Module 15-Go, Ask Alice

Summary
Our unknown author is a seemingly good girl who plays "Button, Button, who has the Button" and is takes a trip on LSD thanks to her "friends". She describes her experience as the most outstanding and most scary thing she has ever experienced and swears off drugs for good. However, that is not what happens. She gets hooked and finds herself needing just one more high. She is so hooked, in fact, that she sells drugs to school aged children just to satisfy her 'boyfriend'. On a whim, she runs away with her college aged friend to live in San Fransisco and the struggle to live on their own. When things turn sour, she calls home and her parents rescue her. The writer's struggles as she learns to live on her own after running away and then her family's acceptance of her when she begs to come home are emotionally written. When the writer finally enters rehab, it seems as if she may have finally learned to deal with her addiction and may be on the right track, but we find out in the epilogue that is not the case.

Impression
Go, Ask Alice was published under the guise of a teen girls anonymous diary, but it is most likely the creation of it's 'editor'. Nonetheless, the writing shows the inner conflict of a girl that wants so much to be good and please her parents, but becomes addicted to drugs. While at times her desire to be good is a bit sappy, the struggle with addiction is real enough to warn a person away from drugs. The book is controversial in that the drug and sexual exposure is not censored. We learn that she makes mistakes and isn't always good, but that is real life. The book should definitely be kept available so that students can learn from the mistakes of others instead of learning the hard way that drugs are dangerous.

Review
amazon.com review
The torture and hell of adolescence has rarely been captured as clearly as it is in this classic diary by an anonymous, addicted teen. Lonely, awkward, and under extreme pressure from her "perfect" parents, "Anonymous" swings madly between optimism and despair. When one of her new friends spikes her drink with LSD, this diarist begins a frightening journey into darkness. The drugs take the edge off her loneliness and self-hate, but they also turn her life into a nightmare of exalting highs and excruciating lows. Although there is still some question as to whether this diary is real or fictional, there is no question that it has made a profound impact on millions of readers during the more than 25 years it has been in print. Despite a few dated references to hippies and some expired slang, Go Ask Alice still offers a jolting chronicle of a teenager's life spinning out of control.

Library Journal Review
"An important book, this deserves as wide a readership as libraries can give it."

In Class
I think this book would be appropriate for use in a small group setting either with a book club or in a group of 'at risk' kids. Many schools have outreach programs and at a high school or even some junior high schools, this book could be used as a warning to students that may be heading down the wrong path of life. I would use this as a guide for dialog with student to talk about how they would feel if they were in the writer's shoes. Also, I think this could be easily used in a health class to showcase the dangers of drug use and addiction.

Citation
Anonymous. (1971). Go, Ask Alice. New York: Simon Pulse.
Unknown. (?). Go, Ask Alice Review. Retrieved May 8, 2011, from Amazon.com Reviews: http://www.amazon.com/Go-Ask-Alice/dp/product-description/0671664581/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

Module 14-Crossing Stones

Summary
Through her approachable poetry, Frost tells the story of two neighbor families that endure love and loss during World War I. As the war begins, Frank signs up to serve in the army. He attends boot camp and leaves a hero. He writes to Muriel and their love begins to bloom. Muriel's brother, Ollie, seeing his friend leave for war, decides that even though he is 16, he is going to join the army, too. He lies and tells no one he is leaving, and he later regrets his decision. War is nothing like he expected and no matter his training, he can't kill his enemy. Luckily for Ollie, he gets wounded and taken to a hospital only to return home and find out that his friend and neighbor, Frank, has been killed in action. Both families deal with the loss of their friend and adjust to Ollie's life with only one arm.

Impression
Crossing Stones by Helen Frost serves as art in literature. The poems, while not initially striking or poetic, have been carefully created. The author explains in a "Note on Form" that the form is quite structured in that they not only look like the stones and a parts of a creek, but they have a formula to tie each poem together. To quote Frost, "They are cupped-hand sonnets, fourteen-line poems in which the first line rhymes with the last line, the second line rhymes with the second to last and son, so that the seventh and eighth lines rhyme with each other at the poem's center. In Ollie's poems, the rhymes are the beginning words of each line, and in Emma's poems, they are the end words." The middle line of each poem serves as the outside rhyme of the next. The detail and rhythm just helps to cultivate the feeling of change and motion of life. The poems cover the life of two families over about a year when they deal with the repercussions of war and sickness. They deal with the changes of society and their children and it is still written in a way that is approachable to students in grades 7-12.

