Saturday, August 2, 2008
SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES: THE FIELD GUIDE
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Black, Holly & Tony DiTerlizzi. 2003. The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books. ISBN: 068959368
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Things have gone from bad to worse for nine year old Jared. Dad has left home, mom has moved the family to a dilapidated old shackled house, mysterious happenings are going on, and Jared seems to always get the blame. With his twin brother Simon and his thirteen year old sister Mallory, the three set out to uncover bizarre and inexplicable events. Jared’s curiosity leads him to discover a distant relative, Arthur Spiderwick’s, Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You leather bound book. This big book is full of information about fairies and other creatures. As Jared begins to explore the book Thimbletack, a brownie, warns him, “Throw the book away, toss it in the fire. If you do not heed, you will draw their ire.” The trouble is he did not heed the brownie’s instructions.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi have written a five part fantasy series called The Spiderwick Chronicles that as my daughter stated, “It's a book beyond excellent; one of the best I’ve ever read!” I too was immediately captured by this first book called The Field Guide. The authors start the book off by explaining how a mysterious letter reached their hands at a book signing and from that day on they have been plunged into an invisible world that they never quite believed in, yet have had to work dangerously, fending off angry fairies and goblins to bring these books to their readers. Next, you read a copy of the letter sent to Black and DiTerlizzi from Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace asking if they would please give the letter to their publishers. It sets the stage of believability as the story ensues. As you read the chronicle you are captured by the lives of the characters. Jared, who is nine years old, is struggling with self worth issues and the divorce of his parents. Simon, his twin brother, has a deep fascination and love for animals. Mallory, their 13 year old sister, is hoping to one day be an Olympic fencer. Each character has qualities that children can associate with and understand. Together the three Grace children face mysterious poetic rhymes and riddles they must solve. One key riddle said, “In a man’s torso you will find, my secret to all mankind.” Jared uncovers the mystery of this riddle and finds the Field Guide that was left behind by their great-great uncle, Arthur Spiderwick. Warned by a creature to throw the book away, the children must decide whether to open it up and uncover an invisible world that is unimaginable to them. As the book ends Mallory utters, “And all these entries…all these things are real? Jared, that’s a lot of real.” Leaving me, the reader, begging for more! In my good fortune they have already written all five books otherwise I don’t believe I could have stood the torture of waiting for more.
The illustrations scattered throughout the book offer glimpses into the world of the Grace children. There are pencil portraits of each child, their mother, creatures, and places in the house. The book also offers a map of the Spiderwick Estate and surrounding areas, a color photocopy of a handwritten note, and pictures of two new characters that will be introduced in book two.
The Spiderwick Chronicles are a must read for anyone who has a love for entering a mystical world full of dangers and mystical creatures that actually might just live in and among us.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
A Children’s Book-Of-The-Month Club Featured Selection
Kirkus Review: Cleverly marketed as too dangerous to read, handsomely designed, and extravagantly illustrated this packs quite a punch.
Publishers Weekly: Appealing characters, well-measured suspense and an inviting package will lure readers on.
School Library Journal: …the fast, movie like pace will grab young readers.
5. CONNECTIONS
*Have students illustrate a fairy creature of their own and then describe the nature, personality, attributes, and mischief of their creature.
*Search the Spiderwick Website for related activities and games such as the Spiderwick Trivia game located at: http://www.spiderwick.com/
*Before reading book two ask the students to predict what will happen to the Grace children as they discover mysteries of the book.
