Module 5 ~ July 4 - 10

Module 5 – Flawed Dogs: The Shocking Raid on Westminster

Breathed, B. (2009). Flawed dogs: The shocking raid on Westminster. New York: Rosebud Productions. Fiction




Summary
This fantasy magically brings a dachshund and his new friends together so he can prove once and for all that he, Sam, is not the evil one. In the beginning, Sam is saved by his new human friend, Heidi, from an overstuffed furry dressed lady that claims to be his master. He escapes and Heidi ends up bringing him home, but only to lose him when Cassius, a jealous poodle, sets him up to look like a baby murderer. He spends the next three years trying to survive and figure out a way to get revenge. With a group of mutts from the National Last Ditch Dog Depository, they disguise themselves like a contestant and disrupt the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club dog show. When he sees Heidi, he wants to believe that she could still care about him, but once again Cassius makes him believe otherwise. Cassius tries to kill Sam and Heidi finds out that the evil doings were Cassius all along.

My Impression
This tale is a magically adventurous turn of events with laughter and tears along the way. I wanted Sam to be able to tell her that it wasn’t him, but only the human reader knows what the dogs are saying in the story. The humans in the story only hear barking. It was wonderful to see “the underdogs” help save the day and find homes for themselves too. Each dog had a “flaw” that kept them from originally being adopted. After their flaws helped Sam, they learned to appreciate themselves for the things that made them so different.

Library Setting
This novel could be used to teach students about how special differences are. At an age where so many children fear being different, it can help teach them that the things that make them unique are the very things that make them one of a kind. Students could partner up with another student in class and talk take turns talking about their least favorite quality about themselves. Their partner could help them come up with a list of ways that this quality could be helpful.

Reviews
Grades 4-6. After forging a brilliant career as a cartoonist, most notably with Bloom County, Breathed applied his well-honed artistic skills to picture books and now takes his first stab at novel writing. His worldview of the lovable loser skewering pomposity is a natural fit for middle-graders, as is the dog-centric nature of this tale. The plot follows Sam the Lion (actually a dachsund), admired by dog-show types for his rare genetic tuft of hair, who is cast out by his adoptive family due to the machinations of a jealous poodle. Over the next few years, any number of terrible/zany adventures befall Sam (including losing a leg and having a soup ladle tied on in its place) before he’s reunited with his owner and justice is done. The story is essentially an animated cartoon in prose form (complete with a mutts-piled-on-top-of-each-other-dressed-as-a-human gag), but Breathed proves an able writer, laying on plenty of over-the-top ebullience that should perk the ears of kids’ inner underdog. A bevy of Breathed’s signature bulbous illustrations—a few in color—add some body to the story.
(2009, Oct 15). Booklist [Review of the book Flawed Dogs: The shocking raid on
Westminster ]. Retrieved from
http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=c10961bcca5f05fde919419b6f86897a

Breathed's fans won't be surprised by the dark tone of this outlandish tale, but readers expecting a heartwarming pet story may be taken aback by the difficulties that face Sam, the canine hero. Luckily, smooth writing and humorous exaggeration make it relatively easy to get through the violence of a dog-fighting ring, the perfidy of an envious poodle and three long (mercifully undescribed) years in a research lab. Characterization of the humans is sketchy at best, but the various canine and feline players are an endearing mix of odd attributes and engaging personalities (except for the murderous poodle). Sam's clever plot to infiltrate the Westminster dog show combines the suspense of an over-the-top caper film with the slapstick of the Marx Brothers (Mrs. Nutbush bears a striking resemblance to Margaret Dumont). Clearly growing out of, but not a simple expansion of, the 2003 picture book of the same name, these pups' tale carries the same message of caring and concern and will likely worm its way into the hearts of readers able to persist through the problems and pain. (Fantasy. 10-14)
(2009, August 15). Kirkus Review [Review of the book Flawed Dogs: The shocking raid on
Westminster ]. Retrieved from
http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=c10961bcca5f05fde919419b6f86897a

Bloom County cartoonist Breathed (Pete & Pickles) makes the move from picture books to middle-grade fiction and, from the harrowing opening scene at a dog fight, readers will be rapt. After spending eight years isolated at a boarding school in Minnesota, 14-year-old orphan Heidy McCloud is invited to live with her dejected uncle Hamish, greedy Mrs. Beaglehole and their evil poodle, Cassius, on the vacant McCloud Heavenly Acres dog ranch in Piddleton, Vt., "Home of the World's Most Beautiful Dogs." En route, Heidy meets Sam, a Du glitz dachshund worth $180,000, and a reciprocal, platonic love is born. However, Cassius resents the attention Sam receives and sets a trap resulting in the dachshund's imprisonment in a pound with "the seven most ridiculous dogs [Sam] had ever seen," as well as Sam's suffering an awful injury. But the dog's determination to reunite with Heidy doesn't wane. Dramatically lit and featuring comically exaggerated characters (human and canine alike), Berkeley's b&w artwork augments the story's drama and humor. A moving tale about the beauty of imperfections and the capacity for love. Ages 8-12. (Sept.) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
(2009, July 20). Publishers Weekly [Review of the book Flawed Dogs: The shocking raid on
Westminster ]. Retrieved from
http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=c10961bcca5f05fde919419b6f86897a

