Whole Story of Half a Girl

Hiranandani, Veera. THE WHOLE STORY OF HALF A GIRL. Delacort Press. 2012. ISBN: 9780385741286

Sonia is a sixth grader who had been attending a small, private school all of her life. However, when her father loses his job, both Sonia and her sister must attend the local public school. Before changing schools, Sonia never gave much consideration to who she was and what she looked like, despite having an Indian father and Jewish mother. Yet, at her new school, this seems to be a common question asked by her peers. This now makes Sonia more conscious about trying to find her identity and ways to “fit in” (wherever that is). Within the story, the author also presents serious issues that impact many families today, including unemployment and depression. This book will resonate with many middle schoolers who struggle to find where they belong. Hopefully, like Sonia, they will discover that ethnic backgrounds, appearances, and socioeconomics do not matter and instead discover the importance of embracing who they are inside and out.

Reviewers have compared this book to those written by Judy Blume. I would have perhaps liked a little more background about Sonia’s father in terms of what he endured in India and his previous episode with severe depression. Overall, I enjoyed this book and think it will appeal to middle school students grades 5 and up.

Ice Island

Shahan, Sherry. ICE ISLAND. Delacorte Press, 2012. ISBN: 9780385741545

Shahan provides vivid descriptions of the Alaskan terrain and the brutal conditions that the young characters (Tatum and Cole) endured as they battled against the elements to survive. The descriptions of sled dog racing, the Siberian Yupik culture, and the inner drive of those who choose this extreme sport feel authentic. The glossary of Yupik words and dog sled terminology at the end of the book is a nice resource for readers. There were a few points where I would have liked a little more depth about the characters and their motivations.

This book will appeal to both boys and girls ages 10 and up who enjoy adventure and survival stories. Readers who liked Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet will also enjoy this book.

A Boy Called Dickens

Hopkinson, Deborah. A BOY CALLED DICKENS. Schwartz & Wade Books, 2012. ISBN; 9780375867323

The illustrations of this picture book are well done and help drive the story by depicting old London and the difficult childhood Dickens’ endured. Many people may be unaware of the financial struggles Dickens’ family faced when he was a boy, since the novelist kept this part of his life a secret for many years. While Hopkinson explains in her endnotes that the book is based on actual incidents and pieces that Dickens wrote about his own life, she does emphasize that it is a work of fiction. Readers will enjoy the overall message of the story of a young boy never giving up on his dream despite facing many difficult obstacles.

There are many very positive reviews for this picture book, however the topic and writing style may not resonate with all readers. There are many references to Dickens’ books and characters he created throughout this book, which may be unfamiliar to younger children. At times, I also felt the literary device of the narrator directly addressing the reader to be forced.

I would classify this book as an advanced picture book geared toward students in grades 3 to 5.

Touch Blue

1. Bibliography

Lord, Cynthia. TOUCH BLUE. 2010. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN: 9780545035316

2. Review

I loved TOUCH BLUE by Cynthia Lord. It is on the 4th grade summer reading list at my school and I will be highly recommending it to the students when they return.

The main character, Tess, is an eleven-year-old who lives on a small island off the coast of Maine. She is always carrying around her lucky charms and has lots of maritime superstitions, which helps since her father runs a lobster boat. However, Tess’ luck may soon run out when the state threatens to shut the school she attends and where her mother teaches. To save the school, several islanders decide to become foster families and increase the number of children living on the island. Aaron, a musically talented thirteen-year old comes to live with Tess' family. Although Tess is at first excited at the prospect of having a new family member, she eventually has her doubts as to whether Aaron will ever feel he belongs.

Written in a first-person narrative, Cynthia Lord does a wonderful job capturing the anxieties and concerns of eleven-year-old Tess. Through her characters, Lord demonstrates how patience, kindness, and sometimes a little luck can lead to happy endings.

