt and insult him for not participating in the games. He loved school and only enjoyed the subjects that he liked such as math, he didn't care about the other subjects. Once his parents got him a student tutor name Max Talmud. He said that Albert was too smart and later could not follow or keep up. After a while his parents had to move because of business, Albert wasn't able to go because of the laws in Germany saying that he had to serve in the military, and as much as he hated it, he was left behind to finish his school and serve the army. Late on he joins his parents and continues school graduating and then looking for work. He marries and becomes a father, but even with that he continues to be more interested in constellations, space, energy and matter. Einstein worked and earned great awards such as the Noble Prize. He was popular then and he's still very popular and famous today. He died in New Jersey in 1555, they say the doctor who performed the autopsy t determine the cause of death-heart failure-made off with his brain and kept it in a jar for more than forty years.

Biography:
Brown, Don. (2004). Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company

My Impression:
This book was very entertaining been that its illustrations were a bit comical and humorous. I enjoyed how the author expresses his thoughts and creates various text explaining the way he felt about things that made him excited and valiant. He never let anyone stand in his way of what he wanted to do. His focus of how he could make a change enabled him to withdraw from the normal things that young boys wanted to do and concentrate on solving problems that were very difficult. I believe that because his parents allowed him to wonder on the streets at a very young age encouraged him to take charge. He wasn't afraid of trying new things, and because of that his interest took him beyond his imaginations of solving difficult problems. I'm very impressed with Albert Einstein and the life that he lived.

Professional Review:
Booklist
( September 01, 2004; 9780618492985 )

Gr. 3-5. Young readers won't come away from Brown's newest picture-book biography understanding the theory of relativity, but they will be heartened by the parallels between their own experiences and those of an iconic science guy. The author-illustrator of Mack Made Movies 0 (2003) and other books presents the future Nobel Prize winner as a sallow, sunken-eyed little boy who lingers on the sidelines as other boys roughhouse, spends hours building a house of cards "fourteen stories high," and vexes his teachers (one tells him that "he would never get anywhere in life"). Brown's language dips into vagueness when it's time to describe the mature scientist's contributions, and the accompanying artwork is often disappointingly generic, awkwardly incorporating computer-generated elements that overwhelm the delicate ink-and-watercolor style used elsewhere. Still, this joins Frida Wishinsky's What's the Matter with Albert? 0 (2002) as one of the very few picture-book biographies of Einstein available. Try giving it to older elementary students, who will get the most out of the detailed author's note and bibliography featuring many books for adults. --Jennifer Mattson Copyright 2004 Booklist

Reviews retrieve from online:
Bowkers Books in Print

Use in Library:
I will have students work individually doing research on Albert Einstein. They will write about what made Einstein famous and compare it with other classmates. Teacher and students can discuss and learn from one another.

Image retrieve from:
http://jillianflick.wordpress.com/2010/11/01/odd-boy-out-by-don-brown/

Module 11: What Does It Mean To Be Green?

Title: What does it mean to be green

Author: Rana DiOrio

Summary:
This informational book is very interesting, as the author expresses the meaning of how important green thing are. The reaction of people toward things that are green, does it mean for a person to love the green plants, riding around and felling sick in the car. Do we have to be a frog, pickle or an alien to know that green means. This informational book is saying that to be green we have to utilize electricity only when we need it. People need to buy more local food, especially the ones that we grow ourselves because chemicals are not used when we grow them. People need to realize the exercising is good for the health so walking places is much better than driving in a car. Using plastic containers to pack our food or lunch when ever we take food to work, picnics or other places instead of using paper plates. People need to realize how important it is not to litter anywhere, picking up the rubbish when we see it along side the road, at the beaches and parks. Putting and placing recycling bottles, plastics, and paper in its proper place. When it rains, save water in a bin so it could be used to shower, brushing teeth instead of turning on the water hose,or living on, and not wasting paper by using both sides instead of one side. Whenever we have more clothes than what we really need, pass them down or give them away to those who need clothes. Being green is doing whatever we can to protect the earth's precious resources.

Biography:
DiOrio, Rana. (2010). What Does It Mean To Be Green. New York, NY: Little Pickle Press.

My Impressions:
I really loved and enjoyed reading this informational book because of its interesting illustrations and the powerful message it is saying to the people. The author expresses very important issues and various ways of how the people can help save the environment and care for their surroundings, as well as helping others in sharing some of the things we have with those who are not so fortunate. The adults and the children will surely enjoy this short book but strong message it brings.

Professional Review:


Reviews:

Used in the Library:
This is a great book to utilize in the library for children to have a short skit play and discussions on the subject. Students will have a part to play so they will understand how important it is to save some of the most important things that we sometimes take for granted such as water, clothes, and food. Discussion about the earth's environment will be discussed and questions will be answered.

Image retrieve from:
http://www.google.com/imgres?num=10&hl=en&tbo=d&biw=1203&bih=551&tbm=isch&tbnid=P8CSfBEZzb5wGM:&imgrefurl=http://info.littlepicklepress.com/download-our-being-green-lesson-plans/&docid=BbzsV0dgfY3SBM&imgurl=http://info.littlepicklepress.com/Portals/119538/images/Green-Book.jpg

