Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. London: the Penguin Group. 2008 ISBN: 978-0-141-32491-3

PLOT SUMMARY
In this sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller, Greg Heffley returns to start a new school year. He wants to forget all about his summer vacation, particularly the one event his older brother knows all about. This story is Gregg's second diary in which he writes about his daily life in middle school. In these pages, he chronicles his time at school trying to avoid swim practice by hiding in the boys’ bathroom and begins a class prank directed at a kid who returns to the school after having moved away. His nerdy friend, Rowley, who wants to be just like Gregg, also keeps a diary and Gregg goes to great lengths to find out what Rowley writes. At home Gregg has to deal with his older brother, Rodrick, a rock star “wannabe,” a younger brother who can do no wrong, and parents who are largely clueless about his troubles.  The war at home continues when Rodrick throws a party and locks Greg in the basement. The book is full of funny anecdotes and incidents that keep the reader laughing right up to the very end.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
First developed in online installments, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a humorous tale that is sure to be enjoyed by reluctant readers, especially boys. The series was hailed a great success on Funbrain.com and in 2006 Kinney signed a publishing deal to turn his work into a print series. Gregg Heffley is an appealing, hapless character that continues to bring about his own troubles. He is essentially a good kid who doesn’t like to work very hard and is trying to find his niche in middle school. Readers will identify with some of the home anxiety Gregg feels and with having parents who seem out of touch. These are real people with problems not unlike those of the child reader. Younger brother, Manny, seems to be the favorite and Gregg is always paying for his older brother, Rodrick’s, blunders. Kinney combines line drawings, cartoon captions and hand-written text on every page to present a character that is devious, somewhat insincere and always amusing.  The events are plausible and engaging while the dialogue is natural and believable. This book is sure to appeal to readers who can identify with “older sibling” troubles and looming adolescence.

REVIEW EXCERPTS and AWARDS

New York Times bestseller (Children’s Chapter, 2008)

School Library Journal- “This sequel should be an equally big hit with reluctant readers, especially boys, and anyone looking for a funny book.”

Publisher’s Weekly- “The hilarious interplay between text and cartoons and the keen familial observations that set Diary of a Wimpy Kid apart are just as evident in this outing, and are just as likely to keep readers in stitches.”

Booklist- “…the real and deeper appeal of Greg’s story is the unapologetic honesty of his adolescence…his story is one that will appeal to all those real kids who feel just like him.”

CONNECTIONS
Have readers create their own ideas for a graphic novel or comic strip.

Additional recommended reading:
Other books in the series by Jeff Kinney:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid ISBN-10: 0810993139
Do-It-Yourself Book ISBN-10: 0810979772
The Last Straw ISBN-10: 0810970686
Dog Days ISBN-10: 0810983915

as well as:

The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt ISBN-10: 0618724834
One False Note by Gordan Korman ISBN-10: 0545060427
The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman ISBN-10: 0689876785
No Talking by Andrew Clements ISBN-10: 1416909834

RESOURCES
http:titlepeek.fsc.follett.com

http://www.librarything.com/work/5145202

Vardell, Sylvia. Children’s Literature in Action. Westport, CT. Libraries Unlimited. 2008.

Joey Pigza Loses Control

Gantos, Jack. Joey Pigza Loses Control. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2000
ISBN: 10-037439989-1

PLOT SUMMARY
In this sequel to Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, Joey is still taking medication to keep him from getting too wired. Wanting to get to know his father, whom he has not seen in years, Joey decides to spend the summer with Carter, his dad, even though his mother is leery of the idea. Joey’s father is a heavy drinker and his grandmother’s health is seriously failing due to emphysema. Joey, encouraged by the fact that his dad coaches a local Little League team, joins the team as the star pitcher in order to help them win the championship. As the summer weeks dash by, Joey realizes that his dad is an older version of himself, before his time in the special education classes and before the new medication. Carter Pigza has great plans for Joey including the idea that Joey can overcome his hyperactivity without the benefit of a doctor’s prescription. Carter’s distorted sense of reality and unpredictable drinking habits make this the perfect recipe for disaster.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In this first person narrative, Gantos portrays the characters with real human qualities that adolescents can identify. Joey’s internal struggle and emotional growth are integral to the story, reflecting the way children think and talk in their journey of self-discovery. The story includes topics that can be difficult to discuss, but are nonetheless important to address with teenagers (e.g., divorce, alcoholism, AD/HD, custody disputes, legal issues, etc.). The plot will keep young readers engaged as they root for Joey and his hope to find balance in his life. The author’s message to adults reminds us all that we serve as role models to our children and that they will want to imitate our behaviors. Children identified with AD/HD will appreciate an honest portrayal of their struggle with hyperactivity. This is an important book to read with children diagnosed with AD/HD or who know someone identified it, and for professionals who want to know more.

