1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Rosoff, Meg. 2004. How I Live Now. New York, NY: Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN 0553376055
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Fifteen-year-old New Yorker, Daisy, escapes her pregnant stepmother by staying with her aunt and four cousins in rural England. She bonds with all of them, but especially with her cousin, Edmond, with whom she develops a strong physical and spiritual relationship. When a nebulous world war erupts while her aunt is out of the country on business, she and her youngest cousin, Piper, are separated from the three boys. Daisy survives a number of atrocities in order to protect Piper and in the hopes of being reunited with Edmond. Before she knows if Edmond is alive or dead, her influential father pulls strings and forcibly returns her to the U.S. When she is finally able to return years later, she has to confront the aftermath of war and of her desertion.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Told in the first person, Daisy’s voice is authentic and powerful. Because the story is recounted from the perspective of a teenager, the missing pieces of the story (like the vague nature of the war and the ambiguous political position of her father) are forgivable. As she endures the hardships of war, she achieves much personal growth and insight into human nature, from which she derives her own values. Sometimes the depictions of other characters border on mystical and are not quite as believable as a result.
This story covers a variety of mature themes including the devastation of war/terrorism, eating disorders and incest. It is often violent and graphic for effect. At one point, Daisy examines massacred corpses for the familiar faces of her cousins. She remarks, “As for how long ago they died, I couldn’t tell. Long ago enough, I guess, for their insides to start rotting and the crows and foxes to call all their friends and family around for a party” (142).
This novel asks a lot of worrisome “what if” questions: What if the enemy is difficult to identify? What if society as we know it falls apart? While the ending seems somewhat hasty and the loose ends are not all neatly pulled together, it is at least hopeful.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
From Publisher’s Weekly: "This riveting first novel paints a frighteningly realistic picture of a world war breaking out in the 21st century."
From School Library Journal: “Though the novel has disturbing elements, Rosoff handles the harshness of war and the taboo of incest with honest introspection.”
From Voice of Youth Advocates: “The depth and starkness of Rosoff's writing is beautiful yet painful to read. This book about the emotional devastation of war raises the hair on a reader's arms and brings tears to one's eyes.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*Also by Meg Rosoff:
Just in Case ISBN 0385746784
*Discuss this book in light of recent terrorist activities
*Compare the world war as described in the book to real historical wars
*Write an alternate ending
*Draw Edmond’s garden (p. 180-181)
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
THE GIVER by Lois Lowry
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lowry, Lois. 1993. The Giver. New York, NY: Dell Laurel-Leaf. ISBN 0440237688
2. PLOT SUMMARY
This Newberry Award-winning novel is about the changes that 12-year-old Jonas undergoes as the secrets of the utopian society in which he lives are revealed to him by the “Giver.” Selected to be the next “Receiver of Memory,” Jonas gradually receives the collective memories of the past and has difficulty reconciling this knowledge with the present. He eventually realizes that the lack of social ills in his community (like crime, poverty and inequality) is at the expense of free will. He rescues an infant condemned to death and makes a daring escape into the unknown to alter the course of the future for everyone.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
At the outset of the novel, only Jonas’ light eyes and his fleeting ability to see the color red set him apart from his peers. As the burden of truth is slowly unloaded in his memory, his character grows multi-faceted. This character development is particularly apparent with his growing connection to the Giver and to the baby he rescues and his gradual detachment from other community members, including those in his own family unit.
This book demonstrates that even if a utopian society was possible, it would not necessarily be desirable. Through Jonas, the reader is given the ability to examine the human condition from the perspective of an outsider. For example, when Jonas learns that being “released” means being killed, he asks the Giver if his friend, Fiona, has participated in this cruel act. The Giver responds, “She’s very efficient at her work…Feelings are not part of the life she’s learned…Jonas, you and I are the only ones who have feelings” (153-154). This is when Jonas realizes that he can no longer condone actions that he has the capability to understand.
A number of significant issues are addressed in this story: the notion of freedom, what constitutes family and community, euthanasia, the death penalty, inequality, and even the nuances of language. Lowry brings the ignorance is bliss theory into question. While the ending is optimistic, it is definitely open to interpretation.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
From Booklist: “Lowry's simple, powerful prose creates an anti-utopian world where the lack of hardship, war, and poverty only covers the citizens' deeper lack of freedom.”
