1.Bibliography –
Kinney, J. (2007). DIARY OF A WIMPY KID. New York, NY: Amulet Books ISBN-10: 0-8109-9455-0 / ISBN-13: 978-0-8109-9455-3
2. Plot Summary –
“The first book begins with an introduction to Greg Heffley and his middle school life. It takes place during his (presumably) sixth grade year. The book also explains the cheese touch early on. It is similar to the game of tag in which the person who touched the cheese had to get rid of it by touching someone else.
In the first half of the book, events such as Halloween, learning to know how to wrestle, and acting in the play of The Wizard of Oz occur. During trick or treating, Greg and Rowley are ambushed by a group of teenagers. Then they take refuge at Greg's grandmother's house and taunt the teenagers from there by making sounds and faces at them.
On Christmas day, it shows Greg getting very few presents that he would like. Rowley bought Greg a Big Wheel. Greg then throws a football at Rowley while he is riding the Big Wheel and Rowley breaks his arm. At school, Rowley is surrounded by girls that encourage him to get well which makes Greg mad.
Later, he and Rowley join the Safety Patrol whose responsibility is to walk home morning kindergartners. However, Greg gets kicked off the Patrol for chasing Kindergartners with a worm. When Greg gets kicked off, Rowley starts to ignore Greg. Slowly, they begin drifting apart and Rowley starts hanging out with Collin Lee and when he went to Rowley's house, Greg retaliates by spending his night at Fregley's. That turns into a disaster as Fregley goes crazy and Greg runs away in the middle of the night.
Nearing the end of the school year, Rowley's comic strip is entered into the school's newspaper. Greg tells Rowley to list him as the co-creator because it was his idea and joke punchline. Rowley then denies that Greg had anything to do with it. They get ready to fight but are then interrupted by the teenagers they taunted on Halloween. They showed up to pay them back and they force Rowley to eat the cheese, but Greg gets away by saying he's allergic to dairy products.
The next day, Greg explains that he removed the cheese, but the way he worded it, it sounded like Greg touched the cheese. For the rest of the year, Greg was in seclusion from everyone else and he and Rowley became friends again” (Wikipedia, 2009).
3. Critical Analysis -
a. Characters –
The main character is Greg Heffley who lives with his mother, father, big bully brother Rodrick, and little baby brother Manny. His friends are Rowley, who is his best friend, and another kid named Fregley who lives in between Greg and Rowley’s house.
Greg’s character is a middle school aged boy who is on an internal journey to do what is right; his emotional growth is reflected in the plot and action and his dialogue is very important to follow. Not only is his language believable for a middle school aged boy, but really reveals the way children think and talk at that age and stage of life.
“Greg records his experiences in a middle school where he and his best friend, Rowley, undersized weaklings amid boys who need to shave twice daily, hope just to survive, but when Rowley grows more popular Greg must take drastic measures to save their friendship” (Kinney, J., 2007).
b. Plot –
The story is about a middle schooler named Greg who keeps a journal, not a diary, about his year in middle school. He writes about his friends, girls, bullies, his classes, the school play, safety patrol, Halloween, the first snowfall, Christmas and all of the fun adventures a boy would have during a year of school! The events seem plausible and true to life and are fresh, original and creative to keep the reader’s interest!
“Kinney's popular Web comic, which began in 2004, makes its way to print as a laugh-out-loud "novel in cartoons," adapted from the series. Middle school student Greg Heffley takes readers through an academic year's worth of drama. Greg's mother forces him to keep a diary ("I know what it says on the cover, but when Mom went out to buy this thing I specifically told her to get one that didn't say 'diary' on it"), and in it he loosely recounts each day's events, interspersed with his comic illustrations. Kinney has a gift for believable preteen dialogue and narration (e.g., "Don't expect me to be all 'Dear Diary' this and 'Dear Diary' that"), and the illustrations serve as a hilarious counterpoint to Greg's often deadpan voice. The hero's utter obliviousness to his friends and family becomes a running joke. For instance, on Halloween, Greg and his best friend, Rowley, take refuge from some high school boys at Greg's grandmother's house; they taunt the bullies, who then T.P. her house. Greg's journal entry reads, "I do feel a little bad, because it looked like it was gonna take a long time to clean up. But on the bright side, Gramma is retired, so she probably didn't have anything planned for today anyway." Kinney ably skewers familiar aspects of junior high life, from dealing with the mysteries of what makes someone popular to the trauma of a "wrestling unit" in gym class. His print debut should keep readers in stitches, eagerly anticipating Greg's further adventures” (Publisher’s Weekly, 2007).
c. Setting –
The setting for the story is Greg’s house, school, friends’ houses, neighbourhood and community in which he lives. Not only is the setting described in the story when needed, but the author has also made drawings and illustrations to show vivid details whenever necessary. Many readers can visualize the settings of schools, playgrounds, and neighbourhoods with the mention of the different surroundings in the story.
“Even though Greg Heffley would rather play video games with his friend Rowley than write in the journal that his mother gives him, he uses it to record, in pictures and in text, the harrowing and clever ways in which he navigates the middle school social scene. Undersized and skinny, Greg has adventures that center on how he manages to separate himself from the geeks and how he evades bigger bullies by employing quick wit and harebrained ideas. Unfortunately Greg's schemes usually backfire, providing readers with the opportunity to delight in his distress. Picked on by an older brother, embarrassed by his baby brother, and closely monitored by his clever parents, Greg reacts in typical middle school fashion, making him a character with which many readers will be able to identify. Kinney provides readers with a realistic view of middle school life as seen through the eyes of the entertaining but not very bright class clown. Readers can expect lots of middle school humor and exaggeration. Kinney manages to inject enough humor in the simple drawings to make them an integral element in the book. Because Kinney began his Wimpy Kid adventures on a Web site, many middle schoolers already familiar with the character will ensure a ready audience for this print version” (VOYA, 2009).
d. Theme –
The themes of growing up, doing the right thing, finding your place in the world and learning who you are during your middle school years are all reflected in this book. These themes generally reflect univeral truth that transcend time and place, as does the landmark of growing up into adulthood (or at least getting a year older). With the DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, the themes and topics have personal resonance for the child reader and emerge naturally. Also in this story there is no moralizing or didacticism even though one can learn some important life lessons through Greg’s experiences.
“Greg Heffley has actually been on the scene for more than two years. Created by an online game developer, he has starred in a Web book of the same name on www.funbrain.com since May 2004. This print version is just as engaging. Kinney does a masterful job of making the mundane life of boys on the brink of adolescence hilarious. Greg is a conflicted soul: he wants to do the right thing, but the constant quest for status and girls seems to undermine his every effort. His attempts to prove his worthiness in the popularity race (he estimates he's currently ranked 52nd or 53rd) are constantly foiled by well-meaning parents, a younger and older brother, and nerdy friends. While Greg is not the most principled protagonist, it is his very obliviousness to his faults that makes him such an appealing hero” (Dare, K., 2009).
e. Style –
The style of this book is very unique and extremely appealing for young readers; especially reluctant readers! It is written as if in a lined notebook (or journal) and looks like it is handwritten by a middle schooler. There are a lot of crude, yet hilarious drawings that break up the text on a page. Not only do the language, humour, and illustrations appeal to this elementary-middles school age group, but so does the format.
“The first year in the middle-school life of Greg Heffley is chronicled in this laugh-out-loud novel that first appeared on the Internet. Greg tells his story in a series of short, episodic chapters. Most revolve around the adolescent male curse: the need to do incredibly dumb things because they seem to be a good idea at the time. Yet, unlike some other books about kids of this age, there's no sense of a slightly condescending adult writer behind the main character. At every moment, Greg seems real, and the engrossed reader will even occasionally see the logic in some of his choices. Greatly adding to the humor are Kinney's cartoons, which appear on every page. The simple line drawings perfectly capture archetypes of growing up, such as a preschool-age little brother, out-of-touch teachers, and an assortment of class nerds. Lots of fun throughout” (Morning, T., 2009).
“Kinney's background as a cartoonist is apparent in this hybrid book that falls somewhere between traditional prose and graphic novel. It offers some of the same adventures as the Web book, but there are enough new subplots to entertain Funbrain followers. This version is more pared down, and the pace moves quickly” (Dare, K., 2008).
“The format and humour is very appealing to boys in the middle school years, especially reluctant readers. Boys really respond to this format as most boys look at a page of text and respond more to a mix of text and illustrations; but girls love it too even though they are more avid readers” (Kinney, J., 2008).
f. Gender and Culture –
Even though the protagonist in this story is a boy, and this book naturally appeals to boys around the elementary-middle school aged bracket, this story is also just as appealing to girls. The culture represented in the story is your typical American school-aged group with the different clicks of boys, girls, bullies, nerds, morons, etc. There is only one cultural reference (and only in regards to his name) which is to his peer Chirag Gupta; who must be small for his age as he would be in first grade if school’s grade levels were based on height.
“Boys don’t keep diaries—or do they?
The launch of an exciting and innovatively illustrated new series narrated by an unforgettable kid every family can relate to
It’s a new school year, and Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. The hazards of growing up before you’re ready are uniquely revealed through words and drawings as Greg records them in his diary.
In book one of this debut series, Greg is happy to have Rowley, his sidekick, along for the ride. But when Rowley’s star starts to rise, Greg tries to use his best friend’s newfound popularity to his own advantage, kicking off a chain of events that will test their friendship in hilarious fashion.
Author/illustrator Jeff Kinney recalls the growing pains of school life and introduces a new kind of hero who epitomizes the challenges of being a kid. As Greg says in his diary, “Just don’t expect me to be all ‘Dear Diary’ this and ‘Dear Diary’ that.” Luckily for us, what Greg Heffley says he won’t do and what he actually does are two very different things” (Amazon, 2009).
g. Awards & recognitions –
• #1 New York Times Best Seller thrice
• Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards: Favorite Book
• ALA Notable Book
• Winners of the 2008 Buckeye Children’s Book Award and the Teen Buckeye Book Award - For Grades 3-5: Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2007)
4. Review Excerpts –
** “For any child thoughtful about growing up and who may be looking for a champion, Jeff Kinney has delivered it. In this hilarious diary told through the eyes of a "wimpy kid," the author tells the story of middle-schooler Greg Heffley, whose friend Rowley begins to move up in the social sphere. Greg decides to take advantage of the situation, and while his and Rowley's friendship is put to the test as a result, readers are laughing all the way. The first book in a series based on the author's online comic, this is a knee-slapping read that keeps fans anxious for more” –- Barnes and Noble
**"Kinney manages to inject enough humor in the simple drawings to make them an integral element in the book." -- VOYA
** "The first of three installments, it is an excellent choice for reluctant readers, but more experienced readers will also find much to enjoy and relate to in one seventh grader's view of the everyday trials and tribulations of middle school." -- School Library Journal
** “Laugh-out-loud funny school stories with lessons.” –- Common Sense Media
** “Author/illustrator Jeff Kinney perfectly nails the voice of a fifth-grade boy. Greg's (mis)adventures move along rapidly, with one hilarious scene after another, augmented with the equally hysterical comic illustrations. Since its release in April 2007, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID has proven itself to be a winner. This New York Times bestseller has appealed, and will continue to appeal, to middle-grade boys, including reluctant readers --- and is irresistible to adults as well.” -– Terry Miller Shannon - Kidreads
5. Connections –
“Since its launch in May 2004 on Funbrain.com, the Web version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid has been viewed by 20 million unique online readers. This year, it is averaging 70,000 readers a day” (Amazon, 2009).
“The first of three installments, it is an excellent choice for reluctant readers, but more experienced readers will also find much to enjoy and relate to in one seventh grader's view of the everyday trials and tribulations of middle school” (Dare, K., 2008)
Other titles by Jeff Kinney are:
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE LAST STRAW
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: DO-IT-YOURSELF BOOK
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: DOG DAYS
Book Trailers:
Another thing that is fun to do with books is to make a book trailer to get others interested in reading the story. Here is an example of a book trailer for DIARY OF A WIMPY KID made by a school boy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWGfLux0E9A
Audio Book on CD:
Another great idea for children, young adults and students of all ages is to listen to books in audio form. Here is a review for DIARY OF A WIMPY KID from AudioFile:
“The main character wants to make one thing clear: this is NOT a diary--it's a journal. And it's his mother's idea for him to chronicle his life as a tortured sixth-grader, not his. One day Greg will be famous, but "for now I'm stuck in middle school with a bunch of morons." In a voice that brings to mind Holden Caulfield and David Sedaris rolled into one, Greg discusses the fleeting nature of popularity, the logic of bullying, and the fickleness of the fairer sex. Narrator Ramon de Ocampo is completely tuned in to Greg's angst-filled point of view. Though Greg is not always what you'd call a sympathetic character, de Ocampo's well-dramatized, insightful presentations of his various plights evoke our empathy--and laughter. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition” (Amazon, 2009).
References
Amazon, (1996-2009). Diary of a wimpy kid, retrieved on November 24, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0810993139/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Dare, K., (2008). School library journal – Diary of a wimpy kid, retrieved on November 24, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/Diary-Wimpy-Kid-Jeff-Kinney/dp/0810993139/ref=dp_return_2?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books#noop
Kinney, J. (2007). DIARY OF A WIMPY KID. New York, NY: Amulet Books ISBN-10: 0-8109-9455-0 / ISBN-13: 978-0-8109-9455-3
Kinney, J., (2008). YouTube: Jeff Kinney talks about diary of a wimpy kid, retrieved on November 24, 2009, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB-JBU9Bv28&feature=related
Morning, T., (2009). Booklist – Diary of a wimpy kid, retrieved on November 24, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0810993139/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Publisher’s Weekly, (2007). Amazon – Diary of a wimpy kid, retrieved on November 24, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/Diary-Wimpy-Kid-Jeff-Kinney/dp/0810993139
VOYA, (2009). Barnes and noble – Diary of a wimpy kid, retrieved on November 24, 2009, from http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Diary-of-a-Wimpy-Kid/Jeff-Kinney/e/9780810993136#TABS
Wikipedia, (2009). Diary of a wimpy kid, retrieved on November 24, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diary_of_a_Wimpy_Kid
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Genre #6 Book Review #2 : Meg Rosoff - HOW I LIVE NOW
1.Bibliography –
Rosoff, M. (2004). HOW I LIVE NOW. New York, NY: Wendy Lamb Books ISBN-10: 0-385-74677-6 / ISBN-13: 978-0385746779
2. Plot Summary –
“Rosoff's story begins in modern day London, slightly in the future, and as its heroine has a 15-year-old Manhattanite called Daisy. She's picked up at the airport by Edmond, her English cousin, a boy in whose life she is destined to become intricately entwined. Daisy stays at her Aunt Penn's country farmhouse for the summer with Edmond and her other cousins. They spend some idyllic weeks together--often alone with Aunt Penn away travelling in Norway. Daisy's cousins seem to have an almost telepathic bond, and Daisy is mesmerized by Edmond and soon falls in love with him.
But their world changes forever when an unnamed aggressor invades England and begins a years-long occupation. Daisy and Edmond are separated when soldiers take over their home, and Daisy and Piper, her younger cousin, must travel to another place to work. Their experiences of occupation are never kind and Daisy's pain, living without Edmond, is tangible” (McLay, J., 2004).
3. Critical Analysis -
a. Characters –
The main characters are Elizabeth (Daisy), her Aunt Penn and her British cousins Piper, Edmond, Isaac, and Osbert. In evaluating this book – the main character Daisy undergoes an internal (as well as an external) journey and emotional growth that is more significant than the plot or action. The language Daisy and her cousins use is believeable and reflects the way a teenager thinks and talks at that age and stage of life.
“This riveting first novel paints a frighteningly realistic picture of a world war breaking out in the 21st century. Told from the point of view of 15-year-old Manhattan native Daisy, the novel follows her arrival and her stay with cousins on a remote farm in England. Soon after Daisy settles into their farmhouse, her Aunt Penn becomes stranded in Oslo and terrorists invade and occupy England. Daisy's candid, intelligent narrative draws readers into her very private world, which appears almost utopian at first with no adult supervision (especially by contrast with her home life with her widowed father and his new wife). The heroine finds herself falling in love with cousin Edmond, and the author credibly creates a world in which social taboos are temporarily erased. When soldiers usurp the farm, they send the girls off separately from the boys, and Daisy becomes determined to keep herself and her youngest cousin, Piper, alive. Like the ripple effects of paranoia and panic in society, the changes within Daisy do not occur all at once, but they have dramatic effects. In the span of a few months, she goes from a self-centered, disgruntled teen to a courageous survivor motivated by love and compassion. How she comes to understand the effects the war has had on others provides the greatest evidence of her growth, as well as her motivation to get through to those who seem lost to war's consequences. Teens may feel that they have experienced a war themselves as they vicariously witness Daisy's worst nightmares. Like the heroine, readers will emerge from the rubble much shaken, a little wiser and with perhaps a greater sense of humanity” (Publisher’s Weekly, 2004).
b. Plot –
Elizabeth, who likes to be known as Daisy, can’t stand that her father has taken a new wife who is pregnant. She flees New York to go and stay with her Aunt Penn (her deceased mother’s sister) and her cousins Osbert, Edmond, Isaac and Piper in England, whom she has never met. Her feelings for her cousin Edmond is just one of the growing up aspects that Daisy learns to deal with – love. Then war breaks out while she is staying there and separates Daisy and Piper from the boys, and her visit ends up being a “growing” up and learning adventure of a lifetime.
With this story there is no obvious moralizing, however Daisy and her cousin, Edmond, get closer than cousins are supposed to, and she does make mention to that fact. The climax and conclusion of the story were inevitable but they were not obvious and I was a little surprised at the ending, as it occurred quicker than I had anticipated; however it was true to the author’s story especially as there were definite twists and turns throughout that were unexpected.
"EVERY WAR HAS turning points and every person too.
Fifteen-year-old Daisy is sent from Manhattan to England to visit her aunt and cousins she’s never met: three boys near her age, and their little sister. Her aunt goes away on business soon after Daisy arrives. The next day bombs go off as London is attacked and occupied by an unnamed enemy.
As power fails, and systems fail, the farm becomes more isolated. Despite the war, it’s a kind of Eden, with no adults in charge and no rules, a place where Daisy’s uncanny bond with her cousins grows into something rare and extraordinary. But the war is everywhere, and Daisy and her cousins must lead each other into a world that is unknown in the scariest, most elemental way” (Amazon, 2009).
c. Setting –
The story is set in rural England, on different farmlands and country-sides. War has broken out and much of life as everyone knew it has turned upside down.
