The Eternal Smile by Gene Luen Yang & Derek Kirk Kim

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Yang, Gene Luen. 2009. The Eternal Smile. Ill. by Derek Kirk Kim. New York: First Second. ISBN 1-59643-156-3

PLOT SUMMARY

This graphic novel contains three insightful stories. In the first, "Duncan's Kingdom," Duncan  is in love with a princess and has to go on a challenge to prove himself.  However, when he confronts a dragon who has something he wants, Duncan has to make a choice. "Gran'pa Greenbax and the Eternal Smile" is about a greedy, old frog whose dream is to have a “pool o’gold” so deep that when he jumps in, he never hits the bottom. He discovers that his dream wasn't what he thought, although it's still golden. In "Urgent Request" Janet receives an email from an African Prince requesting help; he needs her bank account information so he can send all his family’s wealth out of his country.  Here is her opportunity to prove her importance…and to meet a handsome prince. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
2010 Eisner Award Winner, American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults, CCBC Choice, Booklist Top 10 Graphic Novels for Youth and Texas Maverick Graphic Novel List, The Eternal Smile was created by the award winning duo Gene Luen Yang (Printz and Eisner awards) and Derek Kirk Kim (Ignatz, Eisner and Harvey awards)

Yang has written three stories that delve into modern culture. The common theme is false reality; their lives are illusions.  He also touches on teenage angst, abuse, greed, and loneliness. Yang is connected to pop culture and writes with wit and insight. Although all three stories are set in different worlds, they all contain a positive note about being able to take control of their own lives instead of someone else controlling them.  In "Duncan's Kingdom," Duncan is offered the opportunity to be and to get anything he wants, but instead he decides "I owe my mom an apology" and chooses to go back (wake up) to his mother who is in an abusive relationship. "Gran'pa Greenbax" is about greed and materialism and how we can lose ourselves to feed the need for more.  However, when confronted with the eternal smile, Gran'pa drops to his knees and says "...you know what happened! You know my heart, don't you?"  His heart's desire is finally fulfilled by his being a real frog, not the celebrity he had become.  In "Urgent Request," Janet is called “insignificant” by her boss and is forgotten outside her apartment all night by her landlord. Depressed, she accepts an email from an African prince (actually a local college student), although she knows she's being mislead. Within her fantasy, however, she's gains self-confidence. 

Kim uses different styles of illustration for each story. “Duncan’s Kingdom” has two distinct looks; set in cartoon like frames, when Duncan is on his adventure, the background is bright, but in his dream state, it’s dark and gloomy.  "Gran'pa Greenbax" has bright, blocky illustrations which are defined and upfront –just like greed. In “Urgent Request” Janet appears small in her workplace.  However, once she begins to feel more in control, the illustrations zoom in giving the impression that she's bigger and becoming stronger emotionally and physically.  

The Eternal Smile is a crowd-pleaser for graphic novel enthusiasts who also like to think about the world around them.  Meant for 7th grade and up, there are hints of sexuality and themes that are inappropriate for younger readers. 



REVIEW EXCERPTS

A rousing and thought-provoking exploration of fantasy versus reality from the much-lauded comics veterans Yang and Kim...Readers looking for another American Born Chinese...may be pleasantly surprised: While a very different format both visually and thematically, this book offers similarly plotted ingenious twists. Begging for multiple readings, this exceptionally clever examination of fantasy and perception is one to be pored over and ruminated upon. - Kirkus Reviews

Yang and Kim are expert storytellers and work well together her to present three tales with fablelike takeaways...Artwork in each of the stories is stylistically different and wholly appropriate to the theme of the specific tale. Smart teens will enjoy this thoroughly and will push it into friends'-and hopefully even adults'-hands for discussions around topics ranging from political insights to how narrative creates personal identity. - School Library Journal 

These three modern-day fables all feature lead characters who live in escapist fantasies but then are jerked rudely awake.  Tragedy, angst, and anomie? Surprisingly, no...Kim's attractive color art varies for each story...Winning characters and unorthodox, compelling plot twists make this trio of tales highly recommended for teen and adult collections.  Excellent also for educators as case studies to teach comics and short story writing. With a few mild sexual references. - Library Journal

