Week 10: The Things They Carried

Book Cover Image:

 Book Summary:

The Things They Carried is a book that focuses mainly on the experiences of several characters involved with the Vietnam War, especially the fictionalized version of the author himself. In a school setting, it would better be suited for grades 9-12. It is an unconventional book in that their experiences of this war are not simply being told by relating the facts. Each chapter is an expression of the horror or challenge each character perceived. For example, the title chapter, "The Things They Carried," is concerned with the burdens of a soldier - both physical and mental. "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Ba" is most likely a lie one soldier is telling the others about his girlfriend. "The Man I Killed" is a chapter dealing with how one's trauma at seeing his first victim and deals with it by staring at the corpse and fantasizing about the victims life with great empathy -- what his life was like back home and what it would have been like had he lived. The book intentionally confuses borders -- distinctions between fact and fiction, autobiography and novel, memory and fantasy, right and wrong -- just as the Vietnam War raised such confusion. This ambiguous spirit of the book is captured in the chapter, "How to Tell a True War Story," when the narrator writes:

            A true war story is never moral. It does not instruct, nor encourage virtue, nor suggest 

models of proper human behavior, nor restrain men from doing the things men have always done. If a story seems moral, do not believe it. If at the end of a war story you feel uplifted, or if you feel that some small bit of rectitude has been salvaged from the larger waste, then you have been made the victim of a very old and terrible lie.

(O’Brien, 1990, p. 65).

APA Reference:

O’Brien, T. (1990). The things they carried. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

My Impressions:

My impressions of this book/novel/collection of short stories/memoir is that war is hell, not only for the actual death and destruction that it brings, but also the psychological devastation it presents to young men who are still boys in many ways. It is somewhat confusing in places, due to its genre(s), the lack of a continuous plot throughout the book, ambiguous nature of what is true, etc. If one wishes to read a novel about war, he or she might be disappointed if the expectation is that it should be a coherent story with a clear beginning, middle, and end, and a consistent narrator, and a clear sense of what is real and what is fantasy, what is truth and what is a lie. On the other hand, if you do not expect the traditional conventions of a novel, or autobiography, etc., and trust the author to express himself in a unique (and in this case, quite poetic way), then you will likely be as moved as I was. Relating the facts of the Vietnam War, after all, is not enough to express the deeper experiences these young men had. There were times the mother instinct in me wanted to tell them that everything would be okay, which would also be a lie. I believe this book will likely make a bigger impact on male readers than on female readers, however, as most of the main characters are young men behaving in distinctly male ways, and this may limit its audience somewhat. All in all, I consider The Things They Carried essential reading for anyone wanting to know the deeper "truths" of that era in American history.

Professional Review:

“Winner of a National Book Award in 1979 for Going After Cacciato ( LJ 12/15/77), O'Brien again shows his literary stuff with this brilliant collection of short stories, many of which have won literary recognition (several appeared in O. Henry Awards' collections and Best American Short Stories ). Each of the 22 tales relates the exploits and personalities of a fictional platoon of American soldiers in Vietnam. An acutely painful reading experience, this collection should be read as a book and not a mere selection of stories reprinted from magazines. Not since Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse - Five ( LJ 3/1/69) has the American soldier been portrayed with such poignance and sincerity. Literary Guild featured alternate. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 11/15/89.”

Review Reference:

Annichiarico, M. (1990, February 15). [Review of the book The things they carried, by

T. O’Brien]. Library Journal, 115(3), 212. Retrieved from http://lj.libraryjournal.com/

Library Uses:

Focus ages: grades 9-12

This book could be a part of a Memorial Day display to honor all the Veterans of wars. It would be set up during April on order to give students time to check out the book before school is out. Also, there could be some veteran guest speakers to speak to the English classes on a particular day coinciding with the display setup.

This book could be an inspiration for a photography contest. Students could take photographs honoring friends or family members that are veterans. They could photograph them in any way the veteran would be comfortable, in a uniform, or not. They could put a caption under the photo detailing their time and location(s) of their service to our country. The library could group the photos on a wall to honor all the veterans.

Week 10: Smile

Book Cover Image:

Book Summary:

This graphic novel is about Raina and her struggles through adolescence. The story begins with Raina falling down and knocking out some of her front teeth in 6^th grade. She goes through many dental procedures over the next several years. During this time, she is also experiencing a normal teenage life. She struggles with friendships, boyfriends, feeling inadequate, looking uncool, and many other issues. She does eventually find a group of good friends and does end up feeling more confident, with her smile and her life. Older children could also enjoy this book because of the relatable content but the focus ages are grades 3-7.