REVIEW EXCERPTS AND AWARDS
Newbery Honor (2001)
A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (2001)
BBC Blue Ribbon Book (2000)
ALA Notable Children’s Book (2001)
Kirkus Review- Starred

Publishers Weekly Starred review- “Like its predecessor, this high-voltage, honest novel mixes humor, pain, fear and courage with deceptive ease. Struggling to please everyone even as he sees himself hurtling toward disaster, Joey emerges as a sympathetic hero, and his heart of gold never loses its shine.”

School Library Journal Starred- “Readers will be drawn in immediately to the boy's gripping first-person narrative and be pulled pell-mell through episodes that are at once hilarious, harrowing, and ultimately heartening as Joey grows to understand himself and the people around him.”

Booklist Starred Review- “Ganto's skillful pacing, sly humor, and in-depth characterization make it a truly memorable read.”

CONNECTIONS
Additional reading recommendations:

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos ISBN-10: 0064408337
Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff ISBN-10: 0439692393
Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan ISBN-10: 0064410447
Hope was here by Joan Bauer ISBN-10: 0142404241
A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck ISBN-10: 0142401102
A Corner of the Universe by Ann M. Martin ISBN-10: 0439388813
Belle Prater’s Boy by Ruth White ISBN-10: 0440413729

RESOURCES
http://titlepeek.com/

http://www.librarything.com/work/247417

Vardell, Sylvia. Children’s Literature in Action. Westport, CT. Libraries Unlimited. 2008.

The Book Thief

Zukas, Markus. The Book Thief. Ill by Trudy White. New York: Knopf:  2005
ISBN: 10-0375831002

PLOT SUMMARY
Death, tired and burdened with the millions of souls he must collect, is the narrator of this story set in World War II Germany. Told from the perspective of a first person point of view, Death is not really a character and does not influence the events in the story. Liesel Meminger is left with a loving foster family outside of Munich because her mother can no longer care for her and her younger brother. Her father is suspiciously absent and Liesel suspects he was imprisoned or killed as a Communist. When her younger brother dies on the way to her new home, and her mother leaves her without explanation, she is traumatized with nightmares. Liesel seizes the opportunity to steal her first book, The Gravedigger’s Handbook, at the burial service for her brother when the gravedigger drops it. Yet, Liesel cannot read.  Hans and Rosa Hubermann care for the ten-year-old girl and Hans teaches her to read from the stolen book. She finds a loving home with the Hubermann’s despite Rosa’s sharp tongue and impatient manner. Liesel befriends Rudy, a spirited neighbor boy, who defies the Hitler Youth and teaches Liesel to steal for fun. There is nothing more rewarding for Liesel than a newly acquired book and she takes many risks to steal books from wherever she can. When Hans agrees to hide a Jewish man in his basement, Liesel shares her stolen books with him and with her neighbors during the bombing raids on Himmel Street.
 
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This is a novel that some might say is too long for younger adult readers. In fact, the story was first published in Australia specifically for adults. However, it is a book that will intrigue adolescent book lovers. The unique perspective of a personal point of view elicits observations from Death throughout the story and as happens in war, Death becomes somewhat involved, albeit without altering the plot. Although Death is present to collect the many souls in this WWII era, the main information in the story comes from Liesel’s own writing about her life and what Death hears from others. Zusak effectively uses color to describe the deaths of humans in this story and sound to describe the compelling characters. Hans, an accordion player, offers Liesel hope, comfort and distraction; and the colors in the sky at the time of a person’s death illustrate that human life does matter. The imagery is prominent and straightforward, the story complicated and suspenseful. One learns of the happenings in Germany during this time period as related by this unusual narrator who is on hand to witness the terrible atrocities of which humans are capable. The death march through Molching to the Dachau concentration camp and the beating of prisoners by Nazi guards and those who feel compelled to show them any sort of kindness are true events, which the author skillfully weaves into this tale. In his own words, Zusak’s choice of the narrator stems from a thoughtful position that war and death are best friends. But he changes that point of view so that Death is virtually weary and fatigued, nearly instilling in the reader a sense of compassion. This is a creative and ingenious book that will keep readers absorbed in the power of the written word.

