Hispanic/Latinx Cultural Book Reviews

 This blog post and information was created for a class at Sam Houston State University.

Morales, Yuyi. 2018. DREAMERS. New York: Neal Porter Books. ISBN: 9780823440559

 Plot Summary: Dreamers tells the story of a mother and a son immigrating from Mexico and finding their way as immigrants and new citizens in America. They discover the public library where they can take books off the shelf for free and utilize those books to better their lives. The mother and son see themselves in the stories and use then to learn how to read and write English.

 

Critical Analysis:

          What a great story Dreamers is that is easy to read and will resonate with a variety of readers.   A lot of readers do not think about the process of immigrants coming to the United States.  They might dismiss the fact that a lot of immigrants don’t know how to read or write English.  It’s very scary.  Morales explains in very simple terms the journey of coming from Mexico to the United States including finding a new home, making mistakes, and ultimately stumbling upon the public library.  Morales weaves in some Spanish words that the reader may not know the true meaning, but the reader is able to use context clues to figure out the words. 

          Morales offers vibrant and colorful illustrations to tell her story.  At the beginning of the story, the only colorful pieces to her illustrations are the mother and the son. The reader feels a sense of fear and darkness as they encounter their new world (the United States), but as the story goes on, more pieces of the illustrations are laced with bright colors.  This is a great way to show the reader that as the mother and the son becoming more entwined with the American culture and living, they are becoming happier and are more hopeful for the future. There are also pieces of their Mexican culture on every page including a guitar from home, a Mexican skeleton, and a Mexican dog.

Review Excerpts:  

Kirkus Starred Review: “A resplendent masterpiece.”

 Publishers Weekly Starred Review: “Many books about immigration describe the process of making new friends and fitting in; this one describes what it’s like to become a creative being in two languages, and to learn to love in both.”

 Connections:

          When learning about the immigration process, this book is a great addition.  A lot of picture books or young adult chapter books that share immigration focus on the main character trying to make friends and navigate school.  Dreamers gives the reader a new outlook on learning how to read, write, and understand new rules.

          Readers can use Morales’s story, which she shares at the back of the book, to research her story further and how she came to America.  Students could also research their own families’ histories.  Each student may not necessarily be an immigrant, but somewhere in their family line a relative had to have come from another country.  This would give a great opportunity for students to share and learn about other cultures.

Mora, Pat. 2007. YUM! MMMM! QUE RICO!. Illus. by Rafael Lopez. New York: Lee & Low Books Inc. ISBN 9781584302711

 Plot Summary: This book shares information about America’s favorite foods before it was divided into different countries including peanuts, pineapples, chocolate, and many others.  Mora presents each food in a Haiku poem and then offers a small paragraph of factual information about the food sharing where the food originated from, how the food is used, and other fun facts.

Critical Analysis: This book takes into account not only foods that are native to one specific Hispanic country, but offers light to foods from a variety of Hispanic countries.  Presenting the initial information in the form of a Haiku brings a new form of writing to the reader.  Instead of stopping there, Mora offers the reader more information with the factual paragraph on each page. 

          Lopez adds to the appeal of this book with his vibrant and colorful illustrations.  His illustrations really show the joyful and fun side of the Hispanic culture with the smiling foods, and happy children.  He includes Hispanic characters on almost every page that look native to the country where the food originates.  By the end of the story, the reader feels like he or she understands a little more about the origin of some of the most popular foods that we eat in America.

Review Excerpts:

Kirkus Review: “More interesting as social science than as poetry, but visually gorgeous.”

 Amazon: “Exuberant illustrations bring to life the delicious spirit of the haiku, making Yum! ¡Mmm! ¡Qué Rico! America's Sproutings an eye-popping, mouth-watering treat. Open it and dig in!”

 Connections: This book would be a great way to introduce Haiku poetry to students of all ages.  Students could work in groups to create their own Haiku poems or work individually.  Classes could create their own books like Yum! MmMm! Que rico! by writing their own Haiku poems, completing some research on the poem topic, and then writing a factual paragraph to accompany the poem.  Completing a project like this would be a great cross-curricular activity to touch on Social Studies, Writing, Science, and Language Arts.

Medina, Meg. 2013. YAQUI DELGADO WANTS TO KICK YOUR ASS. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 9780763671648

Plot Summary: Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass shares the story of Piddy Sanchez who moves to a new school and has an enemy from day one.  Piddy struggles to figure out why Yaqui Delgado is mad at her and wants to hurt her.  Piddy works very hard in school and works weekends at a salon shop to save money for extra clothes and things her mom can’t afford.  Yaqui ends up attacking Piddy while Yaqui’s friends record the beating and putting it online for all the school to view. Piddy ends up down a road where she skips school, lets her grades plummet, and she must decide whether to tell the school administration about Yaqui’s beating.  In the end, Piddy finds out more about herself and discovers help where she didn’t think she would have found help.

Critical Analysis: Despite some of the foul language, starting with the title, this is a great novel that many teens will relate.  Yes, this story is primarily about the bullying incidents and how teens should or shouldn’t handle these types of situations, but Medina does an incredible job touching on other issues like body image, teen friendships, and teen romances.  These are all current issues that teens seem to be dealing with at even earlier ages than ten years ago.

