Module 6 Book Reviews Fiction, Fantasy, and Graphic Novels

 Module 6 Book Reviews Fiction, Fantasy, and Graphic Novels

Book Review #1 New Kid by Jerry Craft

1. Bibliography

Craft, Jerry. New Kid. HarperCollins Publishers. New York, New York. 2019

2. Plot Summary

Jordan is the main character of the graphic novel. He is a young teenager who spends a lot of his time on his passion of drawing and and sketching cartoons. He feels hopeful when his parents decide to move him to a different school, thinking he will go to an art school to pursue that passion of drawing, but he is disappointed when he realizes that his parents enrolled him in a very prestigious school where he is one of the few kids of color. In this new campus, he experiences some minor acts of racism from his teachers and peers, making him want to lay back and be invisible in his new school. Because he is often misunderstood by others, he tries to change who he is so that he can fit in a bit more. Continuing to navigate through middle school, racism, and being a new student, and fitting into his identity, he perseveres through and ends on a positive hopeful note that he will learn to get along with the others and have a typical teenage summer. 

3. Critical Analysis

This graphic novel actually follows an in depth story of a young teenager experiencing typical everyday life scenarios and on top of that, he faces microaggressions of racism and deals with privileged peers. The graphic novel contains so much emotion within each page whether it be through the dialogue or through the characters’ facial expressions. 

4. Review Excerpt

Kirkus Reviews: Jordan Banks takes readers down the rabbit hole and into his mostly white prep school in this heartbreakingly accurate middle-grade tale of race, class, microaggressions, and the quest for self-identity.

He may be the new kid, but as an African-American boy from Washington Heights, that stigma entails so much more than getting lost on the way to homeroom. Riverdale Academy Day School, located at the opposite end of Manhattan, is a world away, and Jordan finds himself a stranger in a foreign land, where pink clothing is called salmon, white administrators mistake a veteran African-American teacher for the football coach, and white classmates ape African-American Vernacular English to make themselves sound cool. Jordan’s a gifted artist, and his drawings blend with the narrative to give readers a full sense of his two worlds and his methods of coping with existing in between. Craft skillfully employs the graphic-novel format to its full advantage, giving his readers a delightful and authentic cast of characters who, along with New York itself, pop off the page with vibrancy and nuance. Shrinking Jordan to ant-sized proportions upon his entering the school cafeteria, for instance, transforms the lunchroom into a grotesque Wonderland in which his lack of social standing becomes visually arresting and viscerally uncomfortable.

An engrossing, humorous, and vitally important graphic novel that should be required reading in every middle school in America. (Graphic fiction. 10-14)

5. Connections

Students are able to make connections to the different references that they make to other literary works such as West Side Story, Diary of a Wimpy Kid. students are able to connect with the daily scenarios and experiences mentioned in the graphic novel such as 

Book Review #2 Babymouse Cupcake Tycoon by Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm

1. Bibliography

Holm, Jennifer and Holm Matthew. Babymouse Cupcake Tycoon. Penguin Random House Company. New York, New York. 2010.

2. Plot Summary

The graphic novel starts with the introduction of the characters that come out in the book. The setting starts in the school that Babymouse attends. She goes about her day throughout the cafeteria, the classroom, and the library, where she messes up all the books and shelves. Once at school, the teacher announces a fundraiser competition to improve the library collection that was accidentally messed up, which Babymouse immediately wants to take on. Throughout her journey of selling the cupcakes, Babymouse isn’t doing so well, and at school, she realizes that her biggest competitor, Felicia, is always one step ahead of her and better than her such as better advertisements, better games, better sales. Ultimately, she finds a way to sell cupcakes in 

3. Critical Analysis

Focusing on the actual analysis of the graphic novel, the quality of the characters was a great perspective of what students that age experience. They feel the competition, the desire to want to please their teacher and family and be the best at whatever fundraiser. graphics and understanding it. The characters’ interactions are also easy to follow for students. As far as the dialogue, it is very very entertaining. It has onomatopoeia, expressions, questions, and back and forth interaction with the characters. The dialogue makes a huge difference in engaging the readers in graphic novels, and this one does a great job with the color, the boxes, and the emphasis on certain aspects of the page, allowing the reader to highlight only on what they want the reader to focus on. There is not a lot of white space, and some pages seem cluttered, but the overall pages are readable. The pictures/illustrations also coordinate very well with the dialogue, and they are full of action!

