Module #15-Censorship Issues-To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill A Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

Book Summary: This classic tells the story through the eyes of young Scout and her older brother, Jem.  They live in a small southern town with their lawyer/widower father, Atticus Finch.  With the imagination of summertime friend, Dill, they try to entertain themselves while unraveling the mystery of neighborhood recluse, “Boo” Radley.  Atticus, asked to defend a negro man accused of raping a white woman, and the children give witness to the events as they unfold.  This Pulitzer Prize winning story relates the flimsy face of racism and injustice through the children’s eyes.  It tells the story of not-so simple times and growing into knowledge of adult issues with the gentle guidance of a wise father.

APA Reference: Lee, H. (1982/1960). To kill a mockingbird (Warner Books ed.). New York, NY: Warner Books. 

My Impressions: I used this book for an adult book club discussion group.  The participants thoroughly enjoyed this read.  We also had a movie tie-in with the version starring Gregory Peck.  We agreed the movie was good, but the book was better.  I missed the descriptions of when Scout and Jem walked through the negro neighborhood and her visit to the negro church with Calpurnia, the extra encounters the with Boo and Nathan Radley, the morphine-addicted neighbor, and Aunt Alexandra, and the secret “bag” which Mr. Raymond shared with the children while waiting at the courthouse—it was actually Coca Cola instead of something “forbidden”—I got a big chuckle out of this ruse. 

Professional Review: Lee gives an objective look at both sides of racial and justice issues through the eyes of the children in the “divided, 1930’s American society.   Berman states that, “this is a true American classic and one of our most eloquent appeals for tolerance and justice”.  He also finds this novel has developed characters, an evenly woven plot where the children “see the evil born of ignorance and squalor”—finding their father leads with “quiet righteousness and gentle civility”; his “loving wisdom” setting the way straight.  It is recommended for tweens 12 years and older, but this classic is a must read for all ages.

Berman, M. (n.d.). [Reviews of the book To Kill a Mockingbird, by H. Lee]. Common Sense Media. Retrieved from http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/kill-mockingbird 

Library Uses: Inspired to discuss issues of the historical period in time, this read can be used for book groups in public libraries or high-school history classrooms.  Issues such as racism and justice are ripe for dialogue in this Pulitzer Prize winning classic.  Rumors, fear, and pretense often cover-up facts and character is misjudged and perpetuated.  Discussions concerning looking beyond the façades people carry and really delving into others’ persona, can be a gratifying experience.

Module #14-Poetry & Story Collections-CRANK

CRANK

by Ellen Hopkins

Book Summary: Kristina calls herself Bree, in order to separate from the rigidity of being perfect—allowing herself the freedom to escape her restricting expectations.  What she finds waiting instead is an introduction to the world of CRANK.  Unable to avoid this addictive monster’s grip, she is hurled into the world of drugs and sex--finding she is pregnant after being raped.  Bree/Kristina makes the decision to keep her baby, but realizes the hardest thing to overcome will be the constant temptation for drugs—this addiction never leaves completely.

APA Reference: Hopkins, E. (2004). Crank. New York, NY: Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster. 

My Impressions: I was not enthusiastic to read such a thick book of “poetry”, but found I couldn’t put it down.  I ended reading this book in short-order and found it captivating to the end.  Wondering if Bree would find her way out of difficulty before getting into the drug-culture too deep, kept me turning the pages.  The interesting way Hopkins displayed each page, added poignancy to the text, affecting the mood of each chapter. 

Professional Review: Ott describes the free-verse and shaped poems used by Hopkins, summarizing Kristina’s life experiences leading to her difficulties and struggles with the “monster” drug, crank.  Using the freedom of her alter-ego, Bree, “she falls under its addictive and dangerous spell,” is “date-raped under the influence” and becomes pregnant.  Although she keeps the baby, “readers understand that Kristina's eternal struggle will be against the temptation of using crack.”

“Hopkins delivers a gritty, fast-paced read while effectively portraying the dangers of substance abuse without sounding pedantic or preachy.”  Recommended for teens, ages 12-18, as they can relate to the protagonist, Kristina, as she, balances responsibility and her desire for freedom, and resolving the consequences she encounters from choices made.

Ott, V. (2005, Feb.). [Review of the book Crank, by E. Hopkins]. VOYA 27(6), p. 544. Retrieved from http://www.voya.com/. 

