I really did not enjoy this book. The descriptive language was great. The characters were intriguing. My favorite scene was in the kitchen of the trailer when Summer first arrives with May and Ob. I could visualize exactly what the frig and pantry looked liked. I will definitely use that segment as an example of descriptive language in the future.
The book was just sad. It was a year of mourning May and all that her death represented to Ob and Summer. Summer's fixation on death really made me anxious. Even the attempts at humor through Cletus did not have much impact on me.
I have learned a lot about Cynthia Rylant through reading so many of her books. She is a country girl with deep roots and strong family ties. I enjoy her writing style and lovely language but she is not my favorite. As I talk to my peers about the books I am reading I get strong opinions on both sides. I have found that people either love Missing May or Hate it.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Seedfolks By Paul Fleischman
I was so excited to read this book because I heard that it is a great teaching novel. I have heard many middle school teachers refer to using it for various things. I was intriqued by the size and cover of Seedfolks. It was much smaller than I thought it would be, it was was actually similar in size to Van Gogh Cafe' by Cynthia Rylant. Though I had heard that this was a good book, I had heard nothing of what it was about.
Soon into the book it reminded me of the book Flipped that I blogged on previously. Seedfolks tells the story of many different people and how this random plot of land affected their lives. Each chapter was of course from a different point of view much like Flipped. The difference was that Flipped told a story over time and focused on two main characters and Sedfolks was a short specific time period and many characters were featured. Each chapter was about a different person and that person was not featured again.
The characters in Seedfolks all lived in the same general neighborhood and each had a hardship of sorts. Kim, the first person introduced in seedfolks, is the first person to use the land. Kim never met her father who died before her birth. She worries that he will not know her when he checks on the family from heaven. Since he was an avid farmer she decides to grow lima beans in the empty lot to connect to him. This is how it all got started. Another person sees her and wonders what she is doing, it must be no good. The concerend neighbor goes to dig up the expected the drugs and discovers the lima beans. The cycle continues. As time goes by more and more people decided to plant a small garden in the lot.
Each person is using the lot to fill a need or gain something. Some need food, some desire attention from a special person, others need to feel empowered and important.
I liked the book but at this point it is not a favorite for me. I will definitely file away for a special occassion.
Soon into the book it reminded me of the book Flipped that I blogged on previously. Seedfolks tells the story of many different people and how this random plot of land affected their lives. Each chapter was of course from a different point of view much like Flipped. The difference was that Flipped told a story over time and focused on two main characters and Sedfolks was a short specific time period and many characters were featured. Each chapter was about a different person and that person was not featured again.
The characters in Seedfolks all lived in the same general neighborhood and each had a hardship of sorts. Kim, the first person introduced in seedfolks, is the first person to use the land. Kim never met her father who died before her birth. She worries that he will not know her when he checks on the family from heaven. Since he was an avid farmer she decides to grow lima beans in the empty lot to connect to him. This is how it all got started. Another person sees her and wonders what she is doing, it must be no good. The concerend neighbor goes to dig up the expected the drugs and discovers the lima beans. The cycle continues. As time goes by more and more people decided to plant a small garden in the lot.
Each person is using the lot to fill a need or gain something. Some need food, some desire attention from a special person, others need to feel empowered and important.
I liked the book but at this point it is not a favorite for me. I will definitely file away for a special occassion.
Monday, March 12, 2007
The Battle of Yorktown By: Scott Ingram
The Battle of Yorktown is another informational text. This particular text is also geared towards young readers. This book has more realistic illustrations than most other children's books. Some are actual photos and others are pencil sketches. There is quite a bit of information in this book. It seems to be written for older elementary students. It is very factual and includes information including many elements of the Revoluationary war, a few chapters are devoted to the Battle of Yorktown. I liked how the book included a timeline and the names of all historical figures that influenced the battle of yorktown.
The preface, The American Revolution, was very condensed. I am not a history buff and it was a difficult read for me. So many dates and facts to put in order.Though the local connection was interesting, overall I would not reccommend this book to a child unless there was an adult willing to read it with him or her.
Two thumbs up for a good resource
Two down for interest
The preface, The American Revolution, was very condensed. I am not a history buff and it was a difficult read for me. So many dates and facts to put in order.Though the local connection was interesting, overall I would not reccommend this book to a child unless there was an adult willing to read it with him or her.
Two thumbs up for a good resource
Two down for interest
The Trail of Tears By Joesph Bruchac
The Trail of Tears is an informational text about westward expansion. My seven year old is currently very interested in battles and history so he helped me select this book. This particular book is geared fro grades 2-4. The front cover is very appealing and helped us begin to discuss what The Trail of Tears was. The cover shows many Cherokee people traveling on horseback and in wagons carrying everything they own. The chapter titles are great fro young readers because they are typed in bold print and distinguishing colr. They also allow children to begin to think about the content of the chapter. For example the first chapter is called the sad departure. We were able to disscuss what made a departure sad. My little genious concluded that they must not have wanted to leave their home. Each new page has a large illustration that depicts what was happening as the people prepared to leave and then covered the events of the journey. I thought the maps were ecspecially useful to help make connections to young readers about the origination point of the journey and the destination. This book also included historical figures who are notorious for their role in life at that time. This book, being a children's book, did sugar coat the details of the revolution and the white settlers. I really felt that my son got a great start to understanding history. I would recommend this read to anyone who knows a young person interested in history.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Fever 1793 By Laurie Halse Anderson
I really enjoyed Fever. That is not surprising because I am a fan of historical fiction. Fever meant more to me at this moment in time than it would have 6 months or more ago because I spent a week in Philadelphia this summer on a historical trip. As I read about Mattie and her trips to the market I could look into my mind and picture the brick row houses and the hear the clamper of horses hooves on the stone roads.
