Jellico Road

~Abandoned on Jellico Road-
~~Found by Hannah-
~~~Taylor Markham
       must listen to her heart
       and follow her dreams.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Marchetta, Melina. Jellicoe Road. New York: HarperCollins. 2006

ISBN 9780061431845

Melina Marchetta

PLOT SUMMARY:

Taylor was abandoned by her mother on Jellicoe Road and has grown-up in a boarding school. She is a now senior at that school and in charge of one of the dorms. Along with these challenges she must also decipher her dreams, figure out why her mom left her, learn who Hannah really is, decide what to do about Cadet Griggs and her feelings for him. Hannah has left without telling Taylor where she is going or why. This eats away at Taylor; all she knows is “that there is something not right. It’s in my dreams, it’s inside my heart, and without Hannah here, it’s an all-consuming feeling of doom. Like something’s coming and it’s something bad.” As Taylor tries to put the puzzle of her life together, she must still unearth and discover pieces from her past that lead to her present. As she is lies in bed thinking about her life and the answers she knows it comes to her, “All this time I thought the answers were her. But now I know that Tate took those answers with her and that somehow Hannah’s caught up in it.” This revelation leads her down a path she took before “but this time without being chased by a Brigadier, without experiencing the kindness of a postman from Yass, and without taking along a Cadet who will change the way I breathe for the rest of my life.” Despite Taylor’s plans Jonah is waiting for her, he tells her, “I’ve got a car … And you’ve got somewhere to go.” Their journey to Sydney will help Taylor find answers to some of her bothersome questions – it is this path to the past that will answer questions to the future.

CRITCAL ANALYSIS:

Melina Marchetta takes readers on the gut-wrenching and heart-warming journey of Taylor Markum. Told from the first person point of view, Taylor introduces the readers by launching them into the middle of her perplexing life. The beginning of the book is slightly confusing as a result of Marchetta’s writing style – readers are thrown into a world of names, words, places, and phrases they have yet to be introduced to --- “The boy in the tree sobs uncontrollably when I tell him about the Hermit and my mother, yet his eyes light up each time I mention Hannah. And every single time he asks, Taylor, what about the Brigadier who came searching for you that day? Whatever became of him?” These four characters are referenced on page five of the book; it is not until significantly later in the novel do we find out who the boy is, who the Hermit is, how Hannah is connected, and why Hannah and the Brigadier play a significant role in Taylor’s life. As Taylor, the main protagonist in this story, chronicles her life and we learn how troubled she truly is and to what extent she will go to in order to find out about her past. As Taylor tries to decipher bits of information, she wonders “how munch Hannah is a part of this story and this school. Was she the leader of a community who thought she was weak and usurped her first opportunity they got? Did she experience a coup at the hands of a Richard-like, fascist-loving, backstabbing creep? And where did she get this idea that there was peace between the Townies and Cadets and us?” These complex and often convoluted inner inquisitions allows the reader to feel the lost and raw emotion Taylor Markum has dealt with for most of her life. As the story unravels, people, places, and phrases come to have some meaning for the reader. It turns out; the “territorial wars” were started out of boredom. Taylor informs Griggs, Raffy, and Chaz that “Web … He began the territory wars, …But it was a joke. I mean, his best friends were Cadets and Townies and the only reason the boundaries came about was because they were bored…” Finally the readers have some answers, the some of the exact answers Taylor had been searching for; and by this time readers are so connected and involved with Taylor’s character the pages and the story cannot stop. Taylor and Jonah set out to find her mom in Sydney – what they find is more questions and some answers. It is not until their return to the Jellicoe Road are all the questions ultimately answered.

Readers will be able to relate to at least one of the characters in this Melina Marchetta novel. Despite the slow and somewhat bewildering beginning when readers finish this novel they will hope Ms. Marchetta is working on a sequel. We all have dreams of finding happily ever after – hopefully Taylor, Jonah, Raffy, Chaz, Hannah, the Brigadier, and the rest of this awesome cast find happiness.