Other books in this series:
Black, Holly & Tony DiTerlizzi. The Seeing Stone. ISBN 0689859376
Black, Holly & Tony DiTerlizzi. Lucinda’s Secret. ISNB 0689859384
Black, Holly & Tony DiTerlizzi. The Ironwood Tree. ISBN 0689859392
Black, Holly & Tony DiTerlizzi. The Wrath of Mulgarath. ISBN 0689859406
Also available in Audio format:
Black, Holly, Tony Diterlizzi, & Mark Hamill. The Spiderwick Chronicles Box Set: Book 1: The Field Guide; book 2: The Seeing Stone; Book 3: Lucinda’s Secret; Book 4: The Ironwood Tree; Book 5: The Wrath of Mulgarath. Unabridged Audio book. Listening Library, New York. ISBN: 0739356151
Black, Holly & Tony DiTerlizzi. 2003. The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books. ISBN: 068959368
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Things have gone from bad to worse for nine year old Jared. Dad has left home, mom has moved the family to a dilapidated old shackled house, mysterious happenings are going on, and Jared seems to always get the blame. With his twin brother Simon and his thirteen year old sister Mallory, the three set out to uncover bizarre and inexplicable events. Jared’s curiosity leads him to discover a distant relative, Arthur Spiderwick’s, Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You leather bound book. This big book is full of information about fairies and other creatures. As Jared begins to explore the book Thimbletack, a brownie, warns him, “Throw the book away, toss it in the fire. If you do not heed, you will draw their ire.” The trouble is he did not heed the brownie’s instructions.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi have written a five part fantasy series called The Spiderwick Chronicles that as my daughter stated, “It's a book beyond excellent; one of the best I’ve ever read!” I too was immediately captured by this first book called The Field Guide. The authors start the book off by explaining how a mysterious letter reached their hands at a book signing and from that day on they have been plunged into an invisible world that they never quite believed in, yet have had to work dangerously, fending off angry fairies and goblins to bring these books to their readers. Next, you read a copy of the letter sent to Black and DiTerlizzi from Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace asking if they would please give the letter to their publishers. It sets the stage of believability as the story ensues. As you read the chronicle you are captured by the lives of the characters. Jared, who is nine years old, is struggling with self worth issues and the divorce of his parents. Simon, his twin brother, has a deep fascination and love for animals. Mallory, their 13 year old sister, is hoping to one day be an Olympic fencer. Each character has qualities that children can associate with and understand. Together the three Grace children face mysterious poetic rhymes and riddles they must solve. One key riddle said, “In a man’s torso you will find, my secret to all mankind.” Jared uncovers the mystery of this riddle and finds the Field Guide that was left behind by their great-great uncle, Arthur Spiderwick. Warned by a creature to throw the book away, the children must decide whether to open it up and uncover an invisible world that is unimaginable to them. As the book ends Mallory utters, “And all these entries…all these things are real? Jared, that’s a lot of real.” Leaving me, the reader, begging for more! In my good fortune they have already written all five books otherwise I don’t believe I could have stood the torture of waiting for more.
The illustrations scattered throughout the book offer glimpses into the world of the Grace children. There are pencil portraits of each child, their mother, creatures, and places in the house. The book also offers a map of the Spiderwick Estate and surrounding areas, a color photocopy of a handwritten note, and pictures of two new characters that will be introduced in book two.
The Spiderwick Chronicles are a must read for anyone who has a love for entering a mystical world full of dangers and mystical creatures that actually might just live in and among us.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
A Children’s Book-Of-The-Month Club Featured Selection
Kirkus Review: Cleverly marketed as too dangerous to read, handsomely designed, and extravagantly illustrated this packs quite a punch.
Publishers Weekly: Appealing characters, well-measured suspense and an inviting package will lure readers on.
School Library Journal: …the fast, movie like pace will grab young readers.
5. CONNECTIONS
*Have students illustrate a fairy creature of their own and then describe the nature, personality, attributes, and mischief of their creature.
*Search the Spiderwick Website for related activities and games such as the Spiderwick Trivia game located at: http://www.spiderwick.com/
*Before reading book two ask the students to predict what will happen to the Grace children as they discover mysteries of the book.