4. Review Excerpt

Penguin Random House Reviews: Meet Babymouse--the spunky mouse beloved by young readers for more than a decade! There’s a fundraiser happening at school and Babymouse is determined to raise the most money…and beat her nemesis, Felicia Furrypaws! This groundbreaking young graphic novel series, full of humor and fun, is a bestseller that’s sold more than three million copies!

"Move over, Superman, here comes Babymouse!"—The Chicago Sun-Times

It's the icing on the (cup)cake! The school library is having a fund-raiser, and Babymouse is determined to raise the most money and WIN the GRAND PRIZE. Or . . . er, to help the school! The competition is fierce, but Babymouse will stop at nothing to get what she wants, even if it means outselling every last kid in school . . . including her nefarious nemesis, Felicia Furrypaws. The claws are out and the race is on in Cupcake Tycoon—the absolutely PRICELESS 13th installment of the Babymouse graphic novel series!

5. Connections

Students can connect to this book in the sense of going through the school day and school settings like the cafeteria, the library, the classroom. They can also relate to trying to fundraise for the campus through selling items and wanting to compete with others. There are certain hobbies and activities that occupy an elementary students’ mind, and cupcakes, fundraisers, competitions with classmates, creative ways of winning are all some of them!

Book Review #3 Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

1. Bibliography

Krosoczka, Jarrett J. Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta. Random House. New York, New York, 2009.

2. Plot Summary

The book starts off with three characters going through the life of typical challenges that students face such as building the courage to try out for a sport, dealing with a school bully, and sitting in the cafeteria with their friends talking about their lives. Later that day, there is an author visit, but the entire staff and student body has weird experiences with him, making him out to be an odd person. The Lunch Lady specifically thinks something is really suspicious about him, taking a special interest in the coach and being rude to the students and to her. The Lunch Lady decides to go to his house and investigate why he is being suspicious, only to find that not only has he kidnapped all the previous coaches from other campus visits, but also that the three students are there to ask for his once denied autograph. They all take him on and are able to rescue the other hypnotized coaches. 

3. Critical Analysis

This book has a lot of action that the characters face. Each page is filled with adventure or action to keep the reader engaged. The chronology of the story is also very well explained with the “Later That Day,” or “Back to the Bunnies,” and “The Next Week,” which helps kids learn the chronology of time in books. Another great thing was Onomatopoeia. That was such a great addition to the story, it was inserted right in the perfect moments.

4. Review Excerpt

Barnes and Noble Reviews: Dee, Terrence, and Hector are very excited about Author Visit Day. Lewis Scribson is the author of the famous Flippy Bunny books, and Hector is a huge fan! And it gets Dee and Terrence out of math class.

But something is a little off about this special guest. And Coach Birkby, the gym teacher, mysteriously disappears the day of his visit.

What evil designs does this world-famous writer have on his agenda? Lunch Lady’s going to get to the bottom of it, even if she has to kick some bunny butt!

5. Connections

Students can relate to the book because they are in a school setting and kids are doing normal activities done in school such as attending assemblies by speakers, in this case the author, attending soccer tryouts, sitting in the cafeteria and talking with their friends about their days and their troubles, and interacting with the school faculty and staff such as the lunch lady.

Book Review #4 InvestiGators Ants in our P.A.N.T.S by John Patrick Green

1. Bibliography

Green, John Patrick. InvesitGators Ants in our P.A.N.T.S.. Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership. Broadway, New York. 2021.

2. Plot Summary

The book starts with two secret agent partners who are investigating a villain, but because one of the agents is in a coma, Brash, they create a robocop that replicates him so that the investigation is ongoing. Throughout the book, they try to stop the giant ants but it seems that the robot replica of Brash is not entirely perfect and has a few bugs. They face challenges such as taking on the Maestronaut, trying to get Brash to remember a few important things, and helping him when he turns back into a baby. Throughout the challenges, they must work together to overcome this adventure and be the best secret agents they can be.

3. Critical Analysis

This graphic novel has great characters that accompany the reader throughout the book, allowing them some sort of comfort in their reading knowing that it follows their storyline. Another great thing about this book is that it has humor. Each bug they meet and adventure they go through has some sort of humor or entertainment. As far as the organization of the book, it has the story divided by chapters, and the organization of the quotes and dialogue and illustrations also are very linear, which make it easier to comprehend and read through. The dialogue also includes puns and the diction and word choice in the book helps students with vocabulary word exposure. Lastly, I like that the book is a series because they’re able to form bonds with the characters and follow them to other books and other adventures. Even within the book they make references to their other series, making students want to read their other works.

