Review: Turtle in Paradise

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Holm, Jennifer. 2010. TURTLE IN PARADISE. New York: Random House. ISBN 0375836888

PLOT SUMMARY
It is 1935, and with the Great Depression in full swing, times are tough. It is here that we meet Turtle, a tough-as-nails eleven-year-old girl, who can’t stand other kids. When her mother’s new employer shares these sentiments and forces her to choose between her daughter and her job, Turtle is sent to Key West to stay with her Aunt Minerva and, much to her chagrin, her male cousins. Turtle’s new life turns out to be far more exciting than she expected, though, and soon, she is hunting smuggler’s treasure, dealing with the nefarious Diaper Gang (her cousins’ all-boys babysitting society), and trying to solve the mystery of a lifetime.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
As with many Depression-era stories, this one deals with the concept of escapism; from an old life, from the mundane, and from the Great Depression itself. What differentiates Holm’s work from others of its type, however, is character. Turtle herself is immensely likeable, if a little rough around the edges, and she almost immediately becomes an engaging protagonist for this type of fish out of water tale. Holm’s writing manages to straddle the fine line between authenticity and readability, which is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Turtle, although clearly a product of the 1930s, is relatable to readers of all ages, achieving a fine balance between sarcasm and sincerity. Tertiary details, particularly the prevalence of Shirley Temple, are a welcome addition to the story, adding greatly to the book’s strong sense of immersion. Holm manages to make the Great Depression seem real; not as a period of complete sadness, but as something that people persevere through together, finding good times where they can and coming together when they have to. In doing so, she has crafted one of the most sincere, believable, and most of all, human accounts of Depression-era life available in the historical fiction genre.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
BOOKLIST starred review: “the plot is a hilarious blend of family dramas seasoned with a dollop of adventure.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Readers who enjoy melodic, humorous tales of the past won't want to miss it.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “Infused with period pop culture references, a strong sense of place, and the unique traditions and culture of Key West natives…”

CONNECTIONS:
* This book would make an excellent lead-in to a unit on the Great Depression, as it humanizes the people of the time and demands further exploration as a class.
*Other books dealing with life in the Great Depression:
Lied, Kate. POTATO: A TALE FROM THE GREAT DEPRESSION. ISBN 0792269462
Moss, Marissa. ROSE’S JOURNAL: THE STORY OF A GIRL IN THE GREAT DEPRESSION. ISBN 0152046054
Sorenson, Margo. NOTHING IS FOR FREE. ISBN 0789102307

Review: Elijah of Buxton

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Curtis, Christopher P. 2007. ELIJAH OF BUXTON. New York, Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439023440.

PLOT SUMMARY
Elijah is the first free child born of runaway slaves in Buxton, Canada. Labeled “fragile” for his tendency to cry, Elijah once made quite the impression on one Frederick Douglas, by vomiting on him—a fact that his friends and family are quick to remind him of. Elijah lives something of a charmed life in Canada, until the theft of his friend Mr. Leroy’s freedom fund, which is intended to buy passage for his family back in the United States, is stolen. This kicks off a journey to the States for Elijah, and into the former lives of his parents, as he pursues the thief. There, he is subject to the rigors of life as a second-class citizen, as he comes to know first-hand why he was born in Buxton, and how not to be “fragile.”

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Elijah narrates his own story, and in doing so, will immediately form a close bond with most readers. A charming, endearing, and deceptively brave lead character, he forms the perfect lens through which to observe a seldom talked-about period in history; the lives of free former slaves across the Canadian border. Curtis manages to find the inner voice of a character in Elijah who, despite his fictitious origins, seems real, and is entirely too easy to become attached to. The world of Buxton is fully-realized, and demands further inquiry, perhaps even its own series. Additionally, Elijah’s philosophy and Buxton-style witticisms are welcome, refreshing, and charming diversions from the main plotline, serving to lighten the mood and provide additional characterization. While the book may be criticized by some for its flighty narrative, one must keep in mind that the inner thoughts of a young boy are seldom linear.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Newbery Honor Book
BOOKLIST starred review: “Many readers drawn to the book by humor will find themselves at times on the edges of their seats in suspense...”
KIRKUS REVIEWS: “many readers, young and old, will finish and say, "This is one of the best books I have ever read."
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “The powerful ending is violent and unsettling, yet also manages to be uplifting.”

CONNECTIONS:
* This title’s first-person narrative is an ideal lead-in to journal writing as a class. Make Elijah’s life observations teachable by asking students to record some of their own after each session.
*Other books dealing with slavery and the Civil War
Hopkinson, Deborah. FROM SLAVE TO SOLDIER: BASED ON A TRUE CIVIL WAR STORY. ISBN 0689839669
Allen, Thomas. HARRIET TUBMAN, SECRET AGENT: HOW DARING SLAVES AND FREE BLACKS SPIED FOR THE UNION DURING THE CIVIL WAR. ISBN 0792278895
Murphy, Jim. THE BOYS WAR: CONFEDERATE AND UNION SOLDIERS TALK ABOUT THE CIVIL WAR. ISBN 0395664128

Review: Catherine, Called Birdy

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cushman, Karen. 1995. CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY. New York, Harper Collins. ISBN 0064405842.