Gr 3-6-This chapter book is a spin-off of Breathed's 2003 picture book of the same name (Little, Brown). Sam the dachshund was bred to be an award-winning show dog, right down to his priceless "Du glitz tuft." But Sam has no interest in appearances; like all dogs, beautiful or "flawed," all he really wants is to belong to someone special, and to be loved. After a dramatic escape from his frightful new owner, he sneaks into a girl's luggage and soon wins her affections. But Cassius, a champion full-size poodle and denizen of Sam's new home, is not accustomed to being second in anyone's heart and is determined to get rid of him. What follows is a series of misadventures for Sam and a group of abandoned animals from the National Last-Ditch Dog Depository. Featuring some harrowing moments, this is not a story for the faint of heart, but readers will definitely be rooting for Sam and his comically imperfect band of followers. Black-and-white and full-color illustrations, done in the award-winning author's familiar style, are sprinkled throughout, adding depth to an already engaging and well-paced tale.-Jessica Marie, Renton Public Library, WA Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
(2009, Nov 1). School Library Journal [Review of the book Flawed Dogs: The shocking raid on
Westminster ]. Retrieved from
http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=c10961bcca5f05fde919419b6f86897a

Module 5 – Uglies

Westerfeld, S. (2005). Uglies. New York: Simon Pulse. Fiction





Summary
This scientific novel takes place in a society where normal people are ugly and everyone dreams of becoming pretty when they turn 16. The main character, Tally, lives in a world long after ours. When the characters talk about the older civilization, they call them/us the Rusties. They have been taught in school that when Rusties were alive, they were wasteful of the land’s resources and there was so much violence because everyone got so caught up in their own jealousies that they stopped treating everyone with fairness and respect. That was the old way of living. The new way of living (makes e think of a cult like lifestyle) practically brainwashed them from the age of littlies to the age of 16. They were taught to think that they were ugly and when they turned 16, they would be turned pretty. Being pretty meant parties and happy people everywhere. No one was sad and no one fought. After her best friend, Peris, turns nearly 3 months before her Tally is left to spend the summer alone. After she sneaks over to the other side to see him, she meets a girl named Shay. Shay thinks that she is an amazing trickster and teachers her how to hover-board and about the Ruins and the Rusties. After Shay runs away, Tally is forced to go find her and she Tally learns what really happens when you are turned pretty.

My Impression
Teenagers are very impressionable and it is sad to think that another adult would want to make them believe and feel that they are ugly. I love that Tally finds out the truth before it is too late, and learns to stand up for what she believes in.

Library Setting
This book also talks a lot about what can happen to the environment if people don’t take care of it. This could be taught with a lesson on ways to preserve the environment and also data and research (findings) that could be collected to display what can happen when too many trees are cut down, or about pollution, or even the effects of poaching.

Reviews
Gr. 7-10. Fifteen-year-old Tally's eerily harmonious, postapocalyptic society gives extreme makeovers to teens on their sixteenth birthdays, supposedly conferring equivalent evolutionary advantages to all. When a top-secret agency threatens to leave Tally ugly forever unless she spies on runaway teens, she agrees to infiltrate the Smoke, a shadowy colony of refugees from the "tyranny of physical perfection."At first baffled and revolted by the rebels'choices, Tally eventually bonds with one of their leaders and begins to question the validity of institutionalized mutilation--especially as it becomes clear that the government's surgeons may be doing more than cosmetic nipping and tucking. Although the narrative's brisk pace is more successful in scenes of hover-boarding action than in convincingly developing Tally's key relationships, teens will sink their teeth into the provocative questions about invasive technology, image-obsessed society, and the ethical quandaries of a mole-turned-ally. These elements, along with the obvious connections to reality programs such as Miami Slice, will surely cause this ingenious series debut to cement Westerfeld's reputation for high-concept YA fiction that has wide appeal. Suggest M. T. Anderson's Feed (2002)and Westerfeld's own So Yesterday (2004)to readers antsy for the next installment.
(2005, March 15). Booklist [Review of the book Uglies]. Retrieved from
http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=c10961bcca5f05fde919419b6f86897a

With a beginning and ending that pack hefty punches, this introduction to a dystopic future promises an exciting series. Tally is almost 16 and breathlessly eager: On her birthday, like everyone else, she'll undergo extensive surgery to become a Pretty. She's only known life as an Ugly (everyone's considered hideous before surgery), whereas after she "turns," she'll have the huge eyes, perfect skin, and new bone structure that biology and evolution have determined to be objectively beautiful. New Pretties party all day long. But when friend Shay escapes to join a possibly mythical band of outsiders avoiding surgery, Tally follows-not from choice but because the secret police force her. Tally inflicts betrayal after betrayal, which dominates the theme for the midsection; by the end, the nature of this dystopia is front and center and Tally-trying to set things right-takes a stunning leap of faith. Some heavy-handedness, but the awesome ending thrills with potential. (Science fiction. YA)
(2005, Feb 15). Kirkus Review [Review of the book Uglies]. Retrieved from
http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=c10961bcca5f05fde919419b6f86897a

