Textbook Assignment #6
Month: March 2016
EL DEAFO
Bell, C. (2014). El deafo. New York: Abrams.
Cece tells the story her hearing loss at a young age in the form of a graphic novel. Her experiences with the Phonic Ear are awkward and hilarious. Through her hearing devices, she learns that she can hear the teachers everywhere and uses that to her advantage. Cece’s search to find her place in school and in the world is seen as she grows older and becomes more comfortable in herself.
Textbook Assignment:
Differences-
This story is in comic strip or graphic novel style about the hearing deficient, Cece.
How to Sell the Book-
El Deafo is the perfect graphic novel for the student who loves humor and loves to see an underdog succeed.
Three Books by the Same Author-
- Itty Bitty (2009)
- Different- not autobiographical
- Similar- illustration style
- Bee-Wigged (2008)
- Similar- autobiographical in a sense and same illustration style
- Food Friends (2006)
- Different- made for children of a younger age
BROWN GIRL DREAMING
Woodson, J. (2014). Brown girl dreaming. New York: Penguin.
Jacqueline is a young girl who uses poetic verse to tell of her travels from South Caroline to New York during the 1930s and 1970s. Her experiences with segregation and racism are evident throughout her story. There is also a mix of personal and familial issues expressed in her words during the Civil Rights Movement.
Textbook Assignment:
Differences-
Jacqueline Woodson uses poetry to tell about her own personal experiences as a child during the Civil Rights movement.
How to Sell the Book-
This book is perfect for a student who wants to learn about the history of the Civil Rights Movement from the perspective of a child. It is also great for students who feel disenfranchised and need inspiration.
Three Books by the Same Author-
- Between Madison And Palmetto (1993)
- Different- fiction novel about two friends
- Feathers (1992)
- Similar- same time period (1970s)
- Different- novel format; not autobiographical
- Locomotion (1990)
- Similar- written in poetic verse
- Different- not autobiographical
LOVE THAT DOG
Creech, S. (2001). Love that dog. NY: HarperCollins.
The endearing tale of Jack, the young boy who isn’t sure about poetry, is heartwarming and inspiring. Through his teacher’s use of famous poems such as “The Red Wheelbarrow” and “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” Jack learns to love, understand, and even write his own poetry. The loss of his dog, Sky, because a source of inspiration and healing for Jack as his writes his poetry.
Textbook Assignment:
Differences-
The poems written by the narrator are a progression of Jack as he learns about famous poetry. The teacher in the story also alludes to these famous poems, which are included in the back of the book, as references for his to write his poems.
How to Sell the Book-
This collection of poems is a great read for young male student who is reluctant about reading and writing poetry. Following Jack’s thoughts is a great way to understand the feelings of a boy learning to express his feelings.
Three Different Books by the Author-
- Who’s That Baby (2006)
- Different- picture book for young children
- The Castle Corona (2007) (Illustrated by David Diaz)
- Different- fairytale style story in novel format
- Hate that Cat (2008)
- Similar- same poetic style as Love that Dog but a year later
WONDERSTRUCK
Selznick, B. (2007). Wonderstruck. NY: Scholastic.
Throughout Selznick’s work, Ben is searching for the father he never knew while Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. Ben’s story is told through prose while Rose’s is told through illustrations. Although taking place in two different time periods, their stories intertwine as they both end up at the American Museum of Natural History in search of solving their own puzzle.
Textbook Assignment:
Differences-
This novel is an intertwining story of two characters’ lives, Ben and Rose, told through pictures and words separately.
How to Sell the Book-
Wonderstruck is perfect for the student who loves a challenging read. Since the stories of Ben and Rose are told separately through words and pictures, Selznick’s storytelling creates a sense of mystery for the reader.
Three Books by the Same Author-
- The Marvels (2015)
- Similar- the same interweaving of two stories in pictures and prose
- The Doll People (2003) Written by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin
- Different- different story structure with Selznick’s illustrations
- The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2007)
- Similar- the same interweaving of two stories in pictures and prose
Textbook Assignment #5- Fantasy
CRENSHAW
Applegate, K. (2015). Crenshaw. New York: Feiwel & Friends.
Fifth-grader Jackson is too good a budding scientist not to understand where the data is leading him. Jackson and his family have fallen on hard times. There’s no more money for rent. And not much for food, either. It all reminds him of what happened a few years ago, when his family became homeless and lived in their minivan for 14 weeks. But as he broods about this possibility, Jackson is surprised by another blast from the past: the return of Crenshaw, his former imaginary friend, a giant, snarky cat with a taste for purple jelly beans. He’s large, he’s outspoken, and he’s imaginary. He has come back into Jackson’s life to help him. But is an imaginary friend enough to save this family from losing everything?