REVIEW EXCERPT:

Booklist: Taylor Markum isn't just one of the new student leaders of her boarding school, she's also the heir to the Underground Community, one of three battling school factions in her small Australian community (the others being the Cadets and the Townies). Only this year, it's complicated: Taylor might just have a thing for Cadet leader Jonah, and Jonah might just be the key to unlocking the secret identity of Taylor's mother, who abandoned her when she was 11. In fact, nearly every relationship in Taylor's life has unexpected ties to her past, and the continual series of revelations is both the book's strength and weakness; the melodrama can be trying but when Marchetta isn't forcing epiphanies, she has a knack for nuanced characterizations and punchy dialogue. The complexity of the backstory will be offputting to younger readers, but those who stick it out will find rewards in the heartbreaking twists of Marchetta's saga.

CONNECTIONS:

*Students will list the similarities and differences between the
  three factions
*Students will review the rules that govern the territory wars then
  create their own rules for a similar game
*Students will investigate the similarities and differences
  between public schools, private schools, and
  boarding schools
*Addictions to various substances will be discussed
*Students will choose one from below and draw a picture
  of what they think the:
   -boarding school looks like,
   -prayer tree looks like,
   -clubhouse looks like

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid

~~First, it is a JOURNAL,
      not a diary....

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid. New York: Amulet Books. 2008.

ISBN 9780810993136

Jeff Kinney

PLOT SUMMARY:

Grey Heffley is starting middle school, 7th grade do be exact; he is neither an athlete nor popular, what he is the average normal adolescent middle child, which may sometimes be known as a wimpy kid. Greg would like to be popular at school or at the least be accepted by his peers. Greg has a miserable life at school and at home -- he has an older brother, Rodrick and a younger brother, Manny -- between school and his brothers -- Greg's entire life seems destined for misery. Rodrick enjoys playing tricks on Greg; at the beginning of summer, “Rodrick woke [him] up in the middle of the night. Rodrick told me I slept through the whole summer, but that luckily I woke up just in time for the first day of school.” As far as Manny is concerned, Greg realizes he is the baby of the family and he always “runs to where Mom is and tells on him and [Greg] knows he is in big trouble.” Fortunately or perhaps unfortunately Greg has a friend, Rowley -- these two are constantly getting in trouble at school – from “bringing personal music players to school” to “hanging posters for Class Treasurer with ‘fabrications’ about the other candidates.” Greg’s life, in all its chaotic splendor, is chronicled through his first year in Middle School.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

 Jeff Kinney has created a wonderful novel in cartoons with the main character / protagonist being Greg Heffley along with his sidekick Rowley Jefferson. The plot is centered around Greg and his entire life; from entering middle school where he says “for the record I think middle school is the dumbest idea ever invented. You got kids like me who haven’t hit their growth spurt yet mixed in with these gorillas who need to shave twice a day” to his home life where he begs his Mom “not to make him sign up. Those school plays are always musicals, and the last thing he needs is to have to sing a solo in front of the whole school.” Greg is always in turmoil with his older brother, Rodrick – who could be seen as one of the antagonists. I think this novel has a few antagonists – Manny, the younger brother, entering middle school, life in general, and even Greg himself is both the protagonist and antagonist. The novel is realistic, Mr. Kinney is able to draw on real-life experiences and put them on paper – both in words and stick figures. Greg received a much unappreciated Big Wheel from Rowley as a Christmas present – well, finally in January Greg figured out “a way to have some fun with … the gift.” The game is “one guy rides down the hill and the other guy tries to knock him off with a football. Rowley was the first one down the hill, and I was the thrower.” The scenario is hilarious but the stick pictures add a lot to the tale – the entire event is knee slapping, side-splitting comical.