          Along with attacking pressing teen issues, Medina weaves in a variety of Spanish words that the reader may not understand but can deduce meaning based on context clues.  Piddy’s mother’s expectations of her actions, and the way she dresses showcase many Hispanic values and traditions.

Review Excerpts:

Kirkus Starred Review: “Far more than just a problem novel, this book sheds light on a serious issue without ever losing sight of its craft.”

Goodreads:  “In an all-too-realistic novel, Meg Medina portrays a sympathetic heroine who is forced to decide who she really is.”

Connections: A large majority of young adults will be able to find value in this novel.  Finding oneself and navigating challenges as a young adult are very difficult.  Medina highlights resources within schools and home that students will be able to utilize to help them solve their problems. 

          After enjoying this novel, students would also enjoy Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina where she tells the story of a sixth-grader who is trying to navigate other difficult changes with friends and family.

Engle, Margarita. 2013. THE LIGHTNING DREAMER: CUBA’S GREATEST ABOLITIONIST. Boston/ New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN: 9780544541122

Plot Summary: The Lightning Dreamer tells the story of Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda, nicknamed Tula, who is an abolitionist in Cuba in the nineteenth century.  Since opposing slavery was so risky, using free verse poetry was a way to share your story, but in a hidden way.  Although the story is slightly fictionalized, Engle includes poems written by Tula, Tula’s brother, the housekeeper, orphans, and nuns who try to give Tula an outlet through books in the library.  Part of the experiences Tula faces include being married off at the age of 14 to better her family’s life.

Critical Analysis: Engle writes in free verse poetry using a variety of characters’ perspectives.  First, using poetry to write about a poet showcases to the reader what the main character might have been feeling during his or her life.  Second, providing the reader with a range of viewpoints helps the reader to better visualize this time in history because the reader sees and hears from all areas.  Free verse poetry is a great way to engage young readers because they can better understand the author’s intentions. 

          As hard as it might be for young readers of today to understand, it’s very interesting to include a forced betrothment because it’s just one of many traditions that might have been encountered in the Cuban culture during this time period.

Review Excerpts:

Goodreads: “In passionate, accessible verses of her own, Engle evokes the voice of this book-loving feminist and abolitionist who bravely resisted an arranged marriage at the age of fourteen, and was ultimately courageous enough to fight against injustice.”

Kirkus Review: “Fiery and engaging, a powerful portrait of the liberating power of art.

Connections: Most young adults are taught that slavery is an issue and an act that only occurred in early American history.  This book is a great introduction to slavery in another country. Students could work in groups to research slavery in Cuba, how it started, if and how it ended, and enjoy learning about heroes like Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda who used writing to make a difference. 

          Students would also enjoy The Poet Slave of Cuba, also by Margarita Engle.  Another book by Margarita Engle that students would enjoy is The Wild Book where the main character struggles with dyslexia and navigates how to learn with this learning difference.

African American Book Reviews

 This post was completed for a Masters class at Sam Houston State University.

Lester, Julius. 1994. JOHN HENRY. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney. New York: Puffin Books. ISBN: 9780140566222

 Plot Summary: John Henry tells the legend of a mountain of a man named John Henry who has the strength and power of ten men or more combined.  He spends his days using his strength to chop down woods, smash boulders and make roads, and carves space through a mountain faster than a machine. 

 Critical Analysis:

          This retelling of a famous African American ballad shares a hero with the literature world.  As far as the author knows, John Henry wasn’t a real person, but there are some that believe a version of John Henry existed.  Lester uses incredible figurative language that weaves beautiful imagery throughout the story including referencing some African American history such as sg “the boulder shivered like the morning when freedom came to the slaves.”  Using the imagery of a rainbow shining over John Henry and even wrapped around his arms when there wasn’t enough room to shine in the sky above him shows the reader how much of a hero John Henry was to the people in his community. As hard as it might be to actually believe that a person who can chop down a whole forest by himself, race on foot against a man on a horse and win, hammer a boulder the size of a mountain and create a road existed, Lester gives the African American community a hero to look up to and emulate.  No, we can’t do the same tasks, but John Henry worked for his community with an open heart, didn’t let himself get discouraged, and attempted the impossible. 

          Pinkney, as a Caldecott award winning illustrator, does an incredible job of showcasing John Henry and other African Americans with accurate skin tones and features.  John Henry is illustrated as being larger than all the other characters in the story, which adds to his larger-than-life personality and incredible strength.  His illustrations were created using watercolor and add vivacious realistic details to the story.

Review Excerpts:  

Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review: “This carefully crafted updating begs to be read aloud for its rich, rhythmic storytelling flow, and the suitably oversize illustrations amplify the text.”

Kirkus: “Pinkney's watercolors walk a smart and lovely line between ephemerality and sheer natural energy.”

Connections:

          I would definitely include John Henry in a tall tale/legends unit.  Students could read about other legends like Paul Bunyan or Pecos Bill.  Students could compare and contrast. 

          Students could also compare other stories about John Henry such as John Henry: An American Legend by Ezra Jack Keats or Steel Drivin’ Man-John Henry- the Untold Story of an American Legend by Scott Reynolds Nelson.