The time it is set in is present day and it is believable, as not only are there cell phones, but the Internet and email are referred to in the book. Daisy does a wonderful job of describing the surrounding and her discriptions seem accurate. This story has many universal implications for readers as war can happen anywhere and at anytime – leaving no one completely safe from harm.
“Daisy, 15, a troubled New York City teen with a distant father, a wicked (and pregnant) stepmother, and an eating disorder, is sent to England to stay on a rambling farm with her deceased mother's sister's family. It is made up of Aunt Penn "who always has Important Work To Do Related to the Peace Process" and her brood of children: Osbert, 16; 14-year-old twins Isaac and Edmond; and 9-year-old Piper. As the kids spend more and more time together, Daisy warms to them, beginning to tune in to a seemingly psychic bond that the siblings share. When Aunt Penn travels to Oslo, Daisy begins a sexual relationship with Edmond. At the same time, hostile forces invade England. Originally enjoying the freedom of a world that seems to have forgotten them, the cousins are inevitably separated, leaving Piper and Daisy to struggle across the countryside and rejoin the others. Daisy's voice is uneven, being at times teenage vapid, while elsewhere sporting a vocabulary rich with 50-cent words, phrases, and references. In addition, Rosoff barely scratches the surface of the material at hand. At times, this is both intentional and effective (the enemy is never named) but for the most part the dearth of explanation creates insurmountable questions around the basic mechanisms of the plot. There is no explanation of how a small force could take out all communications (including cell phones) and proceed to overrun and to control an entire country. Perhaps even stranger, the ramifications of psychic abilities and underage sexual relationships between first cousins is never addressed” (Davey, D., 2004).
d. Theme –
The themes of journey, survival, trials and tribulations, family and love are all present in this story. A major theme dealing with growing up into adulthood emerges naturally from the story as we see our character Daisy age from 15 years old to 21, and live a lifetime of happiness, fear, love, loneliness, survival and family in that short amount of time.
“It would be much easier to tell this story if it were all about a chaste and perfect love between Two Children Against the World at an Extreme Time in History….
This is a story about love.
It’s also a story about hate, which is why I left New York in the first place. You don’t fly halfway across the world to live with a bund of people you never met, just for a laugh.
I guess if I’d known where it was all going to lead, I might have thought twice about stepping onto that plane. I might have worried a little more about Edmond being my cousin.
And me being fifteen.
But I didn’t. And in the end, those things didn’t matter as much as you think they would.
In the end, the world had bigger things to worry about than us” (Rosoff, M., 2004).
e. Style –
The author writes in very informal manner, through the character Daisy’s viewpoint. It was a little difficult for me at times to read, as the author did not ever use quotation marks to signify conversations. Also there were many capital letters used that are not normally used in different places in the story. I understood that the author capitalilized some words to help them stick out and bring more attention to their importance, but it was just not a usage I was familiar or comfortable with. I have not read any other of Meg Rosloff’s books yet, and I wonder if that is her distinctive stamp of her writing.
The dialog is natural and some-what believable, has a balance of narration and dialog and the tone, mood, and point of view is appropriate for a teenager running away from a stressful situation at home but learning to deal with a more stressful situation of love and war.
“Rosoff's writing style is both brilliant and frustrating. Her descriptions are wonderful, as is her ability to portray the emotions of her characters. However, her long sentences and total lack of punctuation for dialogue can be exhausting. Her narrative is deeply engaging and yet a bit unbelievable. The end of the book is dramatic, but too sudden. The book has a raw, unfinished feel about it, yet that somehow adds to the experience of reading it” (McLay, J., 2004).
f. Gender and Culture –
There is not the usual gender quotient of male vs. female protagonist; instead we see the female protagonist working along side and with the other male protagonist. The author doesn’t overload the story with cultural details but does present accurate cultural markers (like British tea) and presents real people and real problems. The characters are not typecasted nor stereotyped either positively nor negatively.
“A 15-year-old, contemporary urbanite named Daisy, sent to England to summer with relatives, falls in love with her aunt's "oldy worldy" farm and her soulful cousins--especially Edmond, with whom she forms "the world's most inappropriate case of sexual obsession." Matters veer in a startling direction when terrorists strike while Daisy's aunt is out of the country, war erupts, and soldiers divide the cousins by gender between two guardians. Determined to rejoin Edmond, Daisy and her youngest cousin embark upon a dangerous journey that brings them face to face with horrific violence and undreamt-of deprivation. Just prior to the hopeful conclusion, Rosoff introduces a jolting leap forward in time accompanied by an evocative graphic device that will undoubtedly spark lively discussions. As for the incestuous romance, Daisy and Edmond's separation for most of the novel and the obvious emotional sustenance Daisy draws from their bond sensitively shift the focus away from the relationship's implicit (and potentially discomfiting) physical dimension. More central to the potency of Rosoff's debut, though, is the ominous prognostication of what a third world war might look like, and the opportunity it provides for teens to imagine themselves, like Daisy, exhibiting courage and resilience in roles traditionally occupied by earlier generations” (Mattson, J., 2004)
g. Awards & recognitions –
** Possibly one of the most talked about books of the year, Meg Rosoff's novel for young adults is the winner of the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2004.
** “HOW I LIVE NOW is a young adult novel by Meg Rosoff, first published in 2004. The book won three notable awards including the Michael L. Printz Award and received generally positive reviews.
Awards and nominations
• 2004 Won the Guardian Award[1]
• 2004 Shortlisted for the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year[2]
• 2004 Longlisted for the Carnegie Medal[3]
• 2005 Won the Michael L. Printz Award[4]
• 2005 Won the Branford Boase Award[5]
• 2005 Shortlisted for the Booktrust Teenage Prize[6]” (Wikipedia, 2009).
4. Review Excerpts –
** "A daring, wise, and sensitive look at the complexities of being young in a world teetering on chaos, Rosoff's poignant exploration of perseverance in the face of the unknown is a timely lesson for us all." -- People Magazine
** "This riveting first novel paints a frighteningly realistic picture of a world war breaking out in the 21st century . . . Readers will emerge from the rubble much shaken, a little wiser, and with perhaps a greater sense of humanity." -- Publishers Weekly, Starred
** “That rare, rare thing, a first novel with a sustained, magical and utterly faultless voice. After five pages, I knew she could persuade me to believe anything. This author's debut is undoubtedly stylish, readable and fascinating.” -- Mark Haddon, author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
** “A fantastic treat . . . Daisy is an unforgettable heroine.” -- Kliatt, Starred
** “A winning combination of acerbic commentary, innocence, and sober vision. . . . Hilarious, lyrical, and compassionate.” -- The Horn Book, Starred
** “Readers will remain absorbed to the very end by this unforgettable and original story.” -- The Bulletin, Starred
** “Powerful and engaging . . . a likely future classic.” --The Observer (U.K.)
** “A crunchily perfect knock-out of a debut novel.”-- The Guardian (U.K.)
5. Connections –
The following are more titles by Meg Rosoff:
** JUST IN CASE
** WHAT I WAS: A NOVEL
** THE BRIDE’S FAREWELL
** MEET WILD BOARS
** WILD BOARS COOK
** JUMPY JACK & GOOGILY
Book Trailers:
Another thing that is fun to do with books is to make a book trailer to get others interested in reading the story. Here is an example of a book trailer for HOW I LIVE NOW:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt_aDmkEPTQ
Audio Book on CD:
Another great idea for children, young adults and students of all ages is to listen to books in audio form. Here is a review for HOW I LIVE NOW on Audio CD:
“This is a mesmerizing production of a much-discussed young adult novel. Set in the very near future, the story involves unhappy, anorexic 15-year-old Daisy as she arrives in England to visit her cousins. As soon as she arrives, her aunt must depart for a short trip, leaving Daisy and her three cousins alone in their rural farmhouse. Very soon thereafter, an unnamed aggressor invades England. Kim Mai Guest seems to channel teenaged Daisy while making her actually listenable. She also excels with very young cousin Piper without resorting to a high-pitched little kid voice. For that matter, her rural British men are quite believable. Her pacing is particularly lovely, and while the book has received some criticism for its unique punctuation, it's never a problem in Guest's reading. A.C.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition” (Amazon, 2009).
References
McLay, J., (2004). Amazon.com review – How I live now, retrieved on November 21, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/How-Live-Now-Meg-Rosoff/dp/0385746776
Publisher’s Weekly, (2004). Amazon – How I live now, retrieved on November 21, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/How-Live-Now-Meg-Rosoff/dp/0385746776
Davey, D., (2004). Library School Journal – How I live now, retrieved on November 22, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0385746776/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Mattson, J., (2004). Booklist – How I live now, retrieved on November 22, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0385746776/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Rosoff, M. (2004). HOW I LIVE NOW. New York, NY: Wendy Lamb Books ISBN-10: 0-385-74677-6 / ISBN-13: 978-0385746779
Amazon, (1996-2009). Product discription – How I live now, retrieved on November 22, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0385746776/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Wikipedia, (2009). How I live now, retrieved on November 22, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_I_Live_Now
Rosoff, M. (2004). HOW I LIVE NOW. New York, NY: Wendy Lamb Books ISBN-10: 0-385-74677-6 / ISBN-13: 978-0385746779
2. Plot Summary –
“Rosoff's story begins in modern day London, slightly in the future, and as its heroine has a 15-year-old Manhattanite called Daisy. She's picked up at the airport by Edmond, her English cousin, a boy in whose life she is destined to become intricately entwined. Daisy stays at her Aunt Penn's country farmhouse for the summer with Edmond and her other cousins. They spend some idyllic weeks together--often alone with Aunt Penn away travelling in Norway. Daisy's cousins seem to have an almost telepathic bond, and Daisy is mesmerized by Edmond and soon falls in love with him.
But their world changes forever when an unnamed aggressor invades England and begins a years-long occupation. Daisy and Edmond are separated when soldiers take over their home, and Daisy and Piper, her younger cousin, must travel to another place to work. Their experiences of occupation are never kind and Daisy's pain, living without Edmond, is tangible” (McLay, J., 2004).
3. Critical Analysis -
a. Characters –
The main characters are Elizabeth (Daisy), her Aunt Penn and her British cousins Piper, Edmond, Isaac, and Osbert. In evaluating this book – the main character Daisy undergoes an internal (as well as an external) journey and emotional growth that is more significant than the plot or action. The language Daisy and her cousins use is believeable and reflects the way a teenager thinks and talks at that age and stage of life.
“This riveting first novel paints a frighteningly realistic picture of a world war breaking out in the 21st century. Told from the point of view of 15-year-old Manhattan native Daisy, the novel follows her arrival and her stay with cousins on a remote farm in England. Soon after Daisy settles into their farmhouse, her Aunt Penn becomes stranded in Oslo and terrorists invade and occupy England. Daisy's candid, intelligent narrative draws readers into her very private world, which appears almost utopian at first with no adult supervision (especially by contrast with her home life with her widowed father and his new wife). The heroine finds herself falling in love with cousin Edmond, and the author credibly creates a world in which social taboos are temporarily erased. When soldiers usurp the farm, they send the girls off separately from the boys, and Daisy becomes determined to keep herself and her youngest cousin, Piper, alive. Like the ripple effects of paranoia and panic in society, the changes within Daisy do not occur all at once, but they have dramatic effects. In the span of a few months, she goes from a self-centered, disgruntled teen to a courageous survivor motivated by love and compassion. How she comes to understand the effects the war has had on others provides the greatest evidence of her growth, as well as her motivation to get through to those who seem lost to war's consequences. Teens may feel that they have experienced a war themselves as they vicariously witness Daisy's worst nightmares. Like the heroine, readers will emerge from the rubble much shaken, a little wiser and with perhaps a greater sense of humanity” (Publisher’s Weekly, 2004).
b. Plot –
Elizabeth, who likes to be known as Daisy, can’t stand that her father has taken a new wife who is pregnant. She flees New York to go and stay with her Aunt Penn (her deceased mother’s sister) and her cousins Osbert, Edmond, Isaac and Piper in England, whom she has never met. Her feelings for her cousin Edmond is just one of the growing up aspects that Daisy learns to deal with – love. Then war breaks out while she is staying there and separates Daisy and Piper from the boys, and her visit ends up being a “growing” up and learning adventure of a lifetime.
With this story there is no obvious moralizing, however Daisy and her cousin, Edmond, get closer than cousins are supposed to, and she does make mention to that fact. The climax and conclusion of the story were inevitable but they were not obvious and I was a little surprised at the ending, as it occurred quicker than I had anticipated; however it was true to the author’s story especially as there were definite twists and turns throughout that were unexpected.
"EVERY WAR HAS turning points and every person too.
Fifteen-year-old Daisy is sent from Manhattan to England to visit her aunt and cousins she’s never met: three boys near her age, and their little sister. Her aunt goes away on business soon after Daisy arrives. The next day bombs go off as London is attacked and occupied by an unnamed enemy.
As power fails, and systems fail, the farm becomes more isolated. Despite the war, it’s a kind of Eden, with no adults in charge and no rules, a place where Daisy’s uncanny bond with her cousins grows into something rare and extraordinary. But the war is everywhere, and Daisy and her cousins must lead each other into a world that is unknown in the scariest, most elemental way” (Amazon, 2009).
c. Setting –
The story is set in rural England, on different farmlands and country-sides. War has broken out and much of life as everyone knew it has turned upside down.
The time it is set in is present day and it is believable, as not only are there cell phones, but the Internet and email are referred to in the book. Daisy does a wonderful job of describing the surrounding and her discriptions seem accurate. This story has many universal implications for readers as war can happen anywhere and at anytime – leaving no one completely safe from harm.
“Daisy, 15, a troubled New York City teen with a distant father, a wicked (and pregnant) stepmother, and an eating disorder, is sent to England to stay on a rambling farm with her deceased mother's sister's family. It is made up of Aunt Penn "who always has Important Work To Do Related to the Peace Process" and her brood of children: Osbert, 16; 14-year-old twins Isaac and Edmond; and 9-year-old Piper. As the kids spend more and more time together, Daisy warms to them, beginning to tune in to a seemingly psychic bond that the siblings share. When Aunt Penn travels to Oslo, Daisy begins a sexual relationship with Edmond. At the same time, hostile forces invade England. Originally enjoying the freedom of a world that seems to have forgotten them, the cousins are inevitably separated, leaving Piper and Daisy to struggle across the countryside and rejoin the others. Daisy's voice is uneven, being at times teenage vapid, while elsewhere sporting a vocabulary rich with 50-cent words, phrases, and references. In addition, Rosoff barely scratches the surface of the material at hand. At times, this is both intentional and effective (the enemy is never named) but for the most part the dearth of explanation creates insurmountable questions around the basic mechanisms of the plot. There is no explanation of how a small force could take out all communications (including cell phones) and proceed to overrun and to control an entire country. Perhaps even stranger, the ramifications of psychic abilities and underage sexual relationships between first cousins is never addressed” (Davey, D., 2004).
d. Theme –
The themes of journey, survival, trials and tribulations, family and love are all present in this story. A major theme dealing with growing up into adulthood emerges naturally from the story as we see our character Daisy age from 15 years old to 21, and live a lifetime of happiness, fear, love, loneliness, survival and family in that short amount of time.
“It would be much easier to tell this story if it were all about a chaste and perfect love between Two Children Against the World at an Extreme Time in History….
This is a story about love.
It’s also a story about hate, which is why I left New York in the first place. You don’t fly halfway across the world to live with a bund of people you never met, just for a laugh.
I guess if I’d known where it was all going to lead, I might have thought twice about stepping onto that plane. I might have worried a little more about Edmond being my cousin.
And me being fifteen.
But I didn’t. And in the end, those things didn’t matter as much as you think they would.
In the end, the world had bigger things to worry about than us” (Rosoff, M., 2004).
e. Style –
The author writes in very informal manner, through the character Daisy’s viewpoint. It was a little difficult for me at times to read, as the author did not ever use quotation marks to signify conversations. Also there were many capital letters used that are not normally used in different places in the story. I understood that the author capitalilized some words to help them stick out and bring more attention to their importance, but it was just not a usage I was familiar or comfortable with. I have not read any other of Meg Rosloff’s books yet, and I wonder if that is her distinctive stamp of her writing.
The dialog is natural and some-what believable, has a balance of narration and dialog and the tone, mood, and point of view is appropriate for a teenager running away from a stressful situation at home but learning to deal with a more stressful situation of love and war.
“Rosoff's writing style is both brilliant and frustrating. Her descriptions are wonderful, as is her ability to portray the emotions of her characters. However, her long sentences and total lack of punctuation for dialogue can be exhausting. Her narrative is deeply engaging and yet a bit unbelievable. The end of the book is dramatic, but too sudden. The book has a raw, unfinished feel about it, yet that somehow adds to the experience of reading it” (McLay, J., 2004).
f. Gender and Culture –
There is not the usual gender quotient of male vs. female protagonist; instead we see the female protagonist working along side and with the other male protagonist. The author doesn’t overload the story with cultural details but does present accurate cultural markers (like British tea) and presents real people and real problems. The characters are not typecasted nor stereotyped either positively nor negatively.
“A 15-year-old, contemporary urbanite named Daisy, sent to England to summer with relatives, falls in love with her aunt's "oldy worldy" farm and her soulful cousins--especially Edmond, with whom she forms "the world's most inappropriate case of sexual obsession." Matters veer in a startling direction when terrorists strike while Daisy's aunt is out of the country, war erupts, and soldiers divide the cousins by gender between two guardians. Determined to rejoin Edmond, Daisy and her youngest cousin embark upon a dangerous journey that brings them face to face with horrific violence and undreamt-of deprivation. Just prior to the hopeful conclusion, Rosoff introduces a jolting leap forward in time accompanied by an evocative graphic device that will undoubtedly spark lively discussions. As for the incestuous romance, Daisy and Edmond's separation for most of the novel and the obvious emotional sustenance Daisy draws from their bond sensitively shift the focus away from the relationship's implicit (and potentially discomfiting) physical dimension. More central to the potency of Rosoff's debut, though, is the ominous prognostication of what a third world war might look like, and the opportunity it provides for teens to imagine themselves, like Daisy, exhibiting courage and resilience in roles traditionally occupied by earlier generations” (Mattson, J., 2004)
g. Awards & recognitions –
** Possibly one of the most talked about books of the year, Meg Rosoff's novel for young adults is the winner of the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2004.
** “HOW I LIVE NOW is a young adult novel by Meg Rosoff, first published in 2004. The book won three notable awards including the Michael L. Printz Award and received generally positive reviews.
