Readspace

We read books and then tell you about them

Archives

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2 other subscribers

Review: Lincoln: A Photobiography

April 6, 2008 No comments

Bibliography:
Freedman, Russell. 1987. Lincoln: A photobiography. New York, N.Y.: Clarion Books. ISBN: 0899193803.

Plot Summary:
This award winning biography covers the life of one of the most important figures in American history with high-resolution mid-19th century photography and reprints of handwritten documents composed by Lincoln. The life of the sixteenth president is covered from his humble youth in a one room log cabin to his travels across the Midwest as a tireless lawyer, and finally to the years he spent changing the course of American history in Washington D.C.

Critical Analysis:
Freedman’s treatment of the subject takes readers from merely learning rote facts about a historical figure to gaining a full sense of what the man behind the legend was really like. Lincoln’s persona and physical characteristics are brought alive in this biography, and that’s before one even glances at the intriguing photographs. Anyone with an appreciation for photography will understand the complexity of the pictures presented in the text, and as described within Lincoln’s story, readers will realize that Lincoln himself had a slight fascination with his own portraits.

Some readers will probably be surprised to learn some of the details about Lincoln, such as the fact that he was not always regarded as such a fine president, and was only glorified after his death. Another interesting observation about the time period is how Lincoln, as well as many other prominent figures of the time, earned so many nicknames.

Freedman also includes at the end of the book a section called the Lincoln Sampler, which includes quotes from the president, a listing of places that Lincoln fans could visit, and a bibliography of other books about Lincoln.

Awards:
Newbery Award Winner – 1988
Jefferson Cup Award
Golden Kite Honor Book Award
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal: “Well-organized and well-written, this is an outstanding example of what (juvenile) biography can be. Like Lincoln himself, it stands head and shoulders above its competition.” – Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Booklist, Editor’s Choice: “A realistic, perceptive, and unromanticized photobiography of Lincoln, including a sampler of quotations from his writings and speeches.” – Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved.

Connections:

  • Consult Freedman’s bibliography at the end of his book to find more interesting biographies and reference books about Lincoln.
  • If possible, visit one of the sites listed at the end of book, and perhaps take a class field trip to experience the retracing of Lincoln’s steps.
  • Have students rewrite the Gettysburg address using more colloquial language (rather than the old-fashioned formal language of which it was delivered). This might provide a better insight into the meaning of the speech if the language was more “current”.

Children's Lit , , , ,

Review: The Green Glass Sea

March 24, 2008 No comments

green glass seaBibliography:
Klages, Ellen. 2006. The Green Glass Sea. New York, N.Y.: Viking. ISBN: 0670061344.

Plot Summary:
In 1943 the world was occupied with war and almost-11 year old Dewey Kerrigan was waiting for her father to pick her up. Instead, Dewey finds herself transported by cars and trains from St. Louis to a city in New Mexico that was so top secret it wasn’t marked on the map. Throughout the next two years, Dewey faces several challenges including her developing interest in engineering, adapting to life on “the hill”, various new friendships, and her reconnecting with her father. Dewey and the other children in Los Alamos are oblivious to the impact that will be made by “the gadget” that is conceived in their backyards. But even when the gadget is brought out for all to see, uncertainty still plagues Dewey and her neighbors.

Critical Analysis:
The Green Glass Sea is primarily about family and courage. The spotlight is on the characters and their lives with the unique setting taking a backseat to the trials and tribulations of the families who live there. Readers first become acquainted with Dewey and realize that she’s quite cool and mature despite the lack of consistency in her life. The little girl seems able to easily deflect taunts from her peers and form friendships with whomever will treat her with respect. Eventually, readers also get to know Suze and her family, who try hard to keep their bonds strong during the long working hours.

Suze and Dewey experience maturation as they forge a friendship based on their unique interests and skills. The girls summon bravery as they face ridicule and teasing from their peers, and realize that courage brings great rewards in the form of a strong friendship. The friendship inspires Dewey to be brave when she finds out the devastating news that she won’t have to wait for her father to return ever again. Dewey also struggles with insecurity when she fears the outcome of her living situation when the war is over.