4. Review Excerpt

Barnes and Noble Reviews: Super-spies Mango and Brash are bugging out in InvestiGators: Ants in Our P.A.N.T.S, the latest chapter in the hilarious adventure series from John Patrick Green. With more than three million copies in print, these comics have legs – more than six, even!

With agent Brash trapped in a mysterious coma, the technicians at S.U.I.T. have designed the ultimate replacement: RoboBrash! This high-tech replica has been programmed with all of the original Brash’s crime-fighting skills and knowhow―but it seems he’s got a few bugs in his system! Will Mango and his new partner be enough to stop the giant ants that are on a rampage in the city? Orchestrated by the spaced-out villain, Maestronaut, and Houdino, the dinosaur escape artist, it seems criminals are certainly upping the ANT-y!

5. Connections

Some of the connections students can make with the book are having a loyal friend to go on adventures with. Throughout the book, the characters are together and embark on different characters, settings, tasks, and experiences. This might connect with a few students who have that one friend they always play with at recess or talk with at lunch. Another relatable connection is the different activities and actual adventures they go on. From the beach shores with sandcastles, to the carnival, to even the interactions with the animals and insects. Maybe at some point students have gone to the zoo and seen these alligators and chameleons or even when they play outside and see some ants. They’re able to connect to the book if and when they see them again.

Module 5 Historical Fiction Book Reviews

Module 5 Historical Fiction Book Reviews

Book Review #1 One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

1. Bibliography

Williams-Garcia, Rita. One Crazy Summer. Amistad, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2010.

2. Plot Summary

The book opens up with 3 siblings heading alone to visit their mom, someone with whom they seem to have a rough history with due to some abandonment and separations. Delphine, the protagonist, is a very observant little girl who tries to be strong for her siblings. They struggle in adapting to the new environment they are temporarily in, left alone to fend for themselves due to a neglectful mother. However, their need to go out around town helps them run into The Center, in which they meet the Black Panthers. From here, their luck turns when they are absorbed into a new learning environment when they decide to stay for the summer camp program. In this summer camp, they meet so many new people that help them learn about themselves and about the life around them, given the time period they live in.

3. Critical Analysis

Throughout the book, there are mentions of important references that students benefit from such as Muhammad Ali, racial differences at that time period, mannerisms and observations htat kids make at young ages, etc. Regarding the aspect of learning about revolutionary topics and “real world” problems, children are for the most part always wanting to take part in these conversations, even though they don’t always know. In the book, Delphine expresses some lack of knowledge in certain areas such as “I was disappointed. Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali were the only faces I could name,” which our students and even adults and teachers can relate to that feeling. The truth is that children naturally want to learn, and this book captures that desire to instinctively want to be better and learn and gain as much education. Children are hungry to soak up knowledge and be part of the world. The book does a great job in capturing that part of a children’s life, while explaining such an important part of our history. As far as the history is described in the book, it illustrates the curious parts that children might not know and want to learn about, making it realistic. 

4. Review Excerpt

Kirkus Reviews: A flight from New York to Oakland, Calif., to spend the summer of 1968 with the mother who abandoned Delphine and her two sisters was the easy part. Once there, the negative things their grandmother had said about their mother, Cecile, seem true: She is uninterested in her daughters and secretive about her work and the mysterious men in black berets who visit. The sisters are sent off to a Black Panther day camp, where Delphine finds herself skeptical of the worldview of the militants while making the best of their situation. Delphine is the pitch-perfect older sister, wise beyond her years, an expert at handling her siblings: “Just like I know how to lift my sisters up, I also knew how to needle them just right.” Each girl has a distinct response to her motherless state, and Williams-Garcia provides details that make each characterization crystal clear. The depiction of the time is well done, and while the girls are caught up in the difficulties of adults, their resilience is celebrated and energetically told with writing that snaps off the page.

