The Book Thief

1. Bibliography

Zusak, Markus. 2007. The Book Thief. New York: Alfred An. Knopf. ISBN 0375842209

2. Plot Summary

            Narrated by Death, The Book Thief tells the story of Liesel, a foster girl who lives in Nazi Germany. She must learn to face life in a new family in a new town with the world changing around her. She soon discovers that books and words have a power over her. While stealing books from various people and locations, she will share her new treasure with the neighbors and the man living in her basement.

3. Critical Analysis

            While The Book Thief is set in a real place, it is narrated by Death. This narration from death makes this story a low fantasy book. The setting remains in a real place in a real time, but with characters developed from the authors mind. The style is very definitive in this book with the narrator continually skipping ahead in the story and moving around to different parts of the story. The plot of the story is not linear, as it is with most stories, but instead jumps ahead only to go back again and tell us more about how they get there. Through this method Markus Zusak is able to tell the reader that what is going to happen isn’t necessarily important, but why it happens is. Each step in Liesel’s life and the events which take place build upon one another to present the universal truth of the story. That truth is that words have power. In this story they have the power to enslave a whole group of people, the power to save people, and the power to connect us all. This power takes place in a setting that is very realistic, Nazi Germany. The setting is well developed and clearly defined. It is easy to picture the basement which Liesel learns to read in or the Mayor’s library. By defining the setting so deeply, we are able to connect further to Liesel. We see where she is and what she is doing. Liesel and the other characters in the book are multidimensional. A great example of this is when Liesel tells Papa that she hates Hitler. This kind loving man slaps her and forces her to ‘Heil Hitler’ in the street (Zusak, 115-116). This is a different side of Papa that we hadn’t yet seen. There is several different times when the characters in this story do things which seem out of character, but are just adding a mew layer. People are not all good or all bad, and this story reflects this fact by having such strongly defined characters that do things out of the character we had previously seen.

4. Reviews

2006 - Daniel Elliott Peace Award

2007- Boeke Prize

2007- ALA Best Books for Young Adults

2007- Michael L. Printz Honor Book

Kirkus Review; “…This big, expansive novel is a leisurely working out of fate, of seemingly chance encounters and events that ultimately touch, like dominoes as they collide. The writing is elegant, philosophical and moving. Even at its length, it's a work to read slowly and savor. Beautiful and important.”

From School Library Journal; “…Reading books and writing down her experiences save Liesel, but this novel clearly depicts the devastating effects of war. Narrator Allan Corduner defines each character with perfect timing. He's deliberate as the voice of Death, softly strong as Liesel, and impatient, but not unkind, as Rosa. With richly evocative imagery and compelling characters, Zusak explores behind-the-lines life in World War II Germany, showing the day-to-day heroism of ordinary people. Relevant for class discussions on wars both past and present.”

5. Connections

* Create a title page for the book that Max wrote in the basement and left for Liesel.

* Look into the history of Munich during Nazi Germany.

* Turn a chapter of the book into a reader’s theater script

* As a group collect items similar to the gifts that Liesel leaves for max while he is sick.

* Name the motif that is present throughout the book.

* Similar books:

            Riordan, Rick. The Lightening Thief. ISBN 0786856297

Collins, Suzanne. Hunger Games. ISBN 0439023521

De Rosnay, Tatiana. Sarah’s Key. ISBN 0312370849

The Graveyard Book

1. Bibliography

Gaiman, Neil. 2008. The Graveyard Book. with illustrations by Dave McKean. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 9780060530938

2. Plot Summary

            Nobody’s family is killed, and now the killer is after him too. Luckily for him he wonders into the graveyard and is taken in by the residents their. They teach him, care for him, and watch out for him as he grows into a young man. While the graveyard is the safest place for him that doesn’t keep Nobody out of a little bit of mischievousness and trouble.