From Horn Book Guide: “The story is skillfully written; the air of disquiet is delicately insinuated; and the theme of balancing the values of freedom and security is beautifully presented.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*Other titles by Lois Lowry
The Messenger ISBN 0385732538
Gathering Blue ISBN 0385732562
Gossamer ISBN 0618685502
*Create an epilogue that explains what happens after the sled comes to a stop
*Draw a picture of Jonas’ world before and after his training as Receiver of Memory (black and white with hints of red vs. full-color)
*Discuss or debate controversial issues (i.e. euthanasia, death penalty) from the story
Lowry, Lois. 1993. The Giver. New York, NY: Dell Laurel-Leaf. ISBN 0440237688
2. PLOT SUMMARY
This Newberry Award-winning novel is about the changes that 12-year-old Jonas undergoes as the secrets of the utopian society in which he lives are revealed to him by the “Giver.” Selected to be the next “Receiver of Memory,” Jonas gradually receives the collective memories of the past and has difficulty reconciling this knowledge with the present. He eventually realizes that the lack of social ills in his community (like crime, poverty and inequality) is at the expense of free will. He rescues an infant condemned to death and makes a daring escape into the unknown to alter the course of the future for everyone.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
At the outset of the novel, only Jonas’ light eyes and his fleeting ability to see the color red set him apart from his peers. As the burden of truth is slowly unloaded in his memory, his character grows multi-faceted. This character development is particularly apparent with his growing connection to the Giver and to the baby he rescues and his gradual detachment from other community members, including those in his own family unit.
This book demonstrates that even if a utopian society was possible, it would not necessarily be desirable. Through Jonas, the reader is given the ability to examine the human condition from the perspective of an outsider. For example, when Jonas learns that being “released” means being killed, he asks the Giver if his friend, Fiona, has participated in this cruel act. The Giver responds, “She’s very efficient at her work…Feelings are not part of the life she’s learned…Jonas, you and I are the only ones who have feelings” (153-154). This is when Jonas realizes that he can no longer condone actions that he has the capability to understand.
A number of significant issues are addressed in this story: the notion of freedom, what constitutes family and community, euthanasia, the death penalty, inequality, and even the nuances of language. Lowry brings the ignorance is bliss theory into question. While the ending is optimistic, it is definitely open to interpretation.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
From Booklist: “Lowry's simple, powerful prose creates an anti-utopian world where the lack of hardship, war, and poverty only covers the citizens' deeper lack of freedom.”
From Horn Book Guide: “The story is skillfully written; the air of disquiet is delicately insinuated; and the theme of balancing the values of freedom and security is beautifully presented.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*Other titles by Lois Lowry
The Messenger ISBN 0385732538
Gathering Blue ISBN 0385732562
Gossamer ISBN 0618685502
*Create an epilogue that explains what happens after the sled comes to a stop
*Draw a picture of Jonas’ world before and after his training as Receiver of Memory (black and white with hints of red vs. full-color)
*Discuss or debate controversial issues (i.e. euthanasia, death penalty) from the story
THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX by Kate DiCamillo
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
DiCamillo, Kate. 2003. The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread. Cambridge, MASS: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0439692202
2. PLOT SUMMARY
This Newberry Award- winning story is about how a frail, but intelligent and determined mouse rescues a princess from a devious (and perhaps misunderstood) rat who dupes a simple serving girl into being his accomplice. The first three ‘books’ individually give background information on the mouse, the rat and the serving girl and their relationship to the princess. (Book 1- Because he is seen talking to the princess, Despereaux is condemned to the dungeon by the Mouse Council. Book 2- Roscuro the rat frightens the queen to death [literally] when he forays out of the dungeon into the light. Book 3- Miggery Sow becomes a castle servant after the abusive man [to whom her father sold her] dies.) The fourth book weaves the fates of the characters together.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The voice of the narrator as storyteller is very strong in this novel. The narrator often addresses the reader directly through questions and explanation. Sometimes the narrator’s presence is amiable and enlightening, other times it is distracting or condescending. For example, on page 45 the narrator asks, “Reader, do you know what ‘perfidy’ means? ...you should look up the word in your dictionary, just to be sure.”