In this launch title of a planned trilogy, teenager Tally Youngblood is living an unexamined life in a world unlike ours, hundreds of years from now. She's impatiently awaiting her birthday because in her town, Uglyville, everybody gets the same gift at age 16: cosmetic surgery which transforms them into gorgeous creatures. They also move into "party towers" in New Pretty Town. Tally's best friend has already made the transition and, motivated by her desire to see him, she sneaks into town. Her near-capture leads to a new best friend, Shay, who has the same birthday. On the eve of their operations, Shay reveals a plan to escape to a renegade settlement called "the Smoke." When Shay disappears, government agents blackmail Tally into leading them to the rebels. Once in the Smoke, Tally has a crisis of conscience when she learns the surgery is more sinister than she imagined. Teens will appreciate the gadgetry-including bungee jackets and hoverboards that work by magnetic levitation. But plausibility problems creep in, such as Tally leading a breakout of Smokeys from a high-tech compound while wearing handcuffs. As in his So Yesterday, Westerfeld introduces thought-provoking issues, but readers may lose track of the plot while sorting the many messages about how the "Rusties" nearly destroyed the planet. They may also feel cheated when, after 400-plus pages, the ending leaves loose ends to be tied up in the next installment, Pretties. Ages 12-up. (Mar.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
(2005, March 21). Publishers Weekly [Review of the book Uglies]. Retrieved from
http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=c10961bcca5f05fde919419b6f86897a

Gr 6 Up-Tally Youngblood lives in a futuristic society that acculturates its citizens to believe that they are ugly until age 16 when they'll undergo an operation that will change them into pleasure-seeking "pretties." Anticipating this happy transformation, Tally meets Shay, another female ugly, who shares her enjoyment of hoverboarding and risky pranks. But Shay also disdains the false values and programmed conformity of the society and urges Tally to defect with her to the Smoke, a distant settlement of simple-living conscientious objectors. Tally declines, yet when Shay is found missing by the authorities, Tally is coerced by the cruel Dr. Cable to find her and her compatriots-or remain forever "ugly." Tally's adventuresome spirit helps her locate Shay and the Smoke. It also attracts the eye of David, the aptly named youthful rebel leader to whose attentions Tally warms. However, she knows she is living a lie, for she is a spy who wears an eye-activated locator pendant that threatens to blow the rebels' cover. Ethical concerns will provide a good source of discussion as honesty, justice, and free will are all oppressed in this well-conceived dystopia. Characterization, which flirts so openly with the importance of teen self-concept, is strong, and although lengthy, the novel is highly readable with a convincing plot that incorporates futuristic technologies and a disturbing commentary on our current public policies. Fortunately, the cliff-hanger ending promises a sequel.-Susan W. Hunter, Riverside Middle School, Springfield, VT Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
(2005, March 1). School Library Journal [Review of the book Uglies]. Retrieved from
http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=c10961bcca5f05fde919419b6f86897a

Module 4 ~ June 27 - July 3

Module 4 – Slob

Potter, E. (2009). Slob. New York: Philomel Books. Fiction.



Summary
Owen narrates the story from the perspective as an overweight genius who is often bullied in school. He and his twin sister, Caitlyn (Jeremy), go to live with Vera (Mom) after their parents are murdered nearly two years earlier. Vera is the dispatcher who stayed on the phone with Owen after the murders. Feeling an indescribable connection to them, she asks if she can adopt them since they don’t have any relatives that they can live with. He blames himself for not being able to stop the murders and quickly fills the empty holes in his heart with food. He spends all of his spare time in an effort to complete the construction of Nemesis, a satellite dish, receiver, and a television set that he has been working on for a year and a half. He believes that this will lead him back to the time when his parents were killed and reveal what happened and answer the mystery that lies on the only piece of evidence he has; a sandwich order, SLOB, that his parents wrote on just before it all happened. End the end, he finds the closure that he needs as he learns that whether it will work or not isn’t what is as important as it is for him to learn that what happened was in no way his fault. He eventually stops blaming himself, constructs a machine that helps his friend, Nima, sell more dumplings, and looses the weight that he had put on during that time. He also makes a new friend, Mason and he and his sister learn through a lesson that involved Oreo’s to love and respect themselves, and not to change for anyone.

My Impression
This book touched on so many issues that a young teen often deals with. The loss of a parent, a lifestyle change, moving to a new school, and trying to make new friends or just fit in are hard for anyone to learn how to deal with. Being young and not having the life experiences and wisdom makes it even harder for someone to cope with these things that can happen. Owen is much stronger than he knows and it was wonderful to read that through perseverance and strength that he begins to see how okay he really will be.

Library Setting
A neat idea to teach with this after reading it would be to have the students invent a contraption that would be useful to the economy. They could make a blueprint of the design or take it a step further and make it. They would also write about how they made it and about how it would be useful.

Reviews
Grades 4-7. Twelve-year-old Owen and his sister attend a progressive New York City school where there are no desks, “Just workstations. Which are basically desks.” Despite the school motto, “Compassion, Not Competition,” overweight Owen is victimized by his sadistic gym teacher as well as by many fellow students. In his spare time, he attempts to construct a video playback time machine in order to discover who murdered his parents two years earlier. Slowly, Owen realizes whom he can trust and what matters to him now. Self-aware and ironic, Owen makes a sympathetic narrator. Readers will also enjoy the portrayals of his younger sister Caitlin, who insists that her name is Jeremy now that she’s joined GWAB (Girls Who Are Boys), and transfer student/outcast Mason Rigg, who, rumor has it, carries a switchblade tucked into his sock. Loose ends that appear in the narrative early on are tied up a little too neatly by the end, but the vividly drawn characters offer plenty to enjoy along the way.
(2009, June 1). Booklist [Review of the book Slob]. Retrieved from
http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=c10961bcca5f05fde919419b6f86897a#anchor-
review-award