5. Connections

Students are able to relate to this story through a few points. First, some students can relate to having divorced parents and the experiences that come with that mentioned in the book such as you and your siblings traveling to and from one parent’s home to another, dragging your belongings along with you. Students are also able to relate in the way that, unfortunately, they are the main ones taking care of their younger siblings. Sadly, some parents are too busy or overwhelmed or dealing with their own issues that they fail to see how important it is to raise their kids and pay them attention. Another major part that students can connect to is that the book talks a lot about summer camps and learning there, through those role models, learning about things that maybe their parents or even teachers have not exactly mentioned to them before. The protagonist expresses some lack of knowledge in certain areas such as “I was disappointed. Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali were the only faces I could name,” which our students and even adults and teachers can relate to that feeling. The truth is that children naturally want to learn, and this book captures that desire to instinctively want to be better and learn and gain as much education. Children are hungry to soak up knowledge and be part of the world.

Book Review #2 Breaking Stalin’s Nose by Eugene Yelchin

1. Bibliography

Yelchin, Eugene. Breaking Stalin’s Nose. Henry Holt and Company. LLC, 2011. 

2. Plot Summary

The story starts with a little boy who loves his dad, his country, and its beliefs. His dad works hard and is very respected among the other soviet communists. The little boy has been raised to be proud of everything they and their country stands for. Everything changes when one night, his father is arrested in the middle of the night, leaving Sasha to be alone and have nowhere to go after his aunt turns him away in fear of getting arrested also. After an incident at school that feels and will be treated as basically treason, of the breaking of Stalin’s nose, Sasha worries he will be arrested and not become a pioneer anymore if they find out it was him. Sasha's experiences and his guilt makes him realize how faulty the system is through communism, realizing one terrible thing after another about his own friends, family, and classmates. Sasha realizes he does not actually want to be a part of the government or family that does not stand by what’s right. 

3. Critical Analysis

This is a very engaging story that involves short chapters and a few pictures and lots of genuine feelings that children experience to keep the readers interested, all the while sharing pieces of history! Through the implicitness of the storytelling of Sasha’s experience, we learn the evil, corrupt, and unfair ways that communism can sometimes take form in. This was definitely a good “historical fiction” story that was very informative not only about the history of this time period, but about a little boy’s coming of age story.

4. Review Excerpt

Kirkus Reviews: There’s no place for the likes of you in our class,” Sasha Zaichik’s teacher tells him, and that seems to be the motto of the whole Stalinist nation.

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. Joseph Stalin’s State Security was responsible for exiling, executing or imprisoning 20 million people. Sasha is 10 years old and is devoted to Stalin, even writing adoring letters to Comrade Stalin expressing his eagerness at becoming a Young Pioneer. But his mother has died mysteriously, his father has been imprisoned and Sasha finds he has important moral choices to make. 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.

5. Connections

Students can connect with the story in many ways, starting from admiring and looking up to your father, to wanting to make your father proud and demonstrate to him that you uphold his values and try to make him proud, to wanting to be recognized and admired in school, to not wanting to snitch out your friends but at the same time not wanting to be the one to own up and get in trouble yourself and be made an example in front of others. This book has a very important connection in a coming of age story with children realizing the only way they can make themselves proud is by standing up for what is truly right.

Book Review #3 The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan

1. Bibliography 

Phelan, Matt. The Storm in the Barn. Candlewick Press, 2009. 

2. Plot Summary

The story starts off with the year and setting, immediately placing us in the center of the Dust Bowl, Kansas 1937. Throughout the pictures, we see a family, specifically the father, packing up their belongings and fleeing a very dusty, dull place. We are let into the life of a family that is struggling to survive the dust storms that take over their lives. People are sick, starving, and very poor. The book centers around one specific little boy, Jack, who tries to make sense of what is happening. He struggles with bullies at school, with adults treating him like a child, when all he wants is to help make time better during this challenging time period. Wanting to help and be useful to the adults, Jack goes to the barn and has weird encounters there. People dismiss it as “dust dementia,” but he persists, knowing he’s onto something. Ultimately, he meets a metaphorical figure claiming to be “the rain,” and shares a story about how it became the rain king and tries to scare Jack. Jack, however, builds up his courage and fights back against the rain king, allowing him to flee the barn quickly. The rain king follows him up to a high point, and Jack is able to defeat it, making it rain in his town! The book ends with his father accepting his help and voicing his importance. 

3. Critical Analysis 

This book is very unique in the format that the information is presented because it is very illustration heavy! It’s amazing that a historical fiction book can have so much creativity! It’s books like this that hook students early on in this genre. The book, without saying much through narration or dialogue with the exception of a few phrases and exchanges, says a million things through its pictures. Another great thing about this book is that it is told from the point of view of a little boy. His curiosity and desire to understand what is happening in their time period resonates with a lot of children who try so hard to know what the adults are feeling and thinking. The book does a very good job in depicting the struggles and emotions occurring during this time in American history.