As Greg struggles to find acceptance and figure out who he really is, lives little ironies continue to follow him. His friend Rowley broke his hand while playing the Big Wheel game because Greg “finally knocked Rowley off the Big Wheel but it didn’t happen the way [he] expected. [Greg] was trying to hit him in the shoulder, but missed and the football went under the front tire. Rowley tried to break his ball by sticking out his arms, but he landed pretty hard on his left hand.” Now “Christmas vacation is over and they’re back at school.” Rowley’s broke hand is garnering all kinds of attention, “everyone was crowding around him like he was a hero or something.” Greg “tried to cash in on some of Rowley’s new popularity, but it totally backfired.” He thought he would share the news that he was the reason Rowley broke his hand but classmates were not impressed, they called him a “MEANIE!” Greg quickly figures out “Rowley’s injury thing is a pretty good racket;” therefore, he goes home gets some gauze and wraps his hand “to make it look like it was hurt.” Again, this backfired on him, the girls did not swarm him, no one wrote their name on his bandage and the only “attention the bandage received was from a couple of people, but believe me, they were not the type of people he was going for.” The trials and tribulations of Greg’s life continue in the Diary of the Wimpy Kid series.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:

Publisher's Weekly: "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."

CONNECTIONS:

* Have students create a list of traits they think
   would be considered wimpy
* Have students create a list of their characteristics / traits
* Discuss these lists and how people should treat others
   that are different
* Discuss family dynamics -- older brother, middle child, baby brother
* Continue reading the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series

Joey Pigza Loses Control

~~What if.....??

~Can I get back to you on that?

~~What if.....??

 ~Can I get back to you on that?

~~What if.....??

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Gantos, Jack. Joey Pigza Loses Control. New York: HarperCollins. 2000.

ISBN 0064410226

Jack Gantor

PLOT SUMMARY:

 Joey Pigza, a kind but impulsive boy that is taking medication for his hyperactivity, convinces his reluctant mother to allow him and Pablo, his Chihuahua mix dog, to go spend the summer with his absentee-estranged father. A short time after Joey arrives, Carter Pigza, Joey’s father, decides his son does not need to be on any medication-patches to help control his agitated and frantic behavior. He tells Joey, “I bet if you didn’t wear them you’d never know the difference.” For Joey, this is the beginning of losing control over his recently found and vaguely managed behavior. Joey wants his dad’s acceptance and love so he tries to his best to be a “Real man and tough it out.” Despite doing his best, “taking a deep breath, like Mom told” him and remembering what she said – “if you want to make good choices, think one thought at a time” – Joey was unraveling and about to “go around the bend and off the deep end.” Luckily for Joey he has an innate ability for self preservation and a loving mother to help him return to the new and improved Joey -- the Joey Pigza that Joey wants.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

Jack Gantos has created a wonderful character that most everyone can connect with; Joey Pigza is either themselves or someone they know – Joey Pigza is that kid in every classroom and every home that we all have seen and either ignored or was mean too. As the protagonist, Joey Pigza is the typical only child from divorced parents. Joey is meeting his father, the first time he can remember him and his father tells him “you can call me Carter,” Joey knows “he is never going to call him that” and begins understanding why mom “said he was just like me only bigger.” As the story begins to unfold, Joey along with the reader can see/picture the antagoinist, Carter Pigza, hyper-active characteristics and tendencies. “Carter kept whipping around and finally an uneven sound came out of his mouth like a car engine that wouldn’t start” Carter proclaimed he had “been thinking about what they should do today, and [he] had the perfect idea.” Joey takes Joey to the “Storybook Land Fun Park and proclaims “Joey you have to see this place…it is the place where my whole life turned around.” In front of the Humpty Dumpty wooden display Carter tells Joey that he “woke up here after having too many drinks one night” and “he didn’t want to be a pathetic broken egg with everyone trying and failing to put [him] back together again. Joey is not sure what to make of this revelation but he does see some the “old Joey” in his dad and wants very much for them to connect and have a father and son relationship. Joey is eager to do whatever his dad says, even if he believes it will do him more harm than good. One night Carter Pigza decides that Joey does not need to be on his medication. He tells Joey, “I’ve been thinkin’ about these patches … I bet if you didn’t wear them you’d never know the difference.” Joey tries to explain his “is real medication from a doctor” but Carter is insistent, Joey “doesn’t need them. You’re going to be a winner without them. Real men can tough it out. Be determined…” Carter takes all of the patches and flushes them down the toilet. Losing control will be underway shortly.