Awards and nominations
• 2004 Won the Guardian Award[1]
• 2004 Shortlisted for the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year[2]
• 2004 Longlisted for the Carnegie Medal[3]
• 2005 Won the Michael L. Printz Award[4]
• 2005 Won the Branford Boase Award[5]
• 2005 Shortlisted for the Booktrust Teenage Prize[6]” (Wikipedia, 2009).
4. Review Excerpts –
** "A daring, wise, and sensitive look at the complexities of being young in a world teetering on chaos, Rosoff's poignant exploration of perseverance in the face of the unknown is a timely lesson for us all." -- People Magazine
** "This riveting first novel paints a frighteningly realistic picture of a world war breaking out in the 21st century . . . Readers will emerge from the rubble much shaken, a little wiser, and with perhaps a greater sense of humanity." -- Publishers Weekly, Starred
** “That rare, rare thing, a first novel with a sustained, magical and utterly faultless voice. After five pages, I knew she could persuade me to believe anything. This author's debut is undoubtedly stylish, readable and fascinating.” -- Mark Haddon, author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
** “A fantastic treat . . . Daisy is an unforgettable heroine.” -- Kliatt, Starred
** “A winning combination of acerbic commentary, innocence, and sober vision. . . . Hilarious, lyrical, and compassionate.” -- The Horn Book, Starred
** “Readers will remain absorbed to the very end by this unforgettable and original story.” -- The Bulletin, Starred
** “Powerful and engaging . . . a likely future classic.” --The Observer (U.K.)
** “A crunchily perfect knock-out of a debut novel.”-- The Guardian (U.K.)
5. Connections –
The following are more titles by Meg Rosoff:
** JUST IN CASE
** WHAT I WAS: A NOVEL
** THE BRIDE’S FAREWELL
** MEET WILD BOARS
** WILD BOARS COOK
** JUMPY JACK & GOOGILY
Book Trailers:
Another thing that is fun to do with books is to make a book trailer to get others interested in reading the story. Here is an example of a book trailer for HOW I LIVE NOW:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt_aDmkEPTQ
Audio Book on CD:
Another great idea for children, young adults and students of all ages is to listen to books in audio form. Here is a review for HOW I LIVE NOW on Audio CD:
“This is a mesmerizing production of a much-discussed young adult novel. Set in the very near future, the story involves unhappy, anorexic 15-year-old Daisy as she arrives in England to visit her cousins. As soon as she arrives, her aunt must depart for a short trip, leaving Daisy and her three cousins alone in their rural farmhouse. Very soon thereafter, an unnamed aggressor invades England. Kim Mai Guest seems to channel teenaged Daisy while making her actually listenable. She also excels with very young cousin Piper without resorting to a high-pitched little kid voice. For that matter, her rural British men are quite believable. Her pacing is particularly lovely, and while the book has received some criticism for its unique punctuation, it's never a problem in Guest's reading. A.C.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition” (Amazon, 2009).
References
McLay, J., (2004). Amazon.com review – How I live now, retrieved on November 21, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/How-Live-Now-Meg-Rosoff/dp/0385746776
Publisher’s Weekly, (2004). Amazon – How I live now, retrieved on November 21, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/How-Live-Now-Meg-Rosoff/dp/0385746776
Davey, D., (2004). Library School Journal – How I live now, retrieved on November 22, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0385746776/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Mattson, J., (2004). Booklist – How I live now, retrieved on November 22, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0385746776/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Rosoff, M. (2004). HOW I LIVE NOW. New York, NY: Wendy Lamb Books ISBN-10: 0-385-74677-6 / ISBN-13: 978-0385746779
Amazon, (1996-2009). Product discription – How I live now, retrieved on November 22, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0385746776/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Wikipedia, (2009). How I live now, retrieved on November 22, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_I_Live_Now
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Genre #6 Book Review #1 : Neil Gaiman - THE GRAVEYARD BOOK
1.Bibliography –
Gaiman, N. (2008). THE GRAVEYARD BOOK. Ill. by Dave McKean. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children’s Books. ISBN: 978-0-06-053093-8
2. Plot Summary –
“In The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman has created a charming allegory of childhood. Although the book opens with a scary scene--a family is stabbed to death by ‘a man named Jack’ --the story quickly moves into more child-friendly storytelling. The sole survivor of the attack--an 18-month-old baby--escapes his crib and his house, and toddles to a nearby graveyard. Quickly recognizing that the baby is orphaned, the graveyard's ghostly residents adopt him, name him Nobody ("Bod"), and allow him to live in their tomb. Taking inspiration from Kipling’s The Jungle Book, Gaiman describes how the toddler navigates among the headstones, asking a lot of questions and picking up the tricks of the living and the dead. In serial-like episodes, the story follows Bod's progress as he grows from baby to teen, learning life’s lessons amid a cadre of the long-dead, ghouls, witches, intermittent human interlopers. A pallid, nocturnal guardian named Silas ensures that Bod receives food, books, and anything else he might need from the human world. Whenever the boy strays from his usual play among the headstones, he finds new dangers, learns his limitations and strengths, and acquires the skills he needs to survive within the confines of the graveyard and in wider world beyond” (Broadhead, H., 2009).
“A delicious mix of murder, fantasy, humor and human longing, the tale of Nobody Owens is told in magical, haunting prose. A child marked for death by an ancient league of assassins escapes into an abandoned graveyard, where he is reared and protected by its spirit denizens” (ALSC, 2009).
3. Critical Analysis -
a. Characters –
The main characters in this story are “Bod” which is short for Nobody Owens, his adoptive parents (Master and Mistress Owens), his guardian Silas, one of his teachers, the wolf - Miss Lupescu, his “alive” childhood friend - Scarlett Amber Perkins, his witch friend - Elizabeth “Liza” Hempstock, Jack – his family’s killer and a few other inhabitants of the graveyard. Other characters from the town include Maureen “Mo” Quilling and Nick Farthing – the school bullies and Bod’s classmates, Mrs. Perkins (Scarlett’s mother), Abanazer Bolger - the pawn shop owner, and Mr. Frost – who’s first name turns out to be Jack!
“The chattering dead make a pact. A decision is made, and shelter is granted to the tiny fellow, who has no inkling of his peril. He has no parents, no place, and no name. But the kind-hearted spirits will not let him freeze, or starve, or meet his end by a murderer’s blade. They wrap the breathing boy in a shroud. They call him Nobody, for he looks like nobody but himself” (Geer, T., 2009).
“Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn’t live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead” (Gaiman, N., 2008).
“Mr. and Mrs. Owens, a Partnership. Married for 250 years yet childless all this time, they adopt the yellow-haired boy as their own and love him accordingly. They bring him into their lovely little tomb by the daffodil patch, and there they raise him to be clever and careful. They raise him to be wary of the living.
Silas, a Caretaker. The graveyard’s caretaker serves as Nobody’s guardian until he might guard himself, for the insubstantial dead must stay with their bones — and they have no means to nourish a living child. Teacher, counselor, and vigilant champion, Silas is not alive, but he is not dead. And unlike the ghosts, he may move among the living in order to acquire food, medicine, and other necessities.
Miss Lupescu, a Teacher. Foreign and strange, and a terrible cook, Miss Lupescu serves as substitute guardian and general tutor when Silas is called away. She may seem cold and somewhat uncaring, but she is a formidable woman and she has vowed to watch over Nobody, whether he wants her to or not.
Liza Hempstock, a Witch. She might be dead, but she still has her magic. Buried in the potter’s field outside the confines of the blessed graveyard property, she wishes for a headstone to mark her resting place and she wishes for a friend. One part trickster and one part helping hand, Liza is fickle but mostly fair … and honestly fond of the living boy from the next patch over.
Scarlett Amber Perkins, a Girl. The cemetery’s dead children make good playmates, but sometimes a living boy might wish for a bit of living company. Scarlett Amber Perkins roams the park beside the cemetery; her mother thinks that her daughter has found an imaginary friend. But as the little girl grows up, Nobody becomes harder and harder to explain away.
The Ghouls. With their silly titles and preposterous claims to fame, the ghouls are violent, strong, and perfectly daft. Their gate is a dangerous, tempting place; and Nobody knows how to find it. He even knows how to open it.
The Sleer. At the bottom of a very dark barrow, beneath a hill, in a pit lost to history and myth, an ancient creature called the Sleer waits for its master to return. It hunkers deep below the earth with three objects of uncertain value and power—which it guards with threats and malice.
Every Man Jack. The less that is said of Jack, the better. His nature is an elaborate puzzle — a series of painful questions with answers that slit throats and breaks bones. What fiend would murder a family while it slept? What monstrous brute would seek to slaughter a toddling child in its crib? This Jack has his reasons, and those reasons reek of evil and rot. He’ll spare no trouble and show no mercy in his quest to end the boy called Nobody Owens” (Geer, T., 2009).
b. Plot –
“Hear this tragic tale: a sleeping family, a talented murderer, and an adventurous toddler — orphaned, but not assassinated. Small and alone, by accident and luck he escapes the scene of the crime and climbs a grassy hill to safety. At the top of the hill the boy finds a fence, and on the other side, a dark, quiet place.
And what is to become of him?
The boy is welcomed on the hill where the dead do not sleep, and the graveyard residents rally to protect him. For outside the fence that separates a city from its ghosts, a dastardly killer is patient and persistent. The danger is real, and it is alive. It is hunting, and wise, and evil. A little child must not be left to the merciless knife of a professional fiend.
But who will watch over him?” (Geer, T., 2009).
The story is about Bod (Nobody Owens) a toddler that escapes a killer’s knife and winds up in a graveyard. The ghosts (Mr. and Mrs. Owens) are put in charge of raising Bod as their own, by the baby’s deceased mother. The story shows Bod growing up in the safe haven of the graveyard with the help of his guardian Silas and the other residents (ghost, ghouls, etc.). Learning a lot of things about the living world and the world of the dead, Bod grows up knowing that the killer is still out there, in the real world of the living, looking for him.
“When a baby escapes a murderer intent on killing the entire family, who would have thought it would find safety and security in the local graveyard?
Brought up by the resident ghosts, ghouls and spectres, Bod has an eccentric childhood learning about life from the dead. But for Bod there is also the danger of the murderer still looking for him — after all, he is the last remaining member of the family.
A stunningly original novel deftly constructed over eight chapters, featuring every second year of Bod’s life, from babyhood to adolescence. Will Bod survive to be a man?” (Bloomsbury, 2009).
The plot is very creative and original and keeps the reader’s interest! It involved a few quests such as when Bod wants to get a headstone for Liza, or go to school and learn, and to dance the “Danse Macabre” – all of which had tasks to accomplish or obstacles to overcome. Not only were the situations believable, but so was the villian that Bod had to try to vanquish!
“Somewhere in contemporary Britain, ‘the man Jack’ uses his razor-sharp knife to murder a family, but the youngest, a toddler, slips away. The boy ends up in a graveyard, where the ghostly inhabitants adopt him to keep him safe. Nobody Owens, so named because he ‘looks like nobody but himself,’ grows up among a multigenerational cast of characters from different historical periods that includes matronly Mistress Owens; ancient Roman Caius Pompeius; an opinionated young witch; a melodramatic hack poet; and Bod's beloved mentor and guardian, Silas, who is neither living nor dead and has secrets of his own. As he grows up, Bod has a series of adventures, both in and out of the graveyard, and the threat of the man Jack who continues to hunt for him is ever present. Bod's love for his graveyard family and vice versa provides the emotional center, amid suspense, spot-on humor, and delightful scene-setting. The child Bod's behavior is occasionally too precocious to be believed, and a series of puns on the name Jack render the villain a bit less frightening than he should be, though only momentarily. Aside from these small flaws, however, Gaiman has created a rich, surprising, and sometimes disturbing tale of dreams, ghouls, murderers, trickery, and family” (Honig, M., 2009).
c. Setting –
The setting of the story is mostly in the “graveyard”, with the old, ancient tombs and caves in the hills, crypts and some old ruins; with a few exceptions with trips outside of its gates to more present day England. Even though Bod grows up in the graveyard, and it is hard to determine what era he is living in, there is reference to computers and the Internet that leads us to believe that it is more or less present time.
“The graveyard is a sacred place and well tended by its various attendants. It is quiet and homey, and there are worse places by far where a boy might grow up. But that is not to say that Nobody’s life is altogether simple or secure. Here and there lurk dangers unexpected and perils uncharted by the living. Though Nobody’s teachers instruct him in the ways of magic and caution, there are some threats a boy must face alone — and some lessons he must learn for himself” (Geer, T., 2009).
Neil Gaiman describes the Graveyard with such wonderful detail – you can almost imagine and visualize the surroundings in which Bod is growing up! Most of the details are integral parts of the story that play a part in Bod overcoming the villians in the end.
“There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy – an ancient Indigo Man beneath the hill, a gateway to a desert leading to an abandoned dity of ghouls, the strange and terrible manace of the Sleer.
But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack – who has already killed Bod’s family….” (Gaiman, N., 2008).
d. Theme –
The main theme of THE GRAVEYARD BOOK reflects the universal truth that transcends time and place and is that of good versus evil; where good is more powerful than evil! The other themes present are friendship, love, hope and life!
“While a highly motivated killer murders his family, a baby, ignorant of the horrific goings-on but bent on independence, pulls himself out of his crib and toddles out of the house and into the night. This is most unfortunate for the killer, since the baby was his prime target. Finding his way through the barred fence of an ancient graveyard, the baby is discovered by Mr. and Mrs. Owens, a stable and caring couple with no children of their own—and who just happen to be dead. After much debate with the graveyard’s rather opinionated denizens, it is decided that the Owenses will take in the child. Under their care and the sponsorship of the mysterious Silas, the baby is named ‘Nobody’ and raised among the dead to protect him from the killer, who relentlessly pursues him. This is an utterly captivating tale that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of ghostly characters. There is plenty of darkness, but the novel’s ultimate message is strong and life affirming” (Koelling, H., 2009).
e. Style –
Neil Gaiman’s style in this book creates a clear and consistent point of view that not only encourages the reader to believe in the fantasy world but also creates a distinctive framework for the story. He uses distinct language for each of the characters in the story from the ancient beings to the characters of royalty, to the rich and the poor and the group of ghouls and beasts of the underworld.
“Although marketed to the younger YA set, this is a rich story with broad appeal and is highly recommended for teens of all ages” (Koelling, H., 2009).
“Neil Gaiman's fantasies have entranced both younger readers and adults; this gothic fantasy, a coming-of-age story modeled after The Jungle Book and with slight nods to Harry Potter, will appeal to all ages. By juxtaposing the world of the dead with the world of the living, Gaiman creates a fantastical world where the thoughtful protagonist comes to understand the power of family as he experiences the fear, pains, confusions, and joys of growing up. Critics praised each illustrated chapter as its own little gem, with moments both tender and terrifying—and each equally exciting. The Graveyard Book is sure to become a book to last the ages” (Bookmarks, 2008).
f. Awards & recognitions –
** The Graveyard Book won the The John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature. (January 27, 2009)
** The Graveyard Book was on the New York Times children’s bestseller list for 53 consecutive weeks
4. Review Excerpts –
** "A child named Nobody, an assassin, a graveyard and the dead are the perfect combination in this deliciously creepy tale, which is sometimes humorous, sometimes haunting and sometimes surprising." -- Newbery Committee Chair Rose V. Treviño
** THE GRAVEYARD BOOK is endlessly inventive, masterfully told, and, like Bod himself, too clever to fit into only one place. This is a book for everyone. You will love it to death. -– Holly Black, co-creator of The Spiderwick Chronicles
** THE GRAVEYARD BOOK is everything everyone loves about Neil Gaiman, only multiplied many times over, a novel that showcases his effortless feel for narrative, his flawless instincts for suspense, and above all, his dark, almost silky sense of humor. -– Joe Hill, author of HEART-SHAPED BOX
** It takes a graveyard to raise a child. My favorite thing about this book was watching Bod grow up in his fine crumbly graveyard with his dead and living friends. THE GRAVEYARD BOOK is another surprising and terrific book from Neil Gaiman. -– Audrey Niffenegger, author of THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE
** THE GRAVEYARD BOOK manages the remarkable feat of playing delightful jazz riffs on Kipling’s classic Jungle Book. One might call this book a small jewel, but in fact it’s much bigger within than it looks from the outside. -– Peter S. Beagle, author of THE LAST UNICORN
** “After finishing THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, I had only one thought – I hope there’s more. I want to see more of the adventures of Nobody Owens, and there is no hight praise for this book.” -– Laurell K. Hamilton, author of the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series
** "This is, quite frankly, the best book Neil Gaiman has ever written. How he has managed to combine fascinating, friendly, frightening and fearsome in one fantasy I shall never know, but he has pulled it off magnificently - perfect for Halloween and any other time of the year." -- Diana Wynne Jones, author of The Chronicles of Chrestomanci
** "I wish my younger self could have had the opportunity to read and re-read this wonderful book, and my older self wishes that I had written it." -- Garth Nix, author of The Abhorsen Trilogy
** "This is an utterly captivating tale that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of ghostly characters. There is plenty of darkness, but the novel's ultimate message is strong and life affirming…this is a rich story with broad appeal." -- Booklist (starred review)
** "Wistful, witty, wise-and creepy. This needs to be read by anyone who is or has ever been a child." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
** "Like a bite of dark Halloween chocolate, this novel proves rich, bittersweet and very satisfying." -- Washington Post
** "THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, by turns exciting and witty, sinister and tender, shows Gaiman at the top of his form. In this novel of wonder, Neil Gaiman follows in the footsteps of long-ago storytellers, weaving a tale of unforgettable enchantment." -- New York Times Book Review
** "Lucid, evocative prose and dark fairy-tale motifs imbue the story with a dreamlike quality... this ghost-story-cum-coming-of-age-novel is as readable as it is accomplished." -- Horn Book (starred review)
5. Connections –
“Neil Gaiman is the author of many highly acclaimed and award-winning books for children and adults, including the New York Times bestseller Coraline. He is also the author of the picture books The Wolves in the Walls and The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, both illustrated by Dave McKean, Blueberry Girl, illustrated by Charles Vess, and The Dangerous Alphabet, illustrated by Gris Grimly. Among his many awards are the World Fantasy Award, the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, and the Bram Stoker Award. Originally from England, Gaiman now lives in the United States” (Jacketcover, 2008).