Owen, nearly a genius and "fifty-seven percent fatter" than average, feels like an outcast at school--especially after someone starts stealing his cookies. Meanwhile, he's working on an invention to view two-year-old signals from a neighborhood deli's surveillance camera, the significance of which is explained late in the story. Owen, a likable kid with a fresh voice, ably navigates the tale's many subplots.
(2009, Fall). Horn Book [Review of the book Slob]. Retrieved from
http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=c10961bcca5f05fde919419b6f86897a#anchor-
review-award

An intriguingly offbeat mystery concerning the theft of cookies from a boy's lunch, at turns humorous, suspenseful and poignant. Intelligent Owen is the fattest kid in his middle school, having packed on the pounds after a major upheaval in his life caused him to begin turning to food as a source of comfort. His younger sister, who has joined up with a group at school called Girls Who Are Boys (GWAB) and taken to insisting that others call her Jeremy, coped by growing tougher. Owen, on the other hand, has become an object of ridicule due to his weight. While the Oreo heist provides the main premise for Owen to engage with other kids at school, there are a number of secondary mysteries crafted alongside it, each of them raising unexpected questions that are neatly wrapped up by the novel's end. While some readers may balk at some of its more convenient coincidences, fans of Jerry Spinelli and others of his ilk may especially enjoy it and will be held rapt. (Mystery. 9-12)
(2009, April 15). Kirkus [Review of the book Slob]. Retrieved from
http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=c10961bcca5f05fde919419b6f86897a#anchor-
review-award

Gr 6-8-Owen is the fattest-and smartest-seventh grader in his New York City school. When he's not ducking the school bully or trying to survive the world's most sadistic P.E. teacher, he invents things. Currently Owen has two projects-a TV that will show events in the past and a trap to catch the thief who keeps stealing the Oreos from his lunchbox. There's a lot of middle school banter and adolescent dialogue. However, what begins as a lighthearted adventure gradually takes on a darker tone. Owen calls his invention Nemesis and insists that it needs to reach exactly two years back. As the story evolves, readers learn that there are places in town where he feels distinctly uncomfortable, and that he treasures a note that says only "SLOB." Step by step, Owen reveals the tragedy behind his concerns. Two years earlier, he was hiding in the basement of the family store, listening as his parents were killed by an intruder. Adopted by the 911 operator who took his call after the murders, he dreams of identifying the perpetrator. Although Nemesis fails to solve the crime, Owen is finally able to find closure, with help from his sister, their friends, and, surprisingly, from the dreaded bully himself. A sensitive, touching, and sometimes heartbreakingly funny picture of middle school life.-Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL0 Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
(2009, July 1). School Library Journal [Review of the book Slob]. Retrieved from
http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=c10961bcca5f05fde919419b6f86897a#anchor-
review-award

Module 4 – Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things

Look, L. (2008). Alvin Ho allergic to girls, school, and other scary things. New York: Yearling Books. Fiction.




Summary
Alvin Ho is a second grader who is afraid of almost everything. Ironically, he loves superheroes and things that can explode. He has an amazing imagination when he is playing with his brother and sister at home, but he is hopelessly shy once he is at school. He must learn to overcome his fears starting with not being so afraid to speak his mind. He will often clam up like a mute. His parents think that seeing a psychotherapist will help him but he is even more afraid of the idea that this therapist is really a crazy smart person trying to get inside his mind. Whenever spoke to, he seems to only be able to retort in Shakespearean style words.

My Impression
This is such a cute story about how a young child can worry so much as he takes everything so literally. He over thinks almost every situation and worries about the possible outcomes. It was great to see that through all of this, he could still learn to make a friend, which is what he needed most. He wasn’t excited about it being a girl at first, but they have so much in common that he has so much fun hanging out with her.

Library Setting
There are several different Alvin Ho books that share funny stories about Alvin and his fears. As a writing lesson, I would have the students work in pairs to create another story about Alvin and different things he is afraid of. Writing the story together, can encourage collaboration and peer editing.

Reviews
Grades 2-4. In the chapter-book universe of Judy Moody and Junie B. Jones it’s hard to know what’s more surprising about Alvin Ho: his Y chromosome, or his Chinese American heritage. In this book, Look, who has made a career of portraying Chinese American family life in picture books and chapter books, focuses less on cultural commonalities than on the idiosyncracies of Alvin’s family (a dad fond of Shakespearean insults, a grandfather who sews), filling in the Chinese American backdrop exclusively through a small amount of Cantonese vocabulary and some food references. The book’s lighthearted treatment of Alvin’s unusual problem (mutism that kicks in only at school) doesn’t seem entirely apt. Still, many children will sympathize with fearful Alvin, who hates his therapist and marvels at his descent from “farmer-warriors who haven’t had a scaredy bone in their bodies since 714 AD.” They’ll also hope that the book’s concluding, unexpected friendship will reap psychological benefits in a sequel. Pham’s thickly brushed artwork matches the quirky characterizations stroke for stroke.
(2008, July). Booklist [Review of the book Alvin Ho Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things]. Retrieved from
http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=c10961bcca5f05fde919419b6f86897a#anchor-
review-award


