Fantasy
Bibliography
Gaiman, Neil. 2008. THE GRAVEYARD BOOK. Ill by Dave Mackean. New York, NY: Thorndike Press. ISBN 9781401414410
Plot Summary
The book starts off with the murder of a toddler's family, while his family is being murdered the toddler wanders out the open door. Jack, the murder, follows the toddler into a graveyard. The new ghost, the toddler's mother, implores residents of the graveyard to protect her baby. All the residents of the graveyard agree to raise the toddler whom they name Nobody Owens. Silas, Nobody's guardian (who is neither alive nor dead), brings food to the graveyard so Nobody can eat. Nobody is safe in the graveyard but, when he starts to grow up and wants to be with "people who breath", his old nemesis Jack is still hunting for the toddler who escaped. In the end, with ingenuity and tricks learned from his graveyard friends Nobody is able to outwit Jack. Since Jack is no longer a threat Nobody is able to leave the graveyard and make his way in the world.
Critical Analysis
In order for a fantasy book to be successful, readers need to be able to suspend disbelief. Gaiman makes it easy for readers to suspend disbelief by making the story true unto itself. For example, one of the rules of Nobody's protection was that the protection only worked within the graveyard; the times that Nobody left the graveyard he got into some trouble and was hurt since he didn't have the protection of the graveyard.
The details of THE GRAVEYARD BOOK make it, forgive the pun, come alive. Whenever Nobody was talking to a ghost for the first time the new ghost character would be introduced with epitaph from their headstone, for example, "Thackeray Porringer (1720 - 1734, Son of the Above)". The author is also quite witty which makes the experience enjoyable for the reader in addition to a internally consistent plot line. One of the examples of the author's wittiness was, "Mother Slaughter's headstone, so cracked worn and weathered that all it said now was, LAUGH which had puzzled local historians for over a hundred years."
Review Excerpts
2009 Best Books for Young Adults Award
2009 Newberry Medal
2009 Outstanding International Books
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Bod's love for his graveyard family and vice versa provide the emotional center, amid suspense, spot-on humor, and delightful scene-setting."
Starred Review from BOOKLIST: "This is an utterly captivating tale that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of ghostly characters."
Connections
* Have children create a book trailer, dust jacket, or an audio clip of THE GRAVEYARD BOOK.
* Have children read another book by Neil Gaiman and compare stories.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
LS 5603 Book Review: JELLICOE ROAD
Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Bibliography
Marchetta, Melina. 2006. JELLICOE ROAD. New York, NY: HarpersCollins Children's Books. ISBN 978-0-06143184-5
Plot Summary
This is a coming of age story for Taylor Markham, who grew up in a boarding school on Jellicoe Road. Taylor finds herself in charge of her house as she tries to unravel the mystery surrounding her arrival at Jellicoe School. Taylor tries to balance her new responsibilities while uncovering her mysterious past, she is even able to make some new friends along the way.
Critical Analysis
Although this story is well worth the reader's time, less experienced readers may have trouble with comprehension. The story line is fairly complex in addition there are two different time lines twenty years apart from each other, this makes the story a challenging read. The author does delineate the two time lines by putting the older time line in italics to help the reader.
Taylor's teenage angst is believable and familiar to teenage readers,"What I want from every person in my life, I want to tell him. More." As Taylor struggles to grow up and face life's challenges she does what many teenagers do she retreats, sleeps, and argues with people she cares about. Taylor's struggles will validate readers feelings even though situations in Taylor's life and the reader's life are very likely different.
Since there are two time lines in this story, Taylor's story and the story revealed in twenty year old diary entries, the reader is hooked into the book by trying to decipher the connection. Throughout the novel Taylor's story is interspersed with diary excerpts, and this keeps the reader guessing until the end how the two connect.
Review Excerpts
2009 Micheal Printz Award
2008 WA Young Readers Book Award
2009 ALA Best Book for Young Adults
LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Why It is a Best: Set in rural Australia, the story of Taylor and of the five friends is permeated by a sense of place and time. Readers will smell the trees and taste the dust."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Elegiac passages and a complex structure create a somewhat dense, melancholic narrative with elements of romance, mystery, and realistic fiction."
Connections
*Have children create a diary.
*Have children read another Micheal Printz Award winning book and compare.
Bibliography
Marchetta, Melina. 2006. JELLICOE ROAD. New York, NY: HarpersCollins Children's Books. ISBN 978-0-06143184-5
Plot Summary
This is a coming of age story for Taylor Markham, who grew up in a boarding school on Jellicoe Road. Taylor finds herself in charge of her house as she tries to unravel the mystery surrounding her arrival at Jellicoe School. Taylor tries to balance her new responsibilities while uncovering her mysterious past, she is even able to make some new friends along the way.
Critical Analysis
Although this story is well worth the reader's time, less experienced readers may have trouble with comprehension. The story line is fairly complex in addition there are two different time lines twenty years apart from each other, this makes the story a challenging read. The author does delineate the two time lines by putting the older time line in italics to help the reader.
Taylor's teenage angst is believable and familiar to teenage readers,"What I want from every person in my life, I want to tell him. More." As Taylor struggles to grow up and face life's challenges she does what many teenagers do she retreats, sleeps, and argues with people she cares about. Taylor's struggles will validate readers feelings even though situations in Taylor's life and the reader's life are very likely different.
Since there are two time lines in this story, Taylor's story and the story revealed in twenty year old diary entries, the reader is hooked into the book by trying to decipher the connection. Throughout the novel Taylor's story is interspersed with diary excerpts, and this keeps the reader guessing until the end how the two connect.
