The Green Glass Sea

Bibliography

Klages, Ellen. 2006. The Green Glass Sea. New York, NY: Penguin Group ISBN 0-670-06134-4

Plot Summary

Dewey Kerrigan is not like other girls her age. She likes to invent and loves math. Used to hopping between relative's homes while her father works on a secret "gadget" for the army during WWII, Dewey is ecstatic when she finally gets to live with him. Life on base is different than anticipated, however, but Dewey perseveres as she makes new friends, inventions and discoveries about herself. 

Critical Analysis

Although the setting of WWII runs deeply throughout the book, the plot of The Green Glass Sea is more so about Dewey, a young girl facing the struggles of a deformed leg, a love of "boy" things, constantly moving around and her developing relationship with her new roommate Suze. Despite the obstacles in Dewey's life she is a fantastic example for young girls because she does not dwell on any of them. She does not let the fact that one leg is shorter than the other stop her from doing much and does not hesitate to explain the circumstances of her childhood injury. She makes no apologies for her draw towards the mechanical inner-workings of objects or her love of numbers and math. Her nomadic existence clearly shaped her to be a strong, confident young girl. 

Klages dances around the development of the atomic bomb, never definitively informing the reader what the "gadget" is capable of, but not exactly ignoring it by describing "the huge green sea" the test run left behind and how "it was so hot that it melted the ground" and was "hotter than the sun itself." She also mentions its intention through the naive character Suze and how "it'll melt all the Japs." This approach keeps the book appropriate for younger ages, but gives enough information that older children can look further into the repercussions of the bomb. 

Review Excerpts

Scott O'Dell Award 2007

Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award Nominee 2009

"The novel occasionally gets mired down in detail, but the characters are exceptionally well drawn, and the compelling, unusual setting makes a great tie-in for history classes." -John Green, Booklist

Connections

*Discuss the beginning of WWII before reading the book up until the first year of the book, 1943. After reading the book discuss what happened the years following the book. Discuss how Dewey and Suze might have felt about the bomb after seeing its aftermath. Discuss how Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, Mr. Kerrigan and other scientists might have felt.

*Pair with nonfiction books concerning other aspects of the war, such as rations and women working to take the place of men at war.

Hattie Big Sky

Bibliography

Larson, Kirby. 2006. Hattie Big Sky. New York, NY: Delacorte Press ISBN 978-0-375-84641-0

Plot Summary

Hattie Brooks has lived the majority of her sixteen years hopping from relative to relative since the death of her parents. When her deceased Uncle Chester wills her his homestead claim in Montana, Hattie jumps at the offer to "prove up" her land and herself. 

Critical Analysis

Larson cleverly enfolds history into the entertaining, at times heart-wrenching novel Hattie Big Sky. On the surface it seems to be the story of a brave sixteen year old girl in 1917, but wartime history and land struggles that many homesteaders faced are incorporated into the plot in a way that deepens the reader's relationship with Hattie while at the same time setting the scene in a historically accurate way. Hattie Big Sky allows for more than just character and plot discussion. It provides an outlet for the reader to experience the difficulties of "proving up" land claims, living off of war rations, and being bullied by ignorant "patriots" all through the eyes of a easy-to-relate-to, good humored sixteen year old girl.     

Review Excerpts

2007 Newbery Honor Book

“Larson creates a masterful picture of the homesteading experience and the people who persevered.”–School Library Journal

Connections

*Read one or more of the "Related Titles" provided in the back of Hattie Big Sky.

*Hold a Book Discussion Group using the "Questions for Discussion" in Hattie Big Sky. Have each participant bring their own question to add to the discussion.

*Learn more about WWI food rations and try "Perilee's Wartime Spice Cake" recipe or "Hattie's Lighter-than-Lead Biscuits. Discuss other wartime rations and how the war affected those both on the battlefront and back home. 

The Dragon's Child

Bibliography

Yep, Laurence. 2008. The Dragon's Child: A Story of Angel Island. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children's Books ISBN 978-0-06-027692-8

Plot Summary

Ten-year-old Gim Lew has only met his father once, when he left his American workplace to come "home" and visit Gim Lew and his family. During his second visit things take a turn when he decides Gim Lew is old enough to follow his other brother's footsteps and come work with him in America, leading to a grueling boat trip and culture shock for Gim Lew as he prepares for his entrance into America through the intimidating interview process at Angel Island. 

Critical Analysis

Part biographical, part novel, Yep integrates his own father's story into the fictional story of Gim Lew. Each chapter begins with an excerpt of an interview Yep held with his father and gives insight into what topic the chapter will be about. Yep beautifully describes Gim Lew's life in China, the cultural traditions, his family ties and the rice field landscapes that surround him. This is contrasted against Gim Lew's struggles in school with his demanding teacher/uncle and his stuttering problem which creates tension and social awkwardness between Gim Lew and his family. 

