Review: ELIJAH OF BUXTON by Christopher Paul Curtis

1. BIOGRAPHY

Curtis, Christopher Paul. 2007. Elijah of Buxton. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 978-0439-02344-3

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman is the first baby born free in Buxton, Ontario, a settlement for runaway slaves which was established in 1849. His mother calls him a “fra-gile” child due to his sensitive and gullible nature which sometimes gets the better of him. This begins to change when Elijah’s friend, Mr. Leroy, is tricked out of the money he was going to use to purchase his family out of slavery, by a smooth-talking, self-proclaimed “preacher.”  Elijah feels responsible and bravely sets out to help Mr. Leroy rescue his family and bring the preacher to justice. On this dangerous journey to America and back, Elijah sees for the first time the terrible way slaves are treated, and learns what it truly means to be born free. He grows in maturity from a “fra-gile” boy to a strong, brave, and resourceful young man.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Christopher Paul Curtis brings the characters to life in this entertaining book as he details what life would have been like in the Canadian refuge for escaped slaves. Through careful research, he has woven the two aspects of this story together: the fictional characters who make Buxton, Ontario their home, and actual events. Curtis has created a story which teaches and entertains at the same time. The author’s note at the end of the book contains more information about the actual settlement of Buxton which was founded by a white Presbyterian Minister, Reverend William King.

The humorous and somewhat gullible Elijah with his unsophisticated dialect is an apt guide through this book. This story, told from the first-person perspective of a child, will stir the emotions of the reader. There is humor when Elijah and his friend think that the phrase their teacher has written on the chalkboard, (familiarity breeds contempt), means that they are going to study sexual reproduction. Readers are almost brought to tears when the former slaves in the settlement welcome a newly escaped slave family to Buxton. Although it starts out a little slowly as various characters from the settlement are introduced, once a letter from America arrives the action becomes spell-binding. Young readers who love adventure stories will be enthralled by the danger Elijah faces, feel his horror when he sees the conditions re-captured slaves are kept in, and cheer him on as he heads back home to safety.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY review: “Curtis brings the story full-circle, demonstrating how Elijah the "fra-gile" child has become sturdy, capable of stealing across the border in pursuit of the crooked preacher, and strong enough to withstand a confrontation with the horrors of slavery. The powerful ending is violent and unsettling, yet also manages to be uplifting.”

BOOKLIST starred review: “Many readers drawn to the book by humor will find themselves at times on the edges of their seats in suspense and, at other moments, moved to tears. A fine, original novel from a gifted storyteller.”

5. CONNECTIONS

This is an excellent novel to read with a class during Black History Month. It should be taught in conjunction with studying the Underground Railroad. Students should use non-fiction sources such as the internet and research books in the library to find information about the people who helped escaped slaves to safety and learn more about where they settled.

*More books by Christopher Paul Curtis:

Curtis, Christopher Paul. The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963. ISBN 044022800X

Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bud, Not Buddy. ISBN 0440413281

*Novels about the Underground Railroad

Coopey, Judith Redline. 2010. Redfield Farm: A Novel of the Underground Railroad. ISBN 0978924746

Tobin, Jacqueline L. 2000. Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad. ISBN 0385497679

Review: THE EARTH DRAGON AWAKES by Laurence Yep

1. BIOGRAPHY

Yep, Lawrence. 2006. The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 06060275243

2. PLOT SUMMARY

On the evening April 17, 1906 the inhabitants of San Francisco, California are going about their normal business, never imagining that the earth under their feet was stirring. Eight-year-old Henry Travis and nine-year old Chin, (the son of the Travis family’s houseboy), are mainly concerned with helping Henry’s parents get ready to go to the opera on time. Once the Travis' have left, the boys have plans to read more of the exciting “penny dreadfuls” of which neither one of their parents approve. Both Henry and Chin agree their own fathers are not nearly as exciting as Marshal Earp with his blazing six-shooters.