Luckily for Joey, he is smart, has a strong sense of self-preservation, and has a mother that truly knows and loves him. As Joey begins losing control he tries his best to think and remember what is mom had told him, she had said “taking a deep breath…and thinking if you want to make good choice, think one thought at a time.” But Joey knows he is “losing it, he will be going around the bend and off the deep end” soon unless he gets his medicine. It is at this point Joey becomes both the protagonist and antagoinist. Joey figures out a way to get his medicine, he shows his dad what he had done, he “pulled up his shirt and showed his dad the tattoos [he] had drawn on his stomach with a pen.” The out-of-touch Dad still did not get it and Joey’s unraveling began to happen at a quicker pace.

Joey knows he has to call his Mom and he tells her he “has not been taking [his] medicine and [he] thought [he] could be normal but [he is] not normal and now [he is] back to [his] old self and [he is] in trouble with Dad and really scared.” These words and feelings are easy for readers to hear and feel – we have all been in situation we thought we could control but could not and knew we had done something to make another person mad. The sad part is this is not the child’s fault, this is the adult’s fault but unfortunately the child is on a better road (literally and figuratively) than the father.

Joey’s mother makes it to the mall – they get Pablo and head home. Joey is still being a typical youth with divorced parents, he states he “wanted it to work out with Dad,” the Mom understands his feelings but quietly says “He blew it again … Looks like it’s just you and me.” On the way home Joey asks a very poignant question, “Do you think [Dad] will ever really turn himself around?” This is the ultimate fork in the road – Joey sees he has a choice regarding his behavior and his future.

REVIEW EXCERPT:

Publisher's Weekly: "Like its predecessor, Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, this high-voltage, honest novel mixes humor, pain, frea and courage with deceptive ease."

Amazon.com: "Jack Gantos's second book about Joey Pigza is just as delightful and soulful as his first. Joey's attempts to keep the fragile peace in his life intact are touching, and his intense longing to just be normal will mirror the feelings of most prettens, whether they have ADD or not. Joey Pigze may sometimes lose control, but he never loses his heart. This is an exceptional sequel."

CONNECTIONS:

*Have students create a list of acceptable age-appropriate behaviors
*Have students create a list of unacceptable age-approproate behaviors
  they have actually seen
*Discuss why some individuals behave differently than others
*Discuss appropriate ways studnets should handle/react to
   unusal and/or different behavior
*Have students read another Jack Gantos - Joey Pigza book

Elijah of Buxton

Being fragile has nothing to do with
 being a man or a grown-up --
Having emotions is a wonderful
 human characteristic~~

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Curtis, Christopher Elijah of Buxton. New York: Random House. 2008.