3. Awards Won and Excerpts

• Booklist (August 2010): “The tight-knit community and lobster-catching details make for a warm, colorful environment. This is a feel-good story about letting go of your expectations and accepting the good things already in front of you.”

• Horn Book (starred) (November/December 2010): “This second novel from the author of the Newbery Honor book Rules features a thoughtful first-person narration by Tess that gives readers a real feeling for island life, with vivid descriptions of the sights and sounds and smells of the place Tess loves and desperately doesn't want to leave. Her sense of humor keeps things light…”

• School Library Journal (September 1, 2010): “Each chapter opens with a different saying that is used in the context of the story, which keeps readers guessing about its significance. They will feel an enormous amount of hope as they read Tess and Aaron's story. It delivers the message that everything happens for a reason, and that sometimes all you need to do is believe.”

4. Connections

• Recommended for readers ages 9 and up.

• Cynthia Lord also authored the Newbery Honor book RULES.

• Other children’s books that take place on islands off the coast of Maine include:
  -KEEP THE LIGHTS BURNING, ABBIE by Peter Roop (nonfiction; reading level 2.0)
  -ONE MORNING IN MAINE by Robert McCloskey (picture book; reading level 3.8)
  -SEAL ISLAND SEVEN by Susan Bartlett Weber (fiction; reading level 4.1)
  -THE SEA CHEST by Toni Buzzeo (picture book; reading level 5.2)
  -TIME OF WONDER by Robert McCloskey (picture book; reading level: 4.8)

• Other children’s books about foster family care include:
  -BUD, NOT BUDDY by Christopher Paul Curtis (fiction; reading level 5.5)
  -THE GREAT GILLY HOPKINS by Katherine Paterson (fiction; reading level 5.0)
  -PICTURES OF HOLLIS WOODS by Patricia Reilly Giff (fiction; reading level 6.4)
  -THE PINBALLS by Betsy Byars (fiction; reading level 4.9)
  -WHAT I CALL LIFE by Jill Wolfson (fiction; reading level 4.4)

Woods Runner

1. Bibliography

Paulsen, Gary. WOODS RUNNER. 2010. New York: Random House Children's Books. ISBN: 9780385738842

2. Review

In this historical fiction novel by Gary Paulsen, author of the Newbery Honor Book HATCHET, readers are taken to the backwoods of Pennsylvania during the early stages of the Revolutionary War. Samuel is a 13-year-old boy who is more at home in the deep forest than in the small cabin with his family. His family learns that a war is brewing in nearby cities, but they still feel far removed from the crisis. When Samuel returns from hunting, he discovers to his shock that his home has been burnt to the ground and his parents are taken prisoner by the British and Hessians (Germans soldiers for hire who were brutal during the war). Samuel then ventures out on his own to find them and along the way meets several people who help him. He discovers his own inner strength and must set aside his childhood to become a man in the midst of the danger and chaos. Paulsen includes fascinating historical blurbs before each chapter that give the reader some context as to what is happening in the book. A thrilling read, with some graphic war passages. Recommended for children ages 12 and up.

3. Connections

• Some other books by Gary Paulsen include:
  -BRIAN'S WINTER, BRIAN'S RETURN, and BRIAN'S HUNT
  -HARRIS AND ME
  -HATCHET
  -LAWN BOY and LAWN BOY RETURNS
  -MUDSHARK
  -THE RIVER

• Other books for middle schoolers about the Revolutionary War include:
  -Avi. THE FIGHTING GROUND
  -Fast, Howard. APRIL MORNING
  -Forbes, Esther. JOHNNY TREMAIN
  -Goodman, Joan. HOPE'S CROSSING
  -Harlow, Joan Hiatt. MIDNIGHT RIDER
  -O'Dell, Scott. SARAH BISHOP
  -Wisler, G. Clifton. KING'S MOUNTAIN
  

Rapunzel's Revenge

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hale, Shannon and Hale, Dean (authors) and Hale, Nathan (illustrator). RAPUNZEL’S REVENGE. 2008. New York: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books. ISBN: 9781599900704.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

