Module 15-Censorship Issues

The Hunger Games

Collins, S. (2008). The hunger games. New York: Scholastic.



Summary

In Panem, what is left of the United States, every year a televised spectacle occurs.  Children, a boy and a girl from each of the twelve districts, are pitted against each other in a competition to the death.  They must be the last one standing in order to be declared the winner.  Katniss Everdeen takes on this role as District Twelve's tribute, and the embarks on a journey that will change her life and the future of Panem forever.

Impression

I absolutely loved this book, however the death and deception is not something I would recommend my elementary age students read.  The futuristic world that the author has created is believable, although as inhumane as one could imagine.  As a reader you have nothing but compassion for Katniss and Peeta, her fellow tribute, and contempt and loathing for the Capitol and those that put on the games each year.

Review

Grades 9-12. This is a grand-opening salvo in a new series by the author of the Underland Chronicles. Sixteen-year-old Katniss poaches food for her widowed mother and little sister from the forest outside the legal perimeter of District 12, the poorest of the dozen districts constituting Panem, the North American dystopic state that has replaced the U.S. in the not-too-distant future. Her hunting and tracking skills serve her well when she is then cast into the nation’s annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death where contestants must battle harsh terrain, artificially concocted weather conditions, and two teenaged contestants from each of Panem’s districts. District 12’s second “tribute” is Peeta, the baker’s son, who has been in love with Katniss since he was five. Each new plot twist ratchets up the tension, moving the story forward and keeping the reader on edge. Although Katniss may be skilled with a bow and arrow and adept at analyzing her opponents’ next moves, she has much to learn about personal sentiments, especially her own. Populated by three-dimensional characters, this is a superb tale of physical adventure, political suspense, and romance.

Booklist. (2008). 105(1)

Library Use

1. This is a book to recommend to interested readers who like this genre, or the author's other series Gregor the Overlander.
2. In appropriate grade levels this book can be used to compare styles of government or to promote discussion on how America ended up the way it is in the book.

Book Trailers

All images for these book trailers came from www.classroomclipart.com.  The videos were made using www.animoto.com, and the background music came from Animoto as well.

Gregor the Overlander
http://animoto.com/play/pluMr02jXi96c7uJp1RnQA

The Lightning Thief
http://animoto.com/play/cxD41KXabMszqHZd6kdQHg

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
http://animoto.com/play/H81dTJYkb6eo8AwolRPGbQ

Module 14-Poetry and Story Collections

Dirty Laundry Pile

Janeczko, P. (2001). Dirty laundry pile. New York: Harper Collins.

 

Summary

This book is a collection of poems that are all written through the point of view of anything besides humans.  Shells, wind, scarecrows, snowflakes, kites, laundry piles, mosquitoes and more all get an opportunity to voice their thoughts and feelings.

 

Impression

This is a fun collection of poems that truly show how writing from another's point of view is very different.  It also illustrates how inanimate objects can have a point of view as well, and can get students to think what an object, like a shell, might see, hear, feel, or think.

 

Review

Gr. 3-6. As Janeczko explains in his introduction, this collection of 27 poems is "something like wearing a Halloween costume or playing a part in a school play," because the poems have all been written in the voice of an object or an animal--a seashell, a cat, a tree. The imaginative language is simple yet rich in image and metaphor. Madeleine Comora's "Roots" speaks volumes: "Roots like ours, course and strong / as a grandmother's fingers." Sometimes the poetry sparkles, sweeps us along, or makes us laugh, as in the title poem about dirty clothes by Marcy Barack Black: "Ignore me now / on the floor / By the door. / But you'll notice / when I swell / By my smell." There's great variety in poetic mood and form--brisk couplets, thoughtful haiku, funny concrete poems. In Peggy B. Levitt's "Mosquito's Song" the word punctureis spelled out vertically, letter by letter, ending, appropriately, in an exclamation point. Melissa Sweet's watercolors are light and airy, but never too slight. Some are full-page, some thumbnail size; and all are hugely appealing, whether dancing comically across the page or bordering the text. They'll draw children into words that resonate with joy and, sometimes, deeper meaning, words that will remind them that there's more than one way to experience the world.