REVIEW EXCERPTS AND AWARDS

Michael L. Printz Award (2007)

Booklist- “More than the overt message about the power of words, it’s Liesel’s confrontation with horrifying cruelty and her discovery of kindness in unexpected places that tell the heartbreaking truth.”

The Horn Book- Starred review “Exquisitely written and memorably populated… A tour de force to be not just read but inhabited.”

Kirkus Reviews- “The writing in elegant, philosophical and moving. Even at its length, it’s a work to read slowly and savor. Beautiful and important.”

New York Times- “The Book Thief will be appreciated for Mr. Zusak’s audacity, also on display in his earlier I Am the Messenger. It will be widely read and admired because it tells a story in which books become treasures.”

Publishers Weekly- Starred book “This hefty volume is an achievement- a challenging book in both length and subject.”

CONNECTIONS
Lead a discussion about the connections humans make with one another.

Additional recommended reading:
   I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak ISBN: 10-0375830995
   The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins ISBN: 10-0439023483
   The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne ISBN: 10-0385751893
   The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield ISBN: 10-0743298020
   The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen ISBN: 10-0140345353
   The Help by Kathryn Stockett ISBN: 10-0399155341

RESOURCES
http://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/

http://titlepeek.fsc.follett.com/tp/query?=action=3&subnumber=8501546&isbn=978037584

http://www.librarything.com/work/393681

Vardell, Sylvia. Children’s Literature in Action. Westport, CT. Libraries Unlimited. 2008.

Number the Stars

BILBIOGRAPHY
Lowry, Lois. Number the Stars. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1989
ISBN: 0395-73270-0

PLOT SUMMARY
Told from the point of view of ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen, Number the Stars is a touching and heroic story about a child facing the struggles of growing up in occupied Denmark. Without an army to defend his tiny country, King Christian X had no choice but to surrender to the Nazis during World War II, changing life for all Danes in Copenhagen. Annemarie discovers many unpleasant truths about the changes that affect not only her best friend, Ellen Rosen, but also many of her other Jewish neighbors and her own view of the world. The story begins when Annemarie and her best friend, Ellen, are frightened by their first encounter with German soldiers on their way home from school. When the Nazis begin forcing Jewish families out of their homes and businesses, the Rosens go into hiding and Ellen is protected by the Johansens. Their journey to the seaside is an attempt to help the Rosens escape to nearby Sweden and also a journey to adulthood for Annmarie.  Although the story is a work of fiction, the events regarding the Nazi occupation of Denmark are based on fact. The food shortages, bombings and other heroic acts of the Resistance, and scientific discoveries that helped many Jews escape, provide an insight into the fear and struggles experienced by the Jews and the Danes who helped them.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Lois Lowry portrays a loving family whose lives are changed forever with the German occupation of Denmark. From the start, she skillfully weaves historical details of World War II and Annmarie’s difficulties of growing up in a world filled with adult responsibilities. Annmarie’s transformation into adulthood is parallel with the trip the family makes to the woods, on the boat and into Sweden. Lowry’s expert use of symbolism demonstrates Annmarie’s devotion to her friend and to her stance against the Germans. Certain elements in the story (e.g. the Star of David, the shell, the woods) represent a rite of passage, inner strength and the need to keep one’s identity hidden. Ellen’s interests in acting signify the need to keep appearances hidden and Ellen learns in earnest the importance of this dream. Number the Stars is a work of fiction but the facts are historically accurate. The information about the war that Lowry adds at the end of the book provides the reader with a point of reference to historical facts as she explains her recollection of the account retold to her by a friend. It makes the reader understand that during a time of war, struggle, risk and death are real, even if fictional characters portray the events. This is an inspiring book that can provide meaningful insights to young readers as they view the war from a child's point of view.

REVIEW EXCERPTS and AWARDS

National Jewish Book Award 1990
Newbery Medal 1990
A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book 1990

School Library Journal starred review- “ The gripping story of a ten-year-old Danish girl and her family's courageous efforts to smuggle Jews out of their Nazi-occupied homeland to safety in Sweden. Readers are taken to the very heart of Annemarie's experience, and, through her eyes, come to understand the true meaning of bravery.”

Publishers Weekly-“ Set in Nazi-occupied Denmark in 1943, this 1990 Newbery winner tells of a 10-year-old girl who undertakes a dangerous mission to save her best friend.”