Fever is a historical fiction novel based on the outbreak of yellow fever in Philadelphia. The main character, Mattie, her mother, grandfather, and friend Eliza are face with the choice to stay or flee the city. Before the epidemic is over thousands of people were dead from the plague of yellow fever.
I felt bad for Mattie early on because of the lose of her father and the tight ship her mother ran. I admired her mother for being strong and surviving in the face of adversity.
When Polly died I could feel the tension and fear within the family, Eliza included. They were brave to stay and face the epidemic.
I felt that the story line was interesting and easy to follow in addition to the historical elements being factually informative. It was easy to follow the sequence of events and learn how colonial life was affected by the tragedy.
I honestly did not expect Mattie to come down with the fever and I did not expect her mother to return. I was wrong on both counts (I am usually such a good predictor).
I felt the lose of Grandpa the most. Poor Mattie was all alone until she met Nell and then found her way to Eliza again. I was so worried for her.
It was nice to read a happy ending that had hope for the future. I have not read many novels lately that end on a happy note.
Fever is a historical fiction novel based on the outbreak of yellow fever in Philadelphia. The main character, Mattie, her mother, grandfather, and friend Eliza are face with the choice to stay or flee the city. Before the epidemic is over thousands of people were dead from the plague of yellow fever.
I felt bad for Mattie early on because of the lose of her father and the tight ship her mother ran. I admired her mother for being strong and surviving in the face of adversity.
When Polly died I could feel the tension and fear within the family, Eliza included. They were brave to stay and face the epidemic.
I felt that the story line was interesting and easy to follow in addition to the historical elements being factually informative. It was easy to follow the sequence of events and learn how colonial life was affected by the tragedy.
I honestly did not expect Mattie to come down with the fever and I did not expect her mother to return. I was wrong on both counts (I am usually such a good predictor).
I felt the lose of Grandpa the most. Poor Mattie was all alone until she met Nell and then found her way to Eliza again. I was so worried for her.
It was nice to read a happy ending that had hope for the future. I have not read many novels lately that end on a happy note.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
The Giver by Lois Lowry
I found this book quite disturbing on many levels, but at the same time I really enjoyed reading it. Actually, this story reminds me of The City of Embers. Both stories take place in planned communities that are run in a very methodical fashion. The City of Embers is an underground safe haven designed to save a small select part of mankind in the face of terrible disaster. Not very much unlike the futuristic community that Jonas and his friends are growing up in. When I first began to read the book I kept waiting for the hook. Lois Lowry spent several pages just introducing the reader to the community and the methodical functions carried out there. Everything was so preplanned it was a bit scary. The sameness was slowly introduced. I did not realize until late in the book that they all dressed the same. Honestly the concept of Releasing haunted me from the beginning. I knew it would be a major piece of the story but I had no idea it would stir me the way it did. Maybe for me it was the idea of what it meant. As I read Jonas watching the footage of his father euthanization the baby I suddenly felt so sad for him and all of the others. How terrible to decide who gets to live and who must die. What a terrible place. Is it really better to be safe? I felt for Jonas when he had to go home and face his parents knowing what his father had done. I could feel the anger myself and how difficult it would be to pretend not to know the truths. The part where Jonas decided to leave early was confusing until I read the part about the committee deciding to release Gabe because of sleeping issues. I sat straight up in bed and wanted to yell “run Jonas, save him”. This final piece of the story was the most symbolic to me. I think that the harsh conditions Jonas was experiencing as he increased the distance between himself and the community were actually memories being release. My heart ached as they experienced hunger, pain and when Jonas tried so hard to protect Gabe from the elements. The very last image in the book was the sled ride that was also the first memory Jonas received from the Giver. I think this represented the last of the memories being release. And sadly I think it means that Jonas and Gabriel did not survive. I have talked to many coworkers about this book today and each one had a different thought about the end.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
When I Was young In The Mountains By: Cynthia Rylant
Caldecott Honor Book
When I Was Young In The Mountains was a very sweet book of memories. It tells the story of all of the very special things the narrator did in the mountains as a young girl visiting her grandparents. It portrays strong family ties and unity. It also tells of the importance of even simple activities with family. I am not sure how this book would go over with todays students. I realize some have country connections and I feel they would really enjoy this book but I feel that others would not have the background knowledge to make meaningful connections. Another thought is that students could realate this book and the illustrations to colonial times. For example, using the out house or taking a bath in a large bucket on the front porch.
The last page was my favorite. It reads:
When I was young in the mounatins, I never wanted to go to the ocean, and I never wanted to go to the desert. I never wanted to go anywhere else in the world, for I was in the mountains. And that was always enough.
That was so powerful. So many people want more and more and as a society we are moving further and further away from simplicity. The message in this book is that simple can be perfect.
When I Was Young In The Mountains was a very sweet book of memories. It tells the story of all of the very special things the narrator did in the mountains as a young girl visiting her grandparents. It portrays strong family ties and unity. It also tells of the importance of even simple activities with family. I am not sure how this book would go over with todays students. I realize some have country connections and I feel they would really enjoy this book but I feel that others would not have the background knowledge to make meaningful connections. Another thought is that students could realate this book and the illustrations to colonial times. For example, using the out house or taking a bath in a large bucket on the front porch.
The last page was my favorite. It reads:
When I was young in the mounatins, I never wanted to go to the ocean, and I never wanted to go to the desert. I never wanted to go anywhere else in the world, for I was in the mountains. And that was always enough.
That was so powerful. So many people want more and more and as a society we are moving further and further away from simplicity. The message in this book is that simple can be perfect.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)