Fearful second-grader Alvin Ho has never, not once, said a single word in school. His voice works at home, in the car, on the school bus. "But as soon as I get to school...I am as silent as a side of beef." Like the author's Ruby Lu chapter books (Ruby Lu, Brave and True; Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything, rev. 5/06), this one acknowledges kids' troubles while lightening them in a funny yet respectful way. For instance, Alvin plays cards with the psychotherapist he sees for his anxiety. When he realizes she's letting him win, he says his first words to her -- swear words he's learned from his dad. But they're Shakespearean swear words ("Sit thee on a spit, then eat my sneakers, thou droning beef-witted nut hook"), so she's impressed. There's no miracle cure for Alvin's missing voice, and the book nicely focuses more on his need for friends. At the end, he's still afraid of school, scary movies, etc., but he's made a friend -- and it's (yikes!) a girl. Generously illustrated short chapters include laugh-out-loud descriptions of Alvin's attempt to grow taller (his siblings leave him hanging from a tree branch where he remains forgotten until his mother spots his empty seat at dinner), his fateful decision to bring his dad's beloved childhood Johnny Astro toy for show-and-tell, and his brief membership in a not-so-tough neighborhood gang. Readers will hope Alvin has enough fears to fill yet another small but hugely amusing chapter book.
(2008, July/August). Horn Book [Review of the book Alvin Ho Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things]. Retrieved from
http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=c10961bcca5f05fde919419b6f86897a#anchor-
review-award

Bright, energetic Alvin Ho is about to enter the second grade. The middle child in his close family, he idolizes his devoted, patient dad. He's a big superhero fan and he loves all things that explode. His enthusiasm, however, doesn't carry over to school--he's so petrified while there that he can't utter a single word: "But as soon as I get to school...I am as silent as a side of beef," he explains. In the vignettes that make up this exuberantly funny slice of Alvin's life, Look portrays the world as it would be viewed through the eyes of a wildly creative but undeniably neurotic kid. In his hometown of Concord, Mass., Alvin searches for friends, meets with a psychotherapist (who he supposes must be a "very smart crazy person" based on her job title) and gets himself into a variety of jams. A witty glossary and Pham's simple yet expressive line drawings perfectly complement this appealing story about the refreshingly original, endearing Alvin. (Fiction. 7-10)
(2008, June 15). Kirkus Review [Review of the book Alvin Ho Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things]. Retrieved from
http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=c10961bcca5f05fde919419b6f86897a#anchor-
review-award

Module 3 ~ June 20 - 26

Module 3 – Crispin: The Cross of Lead

Avi. (2002). Crispin: The cross of lead. New York: Hyperion Books. Fiction.



Summary
This story is set back in the middle ages where a 13-year-old boy, known only as Asta's Son, lives as a peasant in a small village. His village is part of the territory of the feudal Lord Furnival. As the lord has been away for years fighting in a war in France, the village has long been under the direct control of the steward, John Aycliffe. In the beginning of the story, his mother dies and Asta's Son is left alone as he has no other known relatives. Shortly afterwards, John Aycliffe falsely accuses him of theft, and declares him a Wolf's Head, one who may be killed on sight. Asta's Son turns to the village priest, his only friend, who gives to him a lead cross that belonged to his mother, and reveals that his true name is Crispin. Before he can learn anymore, the Priest is murdered and he is forced to flee north. He soon meets a man named Bear. Bear forces him once again to become a servant, but Bear feeds him and teaches him the way of the land. Bear teaches him much more than basic survival skills. He teaches him how to believe in himself. Once Crispin does this, they begin a lasting friendship. Bear learns first who Crispin really is, Lord Furnival’s son and heir to the throne. When Crispin learns this, he wants no part of this life and they agree to leave forever in exchange for their lives. Crispin leaves his cross which was engraved with the truth about who he really is and he Bear leave together to a new life of freedom and friendship.

My Impression
This book teaches children and young adults that they only need to believe in them selves, and see the true value that they have. It was refreshing to read a story that deals with issues that children constantly deal with no matter the time period is.

Library Setting
This would be a great book to use to teach different endings with. The students could write an alternate ending for this story and then practice peer editing skills before sharing the final draft with the class. An example of this could be, “Write an ending where young Crispin decides to stay. What would happen to Crispin? To Bear?”

Reviews

Newbery Medal/Honor 01/01/03
Wilson's Children 10/01/10
Notable/Best Books (A.L.A.) 01/01/03

1. Gr. 5-9. In his fiftieth book, (see interview on p.1609) Avi sets his story in fourteenth-century England and introduces some of his most unforgettable characters--a 13-year-old orphan, seemingly without a name, and a huge, odd juggler named Bear. At first, the boy is known as Asta's Son, but when his mother dies, he learns from a priest that his name is really Crispin. He also quickly comes to realize that he is in grave trouble. John Acliffe, the steward of the manor, reveals himself to be Crispin's mortal enemy and declares the boy a "wolf's-head,"which means he is anyone's prey. Clutching his only possession, a lead cross, Crispin flees his village into a vast new world of opportunity--and terror. At his lowest ebb, Crispin meets Bear and reluctantly swears an oath to be his servant. Yet Bear becomes much more than a master--he's Crispin's teacher, protector, and liberator. Avi builds an impressive backdrop for his arresting characters: a tense medieval world in which hostility against the landowners and their cruelties is increasing. There's also other nail-biting tension in the story that builds to a gripping, somewhat confusing ending, which finds Crispin, once weak, now strong. Readers may not understand every nuance of the political machinations that propel the story, but they will feel the shifting winds of change beginning to blow through a feudal society.
(2002, May 15). Booklist [Review of the book Crispin: The Cross of Lead]. Volume 98 (18).Retrieved
from http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=c5b78f301c74e3f587bd777e2f312827