CONNECTONS
Additional recommended reading in historical fiction for upper elementary and middle school students:
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis 1999 ISBN: 10-0385323069
Castle Diary: The Journal of Tobias Burgess 2003 ISBN: 10-0763621641
The Mary Celeste: An Unsolved Mystery in History 2002 ISBN: 10-0689851227
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor 1991 ISBN: 10-014034893-X
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan 1985 ISBN: 10-0064402053
The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman 1987 ISBN: 10-0816710384
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare 1958 ISBN: 0-395-071143

RESOURCES
http://childrensbooks.about.com/cs/fiction/a/history.htm


Picture: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5196ZMP0QRL.jpg


http://www.librarything.com/work/33867


http://www.carolhurst.com/titles/numberthestars.html

Vardell, Sylvia. Children’s Literature in Action. Westport, CT. Libraries Unlimited. 2008.

The River Between Us

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Peck, Richard. The River Between Us. New York: Dial Books. 2003
ISBN: 0-8037-2735-6

PLOT SUMMARY
The year is 1916 and young Howard Leyland Hutchins travels with his father and younger twin brothers to Southern Illinois to visit his father’s relatives whom he does not recall meeting before. Once the family is introduced, the story flashes back to 1861, setting the stage for family intrigue. Grandma Tilly tells of the start of the Civil War in 1861 and how the entire Pruitt family was transformed in spirit by a beautiful, young debutante. Delphine and her quiet, dark-skinned companion, Calinda, came to their small town of Grand Tower on the banks of the Mississippi River to escape the inevitable conflict in New Orleans. No one knows who these women are or what their purpose is in this small community and with the tension of war building, the rumors begin to fly. 
When the women disembark from the steamboat, Rob Roy, they find a room to rent in the Pruitt household. Everyone in the Pruitt family forms a special bond with the women who forever change their lives. Feeling the effects of war and their father long gone, Noah, Tilly’s twin brother, is anxious to enlist but delays joining the Union Army until the age of sixteen due to his feelings for Delphine. Then facing the rages of war, Noah becomes sick and Mrs. Pruitt sends Tilly and Delphine to the army camp in Cairo, Illinois to find him and nurse him back to health. Dr. Hutchins, the new physician in town joins them on this journey and through twists and turns, relationships are formed and destiny becomes entwined.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Richard Peck vividly describes life in the antebellum South. In a small Mississippi river town the unique mixture of characters are drawn together through circumstances born of conflict. The  reader is quickly pulled into the story through the intriguing characters forming lasting relationships as the story unfolds. This story is a testament to the impact one individual can have on the life of another. Descriptions of time and place are integral to the story and authentically represented. Peck provides an accurate historical snapshot of the life and times in Southern Illinois at the start of the Civil War that students who are studying this era will understand. He uses flashbacks to tell the main part of the story and one is compelled to reflect upon the opening chapter to tie the story elements together. The Cajun and French vernacular may be difficult for students not familiar with the South, but the vocabulary is explained flawlessly throughout the book in order to capture the flavor of the locale. The story is rich with personal secrets that will keep the reader engaged, saving the best for last. This is an excellent read for middle school students or young adults connecting historical studies of the Civil War.

REVIEW EXCERPTS AND AWARDS

Booklist starred review- “It's a riveting story that shows racism everywhere and young people facing war, not sure what side to be on or why.”

Horn Book starred review- “ The harsh realities of war are brutally related in a complex, always surprising plot that resonates on multiple levels.

Kirkus Review starred review- “A rich tale full of magic, mystery, and surprise.”

Publishers Weekly starred review “Peck reaches new depth with this
Civil War-era novel. . .”

National Book Award finalist (Young People's Literature, 2003)

ALA Best Books for Young Adults (2004)

Scott O'Dell Award (2004)

CONNECTIONS
Partner with a social studies and language arts teaching team to promote an integrated study of history. Encourage students to keep a journal of reflection from the viewpoint of the main character.