Review
This gorgeous collection of “cupped-hand” sonnets tells the story of two families whose lives are forever changed by World War I. Perhaps the most poignant poems, flowing like rushing water across the pages, are those from 18-year-old Muriel’s point of view. Outspoken Muriel questions the war and finds herself drawn more and more to her Aunt Vera’s suffragist cause. Other poems, shaped like river stones, are written from Muriel’s brother Ollie’s and her friend Emma’s perspectives. Ollie’s poems chronicle his brief experience in the war before an injury brings him home, and Emma’s point up the great loss her family has felt since her brother, Frank, was killed in the war. Both Emma’s and Ollie’s poems also reveal the tender feelings of first love blossoming between them. With care and precision, Frost deftly turns plainspoken conversations and the internal monologues of her characters into stunning poems that combine to present three unique and thoughtful perspectives on war, family, love and loss. Heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful, this is one to savor. (notes on form) (Historical fiction/poetry. 12 & up)

In Class
After working with students on strict forms an meters in poetry, I would like to use this as a good example of a different style of poetry. This form and structure is still formulaic but it is much more subtle than traditional poetry that is studied in class. I think this would a good way to show students that poetry isn't scary or boring.

Citation
Frost, H. (2009). Crossing Stones. New York: Frances Foster Books.
Unknown. (2009, September 15). Crossing Stones Review. Retrieved May 8, 2011, from Kirkus Reviews: http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/childrens-books/helen-frost/crossing-stones/?spdy=2009

Module 13-Tales from Outer Suburbia

Summary and Impressions
The illustrations and story in Tales from Outer Suburbia are out of this world! The creativity and thought that Tan put into the stories shows in the detail work and the cohesiveness of each short story. He tells stories from the point of view of various people and inanimate objects, like the stick figures, and the stories are atypical which makes them fun and appealing. My favorite story in the book was called Distant Rain. This story is the life cycle of bits of paper and old poems that refuse to be thrown away. These rebellious bits of paper slowly collect until the super heavy ball of paper become inexplicably light and floats off into the unknown, only to be rained on, turned into a messy pulp and then, if they hang on, they join a new ball of words. Tan uses a variety of handwriting, typesettings and paper types to tell the story of these lost poems. It is creative and beautiful.

Review
From Kirkus Review
Nameless, ageless, genderless first-person narrators bring readers into offbeat yet recognizable places in this sparkling, mind-bending collection from the creator of The Arrival (2007). In “Our Expedition,” siblings set out to see if anything exists beyond the end of their father’s road map. Dysfunctional parents and the child they ignore are brought together when a dugong appears in their front lawn in “Undertow.” With these and other short stories, Tan brings magic to places where magic rarely happens in books. These are fairy tales for modern times, in which there is valor, love and wisdom—without dragons and castles. The accompanying illustrations vary widely in style, medium and palette, reflecting both the events and the mood of each story, while hewing to a unifying sense of the surreal. In some stories, Tan has replaced the sparse, atmospheric text entirely with pictures, leaving the reader to absorb the stunning visual impact of his imagined universe. Several poems—and a short story—told via collage are included. Graphic-novel and text enthusiasts alike will be drawn to this breathtaking combination of words and images. (Graphic anthology. 12 & up)

In Class
I would like use this collection of Manga stories to introduce students to creative writing. In the exercise, I would read a story or two, first. Then, I would have the students select 2 words at random from a cup (printed before hand) and one item of random objects in a box. Using these 3 items, I would have the students write a short story tying them together in a creative way and then illustrating their story. This could be used in a writing class or an art class.

Citation
Tan, S. (2008). Tales from Outer Suburbia. New York: Scholastic.
Unknown. (2009, January 1). Tales from Outer Suburbia Review. Retrieved May 8, 2011, from Kirkus Reviews: http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/childrens-books/shaun-tan/tales-from-outer-suburbia/?spdy=2009

Module 12-Martin's Big Words

Summary
Martin's Big Words uses quotes from his speeches along with narrative text to tell the story of Martin Luther King, Jr. The author depicts his campaign for equality through nonviolent methods. We see Martin Luther King, Jr as a boy and then man, not just a hero. We learn how Mr. King studies to be a preacher and also how he puts his boycotting ideas into practice in Montgomery. The beautiful illustrations will hold any reader's attention.

Impression
Martin's Big Words tells the story of Martin Luther King, Jr and his quest for equality. The illustrations are beautiful and the words tell his story simply so that any reader can understand, but they are not so simplified to be dumbed down. The honesty of the images and story should be appreciated and this book appeals to all ages. The famous words of King are emphasized while the author describes the situation so the reader understands what is being seen and felt by the characters.