2. A tale of one boy's coming into self-knowledge is set against a backdrop of increasing peasant unrest in 14th-century England. Crispin does not even know his own name until his mother dies; he and she have lived at the literal margin of their small town, serfs, and therefore beneath notice. Suddenly, he is framed for murder and has a bounty put on his head. Escaping, he encounters the mercurial itinerant juggler Bear, who takes him on as servant and friend, teaching him both performers' tricks and revolutionary ideology-which puts them both in danger. After a rather slow and overwritten start, Avi (The Good Dog, 2001, etc.) moves the plot along deftly, taking the two from a Black Death-devastated countryside into a city oozing with intrigue, from the aristocracy to the peasants. The setting bristles with 14th-century details: a decomposing body hangs at a roadside gallows and gutters overflow with filth. The characters are somewhat less well-developed; although the revolutionary and frequently profane Bear is a fascinating treasure, Crispin himself lurches along, progressing from milquetoast to restless rebel to boy of courage and conviction in fits and starts, driven by plot needs rather than organic character growth. The story is set in the years just prior to the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, and one of the secondary characters, the revolutionary priest John Ball, was a key historical figure. Most children will not know this, however, as there is no historical note to contextualize the story. This is a shame, as despite its flaws, this offering is nevertheless a solid adventure and could serve as the jumping-off point for an exploration into a time of great political upheaval. The title hints at a sequel; let us hope that it includes notes. (Fiction. 8-12)
(2002, May 15). Kirkus [Review of the book Crispin: The Cross of Lead]. Retrieved
from http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=c5b78f301c74e3f587bd777e2f312827

3. Set in 14th-century England, Avi's (The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle) 50th book begins with a funeral, that of a village outcast whose past is shrouded in mystery and whose adolescent son is known only as "Asta's son." Mired in grief for his mother, the boy learns his given name, Crispin, from the village priest, although his presumably dead father's identity remains obscure. The words etched on his mother's treasured lead cross may provide some clue, but the priest is murdered before he can tell the illiterate lad what they say. Worse, Crispin is fingered for the murder by the manor steward, who declares him a "wolf's head" wanted dead or alive, preferably dead. Crispin flees, and falls in with a traveling juggler. "I have no name," Crispin tells Bear, whose rough manners and appearance mask a tender heart. "No home, no kin, no place in this world." How the boy learns his true identity (he's the bastard son of the lord of the manor) and finds his place in the world makes for a rattling fine yarn. Avi's plot is engineered for maximum thrills, with twists, turns and treachery aplenty, but it's the compellingly drawn relationship between Crispin and Bear that provides the heart of this story. A page turner to delight Avi's fans, it will leave readers hoping for a sequel. Ages 8-12. (June) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
(2002, June 3). Publishers Weekly [Review of the book Crispin: The Cross of Lead]. Retrieved
from http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=c5b78f301c74e3f587bd777e2f312827

Module 3 – Goin’ Someplace Special

Mckissack P. (2002). Goin someplace special. New York: Hyperion Books. Fiction




Summary
Goin’ Somplace Special is about a young girl, named Trica Ann, who wants to go to the library by herself. It takes place during a time that African Americans and Caucasians were segregated. Her grandmother gives her permission to go and so she sets about on her journey across town. When she gets on the bus, she has to sit in the back. She can not sit on the park bench because it is designated for whites only, and when she is outside of a hotel, she accidentally gets swept inside the lobby with a mob of people. She is quickly ushered out because African Americans were supposed to enter through the back door. Though Tricia Ann started out on her journey strong and brave, she begins to loose confidence and starts to feel depressed about her journey. She almost gives up until she runs into a woman who shares with her that she should listen to her heart and know that it will be worth it in the end when she gets where she is going. The reader doesn’t initially know that this special place is the library. When Tricia Ann makes it there, she is instantly proud and thankful that she didn’t give up because the library is a place where everyone is treated equal.

My Impression
I think this story gives hope to anyone of any race, gender, or religion. It speaks in all languages as it speaks to the reader's heart. We shouldn't give up on what we believe in.

Library Setting
This book would be great to teach about the history of segregation and about the strong leaders during that time, such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., who fought for equality and fairness. It is also wonderful message for the students to learn that the library was and still is a place where everyone is free to dream and believe in themselves.