King, Martin Luther &  Nelson, Kadir. 2012. I HAVE A DREAM. New York: Random House Children’s Books. ISBN 9780375858871

 Plot Summary: Readers get to enjoy some of the highlights, or most important words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s most famous speech in I Have a Dream.  The book is accompanied by gorgeous paintings that explain in a visual way some of the words from the speech.  The book is also accompanied by the speech in its entirety and a CD with a recording of the original speech.

 Critical Analysis: I have read a lot of books about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. including helping students locate the books in the library for research projects.  This book seems to have topped almost all of them.  Breaking apart his speech can be difficult for young scholars because understanding the time period might be difficult.  However, the story starts with breaking apart the speech into smaller chunks and focusing on some of the most important words.

          Accompanying this most famous speech are the oil paintings from Kadir Nelson.  Each page adds a visual representation of the words that matches perfectly.  Nelson focuses ono sharing children of all colors including accurate paintings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his family.  Nelson even shares different scenery from across our great nation to add even more value to the words.  The reader feels like he or she was present for the speech because the paintings depict the March on Washington so well.  Using the doves at the end to represent freedom and hopefully peace make this book even more valuable.  Young readers will be able to understand the importance of this historical event after reading this rendition of this most famous speech.

 

Review Excerpts:

Coretta Scott King Honor Award, Parents’ Choice Foundation Silver Honor

 Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review: “A glorious interpretation of a bedrock moment in 20th-century history.”

 Kirkus Starred Review: “An award-winning artist captures the passion and purpose of this most notable 20th-century American speech in beautifully realized oil paintings.”

 Connections:

After readers have enjoyed this story, I would highly encourage them to conduct their own research on not only Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and legacy, but to also find information on other Civil Rights leaders.

Students could also look at I have a Dream with a foreword written by Coretta Scott King to compare and gather more information. Another book that might be good to compare to is Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport.

Zoboi, Ibi. 2017. AMERICAN STREET. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN: 9780062473059

Plot Summary: American Street shares the story of a young Haitian immigrant, named Fabiola Toussaint, who may have been born in America, but has spent her life in Haiti.  On her way to meet her aunt and cousins in Michigan, her mother is detained, and Fabiola must navigate a new home, new school, and new romance by herself.  Fabiola learns along the way that freedom seems to come at some heavy costs as she works to try to free her mother.

Critical Analysis: This novel will pull at the heart strings and engage almost any young adult or adult reader.  Zoboi can connect the reader with the life of an immigrant as she draws on her own experiences as an immigrant come to New York.  When most readers read about or hear about VooDoo, they immediately think witchcraft and evil.  However, Zoboi can show the reader that this is another form of faith and part of the Haitian culture as Fabiola relies on her lwas, or Haitian spirits, to support her as she tries to locate her mother.  Young adults will be able to relate to the themes of friendship and romance that Fabiola encounters as she builds her new home and family in America. 

          One thing to be aware of is the crude language throughout the story, but the life of drugs and struggling in poverty seems to be where this kind of language would be predominant.

 Review Excerpts:

Kirkus Starred Review: “ Filling her pages with magic, humanity, tragedy, and hope, Zoboi builds up, takes apart, and then rebuilds an unforgettable story.”

 Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review:  “Mixing gritty street life with the tenderness of first love, Haitian Vodou, and family bonds, the book is at once chilling, evocative, and reaffirming.”

 Connections: Students may not know much about immigrant laws and the process of becoming an American citizen. This could be a research project for students.  They could compare and see how often it is that immigrants are detained due to improper paperwork.

          Students could take the project further and research the first immigrants to come to the United States. Where did our founding fathers come from?  What ideals and motives drove them to start our country and create the Constitution and laws?  Some students may even connect this to the recent theater performance of Hamilton that has been showing on television. Students could make plans to help immigrants set up their own businesses and start their new lives in America. 

          Students could also complete a research project on the Haitian culture.  How much is VooDoo still practiced?  When Haitians immigrate to the United States, how many continue the practice?  This would be a great opportunity for students to complete research on a new culture.

Reynolds, Jason. 2017. LONG WAY DOWN. New York: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division. ISBN: 9781481438261

 Plot Summary: Long Way Down shares the gripping story of Will after he has seen his older brother, Shawn, shot and killed.  Will must follow the rules of the impoverished: no crying, no snitching, and that he must get revenge.  Reynolds uses free verse poetry to tell Will’s story as he meets various characters from his past on his journey to make amends with his brother’s death.

Critical Analysis: This book is a great way for young adults to stop and focus on choices they are making in their daily lives.  Hopefully, daily choices won’t include revenge for a family member’s death, but the message of thinking about what you do and how it will affect others down the road is important.  Reynolds shares the anguish of the main character, Will, using free verse poetry that reads freely and easily.  Any young adult will be able to follow the story and understand the African American dialect that Reynolds “speaks.”

          One of the main focuses that Reynolds wants to portray to his readers is that of gun violence and how not only your actions will affect your future, but serious actions such as ones that involve guns will be life altering. 