APA Reference:

Telgemeier, R. (2010). Smile. New York, NY: Graphix.

My Impressions:

I really liked this book. It features many situations that children, especially pre-adolescent and adolescent children, can relate to. It probably makes them feel like they are not alone in feeling inferior, because Raina feels that way, too. I remember feeling this way, too as a pre-teen and teen. This would have been a good book to have at the time. I could have found a lot of comfort in reading it when I struggled through similar times. These kinds of books are invaluable for children. The graphics are also a very important part of this book. Stephanie Yue and her use of color really brings life to these scenarios. Children can surely relate even more to this book because they are able to see the scenes of her life play out. They can see the expressions on Raina’s face. One of my favorite parts that I can especially relate to because I went through a similar situation, is when Raina gets “pantsed” by her so called “friends.” This is wear they pull her pants down in front of other classmates. After this, she finally pops…she just can’t take anymore disrespect from her so-called friends. She stands up to her “friends” and says enough is enough. She has taken all of their bullying and decides to take away their power by standing up to them. All in all, this is an excellent book for upper elementary school and middle school students and it just must be a part of every library collection.     

  

Professional Review:

“Gr 5 Up--When she was in sixth grade, Telgemeier tripped while running and lost her two front teeth. In the years that followed, she went through a torturous series of dental surgeries and repairs, the trauma of which was mirrored by the social struggles she experienced during her adolescence. A minor complaint is that there is no mention of when all of this took place, and readers may be puzzled by seeming anachronisms such as old-school Nintendo games. Telgemeier's full-color artwork is confident and light, and her storytelling is appropriately paced. This straightforward and entertaining autobiographical comic is sure to please.”

Review Reference:

Davey, D. (2010, March 1). [Review of the book Smile, by R. Telgemeier]. School Library

            Journal, 56(3), 186. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/

Library Uses:

Focus ages: grades 4-7

This book would be a good book for a book club meeting with the theme “Self-esteem.” Many children struggle with feeling like they look awkward. They also feel inadequate sometimes compared to others in school. The librarian and students could have a discussion at the book club about their similar experiences and any advice they would give Raina.

This book would be a good inspiration for a bookmark contest. The students could draw, illustrate, and put captions if they want on their bookmark. They could use a smile and dress it up anyway they want. The winner would get a bookstore gift card and the library would make copies of the winning bookmark to distribute to patrons, including the winning artist’s name.

Week 9: Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings

Book Cover Image:

Book Summary:

This is a book of poems and paintings with a celestial and space theme. The title says it all.

Doug Florian is the author and illustrator. He uses collage, cutout pages, stamps, and brushstokes that give a very attractive backdrop for his poems. He has included poems on the planets, the sky, and the whole universe, too. He even includes a glossary at the end so the reader can learn more about the subject in each poem. While some of these terms are more complicated, the poems and paintings are well suited for children in grades 3-5.  

 

APA Reference:

Florian, D. (2007). Comets, stars, the moon, and Mars: Space poems and paintings.

            Orlando, FL: Harcourt, Inc.

My Impressions:

I really enjoyed these poems and paintings. This artist/author is very talented. I loved the texture his brushstroke technique created on the pages. I also loved the collage elements and the cutouts he included (or should I say, excluded) in this work of art. I thought his definitions were accurate and that a child in grades 3-5 really could understand them in poem form. I especially liked the “Universe” poem and artwork. The blue is so blue, it makes me smile. Also, I liked the way he wrote the “Galaxy” poem in a spiral shape. Those kinds of details will really attract children to his paintings and his poetry. In addition, as a teacher, I really was impressed that he took the time to research and include a glossary for the reader to learn more about the subjects in the poems (like the black hole and the solar system). The terms can be a little complicated for a younger reader, but with the help of a teacher, librarian, or parent, they can really learn more about the universe. Last but not least, his personality shines through on the book jacket. Instead of putting a picture of himself along with a quick bio, he painted a picture of himself as an alien. I am still laughing and marveling at his talent and am excited for young readers to get a hold of this book.

