Both this and Avi’s “Iron Thunder” are touted as “An I witness title”.  I visited the Hyperion Books for Children website hoping to learn if this series included more authors than Avi, but no information was available.  A call to an editor there has thus far not been returned.  “Hard Gold” does include a letter to readers from Avi which describes the series as “exciting stories about fictional young people during real events in history.  I Witness stories will make you feel as if you are right in the middle of the action.  The illustrations will show what things really looked like.”   A fair assessment!

 “Hard Gold” does include quite a mix of illustrations, many culled from historical publications.  As a long time student of history, they weren’t particularly useful to me since I was already familiar with the subject at hand, but I’m sure they will add a lot to the narrative for young readers.  This is a visual generation after all!  Additionally, the novel is an excellent example of historical fiction as it includes a glossary, bibliography, author’s note, and credits for the illustrations. 

This novel was much faster paced than “Iron Thunder” with plot details that will hold appeal to the young reader.  Written in diary format, the short entries will be beneficial to challenged readers.  Most of the vocabulary is accessible to a challenged reader, with the exception of Mr. Bunderly’s pontifications:  “Therefore, I shall put forward sufficient enterprise by which to mend my broken fortunes.  I do believe, young man, that without endeavor there can be no progress – material or spiritual.”  Avi gives nod to it in the text “Mr. Bunderly really did talk like that – planting words all around his thoughts, rather than weeding them.” 

There is enough of Avi’s excellent writing, however, to keep the interest of more advanced readers including Avi’s wonderful incorporation of period dialogue:  “…I’ve seen you about town with a man who bore a remarkable resemblance to being your father.  I suspect you are no more an orphan than I.  Indeed, I believe you are running away and therefore a brazen liar.’

Young readers will identify with the loyal and good hearted, independent and determined Early.  And they will appreciate the colorful Lizzy and the growing relationship between the two.  The quest to find Uncle Jesse in the gold fields of the future state of Colorado will keep the reader’s interest as the journey rewards them with nuggets of historical information worth their weight in gold.

http://www.avi-writer.com/

Just like Cal did not understand his sister Lark’s fascination with books, my father did not understand how I could spend a whole day with my “nose in a book.”  A farmer, he would come in for lunch during the summer and demand that I get outside and do something.  I usually complied by taking my book outside and reading on the porch swing or on the hill in the yard under the walnut tree.  (Not exactly what he had in mind!)

I shared this story with my students after we read Henson’s That Book Woman together.  As I explained to them, my father certainly could read.  He was a college graduate.  But he didn’t LIKE to read, certainly not for entertainment.  And my (and my mother’s) love of books and reading was pure puzzlement.

My mom and I were both fans of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books.  Beginning in fourth grade, I read the entire series 12 times during my school years.  A 1975 trip to South Dakota included, of course, a stop in DeSmet.  My father and brother were not as excited about the visit as mom and I, but we stopped!  In the year’s since my mother and I have visited almost all of the Little House sites together and separately.  It was during a trip to Wisconsin (and a visit to Little House in the Big Woods) that my father insisted on knowing what was the fascination with these books.  “Why don’t you read one,” my mother said.  A wise woman, my mother… she gave him “Farmer Boy” first.

Grandpa got his first tractor when Dad was nine, but Dad remembers farming with mules and horses.  Naturally he loved “Farmer Boy”.  It was a time consuming read for him, but when he finished he said, “Give me the next one.”  He eventually read all nine in the series and then told my mother to “find me something else to read.”

Now you must realize that Sunday afternoons at our house did not include sports on TV.  Oh, no!  My father watched Western movies on Sunday afternoons.  A wise woman, my mother… she filled my father’s request for something-else-to-read with Zane Grey… which of course, was followed by Louis Lamour.  At the age of 54 my father had become a reader!  He was always literate – but he wasn’t a reader until then.

Dad’s reading for pleasure fizzled for a while, but when I sent him Richard Peck’s Long Way from Chicago his reading was renewed.  Peck’s recent books have been marketed to his usual Young Adult audience, but they aren’t really appreciated by that audience.  Adults – especially his contemporaries – absolutely love all of Peck’s books since Grandma Dowdel first picked up her shotgun.  When Dad finished reading Fair Weather he called me to talk about the book.  “Best Peck book ever,” Dad declared.  Growing up I never expected to have a conversation with my Dad about literature, but here it was!