In RAPUNZEL’S REVENGE, authors Shannon and Dean Hale retell the story of long-haired Rapunzel, but with a more modern and humorous twist. At the beginning, Rapunzel leads a secluded life in a grand villa surrounded by a towering wall. Her only companions are loyal servants and Gothel, whom she believes is her mother and possesses the power of “growth magic.” On Rapunzel’s twelfth birthday, she finally scales the mysterious wall and is stunned to discover the truth about the family she’s lost, Gothel’s identity, and the desolation of the land that spreads beyond her home. Soon after, Rapunzel is banished by Gothel to “a creepy tree,” but is eventually able to escape by using her long, red hair as a lasso. She then meets Jack, a funny and mysterious outlaw who helps Rapunzel find her way back to Gothel. With the use of their wits and Rapunzel’s skillful handling of her braided hair, Rapunzel and Jack seek justice for Gothel’s wicked deeds, save Rapunzel’s true mother, and discover their love for one another.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In the graphic novel RAPUNZEL’S REVENGE, authors Shannon and Dean Hale create a thrilling and unconventional retelling of the Rapunzel fairy tale. At the beginning of the story, Rapunzel reveals how she discovered the wickedness and deceit of villainous Gothel, whom she had been tricked to believe was her mother. When Gothel banishes Rapunzel to live within the hollow of a giant tree, Rapunzel manages to escape the prison by using her long locks. In her quest for vengeance, Rapunzel meets Jack, an outlaw with a sketchy past. Together they forge a friendship that eventually leads to trust and love. Unlike traditional Rapunzel fairy tails, this story is set in the Wild West, incorporating outlaws, gunfights, and rugged terrain.

Throughout the novel, Shannon and Dean Hale use amusing prose and dialogue, mixed with both sarcasm and wit. When one of Gothel’s henchman leaves Rapunzel in the towering tree, she explains that “I hoped he might come right back, that it was just a joke. But for all I knew, he’d been eaten by a wild boar in the forest. A girl can dream…” Chapter titles further add to the humorous story, including “Rustling Up Some Grub” and “The Shindig.”

Illustrator Nathan Hale masterfully shows the emotions of Rapunzel, such as her astonishment when she discovers the barren land that lies beyond the confines of her villa, her sadness when she meets her true mother for the first time, and her fierceness when she battles wild coyotes with the whip of her braids. Nathan Hale also cleverly uses sepia-toned pictures to cue readers to events that happened in the past, such as Rapunzel’s flashback of being torn from mother’s arms by Gothel, and the back-story of how Gothel gained her “growth magic.” Throughout the graphic novel, Hale’s dramatic and vivid drawings will captivate readers as they are whisked through Rapunzel’s journey, including her early years in the lavish grand villa, Gothel’s horrid mine camps, Jack and Rapunzel’s stay at Pig Tree Gulch, and Rapunzel’s battle with a vicious serpent.

Readers will thoroughly enjoy Rapunzel’s evolution to a strong, self-sufficient heroine who is determined to bring justice to the witch who separated Rapunzel from her birth mother. The classic fairy tale theme of good versus evil and a happy ending will feel familiar to readers, but the action-packed scenes, clever writing, and a southwestern flare will be an exciting surprise. Both boys and girls are sure to be entertained by RAPUNZEL’S REVENGE and eager to revisit the pages again and again.


4. AWARDS WON AND REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

• 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.”
  
  
• Kirkus Reviews: “A dash of typical fairy-tale romance, a strong sense of social justice and a spunky heroine make this a standout choice for younger teens.”
  
  
• School Library Journal (starred review): “This is the tale as you've never seen it before…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.”
  
  
• VOYA: “The Hale team creates an engaging heroine…This novel presents entertaining girl power at its quirkiest.
  
  

5. CONNECTIONS

• Recommended for children ages 10 and up.
  