4. Review Excerpt

Kirkus Reviews: leven-year-old Jack Clark feels useless on his family’s Kansas farm. It’s 1937: The rain went away when he was seven, so he’s never been able to help out. His older sister Dorothy is sick with Dust Pneumonia, and little sister Mabel doesn’t provide much companionship. Jack is the favorite target of the town bullies, but general-store owner Ernie tries to cheer Jack with traditional “Jack tales.” Then the boy sees a mysterious flash in the Talbots’ abandoned barn. When he investigates, he discovers a frightening apparition. Talking about it starts rumors he is suffering from Dust Dementia. Just when his family has given up hope, Jack, inspired by Ernie’s stories, confronts the creature and fights a fantastic battle with miraculous results. Author/illustrator Phelan’s first graphic tale is part historical mystery, part fantasy thriller. The pencil-and-watercolor panels are cinematically framed and often wordless, advancing the plot and delineating character with careful strokes. The bleakness of the Dust Bowl comes through in both the landscape and the hopeless faces of his characters. This is not to be missed.

5. Connections

This book is interesting because with just pictures, children are able to connect. The emotions portrayed in the illustrations speak a million words! Children can relate to wanting to grow up and be treated as part of the adults and wanting to help and be useful to the grown ups, when all the grown ups do is dismiss them as “just little kids,” that don’t know what they’re doing. I think this book puts into perspective how much childrena actually have to offer if we just take the time to listen and not underestimate their understanding of situations. Children can also relate to maybe having sick parents or parents who struggle financially.

Book Review #4 Nory Ryan’s Song by Patricia Reilly Giff

1. Bibliography

Giff, Patricia Reilly. Nory Ryan’s Song. Random House Children’s Books, SCHOLASTIC INC., 2000.

2. Plot Summary

The beginning of the book starts off with Nory and her experience with poverty. The magnitude of the poverty her family faces is so grand that it affects her family and its relationships. This takes place during the potato irish famine, so one can understand the gravity of this matter. One day, her older sister decides to move to America for a better life, leaving Nory behind with her grandpa and her little brother. It’s difficult for her as a young girl to help out around the house in getting food and money to survive. 

3. Critical Analysis 

At the beginning of the book there is a Glossary section with about 9 words that help pronounce the words and know their meanings so that they can refer back to it throughout the book. This chapter book involves a lot of emotions and experiences of a young girl. She goes through days and thoughts that a normal young girl or boy would experience in those situations of starvation, helping the readers relate through that point of view. 

4. Review Excerpt

Kirkus Reviews: Through young Nory's eyes, the aptly named Great Hunger is devastatingly real: not only do livestock and grain disappear, but so do shellfish and kelp, and finally even nettles and other weeds. Families are mercilessly driven from their homes, the dead are buried without ceremony, and little Patrick becomes ever thinner and more pitiable. Grasping at a sudden chance, big sister Maggie takes off for America, then Granda and teenage Celia set out for Galway, hoping to meet Da on the docks—leaving Nory to care for Patrick, and for old Anna Donnelly, a neighbor with a tragic past, as well. Nory makes the hardest sacrifice of all when an emigrating family invites her along and she sends Patrick in her place. So grim is the picture Giff draws that readers are likely to be startled by the sudden turnaround at the end, when news of Da's reappearance brings ship's passage for all and the prospect of a happy reunion in New York. Still, Nory's patient, stubborn endurance lights up this tale, and the promise of better times to come is well deserved.

5. Connections

Students are able to connect through the relationships of their family members, especially their grandparents. They are also able to relate and connect with the part of the moving homes. Sadly, another major connection that could be made is experiencing hunger and poverty. Our students in the Rio Grande Valley don’t come from privileged, well-off families and sometimes need assistance in getting food or shelter. Lastly, students can relate to this book through the theme of emigrating from one country to another for better living conditions, as most of their family's generations has moved out of Mexico due to poverty or violence.