Dad was 73 on March 18th.  These pages honored him that day as I reviewed Schmidt’s First Boy. My parents are retired now and spend several months each year serving with RVICS.  As they travel they purchase books about places they visit and they both read in the evenings now.  My Dad was once a literate non-reader.  Now he reads.

I know parents are often proud of their kids.  Well, I am proud of my parents – the way they serve others rather than themselves with their retirement, the sensible way they are handling aging, and the way they have always lovingly supported my brother and I and our families.  But I can’t tell you how proud I was to share with my students that my Dad, although a late bloomer, finally became a book lover.  I didn’t share all of the details above with my students, but I turned it into a story for them.  If Cal in That Book Woman didn’t inspire them, I hope the personal narrative about my father did!

Read aloud / storytime has many purposes beyond entertainment and reading development in my professional opinion.  Among those is to sometimes inspire and stretch the minds of the students.  I chose a book this week that was a bit difficult and required some interpretation on every page, but I wanted the children to appreciate the many facets of this unique picture book.

That Book Woman by Heather Henson honors the Pack-Horse Librarians of Eastern Kentucky in the 1930s.  (If you have never read about this New Deal Era project, please read the links provided at the end!)  While this book doesn’t always flow easily as a read aloud, it is still lyrical and full of the flavor of 1930s Appalachia.  Words like a-twixt, critters, a-wander, britches, greenbacks, and poke of berries.  With K-2 I stopped after every page and we explored the words or concepts I thought they would not know.  With third grade I waited until the end and then went back to discuss pages.

This book is a stretch because of the unfamiliar vocabulary, but as we explore unknown words together I am modeling reading skills.  But this book is worth reading for more than that.  Hopefully it will inspire non readers to embrace reading as Cal, the main character, does by the end of the book.  Cal has no intentions of sitting “stoney-still” with his “nose a-twixt the pages of a book” like his younger sister Lark.  But the tenacity and dedication of the pack horse librarian eventually wins his admiration and peaks his interest.  “…all at once I yearn to know what makes that Book Woman risk catching cold or worse.”

“Teach me what it says” Cal asks his sister Lark.  This is my favorite page out of all David Small’s lovely illustrations.  The pure, steady look on Lark’s face as her older brother holds out a picture book so she can teach him to read is breathtaking.  “…she does not laugh or even tease, but makes a place and quiet-like we start to read.”  Cal learns to read that winter.

When spring comes Cal’s gift to the Book Woman is to “read me something.”  My teachers get teary eyed at this part, for after all, student success is why we do what we do.  It is the greatest gift our students can give us.

How do we make our students into lifetime readers?  I readThat Book Womanhoping to inspire my non-readers.  Cal calls them “dumb old books” at first, but by the last lovely wordless page he is sitting on the porch of that mountain cabin beside his sister, each with their noses a-twixt the pages of books.

Wednesday I’ll share the personal narrative I related to each class after we finished this lovely book.

For information on the Pack Horse Librarians of Eastern Kentucky:

http://www.kdla.ky.gov/resources/KYPackhorseLib.htm

http://newdeal.feri.org/library/j_1k_bg.htm

http://www.kykinfolk.com/knott/bookwomen_easternkentucky.htm

I actually read First Boy before I read Trouble and originally thought I would discuss them in that order.  But today is my Dad’s 73rd birthday, and so I had to save First Boy for today! 

I intend to give this book to my father for his own reading.  I’ve often said that the good middler and YA novels of today are rich enough to satisfy adult readers and cannot be fully appreciated by young adults with their limited experience.  My Dad will fully appreciate this novel. 

You see, Cooper Jewett is a farm boy.  Although he is only 14, Cooper is a New Hampshire Dairy Man trying to keep it all together and get it all done.  As a retired Illinois farmer, my Dad will identify with this novel.  Although my father raised hogs himself, my grandpa kept dairy cows throughout my Dad’s childhood and mine.  (Actually, I think dairy cows keep you – they keep you tied down even more than other livestock which is why my father never had them!)

My Dad will approve of Cooper’s attitudes and values.  He will recognize and empathize with the struggles.  He knows about feeding the stock before you feed yourself.  He knows about balancing school work with farm chores for Dad taught school in addition to farming.  (Most farmers I know, and most of their wives, work elsewhere to support their farming habit!)  My father knows what it is like to have the barn burn to the ground in twenty minutes.  He knows what it is like to run into a burning barn to save livestock.  And he knows about good food, tacturn farm family members, and church folk and neighbors who will lift you up when you need it.

