Looking for Newbery - Day 13 - A Look Back

I'm really trying to finish another new title from the list at Fuse #8, The Unnameables by Ellen Booraem, so far I like it, so I'm going to link to a review I did in October.

Even though it didn't appear on THE LIST, I feel compelled to once again, throw Itch: a novel, by Michelle D. Kwasney into the mix.

I'm not sure why this book didn't receive much attention, but I loved it. Great characters, quickly paced plot, handles a touchy subject matter in an appropriate way for kids, all of the things excellent books have going for them.

Let me know what you think if you've read this one.

Looking for Newbery - Day 12

I'm not sure where to begin with this one. First the title, Jeremy Cabbage and the Living Museum of Human Oddballs and Quadruped Delights...whew...that's a mouthful! Written by David Elliott it earned one mention on the list compiled by Fuse #8 and I think that's about right. I've thought a lot about this one since I finished it and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. I haven't really come up with a way to summarize it due the fact that there's a lot going on throughout the story. I've finally settled on a sort of list, a list of things and characters in the book that need defining and by defining them maybe it will give you a bit of an understanding. Here goes...

1. Metropolis: No, not where Clark Kent and Lois Lane live, it's the dark, dirty place where the story takes place. Metropolis has no color or life to it thanks to the Baron Ignatius Fyodor Maximus von Strompie III the not too bright ruler who rules with an iron fist.

2. Baron Ignatius Fyodor Maximus von Strompie III: The not too bright ruler of Metropolis who rules with an iron fist and nobody likes.

3. Cloons: People who have cloondium felicitatum a condition which causes the nose to grow large and round and red. It also causes the feet to become extra long and wide and the complexion to take on various bright colors and the personality to "take a sudden turn to the outlandish." All of these symptoms tend to show themselves around the age of 10 or 11.

4. Pat pats: Short for Patriotic Patrol. The goon squad of the Baron. They go around collecting stray children, cloons and other entertainers, vagrants, people who generally annoy the Baron or his wife and throw them in the Choir Stall.

5. The Choir Stall: The miserable prison in the middle of Metropolis.

6. Jeremy Cabbage: The orphan who begins life with his beloved Polly and the Parrots living in the Licreeary hiding from the Pat pats and is later adopted 3 times, the last by a couple of cloons who finally show him what a real family is about.

7. Licreeary: Place closed by the Baron (much sadness) and all that's left of the sign says
lic ree ary (Public Free Library)

8. Bits and pieces: I made this one up. The story of Jeremy Cabbage is filled with little bits and pieces that keep coming back and connecting with another bit or piece until the end when all of the bits and pieces come together for a predictable, but happy ending.

The writing is pretty amazing the way that David Elliot keeps the story turning on itself and moving at the same time. While I wasn't enthralled with the book, I couldn't put it down either!

More reviews:
Bookloons Reviews
The Book Club Shelf
MOM - Not Otherwise Specified

Looking for Newbery - Day 11

She Touched the World: Laura Bridgman Deaf - Blind Pioneer by Sally Hobart Alexander and Robert Alexander is a biography written at a level that most upper elementary students could read and understand. Laura Bridgman was the woman that cleared the path for Helen Keller, in fact, I learned from this book that she taught sign language to Anne Sullivan, Helen Keller's teacher.

Laura was one of the first two students to study at what would become the famous Perkins School for the Blind. Her teacher Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe met Laura and was so taken by her intelligence and curiosity that he took her to Boston to begin testing some of his theories on educating the handicapped. He was so successful with her that his school grew into the facility that we are all familiar with today. While Helen Keller may be the most famous student, Laura Bridgman was quite possibly its most important. Without her eventual willingness to learn and try new things there most likely would not have been a Perkins School for Helen Keller to attend.

The book is well written and full of information that I was not familiar with. As far as biographies go, its good, but I think I was most impressed with the information shared at the end. The author, Sally Hobart Alexander, is blind and hearing impaired. She shares how multi-handicapped people cope in our world today. I especially like the way in which she compares what her life is like to the life of Laura Bridgman in the 1800s.

Other reviews:
Becky's Book Reviews
Sarah Miller Reading, Writing, Musing...

Looking for Newbery - Day 10-With a Caldecott Thrown In

This countdown thing has sort of forced me to finish books that normally I would put aside because they are not age appropriate for our library. Ringside, 1925 is one of those books. Written in one of my favorite formats, free verse, by Jen Bryant, the book follows 9 characters as they witness the Scopes Trial in Dayton, Tennessee. I'll admit I know very little about the trial, just the basics, but that really didn't matter when reading this novel. Jen Bryant does an outstanding job of presenting a picture of life in 1925 Tennessee.

The story is told from the perspective of a teen age girl who wants more from life than keeping house and raising a family. We see the trial through the eyes of two teen age boys who are best friends who find themselves on opposite sides of the evolution argument. A poor African American boy who is self taught, intelligent and hard working watches the trial while he works setting up chairs and fans and tables, and dreams of life as a lawyer, pretty far fetched in 1925 Tennessee. All of these characters, in addition to the adults that inhabit Dayton, Tennessee bring the famous trial alive in a way that middle school readers will understand.

Although it's not written for the students I teach, the writing is well done, and, in my opinion, worthy of an award. I will not be disappointed if Rinsgide, 1925 is chosen.

And now for the thrown in Caldecott. Once again the kids at my school will be voting for their choices, and in compiling my list, I've run across some titles I had forgotten came out in 2008. One such title is Woolbur, one of the big hits in THE PIT last year. Here is my review.

Looking for Newbery - Day 9

I was a busy beaver today, doing many, many errands, so I'm bringing a book back from our archives today since I didn't get an opportunity to read another Newbery possibility from the mock Newbery lists.

When We Are the Ship by Kadir Nelson came out, I read it, and fell in love with it, and wasn't shy about saying so. I'm not sure into what category We Are the Ship fits, but it is beautifully illustrated and beautifully written. We Are the Ship is truly a creative piece of art. And according to Fuse #8's mock Newbery roundup, it seems that four mock Newbery lists would agree with me!

Looking for Newbery - Day 8

Bird Lake Moon by Kevin Henkes was an absolutely delightful book! Having the setting be at a lake was so key to this story -- I've always believed in the healing powers of bodies of water; I don't know what it is about water that is so calming for me, but it is. Even in my adult reading, I just read a book that was set in Nantucket, and I felt relaxed just reading about the beaches and the ocean waves. In Bird Lake Moon, the lake also draws the characters together in an important way.

Henkes has created and developed two boy characters (Mitch and Spencer) that will stay with me for a while. At the heart of this story is how friendships can be cultivated, tested, and eventually, they can endure. The relationship beween Mitch and Spencer is one of the reasons I couldn't put this book down from the moment that I started it -- I read it through non-stop yesterday afternoon.

Another reason I loved this book is the beautiful language Henkes incorporates, and how the story continually changes point of view between Mitch and Spencer.

Four Mock Newbery lists felt that Bird Lake Moon needed some love January 26 -- I think these 4 lists have chosen well!!!

Looking for Newbery - Day 7

This is Day 7, and it is also the first day of 2009. Happy New Year!!

Don't forget that the Cybils shortlists announcements are today.

Bill and I will be back tomorrow, still looking for that possible Newbery Award winner. :) Only 25 days to go!