Professional Review:

“This large-format book looks at astronomy through the magnifying, clarifying lens of poetry. Each broad double-page spread features a short, accessible poem about a subject such as the sun, each of its planets, a comet, a constellation, or the universe, set within an impressive painting. A concrete poem entitled "a galaxy" is a curling spiral of words set against the midnight-blue sky and surrounded by other galaxies. Stamped type, cutout pages, collage elements with printed papers, and sweeping brushstrokes all figure prominently in the expressive collage artwork, which ably illustrates the verse. The last pages carry "A Galactic Glossary" with a paragraph on the topic of each poem, followed by a list of books and Web sites. Florian's ode to Pluto matter-of-factly notes its demoted status, but even better is his pithy poem on Jupiter: "Jupiter's jumbo, / Gigantic, / Immense, / So wide / Side to side, / But gaseous, not dense. / With some sixteen moons / It's plainly prolific-- / So super-dupiter / Jupiterrific!" Read this aloud. Carolyn Phelan”

Review Reference:

Phelan, C. (2007, April 1). [Review of the book Comets, stars, the moon, and Mars: Space

            poems and paintings, by D. Florian]. Booklist, 103(15), 50. Retrieved from

http://www.booklistonline.com/  

Library Uses:

Focus ages: grades 3-5

This book would be a great addition to a display of books on space and all things celestial.

This book would be a great supplement for the teachers when doing their space unit. The librarian could go in at the beginning of the unit and read some of the poems and show the pictures to get them excited about the unit and poetry.

Week 9: All the Broken Pieces

Book Cover Image:

Book Summary:

This is a novel written in verse. It is poetic but often reads more like prose. The main character is Matt, a half Vietnamese and half American 12 year old boy. He has been adopted by a wonderfully supportive family in the U.S. He left behind a mom and younger brother in Vietnam that he cannot forget. He also cannot forgive his (natural) American father for leaving him and his mom there in Vietnam. They all three haunt him, daily. Matt struggles through many challenges of being ashamed and shamed for being Vietnamese. There are children that tease him because of it. One kid, Rob, even calls him frog-face. When he joins the baseball team and has to deal with this boy, they find out they have more in common than they think. Can they come to an understanding and find real friendship? Will Matt be able to open up about his Vietnam past? This is an emotional and historically poignant book for middle school children. The target ages for this book are grades 6-8.

APA Reference:

Burg, A. E. (2009). All the broken pieces. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

My Impressions:

I really enjoyed this book even though it was a little sad at times. I loved the verse Burg used in this novel. It might really interest students to read a book organized in this manner. Also, it’s like reading poetry that one can actually understand. It is a tough subject but I think many middle school children could handle it and would enjoy learning more about another culture and a time in history. It is a touching story. One of my favorite parts, because of the language, is when Matt is describing his two brothers; the American one and the crippled, Vietnamese one. He describes his Vietnamese one as he does himself, “Fall.” The Vietnamese are darker (generally) and are from darker places. When he describes his American brother though, he calls him “Summer.” This is because he has blonde hair and a smiley face…he’s from a brighter place. Matt struggles with feeling abandoned by his mom because she sent him away. It made me tear up a bit when he was talking about this in the book. I am glad he later found out she was only trying to give him a chance at a “real” life by sending him to the States. I felt uplifted when he finally made peace with Rob (the one who always blames him for his brother’s death) and for finding peace within himself. I would recommend this to my students to get some experience with verse and with reading about a historical fiction-type book.     

  

Professional Review:

“Gr 6-8-- In 1977, 12-year-old Matt Pin lives a fractured life. He is the son of a Vietnamese woman and an American soldier and was airlifted to safety from the war zone. Adopted by a caring American couple, he has vivid and horrific memories of the war and worries about the fates of his mother and badly injured little brother. Matt's adoptive family adores him, and he is the star pitcher for his middle school baseball team, but there are those who see his face and blame him for the deaths of the young men they lost in the war. The fractured theme runs the course of this short novel in verse: Matt's family, the bodies and hearts of the Vietnam vets, the country that is "only a pocketful of broken pieces" that Matt carries inside him. Ultimately, everything broken is revealed as nonetheless valuable. While most of the selections read less like poems and more like simple prose, the story is a lovely, moving one. Use this in a history class or paired with Katherine Applegate's Home of the Brave (Feiwel & Friends, 2007).”

Review Reference:

Campbell, H. M. (2009, May 1). [Review of the book All the broken pieces, by A. E. Burg].

School Library Journal, 55(5), 101. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/

Library Uses:

Focus ages: grades 6-8

This could be a part of a display to remember war veterans. It could be set up in April so the students would have a chance to read it before Memorial Day.

This book could be used as a social studies supplement when the students are studying past wars.

The librarian could even visit the classroom and read excerpts from it when they study Vietnam.

Week 8: Junie B., First Grader (at last!)