Comic book creators Gene Luen Yang and Derek Kirk Kim offer three very different stories about the nature of reality and happiness..by turns humorous, poignant, and painful, manages to constantly surprise readers with its unexpected plot twists while also offering a fun exploration of existentialism. Comic fans will also appreciate...Kim's versatile artwork, which ranges from superhero-style art to animal cartoon drawings to picture-book quality illustrations.  Thought-provoking and wonderfully offbeat.  The Eternal Smile can encourage both repeat readings and group discussion. - Children's Literature

...Shattering the borders between our real and fantasy lives, these bold, masterfully crafted fables have real staying power. - Publishers Weekly

Visually, each story is a world unto itself, drastically different from the others but defined by a well-polished sensibility that works wonders in concert with the multiple-layered themes being explored.  Absolutely not to be missed by anyone who welcomes the leaps available solely to graphic storytelling. - Booklist


A trio of stories from Printz Award winning author Yang and Eisner Award winning author Kim make up this delightful graphic novel...The three tales are dark in tone, but they are leavened by hope. They never go exactly where the reader expects and the results are compelling. - VOYA



CONNECTIONS
- For students who would learn more about the creators of the book and the writing/illustration process,will enjoy reading a few of the interviews they gave.
Comic Book Resources:  http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=21473
Graphic Novel Reporter: http://www.graphicnovelreporter.com/content/smile-you-mean-it-interview
Inkstuds Podcast: http://www.inkstuds.org/derek-kirk-kim-and-gene-yang/

- Gene Yang offers questions he created for a book club or a book talk with the class. The questions he developed are excellent for class discussions about dishonesty, personal change, flaws, etc. Here is an example of one question offered by Yang.
1. In each story of the Eternal Smile, the main character makes a dishonorable choice that eventually leads to the truth. Duncan breaks his promise to the Frog King. Gran'pa Greenbax lets his temper get the better of him and murders Filbert. Janet manipulates Steve into going on a date with her.  In each case, do you believe the end result justifies the means?
 http://www.geneyang.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry100518-014453

- If your school has an account for teachingbooks.net, here is a 5 minute audio of Gene Yang discussing the creation of the book. http://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=3598&a=1

-In English class, students can create their own comic book and story using the Comic Master website:  www.comicmaster.org.uk

-In collaboration with the art teacher, have students create a short story using different art styles, for example, anime, storybook illustrations, comic book, etc.

-If students enjoyed this book, they may want to read others by the author and illustrator.
Books by Gene Luen Yang
   -American Born Chinese. ISBN 0312384483
   -Avatar: the last airbender (graphic novel series)
   -Level Up. ISBN 1596432357

Books by Derek Kirk Kim
   -Same Difference. ISBN 1596436573
   -Good as Lily. ISBN 1401213812

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gaiman Neil. 2008. The Graveyard Book. Read by Neil Gaiman. Prince Frederick, MD: Recorded Books. ISBN 9781436158848

PLOT SUMMARY
After the murder of his family, toddler Nobody Owens (Bod), wonders into a graveyard where he's taken in by a childless, ghostly couple.  Bod finds it quite normal to be raised, educated and protected by witches, ghosts and Silas, who is not of the living or the dead. However, Bod must be careful never to leave the graveyard or he'll come under attack from the mysterious Jack, who killed his family.  Who is Jack and why is he after Bod?  Narrated by the author, this unabridged audio book will thrill you with its ghostly images about a young boy growing up in a very different world from our own. 


CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The Graveyard Book is the first book to win both the Newbery (US) and Carnegie (UK) Medals. It also won the 2009 Hugo Award for Best Novel. In this 7 CD, unabridged audio book, the author himself is the narrator and is excellent narrating his own book.   His pacing is slow and menacing when telling Jacks story, yet speeds up in a youthful chatter when young Bod. On occasion, the character's accents aren't differentiated enough, but it may just be a case of an American listening to an English accent. 