Some of Neil Gaiman’s books include:
** CORALINE
** M IS FOR MAGIC
** STARDUST
Other illustrated picture books by Neil Gaiman include:
** THE DANGEROUS ALPHABET
**MIRROR MASK
**THE WOLVES IN THE WALLS
**THE DAY I SWAPPED MY DAD FOR TWO GOLDFISH
Book Trailers:
Another thing that is fun to do with books is to make a book trailer to get others interested in reading the story. Here is an example of a book trailer for THE GRAVEYARD BOOK narrated by Neil Gaiman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_UUVwTaemk
Audio Book on CD:
THE GRAVEYARD BOOK is also available in audio form on CD. I listened to a few chapters as the story was narrated by Neil Gaiman himself, and I was curious to hear how the writer narrated his own book. It was very well read, but I found that I was not paying as much attention to the story as I should have been; so I decided that I better read it myself.
References
ALSC, (2009). ALA Newbery medal homepage – 2009 winner – the graveyard book, retrieved on November 18, 2009, from http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberymedal.cfm
Gaiman, N. (2008). THE GRAVEYARD BOOK. Ill. by Dave McKean. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children’s Books. ISBN: 978-0-06-053093-8
Geer, T., (2009) The graveyard book - website, retrieved on November 18, 2009, from http://www.thegraveyardbook.com/story/
Bloomsbury, (2009). U.K. Bloomsbury editions: the graveyard book, retrieved on November 18, 2009, from http://www.thegraveyardbook.com/bloomsbury-editions/
Amazon, (1996 – 2009). THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, retrieved on November 16, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0060530928/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Broadhead, H., (2009). Amazon.com review: The graveyard book, retrieved on November 16, 2009, from
http://www.amazon.com/Graveyard-Book-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0060530928/ref=dp_return_2?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Honig, M., (2009) School library journal: The graveyard book, retrieved on November 17, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/Graveyard-Book-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0060530928/ref=dp_return_2?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Koelling, H., (2009). Booklist - The graveyard book, retrieved on November 17, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0060530928/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Bookmarks Magazine, (2008). Bookmarks publishing: The graveyard book, retrieved on November 18, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0060530928/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Gaiman, N. (2008). THE GRAVEYARD BOOK. Ill. by Dave McKean. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children’s Books. ISBN: 978-0-06-053093-8
2. Plot Summary –
“In The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman has created a charming allegory of childhood. Although the book opens with a scary scene--a family is stabbed to death by ‘a man named Jack’ --the story quickly moves into more child-friendly storytelling. The sole survivor of the attack--an 18-month-old baby--escapes his crib and his house, and toddles to a nearby graveyard. Quickly recognizing that the baby is orphaned, the graveyard's ghostly residents adopt him, name him Nobody ("Bod"), and allow him to live in their tomb. Taking inspiration from Kipling’s The Jungle Book, Gaiman describes how the toddler navigates among the headstones, asking a lot of questions and picking up the tricks of the living and the dead. In serial-like episodes, the story follows Bod's progress as he grows from baby to teen, learning life’s lessons amid a cadre of the long-dead, ghouls, witches, intermittent human interlopers. A pallid, nocturnal guardian named Silas ensures that Bod receives food, books, and anything else he might need from the human world. Whenever the boy strays from his usual play among the headstones, he finds new dangers, learns his limitations and strengths, and acquires the skills he needs to survive within the confines of the graveyard and in wider world beyond” (Broadhead, H., 2009).
“A delicious mix of murder, fantasy, humor and human longing, the tale of Nobody Owens is told in magical, haunting prose. A child marked for death by an ancient league of assassins escapes into an abandoned graveyard, where he is reared and protected by its spirit denizens” (ALSC, 2009).
3. Critical Analysis -
a. Characters –
The main characters in this story are “Bod” which is short for Nobody Owens, his adoptive parents (Master and Mistress Owens), his guardian Silas, one of his teachers, the wolf - Miss Lupescu, his “alive” childhood friend - Scarlett Amber Perkins, his witch friend - Elizabeth “Liza” Hempstock, Jack – his family’s killer and a few other inhabitants of the graveyard. Other characters from the town include Maureen “Mo” Quilling and Nick Farthing – the school bullies and Bod’s classmates, Mrs. Perkins (Scarlett’s mother), Abanazer Bolger - the pawn shop owner, and Mr. Frost – who’s first name turns out to be Jack!
“The chattering dead make a pact. A decision is made, and shelter is granted to the tiny fellow, who has no inkling of his peril. He has no parents, no place, and no name. But the kind-hearted spirits will not let him freeze, or starve, or meet his end by a murderer’s blade. They wrap the breathing boy in a shroud. They call him Nobody, for he looks like nobody but himself” (Geer, T., 2009).
“Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn’t live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead” (Gaiman, N., 2008).
“Mr. and Mrs. Owens, a Partnership. Married for 250 years yet childless all this time, they adopt the yellow-haired boy as their own and love him accordingly. They bring him into their lovely little tomb by the daffodil patch, and there they raise him to be clever and careful. They raise him to be wary of the living.
Silas, a Caretaker. The graveyard’s caretaker serves as Nobody’s guardian until he might guard himself, for the insubstantial dead must stay with their bones — and they have no means to nourish a living child. Teacher, counselor, and vigilant champion, Silas is not alive, but he is not dead. And unlike the ghosts, he may move among the living in order to acquire food, medicine, and other necessities.
Miss Lupescu, a Teacher. Foreign and strange, and a terrible cook, Miss Lupescu serves as substitute guardian and general tutor when Silas is called away. She may seem cold and somewhat uncaring, but she is a formidable woman and she has vowed to watch over Nobody, whether he wants her to or not.
Liza Hempstock, a Witch. She might be dead, but she still has her magic. Buried in the potter’s field outside the confines of the blessed graveyard property, she wishes for a headstone to mark her resting place and she wishes for a friend. One part trickster and one part helping hand, Liza is fickle but mostly fair … and honestly fond of the living boy from the next patch over.
Scarlett Amber Perkins, a Girl. The cemetery’s dead children make good playmates, but sometimes a living boy might wish for a bit of living company. Scarlett Amber Perkins roams the park beside the cemetery; her mother thinks that her daughter has found an imaginary friend. But as the little girl grows up, Nobody becomes harder and harder to explain away.
The Ghouls. With their silly titles and preposterous claims to fame, the ghouls are violent, strong, and perfectly daft. Their gate is a dangerous, tempting place; and Nobody knows how to find it. He even knows how to open it.
The Sleer. At the bottom of a very dark barrow, beneath a hill, in a pit lost to history and myth, an ancient creature called the Sleer waits for its master to return. It hunkers deep below the earth with three objects of uncertain value and power—which it guards with threats and malice.
Every Man Jack. The less that is said of Jack, the better. His nature is an elaborate puzzle — a series of painful questions with answers that slit throats and breaks bones. What fiend would murder a family while it slept? What monstrous brute would seek to slaughter a toddling child in its crib? This Jack has his reasons, and those reasons reek of evil and rot. He’ll spare no trouble and show no mercy in his quest to end the boy called Nobody Owens” (Geer, T., 2009).
b. Plot –
“Hear this tragic tale: a sleeping family, a talented murderer, and an adventurous toddler — orphaned, but not assassinated. Small and alone, by accident and luck he escapes the scene of the crime and climbs a grassy hill to safety. At the top of the hill the boy finds a fence, and on the other side, a dark, quiet place.
And what is to become of him?
The boy is welcomed on the hill where the dead do not sleep, and the graveyard residents rally to protect him. For outside the fence that separates a city from its ghosts, a dastardly killer is patient and persistent. The danger is real, and it is alive. It is hunting, and wise, and evil. A little child must not be left to the merciless knife of a professional fiend.
But who will watch over him?” (Geer, T., 2009).
The story is about Bod (Nobody Owens) a toddler that escapes a killer’s knife and winds up in a graveyard. The ghosts (Mr. and Mrs. Owens) are put in charge of raising Bod as their own, by the baby’s deceased mother. The story shows Bod growing up in the safe haven of the graveyard with the help of his guardian Silas and the other residents (ghost, ghouls, etc.). Learning a lot of things about the living world and the world of the dead, Bod grows up knowing that the killer is still out there, in the real world of the living, looking for him.
“When a baby escapes a murderer intent on killing the entire family, who would have thought it would find safety and security in the local graveyard?
Brought up by the resident ghosts, ghouls and spectres, Bod has an eccentric childhood learning about life from the dead. But for Bod there is also the danger of the murderer still looking for him — after all, he is the last remaining member of the family.
A stunningly original novel deftly constructed over eight chapters, featuring every second year of Bod’s life, from babyhood to adolescence. Will Bod survive to be a man?” (Bloomsbury, 2009).
The plot is very creative and original and keeps the reader’s interest! It involved a few quests such as when Bod wants to get a headstone for Liza, or go to school and learn, and to dance the “Danse Macabre” – all of which had tasks to accomplish or obstacles to overcome. Not only were the situations believable, but so was the villian that Bod had to try to vanquish!
“Somewhere in contemporary Britain, ‘the man Jack’ uses his razor-sharp knife to murder a family, but the youngest, a toddler, slips away. The boy ends up in a graveyard, where the ghostly inhabitants adopt him to keep him safe. Nobody Owens, so named because he ‘looks like nobody but himself,’ grows up among a multigenerational cast of characters from different historical periods that includes matronly Mistress Owens; ancient Roman Caius Pompeius; an opinionated young witch; a melodramatic hack poet; and Bod's beloved mentor and guardian, Silas, who is neither living nor dead and has secrets of his own. As he grows up, Bod has a series of adventures, both in and out of the graveyard, and the threat of the man Jack who continues to hunt for him is ever present. Bod's love for his graveyard family and vice versa provides the emotional center, amid suspense, spot-on humor, and delightful scene-setting. The child Bod's behavior is occasionally too precocious to be believed, and a series of puns on the name Jack render the villain a bit less frightening than he should be, though only momentarily. Aside from these small flaws, however, Gaiman has created a rich, surprising, and sometimes disturbing tale of dreams, ghouls, murderers, trickery, and family” (Honig, M., 2009).
c. Setting –
The setting of the story is mostly in the “graveyard”, with the old, ancient tombs and caves in the hills, crypts and some old ruins; with a few exceptions with trips outside of its gates to more present day England. Even though Bod grows up in the graveyard, and it is hard to determine what era he is living in, there is reference to computers and the Internet that leads us to believe that it is more or less present time.
“The graveyard is a sacred place and well tended by its various attendants. It is quiet and homey, and there are worse places by far where a boy might grow up. But that is not to say that Nobody’s life is altogether simple or secure. Here and there lurk dangers unexpected and perils uncharted by the living. Though Nobody’s teachers instruct him in the ways of magic and caution, there are some threats a boy must face alone — and some lessons he must learn for himself” (Geer, T., 2009).
Neil Gaiman describes the Graveyard with such wonderful detail – you can almost imagine and visualize the surroundings in which Bod is growing up! Most of the details are integral parts of the story that play a part in Bod overcoming the villians in the end.
“There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy – an ancient Indigo Man beneath the hill, a gateway to a desert leading to an abandoned dity of ghouls, the strange and terrible manace of the Sleer.
But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack – who has already killed Bod’s family….” (Gaiman, N., 2008).
d. Theme –
The main theme of THE GRAVEYARD BOOK reflects the universal truth that transcends time and place and is that of good versus evil; where good is more powerful than evil! The other themes present are friendship, love, hope and life!
“While a highly motivated killer murders his family, a baby, ignorant of the horrific goings-on but bent on independence, pulls himself out of his crib and toddles out of the house and into the night. This is most unfortunate for the killer, since the baby was his prime target. Finding his way through the barred fence of an ancient graveyard, the baby is discovered by Mr. and Mrs. Owens, a stable and caring couple with no children of their own—and who just happen to be dead. After much debate with the graveyard’s rather opinionated denizens, it is decided that the Owenses will take in the child. Under their care and the sponsorship of the mysterious Silas, the baby is named ‘Nobody’ and raised among the dead to protect him from the killer, who relentlessly pursues him. This is an utterly captivating tale that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of ghostly characters. There is plenty of darkness, but the novel’s ultimate message is strong and life affirming” (Koelling, H., 2009).
e. Style –
Neil Gaiman’s style in this book creates a clear and consistent point of view that not only encourages the reader to believe in the fantasy world but also creates a distinctive framework for the story. He uses distinct language for each of the characters in the story from the ancient beings to the characters of royalty, to the rich and the poor and the group of ghouls and beasts of the underworld.
“Although marketed to the younger YA set, this is a rich story with broad appeal and is highly recommended for teens of all ages” (Koelling, H., 2009).
“Neil Gaiman's fantasies have entranced both younger readers and adults; this gothic fantasy, a coming-of-age story modeled after The Jungle Book and with slight nods to Harry Potter, will appeal to all ages. By juxtaposing the world of the dead with the world of the living, Gaiman creates a fantastical world where the thoughtful protagonist comes to understand the power of family as he experiences the fear, pains, confusions, and joys of growing up. Critics praised each illustrated chapter as its own little gem, with moments both tender and terrifying—and each equally exciting. The Graveyard Book is sure to become a book to last the ages” (Bookmarks, 2008).
f. Awards & recognitions –
** The Graveyard Book won the The John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature. (January 27, 2009)
** The Graveyard Book was on the New York Times children’s bestseller list for 53 consecutive weeks
4. Review Excerpts –
** "A child named Nobody, an assassin, a graveyard and the dead are the perfect combination in this deliciously creepy tale, which is sometimes humorous, sometimes haunting and sometimes surprising." -- Newbery Committee Chair Rose V. Treviño
** THE GRAVEYARD BOOK is endlessly inventive, masterfully told, and, like Bod himself, too clever to fit into only one place. This is a book for everyone. You will love it to death. -– Holly Black, co-creator of The Spiderwick Chronicles
** THE GRAVEYARD BOOK is everything everyone loves about Neil Gaiman, only multiplied many times over, a novel that showcases his effortless feel for narrative, his flawless instincts for suspense, and above all, his dark, almost silky sense of humor. -– Joe Hill, author of HEART-SHAPED BOX
** It takes a graveyard to raise a child. My favorite thing about this book was watching Bod grow up in his fine crumbly graveyard with his dead and living friends. THE GRAVEYARD BOOK is another surprising and terrific book from Neil Gaiman. -– Audrey Niffenegger, author of THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE
** THE GRAVEYARD BOOK manages the remarkable feat of playing delightful jazz riffs on Kipling’s classic Jungle Book. One might call this book a small jewel, but in fact it’s much bigger within than it looks from the outside. -– Peter S. Beagle, author of THE LAST UNICORN
** “After finishing THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, I had only one thought – I hope there’s more. I want to see more of the adventures of Nobody Owens, and there is no hight praise for this book.” -– Laurell K. Hamilton, author of the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series
** "This is, quite frankly, the best book Neil Gaiman has ever written. How he has managed to combine fascinating, friendly, frightening and fearsome in one fantasy I shall never know, but he has pulled it off magnificently - perfect for Halloween and any other time of the year." -- Diana Wynne Jones, author of The Chronicles of Chrestomanci
** "I wish my younger self could have had the opportunity to read and re-read this wonderful book, and my older self wishes that I had written it." -- Garth Nix, author of The Abhorsen Trilogy
** "This is an utterly captivating tale that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of ghostly characters. There is plenty of darkness, but the novel's ultimate message is strong and life affirming…this is a rich story with broad appeal." -- Booklist (starred review)
** "Wistful, witty, wise-and creepy. This needs to be read by anyone who is or has ever been a child." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
** "Like a bite of dark Halloween chocolate, this novel proves rich, bittersweet and very satisfying." -- Washington Post
** "THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, by turns exciting and witty, sinister and tender, shows Gaiman at the top of his form. In this novel of wonder, Neil Gaiman follows in the footsteps of long-ago storytellers, weaving a tale of unforgettable enchantment." -- New York Times Book Review
** "Lucid, evocative prose and dark fairy-tale motifs imbue the story with a dreamlike quality... this ghost-story-cum-coming-of-age-novel is as readable as it is accomplished." -- Horn Book (starred review)
5. Connections –
“Neil Gaiman is the author of many highly acclaimed and award-winning books for children and adults, including the New York Times bestseller Coraline. He is also the author of the picture books The Wolves in the Walls and The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, both illustrated by Dave McKean, Blueberry Girl, illustrated by Charles Vess, and The Dangerous Alphabet, illustrated by Gris Grimly. Among his many awards are the World Fantasy Award, the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, and the Bram Stoker Award. Originally from England, Gaiman now lives in the United States” (Jacketcover, 2008).
Some of Neil Gaiman’s books include:
** CORALINE
** M IS FOR MAGIC
** STARDUST
Other illustrated picture books by Neil Gaiman include:
** THE DANGEROUS ALPHABET
**MIRROR MASK
**THE WOLVES IN THE WALLS
**THE DAY I SWAPPED MY DAD FOR TWO GOLDFISH
Book Trailers:
Another thing that is fun to do with books is to make a book trailer to get others interested in reading the story. Here is an example of a book trailer for THE GRAVEYARD BOOK narrated by Neil Gaiman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_UUVwTaemk
Audio Book on CD:
THE GRAVEYARD BOOK is also available in audio form on CD. I listened to a few chapters as the story was narrated by Neil Gaiman himself, and I was curious to hear how the writer narrated his own book. It was very well read, but I found that I was not paying as much attention to the story as I should have been; so I decided that I better read it myself.
References
ALSC, (2009). ALA Newbery medal homepage – 2009 winner – the graveyard book, retrieved on November 18, 2009, from http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberymedal.cfm
Gaiman, N. (2008). THE GRAVEYARD BOOK. Ill. by Dave McKean. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children’s Books. ISBN: 978-0-06-053093-8
Geer, T., (2009) The graveyard book - website, retrieved on November 18, 2009, from http://www.thegraveyardbook.com/story/
Bloomsbury, (2009). U.K. Bloomsbury editions: the graveyard book, retrieved on November 18, 2009, from http://www.thegraveyardbook.com/bloomsbury-editions/
Amazon, (1996 – 2009). THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, retrieved on November 16, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0060530928/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Broadhead, H., (2009). Amazon.com review: The graveyard book, retrieved on November 16, 2009, from
http://www.amazon.com/Graveyard-Book-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0060530928/ref=dp_return_2?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Honig, M., (2009) School library journal: The graveyard book, retrieved on November 17, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/Graveyard-Book-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0060530928/ref=dp_return_2?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Koelling, H., (2009). Booklist - The graveyard book, retrieved on November 17, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0060530928/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Bookmarks Magazine, (2008). Bookmarks publishing: The graveyard book, retrieved on November 18, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0060530928/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Monday, November 9, 2009
Genre #5 Book Review #3 : Karen Cushman - THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE
1.Bibliography –
Cushman, K. (1995). THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN-10: 0-395-69229-6 / ISBN-13: 978-0395-69229-5
2. Plot Summary –
“In Medieval England, a nameless, homeless girl is taken in by a sharp-tempered midwife and, in spite of obstacles and hardship, eventually gains the three things she most wants: a full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world” (Cushman, K., 1995).