Other books in this series:
Black, Holly & Tony DiTerlizzi. The Seeing Stone. ISBN 0689859376
Black, Holly & Tony DiTerlizzi. Lucinda’s Secret. ISNB 0689859384
Black, Holly & Tony DiTerlizzi. The Ironwood Tree. ISBN 0689859392
Black, Holly & Tony DiTerlizzi. The Wrath of Mulgarath. ISBN 0689859406
Also available in Audio format:
Black, Holly, Tony Diterlizzi, & Mark Hamill. The Spiderwick Chronicles Box Set: Book 1: The Field Guide; book 2: The Seeing Stone; Book 3: Lucinda’s Secret; Book 4: The Ironwood Tree; Book 5: The Wrath of Mulgarath. Unabridged Audio book. Listening Library, New York. ISBN: 0739356151
THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
DiCamillo, Kate, and Graeme Malcolm. 2005. The Tale of Despereaux. Unabridged Audio. New York, NY: Random House Listening Library. ISBN: 1400099137
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Despereaux, an unlikely hero, is betrayed by his brother and father and sent to die in the rat filled dungeon. In this dark stench dungeon, he sets out on a quest to save the Princess Pea. She has been taken captive by a rat, Roscuro, and a servant girl, Miggery Sow who desire to fulfill divine comeuppance. Despereaux sets out to do the impossible; he faces the grave dangers of the dungeon to rescue his fair lady with a spool of red thread, a needle, and love.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Kate DiCamillo has written a fantasy Newbery Medal book the mixes together ingredients that will stir your soul. She was able to spin this tale in a way that you forget that the hero or protagonist, is a mouse. The book is divided into four books each book elaborating on a character and settings to spin the tale and weave it together. The first book is about Despereaux, how unthinkably different and disappointing he is to his family and what love does to his heart. Book two introduces us to Chiaroscuro or Roscuro the rat. Roscuro has been groomed for dismay, darkness, and torturous gloom but when a spark of light enters his soul he is forever changed. Book three is the tale of Miggery Sow. This poor girl, named after her father’s prized pig, is traded into slavery by her father for a handful of cigarettes, a red tablecloth, and a hen. Her greatest desire is to become a princess although what Miggery Sow wanted was of no concern to anyone. Book four wraps up each story. Princess Pea’s character was intertwined in each book and now the ultimate solution to each characters problem is solved to a degree together.
Illustrator, Timothy Basil Ering has sketched pencil drawings of the characters throughout the book. Each illustration offers a glimpse into the lives and personalities of the characters. The pictures capture moments in the book that add to the drama of the story and allows the reader to picture and envision the characters which I enjoyed and appreciated.
The narrator, Graeme Malcolm, has an eloquent dialect to his voice. The sound quality is superb. The audio book uses music that adds drama at the beginning and end of the story. Malcolm uses distinct voice to reflect each character. I especially enjoyed the French accent he used for Despereaux’s mother Antoinette. The narration is over three hours long and placed on three CD’s. I appreciated the story being available in audio book format. This is due to the difficult dialect and language used. The language is somewhat hard to read and even to listen to at times. The narrator asks questions like, “Listener do you know what the word perfidy means? I have a feeling you do but you should look up the word in the dictionary to be sure.” Other words that concerned me were: portentous, divine comeuppance, gor, and atonement. Many words like these are scattered throughout the book making it difficult for children with reading difficulties. That is why I do appreciate the book being available in audio for those children who would love to read the story but would not be able to finish such a daunting book as this.
Throughout the book there are themes such as love, light, darkness, hope, and forgiveness. Each theme allows for great book discussions. I particularly enjoyed, “Every action listener, no matter how small, has a consequence.” And “Forgiveness listener, is, I think something very much like hope and love, a powerful thing.”
This story was powerful indeed. It will shed light on darkness and allow love, hope, and forgiveness to offer you the power to live.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Newbery Medal Award
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Booklist: Forgiveness, light, love, and soup. These essential ingredients combine into a tale that is as soul stirring as it is delicious.
Horn Book: Di Camillo tells an engaging tale.
School Library Journal: A charming story of unlikely heroes whose destinies entwine to bring about a joyful resolution.
5. CONNECTIONS
*Have students conduct a brown bag book report using choice items to retell the story to the class.