Yep convincingly changes the tides with the introduction of Gim Lew's idolized father who visits from "the Golden Mountain" that is America and tells Gim Lew that he will be returning to America with him. This plot twist allows for the exploration of the Angel Island interview process and what the Chinese had to do to prepare for the interrogations, while also exposing the difficulties many Chinese had switching between the traditional Chinese ways and the different cultural setting America presented. 

Family photos and a brief biographical history at the end is a helpful addition to show young readers that, though this particular account is mostly fictional, that many Chinese were faced with the issues discussed in the book.

Review Excerpts

"Yep raises many issues about both Chinese immigration and the immigrant experience in general: Who am I? Where do I belong? How can I balance the duality of my life? Why do people treat others this way? The photograph of Gim Lew in his Western clothes shows a very real sadness and anxiety that are common to anyone leaving family and country behind as they journey to a new life, and Yep captures this beautifully in this brief fictionalized account."-Barbara Scotto, Children's Literature New England, Brookline, MA, School Library Journal


"Tension builds and secrets are revealed as his father practices for the Test, tries not to act nervous, and hides his left-handedness and his stammer. With family photos, a historical note, and a long bibliography, this stirring narrative will spark readers’ own search for roots."-Hazel Rochman, Booklist

Connections

*Show a picture of a young boy in traditional Chinese garb that would have been appropriate in the 1920's next to a picture young boy dressed in typical Western clothing from the 1920's. Point out the differences between the two outfits. Discuss how Gim Lew had to from wearing one type of clothing to the other and how that might have made him feel.

*Pair with other books nonfiction books about Angel Island.

*Ask a series of difficult questions that could have been asked of those immigrating into the US at Angel Island, such as "How many windows does the house of person that lives six houses down from you have?" Discuss how scary and difficult the interview process must have been for people of all ages.    

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice

Bibliography

Hoose, Phillip. 2009. Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice. New York, NY: Melanie Kroupa Books ISBN 978-0-374-31322-7

Plot Summary

Though many think Rosa Parks was the first to stand up against segregation on buses, there was another who came before her. At fifteen years old Claudette Colvin stood up for civil rights by keeping her seat on a bus after being told she had to move so a white woman could sit down. She was then arrested and held at an adult jail until bail was posted. Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice follows the repercussions of Claudette's bold defiance and how she went from a leader of the civil rights movement to nearly forgotten. 

Critical Summary

The format of this biography alternates from a third-party telling the story to interview excerpts from Claudette Colvin herself, and a others involved. There are also sidebars that give brief, historical backgrounds of court cases and profiles about important civil rights activists, that relate to the story. These helpful sidebars and the varying points of view, keep Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice intriguing and information-packed. Reading the story from Claudette Colvin's view allows the reader to experience the emotion of her situation and makes it a very personal account, while the third-party aspect relays helpful facts that dictate the mood of the country and state of Alabama during the time of "separate but equal" from a historical aspect. 

The photos throughout the book gives the reader the chance to put faces with famous names, like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. There are several pictures of signs showing the segregation rules of the time, like a "Colored Waiting Room" sign at the train station. The inclusion of pictures like these show what lead to Claudette keeping her seat on the bus that day when she finally asked herself the question, "Why should I have to get up just because a driver tells me to, or just because I'm black?" 

Review Excerpts

"...this inspiring title shows the incredible difference that a single young person can make, even as it demonstrates the multitude of interconnected lives that create and sustain a political movement. Thorough chapter notes and suggestions for further reading close this title, which will find an avid readership beyond the classroom."-Gillian Engberg, Booklist

2009 National Book Award in Young People's Literature

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist

Newbery Honor Book

Jane Addams Children's Book Award Honor Book

Booklist Top 10 Biographies for Youth

Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books of the Year

Robert F. Sibert Award Honor Book

Connections

*Read a book concerning Rosa Parks' experience on the bus and compare and contrast her experience with Claudette Colvin's. Discuss possible reason why Rosa Parks' story is famous, while Claudette Colvin's story has been nearly forgotten.

*Make available other books concerning the civil rights movement. Include books from before Claudette Colvin's time all the way through present times.

Gone A-Whaling: The Lure of the Sea and the Hunt for the Great Whale

Biography

Murphy, Jim. 1998. Gone A-Whaling: The Lure of the Sea and the Hunt for the Great Whale. New York, NY: Clarion Books ISBN 0-395-69847-2

Plot Summary

Gone A-Whaling vividly depicts the history of whale hunting, describing the processes, uses of whale parts and how mass whale hunting has affected the species.