Review Excerpts:

Newberry Honor Book, Printz Award Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Honor Award

Kirkus Starred Review: “Throughout, readers get a vivid picture of Will and the people in his life, all trying to cope with the circumstances of their environment while expressing the love, uncertainty, and hope that all humans share.”

 Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review: “Written entirely in spare verse, this is a tour de force from a writer who continues to demonstrate his skill as an exceptionally perceptive chronicler of what it means to be a black teen in America.”

 Connections: Older students will be able to connect gun violence issues from the story with current events happening now.  Most recently, the Uvalde elementary school shooting has prompted politicians and citizens alike discussing gun violence and future gun laws.  Students could present current events including current laws along with offering their ideas for what should be put in place for the future. 

          Students might also enjoy Jason Reynolds’ graphic novel version of Long Way Down. Comparisons could be made between the two versions.  Student could also complete a survey of students reading both versions to see which one had more of an impact: the poetry/novel version or the graphic novel version. Students could discuss and compose ideas of why that version is more popular.

Final Reflection of Digital Tech for the School Librarian

 Final Reflection for Digital Tech for the School Librarian

    What a surprising, slightly stressful, and fulfilling semester this has been in the Digital Tech. for the School Librarian course.  I would never classify myself as "tech savvy," but I still felt I knew a little more than the average educators I work with due to my exposure to different technological resources.  I found out I was wrong.  

What am I most excited about?    

    We began the semester looking at Social Media.  I was very excited because I know most of the popular social media platforms and use them on a daily basis.  However, I discovered I hadn't been using them to their potential especially when it comes to the library.  Not only can you use your sites for sharing library announcements and news, but you can also share needed literacy information.  I also really enjoyed finding librarians who have been in the business much longer than me and following them for inspiration. They share all the tips and give me hope to create resourceful sites that my library community can use.

    I can also say that I'm excited about the use of comics and comic creations within the library.  I have been one of those that never liked comics. I never liked to read them as an adolescent, and I wasn't seeing the advantage of graphic novels.   As it turns out, I enjoyed creating the comics using the different sites.  I also say great potential in how I can use them to catch my readers' attentions, and see great value in letting my scholars create their own comics.

Which technology was most difficult for me?

    Surprisingly, I found the Podcasts the most difficult for me to use.  I was very thankful to have had a partner working on this assignment with me.  I listen to Podcasts all the time because I don't like time wasted and I spend a lot of time in the car driving to and from work.  I assumed that since I listen to them all the time that the platforms used to create them would be easy to navigate.  It was difficult for me and took me much more time than I had originally planned.  Podbean seemed to be a pretty popular site, but I think I'll just stick with listening to them for now.

Which one will be most beneficial for my students?

    This is a very difficult question to answer because I plan on utilizing all the new technology I was exposed to during this course within my library.  I think the Screencasts will be the most beneficial to my students.  First, it offers a variety of creation possibilities for all of my different students.  Students can create an instructional video, a book trailer, or even share a story they wrote.  I an also utilize screencasts to show library procedures, read-aloud stories, and literacy lessons.  Students would not have to be present to receive the information, which is so great about screencasts.  Once created, the information can be posted and housed on a site where your library community has access twenty-four hours a day.

Conclusion

    Honestly, I was dreading this course when I first began.  I was so worried that I would mess up too many times when it came to new technology and I put too much pressure on myself.  However, I learned that if I just try I discovered I could navigate new platforms, learn a lot of new information, and consider myself on the road to becoming a little more tech savvy.  Jen Hatmaker discusses mission work in an article that can be applied to life as a librarian.  Hatmaker stresses the importance of listening to a community.  We need to ask them their needs, where they have been, what they have tried, and see where we can meet them.  Our libraries are not for just the librarian. Our libraries are there to serve a community.  If technology is where our community is right now, and most likely the future, than that's where we need to add more of our focus.

Check out my digital reflection using Animoto, one of my favorite discoveries from the semester.

Digital Reflection

Fantasy, Realistic Fiction, and Graphic Novel Book Reviews

 

Gaiman, Neil. 2008. THE GRAVEYARD BOOK. New York: Harper Collins Publisher. Audio Book: Narrated by: Neil Gaiman. Audio Book Released: Sept. 30, 2008.

Plot Summary: This fantasy story starts with a baby, almost two years old, that escapes the murderer who kills his parents and sister.  The baby manages to escape to a graveyard where his mother’s ghost asks the graveyard inhabitants to keep her boy safe.  Two ghosts who never had children in the living world decide to adopt him along with a guardian and other ghosts who watch over the boy. They name him Nobody Owens and call him Bod.  As Bod grows up learning the ins and outs of graveyard living, he encounters a living friend, Scarlett, a witch, and other friends who passed away long ago.  As Bod awaits the chance to live outside in the living world, he must figure out how to escape the man called Jack who killed his family and is still on a mission to find the boy and kill him.  In a surprise ending, Gaiman gives the reader hope that Bod will get to live a full life outside of the graveyard after ending the life of his family’s murderer.

 Critical Analysis: It’s no wonder this story won a Newbery Medal.  Every chapter in the story keeps the reader engaged and wanting to know what happens next.  You’re not just invested in what will happen to Bod and whether he will find the murderer of his family, but you also want to know more about the people who take care of him in the graveyard.  As much as a reader wouldn’t believe that ghosts could take care of a living boy, every event in the plot is consistent with the themes in the book. Gaiman also describes the setting of the graveyard so vividly that the reader is transported there.

