Okay for Now

Written by Gary D. Schmidt

Bibliographic data

Schmidt, Gary D. 2011. Okay for Now. New York: Clarion Books.

ISBN 9780547152608

Plot Summary

This story is about a piece of 14 year old, Doug Swieteck’s life. It includes challenges he faces with family, teachers, police officers, and other citizens of Marysville, New York. In what seems like a pretty rotten time, comes a mentor, Mr. Powell and a friend, Lil Spicer, that start to brighten Doug’s life.

Critical Analysis

Gary Schmidt does a fabulous job with the creation of his characters. The reader can really identify with some, envy some, and despise others. As I was reading, I felt every emotion the characters went through. I was especially drawn to the times when Doug (the main character) talks to the reader by saying, “You know what this feels like.” It makes the reader really think about how it would feel. I also loved reading and being a part of Doug’s transformation from a grumpy teenage boy hating everything except baseball, to an appreciative young adult.

A main piece of this story is the relationship Doug finds in the Birds of America book by John James Audubon. In a new town where everyone is a stranger, the Arctic Tern, Plate CCL, is the start of Doug’s fascination with bringing things back together and making them whole again. With a little encouragement from Mr. Powell at the public library, Doug learns that he can draw. This is a starting point to Doug’s life turning around.

Schmidt’s description of the setting in 1968 is very detailed and alive. When Doug is delivering groceries in the heat you can really see the sweat dripping off of him. In the winter months the reader can imagine the frigid air and the snow soaking through Doug’s shoes and pants. Through every part of the novel, I could actually envision the town, streets, and houses that Schmidt describes.

The story is written in the first person of Doug with quotes, inner monologues, and talking to the reader. Schmidt wrote this story with such grace and elegance. On the book jacket Schmidt provides information on the images throughout the book. He notes that the images are from John James Audubon’s Birds of America. I would definitely recommend this book to adults and students in secondary to get them interested in historical nonfiction.

Review Excerpts

• ALA Notable Children’s Books 2012
• “[A] stealthily powerful, unexpectedly affirming story of discovering and rescuing one’s best self.” Booklist starred review
• “There are laugh-out-loud moments here, and passages that will move a reader to tears; it’s brilliant, and beautiful, and very nearly a perfect book.” Library Media Connection
• “Schmidt’s masterful characterization and balance of humor and pathos make this coming-of-age novel so memorable.” School Library Journal

Connections

• Intended for Grades 6-9
• Have the students write about what they think is happening to the birds in the Audubon prints.
• Since the story was set in the late 1968, the students can research articles from that time to find out more about the Vietnam War and other events of the time.
• In groups have the students describe how the different characters transform throughout the book.

What to do about Alice?

Written by Barbara Kerley

Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham

Bibliographic data

Kerley, Barbara. 2008. What To Do About Alice? Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780439922319

Plot Summary

Alice, the daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt, “was hungry to go places, meet people, do things!” This book talks about the problems she caused her father by breaking the rules to become her own person. Through her journey of life she “charmed the world” by ways that were unconventional for women. This biography is a fun an energetic way to display life of an influential woman.

Critical Analysis

This picture-book biography of Alice Lee Roosevelt is fun and entertaining, as well as, informational. The whimsical cartoon-like illustrations are eye-catching and help guide the reader through the book. Barbara Kerley’s text is easy to read and fun. She uses different sizes and fonts to emphasize quotes and facts.

This book is far from ordinary. With the interesting arrangement of the text and the comical illustrations, the reader can experience pieces of Alice’s busy and robust life. The sequence of the story is very simple and easy to understand. Kerley starts the story of Alice as a little girl and continues through her life experiences in sequential order. Following the end of the story are Author’s Noes, credits, and copyright data. Kerley is thorough by making note of who was responsible for fact checking of the text and artwork for the book. The question throughout the book that is consistent is that Theodore Roosevelt never figured out “What to do about Alice?”