*Discuss the differences between light and darkness. How do they affect our lives?
*Discuss the act of forgiveness. Besides Despereaux, who else in the book had to face the issue of forgiveness and how did it change them?
Other books by Kate DiCamillo:
DiCamillo, Kate. The Tiger Rising. ISBN: 0763618985
DiCamillo, Kate. Because of Winn- Dixie. ISBN: 0763616052
DiCamillo, Kate. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. ISBN: 0763639877
DiCamillo, Kate, and Graeme Malcolm. 2005. The Tale of Despereaux. Unabridged Audio. New York, NY: Random House Listening Library. ISBN: 1400099137
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Despereaux, an unlikely hero, is betrayed by his brother and father and sent to die in the rat filled dungeon. In this dark stench dungeon, he sets out on a quest to save the Princess Pea. She has been taken captive by a rat, Roscuro, and a servant girl, Miggery Sow who desire to fulfill divine comeuppance. Despereaux sets out to do the impossible; he faces the grave dangers of the dungeon to rescue his fair lady with a spool of red thread, a needle, and love.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Kate DiCamillo has written a fantasy Newbery Medal book the mixes together ingredients that will stir your soul. She was able to spin this tale in a way that you forget that the hero or protagonist, is a mouse. The book is divided into four books each book elaborating on a character and settings to spin the tale and weave it together. The first book is about Despereaux, how unthinkably different and disappointing he is to his family and what love does to his heart. Book two introduces us to Chiaroscuro or Roscuro the rat. Roscuro has been groomed for dismay, darkness, and torturous gloom but when a spark of light enters his soul he is forever changed. Book three is the tale of Miggery Sow. This poor girl, named after her father’s prized pig, is traded into slavery by her father for a handful of cigarettes, a red tablecloth, and a hen. Her greatest desire is to become a princess although what Miggery Sow wanted was of no concern to anyone. Book four wraps up each story. Princess Pea’s character was intertwined in each book and now the ultimate solution to each characters problem is solved to a degree together.
Illustrator, Timothy Basil Ering has sketched pencil drawings of the characters throughout the book. Each illustration offers a glimpse into the lives and personalities of the characters. The pictures capture moments in the book that add to the drama of the story and allows the reader to picture and envision the characters which I enjoyed and appreciated.
The narrator, Graeme Malcolm, has an eloquent dialect to his voice. The sound quality is superb. The audio book uses music that adds drama at the beginning and end of the story. Malcolm uses distinct voice to reflect each character. I especially enjoyed the French accent he used for Despereaux’s mother Antoinette. The narration is over three hours long and placed on three CD’s. I appreciated the story being available in audio book format. This is due to the difficult dialect and language used. The language is somewhat hard to read and even to listen to at times. The narrator asks questions like, “Listener do you know what the word perfidy means? I have a feeling you do but you should look up the word in the dictionary to be sure.” Other words that concerned me were: portentous, divine comeuppance, gor, and atonement. Many words like these are scattered throughout the book making it difficult for children with reading difficulties. That is why I do appreciate the book being available in audio for those children who would love to read the story but would not be able to finish such a daunting book as this.
Throughout the book there are themes such as love, light, darkness, hope, and forgiveness. Each theme allows for great book discussions. I particularly enjoyed, “Every action listener, no matter how small, has a consequence.” And “Forgiveness listener, is, I think something very much like hope and love, a powerful thing.”
This story was powerful indeed. It will shed light on darkness and allow love, hope, and forgiveness to offer you the power to live.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Newbery Medal Award
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Booklist: Forgiveness, light, love, and soup. These essential ingredients combine into a tale that is as soul stirring as it is delicious.
Horn Book: Di Camillo tells an engaging tale.
School Library Journal: A charming story of unlikely heroes whose destinies entwine to bring about a joyful resolution.
5. CONNECTIONS
*Have students conduct a brown bag book report using choice items to retell the story to the class.
*Discuss the differences between light and darkness. How do they affect our lives?