            I highly recommend listening to the audio version of this book as it is narrated by the author himself.  Gaiman’s voice walks you through each event with different voices for some of the characters where you feel like you are walking next to the characters in the graveyard.  It seems to be better when the author narrates the audio version because he or she knows the characters and the characters’ intentions better than anyone and can portray the story to the reader in the best way.

            The only concern that might arise from this story is the detailed description of the family murders at the beginning of the story. Depending on the maturity of the reader, a parent might want to read the book first to be sure it is suitable. 

Review Excerpts:

Kirkus Starred Review: “Childhood fears take solid shape in the nursery-rhyme–inspired villains, while heroism is its own, often bitter, reward.”

Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review: “When the chilling moments do come, they are as genuinely frightening as only Gaiman can make them, and redeem any shortcomings.”

 

Connections: Themes in this story that include friendship, learning about one’s family, and finding one’s place in the world will appeal to the young adult readers of today.  Paired with a ghost story, which is very popular for the intended reading age, young readers will be more apt to dive into themes and concerns that they are encountering in their teen years. 

            Students might also enjoy doing some research on local or historical graveyards.  Students could research how headstones are created, different kinds of headstones, and even learn how famous people throughout history have been commemorated at their gravesites.

 

 

Law, Ingrid. 2008. SAVVY. New York: Puffin Books. ISBN 9780329756529

Plot Summary:  Mississippi (Mibs for short) is born into a family that has magical powers.  When each family member turns 13, he or she receives their magical power or “savvy.”  Right before Mibs turns 13, her father is in a terrible car accident.  Mibs wakes up on her 13^th birthday and embarks on an adventure to get to her father in the hospital.  She hops on the bus of a Bible salesman and discovers the bus is going in the wrong direction.  As Mibs travels to reach her father, she thinks her gift is waking people up, which is what she hopes to accomplish to save her father.  As the story continues, Mibs discovers her actual savvy is she can hear people through ink on their skin. This can be done through a tattoo or any writing on one’s skin.  Mibs is able to reach her father in time all while learning more about her gift the power of pushing through when life gets difficult.

 Critical Analysis: Another Newbery Honor, Savvy gives young readers a story in which they can relate despite the magical powers presented.  Even though it would classified as a Low Fantasy book, young readers will enjoy the unexplainable powers of each family member intertwined with themes of friendship and finding out yourself.  Law offers characters that are lighthearted, entertaining, and easily relatable for a young adult audience.  I also found it to be a very easy read and understandable. 

Savvy offers an experience for an older audience as well.  As Mibs battles through a tragic time in her life that she never thought she would encounter, she discovers she can push through the pain.  This appeals to a reader like myself who can recall how I handled and reacted to heartbreaking events in the past.  It led me to dig a little deeper to break apart how I handled those situations.

 Review Excerpts:

Kirkus Starred Review: “There are no serious villains here, only challenges to be met, friendships to be made and some growing up to do on the road to a two-hanky climax.”

The Children’s Book Review: “Ingrid Law’s first novel, Savvy, has many wonderfully colorful characters who collaborate on an unexpected and heartfelt journey.”

 Connections: I think young adults will enjoy the characters and the plot in this story that they will want to know more.  Readers get to continue the story of Beaumont family in Law’s sequel Scumble.

Since the story is set in the Nebraska/Kansas area of the country, this could be a point of research for a lot of students.  This might be an unknown area of the country that students could research and complete a project on.

 

 

 Telgemeier, Raina. 2010. SMILE. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 9781338740264

Plot Summary: Smile is a graphic novel based on a personal experience of the author.  Raina has a fall when she is in middle school that results in the loss of her two front teeth. She then encounters a four-year long journey of braces, fake teeth, retainers, headgear, and teeth pulling all to fix her smile and make it as close to normal as possible.  Along the way, Raina shares her experiences as a coming-of-age teenager who has crushes on multiple boys, embarrassment due to the way she looks, and friends who don’t treat her as true friends.  In the end, Raina enters high school and finds friends who respect her and love her for who she truly is and begins to enjoy her true passions of art and singing.

 Critical Analysis: As much as I haven’t been a fan of graphic novels, I really enjoyed reading Smile. In a simple form of cartoon drawings and fun speech bubbles, the reader is pulled into Raina’s world where you are immediately sympathetic to what she is going through as a teenager.  Telgemeier relates to her young adult readers with realistic events such as braces, acne, crushes, and friends making fun of her.  I think the young adult readers will be a little surprised, and hopefully inspired, by Raina finally standing up for herself when her friends pull down her skirt in front of the whole school.  Raina realizes a hard lesson that valuable friendship involves respect and love for the person; not a “friendship” where one is trying to change the other person and using their insecurities as jokes. 

            The drawings are very simple, colorful, and eye-catching to the reader.  Each event was easy to follow as you read through the story.  There were also lots of details to enjoy if you pay close attention or read back through a second time like the faded yellow pages when Raina was sharing a memory and pointing out the price tag on a Valentine’s Day gift Raina receives.