“With simplicity, wit, and humor, Cushman presents another tale of medieval England. Here readers follow the satisfying, literal and figurative journey of a homeless, nameless child called Brat, who might be 12 or 13? No one really knows. She wandered about in her early years, seeking food and any kind of refuge and, like many outsiders, gained a certain kind of wisdom about people and their ways. Still, life held little purpose beyond survival?until she meets the sharp-nosed, irritable local midwife, which is where this story begins. Jane takes her in, re-names her Beetle, and thinks of her as free labor and no competition. Always practical but initially timid, the girl expands in courage and self-awareness, acquiring a cat as a companion, naming herself Alyce, and gaining experience in the ways of midwifery. From the breathless delight of helping a boy to deliver twin calves, to the despair of failure during a difficult birth, to the triumph of a successful delivery, Alyce struggles to understand how she can allow herself to fail and yet have the determination to reach for her own place in the world. Alyce wins. Characters are sketched briefly but with telling, witty detail, and the very scents and sounds of the land and people's occupations fill each page as Alyce comes of age and heart. Earthy humor, the foibles of humans both high and low, and a fascinating mix of superstition and genuinely helpful herbal remedies attached to childbirth make this a truly delightful introduction to a world seldom seen in children's literature” (Miller, S., 1995).
“The Midwife's Apprentice is a deft historical novel of medieval England in which an impoverished girl hopelessly circumstanced becomes a worthy young adult learning the skills, craft, and lore of midwifery—for centuries a profession of critical importance for women about to give birth before medical doctors began to deliver babies. She achieves her position through courage, hard work, a feeling heart, and the ability to transform chance encounters into self-knowledge” (Bookrags, 2009).
3. Critical Analysis -
a. Characters –
The main characters in the story are: Our female protagonist Alyce (also known as Beetle, Brainless Brat, Dung Beetle, Clodpod, Good-for-Nothing, Idiot, Lackwit, Nitwit, Clodpole and Nincompoop), Jane Sharp (the stern Midwife), Edward (her sort-of-brother), Purr the Cat (Alyce’s companion), Magister Reese (the renowned scholar), Jennet (the innkeeper’s and John Dark’s wife), Will Russet (the red-haired boy she helps deliver calves with).
About our protagonist Alyce: “A girl of twelve or thirteen years begins The Midwife's Apprentice without mother, name, or home. She is a stranger to soft words who has known only curses, kicks, and blows. One would need to read widely to find a heroine on the verge of womanhood with a less promising future, yet by the end of the novel she has moved far beyond the desperate struggle just to survive and become a person who knows 'how to try and risk and fail and try again and not give up.’ She has put herself in position to learn everything about being a midwife— physical techniques, herbs, potions, superstitions, spells and charms— and, even more importantly, has unlocked her capacity for compassionate intelligence which will add the grace of tenderness to her future ministrations” (Bookrags, 2009).
Karen Cushman takes great strides in making her characters believable with their physical discriptions and personalities. She uses language appropriate to the times as well as the superstitions and activities that people would partake in back in Medieval times.
“The story takes place in medieval England. This time our protagonist is Alyce, who rises from the dung heap (literally) of homelessness and namelessness to find a station in life--apprentice to the crotchety, snaggletoothed midwife Jane Sharp. On Alyce's first solo outing as a midwife, she fails to deliver. Instead of facing her ignorance, Alyce chooses to run from failure--never a good choice” (Amazon, 2009).
b. Plot –
“Like Cushman's 1994 Newbery Honor Book, Catherine, Called Birdy, this novel is about a strong, young woman in medieval England who finds her own way home. Of course, it's a feminist story for the 1990s, but there's no anachronism. This is a world, like Chaucer's, that's neither sweet nor fair; it's rough, dangerous, primitive, and raucous. Cushman writes with a sharp simplicity and a pulsing beat. From the first page you're caught by the spirit of the homeless, nameless waif, somewhere around 12 years old, "unwashed, unnourished, unloved, and unlovely," trying to keep warm in a dung heap. She gets the village midwife, Jane Sharp, to take her in, befriends a cat, names herself Alyce, and learns something about delivering babies. When she fails, she runs away, but she picks herself up again and returns to work and independence. Only the episode about her caring for a homeless child seems contrived. The characters are drawn with zest and affection but no false reverence. The midwife is tough and greedy ("she did her job with energy and some skill, but without care, compassion, or joy"), her method somewhere between superstition, herbal lore, common sense, and bumbling; yet she's the one who finally helps Alyce to be brave. Kids will like this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she's not ugly or stupid or alone” (Rochman, H., 2009)
c. Setting –
The story takes place in Medieval England - in the village of the Midwife, in the dung heap, in the meadows, in the fields, on the bank near the river, the Manor where Edward stayed, and in the town where the inn known simply as John Dark’s place (which then became known as “The Cat and Cheese” Inn) was located.
“The Midwife's Apprentice takes place in the last years of the thirteenth or the first years of the fourteenth century.
This is not stated explicitly but is easily established by internal evidence.
References are made to ‘Summer Is Acoming In,’ a Middle English lyric written down in manuscript after 1240 and before 1310, and Edward Longshanks, the first of eight English Kings to bear that name, who reigned from 1272 to 1307” (Bookrags, 2009).
“From the first sentences the world of medieval England bursts to life not just as a physical landscape against which people struggle to survive but almost as a character in its own right: ‘When animal droppings and garbage and spoiled straw are piled up in a great heap, the rotting and moiling give forth heat. Usually no one gets close enough to notice because of the stench. But the girl noticed and, on that frosty night, burrowed deep into the warm, rotting muck, heedless of the smell….’.” (Bookrags, 2009).
d. Theme –
The human themes of self-respect, self-reflection and growth, as well as self-worth are all part of this story’s theme. Other themes that are apparent in this book are superstitions and consequences for breaking God’s rules (even if the Devil made you do it). These are all relevant themes today – however, they were brought about in this story to reflect the morals of the times and how the consequences were dealt with back then.
“THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE tells of a dirty, homeless girl in Medieval England who learns self-respect as well as midwifery in this short, excellent read aloud” (Vardell, S., p.180, 2008)
“Cushman treats an often perilous and brutal historical period with delicacy, touching on enough of the harshness of the age to bring it to vivid life but muting its cruelest aspects. It is always painful to contemplate filth, poverty, desperate lives of grinding labor, and the truly helpless—orphans, the homeless, and animals—but Cushman presents only what must be shown to be realistic, with all the rendered details put into the service of a moral story. This tale is also presented with adroit finesse. Thus the Midwife's Apprentice has very few social sensitivities that might cause offense; it could be produced as G rated movie without alteration. The few themes or situations that might be potentially objectionable are handled with calming discretion such as the illicit romance between the midwife and the married baker” (Bookrags, 2009).
e. Style –
The style of this book reflects the author’s voice and manner and captures the flavour of the times. Cushman captures the speech patterns of the era and creates a “human” story that just happens to be set in a previous historical time but whose message of self-growth, reflection and self-worth transcends time!
“The novel vividly depicts its historical period while engaging readers with a heartfelt story, one which should movingly appeal to a wide range of sensitive young adults. This emotional engagement is deeper than just the response to a colorful tale well-told; it is enriched because the novel illuminates universal truths of a kind young readers yearn to embrace” (Bookrags, 2009).
“Karen Cushman likes to write with her tongue firmly planted in her cheek, and her feisty female characters firmly planted in history. In The Midwife's Apprentice, which earned the 1996 Newbery Medal, this makes a winning combination for children and adult readers alike” (Amazon, 2009).
“Disappointingly, Cushman does not offer any hardships or internal wrestling to warrant Alyce's final epiphanies, and one of the book's climactic insights is when Alyce discovers that lo and behold she is actually pretty! Still, Cushman redeems her writing, as always, with historical accuracy, saucy dialogue, fast-paced action, and plucky, original characters that older readers will eagerly devour” (Amazon, 2009).
“In reviewing this 1996 Newbery winner, Publisher’s Weekly said that Cushman ‘has an almost unrivaled ability to build atmosphere, and her evocation of a medieval village, if not scholarly in its authenticity, is supremely colorful and pungent’.(Reed Business Information, Inc., 1996)” (Amazon, 2009).
“The Midwife's Apprentice is a fine book for young adults produced by many small artful strokes. There are no flourished displays of literary devices and techniques here, only the traditional storyteller's voice wellmodulated and perfectly pitched for its intended audience. Cushman's supple prose is excellent for brief descriptions of states of mind, individual people, and the natural world. An example of each will illustrate her descriptive dexterity. On Brat's pitiful longings when she is a homeless wretch at the beginning of the book: ‘.. . but dearly would she have loved to eat a turnip without the mud of the field still on it or sleep in a barn fragrant with new hay and not the rank smell of pigs who fart when they eat too much.’ On Magister Reese: ‘He was long and skinny as a heron, with black eyes in a face that looked sad, kindly, hungry, and cold’.” (Bookrags, 2009).
f. Additional criteria –
“Karen Cushman has a long-standing interest in history. She says, "I grew tired of hearing about kings, princes, generals and presidents. I wanted to know what life was like for ordinary young people in other times." Research into medieval English history and culture led to the writing of Catherine Called Birdy,winner of the 1995 Newbery Honor Award, and The Midwife's Apprentice, winner of the 1996 Newbery Medal. Her research moved in a new direction as she learned about nineteenth century women and children for The Ballad of Lucy Whipple”. (Amazon, 2009).
In the back of her book, Cushman writes her “Author’s Note” section where she discusses midwives as well as midwifery. “Medieval midwifery which was less than an honorable profession, mostly because it was practiced by and on women; was a combination of common sense, herbal knowledge, and superstition, passed from woman to woman through oral tradition and apprenticeship. Things were done the way they had long been done, with little innovation or progress, however this ‘women’s knowledge’ was considered reliable and valuable” (Cushman, p.119, 1995). With all of the details that Cushman adds to her story; one feels that it is a true depiction and accurate account of the medieval times.
g. Awards & recognitions –
• Winner, 1996 Newbery Medal
• New York Public Library 1995 List of Recommended Books
• Booklist for Youth Editor’s Choice 1995
• School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, 1995
• An American Bookseller Association Pick of the Lists, 1995
• A 1996 Notable Children’s Book (ALA)
• A 1996 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)
4. Review Excerpts –
"This novel is about a strong, young woman in medieval England who finds her own way home. . . . Kids will be caught up in this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she’s not ugly or stupid or alone." -- School Library Journal, Starred
"A fascinating view of a far distant time." -- The Horn Book (starred review)
“This appeared some time ago but deserves ongoing mention as an excellent story for kids ages 12 and up. An abandoned young girl barely surviving in 14th century England finds a new home with a midwife and studies to be an apprentice - but lack of confidence one day causes her to flee her newfound home and ambitions. Her struggle to return to a meaningful life and world makes for a realistic, absorbing story.” -- Midwest Book Review
5. Connections –
Other books available by Karen Cushman are:
** CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY
** THE BALLAD OF LUCY WHIPPLE
** MATILDA BONE
** RODZINA
“Related Titles:
Catherine, Called Birdy shares a host of attributes with The Midwife's Apprentice, so many that the second novel stands almost in the same relation to the first as do the two halves of a diptych: together they make up an entire world. Catherine, Called Birdy is the first-person diary account of a highborn thirteen-year-old girl of diminished means struggling to impose her will on the world around her of England in 1290-1291. The Midwife's Apprentice is the third-person story of a lowborn and impoverished thirteenyear-old girl who is trying to survive in the England of about 1300. The two novels touch on the high, the low, and almost all that lies between in this portion of the Middle Ages” (Bookrags, 2009).
“Ideas for Reports and Papers:
1. Research herbal medicines used in the Middle Ages and then write a study of which ones are still in use and for what purposes. Are some still used but for different illnesses? How accurate were medieval herbalists in the efficacy of their preparations?
2. Research animal husbandry in rural life. Pick several cultures in different time periods and compare their respective animal husbandry practices.
3. Rebecs, gitterns, and sackbuts are mentioned in the story. Research these and other medieval musical instruments. How were they built? Out of what materials? Which ones have modern descendants? Which ones have disappeared? Describe how a group of medieval instruments might have sounded and the effects this sound might have had on audiences.
4. Research medieval Saint's Days. Which ones were the most important and why?” (Bookrags, 2009).
“Topics for Discussion:
1. Does Alyce have a moral right to take revenge on those who have humiliated her? If so, to what degree? Is it ever right to take personal vengeance in the modern world? If so, in what circumstances and under what conditions?
2. Should Alyce protest the sharp practices, if not outright cheating, of the innkeeper's wife? Should Alyce try to deal honestly with the customers despite the example set by Jennet? Is Jennet's justification of her adulterated trade a good one? Would we today accept this explanation for goods or services purchased that was intentionally shorted by the seller?” (Bookrags, 2009).
Audio Book on CD:
I also listened to this book in audio format and found this review of it:
“From the first sentence, strains of music and the British accent of actress Charlotte Coleman transport the listener to the medieval world of Beetle, the midwife's newly adopted apprentice. Coleman's slightly nasal voice has an air of immaturity, which emphasizes the child's point of view in the third-person narration of this Newbery winner. The text is read at a lively pace with careful attention to the disdainful attitude of Jane Sharp, the midwife, and the innocent wonder of Beetle. Listeners will acquire knowledge about medieval life, birthing practices and herbs, both from the story and from the author interview, which is conducted by a young reader at the end” (Amazon, 2009).
References
Vardell, Sylvia. (2008). Children's literature in action: A librarian's guide. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.
Amazon, (1996 – 2009). The midwife’s apprentice, retrieved on November 9, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/Midwifes-Apprentice-Newbery-Medal-Book/dp/0395692296/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0
Miller, S., (1995). School library journal: The midwife’s apprentice, retrieved on November 9, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/006440630X/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Rochman, H., (2009). Booklist: The midwife’s apprentice, retrieved on November 9, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/006440630X/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Bookrags, (1999-2009). The midwife’s apprentice - overview, retrieved November 9, 2009, from http://www.bookrags.com/shortguide-midwifes-apprentice/
Cushman, K. (1995). THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN: 0-395-69229-6 / ISBN-13: 978-0395-69229-5
Cushman, K. (1995). THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN-10: 0-395-69229-6 / ISBN-13: 978-0395-69229-5
2. Plot Summary –
“In Medieval England, a nameless, homeless girl is taken in by a sharp-tempered midwife and, in spite of obstacles and hardship, eventually gains the three things she most wants: a full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world” (Cushman, K., 1995).
“With simplicity, wit, and humor, Cushman presents another tale of medieval England. Here readers follow the satisfying, literal and figurative journey of a homeless, nameless child called Brat, who might be 12 or 13? No one really knows. She wandered about in her early years, seeking food and any kind of refuge and, like many outsiders, gained a certain kind of wisdom about people and their ways. Still, life held little purpose beyond survival?until she meets the sharp-nosed, irritable local midwife, which is where this story begins. Jane takes her in, re-names her Beetle, and thinks of her as free labor and no competition. Always practical but initially timid, the girl expands in courage and self-awareness, acquiring a cat as a companion, naming herself Alyce, and gaining experience in the ways of midwifery. From the breathless delight of helping a boy to deliver twin calves, to the despair of failure during a difficult birth, to the triumph of a successful delivery, Alyce struggles to understand how she can allow herself to fail and yet have the determination to reach for her own place in the world. Alyce wins. Characters are sketched briefly but with telling, witty detail, and the very scents and sounds of the land and people's occupations fill each page as Alyce comes of age and heart. Earthy humor, the foibles of humans both high and low, and a fascinating mix of superstition and genuinely helpful herbal remedies attached to childbirth make this a truly delightful introduction to a world seldom seen in children's literature” (Miller, S., 1995).
“The Midwife's Apprentice is a deft historical novel of medieval England in which an impoverished girl hopelessly circumstanced becomes a worthy young adult learning the skills, craft, and lore of midwifery—for centuries a profession of critical importance for women about to give birth before medical doctors began to deliver babies. She achieves her position through courage, hard work, a feeling heart, and the ability to transform chance encounters into self-knowledge” (Bookrags, 2009).
3. Critical Analysis -
a. Characters –
The main characters in the story are: Our female protagonist Alyce (also known as Beetle, Brainless Brat, Dung Beetle, Clodpod, Good-for-Nothing, Idiot, Lackwit, Nitwit, Clodpole and Nincompoop), Jane Sharp (the stern Midwife), Edward (her sort-of-brother), Purr the Cat (Alyce’s companion), Magister Reese (the renowned scholar), Jennet (the innkeeper’s and John Dark’s wife), Will Russet (the red-haired boy she helps deliver calves with).
About our protagonist Alyce: “A girl of twelve or thirteen years begins The Midwife's Apprentice without mother, name, or home. She is a stranger to soft words who has known only curses, kicks, and blows. One would need to read widely to find a heroine on the verge of womanhood with a less promising future, yet by the end of the novel she has moved far beyond the desperate struggle just to survive and become a person who knows 'how to try and risk and fail and try again and not give up.’ She has put herself in position to learn everything about being a midwife— physical techniques, herbs, potions, superstitions, spells and charms— and, even more importantly, has unlocked her capacity for compassionate intelligence which will add the grace of tenderness to her future ministrations” (Bookrags, 2009).
Karen Cushman takes great strides in making her characters believable with their physical discriptions and personalities. She uses language appropriate to the times as well as the superstitions and activities that people would partake in back in Medieval times.
“The story takes place in medieval England. This time our protagonist is Alyce, who rises from the dung heap (literally) of homelessness and namelessness to find a station in life--apprentice to the crotchety, snaggletoothed midwife Jane Sharp. On Alyce's first solo outing as a midwife, she fails to deliver. Instead of facing her ignorance, Alyce chooses to run from failure--never a good choice” (Amazon, 2009).
b. Plot –
“Like Cushman's 1994 Newbery Honor Book, Catherine, Called Birdy, this novel is about a strong, young woman in medieval England who finds her own way home. Of course, it's a feminist story for the 1990s, but there's no anachronism. This is a world, like Chaucer's, that's neither sweet nor fair; it's rough, dangerous, primitive, and raucous. Cushman writes with a sharp simplicity and a pulsing beat. From the first page you're caught by the spirit of the homeless, nameless waif, somewhere around 12 years old, "unwashed, unnourished, unloved, and unlovely," trying to keep warm in a dung heap. She gets the village midwife, Jane Sharp, to take her in, befriends a cat, names herself Alyce, and learns something about delivering babies. When she fails, she runs away, but she picks herself up again and returns to work and independence. Only the episode about her caring for a homeless child seems contrived. The characters are drawn with zest and affection but no false reverence. The midwife is tough and greedy ("she did her job with energy and some skill, but without care, compassion, or joy"), her method somewhere between superstition, herbal lore, common sense, and bumbling; yet she's the one who finally helps Alyce to be brave. Kids will like this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she's not ugly or stupid or alone” (Rochman, H., 2009)
c. Setting –
The story takes place in Medieval England - in the village of the Midwife, in the dung heap, in the meadows, in the fields, on the bank near the river, the Manor where Edward stayed, and in the town where the inn known simply as John Dark’s place (which then became known as “The Cat and Cheese” Inn) was located.