  
• Children may be interested in exploring other tales of Rapunzel, such as:
  -A traditional tale: Zelinsky, Paul O. (adapter, illustrator) and Brothers Grimm (author). RAPUNZEL. 1997. New York: Dutton Juvenile. ISBN: 9780525456070. (Caldecott Medal Book)
  -A humorous tale: Wilcox, Leah (author) and Monks, Lydia (illustrator) FALLING FOR RAPUNZEL. 2003. New York: Penguin Group (USA). ISBN: 9780399237942.
  -A Caribbean retelling: Storace, Patricia (author) and Colon, Raul (illustrator). SUGAR CANE: A CARIBBEAN RAPUNZEL. 2007. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN: 9780786807918.
  
  
• Children may be interested to read other books by Newbery Honor winning author Shannon Hale, including:
  -Hale, Shannon. PRINCESS ACADEMY. 2005. New York: Bloomsbury USA. ISBN: 9781582349930. (Newbery Honor book)
  -The Books of Bayern Series:
  -Hale, Shannon. THE GOOSE GIRL. 2003. New York: Bloomsbury USA. ISBN: 9781582348438
  -Hale, Shannon. ENNA BURNING. 2004. New York: Bloomsbury USA. ISBN: 9781582348896.
  -Hale, Shannon. RIVER SECRETS. 2006. New York: Bloomsbury USA. ISBN: 9781582349015.
  
  
• To learn more about Shannon Hale, visit her Web site: www.shannonhale.com
  
  
• Children may be interested in other books authored and illustrated by Nathan Hale, including:
  -Hale, Nathan (author and illustrator). THE DEVIL YOU KNOW. 2010. New York: Walker & Company. ISBN: 9781616805388.
  -Hale, Nathan (author and illustrator). YELLOWBELLY AND PLUM GO TO SCHOOL. 2007. New York: Penguin Group (USA). ISBN: 9780399246241.
  
  
• To learn more about Nathan Hale, visit his Web site at: www.spacestationnathan.com
  

How I Live Now

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Rosoff, Meg. HOW I LIVE NOW. 2004. New York: Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN: 9780553376050.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

In Meg Rosoff’s, HOW I LIVE NOW, fifteen-year-old Daisy has a turbulent relationship with her father and pregnant stepmother. She is sent from her home in New York City to live with her aunt and teen cousins Edmond, Isaac, and Osmond, as well as their nine-year-old sister Piper at their farmhouse in the English countryside. Upon arrival to her aunt’s home, Daisy, who also struggles with an eating disorder, surprisingly feels that she “belonged to this house for centuries.” Daisy and her cousins often find themselves living alone, since Aunt Penn travels abroad. The cousins forge a bond—at times familial, amorous, and mystical. However, their carefree days abruptly come to an end when an unnamed enemy invades England. Daisy and Piper are forced to separate from the others and leave the safety of their home. Then begins Daisy’s struggle to survive in the countryside, desperate to find and rejoin her cousins, especially Edmond with whom she has fallen in love.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In the 2005 Michael A. Printz Award winning novel, HOW I LIVE NOW, author Meg Rosoff creates a gripping tale of teens becoming embroiled in World War III on the shores of a slightly futuristic England. Readers are told the story through the eyes of Daisy, a fifteen-year-old girl grappling with discovering who she is and where she belongs. Rosoff depicts Daisy as being insightful, sarcastic, and vulnerable. Over the course of the novel, Daisy evolves from a narcissistic teen to a survivor who is determined to save her cousins from harm.

Rosoff writes vivid descriptions of the characters, their actions, and the English countryside. For example, this is shown when Daisy describes her first encounter with Edmond: “…hair that looked like he cut it himself with a hatchet in the dead of night…he’s exactly like some kind of mutt…the ones you see at the dog shelter who are kind of hopeful and sweet and put their nose straight into your hand.” Daisy’s cousins also have the eerie ability to read minds. However, Rosoff is careful not to make the novel feel like science fiction, and instead the telepathy only emphasizes the uncommon bond that the cousins feel for one another.