PLOT SUMMARY
Birdy, an unfortunate denizen of medieval England, finds herself doubly unfortunate when her father sets about to finding her a potential husband. While she does not rule out the possibility of marriage some day, each of her suitors is worse than the last. Using her fine acting skills and a little bit of trickery, Birdy manages to repulse each… that is, of course, until the arrival of the equally repulsive Shaggy Beard, her most unappealing, and also her richest, suitor to date. Can Birdy avoid a nightmare of a life as Shaggy Beard’s wife, or is her latest suitor too much for even her to handle? Find out in Karen Cushman’s Newberry Award-winning masterpiece.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Written as a journal, the first thing one will notice in Cushman’s work is the immense level of detail. Medieval life is documented with startling accuracy; furthermore, this factual information is presented not as a history lesson, but as a way of life, as interesting as it is intricate. Birdy herself is an immensely likeable protagonist, one whom the reader will support wholeheartedly from the start, triumphing along with her as she thwarts the advances of her father’s hand-picked suitors. She is a powerful female lead and an excellent role model, a brave girl who stands up for herself in an age when women were property. Of course, this would all be for naught if Cushman’s narrative fell short. However, as with virtually any book bearing the Newbery Award on its cover, one can approach this title with confidence, knowing that this is hardly the case. Cushman presents an engaging, exciting, dramatic read, with a strong female lead and historical accuracy to spare.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Newbery Honor Book
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “A feminist far ahead of her time, [Birdy] is both believable and lovable.”
BOOKLIST review: “Birdy's is the only real voice. Fortunately, it's a sprightly voice, complete with its own brand of cursing ("God's thumbs!"), that moves the action."
KIRKUS REVIEWS: “at once comic and thought-provoking, this first novel is a delight.”

CONNECTIONS:
* This title is a quintessential work of feminist literature, and a cornerstone of any unit involving women in books
*Other Karen Cushman books about the lives of women in difficult times
Cushman, Karen. THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE. ISBN 006440630X.
Cushman, Karen. MATILDA BONE. ISBN 0440418224

Book Review: Mr. Sam

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Blumenthal, Karen. 2011. MR. SAM: HOW SAM WALTON BUILT WALMART AND BECAME AMERICA’S RICHEST MAN. New York: Viking Juvenile. ISBN 0670011770

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Sam Walton was a remarkable man who pioneered a remarkable business model, creating the biggest and most successful retail chain the world has ever known. In Karen Blumenthal’s Mr. Sam, she takes us through his journey from rags to riches, and everywhere in between, in Mr. Walton’s pursuit of the American Dream. Supplemented by plenty of visuals, including black-and white photos, charts and graphs, and even a silly cartoon or two, Blumenthal sets out to make the world of business accessible and fun for children.

Blumenthal distills Walmart’s business philosophy into terms that are accessible to a young audience, making sense of the corporate world and those that operate it in a way that they can understand. Underneath the somewhat controversial superstore, there is a very human story of American triumph in the face of adversity, one which makes it seem attainable by anyone. Readers are invited to watch Mr. Sam’s Walmart grow from a single Ben Franklin variety store in Arkansas to an entire country of Walmart, reminded all along of the virtues of hard work, determination, and most importantly, a clever business model.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Blumenthal exercises her considerable strength as a writer to craft a narrative that younger readers will easily understand, even when dealing with such complex concepts as business growth and distribution of income. The ample charts provide useful visual aids for readers still learning charts and graphs, and help to make sense of some of the more advanced aspects of a book that, at its core, is about economics as much as it is about people.
Black-and-white shots, interspersed liberally throughout the text, give the history surrounding Walmart a sense of humanity and realism. However, while the book does thoroughly cover Sam Walton’s business pursuits, it is somewhat sparse in information about his life away from work.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
NEW YORK TIMES review: “Smart, funny, full of good stories and telling detail…”
BOOKLIST review: “… compelling reading—particularly for would-be entrepreneurs.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Invite children to work in groups designing their own businesses, complete with business plans.

*Other works of business-related literature by Blumenthal:
Blumenthal, Karen. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL GUIDE TO STARTING YOUR FINANCIAL LIFE. ISBN 030740708X
Blumenthal, Karen. STEVE JOBS: THE MAN WHO THOUGHT DIFFERENT. ISBN 125001445X.