I would recommend reading this story aloud to a young audience. They will enjoy the colorful illustrations and Alice’s hunger for life.

Review Excerpts

• Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor 2009
• "Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was....The large format gives Fotheringham, in his debut, plenty of room for spectacular art." Booklist starred review
• "Theodore Roosevelt s irrepressible oldest child receives an appropriately vivacious appreciation in this superb picture book.... Kerley s precise text presents readers with a devilishly smart, strong-willed girl who was determined to live life on her own terms and largely succeeded." Kirkus starred review
• "Kerley s text gallops along with a vitality to match her subject s antics, as the girl greets White House visitors accompanied by her pet snake, refuses to let leg braces cramp her style, dives fully clothed into a ship’s swimming pool, and also earns her place in history as one of her father s trusted advisers. Fotheringham s digitally rendered, retro-style illustrations are a superb match for the text." School Library Journal starred review

Connections

• Have the students research other children of US presidents.
• Introduce the students to other books on Alice Roosevelt, like Mind Your Manners, Alice Roosevelt! by Leslie Kimmelman.
• Have the students think about what hey would like to do or accomplish is they were the child of a president.

Wolves

Written by Seymour Simon

Bibliographic data

Simon, Seymour. 1993. Wolves. New York: Scholastic Inc.

ISBN 0590636219

Plot Summary

This is an informational book on the misunderstood animals, wolves. Through straightforward text and extraordinary photographs you will learn about the characteristics, behaviors, and life of a wolf. This is a great book give insight into these amazing creatures.

Critical Analysis

This nonfiction book was written by the award winning science writer, Seymour Simon. He collaborated with the Smithsonian Institution in this story about the truth of the wolf.

Simon is very thorough in giving credit to the photographers of the beautiful color photographs. In this book, the reader learns of the differences between the factual information about wolves and the misinformation that has been believed by so many. Wolves actually resemble dogs more than you would probably think. Simon provides the beliefs of scientists throughout the text.

The layout of the book is very clean and simple. Each page with text has an opposing side with a real life color photograph of wolves in their nature environment. Unlike most books I have read, the credits, dedication, and copyright information are located at the end of the book on the last page.

Simon does not stick to one specific wolf, but he presents the behaviors and characteristics of various species of wolves. As a writer, Simon does a great job in providing the reader with an abundance of information without being overwhelming. I learned a lot of new information about wolves from this book, but the photographs really caught my interest and attention.

Review Excerpts

• "Simon dispels the traditionally negative images of the wolf in this...attractive and simple introduction."  School Library Journal
• “[The facts] debunk the big-bad-wolf horror stories without in any way detracting from the fierce beauty of the wolves' wild nature.” Booklist

Connections

• Have students read another informational book about wolves, like Face to Face with Wolves by Jim Brandenburg
• Have the students select different types of wolves to learn about.
• Introduce the students to other books by Seymour Simon, like Butterflies or Penguins.

Almost Astronauts: 13 women who dared to dream

Written by Tanya Lee Stone

Foreword by Margaret A. Weitekamp, Curator, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Bibliographic data

Stone, Tanya Lee. 2009. Almost Astronauts: 13 Women who dared to dream. Somerville: Candlewick Press.

ISBN 9780763645021

Plot Summary

This is an inspiring informational book of how 13 women almost became astronauts. In learning about these women you will experience how they proved to be tougher than the men of Mercury 7, and brave enough to take on the world.

Critical Analysis

At the beginning of the book, on the page with copyright data is also the author’s dedication and note about “Mercury 13.” On the opposing page are two quotes. One of the quotes is by Amelia Earhart and the other by Tom Wolf, about the Mercury 7 astronauts. There is also a table of contents displaying every section of information throughout the book. Next, comes the forward written by Margaret A. Weitekamp, the curator of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. In her forward she mentions how excited she is about finally having a book to recommend to people when she talks publicly about the Lovelace Woman in Space program, and the women of the 1960s who helped pave the way for women today.