One very interesting facet of this story is the inclusion of real-life characters such as J. Robert Oppenheimer (“Oppie”), Richard Feynman, and Enrico Fermi. Of course, only readers who have plenty of prior knowledge about the Manhattan project will recognize these characters instantly, but even readers who discover the real history after reading this novel will appreciate the fictional close encounter with the famous men. The Trinitite described at the end of the book is also a fascinating curiosity to research after reading the novel.

Awards:
2007 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction

Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal: “Many readers will know as little about the true nature of the project as the girls do, so the gradual revelation of facts is especially effective, while those who already know about Los Alamos’s historical significance will experience the story in a different, but equally powerful, way.” – Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Booklist: “The novel occasionally gets mired down in detail, but the characters are exceptionally well drawn, and the compelling, unusual setting makes a great tie-in for history classes. ” – Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved.

Connections:

  • Read and compare to another juvenile fiction book on the same subject: The Gadget by Paul Zindel.
  • Use the Internet or other resources to find photographs of and quick facts about Trinitite. Also interesting to see post-read are photos and video of the Trinity bomb test.

Children's Lit , , ,

Review: Hitler Youth

March 17, 2008 No comments

hitlerBibliography:
Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler’s shadow. New York: Scholastic Nonfiction. ISBN: 0439353793.

Plot Summary:
Much is known about the events leading up to and throughout World War II, but little focus is placed on the young Germans who pledged strong allegiences to Hitler and their Motherland.  These allegiances led many kids of the Hitler Youth to commit acts of anti-semitism, denounce their families and faith, and participate in some of the atrocities during the war.  Bartoletti shares some of the stories of the kids who quickly grew out of their innocence and grew up saluting the Nazi regime. 

Critical Analysis:
Bartoletti gives a powerful voice to the kids of the Nazi Party during the 30′s and 40′s.  Their stories are woven into the standard historical WWII narrative, and given more spotlight than Hitler himself.  The Hitler Youth came from varied backgrounds and had differing ideals, but they all wanted the same thing for Germany: success.  Bartoletti unobjectively describes the plight of the kids who joined the ranks and sometimes fought for their country, but she does often mention how the Nazi’s used the youngsters as a strategy. 

Nearly every page features a crisp black and white photograph to add visual imagery to the stories.  Some of the youth showcased in the book have more text and photographs to elaborate their tales.  Bartoletti has related the genuine feelings endured by the youth of Germany during this time, and those feelings reverberate in everyone, still.

Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal: “Bartoletti lets many of the subjects’ words, emotions, and deeds speak for themselves, bringing them together clearly to tell this story unlike anyone else has.”– Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Booklist Starred Review: “The handsome book design, with black-and-white historical photos on every double-page spread, will draw in readers and help spark deep discussion, which will extend beyond the Holocaust curriculum.” – Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Connections:

  • Discuss with age-appropriate kids (high school) why people were drawn to the Hitler Youth organizations. 
  • Read other books on the same topic
    • Hitler Youth: Marching Toward Madness by Alexa Dvorson
    • Hans and Sophie Scholl: German Resisters of the White Rose by Toby Axelrod
    • A Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Germany in the 1930s by Henry Metelmann

Teen Lit , ,

Review: The Man-Eating Tigers of Sundarbans

March 15, 2008 No comments

tigersBibliography:
Montgomery, Sy. 2001. The Man-Eating Tigers of Sundarbans. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 0618077049.

Plot Summary:
Contrary to myth, nearly all animals are not known to be aggressive enough to attack man unless circumstances prompt them to do so. Creatures that invoke terror in human-kind, such as sharks, bears, and tigers have proven their avoidance of humans unless all other prey are absent. So, why then – as Sy Montgomery wonders – have the tigers in a far-eastern corner of India chosen to attack and eat hundreds of humans despite the fine conditions in which they live? Montgomery explores the tales and facts surrounding the strange happenings, particularly involving the ferocious tigers, in the Sundarbans.