Book Review: Bodies from the Ice:

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Deem, James. 2008. BODIES FROM THE ICE: MELTING GLACIERS AND THE RECOVERY OF THE PAST. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 061880045X

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Glaciers are equal parts majesty and mystery, enthralling observers not only through their sheer magnitude, but for the secrets they conceal. In Bodies from the Ice, author James Deem teaches children about the mysterious and powerful glaciers, and, through recent scientific discoveries, what life must have been like in this harsh terrain thousands of years ago. Supported by beautiful, full-color photographic imagery on each page, Deem takes readers on a breathtaking journey through Niederjoch Glacier, and the enigmatic peoples who once inhabited it.

The third in his series of Bodies books, Deem’s latest work on the frozen tundra of Neiderjoch chronicles the discovery of Otzi, a 5,300-year-old frozen mummy—the oldest of its kind—and how this discovery has shaped our understanding of a long-lost people. In doing so, Deem provides a lively and thoroughly informative look at living in extreme temperatures, and how this impacts the lives of the people living there. The Neiderjoch Glacier, both stunning and deadly, adorns many pages of Bodies from the Ice, and provides a visceral backdrop for the mystery within; a society that, even today, we still do not fully understand.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Deem is adept at using imagery to further a narrative, and Bodies from the Ice proves no exception. Footage of Neiderjoch, compelling in its clarity, guides the reader along and provides a sense of both realism and magnitude, offering an almost three-dimensional experience. While Deem does not shy away from speaking directly to his audience about death, he does so in a tone that is frank and accessible to a younger audience. Some of the photographs, especially one of mummified children, may, however, be a little graphic for children in the earlier grades. Nevertheless, Bodies from the Ice is clearly written from an informed perspective, conveying factual information concisely and with a solid sense of credibility. Deem’s third effort proves a worthy addition to the critically-acclaimed Bodies series.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
KIRKUS REVIEWS starred review: "An intriguing read, complementing the author’s highly commended Bodies from the Bog (1998) and Bodies from the Ash (2005), with a bonus environmental message..."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL starred review: “With its extensive bibliography, suggested Web sites, and a listing of glaciers to visit, Bodies is a fantastic resource.”
BOOKLIST review: "There are books about melting glaciers and books about frozen bodies, but this attractive offering combines the topics in a way that will intrigue readers.”


5. CONNECTIONS
*Other books in the Bodies series:
Deem, James. BODIES FROM THE ASH: LIFE AND DEATH IN ANCIENT POMPEII. ISBN 0618473084
Deem, James. BODIES FROM THE BOG. ISBN 0618354026
Other accessibly-written books on glaciers:
Brimner, Larry. GLACIERS. ISBN 0516271911.
Simon, Seymour. ICEBERGS AND GLACIERS. ISBN 0688167055.

Book Review: Charles Darwin (Giants of Science)

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Krull, Kathleen. 2010. CHARLES DARWIN. Ill. by Boris Kulikov. New York: Viking Children’s. ISBN 0670063355.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Charles Darwin has attained legendary status in scientific and nonscientific circles alike, but what about the man behind the theory? Charles Darwin himself was a fascinating person, who went public with the theory of evolution at great personal risk. Krull takes the reader on a journey through Darwin’s childhood, to his journey on the H.M.S. Beagle, and back home, where he lived for a further twenty years before he would publish the Origin of Species.

Charles Darwin, another entry in Krull’s critically acclaimed Giants of Science series, brings to light the real life of a real man who just happened to revolutionize science as we know it. Darwin grows, throughout the book, from an underachieving student whose headmaster once “humiliated him in front of the entire school for wasting his time,” to the revered (and reviled) Father of Evolution that we know today. Krull’s accessible writing and clever narrative once again bring a true Giant of Science to life for young readers.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Krull speaks frankly and concisely to her readers about mature topics such as controversy, risk, and intellectual censorship, helping to make these concepts accessible and engaging to young readers. Krull’s Giants of Science series is known for its ability to make historical figures relatable, and Darwin is no exception. Krull makes good use of credible resources in crafting an accurate narrative that also entertains. While Kulikov’s pen-and-ink artwork is never pivotal to the overall purpose of the book, it does serve to add a welcome and aesthetically-appealing visual aid that in no way detracts from the experience.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
BOOKLIST starred review: “…this succinct offering will be an excellent resource for contemporary, classroom discussions..”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “Krull does a fabulous job at making Darwin real, from boyhood to adulthood.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Invite children to work in groups designing their own ecosystems, and the animals that inhabit them.
*Other books in the Giants of Science series:
Krull, Kathleen. ISAAC NEWTON. ISBN 0142408204.
Krull, Kathleen. ALBERT EINSTEIN. ISBN 0670063320.
Krull, Kathleen. LEONARDO DA VINCI: GIANTS OF SCIENCE #1. ISBN 067005920X.