In addition to the richness of the rural setting and the unusual farm themed plot, Schmidt throws politics, mystery and intrigue into the mix for this novel.  The simple farm life is juxtaposed with the complications of dirty politics.  First Boy has enough action and drama to keep young readers turning the pages.  A less complicated narrative than Wednesday Wars or Trouble, I liked it just as much.  And I am happy that this is an offering from Schmidt which I can recommend to my less dedicated young readers.

So happy reading to you all - I recommend Schmidt’s First Boy.  And Happy Birthday to the “first boy” I ever loved - my dad.

Another first in a planned series, Children of the Lamp:  The Akhenaten Adventure is an interesting blend of fantasy, magic and history.  P.B. Kerr has chosen a unique main plot – the world of djinn.  Djinn (vulgarly known as a genie) are the third of the higher intelligent beings on earth along with angels (made of light) and humans (made of earth – ie “dust to dust”).  Djinn, of course, are made of fire.  (Major Nelson never discovered THAT on “I Dream of Jeannie”.)  Moreover, there are good djinn and bad djinn abroad in the world.

Main characters John and Philippa are just reaching adolescence, and with it comes a huge surprise.  They are djinn.  (Be careful what you wish for around them!)  Their uncle explains their powers and challenges and helps develop what their parents will not… and the adventure begins.

While this is not top notch literature, this is fun and well-paced.  There is plenty of kid friendly action.  Often bordering on silly (a crabby character named Groanin!), this truly is a book for juveniles.  The Egyptian setting and the background on modern Cairo and Ancient Egypt give the book substance.  What more could a juvenile reader wish for? 

October is here!  As mentioned in a previous post, scary books are popular any time of year, but with Halloween on the horizon they are especially requested.  Whisper in the Dark, although I mentioned it in the earlier post, managed to escape my reading stack until recently.  I was not disappointed; Whisper in the Dark IS another good and scary book!

Bruchac, again, successfully blends a Native American monster story/legend with a modern plot and a Native American protagonist.  This is a satisfyingly scary story:  mysterious phone calls, threats carved into the door, pets and family members endangered, and repeated whispers to the intended victim.  But into the gruesome details and suspense Bruchac weaves Native American culture and history, Rhode Island history, and a young person of resilience and character.  So there is more than “scary” to recommend with this title.

Bruchac’s writing is always good.  Not quite brilliant – but strong and solid.  Don’t hesitate to recommend this one to your students who are looking for something scary to read.  I suggest you booktalk it… in a whisper….in the dark…

The Way by Joseph Bruchac is “the way” more books for middle and YA readers should be written. It has a fast paced, simple story line. (Only 156 pages) It includes topics of interest to young readers (martial arts and the military). It realistically includes real issues facing young readers such as not fitting into the cliques, lack of self-confidence, parent conflict, divorce, parent dating, bullies, and school violence.

Cody LeBeau, the main character in The Way, truly develops as the narrative progresses. As his uncled begins teaching him native AND martial arts philosophy – “The Way” – he learns that we are all connected to the earth and to each other. Cody learns that changing his own attitude can change everything. Bruchac doesn’t use one of my favorite bits of wisdom, but he well could have with Cody: “You can’t change the actions of others, but you can change your reaction.” When Cody begins to develop focus and self-confidence he sees not only himself in a new light, but his enemies as well. And his enemies respond to the change. The book has a riveting finish, as Cody’s fantasies of being a martial arts hero are confronted with the challenges of real heroism.

Without being moralistic in tone, The Way contains great insight and wisdom. I’ve made similar comments in previous posts on Bruchac’s books, but I’m impressed over and over. Books should entertain and capture the interests of our students. This one does. But books can also broaden our minds and leave us better people for the reading. This one does.

One of the distinctions in Bruchac’s books is that while the adult characters are flawed and human they are important and active participants in the life of the protagonist. The adults are not all evil or ineffective as in so many YA novels; most of the adults in Bruchac’s books are respected and seen as an important resource in the young adult’s life…despite their personal flaws.