ISBN 9780739364154

Christopher Paul Curtis

PLOT SUMMARY:

Eleven year-old Elijah Freeman is famous for two things: being the first child born into freedom in Buxton, Canada and for throwing-up on Frederick Douglass as a baby. A sweet natured boy who is "too fragile for his age" according to his mother and according to himself, he can "throws chunking stones at most any fish and brings home nuff fer his family and mores." As the story progresses, Elijah learns through personal experiences that life is difficult and grown-ups are even more "troublesome to tries and figures out why they says what they says and does what they does." Elijah and Buxton are both unique.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

Christopher Paul Curtis creates a tale so believable and heartfelt that readers will find themselves smiling and crying as the main character, Elijah of Buxton, a young black boy in the mid-1800s, goes through life and struggles trying to understand and overcome the cruelty and inhumanity of slavery and racial injustice. Because of Mr. Curtis's linguistic cleverness, Elijah and the other authentic characters found through out the book are colorful and lively with personalities that capture the reader's interest  as easily as Elijah's "chunking stones captures the fish." Through his skillful writing, Christopher Curtis is able to transport readers back in time to Buxton,Canada -- a place that is both heaven and a haven for slaves fleeing the American south. Elijah's parents want him to have a better life and future than them; therefore, he attends school regularly and it is here he "realizes that he isn't the brightest bulb in Mr. Travis's class" but he is "lots brighter than others" --- A few things set Elijah apart from his "best friend Cooter, ... Cooter pays less attention to his studies than" Elijah and Elijah gives far more attention to the "growned-up folks around him and what theys be sayin" and most importantly he thinks before he acts. Christopher Curtis uses his literary skills in creating the characters -- it is quickly and vividly apparent that Elijah Freeman respects and honors his parents -- by his actions and words. As the narrator, Elijah takes the readers through his experiences, it is these thoughts we hear through out the book; as he goes from one tale to another story to another adventure. Elijah is thrust into the "growned-up world" by Mr. Leroy, a "growned-up friend," who is willing to risk everything to buy his wife and children out of slavery. As the story unfolds, it is left up to Elijah to safe himself and another -- along with using his wits and skills to survive he must put his knowledge  of “growned-up peoples and how theys says things backwards and what they really means to says they don’t says and yous gots to figures out whats theys really meaning” -- he must do all of this in order to make it back north to Buxton. 

While the book seems a little slow and disjointed at times the reader still finds themselves turning the pages -- that is what reading is all about -- getting caught-up and lost in the story. Mrs. Curtis is truly a great storyteller.

REVIEW EXCERPT:

Booklist: "After his mother rebuke him for screaming that hoop snakes have invaded Buxton, gullible 11-year-old Elijah confesses to readers that 'there ain't nothing in the world she wants more than for me to quit being so doggone fra-gile.' Inexperienced and prone to mistakes, yet kind, courageous, and understanding, Elijah has the distinction of being the first child born in the Buxton Settlement. Narrator Elijah tells an episodic story that builds a broad picture of Buxton's residents before plunging into the dramatic events that take him out of Buxton and, quite possibly, out of his depth."

CONNECTIONS:

* Using a map of North America locate and label states, cities, and settlements mentioned in the book

* Elijah's ma sees him as 'fra-gile' -- What are the characteristics of a 'fra-gile' person?

* Draw your most memorable scene from the book

* Image, if Ms. Chloe could have written a letter to Hope, what she would tell her

* List emotional and physical scares slavery left on the residents of Buxton

The Midwife's Apprentice

From Brat --- 
   to Beetle ---
    finally Alyce ~~~
A book of journey
    and growth

BIBLIOGRAPHY: 

Cushman, Karen The Midwife's Apprentice. New York:

Clarion. 1995. 

ISBN 0395692296 

Karen Cushman

PLOT SUMMARY:

Karen Cushman takes readers on a journey back to the fourteenth century, to a young girl -- motherless, nameless and homeless -- she lives on the streets and sleeps on a dung heap for warmth -- "the rotting and moiling give forth heat" so here she finds her bed. The only name she could ever recalling hearing was Brat and this name is soon changed by the village boys to Beetle - for "Dung beetle! Dung beetle! Smelly old dung beetle sleeping in the dung." One day Beetle's luck changes for the good, "an important looking woman, with a sharp nose and sharp glance" takes her in -- this lady is a midwife. Beetle, who eventually takes a proper name, works for the midwife performing menial chores. Ultimately she stops running and learns that she too has a place in the world.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

Karen Cushman transports the reader into medieval England. We learn about daily life at this time through the eyes of a young homeless girl. The author also provides us a look into the practice of midwifery. As a reader, we learn techniques, herbs, and payment for such services and in the importance of it. According to Beetle, no one likes the midwife, her “greed angered the villagers, but they needed her” she was the only one of her kind around so she was their only choice. The midwife is also very harsh and unfeeling, if payment could not be arranged she would not go to the laboring mothers; “twice the midwife refused to come to laboring mothers who had nothing to pay” and the “unfortunate women had to bring forth their babies with none but a neighbor to help.” The midwife makes sure that Beetle, who later renames herself Alyce, does not learn too much so as to avoid competition. However, the midwife's knowledge is being preserved in an encyclopedia because the author felt it was important. As the story progresses, Alyce goes through many growing pains as she tries to find what she wants in life, which happens to be, “A full belly, a contented heart, and a place in their world.” Alyce has begun the road to carving out her own identify -- a midwife’s apprentice and a beautiful person. 