They have cause to revise their opinions of their fathers when the earthquake strikes the next morning. As is often the case, this natural disaster has brought out the best in people and turned ordinary men, (Henry and Chin's own fathers), into heroes. In the aftermath of the earthquake, Mr. Travis tirelessly works to organize a bucket brigade to put out the fires which follow the earthquake, and Ah Sing, Chin’s father, risks his own life to save Chin from a stampeding bull. The boys and their respective families are lucky to survive the earthquakes, and the fires. Now they must make their way to safety at the ferry, where the two families are reunited and begin to rebuild their lives and homes.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The Earth Dragon Awakes is told from the perspective of two young boys, one from an affluent neighborhood, and one from Chinatown. It relates the story of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 in chronological order, beginning with the evening of April 17, (the night before the quake), and continuing through the next 11 days. The author alternates settings in the story from Chinatown to Sacramento Street, which gives the reader a glimpse into the different cultures residing in San Francisco, and how the quake affects them. Short informational chapters of about the earthquake and fires are seamlessly woven in between the fictional chapters, creating a sense of realism. In the afterword of the book the author has included factual information and photos from the devastating earthquake and the fires which followed. By telling the story through the eyes of Henry and Chin, Lawrence Yep has made it appealing to third through seventh graders for whom it is intended.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

KIRKUS Reviews: “Eight-year-old Henry Travis and nine-year-old Chin, son of the family houseboy, experience the events of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 that destroyed both the Travis's wealthy home and the Chin's tenement apartment. Yep intersperses the fiction of Henry and Chin's experiences with short chapters of facts about the earthquake and subsequent fire.”

BOOKLIST reviews: “Told in the present tense, the narration provides a "you are there" sense of immediacy and will appeal to readers who enjoy action-packed survival stories.”

5. CONNECTIONS

*This book should encourage a discussion about heroic actions of normal people during natural disasters. Students should volunteer to name natural disasters in their life time and how people worked to help each other.

*This book would work well as a supplement to tie together the history of the San Francisco Earthquake with a unit on earthquakes. Students could study plate tectonics and learn about the land forms which are made by earthquakes. Students could do some research to find out where most earthquakes occur and chart these locations on a world map.

*Other books about earthquakes:

Osborne, Mary Pope. Earthquake in the Early Morning. ISBN 0-679-89070-X

Kehret, Peg. Earthquake Terror. ISBN 9780140383430

Walker, Sally M. Earthquakes. ISBN 978-0-8225-6735-6

Storad, Conrad J. Earth’s Crust. ISBN 0-8225-5944-7

Branley, Franklyn Mansfield. Earthquakes. ISBN 0-690-04663-4

Townsend, John. Earthquakes and volcanoes: a survival guide. ISBN 1-41091927-7

Review: HATTIE BIG SKY by Kirby Larson

1. BIOGRAPHY

Larson, Kirby. 2007. Hattie Big Sky. Read by Kirsten Potter. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780739351231. Text ISBN 0385903324.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Will Hattie ever find a home? Orphaned Hattie Inez Brooks has spent her life shifted from relative to relative after the death of her parents, until an uncle she has never met dies and leaves her a homestead claim in Montana. Hattie leaves the home with her “shirt-tail relatives” where she has never felt like she fit in, and moves to Montana. As Hattie struggles against the hardships of the harsh Montana winter, she encounters friends who become like the family she has always wanted. She also faces the reality of WW1 on the home front when her friends and neighbors are regarded with suspicion due to the anti-German sentiment of the time. Hattie expresses her feelings about her new life and experiences in letters to her school-chum serving overseas, her Uncle Holt, and articles she writes for the Arlington News. As she reflects back on her year as a homesteader, Hattie realizes that though she is on the move again, she has found herself at home in her own skin and in the hearts of her friends.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The unabridged audio CD format is aptly narrated by Kirsten Potter in this 7 CD set , and has excellent quality of sound in its enthralling narrative. The language in the story is true to the time period and makes one think of the way a proper young lady would speak in 1918. Although vocabulary might be challenging to some readers, due to words such as bodice and valise which are not commonly used any more, it too, is true to the time period. Potter’s voice makes the believable characters come to life as she uses different Western accents to differentiate between them. This captivating story records not only Hattie’s physical journey from Iowa to Montana, but also her internal journey from an uncertain girl who doesn’t feel like she fits in anywhere to someone who is strong enough to make it on her own. Young adults for whom this book is intended can relate to this feeling of finding their own place in the world.