A number of themes are well-integrated into the plot. The story acknowledges the fuzzy gray space between good and evil (light and dark) and the flaws inherent in everything and everyone. It addresses the challenges of crossing boundaries of accepted notions of class, station and behavior. All three main characters are trapped by their circumstances, but manage to surmount these obstacles to a satisfactory degree, if not completely, in the end. The characterization of these individuals is well done, making them multidimensional and believable. Even the portrayal of the villain elicits reader sympathy. Perhaps the only weakness is in the characterization of the princess who is depicted as rather flat, even though she is ultimately the unifying element between the other characters.
The book moves at a rapid clip and is action packed enough to sustain interest. It is somewhat disjointed in that the four characters do not come together until the fourth and last book. It should be noted that the novel also contains 24 (including cover, etc.) charming, pencil-drawn illustrations by Timothy Basil Ering, which highlight, but are secondary to the text.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
From School Library Journal: “With memorable characters, brief chapters, and inventive plot twists, this fast-paced romp is perfect for reading alone or sharing aloud.”
From Voice of Youth Advocates: “At times, DiCamillo's new fantasy novel is charming, by turns sad, sweet, and mildly scary. At other times, though, the conceit of the narrator addressing the reader directly wears thin. The characters are all well limned, although the princess is, perhaps, too perfect.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*Other titles by Kate DiCamillo:
Because of Winn Dixie ISBN 0439250722
The Tiger Rising ISBN 0763618985
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane ISBN 0763625892
*Make soup
*Create a graphic representation of the light/dark metaphor
*Readers Theatre of Ch. 51- the climax
*Also try Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien ISBN 0689862202
DiCamillo, Kate. 2003. The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread. Cambridge, MASS: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0439692202
2. PLOT SUMMARY
This Newberry Award- winning story is about how a frail, but intelligent and determined mouse rescues a princess from a devious (and perhaps misunderstood) rat who dupes a simple serving girl into being his accomplice. The first three ‘books’ individually give background information on the mouse, the rat and the serving girl and their relationship to the princess. (Book 1- Because he is seen talking to the princess, Despereaux is condemned to the dungeon by the Mouse Council. Book 2- Roscuro the rat frightens the queen to death [literally] when he forays out of the dungeon into the light. Book 3- Miggery Sow becomes a castle servant after the abusive man [to whom her father sold her] dies.) The fourth book weaves the fates of the characters together.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The voice of the narrator as storyteller is very strong in this novel. The narrator often addresses the reader directly through questions and explanation. Sometimes the narrator’s presence is amiable and enlightening, other times it is distracting or condescending. For example, on page 45 the narrator asks, “Reader, do you know what ‘perfidy’ means? ...you should look up the word in your dictionary, just to be sure.”
A number of themes are well-integrated into the plot. The story acknowledges the fuzzy gray space between good and evil (light and dark) and the flaws inherent in everything and everyone. It addresses the challenges of crossing boundaries of accepted notions of class, station and behavior. All three main characters are trapped by their circumstances, but manage to surmount these obstacles to a satisfactory degree, if not completely, in the end. The characterization of these individuals is well done, making them multidimensional and believable. Even the portrayal of the villain elicits reader sympathy. Perhaps the only weakness is in the characterization of the princess who is depicted as rather flat, even though she is ultimately the unifying element between the other characters.
The book moves at a rapid clip and is action packed enough to sustain interest. It is somewhat disjointed in that the four characters do not come together until the fourth and last book. It should be noted that the novel also contains 24 (including cover, etc.) charming, pencil-drawn illustrations by Timothy Basil Ering, which highlight, but are secondary to the text.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
From School Library Journal: “With memorable characters, brief chapters, and inventive plot twists, this fast-paced romp is perfect for reading alone or sharing aloud.”
From Voice of Youth Advocates: “At times, DiCamillo's new fantasy novel is charming, by turns sad, sweet, and mildly scary. At other times, though, the conceit of the narrator addressing the reader directly wears thin. The characters are all well limned, although the princess is, perhaps, too perfect.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*Other titles by Kate DiCamillo:
Because of Winn Dixie ISBN 0439250722
The Tiger Rising ISBN 0763618985
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane ISBN 0763625892
*Make soup
*Create a graphic representation of the light/dark metaphor
*Readers Theatre of Ch. 51- the climax
*Also try Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien ISBN 0689862202
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