“The Midwife's Apprentice takes place in the last years of the thirteenth or the first years of the fourteenth century.
This is not stated explicitly but is easily established by internal evidence.
References are made to ‘Summer Is Acoming In,’ a Middle English lyric written down in manuscript after 1240 and before 1310, and Edward Longshanks, the first of eight English Kings to bear that name, who reigned from 1272 to 1307” (Bookrags, 2009).
“From the first sentences the world of medieval England bursts to life not just as a physical landscape against which people struggle to survive but almost as a character in its own right: ‘When animal droppings and garbage and spoiled straw are piled up in a great heap, the rotting and moiling give forth heat. Usually no one gets close enough to notice because of the stench. But the girl noticed and, on that frosty night, burrowed deep into the warm, rotting muck, heedless of the smell….’.” (Bookrags, 2009).
d. Theme –
The human themes of self-respect, self-reflection and growth, as well as self-worth are all part of this story’s theme. Other themes that are apparent in this book are superstitions and consequences for breaking God’s rules (even if the Devil made you do it). These are all relevant themes today – however, they were brought about in this story to reflect the morals of the times and how the consequences were dealt with back then.
“THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE tells of a dirty, homeless girl in Medieval England who learns self-respect as well as midwifery in this short, excellent read aloud” (Vardell, S., p.180, 2008)
“Cushman treats an often perilous and brutal historical period with delicacy, touching on enough of the harshness of the age to bring it to vivid life but muting its cruelest aspects. It is always painful to contemplate filth, poverty, desperate lives of grinding labor, and the truly helpless—orphans, the homeless, and animals—but Cushman presents only what must be shown to be realistic, with all the rendered details put into the service of a moral story. This tale is also presented with adroit finesse. Thus the Midwife's Apprentice has very few social sensitivities that might cause offense; it could be produced as G rated movie without alteration. The few themes or situations that might be potentially objectionable are handled with calming discretion such as the illicit romance between the midwife and the married baker” (Bookrags, 2009).
e. Style –
The style of this book reflects the author’s voice and manner and captures the flavour of the times. Cushman captures the speech patterns of the era and creates a “human” story that just happens to be set in a previous historical time but whose message of self-growth, reflection and self-worth transcends time!
“The novel vividly depicts its historical period while engaging readers with a heartfelt story, one which should movingly appeal to a wide range of sensitive young adults. This emotional engagement is deeper than just the response to a colorful tale well-told; it is enriched because the novel illuminates universal truths of a kind young readers yearn to embrace” (Bookrags, 2009).
“Karen Cushman likes to write with her tongue firmly planted in her cheek, and her feisty female characters firmly planted in history. In The Midwife's Apprentice, which earned the 1996 Newbery Medal, this makes a winning combination for children and adult readers alike” (Amazon, 2009).
“Disappointingly, Cushman does not offer any hardships or internal wrestling to warrant Alyce's final epiphanies, and one of the book's climactic insights is when Alyce discovers that lo and behold she is actually pretty! Still, Cushman redeems her writing, as always, with historical accuracy, saucy dialogue, fast-paced action, and plucky, original characters that older readers will eagerly devour” (Amazon, 2009).
“In reviewing this 1996 Newbery winner, Publisher’s Weekly said that Cushman ‘has an almost unrivaled ability to build atmosphere, and her evocation of a medieval village, if not scholarly in its authenticity, is supremely colorful and pungent’.(Reed Business Information, Inc., 1996)” (Amazon, 2009).
“The Midwife's Apprentice is a fine book for young adults produced by many small artful strokes. There are no flourished displays of literary devices and techniques here, only the traditional storyteller's voice wellmodulated and perfectly pitched for its intended audience. Cushman's supple prose is excellent for brief descriptions of states of mind, individual people, and the natural world. An example of each will illustrate her descriptive dexterity. On Brat's pitiful longings when she is a homeless wretch at the beginning of the book: ‘.. . but dearly would she have loved to eat a turnip without the mud of the field still on it or sleep in a barn fragrant with new hay and not the rank smell of pigs who fart when they eat too much.’ On Magister Reese: ‘He was long and skinny as a heron, with black eyes in a face that looked sad, kindly, hungry, and cold’.” (Bookrags, 2009).
f. Additional criteria –
“Karen Cushman has a long-standing interest in history. She says, "I grew tired of hearing about kings, princes, generals and presidents. I wanted to know what life was like for ordinary young people in other times." Research into medieval English history and culture led to the writing of Catherine Called Birdy,winner of the 1995 Newbery Honor Award, and The Midwife's Apprentice, winner of the 1996 Newbery Medal. Her research moved in a new direction as she learned about nineteenth century women and children for The Ballad of Lucy Whipple”. (Amazon, 2009).
In the back of her book, Cushman writes her “Author’s Note” section where she discusses midwives as well as midwifery. “Medieval midwifery which was less than an honorable profession, mostly because it was practiced by and on women; was a combination of common sense, herbal knowledge, and superstition, passed from woman to woman through oral tradition and apprenticeship. Things were done the way they had long been done, with little innovation or progress, however this ‘women’s knowledge’ was considered reliable and valuable” (Cushman, p.119, 1995). With all of the details that Cushman adds to her story; one feels that it is a true depiction and accurate account of the medieval times.
g. Awards & recognitions –
• Winner, 1996 Newbery Medal
• New York Public Library 1995 List of Recommended Books
• Booklist for Youth Editor’s Choice 1995
• School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, 1995
• An American Bookseller Association Pick of the Lists, 1995
• A 1996 Notable Children’s Book (ALA)
• A 1996 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)
4. Review Excerpts –
"This novel is about a strong, young woman in medieval England who finds her own way home. . . . Kids will be caught up in this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she’s not ugly or stupid or alone." -- School Library Journal, Starred
"A fascinating view of a far distant time." -- The Horn Book (starred review)
“This appeared some time ago but deserves ongoing mention as an excellent story for kids ages 12 and up. An abandoned young girl barely surviving in 14th century England finds a new home with a midwife and studies to be an apprentice - but lack of confidence one day causes her to flee her newfound home and ambitions. Her struggle to return to a meaningful life and world makes for a realistic, absorbing story.” -- Midwest Book Review
5. Connections –
Other books available by Karen Cushman are:
** CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY
** THE BALLAD OF LUCY WHIPPLE
** MATILDA BONE
** RODZINA
“Related Titles:
Catherine, Called Birdy shares a host of attributes with The Midwife's Apprentice, so many that the second novel stands almost in the same relation to the first as do the two halves of a diptych: together they make up an entire world. Catherine, Called Birdy is the first-person diary account of a highborn thirteen-year-old girl of diminished means struggling to impose her will on the world around her of England in 1290-1291. The Midwife's Apprentice is the third-person story of a lowborn and impoverished thirteenyear-old girl who is trying to survive in the England of about 1300. The two novels touch on the high, the low, and almost all that lies between in this portion of the Middle Ages” (Bookrags, 2009).
“Ideas for Reports and Papers:
1. Research herbal medicines used in the Middle Ages and then write a study of which ones are still in use and for what purposes. Are some still used but for different illnesses? How accurate were medieval herbalists in the efficacy of their preparations?
2. Research animal husbandry in rural life. Pick several cultures in different time periods and compare their respective animal husbandry practices.
3. Rebecs, gitterns, and sackbuts are mentioned in the story. Research these and other medieval musical instruments. How were they built? Out of what materials? Which ones have modern descendants? Which ones have disappeared? Describe how a group of medieval instruments might have sounded and the effects this sound might have had on audiences.
4. Research medieval Saint's Days. Which ones were the most important and why?” (Bookrags, 2009).
“Topics for Discussion:
1. Does Alyce have a moral right to take revenge on those who have humiliated her? If so, to what degree? Is it ever right to take personal vengeance in the modern world? If so, in what circumstances and under what conditions?
2. Should Alyce protest the sharp practices, if not outright cheating, of the innkeeper's wife? Should Alyce try to deal honestly with the customers despite the example set by Jennet? Is Jennet's justification of her adulterated trade a good one? Would we today accept this explanation for goods or services purchased that was intentionally shorted by the seller?” (Bookrags, 2009).
Audio Book on CD:
I also listened to this book in audio format and found this review of it:
“From the first sentence, strains of music and the British accent of actress Charlotte Coleman transport the listener to the medieval world of Beetle, the midwife's newly adopted apprentice. Coleman's slightly nasal voice has an air of immaturity, which emphasizes the child's point of view in the third-person narration of this Newbery winner. The text is read at a lively pace with careful attention to the disdainful attitude of Jane Sharp, the midwife, and the innocent wonder of Beetle. Listeners will acquire knowledge about medieval life, birthing practices and herbs, both from the story and from the author interview, which is conducted by a young reader at the end” (Amazon, 2009).
References
Vardell, Sylvia. (2008). Children's literature in action: A librarian's guide. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.
Amazon, (1996 – 2009). The midwife’s apprentice, retrieved on November 9, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/Midwifes-Apprentice-Newbery-Medal-Book/dp/0395692296/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0
Miller, S., (1995). School library journal: The midwife’s apprentice, retrieved on November 9, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/006440630X/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Rochman, H., (2009). Booklist: The midwife’s apprentice, retrieved on November 9, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/006440630X/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Bookrags, (1999-2009). The midwife’s apprentice - overview, retrieved November 9, 2009, from http://www.bookrags.com/shortguide-midwifes-apprentice/
Cushman, K. (1995). THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN: 0-395-69229-6 / ISBN-13: 978-0395-69229-5
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Genre #5 Book Review #2 : Richard Peck - THE RIVER BETWEEN US
1.Bibliography –
Peck, Richard. 2003. THE RIVER BETWEEN US. New York, NY: Dial Books. ISBN-10: 0-8037-2d735-6 / ISBN-13: 978-0803727359
2. Plot Summary –
“This historical novel set at the beginning of the Civil War actually opens in 1916, as 15-year-old Howard Leland Hutchings recounts his trip in a Model T to visit his father's childhood home in Grand Tower, IL. When he and his younger brothers meet the four elderly people who raised their father, the novel shifts to 1861, and the narrator shifts to 15-year-old Tilly Pruitt, the boys' grandmother. When a steamboat from New Orleans brings two mysterious young ladies, Mama offers them room and board, and the Pruitts' lives are forever changed. Fair and beautiful Delphine Duval, with her fancy dresses and high-society ways, fascinates the family. And what of Calinda, the darker-skinned young woman? Could she be Delphine's slave? On the eve of his 16th birthday, Tilly's twin brother, Noah, leaves to join the Union troops at Camp Defiance and Mama, distraught, sends Tilly and Delphine to bring him home. It is here that Tilly learns of Delphine's heritage. She is a quadroon, part of the colored family of a rich white man. Her mother sent her daughters away from New Orleans, hoping Delphine can pass for white. The novel ends with a return to 1916 and Howard's finding out his father's true parentage. In this thoroughly researched novel, Peck masterfully describes the female Civil War experience, the subtle and not-too-subtle ways the country was changing, and the split in loyalty that separated towns and even families. Although the book deals with some weighty themes, it is not without humor. A scene involving strapping on a corset is worthy of Grandma Dowdel herself” (Burns, C., 2003).
3. Critical Analysis -
a. Characters –
The main characters in THE RIVER BETWEEN US are the Pruitt family that consists of Mama, the twins Tilly and Noah, little sister Cass, the mysterious New Orlean’s visitors Delphine Duval and Calinda, Dr. William Hutchings Sr.; and in the beginning and ending of the story we are introduced to Dr. William Hutchings Jr., and his sons Howard Leland Hutchings, and little twin brothers Raymond and Earl.
“The actions of the characters are very realistic. Customs from New Orleans are described through Delphine’s and Calinda’s characters. For example, the issue of race and laws preventing interracial marriages are discussed. Cass’ visions and Calinda’s card reading add to the mystery of the novel. The characters come from a variety of backgrounds and family structures” (Library Thing).
b. Plot –
“The plot is strong, interesting, and believable” (Library Thing, 2009).
The plot of the story actually sees the fusing of two stories in one – two plots coming together in a unique and wonderful way! The first story finds Dr. William Hutchings Jr. and his three sons traveling in their Model Ford T Touring Car in 1916 to their homeplace in Grand Tower where Dr. Hutchings’s family still lived. Then we are transported to 1861 and are given the history of his family through Tilly Pruitt’s eyes and the Civil War era that they lived through; and how the visitors from New Orleans came to live there too. The end of the story brings us back to 1916 and concludes with Dr. Hutchings Jr. talking to his eldest son on their return trip back to St. Louis, in which time we find out the twist in his family’s story!
“The Southerners need lodging and Mrs. Pruitt needs money, so a business deal is struck. But, while the duo brings excitement to the Pruitt family, their guests also bring mystery and controversy. Is Delphine a spy? Is Calinda her slave? Why aren’t they moving on to St. Louis as originally planned? When an attraction develops between Noah Pruitt and Delphine, everyone in town seems to know. The intrigue of the guests’ identities merges with the outbreak of war to affect the future in ways none of them expect” (Albion, M., 2005).
c. Setting –
The setting for THE RIVER BETWEEN US is the small town of Grand Tower, IL., at the beginning of the Civil War. The banks of the Mississippi River that runs from New Orleans to St. Louis as well as the city of Cairo are also key to the story:
“The story takes place in 1916 when Tilly begins telling her family history from 1861. The setting and time periods are described through the actions of the characters. The steamboats and the trains as well as the descriptions of the characters’ clothes and activities allow the reader to understand life in 1861. The story is built around life during the Civil War. The harsh realities of war and its effect on families in this novel are convincing to the reader” (Library Thing, 2009).
“Richard Peck is a master of stories about people in transition, but perhaps never before has he told a tale of such dramatic change as this one, set during the first year of the Civil War. The whole country is changing in 1861-even the folks from a muddy little Illinois settlement on the banks of the Mississippi” (Amazon).
d. Theme –
In this story, “fifteen-year-old Tilly Pruitt frets over the fact that her brother is dreaming of being a soldier and that her sister is prone to supernatural visions. A boy named Curry could possibly become a distraction. Then a steamboat whistle splits the air. The Rob Roy from New Orleans docks at the landing, and off the boat step two remarkable figures: a vibrant, commanding young lady in a rustling hoop skirt and a darker, silent woman in a plain cloak, with a bandanna wrapped around her head. Who are these two fascinating strangers? And is the darker woman a slave, standing now on the free soil of Illinois? When Tilly's mother invites the women to board at her house, the whole world shifts for the Pruitts and for their visitors as well” (Amazon, 2009).
e. Style –
“Within a page-turning tale of mystery, adventure, and the civilian Civil War experience, Richard Peck has spun a breathtaking portrait of the lifelong impact that one person can have on another. This is a novel of countless riches” (Amazon, 2009).
“Peck's spare writing has never been more eloquent than in this powerful mystery in which personal secrets drive the plot and reveal the history. True to Tilly's first-person narrative, each sentence is a scrappy, melancholy, wry evocation of character, time, and place, and only the character of Delphine's companion, Calinda, comes close to stereotype. A final historical note and a framing device--a grandson writing 50 years after the story takes place--make the reading even better, the revelations more astonishing. It's a riveting story that shows racism everywhere and young people facing war, not sure what side to be on or why” (Rochman, H., 2003).
“As The River Between Us demonstrates, you can’t go wrong with a Richard Peck book. It’s no accident that the author of thirty novels has achieved the Newbery Medal, a Newbery Honor, a National Humanities Medal and scores of other accolades. His books for young people always challenge, never condescend. Masterfully crafted plots grab the reader and plant them firmly in a place and time. His characters are complex, interesting and always human, struggling with history, personal relationships and themselves. The plot lines may twist and turn, but they always bring the reader to a surprising and ultimately extraordinary conclusion. The River Between Us further enhances Peck’s reputation and leaves us all asking when his next book will hit the shelves” (Albion, M., 2005).
f. Additional criteria –
“Conversation is also used to understand the characters. In describing Delphine, Grandma Tilly’s mother told Tilly, “She put some starch in my spine.” In addition changes were seen in Tilly and Cass after the arrival of the mysterious ladies. The reader also noticed a change in Noah and Dr. Hutchings after the Civil War. The dialogue was suited to the time period. Words like et and seegars were used. Delphine, who was from New Orleans, used French terms. The mystery was not solved until the end of the novel. Townspeople thought that Delphine and Calinda were spies. The ghost story was presented at the beginning of the book. However, it was not until the end of the novel before everything came together. The point of view allowed a young person to understand family, customs, and the effects and harsh conditions of the Civil War. The split between the North and the South and the turmoil that families faced are evident in this novel. A surprise ending of Howard finding information about his real grandparents helped the reader understand the serious laws of the time. A River Between Us is a great story woven around the events of the Civil War” (Library Thing, 2009).
At the end of the book, there is a note on the story where Mr. Peck talks about the history that he researched that went into making this book more true to life, adding real historical details to make it more authentic. He is quoted by saying:
“Researching the Civil War is enough to swamp any novelist’s boat. That war remains the pivot on which all American history turns. It ground on for four endless years, raging on a thousand fronts. I could have spent the rest of my life researching that time. People do. But I had to carve out a place for my young characters to stand.
Because it’s a story of two mysterious young women who come north from New Orleans, the focus of the story is upon the war on the Mississippi River. Since they needed a northern destination, I borrowed the hometown of my friend Richard Hughes, because all of my stories are set in real places” (Peck, R., P. 159, 2003).
g. Awards & recognitions –
Richard Peck has won almost every children's fiction award, including the Newbery Medal, and he has recently received a National Humanities Medal from the White House.