Book Cover Image:

Book Summary:

This is another great Junie B. Jones series book. But this time, she is going to first grade! First grade should be great, right? Well, Junie is off to a rough start. Her bestest friend from last year trades her in for two newer models, her teacher is kind of scary, the chalkboard looks a little blurry, she has to deal with annoying May, and she has to miss recess to write in a big, dumb journal. These are just some of the struggles she will have to go through in these first days of first grade. The words of Barbara Park and illustrations of Denise Brunkus, come together to create another hilarious Junie B. book. The target grades for this book are 1-3.   

APA Reference:

Park, B. (2001). Junie B., first grader (at last!). New York, NY: Random House.

My Impressions:

I actually really enjoy Junie B. Jones books. When I first read one with my daughter when she was much younger, I was a little apprehensive. Her grammar and spelling are, like most kindergarteners or 1^st graders, in need of some revisions. I got over that really quick, though, after laughing so hard at Junie’s silly antics and funny made up words and seeing how engaged my daughter was by it. This featured book has many funny moments just like the others. One I like the best is when she is writing in her journal about having to copy sentences from the board from Mr. Scary (her teacher). She says, “I do not actually approve of this” (Park, 2001, p. 39). This just shows that her character hasn’t changed a bit. She is sassy sometimes but so funny you forgive her. I think any book that can grab and keep a reader’s attention has to be worthy of being in a school library. In light of this, these series books would be great to use with reluctant or struggling readers.  

Professional Review:

“Gr 1-3 --While first grade offers a whole year of exciting possibilities for Junie B., things get off to a confusing start. Feeling tentative about her new teacher, she renames him Mr. Scary. Her last year's best friend now has two new best friends and her old bus pal has a new buddy. Then, Junie's teacher discovers that she needs glasses. Now that is something to worry about. "What if Room One laughs their head off at me? What if I look like a goonie bird and no one wants to be my friend?" However, her classmates, who already agree that twins with rhyming names, a boy with a spiky gel hairdo, and bilingual Jose are fascinating, determine that Junie B. and her purple glasses are definitely cool. As always, Park is in touch with what the kids know and how they feel. A satisfying read, especially for fans.”

Review Reference:

Pearce, S. R., Jones, T. E., Toth, L., Charnizon, M., Grabarek, D., & Larkins, J.

(2002, January 1). [Review of the book Junie B., first grader (at last!), by B. Park].

School Library Journal, 48(1), 108. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/

Library Uses:

Focus ages: grades 1-3

This book would be good to use with reading buddies. The librarian could oversee the kindergarten or first grader meeting with the older (4^th or 5^th grade) reading buddy. It is a funny book and easy enough for the buddy to read to (or with) the younger reader. It would surely grab the emerging reader and keep her interested in reading forever.

Week 8: Cam Jansen and the Birthday Mystery

Book Cover Image:

 Book Summary:

Cam is a young detective that is very skilled at what she does. She has a special gift; a photographic memory. This helps her solve crimes and mysteries that many others cannot. In this volume, Cam has thrown a surprise birthday party for her parents but their partying is cut short. Her grandparents call from the airport in a fright and say they have been robbed. Much to Cam’s dad’s dismay, Cam insists on going and helping to solve the crime. Cam will use her special skills to find the culprit and get her grandparents’ things returned. She surely has impressed everyone, especially the police officers who could not solve the crime. This is part of a series of mystery books and they are all well suited for grades 2-4. 

APA Reference:

Adler, D. A. (2000). Cam Jansen and the birthday mystery. New York, NY: Puffin Books.

My Impressions:

I really liked this mystery book. It was nice and short, just the right length for children in younger elementary grades. Children generally love mystery books and ones that they can read without too much difficulty. It encourages them to keep on reading and practicing their reading skills. Mystery books are a very important part of a school library. It is one of the youth’s favorite genres, boys and girls alike. This book series is appropriate for girls and boys but I love the fact that Cam is a girl detective. It gives girls a good, smart role model to read about. I liked the way Cam used her natural gift of a photographic memory to later realize where the criminal was. I also like the way she says, “click” when she is wanting to remember a scene. Much like these mystery books, I loved the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Mystery books when I was this age. It really did get me excited about reading. I know these Cam mysteries will do the same for kids these days. This would be a great book (and books series) to have in any school library.  

  

Professional Review:

“Gr. 2-4. In this beginning chapter book, the twentieth in the Cam Jansen series, Cam throws a surprise birthday party for her parents. An even bigger surprise comes when her grandparents call from the airport to ask for help in recovering their luggage and parcels, which a man has just stolen. Police and parents bumble about, well meaning but ineffective, but Cam's photographic memory provides a clue that leads to the thief's arrest. Though the plot relies on coincidence (Cam's dad happens to park next to the van where the thief has stashed the stolen goods), series fans will enjoy seeing their heroine triumph once again. Susanna Natti's cheerful ink drawings appear throughout the book. For larger collections.”