Booklist. (2001). 97(16).

Library Use
1.  Writing lesson on point of view.
2. Concrete poetry lesson.

 

Module 13-Graphic Novels and Series Books

Knights of the Lunch Table

Cammuso, F. (2008). Knights of the lunch table. New York: Scholastic.

 

 

 

 

Summary

Artie just wants to fit in, but when he opens a magic locker that even the biggest bully in the school hasn't been able to open, fitting in is the last thing that's going to happen.  Artie and his new lunch table friends are thrown in to a dogeball game (to the death) and face other evils (the principal) along the way in a very comedic and kid friendly story.

 

Impression

A super fun book that got one of my very reluctant readers hooked!  He's read it twice since I bought it a few months ago.  The story is very relatable, a kid just wanting to fit in and a bunch of bullies that are trying their best to make his life miserable.  Throw in a magic locker and a game of dogeball, it's all a student could hope for.

 

Review

Grades 2-4. Artie King’s first day at his new middle school is terrible: his nasty older sister ensures he misses the bus; a couple of geeky kids are friendly, but the school bullies smell a new victim; and the principal is a horror who hands out detentions and dire warnings as she peers out from behind her horn-rimmed glasses. Artie has muddied the waters a bit himself by boasting that he’s a dodgeball pro—when he’s really not. Kids familiar with King Arthur legends will like the idea of a mysterious locker, seemingly rusted shut, that opens for Artie and the helpful stranger named Merlyn (who turns out to be Artie’s science teacher and guidance counselor). But kids unfamiliar with Arthur will still like this tongue-in-cheek take on the school rules and games that can dominate a kid’s life. Although the characters seem purposefully multiethnic, Cammuso’s text is witty and his cartoons energetic; his pictures speak as clearly as his words. A good start for the Knights of the Lunch Tale series.

Booklist. (2008). 104(14).

Library Use
1.  Introducing graphic novels to students and teachers.
2.  A lesson on sequence of events.
3.  Promoting reading to reluctant readers.

Module 12-Biography and Autobiography

Just Being Audrey

Cardillo, M. (2011). Just being Audrey. New York: Balzer + Bray.

 

 

 

 

 Summary

This book tells the story of Audrey Hepburn's life starting with her childhood dreams of becoming a ballerina.  Her time in Nazi occupied Holland and her move to London that eventually began her acting career.  She became a Broadway star that opened doors to Hollywood and starring roles in several movies.  Not only was she talented and hard working, but she was kind, generous, and very humble.  She became a Goodwill Ambassador and did all she could to help children all over the world.

 

Impression

The tale of Audrey Hepburn's life is told through easy to read narration and beautiful illustrations.  She was a beautiful person inside and out, and her story is one of dedication, working hard, being kind to others, and caring for everyone.  This book is very kid friendly and is constantly being checked out (by girls) at our school library.

 

Review

Grades 1-3. It’s hard to believe life for Audrey Hepburn was ever anything but smart clothes, quirky expressions, and wistful gazes into the eyes of Cary Grant, but Cardillo makes a strong case to the contrary. Growing up in WWII–era Europe, Audrey wanted only to be a dancer, but the other girls made fun of her physical hurdles: “She was too tall, her feet were too big, and her neck was too long,” and “her eyes seemed too big for her head.” Young readers will get the message: these were precisely the traits that made Audrey an iconic beauty as an adult. In short order, she was spotted by entertainment heavyweights for her je ne sais quoi and quickly catapulted to fame. Denos’ soft pastel illustrations cut just the right Audrey outline (complete with flapping neck scarf), and fans will especially enjoy picking out the movie roles depicted in a two-page spread of costumes. Her later humanitarian deeds are given their due, but it is Audrey’s simple kindness that is emphasized throughout.