Library Uses: Used by discussion groups, rehabilitation or high school counselors, or health education teachers, Crank could be used as addiction awareness, decision-making education, or as a jumping-off point for discussion of drug-addiction issues.  It may help inform teens of the ultra-addictive nature of certain drugs, the gravity of their consequences, balancing decision-making, and awakening awareness and prevention for friends and family members.  The potential possibility for using this text is limitless.

Module #13-Graphic Novels-Maus

MAUS: A Survivor’s Tale:
1—My Father Bleeds History 

by Art Spiegelman 

Book Summary: Author Art Spiegelman tells the story of his father’s life in Poland beginning pre-World War II through his imprisonment in Auschwitz.  Using a cartoon-style with animals for human characters, Spiegelman inserts current visits with his father at Rego Park at the beginning of each chapter.  The presentation of this book is deceiving, because a truly extraordinary account is unfolded. 

APA Reference: Spiegelman, A. (1986). Maus: a survivor's tale; 1-My father bleeds history. New York, NY: Pantheon Bks. 

My Impressions:  This book left great impressions after reading.  I expected a comic-book adventure, and it was a tragic tale of how persecuted Jews and their subsequent children’s lives were changed by the horrific events.  The author’s father, Vladek, was changed forever.  Telling his life’s story, Artie finds reasoning for his mother’s suicide and his father’s denial—their story was lost which was her reason for living Artie’s precious survival, and his final means of connection.  This surprise ending was truly heart-wrenching for me.  I re-learned a life lesson--not to judge a book by its cover OR method of messaging.  I am left with expectation for the part 2 book, And Here My Troubles Began. 

Professional Review:  Art Spiegelman depicts his story through the use of cartoon/animal characters; telling of his “relationship with his father, and his father’s horrific experiences as a survivor of the Nazi extermination”… One scene in his book tells of a 10-11 year-old Spiegelman, falling in a roller-skating accident and crying because his friends have left him.  His father, instead of consoling, gives a prelude to the coming chapters, gives Artie a reprimand on the weight of what “true-friends” really are.

“Making a Holocaust comic book with Jews as mice and Germans as cats would probably strike most people as flippant, if not appalling”, but the opposite is found… “The guilt, loss, paranoia and regret caused by a mother's suicide are expressed through human caricatures in dense scratchboard blacks” of comic-book style presentation.  It is agreed with Hamilton’s findings, that “The effect of such an effort is strangely touching.”

Hamilton, W. (1986, Dec. 7). Revelation rays and pain stars [Review of the book. Maus, by A. Spiegelman]. New York Times Book Review, p. 71. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/07/books/revelation-rays-and-pain-stars.html?pagewanted=all 

Library Uses:  MAUS could be used as supplement reading for high school history as it expands on the Holocaust of World War II.  It could also be used by high-school counselors as a grief aid, as the author used his comic-book work as therapy to deal with the suicide/death of his mother.

Module #12-Biography/Autobiography-Odd Boy Out: Albert Einstein

Odd Boy Out:Young Albert Einstein 

by Don Brown 

Book Summary: 
This story tells of Einstein’s early life; his struggles and events that had early impressions on his life.  Although filled with flaws like any other young child, he becomes the greatest genius the world has ever known.  Einstein continued driving through his lifelong “oddity” of curiosity, to satisfy his fascination with mathematics and physics to make sense of our puzzling world. 

APA Reference: 
Brown, D. (2004). Odd boy out: Young Albert Einstein. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. 

My Impressions: 
A reminder to children who may never heard of “Einstein”, of the greatest genius of all time.  This story is very informative yet easy to read, with watercolor drawings somewhat impressionistic; giving a sense of a more simple time.  It answers some questions about how this intelligent child was misunderstood and how he developed into the world-renowned icon we know today. 

Professional Review: 
Bush leaves an impression of this book with her summary telling a few of Einstein’s background idiosyncrasies given in the book.  She relates very well how his experiences and moments in time may have related to the enormous discoveries Einstein developed through his extensive imagination and thought process. 

Bush, E. (2004, Oct.). [Review of the book Odd boy out: Young Albert Einstein, by D. Brown]. Bulletin of The Center For Children's Books, 55(2), 32. Available from http://bccb.lis.illinois.edu/. 

Library Uses: 
Used by counselors for late-bloomers, students may find encouragement along with Albert, as he struggled to find himself despite his human faults.  This also might be a fun elementary history or science extra credit project or biography report.  Discussion could encompass comparisons of how life was during Einstein’s childhood and today or the effects of his contributions to the world as we know it.