Module 10: What I Saw and How I Lied

Title: What I Saw and How I Lied

Author: Judy Blundell

Summary:
This historical fiction book was very interesting, not because it had anything to do with history but because of the twisted turn in how the events took place. This storyline begins with Evie and her friend Margie buying candy cigarettes so they could practice smoking. Evie and her mother Beverly now live with her new step father Joe and his mother Gladys. Joe was leaving for the military and insisted that they move in and stay with his mother. When Joe got back from the military he wanted to take his wife to a trip where they could relax and enjoy themselves, so Joe decided to take his family to Palm Beach. When they arrived at the hotel it was closed, and so they continued on until they came to another hotel that was lighted with a sign that read "Welcome to the Le Mirage Hotel." They went in and saw a couple of people but later found out that no one came to the hotel in the fall. One evening I heard noise outside my window, when I looked it was a group of girls going out dancing all dressed up in evening gowns. Mother wasn't around and I quickly went to her closet to see if there was something I could find that would fit me. My mother and Mrs. Grayson came up just in time to see and with all the commotion they helped me get ready and I left. As I walk in the room there was dancing and people sipping punch, I had wanted to disappear because high school girls were now staring. I noticed the ugliest boy in the room is looking straight at me and wanted to dance with me because no one else in the room had wanted to dance with him. It was none other than the boy that work at our hotel name Wally. I quickly put down my drink and left the dance, and went back to the hotel and sat by the pool, that's where I saw him. He was handsome with dark blonde hair. He came over and asked me to dance, at first I hesitated but when he asked again I put my hand in his. I felt different, it was like a dream and the next day I wondered if it was real, would I ever see him again. I was falling in love with him, and his name was Peter, not know that he and my mother had something going, until the day that they decided to take the boat out. At first I wasn't happy with the decision that my mother and Joe made with Peter that they would go fishing. I don't know what happened exactly but that morning when the storm hit there was no news on my mother, Joe and Peter. I was worried for my parents but mostly for Peter because I had fallen in love with him and hoped for him to come back to me. We had to evacuate from the hotel and Evie was taken to Officer Deary's house to stay with his wife Twyla. There was still no news about her parents and Peter yet until later the next day Officer Deary arrived in wet, grimy and exhausted to tell Evie that her parents have been found but not Peter. Although Evie was happy for her parents she could not stop thinking the worst for Peter, did he fall over board or what, she wondered. A couple of days later as Evie and her parents were getting ready to leave they were stopped by Officer Deary, he had told them that Peters body was located and they needed to be questioned because he was found dead. Although Joe and Beverly were exonerated because Evie had lied in court for the sake of her mother, Evie believes that her step-father Joe had planned the whole charade and had Peter killed.

Biography:
Blundell, Judy. (2008). What I Saw and How I Lied. New York, NY: Scholastic Press

My Impression:
My impression on the story line of this book was very interesting because from the beginning Evie had always loved her mother and was very close to her. It must have been very hard for Evie to have fallen in love with someone for the very first time, yet she later finds out that it was her mothers lover. I'm sure it was hard but because she loves her mother more, she was willing to take the stand and lie about everything she knew and saw, but even with that she had also loved Joe. Yet she made sure at the end that Joe wouldn't get anything he thought he was going to get, especially the money. Evie being young, she surely grew up fast with all the events that happened so fast in such a short time.

Professional Reviews:

School Library Journal
( April 01, 2010; 9780545160919 )

Gr 9 Up-It's 1947 and Evie's stepfather Joe has returned home to Brooklyn after World War II. Life is slowly returning to normal, until the devastatingly handsome Peter Coleridge appears, looking for his old war buddy. Joe, obviously upset by Peter's appearance, decides to take Evie and her mother on a vacation to West Palm Beach, Florida. Evie's family quickly makes friends with another New York City couple, the Graysons, and Joe and Mr. Grayson begin to make business plans. Then Peter appears and Evie, who is almost 16, begins falling in love with him. She doesn't find it easy to spend time with him because her mother accompanies them everywhere. Tensions mount as Joe's hatred for Peter and her mother's infatuation with the younger man grow and put Evie in the middle of something she does not understand. When tragedy strikes and Peter disappears during a sailing expedition with her parents, Evie must determine who is lying and what is the truth in order to save her family. Judy Blundell's National Book Award winner (Scholastic, 2008) translates well to the audio format, with Caitlin Greer perfectly capturing Evie's voice in this intricate coming-of-age novel that is compelling blend of romance, adventure, mystery, and historical fiction.- Janet Hilbun, Texas Women's University, Denton (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Reviews from Bowkers Books in Print

Use in Library:
Being that its a historical fiction book, I would have the students write an essay about their own conclusion of the characters.

Image from: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/sample/read/9780439903486

Module 9: Paper Daughter

Title: Paper Daughter
Author: Jeanette Ingold

Summary:
This story is about a journalist name Steven Chen who while working on a story for the newspaper was killed by a hit and run car that was never located. His daughter Maggie Chen who is now an intern for the Herald Newspaper is  seeking for his real identity as she finds out a lot of missing and false information about her father that he created himself. The school that he attended has no record of him and the one friend Mr. Bill Ames that he went to school with have no idea where he came from and cannot remember if he has any family members who live close by. The only lead Maggie has are some old photos of her father that he kept in his file, but even that she wasn't sure if any answers would come out of it. While working with her partner Harrison on a very important story, the case on her father re-opens up again because of the way he died. Thinking that her father was in trouble and would be involved with criminal and bribery, Maggie sets out to find the truth and look for reasons of why he was killed at an area that he wasn't even familiar with. She's confused and can't believe why her father would make up lies and not tell her and her mother the real truth about his family and where he came from. She believes that her father had lived in California and have traced back his roots with the Chinese immigrants, so her searches take her to the Chinese down town area. She finally comes up with clues that leads her to Mr. Li's house asking him for help. Although he can't help her at first she returns a second time with photos of a girl that somehow resembles herself. She receives a call from Jillian, a friend and also an intern at the same place of work telling her that her dad has been cleared, and that it was someone else that was being blackmailed. Maggie is relieved to hear the good news, as shes still standing there before Mr. Li, he decides to finally tell her everything he knows. When she gets home she tells her mother everything and they both decide to invite Mr. Li and his nephew along with his parents. Maggie have come to know that Mr. Li is indeed her great grand-father, and is very happy not only for herself but also for her proud father. She and Jillian are planning to go on a shopping spree for bathing suits so they could go on a vacation with her other friends Bett and Aimee.

Biography:
Ingold, J. (2010). Paper Daughter. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing

My Impression:
I was very impressed with this story line as this story took me back to how people especially immigrants from other countries were treated very badly and so it made them want to leave their country. Leaving behind parents and children for better life elsewhere. I admired how this hardworking Chinese man wanted to make a better living for himself, his wife and daughter, but still wanted to find out where he came from. The author tells a great story line of how even though Mr. Chen had a good job and raised a good family still had the urgency to try and look for his parents. Example: Here in our Island we have a lot of the Western Samoan people come for 3 days permit to visit their families or for business meetings, sometimes they would just come to do shopping, but when they get here they decide to stay. Their documents are not done properly and they end up not wanting to go back. The only problem will be for these individuals not to get into any trouble or create any problems because if it does happen, immigration or police will be called in and they will get caught, especially if they are over stayers. These people come here to American Samoa to work so they can take care of their families back in Western Samoa. I liked how Maggie wanted to clear her fathers name, doing a lot of searching yet at the end was able to meet the family that her father always wanted to meet.