Critical Analysis:
Anyone with an appreciation for animals will eagerly anticipate learning about these mysterious tigers that live in souteast asia.  Montgomery provides information about the animals’ behavior as well as the peculiararities of the region itself.  The narrative is written in second person, which may make the reader feel invited to join the journey.  There are colorful descriptions of the mangrove forests and the variety of other creatures that live in the area.

Montgomery delves into the possibilities of why the tigers seem to be attacking humans.  She explores the conditions and climate, the local population, and provides numerous facts that may contribute to the strange phenomenon.  The most important idea that Montgomery tries to convey is the fact that the tigers’ predatory nature is actually a natural defense of the seaside forests in which they live.    This and other mythological and historical perspectives frame the intriguing story about the tigers.

Montgomery has included photographs of the landscape, the people that live there, and of course, the tigers.  However, the tigers featured in the book were photographed in captivity, which is a bit of a dissapointment considering that the entire book is based on the rare sightings of these animals. 

Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal: “Montgomery invites readers to journey with her to the region to better understand these elusive animals.” – Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Booklist: “It’s the text, with as many questions as answers, that excites, as a fascinating topic meets a talented storyteller.” - Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Connections:

  • Discuss with age-appropriate children (middle school) possible reasons for the tigers’ behavior.
  • Read similar books by Sy Montgomery such as: Encantado: Pink Dolphin of the Amazon and Snake Scientist.
  • Check out a website devoted to the same topic: http://www.lairweb.org.nz/tiger/maneating7.html

Children's Lit , , ,

Review: Out of Sight

March 14, 2008 No comments

out of sightBibliography:
Simon, Seymour. 2000. Out of Sight: Pictures of hidden worlds. New York: SeaStar Books. ISBN: 1587170116.

Plot Summary:
Out of Sight is a collection of several full-color photographs of the mundane that most people never get to see.  From barely detectable subatomic particles to the unimaginably enormous nebulae, Simon puts things into perspective by providing a short descriptive paragraph for each photo.  The photos are arranged into categories such as “Hidden Worlds Around You”, which features tiny bugs and velcro magnified hundreds of times.  “Hidden Worlds Inside Your Body” shows X-ray photos of heads, hands and eyes, “Hidden Worlds of the Earth” contains satellite photos of the terrain as seen from Earth’s orbit, and “Hidden Worlds of Space” showcases the surreal glimpses of very far away places in the universe.

Critical Analysis:
Seymour Simon is well-known for his exploratory non-fiction books that feature large, full-color photographs with simple explanations to accompany the images.  Through his body of work, children are able to stare at sights that they may never see for themselves, and learn much about the world from a simple, short book.  Out of Sight incorporates many kinds of science, from biology to astrology, but variety is key to this book.  Simon never overwhelms the reader, and if nothing else, he manages to inspire the reader to learn more about the subjects pictured.  Sometimes, it seems that the typical 32 pages isn’t enough, and one might even be disappointed to come to the end.  Simon’s work has become classic staple among non-fiction readers.

In Out of Sight, Simon has collected many types of photography from university and government collections.  Readers will be able to see and enjoy the many different kinds of technology used to capture the images.  The scanning electron micrograph, infrared, strobes, and satellites are just some of the ways that scientists get a view of small, fast, or enormous things.  By including the different types of photography, Simon enhances the readers’ knowledge of technology as well as the science behind the images.

Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal: “This book would work well with an adult who wants to share the wonders of science with young children. Older elementary students will be able to read it on their own, although the striking presentation will also appeal to younger browsers.” – Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Publisher’s Weekly: “Photos of objects beyond the detection of the human eye, either because they are infinitesimal, too large, too far away or hidden inside the human body, are reproduced with remarkable clarity in Simon’s insightful volume.” – Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Connections:

  • Choose another Seymour Simon book based on your favorite images from Out of Sight.  He’s published many books on all of the subjects covered in this work.
  • Use the Internet or works published in the last year to find more current photographs of the subjects pictured in Out of Sight.  Compare photographs to see improvements in technology or find out what scientists have learned in the last eight years about these topics.

Children's Lit , ,
Powered by WordPress Web Design by SRS Solutions © 2012 Readspace Design by SRS Solutions

Bad Behavior has blocked 294 access attempts in the last 7 days.