Additional recommended reading in historical fiction for middle school students:

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park 2001 ISBN: 10-0395978270
A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck 2002 ISBN: 10-0142300705
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis 1999 ISBN: 10-0385323069
Day of Tears: a Novel in Dialogue by Julius Lester 2005 ISBN: 10-0786804904
Elijah of Buxton by Paul Curtis 2007 ISBN: 10-0439023440
Fair Weather by Richard Peck 2001 ISBN: 10-0803725167
On the Wings of Heros by Richard Peck ISBN: 10-0803730810

RESOURCES
Picture: http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0803727356.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/river-between-us#whats-the-story-main

http://www.pinkmonkey.com/ 

http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/search?query=A%20river%20between%20us

Vardell, Sylvia. Children’s Literature in Action. Westport, CT. Libraries Unlimited. 2008.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Avi. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. New York: Orchard Books. 1990.
ISBN: 0-53108493-0

PLOT SUMMARY

In the year 1832, during the Industrial Revolution, Charlotte Doyle is left to finish her studies at an English boarding school while her father is summoned home to attend to a textile manufacturing business. This is the story of a prim and proper thirteen year-old girl who has been educated at the best schools, dressed in the finest, and spoiled by her parents and governess. The family sails to America without her with the intent for her to finish her studies and join them in America. Her father has made arrangements for her safe passage at a later date, traveling under the supervision of a well-respected family, but they are unable to make the voyage. Charlotte becomes the sole passenger on the Seahawk, amongst a dozen rough, mutinous seamen and a feared and tyrannical leader, Captain Andrew Jaggery.  The ship’s cook, Zachariah, warns Charlotte of impending troubles and presents her with a dagger to keep for self-defense. Putting all her trust in the captain, whom she reveres as a father figure, she becomes his informer and tells him all about the crewmen’s conniving. She soon learns that her words and actions are used against her as she becomes entangled in the vengeful uprising against the captain. Charlotte is met with a grim opportunity to reflect on her life when she is accused, tried, and found guilty for murder aboard the Seahawk. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Avi is a prolific writer of young adult fiction. In The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle he has created a character reflecting the voice of a strong female point of view. Although Charlotte is groomed to be a prim and proper young lady without thoughts and views of her own, she undergoes a transformation in her own perspectives and courage. The elements of tyranny, mutiny, and moral growth portray challenges that are artfully woven together to suggest conflict that is both internal and external. Charlotte is faced with a moral dilemma to support her shipmates in their uprising or to side with the immoral authority of Captain Jaggery. Avi's vivid descriptions of life on a ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean in the mid 1800s offer a unique setting integral to the time period of the story. The appendix by the author at the end of the book and the explanation of terms throughout are helpful to someone not familiar with the unique features of the setting (e.g., masts, rigging, bowsprit, etc.). This exciting, adventurous tale is a classic journey novel that is enjoyable for both genders of any middle school population.

REVIEW EXCERPTS and AWARDS
Newbery Honor Book 1991
ALA’s Best Book for Young Adults and ALA’s Notable Children’s Book

Publishers Weekly-“ In this crackling good yarn--a Newbery Honor book--a 13-year-old girl must extricate herself from a perilous position during an 1832 transatlantic voyage.”

School Library Journal-“ On a long, grueling journey from England to Rhode Island in 1802, a 12 year old changes from a prim and proper girl to a swashbuckling mate of a mutinous crew and is accused of murder by the captain. Awash with shipboard activity, intense feelings, and a keen sense of time and place, the story is a throwback to good old-fashioned adventure yarns on the high seas.”

CONNECTIONS
Encourage middle school children to choose other historical fiction and to keep a journal from the viewpoint of the main character.
 
Additional reading of historical fiction:
Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns 1986 ISBN: 10 0618919710
Flight of the Fisherbird by Nora Martin 2003 ISBN: 10-1582348146
Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson 2002 ISBN: 10-0525467394
Post Captain by Patrick O’Brian 1990 ISBN: 10 0393307069
The Secret River by Kate Greenville 2006 ISBN: 10 1841959146
Tales from Gold Mountain: Stories of the Chinese in the New World by Paul Yee 1990 ISBN: 10-0888990983
The Voyage of Patience Goodspeed by Heather Vogel Fredrick 2002 ISBN:10-068984851-X

RESOURCES
Ansell, Janis and Holley, Pam. What do Children and Young Adults Read Next? A Reader’s Guide to Fiction for Children and Young Adults. Vol. 6. Detroit: Gale Cengage Learning. 2005.

http://www.bookrags.com/The_True_Confessions_of_Charlotte_Doyle

Picture:
http://unihighlib.pbworks.com/f/1196102696/trueconfessions.jpg

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001196.shtml

Vardell, Sylvia. Children’s Literature in Action. Westport, CT. Libraries Unlimited. 2008.