3. Critical Analysis

            The Graveyard Book is a youth adult ghost story book, which contains some of the motifs found in fantasy fiction. The motifs found in The Graveyard Book include magic, other worlds, good vs. evil, and heroism, , also known as Bod, is the typical main character found in fantasy youth adult fiction. He is bright, a loner, and misunderstood at times, which makes the character easy to identify with. He is a strong well rounded character. There is a large amount of mystery surrounding the other characters, but Bod is fully developed. The setting and characters are developed further through the use of illustrations presented throughout the book. The setting of the book, the graveyard, is a fully developed character of its own. The setting of the book is based in real life, but contains the supernatural as well. With each new page the setting is developed further and goes deeper into either reality, with Bod going to school, or the supernatural, with Bod going through the goblin gate. Whether Bod goes towards reality or away from it he is still faced with the issues of good vs. evil. Bod must learn to fight and become a person on his own away from the safety of the graveyard. The plot is consistent with the rules established in the graveyard. It is unique in the ability take traditional themes and presents them in a new way. The more the reader delves into the story the more believable the supernatural elements become. This story is able to reach a variety of people, since it contains murder, mystery, ghosts, friendship, and family.

4. Reviews

2009 - Hugo Award

2009- Newberry Award

2010- Carnegie Medal

Locus Award

Kirkus Review; “Wistful, witty, wise-and creepy. Gaiman's riff on Kipling's Mowgli stories never falters, from the truly spine-tingling opening, in which a toddler accidentally escapes his family's murderer, to the melancholy, life-affirming ending. Bod (short for Nobody) finds solace and safety with the inhabitants of the local graveyard, who grant him some of the privileges and powers of the dead-he can Fade and Dreamwalk, for instance, but still needs to eat and breathe. Episodic chapters tell miniature gems of stories (one has been nominated for a Locus Award) tracing Bod's growth from a spoiled boy who runs away with the ghouls to a young man for whom the metaphor of setting out into the world becomes achingly real. Childhood fears take solid shape in the nursery-rhyme-inspired villains, while heroism is its own, often bitter, reward. Closer in tone to American Gods than to Coraline, but permeated with Bod's innocence, this needs to be read by anyone who is or has ever been a child.”

From School Library Journal; “…Bod's love for his graveyard family and vice versa provide 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.”

5. Connections

* Create one of the headstones that is in the graveyard.

* What do you think Nobody will do with the rest of his life?

* Turn a chapter of the book into a reader’s theater script

* What picture do you think is missing from the book, draw what you think it should look like.

*Name the motif or motifs that are present throughout the book.

* Similar books:

            Snyder, Zilpha Keatley. The Trespassers. ISBN 0440412773

Nesbit, Edith. The Story of the Amulet. ISBN 1604596945

Wright, Betty Ren. The Moonlight Man. ISBN 0590252380

WAY DOWN DEEP

1. Bibliography

White, Ruth. 2007. Way Down Deep. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0374382514

2. Plot Summary

            After appearing at the courthouse, Ruby is taken in by Miss Arbutus, who runs the boarding house. The story follows Ruby as she makes new friends and tries to discover her past.

3. Critical Analysis

            The story is a mixture of fable and historical fiction. The town might exist, but the name certainly isn’t really Way Down Deep. The story is set in a West Virginia in a town with a made-up name. The story presents a fictional history of the town and each of the characters, but is set in the late 1940’s to the early 1950’s. The actions of the characters and the layout of the town are presented in a historically accurate manner. Much can be learned about small town life in the 1950’s from this story. Since the story is also a fable, the historical aspects are small and hidden. This fact makes this story a great book for those who dislike historical fiction. The story is not focused on the history, but instead it is focused on Ruby’s adventures and the people that surround her. Backgrounds are and a large amount of detail are presented for the majority of the characters. The town and the settings which Ruby visits are also presented in a great amount of detail. This helps to build the reliability of the characters and their actions as the story builds. The stories plot focuses on Ruby’s discovery of where she comes from. The theme falls in line with the plot when Ruby is faced with discovering who she is, a question which everyone still faces in modern times.  