*Discuss the act of forgiveness. Besides Despereaux, who else in the book had to face the issue of forgiveness and how did it change them?
Other books by Kate DiCamillo:
DiCamillo, Kate. The Tiger Rising. ISBN: 0763618985
DiCamillo, Kate. Because of Winn- Dixie. ISBN: 0763616052
DiCamillo, Kate. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. ISBN: 0763639877
HOW I LIVE NOW
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Rosoff, Meg. 2004. How I Live Now. New York, NY: Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN 0553376055
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Life for fifteen year old Daisy has always felt plain and uninspiring. One summer she is sent off to spend time with cousins she has never met in England. Edmond, picks her up at the airport and takes her home introducing her to her other cousins, Piper, Osbert, and Isaac, Edmonds twin. Just as Daisy’s life is beginning to change for the better, feeling safe, and enjoying the peacefulness of the country, an unnamed terrorist group attacks England. This forces the children to find inward determination to survive in this new and unforgiving world.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Meg Rosoff has written an unforgettable realistic fictional book about self preservation. In her story you met the protagonist Daisy who narrates the story. Daisy is struggling with the death of her mother, a father who refuses to discuss her mother, a step mom she does not particularly care for, and a need to self destruct. Her salvation is love. She falls in love with her cousin Edmond and the two share intimate times together. This part could prove to be very controversial. Not that the author is explicit in a bad way about the affair but this affair is between two teens who are cousins. At first I gasped and thought I would never allow my daughter to read this book but then I changed my mind and realized this is life. Situations such as the one depicted can really happen and once you read the whole story you realize that without this love affair she might not ever survived. Through Daisy’s eye’s we see that the war was hard and gruesome at times, but in order to endure she allows her mind to compensate by thinking about Edmond and their times together. Slowly she listens, learns from others, and applies her knowledge to get herself and Piper, who were separated from the boys, back home. As the account continues you begin to realize that there is a silver lining to every war. She grows stronger, finds inner strength, has a new set of beliefs, and learns self sufficiency. Daisy had always used food as a form of self destruction but now she uses it as a form of preservation. Fighting back is what she discovers she does best and she refuses to let go of what she loves. Overall she reinvents herself and discovers her true identity. Daisy says, “If you haven’t been in war and are wondering how long it takes to get used to losing everything you think you need or love, I can tell you the answer is no time at all.”
This book, although fictional, is believable and you realize that this could happen today. How we live now, today will indeed change, change is inevitable, but how we live now is up to us. We can choose to stand and fight or cave in to adversity. I absolutely loved this unforgettable first book of terror, chaos, and love by Meg Rosoff.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
The Guardian Award for Children’s Fiction
The Branford Boase Award for a First Novel
Horn Book: This first novel is intelligent, funny, serious, and sweet; a winning combination of acerbic commentary, innocence, and sober vision.
Publishers Weekly: This riveting first novel paints a frighteningly realistic picture of a world war breaking out in the 21st century.
The Guardian: Fresh, honest, rude, funny. I put it down with tears on my face.
5. CONNECTIONS
*Discuss, “Every war has it’s turning point and every person too.”
*Discuss the quote, “Determination is 9/10th of the law.”
*Discuss the statement about Edmond, “Listening is what caused his trouble in the first place.” What does that insinuate?
Other books by Meg Rosoff: The first for Young Adults & the second written for Adults.