This modern ghost story is about growing up in a graveyard, making friends, and solving the mystery of who killed his family and why.  Set somewhere in England, the ghosts, ghouls, witches and other beings speak in the linguistic English in which they died and Gaiman seems to have fun with a variety of accents.  The graveyard has been there since the time of the Druids and hasn't had any new inhabitants in over 100 years, and Bod is educated about events spanning from Pagan to Victorian times.    

Gaiman has created likable graveyard characters and each have an interesting back story to how they ended up in the graveyard.  Jack is both scary (the description of him murdering Jack's family) and comical (he still lives with his mother!) On occasion, Gaiman has Bod and his friend, Savannah, sound too mature for their age, but it doesn't distract from the story. Although the story ends somewhat predictably, the twist about Jack is fun and insightful.  

This is a horror story that is enjoyable for children 10+.   Although this reviewer's son wasn't interested in reading the book, he definitely enjoyed the audiobook. There are some vivid descriptions that may disturb younger readers/listeners, but nothing is prolonged and Gaiman quickly moves on to Bod's next adventure. Highly recommended. 


REVIEW EXCERPTS
The book's power lies in Gaiman's ability to bring to quirky life..the graveyard's many denizens, including a protective vampire and a feisty medieval witch. ...this novel proves rich, bittersweet and very satisfying. - The Washington Post

"The Graveyard Book, by turns exciting and witty, sinister and tender, shows Gaiman at the top of his form. In this novel of wonder, Neil Gaiman follows in the footsteps of long-ago storytellers, weaving a tale of unforgettable enchantment." - The New York Times Book Review

"Lucid, evocative prose and dark fairy-tale motifs imbue the story with a dreamlike quality...this ghost-story-cum-coming-of-age novel as readable as it is accomplished." - Horn Book, Starred review

"This is an utterly captivating take that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of ghostly characters. There is plenty of darkness, but the novel's ultimate message is strong and life affirming...this is a rich story with broad appeal." - BookList, Starred review

"It's hard to think of a more delightful and scary place to spend 300 pages." - The Guardian 

"The graveyard book is suspenseful and exciting. It seems dark, but also has a strong message within the ghostly characters which is "listen to your guardians!" Nicholas G. Malanga - reviewer's son

CONNECTIONS

-Watch Neil Gaimon read the entire The Graveyard Book and answer questions while on a book tour.
http://www.mousecircus.com/videotour.aspx

-Neil Gaiman is well-known for his strange, creative, and often, creepy, books.  Here are just a few of his other books students may enjoy.
    -Coraline. 2002. ISBN 0-06-113937-8  
    -Stardust. 1999. ISBN 978-0-380-97728-4                              
    -Anansi Boys. 2005.  ISBN 0-06-051518-X        
    -M is for magic. 2009. ISBN 1439583447

-Here are two Neil Gaimon's websites which have many interesting links.
    - http://www.neilgaiman.com/   
    - http://www.mousecircus.com/  (for younger students)

- Neil Gaimon has created three games that correspond to the book.  Have students play the games after they've read the book to create new connections.
   -http://www.mousecircus.com/GraveyardSudoku.aspx (Sudoku)
   -http://www.mousecircus.com/CrypticConnection.aspx  (Cryptic Connections)
   -http://www.mousecircus.com/EternalWords.aspx (Scrambled words)

-There are many types of monsters mentioned in the book, including werewolves, vampires, witches, ghouls, etc.  Have books nearby on these topics for students to continue reading. Here are some suggestions.
    -Dell, Christopher. Monsters: a bestiary of devils, demons, vampires, werewolves, and other magical creatures. ISBN 978-1-594-77394-5
   -Hawes, Jason. Ghost hunt: chilling tales of the unknown. ISBN  0316099597
   -Jeffrey, Gary. Werewolves. ISBN 1433960516

I am the messenger by Markus Zusak

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Zusak, Markus.  2002. I am the messenger. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-375-83099-5