Module #11- Informational Books-George Washington's Teeth

GEORGE WASHINGTON’S TEETH

by Deborah Chandra & Madeleine Comora
Pictures by Brock Cole

Book Summary: 
Using illustrations and rhyme, the story tells of the struggles George Washington had with bad teeth throughout his lifetime.  He tried having sets of false-teeth made for him, but the most successful (and last) set was made of hippopotamus ivory.  There is a timeline in the rear of the book which follows his life’s adventures at the time of tooth-trouble, that was taken from diary entries.

APA Reference:
Comora, M., Chandra, D., & Cole, B. (2003). George Washington's teeth. Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

My Impressions: 
The rhymes and humorous pictures bring to life these events for readers young and old.  I didn’t realize how much pain the President experienced throughout some of the most critical periods in our country’s history; Valley Forge, crossing the Delaware River and even while having his portrait painted.  It is an interesting take on an unusual subject of a well-known leader—delightful and informative. 

Professional Review: 
Long of Horn Book Magazine writes of the two ways the book relates the story, one having “enhancements” such as pictures and rhymes, and secondly as chronology noting the detailed timeline at the end of the book.  He describes the events and mentions the diary entries as resource for the story basis.  Washington finally gets a “satisfactory set of false teeth” and Long advises that the book “might well provoke useful discussion of viewing the same events from different perspectives”. 

Long, J. (2003, March 1). [Review of the book, George Washington's teeth by D. Chandra & M. Comora]. Horn Book Magazine, 79(2), 200-201.  Retrieved from http://www.hbook.com/. 

Library Uses: 
This story could be used for very young children to teach them about our first President, George Washington; letting them understand that he was a regular-person with health and dental needs like everyone else.  It would be a good health reminder for taking care of dental hygiene or informing youngsters of the advances that have come about since Washington’s day.  Also, as Long mentioned above, a discussion comparing perspectives; perhaps from yesteryear and today with regard to events or health issues would stimulate interest in the chosen subject.

Module #10-Historical Fiction-Esperanza Rising

Esperanza Rising 

by Pam Muñoz Ryan 

Book Summary:

Esperanza is raised as a privileged only daughter on a ranch in Mexico, when her father is killed by an envious uncle who wants to marry her mother and take possession of her father’s land.  Leaving Abuelita safely at the Convent and with the help of faithful servants Hortensia and her son Miguel, they escape to the United States; finding work at a farm labor camp during the Great Depression era.  Esperanza’s mother becomes ill, but the former servants, now friends, help them assimilate into the world of work, family and community interdependence-- vital for survival.  Miguel secretly takes Esperanza’s hard-earned savings, but uses them to bring Abuelita to the US—reuniting them with her daughter and granddaughter.  Esperanza learns independence and the true meaning of her name, “hope—hope for the future.

APA Reference: Ryan, P. (2000, Dec.). Esperanza rising. Scholastic Press.

My Impressions:

This story was very easy to visualize as it is realistic with Muñoz-Ryan’s precise descriptions; how Esperanza listened to the earth as her father taught her, how she didn’t know how to sweep the floor when she first started work at the camp, or taking care of the baby and making meals—she burned the beans attempting to prepare supper.  The chapters were uniquely organized by the name of the plant harvested at the time of the year in which the story took place, giving them significance for that portion of Esperanza’s memories.  Also of interest is the fact that Muñoz-Ryan developed this story after the true tale her grandmother passed along of her immigration to the United States.  Muñoz-Ryan does a magnificent job with this gentle read, while exposing some very sensitive issues.

Professional Review: 

Stevenson gives a thorough review of the book with additional insight into her struggles.  She also notes, “Based on Ryan's grandmother's experiences, this is an unusual story that steers clear of some romantic pitfalls,” and adds that there is no “condescension towards Esperanza's campesino fellow workers.” She learns to “shed her prejudices” and what she has “gained by coming North.” Epseranza Rising is recommended for grades 5-8.

 

Stevenson, D. (2000, Dec.). [Review of the book Esperanza rising by P. Muñoz Ryan]. Bulletin of The Center For Children's Books, 54(4), 160-161. Available from http://bccb.lis.illinois.edu/.

Library Uses: 

This could be used as an historical fiction selection for history or social studies middle-school groups.  The references to the historical situation during the 1930’s in both Mexico and the United States could be discussed, as well as immigration, prejudice, the privileged status, labor and economy issues; how they were dealt with 80 years ago compared to how these situations are dealt with today.