In the author’s note at the end of the audio book, Kirby Larson shares that she named the lead character of this book after her great-grandmother, Hattie Inez Brooks Wright, who actually did homestead by herself in eastern Montana as a young girl. While the letters and newspaper articles which open each chapter were not written by Larson’s great-grandmother, they were based upon dozens of actual journal and diary entries Larson read as she researched. The anti-German sentiment during the war is also true to the time-period and the scenarios relating this in the book are also based upon actual events. Letters to and from Hattie’s school chum Charlie, (a soldier overseas), paint an accurate picture of the difficult living conditions faced by both the Montana homesteaders and soldiers overseas.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

Newberry Honor Book

BOOKLIST review: “Larson's vivid descriptions of the harshness of the work and the extreme climates, and the strength that comes from true friendship, create a masterful picture of the homesteading experience and the people who persevered. Hattie's courage and fortitude are a tribute to them.”

KIRKUS reviews: Based on a bit of Larson's family history, this is not so much a happily-ever-after story as a next-year-will-be-better tale, with Hattie's new-found definition of home. This fine offering may well inspire readers to find out more about their own family histories.

AUDIOFILE review: “With considerable humor, Kirsten Potter employs a variety of old-fashioned Western accents to differentiate the cast of colorful characters. Potter excels at conveying the emotions that run high as Hattie faces the challenges of homestead life, including the bigotry of neighbors against the German-American friends who have helped her in every way.”

5. CONNECTIONS

Each chapter of this story opens as letters to a friend serving in the war, her Uncle Holt, or as a newspaper article. Encourage students to write about their own daily experiences in letters to soldiers overseas, relatives, or in a diary.

This novel would be an excellent read-aloud to supplement a Social Studies unit on World War I.

Other Historical Novels set during war-time:

Larson, Kirby.  The Fences Between Us: The Diary of Piper Davis, Seattle, Washington, 1941 (Dear America Series). ISBN 0545224187

Larson, Kirby. The Friendship Doll ISBN-10: 0385737459

Salisbury, Graham. Under the Blood-Red Sun ISBN 9780553494877

Review: WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE?: HOW ALICE ROOSEVELT BROKE THE RULES, CHARMED THE WORLD, AND DROVE HER FATHER TEDDY CRAZY! by Barbara Kerley

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kerley, Barbara. 2008. What to do about Alice? : How Alice Roosevelt broke the rules, charmed the world, and drove her father Teddy crazy! Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0-439-92231-3

2. PLOT SUMMARY

“Theodore Roosevelt had a small problem.” With these words, Barbara Kerley introduces the reader to Alice Lee Roosevelt, the oldest daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt. Alice’s voracious appetite for life is captured in this book and characterized by Kerley’s statement that Alice “ate up the world.” As a child, Alice rode her bicycle, roamed the streets of Washington, and even joined an all-boys club, (until her father found out). Alice was 17 when her father became president, and continued to flout the rules of social conventions by riding a bike, driving her own runabout, betting on horse races and two-stepping until the wee hours of the morning.

Despite this, she also became one of Theodore Roosevelt’s most trusted advisors and represented him as a goodwill ambassador in Cuba, Puerto Rico, China and many other countries. Alice married a congressman, and continued to be active in the political activities of Washington for the remainder of her life, eventually becoming known as “the other Washington Monument.”