Professional Review:

Voice of Youth Advocates
( October 01, 2010; 9780152055073 )

Historical fiction, mystery, and realistic fiction weave together to create an enjoyable read in Paper Daughter. Maggie Chen is a teenage girl coping with the recent death of her father, a summer internship at a local newspaper, and a local political crime that creates questions about her identity. As Maggie begins dealing with each of these events, the world as she knows it starts to unravel. Her father was a noted reporter with an impressive educational pedigree, or so she thought. Although Maggie is Chinese American, she knows little about what happened to the Chinese as they immigrated to Seattle in the early 1900s. Her investigation into the political crime and the hit-and-run death of her father parallel her discovery of his real life as an orphan; her great grandfather, a paper son, whom she never knew; and a glimpse into their history. This glimpse helps Maggie understand her heritage, herself, and her family a little better. Jeanette Ingold does an excellent job of weaving these stories together and making it seem as though they could be happening today. This is an enjoyable read with a wealth of information about the history of Chinese Americans. The author's notes and Internet sources are assets to the reader. This would make a good book club or novel study book.-Lona Trulove.

Review retrieve from:
Bowker Books in Print

Use in Library:
I would use this book in the library for students to have an open discussion on ethnic groups. Discuss why do some people leave their countries and families to go elsewhere. History and culture are also important issues where other people cannot leave, which is more important.  

Image from: http://www.jeanetteingold.com/

Module 8: Insurgent

Title: Insurgent

Author: Veronica Roth

Summary:
This is an extra ordinary story line that elaborates on characters seeking for revenge in order to eliminate enemies that have been trying to break their factions and to completely destroy what is left. Tris Prior must never let her guard down or she will lose everything that she has worked hard for. Working and disguising herself under the Abnegation factor, Tris must make the right choice in choosing who to trust so she can find out the real reason why her father died. Mocked as a Dauntless traitor she maintains a close relationship with her boyfriend Tobias. Although she can't really rely on anyone for information, she rally's on her strength and power to seek out those who want to take over the entire world. With many obstacles along the way, Tris decides to confront those whom she feels are waiting to destroy their faction by starting a war. Jeanine, the leader of the Erudite faction has planned to destroy other factions by starting a war so she could gain the power and rule the world. While entering one of the rooms, Tris is confronted by a replica of herself and decides that the only thing do to was to get rid of it in order to survive. She aims, she shoots and it drops dead. In the meantime an altercation breaks out between Tori and Jeanie, and Tori ends up stabbing Jeanine with a knife that was tucked in her boots. It is believed that a video was located and everyone who were listening now knows the truth. Tris and her friends continue to fight for what is right. Tris understands that she must help those who are trying to survive, to bring peace, comfort, and freedom.

Biography:
Roth, Veronica. (2012). Insurgent. New York, NY: Katherine Tegen Books.

My Impressions:
I am very impressed with this book because not only the author is young but her story line is great. Her imagination that she puts in her work is tremendously expressed throughout the characters that she uses. Ms. Roth has released another captivating story tantalizing her audiences with a unique writing style of suspense and thrilling actions in surviving the torments of war. The readers will enjoy reading this story especially as the main character is a girl. I would recommend this book for the young adults as they would truly have a better understanding of how the author has written utilizing teens and young adults as the main characters in her book. It was quite a long story, but I enjoyed reading it.

Professional Review:
Booklist
( March 15, 2012; 9780062024046 )

While the hugely popular Divergent (2011) welcomed dystopian fans of every stripe with its irresistable concept and hybridization of genres, this sequel is more for hard-core fans a good thing if you're a devotee but a bit overwhelming for fence-riders. Rocked by the recent simulation war, the five factions engage in increasingly dangerous power plays to pick up the pieces. Tris and her love, Tobias, both daredevils of the Dauntless faction, are key players in these skirmishes, most of which focus upon the fiendishly logical Erudites and almost all of which are complicated by backstabbers and turncoats. It remains a great deal of fun to watch these cliques-taken-to-extremes duke it out with their various strengths and weaknesses, and Roth delivers the goods when it comes to intense, personal violence (no superpowers to be found here) and compelling set pieces (as when Tris undergoes a public truth serum interrogation). Newcomers, and even some old hands, might get buried under all the transposable characters and faction minutia, but those who stick it out will be rewarded with quite the cliff-hanger HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Divergent was the kind of best-seller juggernaut debut authors dream of. With high-profile movie rights already sold, you can bet you'll see this sequel on everyone's must-read list.--Kraus, Daniel Copyright 2010 Booklist

Retrieve from: Bowker Books in Print

Use In Library Setting:
Being that this is a very long book, I will divide the class into groups of two. I will give them a chapter to read and present to the class. That way they will have a better understanding of the story and than have a class discussion every time a group is done presenting their chapter. Students will be able to ask questions about the characters in each chapter presented.

Image from:
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Module 7: There's a boy in the girls' bathroom

Title: There's A Boy In The Girls' Bathroom
Author: Louis Sachar

Summary:
Bradley is the biggest boy in his class, he sits way in the back of the class, no one wants to sit by him, as he doesn't have any friends. No one in his school and his class wants to be friends with him, and he doesn't want to make friends with anyone. He goes to school everyday but doesn't do his homework, and his teacher seem to not say much to him because he always has an excuse or make up stories about why his parents never show up for teacher/parent meetings. His father doesn't tolerate Bradley's behavior but his mother tends to do what ever he wants. His sister is a smarty pants that always wants to know what is Bradley up to. Until one day a new boy name Jeff enters the classroom and is pointed to sit by Bradley, which he doesn't mind. They become friends after a while but end up fighting because of bad stories circulating in school. But when the word gets out that a boy was in the girls bathroom, and Bradley finds out it's Jeff, he thinks it's cool and they become friends again. Finally the new school has a new counselor name Carla, and she accepts and becomes a friend of Bradley even though he didn't want to in the beginning. Because Bradley has a lot of problems he is told that he must go and see his counselor and get help by telling her what he needs and why he doesn't do any homework. Things take a turn for the good and slowly Bradley changes his ways, he starts greeting people, and even become friends with some boys that use to beat him up, he tries to do his homework but ends up ripping the paper and trashing it because he couldn't see himself turning it in. Only Carla sees that he's trying really hard at first, and she's the only one that tells him what he wants to hear. So now Bradley is a bit confuse because he's beginning to fall in love, well at least he thought he was. As other students were seeing Carla, parents started to complain and a meeting was held as parents wanted to remove the counselor saying that she was feeding their children with wild ideas. Bradley's meetings with Carla always turned out positive even if Bradley was angry, but he always enjoyed talking to her. Finally, Carla told him that she was moving to a new school that needed her assistance. Bradley was angry and walked out, but before he left she asked him for help in packing and moving her things. Bradley never showed up on that day, but soon as he remembered he ran all the way to her office but she was already gone. He was surprise the next day when he went to school, he saw next to his name were stars that the teacher had placed there. He wondered what were the stickers for and came to find out that Carla had turned in his book report to the teacher. Now all he wanted to do was thank her for it, and that he did by writing her a letter.