Review Excerpts:

Kirkus: “Irresistible, funny and touching—a must read for all teenage girls, whether en-braced or not.”

School Library Journal: “Telgemeier’s book is an excellent addition to middle school literature.”

Connections: Readers will not only enjoy this graphic novel, but will love Guts, Sisters, and Drama all written and illustrated by Telgemeier.  These graphic novels give young adult readers an outlet when navigating adolescent issues.

            The teenage issues presented in this graphic novel are very similar to Judy Blume stories.  Engaging in these graphic novels could be a first step to reluctant readers being introduced to another level of books that address real-life concerns like Frecklejuice or Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.

 

 

 

 Hale, Nathan. 2021. NATHAN HALE’S HAZARDOUS TALES: COLD WAR CORRESPONDENT. New York: Amulet Books. ISBN: 9781419749513

 Plot Summary: Enjoy a graphic novel that walks the reader through the eyes of Marguerite Higgins who was a reporter for the New York Herald Tribune in 1950.  After WWII, there was a split between the North and the South in Korea and things were tense on the borders.  Marguerite was present when a significant capture happened, which led her to flee with some other refugees.  She ends up risking her life all to make her newspaper story more interesting.  Along the way, she battles being told that women are not allowed on the frontline and she was ordered to leave Korea.  She meets General Douglas MacArthur who lifts the rule of no women on the frontline. Thanks to MacArthur, Marguerite can report on many major events in the Korean War.

Critical Analysis: I’m still learning to understand and even like graphic novels, but I’m starting to appreciate them when it comes to young readers.  Comics are generally filled with action i.e. Superman and Batman saving the city from an evil villain.  This graphic novel not only has action involved due to the nature of the Korean War, but it shares accurate history in a way that young readers can enjoy.  This story also brings to light an issue that has arisen recently, which involves women’s rights.  Young adults have been introduced to women making a difference in our country and this graphic novel is a great way to share some history of how a woman wanted to continue making an impact even though she wasn’t allowed to at first.

            The illustrations were created in black and white, which gives the reader a sense of being transported back to the historical events.  This story might take the reader a little longer to read due to the smaller pictures and smaller speech bubbles attached to each frame, but the comic book feel will still attract a lot of readers.

Review Excerpts:

Kirkus: “Beyond Higgins’ personal, gripping story, Hale coherently and accurately conveys the factors that led to the Korean War, the political gambling by the U.S. and the Soviet Union, and battle strategies.”

Youth Services: “Those wishing to have intricate details, albeit an overview, of the Korean War, who wish to have a first-hand account of the life of a war correspondent, particularly one of the very few women, this is the book for you.”

Goodreads: “Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales are graphic novels that tell the thrilling, shocking, gruesome, and TRUE stories of American history. Read them all—if you dare!”

 Connections: This book is a great start to learning about the Korean War.  The fact that this is written from the perspective of not only an American, but a female American, adds more value to the young adult reader.  Scholars could not complete a research project on Higgins and her life story, but scholars could also learn about other events during the Korean War.

            Students who loved learning about history through this graphic novel will enjoy the rest of the Hazardous Tales Series including the Alamo All Stars, The Underground Abductor, and Big Bad Ironclad.

 

 

 

Universal Design for Learning

Universal Design for Learning

    Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an approach to teaching and learning that focuses on giving all students an equal opportunity to learn.  It offers various ways for how students learn in order to engage and challenge them.  It also guides the teacher to different forms of student motivation.  What is great for all educators is that this form of learning helps educators with goals, methods, materials, and assessments in order to reach all learners.

    UDL has three major parts to its design which include Representation, Action and Expression, and Engagement.

    Representation is the way of learning.  This is when teachers can use multiple forms of media such as graphics and animations in order to share their lesson topic.  Action and Expression pertains to the how of the learning process.  This area allows the learner options for expressing what they know including models and feedback.  Engagement is the why of learning.  This is where students are allowed more choices and can take risks while learning from possible mistakes.  

    The library is a great environment to share UDL through lessons and projects.  "School library multimedia production activities have facilitated opportunities for learners to be engaged and to express their knowledge in non-traditional modes," (Robinson 2017).  School libraries are no longer places to just access books.  Our libraries house new technology and programs where students can express their creativity and share their learning in a variety of forms.

    Which guideline am I already using?

    Most educators may not realize that they are already using many elements of the UDL process.  Currently, I am providing options for comprehension (Guideline 3) and specifically, Checkpoint 3.1, where I am activating or supplying background knowledge.  Within all of my classes, all the way to down to Pre-K, I utilize graphic organizers like KWL charts to help students make connections to the topics I am teaching in the library to what they are learning in their regular classrooms.  I also use literacy to connect to Social Studies and Science topics that are taught in the classroom.  This way students are seeing that the library can be an extension to their learning where they can locate resources and learn more.

    Which of these guides could I add right now to my teaching practice?

    Considering the population of my students, I would like to add Checkpoint 2.4 where I would promote more understanding across languages.  Our bilingual population, specifically Spanish speaking, could have more vocabulary linking, translational skills, and more non-linguistic supports for the vocabulary such as pictures.  By including more information across the languages, I will include more of my community and help them know the library is an inviting place.