PLOT SUMMARY
Ed Kennedy - "taxi driver, local loser, cornerstone of mediocrity, sexual midget, pathetic card player...and weird shit magnet" is lonely and down on himself.  Even his mom doesn't seem to like him. Ed's life revolves around his stinky dog, driving a cab, yearning for a girl who doesn't notice him, and playing cards with his equally lonely and pathetic friends.  Then one day Ed mysteriously receives the Ace of Diamonds in the mail. When he continues to receive cards, Ed is afraid of the Ace of Spades, yet it's the Ace of Hearts that may change his life the most.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Winner of the 2006 Michael L. Printz Honor, 2006 Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book, 2005 Publisher's Weekly Best Books of the Year: Children and the 2003 Children's Book Council Book of the Year Award in Australia, Zusak has created a touching story about an unmotivated, lonely guy who, through a series of events, discovers that by helping others, he's helping himself.  Set in a small Australian town, we can feel Ed and his friends apathy towards life. Zusak's characters are unflinchingly real in this story about growing up - even if you're mostly already grown.  Although the mood of the book starts off quite bleak, it ends on a positive note as Ed gains self-esteem and confidence.

Although the book leans towards realistic fiction, the plot is far-fetched and has a fantasy element. There is too much investment from the mysterious person who is sending the cards, unless it's a guardian angel who has knowledge of Ed's predetermined destiny.  The book could easily be turned into a screenplay and it would be a great, inspirational movie.  Plot aside, it's Ed's burgeoning self-awareness that moves the story along.  We can't help but root for Ed as he takes on each challenge and begins to see himself in a different light, "I see the pitiful nature of my life...But then I see my eyes become determined. I see a future version of myself..."

Zusak's writing is almost poetic.  Every sentence has meaning, and quite often, Ed comes out with powerful and insightful statements. Upon seeing a family, he shows how lonely he is by stating, "They look like the type of family who tell each other they love each other when they go to bed, and when they wake up, and before they go to work." In considering each task, Ed states that some of the events "hold me up," while others "strips me and hands shivers to my skin and to my flesh and bones." The reader is left in anticipation of the next card and the tasks Ed will need to complete - it's interesting to watch how it will change the other person's life and how it will affect Ed.

Although the ending is not really plausible, it doesn't really matter. The girl he loves states "You used to just be...now you're somebody, Ed."   It's a beautiful moment when Ed realizes that "...I feel like somehow I introduced myself. To myself. And here I am."  Teenagers need that type of reinforcement - that their lives are up to them and to make of it what they will.  In Zusak's book, they'll find out that through small, positive changes, they can become the person they want to be..or someone they never thought they could be.  Always a good message.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

"This book is a mystery in itself.  The organization is curious, the writing suspenseful, and the idea intriguing.  These make it a close-to-perfect book - if it weren't for the flawed ending.  Still, it is an engrossing read. - Children's Literature

This dense literary novel is heavy on plotting, secondary characters...and belated coming-of-age anguish, all pulled together with the dazzling first person, sometimes sentence-fragmented voice of Ed Kennedy...Although the curtain pulling at the book's finale is more of a whimper than a bang, Ed's journey into secret lives is so emotional and intellectually challenging that older readers will enjoy the trip.  - VOYA

...the true driving force behind the novel itself is reader's knowledge that behind every turn looms the unknown presence-either good or evil-of the person or persons sending the messages.  Zusak's characters, styling, and conversations are believably unpretentious, well conceived, and appropriately raw.  Together, these key elements fuse into an enigmatically dark, almost film-noir atmosphere where unknowingly lost Ed Kennedy stumbles onto a mystery-or series of mysteries-that could very well make or break his life. - School Library Journal

"Elegant, philosophical and moving...Beautiful and important. -Kirkus Reviews, Starred

"Exquisitely written and memorably populated, Zusak's poignant tribute to words, survival, and their curiously inevitable entwinement is a tour de force to be not just read but inhabited." - The Horn Book Magazines, Starred

"One of the most highly anticipated young-adult books in years." - The Wall Street Journal

"Funny, engrossing, and suspenseful." - KLIATT, Starred

CONNECTIONS

-The author's website is interesting and students may want to learn more about the author and his books. http://www.randomhouse.com/features/markuszusak/

-I am the messenger has great topics for class discussions.  Some questions you may want to consider discussing with the class.
   1.  Have you ever helped someone and it made you feel better?  What was the other person's response?
   2.  In what ways is responding to the challenges physical, intellectual and emotional?
   3.  What does the story say about responding to challenges?  Consider overcoming fear, positive/negative reactions to the challenge, and the different phases of meeting challenges.