Biography:
Sachar, L. (1987). There's a boy in the girls' bathroom. United States: Random House Children's Books.

My Impression:
I was very familiar with this type of situation, so my impression was "okay! I know the type of student this boy is because there are so many students just like him in our own classrooms. Bradley's case is very popular even today as we find students go to school but don't like doing homework only because they don't understand. There are students out there that can't ask questions because they're shy. Sometimes kids think that if they ask question other students think they're stupid, so they sit and don't do anything. Using myself an example when I first started taking courses at the college. I haven't been to school since I graduated so everything seemed new again. I sat in my math class, I couldn't understand what the teacher was saying, even when he was working out the problems. I went home not knowing what to do, so I ended up not doing anything. It went on for days until I finally decided that if I don't do anything I will fail, and I won't be able to graduate. I started asking my children for help and slowly I started to understand, but my son always told me "mom, just ask it's the only way you can understand, because sometimes there are different ways of solving them". I had no choice but to ask, so I waited until everyone left and then I went to see the teacher. Everyday after that things started to get better, I never got an A but I was able to pass which is all I needed was a passing grade. Bradley just needed to find the right person to talk to and I think that's where Carla came in. She always said the things that he needed to hear, making him feel comfortable and just listening was all Bradley needed. It's a good story line and a very familiar problem that can help others in true life.

Professional Review:

School Library Journal ( April 01, 1987; 9780394985701 ) Gr 4-7 An unlikely protagonist, Bradley Chalkers is a friendless, lying, insecure bully who is the oldest boy in his fifth-grade class. In this humorous novel that tells of Bradley's learning to like himself and to make friends, Sachar ably captures both middle-grade angst and joy. Bradley's triumph comes through the friendship of a new boy at school and the help of the new school counselor. Readers, like the astute counselor, can see the strengths that Bradley has, and will cheer at his minor victories and cringe at his setbacks along the way. The story is unusual, witty, and satisfying, if not always believable: a few incidents just do not work. For instance, even though Bradley has not been doing his homework, his complete ignorance of it is unlikely (``He hadn't realized. . .he would need to bring his book home''), and his total unfamiliarity with birthday parties is too extreme for a ten year old, even one who hadn't been to a party in three years. Yet Bradley's need for acceptance even as he holds back from classmates who might mock or hurt him is genuine, and his eventual success will gratify readers. David Gale, ``School Library Journal'' (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution
Retrieve from:
http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:4874/DetailedView.aspx?hreciid=|5561956|6706850&mc=USA
Bowkers Books in Print Use in Library Setting: I would love to utilize this book in a short skit where students can witness how bullying and not doing homework is not a good thing. Students learn faster when they actually get up and play a character. Students can take turns playing the part of Bradley and Jeff, then the class can have a discussion to decide if the teacher can pass you without turning in any homework. Image from: http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Module 7: Olive's Ocean

Title: Olive's Ocean

Author: Kevin Henkes

Summary:
 Olive's Ocean is a book about a girl name Martha who receives a letter from the mother of a dead girl name Olive who was in her class but have never met or talked to her. Martha is surprised by the early morning visit, and after getting the letter she finds a quiet place and read the note. After reading the letter, shes feeling awkward and wishes that if only Olive was alive they could be really become good friends. Martha and her family plan a vacation that they normally do every year to visit her grand mother. This is the trip that will also give her the chance to see the boy that she likes, and to find the opportunity to tell her family especially her father that she wants to be a writer. She is also aware as she finds out that Olive also wanted to be a writer as well as an individual that loved the ocean. Martha and her grandma decide that they would tell each other things that are important matters to one another, but grandma sees that Martha is holding back so much and wished that her grand-daughter is up-front with her feelings. The beach is beautiful as always and she gets excited as she knows soon she will be seeing Jimmy Manning, the boy she likes. Although she kept herself busy, she couldn't help but think about Olive, so she decide to take something back for her, and because the loved the ocean she decided that she was going to take a bottle of water (ocean). She finally runs into Jimmy and they go for a walk, even taking pictures. She allows Jimmy to take a picture of them kissing, and he tells her that he will be using it to show his friends. Martha tries hard to get the film but Jimmy jokingly laughs it off which leaves Martha all pissed off. As the vacation comes to an end, she finds out that Jimmy isn't the one she likes, it's his brother Tate, and he tells her that he had always liked her since the first time they met. Martha and her family start packing to go back home, she makes sure she has everything packed, especially the jar of water for Olive's mom. Martha feels good about herself, especially after finally telling her father that she wanted to be a writer. She starts to miss her grandmother wishes that they could stay longer, but she realizes that they all needed to go home. It's time to leave and she doesn't hear anything from Tate, but when the car pulls out they see someone running towards their car, they come to find out it's Tate. The car stops and he gives her a letter, she is so happy. Soon as they arrive home, she takes the jar of water out and runs to find Olive's house. She gets there and finds out from the landlord that she had moved. So she gets the bottle of water and writes Olive's name on the cement stairs pausing to say her good-bye. She walks away and starts to run all the way home.

Bibliography:
Henkes, K. (2003). Olive's Ocean. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.

My Impression:
I had a very different impression on this story book aside from the other books that I had read, maybe because I was a bit thrown off because the characters weren't even friends. I mean it's pretty hard thinking about someone that you don't even know, yet you get a letter saying that you were the nicest person and wished you were friends. I find that the author had to really think deep for a good writing story line, as her main character Martha felt really sorry and wished that somehow if Ocean was alive, they could really have gotten to be good friends. After meeting Olive's mother and getting that letter, Martha took the news really hard. Sometimes we don't pay too much attention to the people around us, we don't take the time to say hello because there's so much things in our mind, yet we forget that there are others who need more help than we do. Olive was a loner, having only her mother and moving to a new school with no friends to talk to or play with. I think she Olive had her own connection with Martha, being that she loved the ocean, and also wanted to be a writer. So seeing Martha in class, maybe the way she smiled gave Olive hope that she would be a good friend. Thinking about Martha, I would have been really surprised to get a letter from someone that I don't even know, then to find out that they died, I would have felt really awful too. I think what Martha did was great, getting something for Olive and putting a closure so she wouldn't feel as bad as she did. It was a really nice gesture, the bottle of water (ocean).