Evaluative Criteria for Fantasy:
Theme-
In Crenshaw, there’s an undertone of sadness that is coupled with a hopefulness that is extremely important in children’s literature. Crenshaw makes you think about the harshness of homelessness; however, it shows the importance of family, hope, and friendship–both of the imaginary and real kind.
Character-
Jackson, Crenshaw’s protagonist, is going through a rough patch emotionally because of his parents’ job situations and their past financial problems. Crenshaw, Jackson’s imaginary friend, serves as a tool for Jackson to be able to tell his parents the truth about how he really feels. Jackson feels such anxiety and pressure on him because he knows he has to be a grown up for himself and his younger sister.
SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT
Landry, D. (2007). Skulduggery pleasant NY: HarperCollins.
Skulduggery Pleasant is about a young girl named Stephanie Edgley and a long-dead mage named Skulduggery Pleasant as they try to stop an evil Adept named Nefarian Serpine from getting his hands on the Sceptre of the Ancients and bringing back the Faceless Ones.When twelve-year-old Stephanie’s beloved uncle dies, she finds herself the benefactor of his sizable fortune. What she is most surprised to inherit is her uncle’s dear friend Skulduggery Pleasant, ace detective and sorcerer extraordinaire. Once she learns about Skulduggery’s magical world, Stephanie realizes that she can never go back to her own ordinary existence. After some convincing, Stephanie teams up with Skulduggery to uncover the truth behind her uncle’s death.
Evaluative Criteria for Fantasy:
Character –
Skulduggery Pleasant is a skeleton who is very cunning and comical. After his horrifying death, Skulduggery did not move on but stayed and watched the war around him. He also watches over Stephanie (Valkyrie Cain) throughout the novel as they search for the mysteries behind her Uncle’s death.
Plot-
Stephanie is left a fortune when her novelist uncle passes away unexpectedly. While his will is being reading, Stephanie notice a strange figure in the room who turns out to be Skulduggery Pleasant, a skeleton detective. Together, Stephanie and Skulduggery try to solve the mystery of her uncle’s death. Towards the end of the book, Stephanie even choose a new name for herself, Valkyrie Cain.
COMICS SQUAD
Holm, J. (2014). Comics squad: Recess! NY: Random House.
This amusing and intriguing comic book style graphic novel is the perfect book for children of all ages. The animated stories bring the characters to life including Baby Mouse and Lunch Lady. The conglomeration of stories from multiple authors gives unique perspectives on the theme: recess.
Evaluative Criteria for Fantasy:
Style-
Comics Squad: Recess features comic strip/graphic novel style stories by different authors but that are all connected by their same color scheme of black, white and orange. There are a range of writing styles represented to show each artist’s unique qualities which help the book flow smoothly.
Theme-
All of the stories within Comics Squad: Recess are held together by the theme of recess, and many of the stories also feature aspects of fantasy. The recess theme is consistent throughout but seen in different ways including through a lunch lady fighting a pizza monster, a magic acorn, a cupcake with superpowers, mean vegetables, and an evil cat who erases all the words in books to make other dumb. Although this is a collection of individual stories, the common theme throughout is what make this compilation so great.
RAPUNZEL’S REVENGE
Hale, S. (2008). Rapunzel’s revenge. NY: Bloomsbury.
The main character is Rapunzel, a young girl raised in a well-guarded villa by a woman she thinks is her mother. When Rapunzel learns that the woman is in fact an evil sorceress who rules the land with an iron fist, she tries to escape, only to end up imprisoned in a high tower, her hair cursed to grow endlessly. But rather than waiting for any handsome prince to come along and rescue her, Rapunzel simply braids her hair into two long rope-like braids, frees herself, and then using her braids as lariats and whips sets out to end the sorceress’s rule once and for all. She meets up with Jack, who is down on his luck until his pet goose finally lays an egg, and together they travel across the deserts and forests, having adventures.
Evaluative Criteria for Fantasy:
Character-
Rapunzel is a strong, young woman who waits for no prince. Her curiosity leads her to uncover the truth about the woman who she thought was her mother. This causes her to be locked in a tower away from everyone. Motivated by her desire to see Gothel brought to justice, she breaks free from her captor and begins a journey to find the truth about her past,
Setting-
The setting of Rapunzel’s Revenge is mainly seen through the illustrations in the book. Since this setting is a fictional fantastical, wild west type place, the illustrations have to show that. There are elements of normalcy mixed with fantasy to create a spectacular setting.
Curran's Corner 