THE RIVER BETWEEN US has been recognized with the following awards:
• National Book Award: Finalist
• Scott O'Dell Award
• ALA Notable Book
• ALA Best Book for Young Adults
• Riverbank Review Children's Books of Distinction
• Booklist Editor's Choice
• NYPL's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
• IRA Book Award
• Book Sense 76 Top Ten Selection
• Parents' Choice Award
“Richard Peck is the first children’s writer to have been awarded a National Humanities Medal. The author of 30 novels, he has also won the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in young-adult literature, the Newbery Medal (for A Year Down Yonder), a Newbery Honor (for A Long Way from Chicago), and numerous other awards and honors. His most recent book, Fair Weather, was included on more than a dozen best-of-the-year lists” (Teacher Scholastic, 2009).
4. Review Excerpts –
** A rich tale full of magic, mystery, and surprise. -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
** Historical fiction fans should enter this at the top of the must-read list. -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review
** Peck reaches new depth with this Civil War-era novel. . . -- Publishers Weekly, starred review
** The harsh realities of war are brutally related in a complex, always surprising plot that resonates on multiple levels. -- The Horn Book, starred review
** This unusual Civil War novel really boosts Peck's credentials as America's best living author for young adults. -- The Washington Post
** Unforgettable characters and handsome prose make this book one you won't want to miss. -- Children's Literature --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
** It's a riveting story that shows racism everywhere and young people facing war, not sure what side to be on or why. -- Booklist, starred review
** Historical fiction fans should enter this at the top of the must-read list. --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review
5. Connections –
Richard Peck is a brilliant award winning author and has many books credited to his name. Some of his other literary works are the following:
• DON’T LOOK AND IT WON’T HURT
• DREAMLAND LAKE
• THROUGH A BRIEF DARKNESS
• REPRESENTING SUPER DOLL
• THE GHOST BELONGED TO ME
• ARE YOU IN THE HOUSE ALONE?
• GHOSTS I HAVE BEEN
• FATHER FIGURE
• SECRETS OF THE SHOPPING MALL
• CLOSE ENOUGH TO TOUCH
• THE DREADFUL FUTURE OF BLOSSOM CULP
• REMEMBERING THE GOOD TIMES
• BLOSSOMS CULP AND THE SLEEP OF DEATH
• PRINCESS ASHLEY
• THOSE SUMMER GIRLS I NEVER MET
• VOICES AFTER MIDNIGHT
• UNFINISHED PORTRAIT OF JESSICA
• BEL-AIR BAMBI AND THE MALL RATS
• THE LAST SAFE PLACE ON EARTH
• LOST IN CYBERSPACE
• THE GREAT INTERACTIVE DREAM MACHINE
• STRAYS LIKE US
• A LONG WAY FROM CHICAGO
• AMANDA / MIRANDA
• A YEAR DOWN YONDER
• FAIR WEATHER
• INVITATIONS TO THE WORLD
“In the classroom a teacher could use the book to support information on the history of the different people during the Civil War time. The children could discuss the difference in how they fix their meals, how their houses have indoor plumbing, and how they are entertained at theatres in contrast to the life style during the time period of the book. The teacher could use the book to support a lesson on the origin of many of the old folk songs. The children could be taught a song from the time period of the book and then asked to tell what they think the song meant during the Civil War period” (Library Thing, 2009).
** “For companion books, see ‘Civil War--An Update’ in the September 2003 issue of Book Links” (Rochman, H.).
Audio Book -
I also listened to this book in CD format. I found it very enjoyable to listen to. My daughter even enjoyed listening to it in the car to and from school. I still however prefer to read a story by myself; but in this case, I did like hearing the different accents of the characters - for example, Delphine's French accent and Tilly's poor English. I also enjoyed hearing the many French words that Delphine spoke, as well as listening to the different songs that the book presented.
References
Amazon. (1996-2009). THE RIVER BETWEEN US, retrieved on November 6, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0803727356/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Burns, C. (2003). Amazon - school library journal, retrieved on November 7, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/River-Between-Us-Richard-Peck/dp/0803727356/ref=dp_return_2?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Rochman, H. (2003). Amazon – booklist, retrieved on November 8, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/River-Between-Us-Richard-Peck/dp/0803727356/ref=dp_return_2?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Teacher Scholastic. (2009). Book circle: The river between us, retrieved on November 8, 2009, from http://teacher.scholastic.com/clubs/pdfs/riverbetweenus_t.pdf
Peck, Richard. 2003. THE RIVER BETWEEN US. New York, NY: Dial Books. ISBN-10: 0-8037-2d735-6 / ISBN-13: 978-0803727359
Albion, M. (2005). The five owls review: The river between us, retrieved on November 8, 2009, from http://www.fiveowls.com/reviews/river.htm
Library Thing. (2009). The river between us, retrieved on November 8, 2009, from http://www.librarything.com/work/113890
Peck, Richard. 2003. THE RIVER BETWEEN US. New York, NY: Dial Books. ISBN-10: 0-8037-2d735-6 / ISBN-13: 978-0803727359
2. Plot Summary –
“This historical novel set at the beginning of the Civil War actually opens in 1916, as 15-year-old Howard Leland Hutchings recounts his trip in a Model T to visit his father's childhood home in Grand Tower, IL. When he and his younger brothers meet the four elderly people who raised their father, the novel shifts to 1861, and the narrator shifts to 15-year-old Tilly Pruitt, the boys' grandmother. When a steamboat from New Orleans brings two mysterious young ladies, Mama offers them room and board, and the Pruitts' lives are forever changed. Fair and beautiful Delphine Duval, with her fancy dresses and high-society ways, fascinates the family. And what of Calinda, the darker-skinned young woman? Could she be Delphine's slave? On the eve of his 16th birthday, Tilly's twin brother, Noah, leaves to join the Union troops at Camp Defiance and Mama, distraught, sends Tilly and Delphine to bring him home. It is here that Tilly learns of Delphine's heritage. She is a quadroon, part of the colored family of a rich white man. Her mother sent her daughters away from New Orleans, hoping Delphine can pass for white. The novel ends with a return to 1916 and Howard's finding out his father's true parentage. In this thoroughly researched novel, Peck masterfully describes the female Civil War experience, the subtle and not-too-subtle ways the country was changing, and the split in loyalty that separated towns and even families. Although the book deals with some weighty themes, it is not without humor. A scene involving strapping on a corset is worthy of Grandma Dowdel herself” (Burns, C., 2003).
3. Critical Analysis -
a. Characters –
The main characters in THE RIVER BETWEEN US are the Pruitt family that consists of Mama, the twins Tilly and Noah, little sister Cass, the mysterious New Orlean’s visitors Delphine Duval and Calinda, Dr. William Hutchings Sr.; and in the beginning and ending of the story we are introduced to Dr. William Hutchings Jr., and his sons Howard Leland Hutchings, and little twin brothers Raymond and Earl.
“The actions of the characters are very realistic. Customs from New Orleans are described through Delphine’s and Calinda’s characters. For example, the issue of race and laws preventing interracial marriages are discussed. Cass’ visions and Calinda’s card reading add to the mystery of the novel. The characters come from a variety of backgrounds and family structures” (Library Thing).
b. Plot –
“The plot is strong, interesting, and believable” (Library Thing, 2009).
The plot of the story actually sees the fusing of two stories in one – two plots coming together in a unique and wonderful way! The first story finds Dr. William Hutchings Jr. and his three sons traveling in their Model Ford T Touring Car in 1916 to their homeplace in Grand Tower where Dr. Hutchings’s family still lived. Then we are transported to 1861 and are given the history of his family through Tilly Pruitt’s eyes and the Civil War era that they lived through; and how the visitors from New Orleans came to live there too. The end of the story brings us back to 1916 and concludes with Dr. Hutchings Jr. talking to his eldest son on their return trip back to St. Louis, in which time we find out the twist in his family’s story!
“The Southerners need lodging and Mrs. Pruitt needs money, so a business deal is struck. But, while the duo brings excitement to the Pruitt family, their guests also bring mystery and controversy. Is Delphine a spy? Is Calinda her slave? Why aren’t they moving on to St. Louis as originally planned? When an attraction develops between Noah Pruitt and Delphine, everyone in town seems to know. The intrigue of the guests’ identities merges with the outbreak of war to affect the future in ways none of them expect” (Albion, M., 2005).
c. Setting –
The setting for THE RIVER BETWEEN US is the small town of Grand Tower, IL., at the beginning of the Civil War. The banks of the Mississippi River that runs from New Orleans to St. Louis as well as the city of Cairo are also key to the story:
“The story takes place in 1916 when Tilly begins telling her family history from 1861. The setting and time periods are described through the actions of the characters. The steamboats and the trains as well as the descriptions of the characters’ clothes and activities allow the reader to understand life in 1861. The story is built around life during the Civil War. The harsh realities of war and its effect on families in this novel are convincing to the reader” (Library Thing, 2009).
“Richard Peck is a master of stories about people in transition, but perhaps never before has he told a tale of such dramatic change as this one, set during the first year of the Civil War. The whole country is changing in 1861-even the folks from a muddy little Illinois settlement on the banks of the Mississippi” (Amazon).
d. Theme –
In this story, “fifteen-year-old Tilly Pruitt frets over the fact that her brother is dreaming of being a soldier and that her sister is prone to supernatural visions. A boy named Curry could possibly become a distraction. Then a steamboat whistle splits the air. The Rob Roy from New Orleans docks at the landing, and off the boat step two remarkable figures: a vibrant, commanding young lady in a rustling hoop skirt and a darker, silent woman in a plain cloak, with a bandanna wrapped around her head. Who are these two fascinating strangers? And is the darker woman a slave, standing now on the free soil of Illinois? When Tilly's mother invites the women to board at her house, the whole world shifts for the Pruitts and for their visitors as well” (Amazon, 2009).
e. Style –
“Within a page-turning tale of mystery, adventure, and the civilian Civil War experience, Richard Peck has spun a breathtaking portrait of the lifelong impact that one person can have on another. This is a novel of countless riches” (Amazon, 2009).
“Peck's spare writing has never been more eloquent than in this powerful mystery in which personal secrets drive the plot and reveal the history. True to Tilly's first-person narrative, each sentence is a scrappy, melancholy, wry evocation of character, time, and place, and only the character of Delphine's companion, Calinda, comes close to stereotype. A final historical note and a framing device--a grandson writing 50 years after the story takes place--make the reading even better, the revelations more astonishing. It's a riveting story that shows racism everywhere and young people facing war, not sure what side to be on or why” (Rochman, H., 2003).
“As The River Between Us demonstrates, you can’t go wrong with a Richard Peck book. It’s no accident that the author of thirty novels has achieved the Newbery Medal, a Newbery Honor, a National Humanities Medal and scores of other accolades. His books for young people always challenge, never condescend. Masterfully crafted plots grab the reader and plant them firmly in a place and time. His characters are complex, interesting and always human, struggling with history, personal relationships and themselves. The plot lines may twist and turn, but they always bring the reader to a surprising and ultimately extraordinary conclusion. The River Between Us further enhances Peck’s reputation and leaves us all asking when his next book will hit the shelves” (Albion, M., 2005).
f. Additional criteria –
“Conversation is also used to understand the characters. In describing Delphine, Grandma Tilly’s mother told Tilly, “She put some starch in my spine.” In addition changes were seen in Tilly and Cass after the arrival of the mysterious ladies. The reader also noticed a change in Noah and Dr. Hutchings after the Civil War. The dialogue was suited to the time period. Words like et and seegars were used. Delphine, who was from New Orleans, used French terms. The mystery was not solved until the end of the novel. Townspeople thought that Delphine and Calinda were spies. The ghost story was presented at the beginning of the book. However, it was not until the end of the novel before everything came together. The point of view allowed a young person to understand family, customs, and the effects and harsh conditions of the Civil War. The split between the North and the South and the turmoil that families faced are evident in this novel. A surprise ending of Howard finding information about his real grandparents helped the reader understand the serious laws of the time. A River Between Us is a great story woven around the events of the Civil War” (Library Thing, 2009).
At the end of the book, there is a note on the story where Mr. Peck talks about the history that he researched that went into making this book more true to life, adding real historical details to make it more authentic. He is quoted by saying:
“Researching the Civil War is enough to swamp any novelist’s boat. That war remains the pivot on which all American history turns. It ground on for four endless years, raging on a thousand fronts. I could have spent the rest of my life researching that time. People do. But I had to carve out a place for my young characters to stand.
Because it’s a story of two mysterious young women who come north from New Orleans, the focus of the story is upon the war on the Mississippi River. Since they needed a northern destination, I borrowed the hometown of my friend Richard Hughes, because all of my stories are set in real places” (Peck, R., P. 159, 2003).
g. Awards & recognitions –
Richard Peck has won almost every children's fiction award, including the Newbery Medal, and he has recently received a National Humanities Medal from the White House.
THE RIVER BETWEEN US has been recognized with the following awards:
• National Book Award: Finalist
• Scott O'Dell Award
• ALA Notable Book
• ALA Best Book for Young Adults
• Riverbank Review Children's Books of Distinction
• Booklist Editor's Choice
• NYPL's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
• IRA Book Award
• Book Sense 76 Top Ten Selection
• Parents' Choice Award
“Richard Peck is the first children’s writer to have been awarded a National Humanities Medal. The author of 30 novels, he has also won the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in young-adult literature, the Newbery Medal (for A Year Down Yonder), a Newbery Honor (for A Long Way from Chicago), and numerous other awards and honors. His most recent book, Fair Weather, was included on more than a dozen best-of-the-year lists” (Teacher Scholastic, 2009).
4. Review Excerpts –
** A rich tale full of magic, mystery, and surprise. -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
** Historical fiction fans should enter this at the top of the must-read list. -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review
** Peck reaches new depth with this Civil War-era novel. . . -- Publishers Weekly, starred review
** The harsh realities of war are brutally related in a complex, always surprising plot that resonates on multiple levels. -- The Horn Book, starred review
** This unusual Civil War novel really boosts Peck's credentials as America's best living author for young adults. -- The Washington Post
** Unforgettable characters and handsome prose make this book one you won't want to miss. -- Children's Literature --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
** It's a riveting story that shows racism everywhere and young people facing war, not sure what side to be on or why. -- Booklist, starred review
** Historical fiction fans should enter this at the top of the must-read list. --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review
5. Connections –
Richard Peck is a brilliant award winning author and has many books credited to his name. Some of his other literary works are the following:
• DON’T LOOK AND IT WON’T HURT
• DREAMLAND LAKE
• THROUGH A BRIEF DARKNESS
• REPRESENTING SUPER DOLL
• THE GHOST BELONGED TO ME
• ARE YOU IN THE HOUSE ALONE?
• GHOSTS I HAVE BEEN
• FATHER FIGURE
• SECRETS OF THE SHOPPING MALL
• CLOSE ENOUGH TO TOUCH
• THE DREADFUL FUTURE OF BLOSSOM CULP
• REMEMBERING THE GOOD TIMES
• BLOSSOMS CULP AND THE SLEEP OF DEATH
• PRINCESS ASHLEY
• THOSE SUMMER GIRLS I NEVER MET
• VOICES AFTER MIDNIGHT
• UNFINISHED PORTRAIT OF JESSICA
• BEL-AIR BAMBI AND THE MALL RATS
• THE LAST SAFE PLACE ON EARTH
• LOST IN CYBERSPACE
• THE GREAT INTERACTIVE DREAM MACHINE
• STRAYS LIKE US
• A LONG WAY FROM CHICAGO
• AMANDA / MIRANDA
• A YEAR DOWN YONDER
• FAIR WEATHER
• INVITATIONS TO THE WORLD
“In the classroom a teacher could use the book to support information on the history of the different people during the Civil War time. The children could discuss the difference in how they fix their meals, how their houses have indoor plumbing, and how they are entertained at theatres in contrast to the life style during the time period of the book. The teacher could use the book to support a lesson on the origin of many of the old folk songs. The children could be taught a song from the time period of the book and then asked to tell what they think the song meant during the Civil War period” (Library Thing, 2009).
** “For companion books, see ‘Civil War--An Update’ in the September 2003 issue of Book Links” (Rochman, H.).
Audio Book -
I also listened to this book in CD format. I found it very enjoyable to listen to. My daughter even enjoyed listening to it in the car to and from school. I still however prefer to read a story by myself; but in this case, I did like hearing the different accents of the characters - for example, Delphine's French accent and Tilly's poor English. I also enjoyed hearing the many French words that Delphine spoke, as well as listening to the different songs that the book presented.
References
Amazon. (1996-2009). THE RIVER BETWEEN US, retrieved on November 6, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0803727356/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Burns, C. (2003). Amazon - school library journal, retrieved on November 7, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/River-Between-Us-Richard-Peck/dp/0803727356/ref=dp_return_2?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Rochman, H. (2003). Amazon – booklist, retrieved on November 8, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/River-Between-Us-Richard-Peck/dp/0803727356/ref=dp_return_2?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Teacher Scholastic. (2009). Book circle: The river between us, retrieved on November 8, 2009, from http://teacher.scholastic.com/clubs/pdfs/riverbetweenus_t.pdf
Peck, Richard. 2003. THE RIVER BETWEEN US. New York, NY: Dial Books. ISBN-10: 0-8037-2d735-6 / ISBN-13: 978-0803727359
Albion, M. (2005). The five owls review: The river between us, retrieved on November 8, 2009, from http://www.fiveowls.com/reviews/river.htm
Library Thing. (2009). The river between us, retrieved on November 8, 2009, from http://www.librarything.com/work/113890
Monday, November 2, 2009
Genre #5 Book Review #1: Elizabeth George Speare - THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND
1.Bibliography –
Speare, Elizabeth George. 1958. THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND. New York, NY: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0-440-99577-9
2. Plot Summary –
“Orphaned Kit Tyler knows, as she gazes for the first time at the cold, bleak shores of Connecticut Colony, that her new home will never be like the shimmering Carribean islands she left behind. In her relatives’ stern Puritan community, she feels like a tropical bird that that has flown to the wrong part of the world, a bird that is now caged and lonely. The only place where Kit feels completely free is in the meadows, where she enjoys the company of the old Quaker woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond, and on occasion, her young sailor friend Nat. But when Kit’s friendship with the ‘witch’ is discovered, Kit is faced with suspicion, fear, and anger. She herself is accused of witchcraft!” (Speare, E., 1958).
3. Critical Analysis -
a.Characters –
The main characters of the story are Katherine “Kit” Tyler, Hannah Tupper - the old Quaker woman, Nat Eaton - the sailor from the ship the Dolphin, her cousins Mercy and Judith Wood, her Aunt Rachel Wood and Uncle Matthew Wood – who let Kit stay with them in Wethersfield, William Ashyby – the rich lad who courts Kit, John Holbrook – the clergyman who courts Judith but really wanted to court Mercy, Goodwife Cruff – who accuses Kit of being a witch, and the little girl, Goodwife’s daughter, Prudence Cruff - whom Kit teaches to read and write.