Professional Review:
Booklist starred (September 1, 2003 (Vol. 100, No. 1))Gr. 5-8. More than anything Martha wants to be a writer. The problem is that her father does, too. Is there room for two writers in a single family? This is only one of the many questions that beg to be answered during Martha's twelfth summer. Here are others: Is Godbee, the paternal grandmother whom the family is visiting at Cape Cod, dying? Why is Martha's father so angry? Could Jimmy, the eldest of the five neighboring Manning brothers, be falling in love with her (and vice-versa)? And what does all this have to do with Olive, Martha's mysterious classmate, who died after being hit by a car weeks earlier? Olive, who also wanted to be a writer and visit the ocean, and hoped to be Martha's friend. Like Henkes'Sun and Spoon (1997), this is another lovely, character-driven novel that explores, with rare subtlety and sensitivity, the changes and perplexities that haunt every child's growing-up process. He brings to his story the same bedrock understanding of the emotional realities of childhood that he regularly displays in his paradigmatically perfect picture books. This isn't big and splashy, but its quiet art and intelligence will stick with readers, bringing them comfort and reassurance as changes inevitably visit their own growing-up years.

Retrieve from:
http://www.flr.follett.com/search?SID=c7ba9e1be57b0b4ee5073c3401c6af0d

Use in Library Setting;
I would ask the students to collect things from the beach and ocean such as sand, shells, bottle of water (ocean), anything dealing with the beach or ocean. Students will get up and talk about what they have collected.

Image from:
http://www.google.com/imgres?num=10&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=568&tbm=isch&tbnid=4fXEcVf4HUduOM:&imgrefurl=http://www.carolhurst.com/titles/olivesocean.html

Module 6: Dear Mrs. Larue: Letters from obedience school

Title: Dear Mrs. Larue: Letters from obedience school

Author: Mark Teague

Summary:
This is a really funny book about a dog name Ike. Mrs. Larue who owns the dog decides to send him to the Igor Brotweiler Canine Academy because she was fed up with him. Ike did a lot of things that Mrs. Larue didn't like, and what made it worse was he pulled her down and tore her coat while she was crossing the street. Ike starts writing letters to Mrs. Larue telling her about all the bad things that he was going through. He wanted Mrs. Larue to come and pick him up, but she never went. Ike writes another letter telling her that he was been treated badly and that he was going to be sick. Ike continues to write and mentions that she needed him to assist her with chores and other things that needed to be done. He finally writes and tells how bad they're treating him and he's sick and is diagnosed with a really bad disease. He gets a get well card, but is really surprised that she's not there to get him so now he's thinking of breaking out (running away). Mrs. Larue learns from reading the Gazette paper that Ike has escape the doggy detention. Soon after the escape she receives another letter stating that he was coming home. To everyone's surprise he arrive just in time to save his owner Mrs. Larue who went to town to purchase a new coat wasn't looking at both sides of the street when suddenly was knock off to the side of the road  before being run down by a delivery truck. Mrs. Larue was so happy that she threw the biggest party for her dog name Ike.

Biography:
Teague, M.(2002). Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from obedience School. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.

My Impressions:
This is a great book for children. I love the illustrations of how Ike is writing his letters telling her everything that is happening to him. He doesn't give up even when she doesn't write him in the beginning. From what he's telling her I can tell Ike is a smart dog, it's what got him in trouble in the first place. The best thing was that it was Ike who saved Mrs. LaRue, his actions really gave the old lady no choice but to take him back. Ike saved her life and she was very thankful for that. Example: We do things that we regret and later get punish for repeating the same mistake over and over, but its hard for us to apologize for what we did wrong. Ike from the beginning knew what he did wrong and started apologizing to Mrs. LaRue. He also ran away but ended up going home, naturally for us we would never go back home. This story has a good moral lesson that we could all learn from.

Professional Review:
Section: Multimedia Review

Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Disobedience School. CD. 12:26 min. with paperback book. Scholastic Audiobooks. 2011. ISBN 978-0-545-31537-1. $18.99.