Rosoff, Meg. Just in Case. ISBN: 0452289378
Rosoff, Meg. What I Was: A Novel. ISBN: 0670018449
Rosoff, Meg. 2004. How I Live Now. New York, NY: Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN 0553376055
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Life for fifteen year old Daisy has always felt plain and uninspiring. One summer she is sent off to spend time with cousins she has never met in England. Edmond, picks her up at the airport and takes her home introducing her to her other cousins, Piper, Osbert, and Isaac, Edmonds twin. Just as Daisy’s life is beginning to change for the better, feeling safe, and enjoying the peacefulness of the country, an unnamed terrorist group attacks England. This forces the children to find inward determination to survive in this new and unforgiving world.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Meg Rosoff has written an unforgettable realistic fictional book about self preservation. In her story you met the protagonist Daisy who narrates the story. Daisy is struggling with the death of her mother, a father who refuses to discuss her mother, a step mom she does not particularly care for, and a need to self destruct. Her salvation is love. She falls in love with her cousin Edmond and the two share intimate times together. This part could prove to be very controversial. Not that the author is explicit in a bad way about the affair but this affair is between two teens who are cousins. At first I gasped and thought I would never allow my daughter to read this book but then I changed my mind and realized this is life. Situations such as the one depicted can really happen and once you read the whole story you realize that without this love affair she might not ever survived. Through Daisy’s eye’s we see that the war was hard and gruesome at times, but in order to endure she allows her mind to compensate by thinking about Edmond and their times together. Slowly she listens, learns from others, and applies her knowledge to get herself and Piper, who were separated from the boys, back home. As the account continues you begin to realize that there is a silver lining to every war. She grows stronger, finds inner strength, has a new set of beliefs, and learns self sufficiency. Daisy had always used food as a form of self destruction but now she uses it as a form of preservation. Fighting back is what she discovers she does best and she refuses to let go of what she loves. Overall she reinvents herself and discovers her true identity. Daisy says, “If you haven’t been in war and are wondering how long it takes to get used to losing everything you think you need or love, I can tell you the answer is no time at all.”
This book, although fictional, is believable and you realize that this could happen today. How we live now, today will indeed change, change is inevitable, but how we live now is up to us. We can choose to stand and fight or cave in to adversity. I absolutely loved this unforgettable first book of terror, chaos, and love by Meg Rosoff.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
The Guardian Award for Children’s Fiction
The Branford Boase Award for a First Novel
Horn Book: This first novel is intelligent, funny, serious, and sweet; a winning combination of acerbic commentary, innocence, and sober vision.
Publishers Weekly: This riveting first novel paints a frighteningly realistic picture of a world war breaking out in the 21st century.
The Guardian: Fresh, honest, rude, funny. I put it down with tears on my face.
5. CONNECTIONS
*Discuss, “Every war has it’s turning point and every person too.”
*Discuss the quote, “Determination is 9/10th of the law.”
*Discuss the statement about Edmond, “Listening is what caused his trouble in the first place.” What does that insinuate?
Other books by Meg Rosoff: The first for Young Adults & the second written for Adults.
Rosoff, Meg. Just in Case. ISBN: 0452289378
Rosoff, Meg. What I Was: A Novel. ISBN: 0670018449
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cushman, Karen. 1995. The Midwife’s Apprentice. New York, NY: Harper Trophy. ISBN 006440630X
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Hungry and cold Brat cursed the pain of living a life alone on the streets of medieval England. One bitterly cold and frosty night she is discovered sleeping in a dung pile by a midwife named Jane Sharp. Jane takes her home, renames her Beetle, and has her work in return for food and shelter. To keep Beetle ignorant, Jane does not allow her to work along side. So slowly and carefully Beetle watches from afar and learns her ways. Unfortunately when Beetle is given the opportunity to deliver a baby by herself things go wrong and she flees town. Through trials and hardships she must look inward to discover her place in this world as Alyce, the midwife’s apprentice.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Karen Cushman has written an exciting award winning Newbery Medal book that encourages the act of finding inward courage. Alyce, also known as Brat or Beetle, is the young protagonist who finds companionship in a cat, longs to discover herself, and struggles to find inward confidence. Kids will enjoy the short chapters filled with medieval adventures. Cushman’s story is set in a time where special concoctions, ointments, and herbs are the local norm. The medieval England setting is conveyed through the local traditions, superstitions and fears of the town especially when a two headed calf was born and the whole town goes up in arms sighting witches and devils everywhere. Kids will enjoy reading Beetle’s revenge on those in town with secret sins who had teased or tormented her by acting as a devil herself and punishing them. After a failed delivery, Alyce runs away and meets a professor who asks her, “What do you want?” No one had ever asked her that and after some thought she says, “A full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world.” Slowly Alyce turns away from being a shy awkward girl into a girl with pluck. Her character evolves through trails and circumstances as she finally discovers who she is. As Alyce said to an orphan boy, “Everybody is somebody and so are you.”