Review
Beginning with the startling cover, which contains only the face of Martin Luther King Jr., with his smile broad, and his eyes crinkled in laughter, this title intrigues. It’s an homage in words and pictures, in which the author weaves King’s words with her own to present a brief but stately portrait of the American hero. Rappaport explains that as a child King was determined to use “big words,” no doubt the result of listening to his father preach. On many subsequent spreads, King is pictured as an adult, and a direct quote is reproduced in bold type. In fact, King’s words were huge in idealism, delivering a message that was big in simple yet profound ways that can be understood by young readers. In smaller print, Rappaport gives historical context. Her sentences have a directness and symmetry that sets off King’s more transcendent, poetic quotes. Collier’s watercolor and cut-paper-collage illustrations express deep feeling. On the cover and final two portraits, King is depicted with a subtle monochromatic technique, which alludes strongly to a stained-glass metaphor, represented in portraits of King’s church. In other spreads featuring King himself, his face is lit, giving it a powerful visual weight and compelling readers to pay attention. While the cover portrait shows his eyes glancing to the side, in the final portrait he looks directly at the reader, his eyes offering an unmistakable challenge. Author and Illustrator Notes are moving as well as informative, and quotes are attributed. Readers will hear his voice echo in this presentation. (timeline, bibliography) (Nonfiction. 5-9)

In Class
Martin's Big Words could be easily used for Black History Month in February with the younger grades and readers. The images and information presented are done tastefully so that students can learn about the history without having to understand the grit and political issues of the time as well. For higher grades, I think this book would be awesome to use when discussing the fight for Civil Rights and Human Rights. Additionally, the questions on the author's website could be a good reference point for the discussion.

Citation
Rappaport, D. (2001). Martin's Big Words. New York: Hyperion.
Unknown. (2001, August 15). Martin's Big Words Review. Retrieved May 8, 2011, from Kirkus Reviews: http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/childrens-books/doreen-rappaport/martins-big-words/?spdy=2001

Module 11-Ballet for Martha

Summary
This informational book details the creation and collaboration between creators of the Appalachian Spring ballet. The creation of the ballet starts with the idea from Martha Graham, who wants to use her innovative choreography style in a ballet. She approaches world renowned composer, Aaron Copland and with her grains of ideas, he writes what turns out to be a beautiful piece of music that tells the story of a pioneer woman and husband. They eventually collaborate with a Japanese-American sculptor who creates simple and elegant stage settings to further enhance the ballet. The book uses quotes and describes the long hours of work everyone put in to create this masterpiece.

Impression
Upon first impression, I felt the illustrations in Ballet for Martha were beautiful, but when I compared the illustrations to the photographic versions, they were outstanding. Not only did the story capture the true process of the writing of Appalachian Spring, but the illustrations are en pointe with the 'real life' images, as you can see below. The book itself is a beautifully written text that informs and educates the reader and appeals to a wide range of readers. I think this book could easily be used with a 1st grade student as it could with a high school student. The appreciation would be of different things of course, but since children start dance classes at very young ages, a child could easily be interested in the pictures and story.

Review
Appalachian Spring, the modern dance that celebrates the wedding of a Pioneer Woman and her Husbandman, is a brillantly conceived and enduring paean to American frontier life. It premiered in 1944 with choreography by the innovative Martha Graham, music by Aaron Copland, a child of Eastern European immigrants, and sets by Isamu Noguchi, the Japanese-American sculptor who voluntarily went into a World War II internment camp. The award-winning Greenberg and Jordan tell the story of this collaboration, which began when Copland composed music he entitled "Ballet for Martha." Through the use of active sentences in the present tense and brief quotes, the authors convey the excitement and drama of the creative process and the triumph of the ballet. Floca, a multiple Sibert Award honoree for his prowess in depicting the technical worlds of spaceships and lightships, here uses watercolor and pen-and-ink in a glorious depiction of modern dance movement, with its quiet hand gestures, dramatic leg kicks and the swirl of dancers "fluttering, skittering, reaching up to the sky." A stunning achievement. Archival photographs embellish the biographical notes at the end--a lovely touch. (bibliography, notes) (Informational picture book. 6-10)

Citation
Greenberg, J. (2003). Ballet for Martha. New York: Neal Porter/Flash Point/Roaring Brook.
Unknown. (2010, July 15). Ballet for Martha Review. Retrieved May 8, 2011, from Kirkus Reviews: http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/childrens-books/jan-greenberg/ballet-for-martha/?spdy=2010

Module 10-Here Lies the Librarian

Summary-Here Lies the Librarian
In this novel, a young tom-boy, Eleanor, is taken under the wing of the fancy college educated librarians in training. They encourage her to be a lady, but they also encourage her to be outstanding. My favorite quote from the book says, "Who'd want to be in the pit crew when you can be in the race!" Eleanor takes her brother's place in the driving race of their town's stock race...and she win's. This historical fiction novel is humorous and loosely based on real people and events. There was a Jack McGraw that raced cars and there were daughters of rich car company owners, but the rest of the details are hard to pin down. Richard Peck did a great job pulling in the reader, nonetheless.