K-Gr 3--David de Vries presents Marc Teague's sad tale (Scholastic, 2002) of poor Ike LaRue with vim and glee. Falsely accused of being a "bad dog," Ike is sent to reform…er…obedience school. In heart-wrenching letters, he describes his ordeal, pleading his case. C'mon, those cats weren't REALLY hurt. And that whole barking thing? Completely overblown. Teague's drab illustrations show the miserable life the pooch is leading, while full-color insets imply that all is not as bad as the pooch insists. A daring escape leads to an equally amazing rescue and Ike is welcomed home. The narrator goes delightfully over the top, using the first-person narrative of the letters to project Ike's rascally personality. Background music reflects the tone of the text, and occasional sound effects add just the right touch. Children can enjoy the presentation while perusing the detailed and amusing illustrations. This will make a nice listening center, and would be a good choice while teaching "point of view."

~~~~~~~~

By Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA

---

Source: School Library Journal, November 2011, Vol. 57 Issue 11, p65, 2p
Item: 525911466

Use in Library Setting:

This book would be really good to use in the library setting for a skit play by the students, especially for the little children. Students can take turns to play the character of Ike, as they will learn how important is it to writing letters when you're in trouble. Students can create a list of how you can disobey and obey, and discuss it with the librarian.

Image from:

 http://www.google.com/imgres?num=10&hl=en&biw=1219&bih=513&tbm=isch&tbnid=PhGuWkcbOCLucM:&imgrefurl=http://www.publishersweekly.com

Module 5: Forged By Fire

Title: Forge by Fire

Author: Draper, Sharon M.

Summary:
Forge by Fire is about a little boy name Gerald. He's been brought up with a mother that can't live without drugs. Most of the time he's left at home to fend for himself unless his aunt is called by some neighbors that the little boy is at home all by himself. Although his mother loves him, he's abused but understands that what his mama says he must obey or else he will deal with the consequences. Until one day, she leaves him at home to go to the store. He looks for something to do to keep himself from getting bored while he waits for his mother to return. He finds a lighter and flicks it on, it catches on the curtain and starts spreading until its too late. Gerald wakes up in the hospital, his mother is taken in by the police for questioning and after that he learns that he will now live with his aunt Queen for a long time. He becomes a very dependable young man and is a big help to his aunt. One day he gets terrifying news that his mother is out of jail and  wants to come and visit him. At first he says no, but his aunt talks him into just seeing his mother at least once. The day finally comes when she shows up at their house with a man and a little girl whom he later learns it's his half sister. Sometime later, aunt Queen has a heart attack and dies, and now Gerald has no where to go but to his mother. Years past he learns to love his sister and accepts his mother again, but not his step-father. He doesn't want to have anything to do with him. Gerald finds out that his sister has been afraid of their step-father when she was younger, and she is even more scared now than before. He tries to protect Angel as much as he can and notices that Jordan looks at Angel in weird ways that he doesn't understand. He tries to get Angel to tell him what is going on but always she shy's away and doesn't say anything until one day he comes home and finds Angel crying. She tells him what happened and he gets angry and wants to beat Angel up but can't confront him. He pleads with his mother to leave Jordan but Monique doesn't want to believe anything he says. One day Gerald confronts Mr. Washington about what has been happening with Angel and Jordan, and the man tells Gerald to let him know if it happens again. Jordan is caught trying to do nasty things to Angel and is sent to prison. Monique starts falling apart and the children become stronger in getting their family to get back up again. Finally, as Gerald was on his way home from a basketball game he felt uneasy and decided to run home cause he knew Angel was at home with Jordan. As he was running he could smell smoke and thought back on what happened the night he was caught in the fire of their apartment. When he got closer home he saw the smoke and ran up the flight of stairs quickly. He was yelling for Angel but did not get any replies from her, he busted the door to her room and saw Jordan trying to move towards Angel. He yelled out to Jordan "don't touch her you pervert", don't you know there's a fire. When everything was cleared, the fireman found Jordan dead by the door. Gerald and Angel were taken to the hospital with Monique riding with them in the ambulance. They will all become stronger and live a better life.

Biography:
Draper, M. S. (1997). Forged  By Fire. New York, NY: Simon Pulse.

My Impression:
This is truly an inspirational story of a young man that has been through so much as a little boy, and even growing up as a young man. As a young boy Gerald was living with his mother, most of the time he spent alone, eating what ever he could find. Sometimes as he waited for his mother to come home, with a full loaded pamper, he never knew what to expect. She would be in a good mood, she would blow up when he bothered her at the wrong time, but she was still the beautiful angel, his mommy. This story is sad, at the same time full of excitement because his character at a very young age of abusive and left alone only made  him stronger. Gerald was a very determined young man, who only wanted to find happiness. His life as a young boy was not pleasant, always having a hard time in life. I like how he never gave up especially when he met his half sister and knowing how she was been treated by their step-father. I would have just left and didn't care, but he decided to do something about it. A lot of children would have turned out bad, but Gerald was able to pull himself up and still be strong for his mother and sister.

Professional Review:

Booklist ( February 15, 1997; 9780689806995 )
Gr. 7^-10. Gerald Nickelby, a minor character in Tears of a Tiger (1994), emerges full-fledged and courageous in this companion story. His stable life with a firm but loving aunt (who is caring for him while his mother serves a prison sentence for child neglect) is shattered when his mother returns to claim him on his ninth birthday. With her is a young daughter, Angel, to whom Gerald is drawn, and her husband, Jordan, whom Gerald instinctively dislikes. When Gerald learns that Jordan is sexually abusing Angel, he risks physical assault and public embarrassment to rescue her. Although written in a more conventional form than the earlier novel, the dialogue is still convincing, and the affection between Angel and Gerald rings true. With so much tragedy here (the car crash and death of Gerald's friend Rob in Tears are again recounted, though Draper, thankfully, stops before Andy Jackson's suicide), there is some danger of overloading the reader. Nevertheless, Draper faces some big issues (abuse, death, drugs) and provides concrete options and a positive African American role model in Gerald. --Candace Smith
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission. Review: Use in Library Setting: This book will be used in the library as a group discussion. Librarian will have students work in groups depending on how many students in the class. Each group will list the many ways of getting help and discuss with other groups what other assistance children are given in cases like this. Image retrieve from: http://www.walmart.com/ip/368418

Module 5: Bud, Not Buddy

Title: Bud, Not Buddy
Author: Christopher Paul Curtis

Summary:
Bud, Not Buddy is a story about a ten year old boy that was left behind by his mother when she passed. When he was told by a caseworker that he would be leaving to go and stay with the Amoses, he didn't budge because he was so familiar with how the system worked. While living with the Amoses he found out that he didn't like how he was being treated by their son Todd and his mother. He decides to runaway to look for his father, well at least its what he thought, his fathers picture was on the flyers that were in his small suitcase. His mother never mentioned anything about who his real father was and he never understood why. After walking for a long time, he runs into Bugs, one of his friends and they go off together until the day they tried to catch the train. The police showed up and people were running away trying to get on the train, Bugs was able to jump on the train but Bud missed it. So he was now on his own again. After a long walk a man sees him on the highway and stops to ask him questions. In realizing that this boy was on the run, he finds out that he knows the boys father after hearing the story from Bud. He takes the boy along with him and later drops him off at the place where his father plays music at. Bud learns that this man who he assumes is his father is actually his grand-father, and that his mother left home and never returned which left a big void in his grand-fathers heart. He finally hears the true story and has come to find peace in his life.