Coretta Scott King Award/Honor 01/01/02

Reviews
1. Ages 5-8. Tricia Ann excitedly gets her grandmother's permission to go out by herself to "Someplace Special"--a place far enough away to take the bus and to have to walk a bit. But this isn't just any trip. Tricia's trip takes place in the segregated South of the 1950s. That means Tricia faces sitting at the back of the bus, not being allowed to sit on a whites-only park bench, and being escorted out of a hotel lobby. She almost gives up, but a local woman who some say is "addled,"but whom Tricia Ann knows to be gentle and wise, shows her how to listen to the voice inside herself that allows her to go on. She arrives at her special destination--the public library, whose sign reads "All Are Welcome."Pinkney's watercolor paintings are lush and sprawling as they evoke southern city streets and sidewalks as well as Tricia Ann's inner glow. In an author's note, McKissack lays out the autobiographical roots of the story and what she faced as a child growing up in Nashville. This book carries a strong message of pride and self-confidence as well as a pointed history lesson. It is also a beautiful tribute to the libraries that were ahead of their time.
(2001, August). Booklist [Review of the book Goin’ Someplace Special]. Volume 97 (22). Retrieved
from http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=b80cf2ede076bbd8cb392d70e7da0d0b

2. This is the story of a child facing a difficult time sustained by the support of the adults in her life. Going alone for the first time, 'Tricia Ann is off to Someplace Special--the public library where "All Are Welcome." The journey isn't easy: she must face the indignities of life in the Jim Crow South. The text and art strike just the right balance: informative without being preachy; hopeful without being sentimental.
(2002, Spring). Horn Book [Review of the book Goin’ Someplace Special]. Retrieved
from http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=b80cf2ede076bbd8cb392d70e7da0d0b

3. In a story that will endear itself to children's librarians and, for that matter, all library lovers, 'Tricia Ann begs her grandmother to be allowed to go alone to Someplace Special. Mama Frances acquiesces, sending her off with instructions: " 'And no matter what, hold yo' head up and act like you b'long to somebody.' " 'Tricia Ann's special place is not revealed until the end, but on the way there, the humiliating racism she encounters on the city bus, in the park, and in a downtown hotel almost causes her to give up. " 'Getting to Someplace Special isn't worth it,' she sobbed." When she recalls her grandmother's words: " 'You are somebody, a human being-no better, no worse than anybody else in this world,' " she regains the determination to continue her journey, in spite of blatant segregation and harsh Jim Crow laws. " Public Library: All Are Welcome" reads the sign above the front door of Someplace Special; Mama Frances calls it "a doorway to freedom." Every plot element contributes to the theme, leaving McKissack's autobiographical work open to charges of didacticism. But no one can argue with its main themes: segregation is bad, learning and libraries are good. Pinkney's trademark watercolors teem with realistically drawn people, lush city scenes, and a spunky main character whose turquoise dress, enlivened with yellow flowers and trim, jumps out of every picture. A lengthy author's endnote fills in the background for adults on McKissack's childhood experiences with the Nashville Public Library. This library quietly integrated all of its facilities in the late 1950s, and provided her with the story's inspiration. A natural for group sharing; leave plenty of time for the questions and discussion that are sure to follow. "(Picture book. 5-9)"
(2001, September 15). Kirkus [Review of the book Goin’ Someplace Special]. Retrieved
from http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=b80cf2ede076bbd8cb392d70e7da0d0b

Module 2 ~ June 13-19

Module 2 – The Egg Tree

Milhous, K. (1950). The Egg Tree. New York: Antheneum Books. Picture Book.




Summary
This story shares the tradition of the Easter egg tree. In the story, the two main characters, Katy and Carl, are spending their first Easter on their grandmother’s farm, along with four of their cousins. On Easter morning, they go on their first egg hunt, but Katy has a hard time finding any eggs. She is feeling sad about it and goes into her grandmother’s attic where she finds six beautifully decorated eggs that her grandmother had packed away many years ago. When she brings the eggs downstairs, grandmother declares that while Katy may not have found the most eggs, she found the most beautiful eggs. She tells Katy how she had made the eggs herself when she was a little girl and then decorates a tree with the colorful eggs. The kids all love her story and want to find more eggs to decorate the egg tree.

My Impression
I love this story, because not only touch it teach about an Easter tradition, it also shares how children can do great things. Often, children will feel like they are too young to help or too young to participate and are left feeling discouraged and left out. This story has a special way of reminding children that they are wonderful and that they can do great things no matter their age.

Library Setting
This would be a great story to read to the class around Spring Time when learning about Easter or springtime activities. I would read the story and then the children could decorate a paper egg. The picture on their drawing would be about something that they like to do to help in their class or when they are with their family. Then, after the eggs are all finished, they would share their egg with the class and hang it on the class egg tree.

Reviews
1. "True to the tradition from which the Easter Egg Tree sprang, in her story as well as in her pictures, (Milhous) has given life and a lovely present-day atmosphere to an old custom that is sure to find wide acceptance".--The Horn Book.
Powell’s Books (1994-2011) [Review of the book, The Egg Tree]. Retrieved from
http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780689715686-2


Caldecott Medal Honor January 1951>

Module 2 – Mr. Lincoln’s Way

Polacco, P. (2001). Mr. Lincoln’s Way. New York: Philomel Books. Picture Book.




Summary
Mr. Lincoln is the principal of an elementary school and is admired by all of the students, except one. Eugene “Mean Gene” always terrorizes other students on the playground. One day, Mr. Lincoln saw Eugene admiring a cardinal in a tree. He invites him to come look at the bird book that he has in his office. Eugene loves the book and opens up a little with Mr. Lincoln as he shares with him about his grandpa’s farm. This inspires Mr. Lincoln to build a bird atrium at the school. He thinks that this would create a positive environment for Eugene to change his behavior. For a while it does work and Eugene is practicing nicer behavior to the other children and he is truly excited about all of the amazing birds that the atrium has attracted. However, a couple of days later, a teacher reports to Mr. Lincoln that Eugene had made racial comments to two students in the lunch line. Mr. Lincoln calls Eugene into his office, where he learns that Eugene’s dad was mad that Eugene had been spending so much time with Mr. Lincoln because he’s African American. Mr. Lincoln shows Eugene that he cares for all of the birds the same, regardless of their color.