Cushman has a section in the back of the book with Author’s Notes. Here she explains the origins, customs, and development of midwifes through the centuries.
Cushman, Karen. 1995. The Midwife’s Apprentice. New York, NY: Harper Trophy. ISBN 006440630X
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Hungry and cold Brat cursed the pain of living a life alone on the streets of medieval England. One bitterly cold and frosty night she is discovered sleeping in a dung pile by a midwife named Jane Sharp. Jane takes her home, renames her Beetle, and has her work in return for food and shelter. To keep Beetle ignorant, Jane does not allow her to work along side. So slowly and carefully Beetle watches from afar and learns her ways. Unfortunately when Beetle is given the opportunity to deliver a baby by herself things go wrong and she flees town. Through trials and hardships she must look inward to discover her place in this world as Alyce, the midwife’s apprentice.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Karen Cushman has written an exciting award winning Newbery Medal book that encourages the act of finding inward courage. Alyce, also known as Brat or Beetle, is the young protagonist who finds companionship in a cat, longs to discover herself, and struggles to find inward confidence. Kids will enjoy the short chapters filled with medieval adventures. Cushman’s story is set in a time where special concoctions, ointments, and herbs are the local norm. The medieval England setting is conveyed through the local traditions, superstitions and fears of the town especially when a two headed calf was born and the whole town goes up in arms sighting witches and devils everywhere. Kids will enjoy reading Beetle’s revenge on those in town with secret sins who had teased or tormented her by acting as a devil herself and punishing them. After a failed delivery, Alyce runs away and meets a professor who asks her, “What do you want?” No one had ever asked her that and after some thought she says, “A full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world.” Slowly Alyce turns away from being a shy awkward girl into a girl with pluck. Her character evolves through trails and circumstances as she finally discovers who she is. As Alyce said to an orphan boy, “Everybody is somebody and so are you.”
Cushman has a section in the back of the book with Author’s Notes. Here she explains the origins, customs, and development of midwifes through the centuries.
Cushman delivered a historical novel with a beautiful theme universal in time. The desire to be loved, accepted, and the courage it takes to find it within you.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Newbery Medal Award
ALA Notable Children’s Book
ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults
New York Public Library List of Recommended Books
ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice
School Library Journal Best Book
American Bookseller Pick of the Lists
Booklist: Kids will like this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she’s not ugly or stupid or alone.
Publishers Weekly: The force of the ambience produces more than enough momentum to propel the reader from start to finish in a single happy sitting.
School Library Journal: A truly delightful introduction to a world seldom seen in children’s literature
5. CONNECTIONS
*Study Medieval history of England. Construct a “Did You Know” poster. Compare clothes, food, and traditions to ours of today.
*Host a Medieval Feast filled with drama and poetry of the time.
*Discuss with students the statement, “Everybody is someone and so are you.”
Other books by Karen Cushman:
Cushman, Karen. Catherine, Called Birdy. ISBN: 0064405842
Cushman, Karen. The Ballad of Lucy Whipple. ISBN: 0064406849
Cushman, Karen. Rodzina. ISBN: 044041993X
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Newbery Medal Award
ALA Notable Children’s Book
ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults
New York Public Library List of Recommended Books
ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice
School Library Journal Best Book
American Bookseller Pick of the Lists
Booklist: Kids will like this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she’s not ugly or stupid or alone.
Publishers Weekly: The force of the ambience produces more than enough momentum to propel the reader from start to finish in a single happy sitting.
School Library Journal: A truly delightful introduction to a world seldom seen in children’s literature
5. CONNECTIONS
*Study Medieval history of England. Construct a “Did You Know” poster. Compare clothes, food, and traditions to ours of today.
