The Trouble Begins At 8-Biography

We all know Mark Twain by his novels.  Who hasn’t heard of Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn or A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court, just to name a few?  Sid Fleischman helps us to understand the man through facts, humor, photos and a well-written narrative.  Readers who aren’t usually drawn to biographies will be surprised by this easy and entertaining read. 

The book’s preface, will leave readers chuckling and ready for the rest of the book.  They will discover little known stories of the man and how he created his career.  Discovering the meaning of the book’s title is a clue into his personality and drive.   Mr. Fleischman’s clever and artistic construction of the book assures that you will stick with it to see what’s coming next. 

Educationally, knowing more about the author is always an important element in fully understanding text.  While the publisher suggests the book for 9-12 year olds, it would not be fully appreciated by most in this age group and would better serve older readers.  English teachers will appreciate this book for what it can provide in this arena.  History teachers can refer to this book as it relates to The Civil War era and provides insight into what was going on in the West during the war.

Don't miss these also by Sid Fleischman:
Escape!  The Story of the Great Houdini
The AbracadabraKid: A Writer's Life (The author's autobiography)

The Hunger Games-Dystopian Science Fiction

Every year, the capitol of the nation of Panem, holds The Hunger Games in which 2 children from each of the twelve districts, ages 12-18, fight to the death on live t.v.   The games have two goals:  one is to amuse the citizens of the capitol and the other is to remind the districts of their subservience to the capitol due to their past failed rebellions.  Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen lives in District 12 with her mother and sister.  Her younger sister, Prim, is now 12 and eligible for her first “reaping”.  At that time, unbelievably, Prim’s name is picked as the girl representative for district 12.  Katniss cannot stand the thought of her sister being in this contest and knows she would not survive.  Katniss steps forward and takes her place.  The competition that follows is intense and surreal and pushes Katniss to the very edge of her humanity and sanity.  Her fellow district tribute is Peeta, the baker’s son.   She likes him and owes him a favor from the past but also knows that for her to win, he must die.  Since her mentor Haymitch, is a reluctant supporter and often drunk, she knows that she must use her hunting and tracking skills and her own wits to survive.

The intensity of this dystopian book makes it a fast read.  Readers will be anxious to delve into the second and then third books as fast as possible. The unforgettable character of Katniss is equally appealing to boys and girls due to her strength and desire to overcome and survive.  There is some romance in the story but it is not overdone and fits in well with the rest of the story’s action.  As Katniss works through the problems and situations in the games, readers can ponder her decisions and discuss if she made the right ones or if she could have done something differently.  I certainly hope that discussions happen at home or at school because The Hunger Games begs to be discussed on many levels.   However, I would recommend this book for teens and adults and not younger readers since there is a lot of violence and disturbing events.  

This is the first book of The Hunger Games trilogy.  The other two titles are Catching Fire and Mockingjay.  The author has also written the five books in the The Underland Chronicles.

No Promises In The Wind-Historical Fiction

It is 1932 and the effects of the Great Depression touch every life.  Extreme anxiety and stress cause fathers to resent too many mouths to feed and mothers to agree to children leaving home.  At 15, Josh finds himself in just this situation.  Along with his equally impoverished best friend and a tag along little brother, they jumped a Chicago freight train headed to points west. 

The journey is filled with peril, tragedy, and fear as well as determination and resilience.  As Josh finds moments of peace through his music, as well as a couple of kind-hearted strangers, he determines to find a way to live through his daily fear and stress. 

The author, Irene Hunt, effectively describes the hopelessness and despair that permeated society at that time through the character of Josh.  YA readers will find this an excellent companion book to a Depression era unit of study.   I think that YA readers will be shocked that Josh leaves home and is not really expected back.  He must care for himself and his little brother.  This is not an adventurous trip.  It is a journey to find a job and to eat and keep warm in the meantime.  Reflective readers will gain a deeper understanding and respect for the people of all ages who lived through this period in American history. 

Newbery Award and honor books by the author:
Across Five Aprils
Up A Road Slowly

Hope Was Here- Contemporary Realistic Fiction

When Hope first chose her name, she carried it around with her for a month to decide if it was the right one.  After all, with a name like that, you better be prepared to live up to it.  Now, four years later, Hope must call upon the powers of her name to deal with yet another move, another job and another home.  Her beloved Aunt Addie, her guardian, has taken another cook/manager job at a café in Wisconsin.  Will everything be okay?  Addie says it will and she never breaks her promises.  That is something to count on, unlike her absent mother who gave her the name of Tulip and her unknown father.  As Hope begins to open herself up to this small community through her job as a skilled waitress, she discovers that she doesn’t need her birth family miraculously restored to find her life. She used to write “Hope was here” somewhere inside each café as a record of her existence.  Now, the people she has found bring her more than she could ever have dared to imagine.  Hope is here.

Teens would really appreciate the fact of Hope’s imperfect life.  They would be invested in her daily decisions, thanks to the masterful characterization and well-paced dialogue by Joan Bauer.  As the story unfolds, we see the tapestry of Hope’s life.  As details are revealed, they come together to form the utterly believable and inspiring person of Hope.  With her aunt as her home base, Hope begins to trust those around her and forge ahead.  She learns how she can fit into this community and why she should even want to.  Newbery Honor book, Hope Was Here is a book that will stay with you and begs to be discussed with others.

Whirligig- Contemporary Realistic Fiction

One move in a chess game can change the course of the game.  One moment’s decision can alter your life forever.   How can you deal with taking someone’s life?  Brent has inadvertently killed a girl while trying to kill himself at the wheel.  Nothing can change that… ever.  He is sent on a journey to create and set up whirligigs in the four corners of the U.S., Washington State, California, Florida, and Maine.  The goal is to spread this girl’s spirit across the country through the use of her favorite toy.

This story is told through alternating chapters of Brent’s voice and those who discover the whirligig’s influence in each destination city.  As Brent travels, we see him change and his protective layers begin to peel away.  With each day, he must learn to take care of himself and teach himself how to build a whirligig that is worthy of the girl’s essence.  He learns to open up to strangers bit by bit and recognize all the forms that a community can take.  The people whose lives are touched by these toys are not known or seen by Brent until the last one.  He has to trust that he has done the best he can and that the whirligigs will do their jobs. 

This unforgettable story by Paul Fleischman, is not just a bus journey. It becomes a pilgrimage of repentance and self-discovery and connection.  This imagery of “journey” will resonate with YA readers.  The teen-age years are all about finding out who you are and what you believe.  It is a time to discover strengths and deal with weaknesses.  In this story, readers are subtly reminded that every action has a consequence.  As Brent travels, he grows and changes. Readers see that change takes time and will continue beyond the scope of the book.   I am sure that readers will connect with this book on many levels and will want to read it again and again. That’s how I know for sure it is a truly wonderful book.
The author has won many awards over the years.  He won The Newbery Medal in 1989 for Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices.  He also won a Newbery honor for Graven Images in 1983.  He was a finalist for the international Hans Christian Anderson Award in 2012 for his contributions to children's literature.