As the books main character, “Kit is an impetuous, young girl. Orphaned as a baby, she is brought up in wealth and freedom by her grandfather. One can even say she has been a bit spoiled. Kit has never done a day's work in her life. Her grandfather has been a plantation owner and has many slaves. Slavery is something Kit takes for granted. She has grown up with it and never even gives it a second thought. Kit is used to wealth, color and pretty clothes.
Arriving in a Puritan society, so different to what she knows, is a great shock to her. She has a difficult time adapting to the drab life and hard work. Kit finds all the prayer sessions long and boring. She has never had much of a religious education. The young girl loves reading” (bookrags, 2009), teaching others to read, and spending time in the meadow and with Hannah. Her ways are seen as unpure by the Puritan community as she doesn’t do well to keep herself in line; she speaks her mind, is a Royalist where the King is concerned, consorts with witches (Hannah the Quaker) and can even swim (another witch-like quality).
b. Plot –
“Forced to leave her sunny Caribbean home for the bleak Connecticut Colony, Kit Tyler is filled with trepidation. What this spirited teenager doesn't count on, however, is how her aunt and uncle's stern Puritan community will view her. In the colonies of 1687, a girl who swims, wears silk and satin gowns, and talks back to her elders is not only headstrong, she is in grave danger of being regarded as a witch. When Kit befriends an old Quaker woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond, it is more than the ascetics can take: soon Kit is defending her life. Who can she count on as she confronts these angry and suspicious townspeople?” (Amazon, 2009).
c. Setting –
The story begins with Kit on the ship the Dolphin that is sailing from Barbados to Connecticut. The author vividly describes the integral settings to the reader: the ship, the house that Kit stays in with her family in Connecticut, the river, the great meadow, Hannah’s cabin, the meeting house, as well as Blackbird Pond. Through these descriptions, Speares helps recreate the time and place of the story which not only contributes to the story’s authenticity but aids the reader in visualizing Kit’s tale.
“The novel is set in Wethersfield, Connecticut in 1687. The author gives a very good description of what the living conditions and habits are in colonial New England. Mrs. Speare also provides the reader with the political and religious scenarios of the time. The book's setting is a very essential part of the story.
This is essentially a historical novel. The story and the main characters are fictional, but based on the behavioral, religious and political reality of the time. The story has a background of true historical facts and characters” (Bookrags, 2009).
“One of Speare's outstanding achievements as a writer is her ability to create a strong sense of place. In The Witch of Blackbird Pond, the contrast between Barbados and New England highlights the distinct characteristics of the Connecticut setting. Speare sets up this contrast in the novel's opening chapter : ‘The bleak line of shore surrounding the gray harbor was a disheartening contrast to the shimmering green and white that fringed the turquoise bay of Barbados...’. Throughout the novel, Speare associates drab colors, particularly gray and black, with Kit's new home, while she describes Barbados with colorful imagery” (Bookrags, 2009).
d. Theme –
Two of the themes in this book are intolerance and bigotry:
“In this novel, Elizabeth George Speare shows the dangers of intolerance and bigotry. In general, it is very necessary for people to feel that they fit in. In this way, they feel secure. They feel in control. Those who are different might disrupt their ordered world. This disruption is frightening. All that is unknown is frightening. Therefore, whoever is different is seen a threat. That is what causes the intolerance.
Bigotry and intolerance are very dangerous within a community or society. When people feel that they are the only ones who are right, they give themselves illegitimate power. They justify the most hideous acts under the ruse of righteousness. Some of the most tragic events have occurred under the name of righteousness.
For example, in this book, one sees how the Quakers are persecuted and treated terribly, through the character Hannah’s also known by the townsfolk as the Witch of Blackbird Pond” (Bookrags, 2009).
e. Style –
The author writes this story to reflect the times back in the mid-1600’s as well as way of speech that the God-fearing Puritans would use to talk to one another. It is written so well that all of the above literary elements are woven together to help create this story from a previous historical time. Also, “the story is written in a very straightforward, narrative style. It is written in third person. It concentrates on the main character, Kit. She is present in all the scenes, so the reader's knowledge is restricted to Kit's experiences and point of view” (Bookrags, 2009).
f. Additional criteria –
“Even though the story of Kit Tyler is fictitious, a few real people walk through the imaginary story. Sir Edmond Andros, the royal governor, Captain Samuel Talcott, the magistrate, Eleazer Kimberley, the schoolmaster, and Reverend Gersholm Bulkeley, the ardent royalist, were important men of their time” (Speare, E., 1958).
g. Awards & recognitions –
** Winner of the 1959 Newbery Medal
** ALA Notable Children's Book
4. Review Excerpts –
** “Irresistible!” –- The Washington Post
** “Compelling.” -– Booklist
** "Strong plot, fully realized characters and convincing atmosphere distinguish this historical narrative of a girl whose rebellion against bigotry and her Puritan surroundings culminates in a witch hunt and trial."--Booklist.
** A high-spirited teenage girl rebels against the narrow-minded ways of Puritan Connecticut and befriends a lonely old woman who is subsequently accused of being a witch. "Strong plot, fully realized characters, and convincing atmosphere distinguish this historical narrative."--Booklist.
** “Outstanding.” -– San Francisco Chronicle
5. Connections –
Books by Elizabeth George Speare include:
• Calico Captive (1957)
• The Witch of Blackbird Pond (1958) Winner of the 1959 Newbery Medal
• The Bronze Bow (1961) Winner of the 1962 Newbery Medal.
• The Sign of the Beaver (1983)
This book lends itself to so many educational connections for students, not only from a historical point of view but also from a humanistic stand point.
Some essay questions that you can think about and research with students in connection with this story are:
• “What influence do different climatic conditions have on cultural habits?
• Does bigotry and religious intolerance still exist today? How does it affect our lives?
• Who are the Quakers, and why are they considered troublemakers?
• Would modern day people be able to survive without all the conveniences of ready-made products, machines and communication systems the way the early settlers did?” (Bookrags, 2009).
Other topics for discussion could include:
1. “Why does Speare load the first chapter with so many important characters?
Are all the principal characters well drawn?
2. Does Kit react to situations the same way that a sixteen-year-old today would?
3. What might readers conclude about outcasts in this Puritan society? About the Quakers?” (Bookrags, 2009).
Cool Classroom Connections:
“Puritans
What's a Puritan? Why did they come to America? What's the difference between a Puritan and a Pilgrim? What would it be like to live in a family of Puritans? What is a Quaker?
Witches
Explore the history of the Salem Witch trials. Compare Kit's experience at her trial.
Early American Life
Learn about Connecticut yesterday and today. Explore the life of the women and children in colonial New England. Contrast Kit's life with her grandfather and life with her Puritan aunt and Uncle. Discuss the government of early Connecticut. What was the charter? What was the relationship of England with the colonies?
Barbados Island
Where is Barbados? What does it look like? Draw a picture.that will remind Kit of home. What does the land look like? What about the plants and animals?
Prejudices
Have you ever been unfair to someone or had something said to you based on your physical appearance? How do we form our prejudices?” (Literature Learning Ladders, 2002).
Note:
I also listened to the CD of the book and thought it was great! The narrator, Mary Beth Hurt was wonderful! She used different voices and intonations to reflect the different characters in the story and was very interesting to listen to! I found this review of the audio story and I agreed with the reviewer:
“Into the somber, hard, emotionally deadened world of the American Puritans drops Kit--a charming, vibrant young woman from the Caribbean. Narrator Mary Beth Hurt sets the tone from the beginning, emphasizing Kit's enthusiasm, intelligence, and independent nature. Her clipped speech and sometimes breathy delivery draw a vivid picture of this lively young woman, forced to tamp down her spirit to fit into this negative, overbearing society. Hurt creates individual and clearly recognizable voices for all the characters, from Hannah's gentle, kind spirit to Matthew's solid but intimidating presence; and she skillfully develops Prudence from an obedient, fearful child without hope to a bright, caring, and courageous young girl. Speare's classic adapts well to audio, and Hurt gives it life, and hope.” (Amazon, 2009).
References
Speare, Elizabeth George. 1958. THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND. New York, NY: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0-440-99577-9
Bookrags, (2005-2009). The witch of blackbird pond study guide, retrieved October 31, 2009, from http://www.bookrags.com/The_Witch_of_Blackbird_Pond
Amazon, (1996-2009). The witch of blackbird pond, retrieved November 1, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/Witch-Blackbird-Elizabeth-George-Speare/dp/0440995779/ref=dp_return_2?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Literature Learning Ladders, (2002). The witch of blackbird pond, retrieved November 1, 2009, from
http://eduscapes.com/newbery/59a.html
Speare, Elizabeth George. 1958. THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND. New York, NY: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0-440-99577-9
2. Plot Summary –
“Orphaned Kit Tyler knows, as she gazes for the first time at the cold, bleak shores of Connecticut Colony, that her new home will never be like the shimmering Carribean islands she left behind. In her relatives’ stern Puritan community, she feels like a tropical bird that that has flown to the wrong part of the world, a bird that is now caged and lonely. The only place where Kit feels completely free is in the meadows, where she enjoys the company of the old Quaker woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond, and on occasion, her young sailor friend Nat. But when Kit’s friendship with the ‘witch’ is discovered, Kit is faced with suspicion, fear, and anger. She herself is accused of witchcraft!” (Speare, E., 1958).
3. Critical Analysis -
a.Characters –
The main characters of the story are Katherine “Kit” Tyler, Hannah Tupper - the old Quaker woman, Nat Eaton - the sailor from the ship the Dolphin, her cousins Mercy and Judith Wood, her Aunt Rachel Wood and Uncle Matthew Wood – who let Kit stay with them in Wethersfield, William Ashyby – the rich lad who courts Kit, John Holbrook – the clergyman who courts Judith but really wanted to court Mercy, Goodwife Cruff – who accuses Kit of being a witch, and the little girl, Goodwife’s daughter, Prudence Cruff - whom Kit teaches to read and write.
As the books main character, “Kit is an impetuous, young girl. Orphaned as a baby, she is brought up in wealth and freedom by her grandfather. One can even say she has been a bit spoiled. Kit has never done a day's work in her life. Her grandfather has been a plantation owner and has many slaves. Slavery is something Kit takes for granted. She has grown up with it and never even gives it a second thought. Kit is used to wealth, color and pretty clothes.
Arriving in a Puritan society, so different to what she knows, is a great shock to her. She has a difficult time adapting to the drab life and hard work. Kit finds all the prayer sessions long and boring. She has never had much of a religious education. The young girl loves reading” (bookrags, 2009), teaching others to read, and spending time in the meadow and with Hannah. Her ways are seen as unpure by the Puritan community as she doesn’t do well to keep herself in line; she speaks her mind, is a Royalist where the King is concerned, consorts with witches (Hannah the Quaker) and can even swim (another witch-like quality).
b. Plot –
“Forced to leave her sunny Caribbean home for the bleak Connecticut Colony, Kit Tyler is filled with trepidation. What this spirited teenager doesn't count on, however, is how her aunt and uncle's stern Puritan community will view her. In the colonies of 1687, a girl who swims, wears silk and satin gowns, and talks back to her elders is not only headstrong, she is in grave danger of being regarded as a witch. When Kit befriends an old Quaker woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond, it is more than the ascetics can take: soon Kit is defending her life. Who can she count on as she confronts these angry and suspicious townspeople?” (Amazon, 2009).
c. Setting –
The story begins with Kit on the ship the Dolphin that is sailing from Barbados to Connecticut. The author vividly describes the integral settings to the reader: the ship, the house that Kit stays in with her family in Connecticut, the river, the great meadow, Hannah’s cabin, the meeting house, as well as Blackbird Pond. Through these descriptions, Speares helps recreate the time and place of the story which not only contributes to the story’s authenticity but aids the reader in visualizing Kit’s tale.
“The novel is set in Wethersfield, Connecticut in 1687. The author gives a very good description of what the living conditions and habits are in colonial New England. Mrs. Speare also provides the reader with the political and religious scenarios of the time. The book's setting is a very essential part of the story.
This is essentially a historical novel. The story and the main characters are fictional, but based on the behavioral, religious and political reality of the time. The story has a background of true historical facts and characters” (Bookrags, 2009).
“One of Speare's outstanding achievements as a writer is her ability to create a strong sense of place. In The Witch of Blackbird Pond, the contrast between Barbados and New England highlights the distinct characteristics of the Connecticut setting. Speare sets up this contrast in the novel's opening chapter : ‘The bleak line of shore surrounding the gray harbor was a disheartening contrast to the shimmering green and white that fringed the turquoise bay of Barbados...’. Throughout the novel, Speare associates drab colors, particularly gray and black, with Kit's new home, while she describes Barbados with colorful imagery” (Bookrags, 2009).
d. Theme –
Two of the themes in this book are intolerance and bigotry:
“In this novel, Elizabeth George Speare shows the dangers of intolerance and bigotry. In general, it is very necessary for people to feel that they fit in. In this way, they feel secure. They feel in control. Those who are different might disrupt their ordered world. This disruption is frightening. All that is unknown is frightening. Therefore, whoever is different is seen a threat. That is what causes the intolerance.
Bigotry and intolerance are very dangerous within a community or society. When people feel that they are the only ones who are right, they give themselves illegitimate power. They justify the most hideous acts under the ruse of righteousness. Some of the most tragic events have occurred under the name of righteousness.
For example, in this book, one sees how the Quakers are persecuted and treated terribly, through the character Hannah’s also known by the townsfolk as the Witch of Blackbird Pond” (Bookrags, 2009).
e. Style –
The author writes this story to reflect the times back in the mid-1600’s as well as way of speech that the God-fearing Puritans would use to talk to one another. It is written so well that all of the above literary elements are woven together to help create this story from a previous historical time. Also, “the story is written in a very straightforward, narrative style. It is written in third person. It concentrates on the main character, Kit. She is present in all the scenes, so the reader's knowledge is restricted to Kit's experiences and point of view” (Bookrags, 2009).
f. Additional criteria –
“Even though the story of Kit Tyler is fictitious, a few real people walk through the imaginary story. Sir Edmond Andros, the royal governor, Captain Samuel Talcott, the magistrate, Eleazer Kimberley, the schoolmaster, and Reverend Gersholm Bulkeley, the ardent royalist, were important men of their time” (Speare, E., 1958).
g. Awards & recognitions –
** Winner of the 1959 Newbery Medal
** ALA Notable Children's Book
4. Review Excerpts –
** “Irresistible!” –- The Washington Post
** “Compelling.” -– Booklist
** "Strong plot, fully realized characters and convincing atmosphere distinguish this historical narrative of a girl whose rebellion against bigotry and her Puritan surroundings culminates in a witch hunt and trial."--Booklist.
** A high-spirited teenage girl rebels against the narrow-minded ways of Puritan Connecticut and befriends a lonely old woman who is subsequently accused of being a witch. "Strong plot, fully realized characters, and convincing atmosphere distinguish this historical narrative."--Booklist.
** “Outstanding.” -– San Francisco Chronicle
5. Connections –
Books by Elizabeth George Speare include:
• Calico Captive (1957)
• The Witch of Blackbird Pond (1958) Winner of the 1959 Newbery Medal
• The Bronze Bow (1961) Winner of the 1962 Newbery Medal.
• The Sign of the Beaver (1983)
This book lends itself to so many educational connections for students, not only from a historical point of view but also from a humanistic stand point.
Some essay questions that you can think about and research with students in connection with this story are:
• “What influence do different climatic conditions have on cultural habits?
• Does bigotry and religious intolerance still exist today? How does it affect our lives?
• Who are the Quakers, and why are they considered troublemakers?
• Would modern day people be able to survive without all the conveniences of ready-made products, machines and communication systems the way the early settlers did?” (Bookrags, 2009).
Other topics for discussion could include:
1. “Why does Speare load the first chapter with so many important characters?
Are all the principal characters well drawn?
2. Does Kit react to situations the same way that a sixteen-year-old today would?
3. What might readers conclude about outcasts in this Puritan society? About the Quakers?” (Bookrags, 2009).
Cool Classroom Connections:
“Puritans
What's a Puritan? Why did they come to America? What's the difference between a Puritan and a Pilgrim? What would it be like to live in a family of Puritans? What is a Quaker?
Witches
Explore the history of the Salem Witch trials. Compare Kit's experience at her trial.
Early American Life
Learn about Connecticut yesterday and today. Explore the life of the women and children in colonial New England. Contrast Kit's life with her grandfather and life with her Puritan aunt and Uncle. Discuss the government of early Connecticut. What was the charter? What was the relationship of England with the colonies?
Barbados Island
Where is Barbados? What does it look like? Draw a picture.that will remind Kit of home. What does the land look like? What about the plants and animals?
Prejudices
Have you ever been unfair to someone or had something said to you based on your physical appearance? How do we form our prejudices?” (Literature Learning Ladders, 2002).
Note:
I also listened to the CD of the book and thought it was great! The narrator, Mary Beth Hurt was wonderful! She used different voices and intonations to reflect the different characters in the story and was very interesting to listen to! I found this review of the audio story and I agreed with the reviewer:
“Into the somber, hard, emotionally deadened world of the American Puritans drops Kit--a charming, vibrant young woman from the Caribbean. Narrator Mary Beth Hurt sets the tone from the beginning, emphasizing Kit's enthusiasm, intelligence, and independent nature. Her clipped speech and sometimes breathy delivery draw a vivid picture of this lively young woman, forced to tamp down her spirit to fit into this negative, overbearing society. Hurt creates individual and clearly recognizable voices for all the characters, from Hannah's gentle, kind spirit to Matthew's solid but intimidating presence; and she skillfully develops Prudence from an obedient, fearful child without hope to a bright, caring, and courageous young girl. Speare's classic adapts well to audio, and Hurt gives it life, and hope.” (Amazon, 2009).
References
Speare, Elizabeth George. 1958. THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND. New York, NY: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0-440-99577-9
Bookrags, (2005-2009). The witch of blackbird pond study guide, retrieved October 31, 2009, from http://www.bookrags.com/The_Witch_of_Blackbird_Pond
Amazon, (1996-2009). The witch of blackbird pond, retrieved November 1, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/Witch-Blackbird-Elizabeth-George-Speare/dp/0440995779/ref=dp_return_2?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
Literature Learning Ladders, (2002). The witch of blackbird pond, retrieved November 1, 2009, from
http://eduscapes.com/newbery/59a.html
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