*Host a Medieval Feast filled with drama and poetry of the time.
*Discuss with students the statement, “Everybody is someone and so are you.”
Other books by Karen Cushman:
Cushman, Karen. Catherine, Called Birdy. ISBN: 0064405842
Cushman, Karen. The Ballad of Lucy Whipple. ISBN: 0064406849
Cushman, Karen. Rodzina. ISBN: 044041993X
THE WHIPPING BOY
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Fleischman, Sid. 1986. The Whipping Boy. Ill. by Peter Sis. New York, NY: Scholastic. ISBN 0439441420
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Living in a castle was far from what Jemmy, an orphaned rat catcher’s son, expected from his life. He finds himself dressed in fine clothes, receiving a good education, but dreaming of a carefree life away from the castle. Jemmy served as the Royal Princes whipping boy, receiving thrashings for any bad behavior of the Prince. The Royal Prince, known far and wide as Prince Brat, had earned his reputation well. The two boys have an ever growing exasperation for each other. When Prince Brat decides to run away Jemmy is forced to follow. Soon they find themselves in a hostage situation being held by two murderous highwaymen. The two face many comical adventures as they try to return to the castle which compels them to trust and find friendship in each other.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Sid Fleischman has written a Newbery Medal Award winning book about finding friendship under the most unlikely circumstances. Fleischman’s short chapters are full of wit such as the names of his characters, Prince Brat, Hold your Nose Billy, Cutwater, and Petunia the bear. Fleischman’s sentence construction is full of fun and witty word choices that align with the era of the book. For example, the Prince is held hostage and does not like the ransomed demands of the thieves and declares, “Dimwits! Catchpenny rogues! I will not be exchanged for such a trifle…A paltry treasure you could carry on your shoulder? How dare you insult me!” As enjoyable as the words can be, they could prove to be difficult for children with limited vocabulary due to uncommon terminology choices of today.
The adventures take place outside of the castle when the boys are nabbed and taken to a cabin in the woods. The kidnapers have a case of mistaken identity believing that Jemmy is the prince because he’s the one who can read and write. This forces Prince Brat to reevaluate his life and circumstances. This comical event helps other children to evaluate the mishap that occurs when forsaking studies for play. Even Jemmy reevaluates his situation when he meets up with his old friend Smudge in the sewers and realizes, “he’d lost his taste for ignorance.” Jemmy and Prince Brat personalities begin to evolve. They turn from a very disagreeable belief of each other to one of friendship of trust.
Peter Sis illustrated the pages with pointillism. The black and white pictures offer a comical look into the lives of the characters. Sis managed to evoke the feeling for the era by the selection of clothes, hair styles, and the settings he drew. Each illustration depicts the life of the time either with horrific or comical situations that the boys encounter together.
As the book closes, Fleischman offers a note explaining that the characters were fictional but that whipping boys did in fact exist in history. A series of Literature Circle Questions are offered for class discussion time. Overall Fleischman was able to capture an era of time with rip laughing adventures that yield a story of pure pleasure.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Newbery Medal Award
ALA Notable Book
School Library Journal Best Book
Kirkus Review: A rollicking tale of adventure and mistaken identity.
Publishers Weekly: With a flair for persuading readers to believe in the ridiculous, Fleischman scores a hit with his new creation.
School Library Journal: This whimsical, readable story delights…
5. CONNECTIONS
*Research whipping boys. How were they obtained and would that be acceptable today?
*Discuss friendship. How is it formed and must there be a level of trust?
*Discuss what the students believe happened to the boys after the story ends. Did Jemmy still serve as the whipping boy? What kind of King would the Prince make now?
Other books by Sid Fleischman:
Fleischman, Sid. Escape!: The Story of The Great Houdini. ISBN 0060850965
Fleischman, Sid. The 13th Floor. ISBN: 0688142168
Fleischman, Sid. Bandit’s Moon. ISBN: 0440415861
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