While much of the plot seems plausible, Rosoff neglects to elaborate on some details that readers may want answered. Who are the hostile invaders infiltrating England? How do telephone and television communications become so widely disrupted? Why do English forces feel it necessary to split up the cousins? However, readers will be riveted to follow Daisy as she shares her coming of age story—discovering a place where she finally feels she truly belongs, finding her first love, and doggedly surviving in the wilderness when the world is crumbling around her. Rosoff does well to show how scared and defenseless Daisy feels as she tries to safely lead her young cousin Piper through the countryside, out of sight of hostile forces and in search for her other cousins. “For some stupid reason I started to cry then and I felt completely choked with despair and worthlessness and I couldn’t believe I was trying to lead Piper miles across England to find something the side of a microbe on a map when in my real life I couldn’t even find a clean pair of underpants in a chest of drawers.”

While the novel is written as Daisy’s stream of consciousness, long, run-on sentences are often cumbersome to read. Rosoff also seems to throw out grammatical rules—eliminating the traditional use of dialogue and instead prose and conversation are strung together. Readers may appreciate this somewhat creative way of telling the story, but it may also be distracting to some.

Many readers will have a hard time putting this novel down and will want to discover what becomes of Daisy and her cousins. However, some readers may be disturbed by some of the events that occur in the novel, including an intimacy that develops between Daisy and Edmond, and violent actions taken by the occupiers. During the last few chapters, Rosoff takes readers six years into the future and provides some insight on how the global conflict has impacted the cousins. While readers are taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, with elements of the story being funny, sad, troubling, and exciting, the novel ends with Daisy finding peace within herself and hopeful for new beginnings.

4. AWARDS WON AND REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

• Publisher’s Weekly: "This riveting first novel paints a frighteningly realistic picture of a world war breaking out in the 21st century…Like the heroine, readers will emerge from the rubble much shaken, a little wiser and with perhaps a greater sense of humanity."
  
  
• School Library Journal: “Daisy's voice is uneven, being at times teenage vapid, while elsewhere sporting a vocabulary rich with 50-cent words, phrases, and references. Rosoff barely scratches the surface of the material at hand. At times, this is both intentional and effective … but for the most part the dearth of explanation creates insurmountable questions around the basic mechanisms of the plot.”
  
  
• Kirkus Reviews: “This is a very relatable contemporary story, told in honest, raw first-person and filled with humor, love, pathos, and carnage.”
  
  
• 2005 Winner of Michael L. Printz Award
  
  
• 2005 Los Angeles Times Book Prize
  

5. CONNECTIONS

• Recommended for young adult readers ages 14 and up.
  
  
• Other YA fiction novels of dystopia that may be of interest to readers include:
  -Collins, Suzanne. THE HUNGER GAMES. 2008. New York: Scholastic, Inc. ISBN: 9780439023481.
  -Dashner, James. THE MAZE RUNNER. 2009. New York: Delacorte Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9780385737944.
  -Grant, Michael. GONE. 2008. Katherine Tegen Books. ISBN: 9780061448768
  -Haddix, Margaret Peterson. AMONG THE HIDDEN. 1998. New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. ISBN: 9780689817007 (first book of the Shadow Children Sequence).
  -Lowry, Lois. THE GIVER. 1993. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN: 9780395645666 (first book of a trilogy).
  
  
• To learn more about author Meg Rosoff, visit her Web site at: http://www.megrosoff.co.uk/
  
  
• Other fiction books by Meg Rosoff include:
  -Rosoff, Meg. JUST IN CASE. 2008. New York: Penguin Group (USA). ISBN: 9780452289376.
  -Rosoff, Meg. WHAT I WAS. 2008. New York: Penguin Group (USA). ISBN: 9780452290235
  -Rosoff, Meg. THE BRIDE’S FAREWELL. 2009. New York: Penguin Group (USA). ISBN: 9780670020997.