My Impression
This was such a wonderful way to show Eugene that all people are special no matter their color. I am grateful that Eugene has the positive influences from his grandfather and Mr. Lincoln. Young children are very impressionable and it is important that they learn to understand how to respect and treat others no matter their similarities or differences.

Library Setting
This would be a great book for teaching the same lesson in class. Whether it is a 1st grade class or a 6th grade class, children would enjoy the story. A great idea to do after reading this story would be to have the class make their own atrium. It doesn’t have to be a bird atrium. A fun idea would be for them to bring in a picture of their pet and share with the class why it is special to them. They would also write about why their pet is special to them under the photograph. Then, they could hang it up on the bulletin board for the class to see. Together, they cold think of a title that would best represent the meaning of the bulletin board, like “Why We Are Beautiful Inside And Out”.

Reviews
1. Ages 5-8. Mr. Lincoln is the coolest principal ever, except in the mind of Eugene "Mean Gene"Esterhause, a bully of legendary proportions. Certain that Gene is only troubled (rather than rotten to the core), Mr. Lincoln sets out quietly to discover Gene's strengths (he is an avid bird watcher) and enlists his help in creating a bird sanctuary for the school. The principal also learns the source of Gene's racial intolerance and makes some important strides toward reversing the boy's prejudices. This story is vintage Polacco--a multicultural neighborhood setting, a cast of believable characters (some larger than life), and a satisfying ending guaranteed to bring tears to even hard-boiled cynics. Polacco's signature watercolor illustrations take on springtime hues here; they're especially apparent in Mr. Lincoln's bright pink shirts and ties. An excellent choice for storyhours, this should prompt some interesting discussions about bullies and their motivations.
(2001, September 1). Booklist [Review of the book Mr. Lincoln’s Way]. (Vol. 98, No. 1) Retrieved from
http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=b80cf2ede076bbd8cb392d70e7da0d0b

2. A "cool" principal helps a bully become a model citizen and conquer his racism by capitalizing on the boy's interest in birds. Although the illustrations are engaging, the story of the bully's transformation is both sanctimonious and unconvincing. Eugene is too self-aware for his age, and Mr. Lincoln is too flawless to be interesting.
(2002, Spring). Horn Book [Review of the book Mr. Lincoln’s Way]. Retrieved from
http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=b80cf2ede076bbd8cb392d70e7da0d0b

3. Everyone thinks Eugene "Mean Gene" Esterhause, the school bully, is trouble "with a capital T." Everyone but Mr. Lincoln, that is, "the coolest principal in the whole world," who is determined to reach the boy after he's caught calling an African-American first-grader a racist name. Mr. Lincoln enlists Eugene's help in attracting birds to the school's new atrium, a project the fourth grader embraces with enthusiasm. Nevertheless, he again makes racist remarks and lands in the principal's office ("My old man calls you real bad names, Mr. Lincoln. He's got an ugly name for just about everybody that's different from us," the boy says to the African-American principal). Mr. Lincoln points out a heavy-handed parallel the diversity of the birds that Eugene loves. Mr. Lincoln helps free the boy from intolerance, just as Eugene finds a way to free the baby ducklings and their parents from the atrium so they can reach the pond outside. Polacco's (Thank You, Mr. Falker) artwork is assured, from the carefully delineated birds to the expressive faces of her characters, but the intertwining themes result in a thumping message and a too-tidy solution. Ages 6-9. (Sept.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
(2001, July 9). Publishers Weekly [Review of the book Mr. Lincoln’s Way]. Retrieved from
http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=b80cf2ede076bbd8cb392d70e7da0d0b

4. Gr 1-4-In her many books, Polacco has dealt sensitively with a broad spectrum of circumstances and issues. Here she tackles both intolerance and bullying. Mr. Lincoln is the "coolest" principal: he is Santa at Christmas, lights the menorah at Chanukah, and wears a dashiki for Kwanza and a burnoose for Ramadan. The author chronicles his attempt to reclaim "Mean Gene," a child who sasses his teachers, picks on other children, and makes ethnic slurs. "`He's not a bad boy, really,' Mr. Lincoln said. `Only troubled.'" However, the distinction is not clarified. When the principal discovers that the boy is fond of birds, he capitalizes on this interest. He involves him in attracting the creatures to the school atrium while at the same time showing him that just as the differences in the birds render them beautiful, so do the differences in people. While the theme is an important and timely one, Polacco has allowed her message to overwhelm both plot and character development. The story emerges as didactic, laden with heavy-handed metaphor, and too simplistic a solution to a deep-rooted problem. The book may be useful to schools in need of a springboard for discussion of the topic and is graced with impressive watercolors, but it is not up to the author's usual literary standards.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Oliff, G. (2001, August 1). School Library Journal [Review of the book Mr. Lincoln’s Way]. Retrieved
from http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=b80cf2ede076bbd8cb392d70e7da0d0b