-The book mentions a variety of books, music, and movies.  Have students listen, read or watch one of the sources mentioned in the book and discuss how it relates to the character and within the story. (Examples, Bob Dylan, Sylvia Path, Cool Hand Luke, Graham Greene...)

- Markus Zusak has created teacher notes which can be used when discussing the book.
http://www.panmacmillan.com.au/resources/MZ-MessengerRTC.pdf
http://www.panmacmillan.com.au/resources/MZ-Messengernotes.pdf

-Random House has created a Reader's Guide that is valuable for discussion points.
http://www.randomhouse.biz/booksellers/childrens/files/2010/03/IAmMessenger_RderGd_WEB.pdf

-Students may want to read Zusak's other award winning book The Book Thief.  ISBN 978-0-375-84220-7

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis (unabridged audiobook)

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Curtis, Christopher Paul. 2008. Elijah of Buxton. Narrated by Mirron Willis. New York: Listening Library. ISBN 9780739367193

PLOT SUMMARY 
Elijah is 11 years old and was the first person to be free-born in Buxton, Canada - a settlement community for free and escaped slaves.  In this humorous and heart-breaking story, Elijah and the community join together to help each other and anyone else who can escape slavery and make it to the settlement.  Although Elijah and his family consider him "frag'ile" Elijah soon shows how strong he can be when the money Mr. Leroy has saved to purchase his family from slavery is stolen. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Elijah of Buxton won the 2009 Odyssey Honor Award, 2008 Newbery Honor Book, 2008 Coretta Scott King Award, Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, 2009 ALSC Notable Children's Recordings, and the Book of the Year for Children Award from the Canadian Library Association. Although the story starts off slowly, like Elijah's favorite donkey, Christopher Paul Curtis writes with humor, while keeping steady and true to the harsh realities of the heartbreak that is slavery.  

Although the main story is about freedom and slavery, the story also contains themes of injustice, community, friendship and growing up. The sense of community is so strong and beautiful that it often made me cry.  As Elijah and his mother walk to a neighbor's house to inform her of bad news, more and more neighbors join in carrying food to help comfort and support the family. It's while reading the letter, Elijah begins to prove to himself and his family that he's becoming "growed up." Curtis includes real historical facts about Buxton such as the founding of Buxton by the Reverend William King. 

In this unabridged audio version of the book, Mirron Willis does an excellent job of using the language and dialect of the time.  Although this story would also be a fantastic read, listening to the different characters really made each person's back story stand out. On occasion  this reviewer and her son noticed that Willis's accent wavered on the main character of Elijah, but was particularly convincing with his use of a slithery, sleezy voice for the scoundrel preacher.  However, Willis was able to successfully navigate a plethora of characters, from a very young boy to an older female neighbor.  His reading made the story come alive. 


REVIEW EXCERPTS 
Floating up like a bubble through layers of history, buoyed with hope and comic energy...Curtis is a master at balancing the serious and the lighthearted.  His latest book is another natural award candidate and makes an excellent case, in a story positively brimming with both truth and sense, for the ability of historical fiction to bring history to life. --The New York Times

The arresting historical setting and physical comedy signal classic Curtis (Bud, Not Buddy), but while Elijah's boyish voice represents the Newbery Medalist at his finest, the story unspools at so leisurely a pace that kids might easily lose interest. Readers meet Buxton's citizens, people who have known great cruelty and yet are uncommonly polite and welcoming to strangers...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.  --Publishers Weekly

Christopher Paul Curtis knows how to write characters so engaging and believable you want to meet them in person. In fact, after reading his books, you feel like you have. ...another novel with heart and meaning wrapped in rollicking humor. Readers will slip into the story as they, along with eleven-year-old Elijah, assume a life of freedom, but this is the 1850's and slavery still exists in America, alarmingly close to the freed slave community of Buxton, Canada..Elijah's heroism is believable, growing from almost accidental, to faltering, to determined, albeit limited, saving one tiny soul rather than a whole group, which is all that can be expected of a child. Indeed, giving a child the opportunity to learn the horrors of the past but understand the hope of the future is the most we can ask of a character—and of an author. --Children's Literature