    Which of these look great, but I might need some help implement?

    Where I see myself needing support would be in Guideline 5- providing options for expression and communication, specifically in Checkpoint 5.1- using multiple multimedia for communication.  Locating and teaching my students how to use social media and interactive online tools is where I lack since I do not have much experience using these resources in my regular lessons. I know that in the library I have access to more of these tools, but my lack of experience hinders my students presently.  I need guidance in teaching my students how to compose and showcase their learning using things like comics, storyboards, film, or music.

    As I look to improve my UDL teaching skills, I found some resources that will further my lesson design to meet the needs of my diverse learners.  

    

    The first book is titled Design and Deliver by Loui Lord Nelson.  In this research based book, I can dive deeper into UDL and learn how to present information to my students in the true UDL format in order to meet their needs.

    

    

    Another book that will be very useful when expanding my use of UDL is Your UDL Lesson Planner by Patti Kelly Ralabate.  This book will really help me take the concepts of UDL to the next level and show me in a step-by-step format how to actually implement the UDL ideologies.  When educators are presented with new "curriculum" or a new form of teaching, we need visuals to help us implement in the correct manner.

    A third book that I highly recommend is Universal Design for Learning in Action by Whitney Rapp.  Now that I have the understanding of UDL and a few sample lesson plan ideas from the previous two books, I would like more creative ways to continue the UDL teaching process.  This book is not only research based, but it will give me fun and engaging ideas to share the UDL process with my scholars.

    UDL seems to be the best type of learning format for today's diverse students.  Our students learn in so many different ways, need a variety of accommodations and modifications, and have access to new and changing technology every day.  As educators, we need to meet them where they are so that we can show them how to be successful and functional adults in this world they are creating.

References: 

Robinson, D. (2017, September/October). Universal Design for Learning and School Libraries. Knowledge Quest- Beyond the Horizon. (Volume 46, 1). 

The UDL Guidelines. (2021, October 15). UDL. Retrieved April 23, 2022, from https://udlguidelines.cast.org/

Avoiding Copyright Infringement

 Avoiding Copyright Infringement

Check out this guide to learn more about Copyright Infringement.

Copyright Guide

Historical Fiction Book Reviews

 

 

Brubaker Bradley, Kimberly. 2015. THE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE. New York: Puffin Books. ISBN: 9780147510488

Plot Summary: Set in London during World War II, young Ada is not only fighting to survive a war being fought around her, but also battles a mother that doesn’t want her.  Ada’s mother is embarrassed by Ada’s crippled foot and keeps her locked in their one-bedroom apartment day in and day out.  Ada spends her time taking care of her brother, Jamie. When Jamie leaves, Ada decides it’s her turn, too.  Susan Smith is forced to take the two kids in where Ada begins to learn the true meaning of the word “home.”  While there, Ada learns how to read, ride a pony, and watch for German spies.  Ada and Jamie are enjoying their new life with Susan when they are forced to return to London with their abusive mother who quickly returns to her old ways of abuse and anger.  Bombs in the city and country reunite Susan, Ada, and Jamie and they conclude that this war saved all of their lives.

 Critical Analysis: It’s obvious why this story is a Newbery Honor book.  Bradley offers a moving story of a young girl battling what some would consider the unimaginable and manages to make it out of a terrible situation.  Religious themes along with abusive relationships and finding one’s place in the world guide the reader through an incredible World War II story. 

            Touching on the disability issue is important for young adults. Schools today are full of diverse kids.  Realizing there’s more to kids than what meets the eye is important.  Our main character still manages to take care of her brother while battling her disability and feeling the wrath of her abusive mother.  She was strong, brave, and resilient.

The only concern I can see with this book is amount of violence that might be too mature for some readers.  The abusive mother is an issue that might scare or make some young readers nervous.  Understanding what was going on during World War II and why innocent people had bombs dropped on their homes could be difficult for some readers.

Review Excerpts:

Kirkus Starred Review: “Set against a backdrop of war and sacrifice, Ada’s personal fight for freedom and ultimate triumph are cause for celebration.”

Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review: “Proving that her courage and compassion carry far more power than her disability, Ada earns self-respect, emerges a hero, and learns thot e meaning of home.”

 Connections: The War that Saved My Life could be great start for readers to do some research on not only World War II, but what has happening to children during this time.  A lot of students look at historical events as boring.  A story like this where the main character is a young child gives a connection for a lot of readers to begin learning about the past. 

            Students might also want to continue their adventures with Ada in Bradley’s novel The War I Finally Won.  Bradley picks up right after the events in the first novel and adds some new enticing characters.

 

 

Holm, Jennifer. 2006. PENNY FROM HEAVEN. New York: Random House Children’s Books. ISBN: 9780329646608

 Plot Summary: Penny is a young girl navigating adolescence all while trying to figure out how her father passed away.  Since her father died, so long ago that Penny barely remembers him, she is the only family link between her mother’s and father’s feuding families.  Her father’s family is a large Italian family who are not strait-laced versus her mother’s family who are very conservative to the point where Penny’s mother is afraid that she will get Polio from the lake.  Penny befriends all her family members, including the uncle that lives in his car, and starts to accept her mother’s new boyfriend along the way.  Along the way, she develops her own ideas and beliefs of life, death, and mortality. 