4. Reviews

Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee

From Publisher’s Weekly; “…Some of White's narrative teeters on the wobbly edge of farce: the Reeder siblings, for instance, are named Peter, Cedar, Jeeter, Skeeter and baby Rita ("Mama had run out of rhyming names, so she had to settle for a tongue twister," explains oldest sibling Peter). But as the mystery of Ruby's origins unravels, White reigns in her eccentric cast to focus on the girl's tender relationship with Miss Arbutus, and the story finds an emotional center. The ending is a bit neat, but this book brims with wise observations and beautifully realized moments, such as when Ruby explains what Miss Arbutus told her about why a fellow boarder, haunted by the mother who gave him up for adoption as a baby, sleeps all day: "God is in that place where sleep takes us. Way down deep inside, where all the answers lie.”

From Children’s Literature; “…In less capable hands this material could easily turn to treacle but here it assumes the dimensions of a mystically guided journey. It is Ruby's journey, in fact, and soon an uncle turns up to claim her. The cast of characters is purely delightful—among them Cedar Reeder, who is afflicted with cussitis and swears in energetic code; nonagenarian Mrs. Rife, who throws rocks at people walking past her house; and Reese, who serenades Ruby with popular ditties of the period, amusingly placed. Sometimes the answers to Ruby's questions arrive a little too readily. Grandma Combs seems antagonistic enough to make the pluckiest orphan tremble, although her transformation into guilty survivor feels a bit neat. Still, in all, this is a charming tale of family, loss, and identity.”

5. Connections

* How do you think Ruby came to be in Way Down Deep?

*Draw what you think your favorite character looks like?

* If Way Down Deep was a real town where would you think it would be placed on a map, use the resources available to you. Is there a town already there, if so research the town in that location. Discover, if possible, what it was like during the 1940’s and 1950’s. Is it similar to Way Down Deep?

           

* Other books by Ruth White:

            White, Ruth. The Search for Belle Prater. ISBN 0440421640

White, Ruth. Buttermilk Hill. ISBN 0374410038

White, Ruth. Weeping Willow. ISBN 0374482802

CHAINS

1. Bibliography

Anderson, Laurie Halse. 2008. Chains. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 1416905855

2. Plot Summary

            Isabel was born as a slave. She is presented with freedom, and when it is taken from her she can’t let it go. Isabel and her sister are sold to a New York family, and must face new challenges. She desires freedom, a freedom that the Americans are fighting for as well with the Revolutionary War. This story is filled with the desire for freedom and the fight that accompanies that desire.

3. Critical Analysis

            Set in during the Revolutionary War, the characters are in a state of rebellion. Sides are clearly set and lines drawn between those who desire freedom, and those who wish for the war to end. New York is vividly described, as is the areas which Isabel must frequent. Isabe’ls first view of the Lockton household is presented in vivid detail:

            “The house was made of blocks of cream-colored stone and was wider 
             from side to side than Jenny’s tavern. I tilted my head up and 
             counted: four floors, each with big windows facing the street. There 
             were balcony railings on the roof. There were even windows peeking 
             out at foot-level, cellar windows, which meant five stories in one 
             house” (Anderson, 42).

This same amount of detail is given throughout the story to the setting and the characterization of the people in the story. The main characters are strong and well defined through Isabel’s perspective. The only character which seems to need more detail is Curzon, who disappears and reappears throughout the story. He seems to become a major character, but little is known or understood about who he is, and some minor characters get just as much if not more detail.  Being in Isabel’s story it is necceasry that some time period language is used, but Laurie Halse Anderson does not use an excessive amount of period spelling. This helps the story to continue to flow, as the plot is moved forward. The plot remains on Isabel’s desire for freedom and the Revolutionary War surrounding her. While there is a bit of stereotyping, the history presented is both good and bad. There are a few surprises in the plot and character actions, which keeps the reader interested in the story. Overall, this story makes for a great supplemental work about slavery or the American Revolution.