...This engrossing tale is read by Mirron Willis who effortlessly varies his rich, textured voice to make each character unique. This story will captivate listeners.--School Library Journal

...This is not a zip-ahead-and-see-what-happens-next novel. It's for settling into and savoring the rich, masterful storytelling, for getting to know Elijah, Cooter and the Preacher, for laughing at stories of hoop snakes, toady-frogs and fish-head chunking and crying when Leroy finally gets money to buy back his wife and children, but has the money stolen. Then Elijah journeys to America and risks his life to do what's right. This is Curtis's best novel yet, and no doubt many readers, young and old, will finish and say, "This is one of the best books I have ever read." --Kirkus Reviews


CONNECTIONS
-To get students interested in the book, have them view this short video with the author explaining why he wrote Elijah of Buxton. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GdevJ6jjHI

-Before students read the book, have students do research on the Underground Railroad.  What's the definition? Who was involved?  What were the dangers? 

-Buxton is a real city in Ontario, Canada.  Have students view the website for Buxton and review the virtual exhibits and the learning centre for more infomration and educational resources. http://www.buxtonmuseum.com/

- Locate Buxton, Canada, on a map.  In the Underground Railroad, there were "stations" that helped slaves escape.  What would a station look like? What qualities made a good station? How did slaves find stations if they were secret? One family escaped from Arkansas to Buxton. Map out a possible route they took to get to Buxton. 

-Students may also enjoy reading other books Curtis has written. 
     -Bud, not Buddy. ISBN 978-0553494105
     -The Watson's go to Birmingham - 1963. ISBN 978-0440228004
     -The might Miss Malone. ISBN 978-0440422143

Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

Bibliography
Yelchin, Eugene. 2011. Breaking Stalin's Nose. New York: Holt. ISBN 978-0-8050-9216-5

Plot Summary
Young Sasha's dream is about to come true.  Tomorrow, he will become a Young Soviet Pioneer and receive his red pioneer scarf.  He's known the laws of the Young Pioneers since he was six and has been waiting for the day to become a real Communist like his father.  Then his father is taken away by the Secret Police in the middle of the night.  At school, Sasha accidentally damages a statue of Stalin.  Suddenly, it seems the world has been turned upside down.  Sasha must make a decision and his life will never be the same. 


Critical Analysis 
Breaking Stalin's Nose is Yelchin's debut novel.  It was a 2012 Newbery Honor book and a Horn's Best Fiction book choice for 2011.  In the "Author's Note," Yelchin describes his own experiences growing up in Russia in the Sixties.  Although he didn't grow up under Stalin, Yelchin still felt his influence through the older generation of Russians keeping silent about their past because of their fear.  Yelchin wrote this story to confront that fear.

Yelchin's Sasha has the preadolescent fantasy-oriented view of his world. He knows that everyone who lives in their komunalka respects his State Security father because "they stop talking when my dad comes in" - not realizing that they're terrified of his father. He's sure that Communist Russia is "the most democratic and progressive country in the world" and vows to "always be vigilant, because our capitalist enemies are never asleep." Through traumatic events, Sasha's political awakening begins and he states "I'm here with other unreliables and I can see much better from here." The book contains topics galore which can be used for class discussions, such as bullying, dictatorships, and betrayal.  

Yelchin's graphite illustrations are like film noir on paper.  We're able to feel the paranoia, fear and mistrust in each sublime scene. When Sasha's father is taken away by the Secret Police, all we can see are puffy uniform breeches and shiny, black boots running up stairs reinforcing the fact that the Secret Police were obscure.  Sasha's traitorous neighbor, Stukachov, is reminiscent of a horror comic book character with missing teeth, a long, bony nose and clear, oddly-shaped eyes.   

There aren't many books written for children that deal with Stalinist Russia, so this is a welcome entry.  There is a companion website which contains extensive information to add to Sasha's story, including maps, pictures, information about Sasha's mother, the history of the Young Soviet Pioneers, living life in a komunalka, and much more. 