History is very well represented in this story with the optimum blend of fiction and historical information. Aside from the historical facts included in the story, Cushman has created a quick read with humor and themes of confidence, bullying, loneliness, and finding your place in the world. Each reader can identify with the heroine through one of these themes or others that can be found within this book.  

Teenagers will identify with the characters insecurities with her abilities and in her looks.  Young adults will be able to identify with the road Brat/Beetle/Alyce took in order to find her place in this world. 

REVIEW EXCERPT:

Amazon.com Review: "Karen Cushman likes to write with her tongue firmly planted in her cheek, and her feisty female characters firmly planted in history. 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, snagglethoothed midewife Jane Sharp. Disappointingly, Cushman does not offer any hardships or internal wrestling to warrant Alyce's final epiphanies, and one of the book's climatic insights is when Alyce discovers that lo and behold she is actually pretty!

Publishers Weekly: "The strengths of this new, relatively brief novel match those of its predecessor: 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."

CONNECTIONS:

* Create two lists --- characteristics of low self-esteem and high self-esteem

* Discuss differences and similarities between midwifes, nurses, and obstetricians

* Create a timeline displaying the evolution of the protagonist

* Use information in this novel and integrate it with various science and health lessons

* Read other Karen Cushman books

Island of the Blue Dolphins

Karana - the only human on the
  island but she is not alone --
Animals soon become her family.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

O'Dell, Scott Island of the Blue Dolphins. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin. 1960.

ISBN 0395069629

Scott O'Dell

PLOT SUMMARY:

Scott O’Dell takes the reader on a journey to a small island, that “is two leagues long and one league wide,” off the coast of California. When the Aleuts sea hunters come and kill most of the island’s tribe; on when that  “fateful day had dawned, the tribe numbered forty-two men ...when that night came and the women had carried back to the village those who had died on the beach of Coral Cover, there remained only fifteen”   -- soon the remaining members decided to move to the mainland. As the ship is leaving, an Indian girl named Karana, sees her brother has been left behind. She begs that the ship be turned back, but they don’t, so she jumps overboard to go back to him.She and her brother are left alone on the island. This is the beginning of a long journey for Karana. Her brother Ramo is killed by the wild dogs  -- she is now completely alone -- she vows to kill the wild dogs. Karana has many hard-ships and adventures --she must build shelters, gather food, make clothing, create weapons, and yes -- conquer the wild dogs that killed her younger brother.  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

Scott O’Dell creates a tale so unbelievable still yet credible -- readers quickly meet the protagonist and main character, twelve year old Karana, a Ghalas-at Indian girl on the Island of the Blue Dolphins. After the Aleutians killed most of the Ghalas-at tribe, the remaining members decided leaving the island would be best. Finally the day came when a ship arrived, Nanko informed the diminished dynasty that the ship did “not belong to our enemies, the Aletus. There are white men on this ship and they have come from that place where Kimki went...The ship has come for one reason,...To take us away from Ghalas-st.” It is believed that the remainder of the tribe is aboard the ship; “ My brother Ramo was there too, Nanko said” however, as the ship is leaving Karana sees her brother, Ramo, “running along the cliff, the fishing spear held over his head” -- he was not on board. Karana pleaded for the ship to turn around and get her brother but Chief Matasaip “grasped [Karana’s] arm” and said “We cannot wait for Ramo,...”If we do, the ship will be driven on the rocks.” Karana’s pleas fell on death ears so she does the only thing she can think of -- jumps ship to stay with her younger brother -- they are the only one’s left an the island everyone was fleeing. Shortly after this, Ramo is killed by a pack of wild dogs. Karana is truly all alone -- she vows to avenge his death and live.