Biography:
Curtis, C. P. (1999). Bud, Not Buddy. New York, NY: Delacorte Press.

My Impression:
An inspiring story of a young man who sets out looking for the only person that can and should look out for him. This story has such a sad storyline that encourages you to understand how life would be without family to lean on. The character played by Bud has a strong appeal to our children that we must be strong to be able to survive life out in the street. I admire his strength for survival especially when he was placed under the care of the Amoses. He wouldn't have the determination to get out of that place if it wasn't for the personal things in his suitcase. Something as little as a flyer was all he had in finding his father, and so he lived each day protecting his suitcase. Bud was such a strong individual that knew exactly what he wanted and what needed to be done. Never feeling sorry for himself, he set out in the big world so his questions could be answered. I'm sure it was hard, tough, and scary for Bud, I don't think I would have done what Bud did.

Professional Review:

Booklist ( September 01, 1999; 9780385323062 ) Gr. 4^-6. Bud, 10, is on the run from the orphanage and from yet another mean foster family. His mother died when he was 6, and he wants to find his father. Set in Michigan during the Great Depression, this is an Oliver Twist kind of foundling story, but it's told with affectionate comedy, like the first part of Curtis' The Watsons Go to Birmingham (1995). On his journey, Bud finds danger and violence (most of it treated as farce), but more often, he finds kindness--in the food line, in the library, in the Hooverville squatter camp, on the road--until he discovers who he is and where he belongs. Told in the boy's naive, desperate voice, with lots of examples of his survival tactics ("Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar out of Yourself"), this will make a great read-aloud. Curtis says in an afterword that some of the characters are based on real people, including his own grandfathers, so it's not surprising that the rich blend of tall tale, slapstick, sorrow, and sweetness has the wry, teasing warmth of family folklore. --Hazel Rochman From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
Use in the Library Setting:
I would probably want the children to do a small skit on this book. The storyline would be a more understandable if the children actually see what happens to children who are left to fend for themselves.
Image retrieve from :
Bowker, Books for print:
http://www.google.com/imgres?num=10&hl=en&biw=1219&bih=516&tbm=isch&tbnid=Q7RXbizlrT-UAM:&imgrefurl=http://www.amazon.com

Module 4: Sarah, Plain and Tall

Title: Sarah, Plain and Tall

Author: Patricia MacLachlan

Summary:
This is a very moving story about a father and his two children Anna and Caleb. When their mother died after giving birth to Caleb, Anna and her father didn't know what hit them, although they were sad they now were responsible in taking care of the new baby. Caleb grew up not knowing his mother but was told that she always sang songs with their Papa, and he never stop asking Anna questions about their mother. Since Mamas passing, Papa never sang any more either said Anna to Caleb. Then one day Papa finally admitted to the children how he had put an ad in the paper asking for a wife. Although the children were surprised, they wondered if anyone was going to answer their fathers ad, until they started getting letters from a lady name Sarah Elizabeth Wheaton.
As busy as they were with the farm, and feeding the animals, they were excited and happy when father mentioned one day that Sarah was coming to see meet them. Anna and Caleb wondered if she would except them or would she leave after she sees how their house looks like. Would she like their Papa, or the way they act in front of her. They couldn't wait for the day when she arrives at the farm and they knew that their Papa was just as excited as they were.
Finally that day arrive when they saw the wagon that Papa drove coming up the hill to the house. They both ran to greet her, and she was just as she said she would be, plain and tall. Sarah met the children and saw the farm and everything that belonged to Papa. Although she missed home, and her brother, especially the sea, Sarah was content with what she was going to have, the children loved her and so was Papa. The day that she left for town, the children thought she would never come back because she was gone all day, but when they saw the wagon coming home they were delighted knowing that she was returning to them for good.

Bibliography:
MacLachlan, P. (1985). Sarah, Plain and Tall. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.

Impressions:
I loved reading this book. Many times when I look at the collection in the library, I would come across this book but never had the time to read  because I would always look for books that are familiar and popular. But as I read through it, I read it with teary eyes because although it had a sad storyline, the author turned the story around by creating a beautiful character that accepted this man's offer for a mother to his young children, and a wife for himself. Sarah never found time to think about herself, giving up everything that she loved. Moving to a place and meeting people she never even knew. Sarah was such a strong individual, knew what she was getting her self into and especially what she wanted. If it was me, I don't think I would have answered the ad, especially knowing that this man have two young children. I wouldn't leave the home that I love, the things that I have for a farm, but Sarah but different. She gave up everything to go and meet this man and his children, what a sacrifice this young lady made. I loved how the children accepted her too, especially the man. Showing her everything and giving her respect is what I believe helped Sarah make her final choice.

Profession Review:

School Library Journal ( May 01, 2002; 9780694526024 )

Gr 3-6-Glenn Close narrates Patricia MacLachlan's beautiful novels on this fine audio collection. Sarah, Plain and Tall tells the story of Sarah, who came from Maine to answer Jacob's advertisement for a wife and mother, all from the point of view of young Anna. The classic story continues in Skylark, as Anna and her brother, Caleb, must travel with their new mother, Sarah, to Maine when a terrible drought threatens their home. Caleb picks up the story several years later in Caleb's Story, telling of the return of his grandfather, who had abandoned the family when Caleb's father was a young boy. Close, who played the role of Sarah in the Hallmark Hall of Fame production of the first book, creates distinct voices for each character without ever resorting to theatrics. Anna and Caleb's voices mature as listeners progress through the stories, and Close's carefully unobtrusive narration showcases MacLachlan's simple yet poetic words. An interview with Patricia MacLachlan at the end of the collection gives students more information about the author's life and writing process, and about the real-life inspiration for Sarah. A beautiful collusion of an excellent story with a perfect narrator, and a treat for all listeners.-Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Maryland School for the Deaf, Columbia (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  Review: Use in Library Setting: This book will be used in the library as buddy pairs. With a poster board, children will partner up and use half of the paper and create a farm with supplies that they will be getting from the librarian. They will use the other half of the paper and create a scene of the Sea using the supplies that they receive from the librarian. Image from: http://www.google.com/imgres?num=10&hl=en&biw=1338&bih=516&tbm=isch&tbnid=FzuFFOMGbYodoM:&imgrefurl=http://childrensbookalmanac.com/2010/10/sarah-plain-and-tall/&docid=gqksDi-AiTgJHM&imgurl=http://childrensbookalmanac.com/wp-content/uploads/Sarah-Plain-and-Tall.png&w=320&h=320&ei=T9hfUOylMoK4iwLTkYDICg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=1&sig=104151175255594110228&page=1&tbnh=96&tbnw=93&start=0&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0,i:104&tx=942&ty=315

Module 4: Missing May

Title: Missing May
Author: Cynthia Rylant

Summary:
Like Sarah, Plain and Tall...Missing May also has a sad moving storyline that touches people's heart and makes you wonder why do things like these happen. Missing May is about a girl name Summer and her uncle Ob missing the women in their life name May. Summer is a young girl that was taken in by her aunt May and uncle Ob during one of their visits to Ohio. Now that May is gone, uncle Ob doesn't talk much and Summer is wondering if he will give her up to someone else. Things have changed whereas now Summer walks to wait for the school by herself, no one bothers to make breakfast and Summer has to get up on her own to get ready for school.
Everything Uncle Ob did he believed that May was there with him, never doubting that she left even though he knew she was gone in body but not in spirit. At times he looked spaced out, he would say to Summer that shes not gone. One day Ob got sick and looked like he was giving up, Summer found him in bed and quickly helped him to try and get better which is something that he really didn't care about until one day a neighbor name Cletus showed up and said that Ob needed to see a spiritualist.
After a long discussion they all decided that they would go and seek help for Ob. Finally when they got there through the means of driving far, they found out that she had passed a couple of months before. Ob decided that they were going back home, but in the middle of the road he turns the car around and went straight to the capital building for sight-seeing. With everything that has happened, Ob decided that he wanted to live after all, so he could take care of Summer just as May had wanted them to do from the start. The next morning Summer smelled coffee and breakfast. Things were better and Mays garden was growing, Cletus read from one of the handouts that they brought back from the trip they took looking for the spiritualist. Suddenly they felt the brush of wind and they all smiled at each other knowing exactly that May was setting everything free.

Biography:
Rylant, C. (1992). Missing May. New York, NY: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books

My Impression:
Just like Sarah, Plain and Tall its a very sad story that only people who has love one that are gone can truly understand. I can relate to this story because I also miss my dear father, although I wasn't left alone like Summer, I understand how she feels knowing that not one close relative would take her in like May did. It's difficult when your partner for life leaves you, especially when it unexpected like how May passed. Ob seeing how strong his wife was felt awful and lifeless after she was gone, so he became weak and didn't want to do anything. I believe that Ob believing that May was around him showed that she wanted him to be strong for Summer. Although he was giving up, her spirit encouraged him to be strong, and to continue living so he could be there for Summer, especially when they had so much things that they had planned and wanted to give her because they had no child of their own. It was also good that they had a young and good neighbor Cletus that also helped them both out a lot. Example: My husband and I are very close and love each other very much. We do a lot of things together, as a human being I think about things like what if my husband passes, what am I going to do without him. To tell you the truth, I don't think I can handle it, I would be just like Ob. I would probably want to give up also, but we have the good lord that gives us strength to go on. It's our choice to make it our not, and I would also be like Ob and get better to help our children out.

Professional Review:

Publishers Weekly ( February 03, 1992; 9780531059968 )

This short novel is a study of grief--chiefly, that felt by Summer after her foster mother's sudden death, but also her sorrow at witnessing the grief of Ob, her foster father--she realizes that she herself may not be reason enough for him to go on living. And for several months it seems as if he may not in fact go on, until Summer and Ob take a short car trip that somehow transforms their lives. In a direct, matter-of-fact voice occasionally laced with irony and wry humor, Summer articulates many discerning insights about sorrow and loss. The reader remains a distant observer of her emotions, however--perhaps because the novel begins after May's death, making her a less immediate figure, perhaps because Summer's perceptions are quite sophisticated, even adult. And the novel's emotional turning point is difficult to grasp, either verbally or intuitively: all Summer, and we, know is that ``something happened to Ob'' to make him embrace life fully again. Ages 11-up. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Review:

Use in Library Setting:
I would use this book in the library as a essay writing. Each child will write an essay about how they feel when a love one passes. Discuss with children the importance of love and dying so children to have a better understanding.

Image from:
http://shop.scholastic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay_28553_-1_10001_10002

Module 3: My Friend Rabbit

Title: My Friend Rabbit

Author/Illustrator: Eric Rohhmann

Summary:
My friend rabbit is a beautiful well illustrated book which the author/illustrator have truly a unique style that tells a story mostly by the pictures itself. Mouse is telling how his friend rabbit always wants to help but always trouble follows where ever he goes and whatever he does. An airplane is stuck on a branch of a tree so rabbit decides to get it down by having all his animal friends help by having them stand on each other so they can reach the airplane. Just before mouse reaches the plane, the animals come clashing down and they were all angry with rabbit. Mouse understands as he tries to tell the animals that rabbit means well, and that they're still friends.

Biography:
Rohmann, E. (2003). My Friend Rabbit. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.

My Impression:
My Friend Rabbit is one of my favorite because I love how the illustrator drew the animal pictures. Although it doesn't have too much text, the illustrations itself can tell the story of what is going to happen. The illustrators detail drawing expresses how the animals feel with facial expressions that each one has, especially during the part of when they are falling down. I love how rabbit is trying so hard to help his friend mouse, the strength that he has as he carries all the animals stacking them up on the other really shows how much he cares for his friend. A good example would be my grand children helping me to clean. Whenever they come for a visit, I would let them play in the family room until its time for dinner. They already know that when I come down to that room they are suppose to start cleaning up. Of course I would wait and see what they would do first but instead they wait until I start cleaning than they follow. By the time I come around to where they started its like nothings being done because they leave a trail of toys so they could come back and pick them up again. Why? so they would go back and play again and not have to clean up.

Professional Review:

School Library Journal ( May 01, 2002; 9780761324201 )

PreS-Gr 1-A simple story about Rabbit and Mouse, who, despite Rabbit's penchant for trouble, are friends. When Rabbit launches his toy airplane (with Mouse in the pilot seat at takeoff) and it gets stuck in a tree, he convinces his friend that he will come up with a plan to get it down. He does so by stacking animals on top of one another (beginning with an elephant and a rhinoceros) until they are within reach of the toy. The double-page, hand-colored relief prints with heavy black outlines are magnificent, and children will enjoy the comically expressive pictures of the animals before and after their attempt to extract the plane. The text is minimal; it's the illustrations that are the draw here.-Kristin de Lacoste, South Regional Public Library, Pembroke Pines, FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review of the book My Friend Rabbit retrieved from Bowker Books in Print.

Library Use:
Librarian will use this book by having the students work in groups.  Each students in groups create a list of words putting them in complete sentences, and explaining why animals in the story are important and how are they able to assist people.

Image from:
http://www.google.com/imgres?num=10&hl=en&biw=1338&bih=516&tbm=isch&tbnid=HC3j_5DgXDwyDM:&imgrefurl=http://raspwire.com/multimedia-for-my-kid/&docid=HhObYKdcOdoa9M&imgurl=http://raspwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/my-friend-rabbit.jpg&w=294&h=228&ei=TuBWUJblOqLJigKAx4DgDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=106&vpy=146&dur=21101&hovh=182&hovw=235&tx=127&ty=108&sig=104151175255594110228&page=1&tbnh=129&tbnw=166&start=0&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0,i:95