Review Excerpts
2009 Micheal Printz Award
2008 WA Young Readers Book Award
2009 ALA Best Book for Young Adults
LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Why It is a Best: Set in rural Australia, the story of Taylor and of the five friends is permeated by a sense of place and time. Readers will smell the trees and taste the dust."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Elegiac passages and a complex structure create a somewhat dense, melancholic narrative with elements of romance, mystery, and realistic fiction."
Connections
*Have children create a diary.
*Have children read another Micheal Printz Award winning book and compare.
LS 5603 Book Review: RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE
Graphic Novel
Bibliography
Hale, Shannon and Dean. 2008. RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE. Ill. by Nathan Hale. New York, NY: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books. ISBN 978-1-59990-288-3
Plot Summary
Rapunzel is raised by Mother Gothel, who has growth magic, in a villa with lots of servants and a very tall wall surrounding the villa. Curious, one day Rapunzel climbs the wall, and meets her real mother and other peasants who work in the mines for Mother Gothel. When confronted with the truth, Mother Gothel imprisons Rapunzel in a tall tree hundreds of feet off the ground. As Rapunzel grows older and her hair grows longer she learns to use her hair as a whip. Using her hair Rapunzel is able to escape the tree, travel back to the villa and confront Mother Gothel for the last time.
Critical Analysis
In addition to being a twist on a classic tale this story has been "Americanized" by placing Rapunzel in the old west as a setting. Between the authors' text and illustrator's drawings we have a clear sense of place in RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE. Children will enjoy all the tell tale signs of an old west story complete with horses, cowboy hats, spurs, and lots of action.
The pictures are an intricate part of the narrative giving a fuller scope of the story. For instance, when Rapunzel escapes from the tree the text is, "And then at last I managed to lasso the tree, swing gracefully from my prison, climb down the trees branches, and land triumphantly on the forest floor." The picture shows a slightly different story; Rapunzel swinging screaming from the tree, breaking branches, and splashing to a stop in the swamp below. The pictures keep the storyline clear. For example, the artist uses pictures that are monochromatic to denote flashbacks and dreams; this keeps readers clear on what is happening at all times.
This story uses many of the folktale tricks. Like a folktale there are stock characters: the evil witch, charming "prince", and a goose that lays the golden egg. Also like a folktale the adventure is larger than life, at one point Rapunzel battles a huge (approximately 30 foot long) snake. What makes this story intriguing is when it departs from it's folktale roots. Rapunzel is not a spoiled princess waiting locked in a tower to be rescued. Young audiences will enjoy this updated take on a timeless tale.
Review Excerpts
American Library Association Notable Books for Children Award 2009
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive. Knowing that there are more graphic novels to come from this writing team brings readers their own happily-ever-after."
BOOKLIST: "Hale’s art matches the story well, yielding expressive characters and lending a wonderful sense of place to the fantasy landscape. Rich with humor and excitement, this is an alternate version of a classic that will become a fast favorite of young readers."
Connections
*Have children read CALAMITY JACK (ISBN 978-1599900766) to find out what happens next to Jack and Rapunzel.
*Using a Venn diagram compare the folktale Rapunzel to RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE.
* Have children select another folktale, like the Three Little Pigs, and create illustrations for the story in comic book style and/or retell the story in modern times.
Bibliography
Hale, Shannon and Dean. 2008. RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE. Ill. by Nathan Hale. New York, NY: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books. ISBN 978-1-59990-288-3
Plot Summary
Rapunzel is raised by Mother Gothel, who has growth magic, in a villa with lots of servants and a very tall wall surrounding the villa. Curious, one day Rapunzel climbs the wall, and meets her real mother and other peasants who work in the mines for Mother Gothel. When confronted with the truth, Mother Gothel imprisons Rapunzel in a tall tree hundreds of feet off the ground. As Rapunzel grows older and her hair grows longer she learns to use her hair as a whip. Using her hair Rapunzel is able to escape the tree, travel back to the villa and confront Mother Gothel for the last time.
Critical Analysis
In addition to being a twist on a classic tale this story has been "Americanized" by placing Rapunzel in the old west as a setting. Between the authors' text and illustrator's drawings we have a clear sense of place in RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE. Children will enjoy all the tell tale signs of an old west story complete with horses, cowboy hats, spurs, and lots of action.
The pictures are an intricate part of the narrative giving a fuller scope of the story. For instance, when Rapunzel escapes from the tree the text is, "And then at last I managed to lasso the tree, swing gracefully from my prison, climb down the trees branches, and land triumphantly on the forest floor." The picture shows a slightly different story; Rapunzel swinging screaming from the tree, breaking branches, and splashing to a stop in the swamp below. The pictures keep the storyline clear. For example, the artist uses pictures that are monochromatic to denote flashbacks and dreams; this keeps readers clear on what is happening at all times.
This story uses many of the folktale tricks. Like a folktale there are stock characters: the evil witch, charming "prince", and a goose that lays the golden egg. Also like a folktale the adventure is larger than life, at one point Rapunzel battles a huge (approximately 30 foot long) snake. What makes this story intriguing is when it departs from it's folktale roots. Rapunzel is not a spoiled princess waiting locked in a tower to be rescued. Young audiences will enjoy this updated take on a timeless tale.
Review Excerpts
American Library Association Notable Books for Children Award 2009
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive. Knowing that there are more graphic novels to come from this writing team brings readers their own happily-ever-after."
BOOKLIST: "Hale’s art matches the story well, yielding expressive characters and lending a wonderful sense of place to the fantasy landscape. Rich with humor and excitement, this is an alternate version of a classic that will become a fast favorite of young readers."
Connections
*Have children read CALAMITY JACK (ISBN 978-1599900766) to find out what happens next to Jack and Rapunzel.
*Using a Venn diagram compare the folktale Rapunzel to RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE.
* Have children select another folktale, like the Three Little Pigs, and create illustrations for the story in comic book style and/or retell the story in modern times.
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