Review excerpt(s)
“Mr. Yelchin has compressed into two days of events an entire epoch, giving young readers a glimpse of the precariousness of life in a capricious yet ever-watchful totalitarian state.” –Wall Street Journal


Yelchin skillfully combines narrative with dramatic black-and-white illustrations to tell the story of life in the Soviet Union under Stalin...The question of who is a good Communist underlies much of the plot...Yelchin's illustrations are filled with pathos and breathe life into the narrative. Though there are many two-dimensional characters, mostly among the adults, Sasha and Borka are more fully drawn. While the story was obviously created to shed light on the oppression, secrecy, and atrocities under Stalin's regime, Sasha's emotions ring true. This is an absorbing, quick, multilayered read in which predictable and surprising events intertwine. Velchin clearly dramatizes the dangers of blindly believing in anything...—School Library Journal


Yelchin's debut novel does a superb job of depicting the tyranny of the group, whether residents of a communal apartment, kids on the playground, students in the classroom or government officials. It's the readiness of the group to create outsiders—bad ones, "unreliables," "wreckers"—by instilling fear in everyone that chills. Not many books for such a young audience address the Stalinist era, when, between 1923 and 1953, leaving a legacy of fear for future generations...Yelchin's graphite illustrations are an effective complement to his prose, which unfurls in Sasha's steady, first-person voice, and together they tell an important tale. A story just as relevant in our world, "where innocent people face persecution and death for making a choice about what they believe to be right," as that of Yelchin's childhood. --Kirkus Reviews

“A miracle of brevity, this affecting novel zeroes in on two days and one boy to personalize Stalin's killing machine of the '30s. …black-and-white drawings march across the pages to juxtapose hope and fear, truth and tyranny, small moments and historical forces, innocence and evil. This Newbery Honor book offers timeless lessons about dictatorship, disillusionment and personal choice.” —San Francisco Chronicle

 "The cat-and-mouse chase that pits Sasha’s whole world against him will rivet middle-grade readers, but this title will hold special appeal for older students whose grasp of content outstrips their reading proficiency." —BCCB

 “…this brief novel gets at the heart of a society that asks its citizens, even its children, to report on relatives and friends. Appropriately menacing illustrations by first-time novelist Yelchin add a sinister tone.” —Horn Book, starred review

...Set during the heart of Stalin's reign in the Soviet Union, the author brings the scenes, the language and the beliefs of Communism to readers as only one who has lived it could do...the book's illustrations will captivate readers. This is a well-written and accessible work of historical fiction for young readers. --Children's Literature

Connections

-To enhance the readers experience, review vocabulary they will find in the story. Here are examples of words they'll find: communist, capitalist, comrade, Soviet Union, democratic, Young Soviet Pioneers, citizen, communal, patriotic, secret police, spy, informer, Primus stove, Kremlin, traitor, Kolyma, authority, banner, state property, provocateurs, Motherland, proverb, Stalin, enemy, purify, influence, denounce, orphanage, blackmail, confess, interrogate, provinces, unreliable, sacred, executed, secret agent, vigilance, pride, honor, streetcar. 

-Compare posters of the Young Soviet Pioneers to American posters during WWII.  Do they have anything in common?  Have students compare and contrast the posters. 

-The following website has additional resources including an audio excerpt and lesson plans offered by Macmillan. http://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=26815&a=1

-Have fiction and non-fiction related books available so students can extend their learning. 
     -Sis, Peter. The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain. ISBN 978-0374347017 (Caldecott Honor Book) 

    -Schmemann, Serge. When the Wall Came Down: The Berlin Wall and the Fall of Soviet Communism.  ISBN 978-0753461532
    -Link, Theodore. Communism: A Primary Source Analysis (Primary Sources of Political Systems). ISBN 978-0823945177

    -Hess, Karl.  Capitalism for Kids: Growing Up to Be Your Own Boss. ISBN 978-0942103038  
    -Haugen, Brenda. Joseph Stalin: Dictator of the Soviet Union (Signature Lives). ISBN 978-0756515973 

Alchemy and Meggy Swan by Karen Cushman

Bibliography
Cushman, Karen. 2010. Alchemy and Meggy Swann. Boston, MA: Clarion Books.  ISBN 978-0-547-23184-6

Plot summary
Meggy Swan, and her only friend, a goose named Louise, have been sent by her mother from their beautiful country village to live with her father in Elizabethan London which looks big, dirty and not very friendly.  Once her alchemist father finds out Meggy is a girl with handicapped legs, he doesn't want her either. Lonely and angry about being made fun of her whole life because of her legs, Meggy soon explores London and discovers that she's stronger than she realized. Before long, she learns how to let go of her anger and to let new friends into her heart.