 Critical Analysis: Another Newbery Honor, Penny From Heaven gives young readers a story in which they can relate.  Even though it is set in the 1950’s, the concepts of feuding families, a close family member’s death, and struggling with your own beliefs are what a large percentage of our young adult population struggle to process during adolescence.  Since Holm’s uses her personal experience when sharing this story with the world, readers are more likely to connect to her characters and events.

 Review Excerpts:

Kirkus: “Holm has crafted a leisurely, sprawling period piece, set in the 1950s and populated by a large cast of offbeat characters.”

Goodreads: “And Holm tells it with all the richness and the layers, the love and the laughter of a Sunday dinner at Nonny’s. So pull up a chair and enjoy the feast! Buon appetito!”

 Connections: This book can lead to research and discussions on the Italian-American Internment, which isn’t spoken of in a lot of history classes or books.  Students could check out books like Una Storia Segreta: The Secret History of Italian American Evacuation and Internment During World War II by Lawrence Distasi or The Unknown Internment: An Oral History of the Relocation of Italian Americans During World War II by Stephen Fox.  Students hear a lot of about Jewish people being moved to camps and being forced to leave their homes, but may be unaware of events similar to this that occurred in the United States. 

            Penny’s mother’s fear of contracting Polio from the lake could spawn some Science research on this disease from the past including how it was contracted, results when you got it, and how scientists created the vaccine.

 

Frost, Helen. 2020. ALL HE KNEW. New York: Macmillan Publishing Group. ISBN: 9780374312992

 Plot Summary: Henry is a young boy who is growing up in the 1930’s and 1940’s and becomes deaf due a fever at the age of four. His school labels him as “unteachable,” and he’s sent to an institution where he is treated very harshly.  While at the institution, Henry is introduced to Victor, an objector to World War II and is offered a job at the institution as a replacement for being drafted into the war.  Victor sees more of Henry and realizes he is far from “unteachable.”  Readers are privy to different viewpoints when the author offers writing from Henry’s sister who speaks of the struggles to just visit her brother due to finances.  Victor helps Henry see that things can change for the better.

 Critical Analysis: Frost offers a new way of sharing rarely heard historical events through free-verse poems therefore combining Historical Fiction with Poetry.  Most young adult readers will find this to be an easier read because of the writing style.  A lot of World War II lessons and books don’t showcase what happens to those who might resist the war.  Frost’s story offers another perspective into what was going on during this time period besides Jewish concentration camps.  It does serve as another look into not judging someone based on a disability or learning difference.

 

Review Excerpts:

Kirkus: “An engaging, emotional read that tells an important story—with caveats.”

The Horn Book: “This is a quick read, full of historical richness and glimpses of the cruelty and abuse so common in the institutions of the era.”

Connections: Readers can find a connection to the very popular novel Inside Out & Back Again by Thannha Lai.  Lai’s book is written in very similar form, through the free-verse poetry, which makes both books very easy reads.  Both use child characters that young adult readers can easily relate and learn about possible historical events.

            Readers may also find interest in American Sign Language after reading this award-winning novel.  Students might even seek out deaf people within their communities to interview and get a clearer picture on what life is like for the deaf.

 

Reilly Giff, Patricia. 1997. LILY’S CROSSING. New York: Delacorte Press. Audio Book: Narrated by : Mia Dillon. Audio Book Released: 2008.

Plot Summary: This is a story about Lily and her friend, Albert, who come together in mutual grief and they help each other during the summer in the 1940’s.  Lily lives with her father and grandmother since her mother passed away when she was when she was very young.  The story starts with the end of the school year and Lily looking forward to the summer.  Her father has to leave to go fight the war overseas, and Lily’s friend Margaret moves away, which leads Lily to Albert.  Albert shares his stories with Lily of being a refugee from Hungary. Albert tells of his sister that he longs for who was left behind because she had Measles and couldn’t escape with him.  Lily and Albert form a strong bond and continue their friendship at the end of the story.

 Critical Analysis: I enjoyed the actual story and themes throughout the story, but the audible version wasn’t the best.  Mia Dillon’s reading was a little slow to start and the voice was a little monotonous.  As the reader works through the story, Lily’s habitual lying comes into play as it puts some people in danger.  She also is a recurrent daydreamer.  For young adults, these are two qualities that young adults can relate.  Giff does a great job of showing her readers World War II experiences through the eyes of a young adult along with common adolescent life.

 Review Excerpts:

Publisher’s Weekly: “Exceptional characterizations and a robust story line turn this WWII homefront novel into far more than a period piece.”

Compass Book Ratings: “This is an insightful and lovely story that brings both the pain of World War II and the innocence and shelter of childhood to life at the same time, in a way that only Giff can do.”

 Connections: This book is a great discussion starter for not only the importance of friendship, but also learning how to handle loss at a young age.  Not only is Lily learning to live without her mother, but has to deal with a close friend moving away and her father leaving her to go fight in a way.  Important questions of how she handles the losses and changes can be discussed along with what else could she have done in these situations.