Booklist. (2010). 107(7).

Library Use
1.  Introducing biographies to younger readers.

Module 11-Informational Books

Blizzard!

Murphy, J. (2000). Blizzard! New York: Scholastic.



Summary

A storm that was expected to die out before it even turned bad hit New York and much of the northeastern United States on March 13, 1888.  Not once, but twice the vicious blizzard ripped through the area depositing twenty one inches of snow!  Communications and travel were down, there was no electricity and coal began to run out leaving those that lived to tell the tale with much to talk about.  Because of this momentous natural disaster, many public policies and laws and even the way weather was forecasted were changed, along with the creation of underground transit and cables.

Impression

The real-life photographs and era created illustrations in this book are a wonderful accompaniment to the facts and interwoven stories of this time in American history.  I had never heard of this event before I read this story, and it is amazing what it did to change the way many things are now done.  I happened to be starting a weather unit in my class, and there were several points brought up in the book that I was able to use to enrich our textbook's information.

Review

Grade 5 Up-In the style of The Great Fire (Scholastic, 1995), Murphy writes a fascinating account of the March, 1888, storm that paralyzed the Northeastern U.S. for four days. This terrifying natural disaster is described from the perspectives of several individuals of various ages and social positions, primarily in New York City, some of whom survived the storm and some of whom did not. The narrative is a readable and seamless blend of history and adventure adapted from extensive first-person accounts and primary news sources. Beginning with an ominous harbinger, the scene is set with descriptions of what life was like at that time, including popular culture and means of forecasting the weather, which completely failed in this instance. The text is exciting without being melodramatic: as the storm arrives, strengthens, and stays, readers come to see the horrible extent to which people had to cope with the loss of food, heat, communications, and loved ones. Concluding by explaining why this event is important, the author places it in the context of other weather and its effect on history. Authentic photographs, drawings, and maps that demonstrate the course of the storm, all done in the same sepia tone as the text, perfectly illustrate the book. Overall, a superb piece of writing and history.

Medlar, A. The book review. School Library Journal. 46(12)

Library Use

1.  This is a great resource to use when collaborating with a teacher on a weather lesson or unit.  There are many fourth grade Science TEKS addressed in the story, as well as fifth grade.

Module 10-Historical Fiction

Al Capone Does My Shirts

Choldenko, G. (2004). Al Capone does my shirts. New York: Putnam.

Summary
In 1935 Moose Flanagan and his family move to Alcatraz Island and live there, right next to the prison, with the rest of the guards' families.  His new surroundings are quite different and life so close to convicted criminals has its challenges.  Moose's younger sister is autistic, although that was not known in the time period of the story, so her many ups and downs add to the trials that Moose faces throughout the story.

Impression
This is my favorite genre and this book did not let me down.  I love that it takes place on Alcatraz and that so much attention to historical detail was put in to the story.  It is a work of fiction, so creative liberties are of course taken.  But this book and it's sequel; Al Capone Shines My Shoes, are great stories.

Review
Gr. 5-8. Twelve-year-old Moose moves to Alcatraz in 1935 so his father can work as a prison guard and his younger, autistic sister, Natalie, can attend a special school in San Francisco. It is a time when the federal prison is home to notorious criminals like gangster Al Capone. Depressed about having to leave his friends and winning baseball team behind, Moose finds little to be happy about on Alcatraz. He never sees his dad, who is always working; and Natalie's condition-- her tantrums and constant needs--demand all his mother's attention. Things look up for Moose when he befriends the irresistible Piper, the warden's daughter, who has a knack for getting Moose into embarrassing but harmless trouble. Helped by Piper, Moose eventually comes to terms with his new situation. With its unique setting and well-developed characters, this warm, engaging coming-of-age story has plenty of appeal, and Choldenko offers some fascinating historical background on Alcatraz Island in an afterword.

Booklist. (2004). 100(11).

Library Use
1. Novel study along with a research project about Alcatraz and/or some of its infamous inhabitants.