4. Reviews

2009- Scott O’Dell Award

National Book Award Finalist

Kirkus Review; “…Anderson brilliantly recreates New York City in the summer of 1776, viewed through the eyes of a remarkable heroine. Taught to read by her previous owner, Isabel knows the Bible and has memorized poetry, and her eloquent first-person voice portrays her life as a slave even as she spies for the rebels, covertly delivers food to Bridewell Prison and plots her own escape. Readers will care deeply about Isabel and may feel frustrated by the abrupt ending to the novel, clearly poised for a sequel or two…”

From School Library Journal; “…With short chapters, each beginning with a historical quote, this fast-paced novel reveals the heartache and struggles of a country and slave fighting for freedom. The characters are well developed, and the situations are realistic. An author's note gives insight into issues surrounding the Revolutionary War and the fight for the nation's freedom even though 20 percent of its people were in chains. Well researched and affecting in its presentation, the story offers readers a fresh look at the conflict and struggle of a developing nation.”

5. Connections

* Make a map of New York as Isabel knew it. Mark all the places which play a role in the story. Use resources from the internet to confirm the placement of historical places.

* Make a chart of the different characters which presents their view on what is going on and what side they are on.

 * Draw or make a model of the Lockton house as described from Isabel’s point of view.

* Make a list of the items that were taken or destroyed so that the Americans could continue the fight. Confirm the historical accuracy of the list by using any resources available.

           

* Similar books:

            Goodman, Joan Elizabeth. Hope’s Crossing. ISBN 0698118073

Paulson, Gary. Woods Runner. ISBN 0385738846

Banks, Sara Harrell. Abraham’s Battle: A Novel of Gettysburg. ISBN 0689840462

AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS

1. Bibliography

Choldenko, Gennifer. 2004. Al Capone Dows My Shirts. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons. ISBN 0399238611

2. Plot Summary

            Moose is faced with no only being the new kid in town, but also with living on an island full of prisoners. His sister Natalie suffers from a condition which keeps his mom preoccupied, and his dad working all the time. Moose is faced with walking a line between doing the right thing and keeping the warden’s daughter happy. Moose must face sacrifices to do what is best for his sister and the family.

3. Critical Analysis

Anyone who has ever been the new kid can relate to Moose’s story in Al Capone Does My Shirts. By being written in diary format, the voice and characterization of Moose is a prominent force. His words seem to be consistent with the 1930’s.  It is from his view that the reader is able to learn about the other characters, but it is only his view of them that is presented. This limits the story and the characters in many ways. Once Moose makes his mind up about the type of person a character is, it is difficult to change his mind. An example of this is the way Moose sees Natalie, his sister, other characters such as his mother and Theresa see Natalie in a different way. The limited point of view helps to build the characterization in the book. The setting is vividly described, and from a brief search appears to be accurate. It is interesting to learn that people, besides prisoners and guards, lived on Alcatraz Island. The plot is a little slow at times, and at times doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. When the plot finally does come to a climax, the theme is presented more clearly. This book is a great way to present a small part of history that people may not have been aware of before, and also presents a wonderful underlining theme, once it is discovered.  

4. Reviews

2005- Newberry Honor Book

Schneider Family Book Award

Kirkus Review; “…Basing her story on the actual experience of those who supported the prison in the '30s-when Al Capone was an inmate-Choldenko's pacing is exquisite, balancing the tense family dynamics alongside the often-humorous and riveting school story of peer pressure and friendship. Fascinating setting as a metaphor for Moose's own imprisonment and enabling some hysterically funny scenes, but a great read no matter where it takes place.”

From School Library Journal; “…Family dilemmas are at the center of the story, but history and setting-including plenty of references to the prison's most infamous inmate, mob boss Al Capone-play an important part, too. The Flanagan family is believable in the way each member deals with Natalie and her difficulties, and Moose makes a sympathetic main character. The story, told with humor and skill, will fascinate readers with an interest in what it was like for the children of prison guards and other workers to actually grow up on Alcatraz Island.”

5. Connections

* Create a picture book from the information presented in Al Capone Does My Shirts. (hint: Focus on only one part of the story.)

* Research the life of families who lived on Alcatraz when it was open.

 * Make a timeline of the Alcatraz island. Make sure to mark when this stor supposedly took place.

           

* Similar books:

            Johnson, Angela. Songs of Faith. ISBN 0440229448

Betansourt, Jeanne. My Name is Brain Brian. ISBN 0590449222

Spinelli, Jerry. Crash. ISBN 0440238579