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS   

This picture book biography is made up of both single and double-paged spreads depicting the life of Alice Roosevelt.  With fast-moving and humorous text, Kerley presents Alice Lee Roosevelt as a lively and adventurous character and provides readers with a fascinating glimpse of life in the White House. Edwin Fotheringham captures her vivacious personality in his illustrations which depict Alice racing through the pages of the book with a large spoon in one hand, peering around the column at the front of the White House with her pet snake twined around her arm, and jumping fully clothed onto a ship’s swimming pool. Dotted lines bounce from one point to another on the pages, and follow Alice, adding to the feeling of her rushing through life.

The book includes a 2-page Author’s note which contains background information about Alice Roosevelt’s life, quotes from both Alice and her father, and bibliographic sources used. All of these things make this an entertaining and fast-moving book, bound to interest the 7 to 11 year old children for whom it was written.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2002 SIBERT HONOR BOOK

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “This book provides a fascinating glimpse into both a bygone era and one of its more interesting denizens as well as a surefire antidote for any child who thinks that historical figures are boring.”

PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY review: Kids will embrace a heroine who teaches her younger stepsiblings to sled down the White House stairs ("Alice tried to be helpful," Kerley writes soberly as Fotheringham shows her in action), entertains dignitaries with her pet snake and captivates a nation with pranks and high jinks.

BOOKLIST STARRED review: “Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was”.

5. CONNECTIONS

Provide access to other biographies, (whether in books or on the internet), about president’s children, and invite students to write reports or create power point presentations about them. Students could write a more personal composition about what they think it would be like to be the child of the President of the United States.

Other biographies by Barbara Kerley:

Kerley, Barbara. Walt Whitman: Words for America. ISBN 0439357918

Kerley, Barbara. The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Suzy). ISBN 0545125081

Kerley, Barbara. The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins. ISBN 0439114950

Review: ENCANTADO: PINK DOLPHIN OF THE AMAZON by Sy Montgomery

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Montgomery, Sy. 2002. Encantado: Pink Dolphin of the Amazon. Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-618-13103-5

2. PLOT SUMMARY

In Encantado, Pink Dolphin of the Amazon, Sy Montgomery takes the reader on a breathtaking journey through the Amazon in search of the elusive pink dolphin. This dolphin is one of only five kinds of dolphins whose bodies are modified to live in fresh water. In the search for the pink dolphin, the reader is exposed to thousands of species of animals and plants that are not found anywhere else in the world: the 4 inch long pygmy marmoset, the tiny frogs which live their entire lives in a bromeliad’s bowl, and the arauana a yard-long fish which leaps out of the water to catch it’s prey, just to name a few. The reader learns that even though the pink dolphins may be all around, they are difficult to see due to the inky blackness of the Amazon. This book not only describes the unique features of the pink dolphin, but also exposes the destruction of the Amazon rain forest caused by fires to clear land for large plantations and pollution caused by mining companies.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Encantado, Pink Dolphin of the Amazon is written in the 2^nd person, which serves to engage the reader in the story by allowing them to imagine that they are there. Ex: “Bet you didn’t think that would be a problem when you left the United States.” The reader is also invited to imagine that their guide on the journey is the pink dolphin itself. As the reader is led through the Amazon, detailed photographs by Dianne Taylor-Snow add to the visual images created by the author’s words. Taylor-Snow has also included pictures of Chuckles, North America’s only captive pink river dolphin who lives in the Pittsburg zoo.

This book contains information gathered by the author on four separate trips to the Amazon. An interview with a dolphin researcher provides insight into the habits of the pink dolphin, while an interview with a professor of biology who specializes in paleontology gives scientific information linking many of the creatures from the Amazon with their dinosaur relatives. Local people are also interviewed, and their stories and folklore of the region add to the mystery of this area of the world which still contains many unanswered questions. Time-lines and maps supplement the textual and pictorial information in a user-friendly format which is easy for a young reader to understand. The end pages of the book contain information about how the book was researched, and numerous fascinating facts about the creatures and plants of the Amazon.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

*Winner of the 2000 IRA Children’s Book Award for Nonfiction

*An Orbis Pictus Honor Book

* Booklist Editor’s Choice for 1999

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “The author's sense of wonder at this spectacular environment and this unusual animal is infectious and makes for a nonfiction title that inspires as it informs.”