Critical analysis
Newbery medalist, Karen Cushman has once again written a wondrous tale.  Alchemy and Meggy Swan was nominated for the Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2010, National Council of Teachers of English Notable Book 2011, and School Library Journal Best Books of 2010. Cushman brings the Elizabethan times to life for readers with her descriptive writing and use of easily readable Elizabethan dialect. 

Written in the point of view of Meggy, the reader will feel for her when she's badly treated because of her legs; she's kept inside by her mother so Meggy doesn't ruin business, or people saying she's handicapped because of her sins. It's no wonder that she sings a misery song learned from her grandmother - "I wail in woe, I plunge in pain, with sorrowing eyes I do complain."  After making her first friend that's not an animal, Meggy says "...I feel like the sun is shining inside me." Although the ending was predictable, Cushman has tapped into the emotions a lonely young girl would have as she begins to learn more about herself and to find that her anger is disappearing as she discovers her strengths.

Cushman includes authentic situations, such as the famous "Barge Incident" in which there was an assassination attempt on Queen Elizabeth I.  Meggy helps stop an assassination attempt on a Duke by singing the details in a ballad she created, which was a common way to spread news during this time period.  Cushman also includes interesting details about alchemy, which is considered the beginning of modern science and chemistry.

There is a bibliography and internet links in the back for readers who would like to learn more about the world in which Meggy lived.
      

Review excerpt(s)
"Writing with admirable economy and a lively ability to re-create the past believably, Cushman creates a memorable portrayal of a troubled, rather mulish girl who begins to use her strong will in positive ways."—Booklist, starred review

...Cushman has the uncanny ability to take a time and place so remote and make it live. Readers can hear and see and smell it all as if they are right beside Meggy. She employs the syntax and vocabulary of the period so easily that it is understood as if it’s the most contemporary modern slang. A gem."—Kirkus , starred review

"Cushman adds another intrepid, resourceful, courageous girl to her repertoire in this tale set in 16th-century London...Her courage and confidence grow with each obstacle overcome. Cushman fans who loved Catherine, Called Birdy (1994) and The Midwife's Apprentice (1995, both Clarion) will not be disappointed"—School Library Journal, starred review


"Cushman's (Catherine, Called Birdy) newest novel has all the elements that have made her earlier books so beloved. With flawless historical prose, Cushman introduces Meggy Swann....There is no unequivocally happy ending for Meggy, but a better life awaits her, and readers will gladly accompany her on the journey."—Publishers Weekly

Connections
-Students can listen to a 7 minutes excerpt of the book at http://www.karencushman.com/av_files/av_files.html

-For students who want more information about the author or about the time period, Karen Cushman has links to videos and podcasts that talk about her books, influences, the Elizabethan era and more. http://www.karencushman.com/av_files/av_files.html

-If you would like to use this book in a reading club, Houghton Mifflin has posted discussion questions. http://hmhtrade.com/bookclubs/discussion-guides/alchemy-and-meggy-swann-by-karen-cushman/

-Meggy had to walk with 2 sticks because of her leg condition.  Often, we don't realize how difficult it is to move around with a disability.  Have a pair of crutches or sticks for students to use so they can gain an understanding of how Meggy walked and to create sympathy for others with disabilities. 

-Meggy is often made fun of and called names like crooked legs, crookleg, freak, and Mistress Duck. Have a discussion with students about bullying and name calling; has it ever happened to them? How did it make them feel? Have they ever called someone else names and why? 

-This book is set in Elizabethan times and there are many other topics that can be researched related to this era.  Have students look up recipes and bring in food from this time period.  In art class, have students research miniature portraits and produce a portrait in the style of Nicholas Hilliard.