Review Reference:

Phelan, C. (2000, November 1). [Review of the book Cam Jansen and the birthday mystery,

            by D. A. Adler]. Booklist, 97(5), 536. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/  

Library Uses:

Focus ages: grades 2 through 4

This book would be great to include in a “Mysteries” themed book trailer.

This book would be a great one to use with reluctant or struggling readers. It is shorter but still has chapters so they can feel a sense of accomplishment when they have completed it. Along the way, the teacher and librarian can ask predicting questions to see what the student(s) think will come next.

Week 7: Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow

Book Cover Image:

 Book Summary:

This informational book tells how Hitler and the Third Reich used the German youth to build a motivated and dedicated army of the future. This book follows the lives of many German Nazi youth and also many Jewish families. The Hitler youth for the most part did what they were told and did not question the Nazi party. The Jews were persecuted and many perished in death camps. Later, many Nazi youth claimed they did not really know Hitler was using these death camps and they were horrified at learning the truth. Were they brainwashed or were they just ignoring a real truth that was put in front of their faces everyday? Regardless, the author uses many stories and photographs to convey the real “truth” as many saw it. She received an award for Excellence in Research while in her Ph.D. program. She used many sources in this book from personal accounts and diaries to National Archive documents. This book was a Newbery Medal Honor book, a Sibert Medal Honor book, and also earned several other awards. The target grades for this book are 7-12.     

APA Reference:

Bartoletti, S. C. (2005). Hitler youth: Growing up in Hitler’s shadow. New York, NY:

Scholastic Nonfiction.

My Impressions:

This was a great informational book about Hitler’s Germany. There were many things I learned that I did not really know before. For example, I did not know the youth were so dedicated (and possibly brainwashed) that they would turn in their own parents to the Nazi police if they were not devout Hitler followers. I did not know that each youth (of acceptable heritage) had to serve Germany for one full year when they turned 18. I really appreciate the research the author did for this book to make sure is portayed an accurate telling of the Hitler youth and of Nazi Germany. She also has an extensive bibliography at the end of the book so the reader can see exactly where she retrieved her information. That is very important in a book like this. Even though I knew quite a lot about the events surrounding the Holocaust, it is still chilling to realize a nation can commit mass genocide against some of their own. It’s truly unbelievable. One of my favorite parts that I did not know occurred right after the war was over. The American soldiers took the Hitler youth to visit the liberated Dachau death camp. One of the Hitler youth realized those “rumors” of using crematoriums to exterminate the Jews, was no rumor. Those memories will live with the Hitler youth forever. Because of the great historical knowledge and accuracy in this book, it would be great to use with social studies’ classes on lessons related to WWII or the Holocaust, etc. Even though it was a sad time in history, Bartoletti does the Jewish people some justice by telling the truth in her pictures and with her words.

  

Professional Review:

 “Gr 5-8-- Hitler's plans for the future of Germany relied significantly on its young people, and this excellent history shows how he attempted to carry out his mission with the establishment of the Hitler Youth, or Hitlerjugend, in 1926. With a focus on the years between 1933 and the end of the war in 1945, Bartoletti explains the roles that millions of boys and girls unwittingly played in the horrors of the Third Reich. The book is structured around 12 young individuals and their experiences, which clearly demonstrate how they were victims of leaders who took advantage of their innocence and enthusiasm for evil means. Their stories evolve from patriotic devotion to Hitler and zeal to join, to doubt, confusion, and disillusion. (An epilogue adds a powerful what-became-of-them relevance.) The large period photographs are a primary component and they include Nazi propaganda showing happy and healthy teens as well as the reality of concentration camps and young people with large guns. The final chapter superbly summarizes the weighty significance of this part of the 20th century and challenges young readers to prevent history from repeating itself. 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.”

Review Reference:

Medlar, A., Jones, T. E., Toth, L., Charnizon, M., Grabarek, D., & Raben, D. (2005, June 1).

            [Review of the book Hitler youth: Growing up in Hitler’s shadow, by S. C. Bartoletti].

School Library Journal, 51(6), 174. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/

Library Uses:

Focus ages: grades 7-12

This book would be a great addition to a display on the Holocaust or in a grouping of “Historical Events.”

This book would be a great curriculum supplement in social studies’ classes when they study wars, genocide, Hitler, or WWII. The librarian could highlight some sections when the students come into the library for research or she could do a quick book talk on it in their English classes.