Impression
It was humorous and not hard to read, by any means! The story is appealing two-fold: it's about growing a library and library appreciation (YAY!) and it's about driving fast! I think this book would appeal to female readers more than male readers, but since it is about racing cars, it still might appeal to boys. The setting is clear and you really feel for Eleanor since she only has her brother as family. The Library Ladies are like fairy godmothers to Eleanor and they help her become a lady but still have spirit. This is just a fun book!

Review
From Kirkus
“Who’d want to be in the pit crew when you could be in the race?” asks Irene Ridpath, the new librarian at14-year-old Eleanor McGrath’s school. It’s 1914 in the unincorporated Hazelrigg Settlement in Hendricks County, Ind., and feisty Irene and three other Library Science students from Butler University have come to town to fill the vacancy left when the elderly former librarian Electra Dietz died, heaven having stamped her OVERDUE. The young ladies plan to expand the 225-book collection, add shelving, a Photostat machine, lighting and subscriptions to all major magazines. And if the library is remade, so is Eleanor, transformed, with Irene’s help, from grease monkey to young woman with a sense of herself in the world, who wins the first ten-mile stock car race in Hendricks County history. As always, Peck writes with humor and affection about times past, elders and growing up strong. This ode to librarians is a fine companion to Peck’s ode to schoolteachers, The Teacher’s Funeral (2004). (Fiction. 10+)

In Class
This would be a really great book to use when celebrating and educating students about Women's History Month in March. Since the ladies in the story all play roles in society that are ground breaking, their example of strong women would be good for showing students that it is alright to be different. It would also be a great book to use when highlighting School Library Month in April. The changing importance in the town library is a key element that can be discussed with students.

Citations
Peck, R. (2006). Here Lies the Librarian. New York: Dial.
Unknown. (2006, March 1). Here Lies the Librarian Review. Retrieved May 1, 2011, from Kirkus Reviews: http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/childrens-books/richard-peck/here-lies-the-librarian/?spdy=2006

Module 9-Something Rotten

Summary-Something Rotten
The Copenhagen River is being heavily polluted, but because the town relies on the huge multi-billion dollar company, no one is willing to stand against the company and fight the pollution. The one girl that is willing to stand up for what is right,Olivia, happens to be the ex-girlfriend of the owner's son. But, just two months after the owner's death, the son, Hamilton, finds a message from his dad. Was Hamilton's father's death an accident or was it murder? Can Olivia save the town, the river and Hamilton's sanity? This book is a good read and keeps the reader thinking about the mystery!

Impressions
Something Rotten was a good mystery that had me wishing I could read faster. The plot is interesting and Grantz makes you really feel for the characters. It might be a little controversial since Hamilton takes advantage of his mother's laissez faire attutude and drinks heavily in parts of the book. Generally, though, the book is well thought out and the plot twists are not extremely predictable. I would recommend it for 8-12th grade students.

Review
From Kirkus

Gratz is cornering the niche market of novels containing dissimilar topics. Here he combines Hamlet and hardboiled detective pulp. During a vacation from their academy, Horatio Wilkes accompanies his buddy Hamilton Prince to Denmark, Tenn. Just two months after his father passed away under suspicious circumstances, Hamilton’s Uncle Claude has married Hamilton’s mother. Claude now controls the Elsinore Paper Plant, a multibillion dollar company blatantly polluting the Copenhagen River. Horatio, with a knack for investigating, is determined to expose Claude’s corruption while Hamilton, dismayed by what he believes is his mother’s betrayal, drowns himself in alcohol. Ultimately, Horatio relies on environmentalist protester Olivia to reveal secrets about Elsinore. The many parallels to Hamlet are interesting, but Gratz wisely avoids producing a carbon copy of the tragedy. Horatio admirably plays the loyal friend but has a cocky voice that is too self-assured and as a teen rings unauthentic. However, this well-crafted mystery has appeal for readers familiar with both Raymond Chandler’s novels and Shakespeare’s masterpiece. (Fiction. YA)


In Class
This would be a great book to use in a science class with a unit on forensics or on pollution. It would be really fun to have the students come up with various scenarios, using clues from the book and teacher, to find out who killed Hamilton's father. For use with a pollution unit, the students could test waters and compare the toxic chemicals mentioned in the story to the water samples they find.

Citation
Gratz, A. (2007). Something Rotten. New York: Dial.
Unknown. (2007, September 1). Something Rotten Review. Retrieved April 24, 2011, from http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/childrens-books/alan-gratz/something-rotten/?spdy=2007