Critical Analysis

Jim Murphy's use of diary entries dating back from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries make this harrowing history more personable and give insight into the mind of the typical young, male whale hunter. Full of interesting facts throughout the text, Murphy also includes boxes that give detailed information about different types of whales. The depth of his research seeps through in every chapter providing the reader with every aspect of a whalers life, from what they ate to how they dismembered the whales. 

Photographs and drawings on every page give a visual history to accompany the history and support the facts. Due to the graphic nature of many of the photographs, Gone A-Whaling is best suited for those above the age of ten (with strong stomachs.) 

Review Excerpts

"Murphy structures his tale like a whaling voyage, beginning with the thrill of signing up for duty and ending with a grateful trip home. In between, he describes life and work aboard the ship, including the grisly techniques for killing, harvesting, and processing the enormous animals...Murphy occasionally scolds nineteenth-century whalers for their harsh approach, rather than explaining their lack of knowledge about the sophisticated creatures they hunted. The book is beautifully illustrated with black-and-white photos and engravings, and a sprinkling of sidebars supplies details about the most hunted whale species." -Randy Meyer, Booklist 

"With its attractive layout, decorative chapter headings, and clear readable text, Gone A-Whaling is as inviting as it is interesting and informative." -Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA, School Library Journal

Connections

*Pair with other non-fiction books about whales, how they live, different types, etc. 

*Discuss endangered species and make a list of other types of endangered species. Research organizations that aid these species and see if they offer ways for students to help their cause or get involved.  

The Voice That Challenged a Nation

Bibliography

Freedman, Russell. 2004. The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights. New York, NY: Clarion Books ISBN 0-618-15976-2

Plot Summary

African American singer Marian Anderson overcame many hurdles and obstacles regarding race and segregation throughout her career. The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights relates  the story of Marian Anderson and how, using her fame and powerful voice, she was able to break through racial barriers, specifically being able to sing at Constitution Hall, a privilege previously only given to white singers. 

Critical Analysis

Racial segregation and equal rights struggles are discussed frequently in school history classes, but Freedman's biography of Marian Anderson gives a more personal look into the issues of the time through the experiences of someone who dealt with them firsthand. The Voice That Challenged a Nation is an excellent book to incorporate into learning about equal rights struggles, because it allows students who may not fully understand what impact segregation laws had on people to experience it through the struggles of Marian Anderson. 

The frequency of photographs throughout the book effectively put "a face to the name." The reader can see what Anderson looked like as a young girl, all the way through adulthood. Pictures of Anderson with Eleanor Roosevelt and other famous figures urge continued learning by providing names of people that were also influential during the struggles for equal rights to research and read about.

Reviews Excerpts

Newbery Honor Book

The Robert F. Seibert Medal 

"A masterful biography...The prose is sharp and clean with generous use of quotations...a superb choice." -VOYA

Connections

*After reading the book, play recordings of Marian Anderson's singing and discuss.

*Locate the places in Washington DC where Marian Anderson sang, including the Lincoln Memorial and Constitution Hall, on a map and find pictures of the interior and exterior of the buildings to show how many people came to see her sing. Contrast the picture of the memorial on pp. 66-67 with a picture of the same area without people. 

*Pair with books about Eleanor Roosevelt and her contributions to the equal rights movement. 

Crossing Stones

Bibliography

Frost, Helen. 2009. Crossing Stones. New York, NY: Frances Foster Books ISBN-13: 978-0-374-31653-2

Plot Summary

Four teens experience school, war and the women's suffrage movement during World War I. 

Critical Analysis

Crossing Stones is a wonderfully written novel in verse perfect for young adults to read while learning about World War I because of its intriguing plot lines and interesting arrangement of an almost diary-like format. Readers will find the characters easy to relate to and the arrangement of the words on the page supportive to the story. Frost uses typography to create a formal structure that gives "the sense of stepping from stone to stone across a flowing creek." Each character's poems are formed in a different way that represents their personality. Headstrong Muriel, whose mother says is more inclined to rock the boat than a cradle, has a more free style of poem that "represents the creek flowing over the stones as it pushes against the banks." Emma and Ollie's poems are "cupped-hand sonnets" which compliment each other. 

Crossing Stones is a great novel to get young adults acquainted with various types of poetry while introducing them to the historical events of WWI and how they effected people their age personally.   

Review Excerpts

“This beautifully written, gently told story can be used for classroom discussion in social studies and English, or simply for leisure reading.” —VOYA

“Frost’s warmly sentimental novel covers a lot of political, social, and geographical ground . . . . But this is Muriel’s story, and her determined personality and independence will resonate with readers.” —School Library Journal

Connections

*Have young adults write poems that create a shape that represents what their poem is about. 

*Compare Muriel's, Ollie's, Frank's, and Emma's poems side by side. Discuss the differences in form and rhyme scheme.