Another Bruchac strength is he doesn’t write books about Native Americans, he writes books with characters who are Native American. There are legitimate concerns within the children’s literature world that students will think of Native Americans as historic only. Bruchac’s books have no apparent political agenda in this vein, yet they unassumingly portray modern young people who happen to have a native heritage. No agenda. Just people. This is “the way” it should be.

Opposites attract as the shy and proper Natalie finds summer surprises in her new neighbor Annie.  Annie (age 9) runs around shirtless or clad in an old choir robe and tells lies as easily as she breathes.  This summer will be anything but boring as they give themselves the code names Elvis and Olive for the spy club they have formed.  But spying on the neighborhood may have unexpected complications.

Putting the name Elvis in the title I consider a cheap hook, so if you are expecting this book to have anything to do with “the king”, Elvis Presley, be aware it does not.  But it does have to do with  summer fun and games, first crushes, and learning about friendship.  A great book for fourth and fifth grade readers!  Stephanie Watson has written a promising first novel.

This book made me remember a Boxcar Kids club we formed one summer.  My friends actually had an old boxcar as a playhouse in their yard.  More than a little influenced by “The Boxcar Children” books, we made membership cards and created imaginary adventures.  (Packrat that I am, I still have my membership card in the attic.)  I wonder where fellow members Theresa and Sharon are now?

Arrow over the Door and Children of the Longhouse are well researched, sensitive, and balanced looks at Native Americans through historical fiction.  While not among Bruchac’s scary stories which I love to promote to kids, they are worth recommending to children based on their own strength – Bruchac’s credibility and his easy-to-read, flowing narratives.

Arrow Over the Door, based on a real incident during the revolutionary war, explores the mutual fears and ignorance of a group of Quaker Friends and a war-bound band of Abenaki men.  Told through the eyes of two young men – one Quaker, one Abenaki – this hopeful tale illustrates that peace is possible.

Children of the Longhouse explores the daily life of the Iroquois people through the eyes of a Mohawk brother and sister – Ohkwa’ri and Otsi:stia.  Students will identify with the moral dilemas Ohkwa’ri faces as he deals with a bullying gang of boys within his tribe.  Bruchac deftly interweaves Mohawk culture (and stories!) throughout the narrative, including some wonderful scenes with the game of lacrosse.  I found this particularly interesting since my nephews play lacrosse competitively.  Students will be fascinated, too, so make sure you have a non-fiction title on lacrosse ready to hand to them next!

When Joseph Bruchac was asked, in a conference session (IRC, March 2007), whether he preferred the term Native American or Indian he indicated it didn’t matter to him.  Just call him “Joe”, he quipped.  But then he added that to be truly accurate he should be referred to as Abenaki.  Native American is an umbrella term that truly isn’t any more suitable than Indian, according to Bruchac.  Bruchac’s many novels reflect this as each one explores a varied people group, helping students understand the vast differences between tribes and regions. 

Nobody does Native American like Bruchac!  Make sure you’ve weeded out of date materials on Native Americans so there is room on your shelf for books by Joseph Bruchac! 

I adore the author Caroline B. Cooney because my students adore the author Caroline B. Cooney.  I adore the author Caroline B. Cooney because I have heard her speak in person and she is terrific and entertaining.  I adore the author Caroline B. Cooney because she prolifically writes FOR YOUNG READERS and she appeals to those ever challenging reluctant readers!  But sometimes she is right on, as she was with her novel The Terrorist, and sometimes she misses the mark.  Unfortunately Code Orange is a miss! 

Random House calls it “an edge of your seat thriller”.  It would be if it didn’t bog down with poorly disguised lessons in Information Literacy, research, and Internet safety along with more than you ever wanted to know about smallpox.  This novel was so close…  but still a miss.

Readers will identify with Mitty Blake as he exhibits the all too familiar ‘why bother’ characteristics of many of today’s teens toward schoolwork.  Providing contrast is his love interest, the overachieving Olivia.  (Thank goodness for the Olivias who keep educators hopeful!)  Bioterrorism was one of the great themes in the book, but again, the book bogged down because the disease information presented did not blend seamlessly with the narrative.

Skip this one and read The Terrorist or Flight #116 is Down.  They remain among my favorites by Cooney.  Of course, there is also The Ransom of Mercy Carter, the “Time” series, and the ever popular The Face on the Milk Carton.  Did I mention I adore the author Caroline B. Cooney?  I just didn’t adore Code Orange.  Feel free to disagree…