BOOKLIST review: Gr. 5-8. “Instead of a traditional animal study, children are treated to a captivating travelogue, complete with numerous color photos of the people and places that incorporate political, environmental, and zoological aspects of the region.”… “children with a taste for adventure will enjoy this enthusiastic field trip to the rainforest and chance meetings with everything from cute monkeys to stinging black ants.”

5. CONNECTIONS

Geography: give students maps of South America and have them trace the path of the Amazon.

Research: Have students research the different types of dolphins and whales recorded in existence and make comparisons. Using simple copies of a world map, students should record their findings by color-coding the maps to match the location of the different types of dolphins and whales.

*Related books:

Montgomery, Sy. Journey of the Pink Dolphins: An Amazon Quest. ISBN: 0743200268

Graf, Mike. Land and Water: The Amazon River. ISBN: 0736824820

Simons, Seymour. Dolphins. ISBN: 0060283939

Butterfield, Moira. Amazon Rainforest. ISBN: 0824985664

Review: BODIES FROM THE ICE:MELTING GLACIERS AND THE RECOVERY OF THE PAST by James M. Deem

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Deem, James M. 2008. Bodies from the ice: melting glaciers and the recovery of the past. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-618-80045-X.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Imagine hiking in the beautiful mountain scenery of northern Italy and discovering trash there. Now imagine that you find out the trash is the remains of a human from over 5,300 years ago. This is the scene which opens “Bodies from the Ice” by James M. Deem. Using photographic records and maps, Deem shows how the glaciers which have been in existence for thousands of years are now melting at an alarming rate and revealing the secrets of what lies beneath them. The Mummified remains and the artifacts buried with them have been found from several different time periods and in different glacial regions of the world.

 Some of the bodies found were not accident victims, but deliberate burials. Centuries-old remains of Incan children found in South America’s Andes Mountains reveal evidence that they were sacrificed as part of a ritual. Even as these historically valuable discoveries are made, scientists are concerned about the future survival of the glaciers and the impact their loss will have on the environment. Deem urging the readers to visit an alpine glacier while they can.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book chronicles the disappearance of the glaciers from the face of the earth by showing measurable photographic evidence to document how much of the glaciers have disappeared over the years. It is full of photographs of the melting glaciers, the treasures which have been discovered under them, and private collections of artifacts. The table of contents and index serve as useful guides and provide easy access to information in this book. Individual chapters give detailed facts about types of glaciers, how they move, and why bodies have been so well preserved under them.  A two page bibliography and acknowledgement page list the sources used to compile information in this book, and illustration credits are listed for the full color photographs used in the book. Lists of recommended web sites, glaciers to visit, and suggestions of personal ways to help the environment round out this informative book.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: With its extensive bibliography, suggested Web sites, and a listing of glaciers to visit, Bodies is a fantastic resource. Deem superbly weaves diverse geographical settings, time periods, and climate issues into a readable work that reveals the increasing interdisciplinary dimensions of the sciences.

BOOKLIST review: “There are books about melting glaciers and books about frozen bodies, but this attractive offering combines the topics in a way that will intrigue readers.”… “Heavily illustrated with historical memorabilia as well as photos of bodies, scenery, artifacts, and rather simplistic maps, this offers a lot to look at and learn about.”

5. CONNECTIONS

Invite children to write their opinion of whether or not glaciers will disappear from the world, or if another ice-age will occur. Students should research the topic using books and internet information.

Invite children to research and write or create a poster about one of the glaciers mentioned at the end of the book.

Other books about glaciers:

Webster, Christine. Glaciers. ISBN 1590363094

Nadia Higgins. Welcome to Glacier National Park. ISBN 978-1-59296-696-7

Mis, Melody S. Exploring Glaciers. ISBN 1435827147