A major focus in this book is the courage, struggle, and determination of women to become equals with men in the astronaut program, specifically Jerri Cobb and the “Mercury 13” women. Stone starts the book in July 1999, but flashes back to the early 1960s. With the amount of information and some complex vocabulary, this book is geared more toward ages 10 and up.

Stone has left no table unturned by providing a two page Author’s Note, Appendix, Further Reading, Webliography, Sources, Source Notes by chapter, Photography Credits, and Index and Acknowledgements at the end. I thoroughly enjoyed the different display of color and black & white photographs throughout the book. Some of the photographs are the background of a page with text on top. With every photograph, Stone provides a description of whom and what is happening in the scene. I also found that the photographs along with the text help the reader understand the culture of being a woman in the 1960s. Stone’s words invite the reader to become a part of the women’s lives and allow you to put yourself in their shoes. At the beginning of chapter 3, Stone describes the experience of “The Tank.” I actually envisioned myself freaking out after a short period of time. It really gives you an amazing appreciation for what Jerri Cobb went through to try and live out her dream.

This book definitely encourages critical thinking and a want to read more about other phenomenal women who have contributed so much to the rights of women today.

Review Excerpts

• Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal 2010
• “Handsomely illustrated with photographs, this empowering, impassioned story will leave readers inspired.” Kirkus starred review
• “Readers with an interest in history and in women's struggle for equality will undoubtedly be moved.” Publishers Weekly
• “This passionately written account of a classic but little-known challenge to established gender prejudices also introduces readers to a select group of courageous, independent women.” School Library Journal

Connections

• Have students research and present other women you have made a contribution to the equality of rights movement for women.
• Discuss other professions where women had to fight to gain the same respect as men.

What my mother doesn't know

Written by Sonya Sones

Bibliographic data

Sones, Sonya. 2001. What my mother doesn’t know. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689841140

Plot Summary

This is a story of teenage female and the events that happen in her ninth grade year. This book is written in a series of free verse poems.

Critical Analysis

What my mother doesn’t know is a verse novel that is a very easy read. The longest verse is three pages in length. This would be a great novel for reluctant female readers. It is a chronicle of a teenage girl, Sophie and her boy crazy life. Sophie talks about her everyday girl issues, her parents troubled marriage, her personal boy problems, her mom’s depression, and her friends Rachel and Grace.

Sones creates text that is fluid and easy to comprehend. As a reader follows Sophie’s life, they can feel her emotions of happiness, sadness, excitement, and intimacy. You may even remember feeling the same way in high school.

There are no illustrations or pictures until page 231. This is when a picture of a couple in an embrace, appear at the bottom right corner of each page on the right. If you flip the pages you will notice a flip book design, to show the movement in the characters. The couple comes together for a kiss and separates as you flip through the pages. This is symbolic because it is when Sophie finally accepts her feelings for Murphy, and is willing to celebrate the news with her friends. I thought this was a very clever addition to the novel.

This novel’s main audience is the teenage female reader. I think this would be a good book to encourage preteen female readers to experience this form of poetry.

Review Excerpts

• “..the author poignantly captures the tingle and heartache of being young and boy-crazy.” Publishers Weekly starred review
• “Sones' book makes these often-difficult years a little more livable by making them real, normal, and OK.” School Library Journal

Connections

• Have students read other novels by Sonya Sones like, Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy, One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies.

Jazz

Written by Walter Dean Myers

Illustrated by Christopher Myers

Bibliographic data

Myers, Walter D. 2006. Jazz. Ill. by Christopher Myers. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 9780823415458

Plot Summary

This book is a collection of poems written and illustrated by a father/son duo. This collection commemorates the background and different varieties of Jazz music and instruments.

Critical Analysis

This book starts with 2 pages of an introduction that defines jazz and its roots. This is very helpful for readers with little or no knowledge of the history of jazz. At the end of the book there is a glossary of jazz terms and a time line of jazz from the 1800s to today.