The plot is based on historic events which O’Dell not only transports the readers to that island but he also telaports them back to the 1800s. This achievement allows the reader to believe, comprehend, detect the day to day struggles Karana faces. 

REVEIW EXCERPT:

School Library Journal: "A haunting and unusual story...A quiet acceptance of fate characterizes her order."

A Kids' Review: "If you like heart breaking, touching, and sad books, you should definitely read the Island of the Blue Dolphins..."

CONNECTIONS:

* Make a list of all the problems Karana faces alone on the island and how she solves each
* Karana's skills help her survive on the island alone -- list some skills people would need to survive in today's world
* What is your first impression of Karana? Does it change as the story progresses? Is Karana someone you would like to know?
* Choose a favorite passage and create a drawing/painting that comes to them from the imagery of the passage
* Visit and explore Scott O'Dell's website.

The Boy On Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up To Become Dr. Seuss

"Today you are you, that is truer

   than true. There is no one alive

   who is youer than you."

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Krull, Kathleen. The Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up To Become Dr. Seuss.  New York: Random House. 2004.

ISBN 0375822984

PLOT SUMMARY:

Kathleen Krull takes the reader on the journey of how Ted Geisel became Dr. Seuss. From his childhood experiences on Fairfield Street to the endeavors trying to figure out who he was and what he was meant to be and do -- Dr. Seuss would eventually emerged. The son of a zoo keeper, Ted found comfort and enjoyment in watching the animals -- inspiration inevitably evolved.

CRITICALY ANALYSIS:

Kathleen Krull creates a charming and fascinating biography of Ted Geisel. She recounts childhood memories with  amazing detail and candor--the reader is drawn in and feels as if they are experiencing the exact moment. Krull examines if the boy "who loved reading, singing, animals, and drawing funny pictures changed from being a goof off to becoming a successful author named Dr. Seuss." As a boy, he "feasted on books and was wild about animals;" it is difficult to discern if he changed or (more likely) he changed the reading world. The author does an excellent job peaking the reader's interest and grabbing their attention through words and pictures. Krull uses paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher to illustrate the various times and settings in Ted's life. Showing Ted blissfully drawing in art class and having the teacher look at his work in a disapproving manner -- Dr. Seuss emergence was already showing and would soon flourish.

The author seems to run out of pages and time; therefore, compacting -- no cramming and crushing Ted Geisel's later life and years into a few pages. This takes away from the overall joy of the book; however, the enjoyment and fascination Krull created in the previous pages carry the reader through with pleasure. The final pages list all the written works and illustrations by Dr. Seuss. This gives the reader an image of how far-reaching and encompassing Dr. Seuss' vocation was and why his life's works will continue to be enjoyed.

REVIEW EXCERPT:

Amazon.com: “Young doodlers and dreamers of the world, take heart--the famous Dr. Seuss, creator of Whos and Sneetches, was a doodler and dreamer, too. Kathleen Krull's engaging picture-book biography of Ted Geisel, the real Dr. Seuss, takes us from his early childhood on Fairfield Street in Springfield, Massachusetts, to the time when he's 22 years old in Greenwich Village and just starting to think he might make a go of it as a person who draws flying cows. Krull tells a lively story, carefully including details that help us understand how Seuss became Seuss, from playground injustice (Geisel was a German American and World War I loomed large) to his love for Krazy Kat comics.”

CONNECTIONS:

* Create a timeline of Dr. Seuss' accomplishments
* Draw a picture from one of your favorite Dr. Seuss books
* Read more nonfiction books by Kathleen Krull
* Choose a Dr. Seuss book and create a skit