The rhythms throughout the collection are exceptional and really encompass the reader. Some of the poems use matching sounds for rhyme, where others do not. Most of the poems that do have rhyme do not necessarily have it throughout the poem but strategically placed. One example of a rhyming poem is “Good-Bye to Old Bob Johnson.” The second half of the poem goes like this, “The drums are solemn as we walk along/ The banjo twangs a gospel song/ Let the deacons preach and the widow cry/ While a sad horn sounds a last good-bye/ Good-Bye to Old Bob Johnson/ Good-bye.”

There are several poems where Myers uses onomatopoeia to convey the sounds of the instruments. He uses “Thum, Thum” for the Bass, “rat-a-tatting” for the drums, and “Be ba boodie, be ba boodie, boo” for the jazz beat. Myers does a phenomenal job at selecting his text so that the reader feels the emotion and imagery of the poems. Throughout the collection Myers incorporates rhythm, soul, America, beats, pianos, horns, bass’, vocals, blues, drums, and the love of music.

Christopher Myers’ bold illustrations provide perfect visuals to his father’s poems. Christopher uses acrylic and ink to create the curving lines of his images. His artistic technique helps emphasize the rhythm, beat, and style of each poem.

This would be a great collection to introduce children to music and jazz. All ages should be able to appreciate the illustrations and text of this fabulous collection.

Review Excerpts

•  Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor 2007
• “Middle-graders will feel the sound of the words and pictures working together, and younger kids will hear and see that connection when adults share the book with them. “ Booklist starred review
• “This offering stands as a welcome addition to the literature of jazz: In a genre all too often done poorly for children, it stands out as one of the few excellent treatments.” Kirkus Reviews starred review

Connections

• Have the students listen to some different jazz music, discuss the different instruments, and what kind of jazz they believe it to be.
• Have the students read Harlem and Black Cat, and compare the collections.

Mirror Mirror

Written by Marilyn Singer

Illustrated by Josee Masse

Bibliographic data

Singer, Marilyn. 2010. Mirror Mirror. Ill. by Josee Masse. New York: Dutton Children's Books. ISBN 9780525479017

Plot Summary

This book is composed of a collection of short poems. All the poems are based on fairy tale characters. The intriguing part is that every poem is also written in reverse order. This allows the reader to see a new perspective of the characters.

Critical Analysis

Mirror Mirror is a book that contains 14 pairs of poems that are very different than the next. Each pair of poems are on one page that separates them by color. If the poems are on the right side of the book, the forward poem has a white background where the reverse has a tan background. If the poems are on the left side of the book, then the colors are reversed. Not many people would catch this if they were not really focused on analyzing. The page opposite the poems has a beautiful illustration of the fairy tale associated with the poems. Masse creates very bright character driven illustrations that are split images which reflect the changed meaning of the reversed poem. 

Each poem is written in free-verse with short lines. I can envision some children having difficulty understanding when to breath and pause while reading aloud. There are only a few poems where there is some rhyming. The first poem in the book is one example. "Who/ says/ it's true-/ down/ is/ the only view?/ If you believe that,/ this poem/ will challenge/ you./ Up/ is/ something new." 

Singer does an amazing job at selecting each word and phrase so that it will also make sense when read in reverse. Singer's text and Masse's illustrations provide a great pairing for the reader to visually see the happenings in the poems. 

I think this collection of poems to be very fun and extraordinary. I found it helpful that Singer provides a page at the end of the book that explains "reverso" and how she started.

Review Excerpts

• "Similarly bifurcated illustrations, shrek-bright, face the cleverly constructed and insightful poems." Horn Book starred review
• "A must-purchase that will have readers marveling over a visual and verbal feast." Booklist starred review
• The Cybil Award for Poetry 2011

Connections

• Have the students compare and contrast the difference between each poem and its reverse.
• Have the students write their own reverso.