Module 4: Nonfiction and Biography Book Reviews

 Book Review #1: “Truce” by Jim Murphy

1. Bibliography:

Murphy, Jim. “Truce.” Scholastic Press, Scholastic Inc. 2009. ISBN-13: 978-0-545-13049-3

2. Plot Summary:

The book opens with the beginning of what we now know as World War 1, and explains how it all started. Although it might have seemed like a misconception or miscommunication between countries, the events seem to have unfolded very quickly and escalated even quicker. Many countries joined the war, turning it into the World War 1 that we know today. The book takes readers throughout the journey of the war, with detailed experiences of the suffering and challenges the soldiers faced as well as the places and people they encountered. Ultimately, as they reach Christmas time, we learn of the unofficial Christrmast truce that happened in 1914 of World War 1.

3. Critical Analysis:

This book definitely gives a “nonfiction vibe” right upon first glance. The style has gray, black, and white themed colors, and has pictures or maps almost on every page, also in black and white. This book definitely gives a feel of “history,” which makes students want to believe and trust what it says. DEspite the formal feel this book gave, I appreciated the honesty of the titles of the chapters because it helps realistically relate to yahoo humans really feel and talk.

Since I am not a history expert, history enthusiast, or history teacher, I found myself researching some of the topics mentioned in the book such as the dates, names, and places, just to make sure the accuracy of the book was there or if anything new had been discovered or changed since its publication in 2009. As far as the other parts of the evaluation of a nonfiction book, it has big letters, making it easier to read and get through the pages, and every picture has a description at the bottom. Each picture or map has great quality; you can see a lot of the detailed information well displayed. I might criticize the length of the book and argue that it’s a bit too long for nonfiction for children, but it might be good for them because it teaches them to build their reading stamina and learn to read in sections when they have free time. They have a lot of time to check out books, and this might teach them that they don’t have to read every book in one single sitting.

4. Review Excerpt:

Kirkus Reviews: “And the truce of the book’s title is that magical, spontaneous Christmas truce of 1914, when peace broke out all along the Western Front. Opening with a cogent recap of the state of Europe prior to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand that focuses on those moments when war might have been averted (if Kaiser Wilhelm had read his mail on time, for instance), the author gracefully moves to the horrific conditions of battle that established the static madness of trench warfare—a madness that, oddly enough, led to enough fraternization across No Man’s Land that both British and German High Commands feared what eventually happened…Murphy takes readers through to the exhausting endgame that spawned the next war, but also he leaves kids with the provocative thought that war need not be inevitable, that the truce “offered reassurance that a kinder, humane spirit could prevail…” 

5. Connections:

Students are able to read and make connections between their social studies or history class, as well as any tv shows or movies that are recently popular or they’ve recently watched. In elementary, it seems like students always know cool, random facts. It might help them the most in building vocabulary words and background knowledge they might find useful in history class. This book might help them add onto their cool facts treasure box and share with their friends during lunch. Although these connections made may not seem as “fun,” they are connections that help in their overall knowledge of history and help in the long-term run of their learning journey.

Book Review #2: The Right Word: Roget and his Thesaurus by Jen Bryant

1. Bibliography:

Bryant, Jen, and Melissa Sweet. The Right Word - Roget and His Thesaurus. William B Eerdmans Publishing, 2014. 

2. Plot Summary:

The book starts with the death of Peter’s father, which is one of the many inconsistencies in his life: friends, moving homes, etc. Books, however, are the one thing that Peter finds to be a constant in his life. He compiles lists he makes throughout his life in a book he begins writing. He models after Linnaeus, who also “put the names of animals and plants in categories, and that made nature much easier to study.” As Peter goes through life, he’s always trying to think of better words to use and describe in his responses. So, throughout his life in his spare time being a medic, giving lectures, and starting a family, he kept working on his book to perfect it in a way that will help people the most! He eventually came to publish his book “Thesaurus,” which means treasure house and became a renowned author for his amazing work!

3. Critical Analysis:

The creativity of this book was amazing in the sense of how the information was displayed. While this is a nonfiction book, it didn’t make it hard to be entertained and want to actually continue reading. The beginning of the book had the life and death of Peter Mark Roget with many synonymous words as displayed in a thesaurus. Such as this page, every page had its unique touch like a very colorful picture, a hand-drawn calendar, a timeline, a map, a scrapbook page, etc. The artistic style took us through his life, while giving the readers plenty of knowledge and information!

4. Review Excerpt:

Kirkus Reviews: Bryant’s prose is bright and well-tuned for young readers. She goes gently, omitting Roget’s darkest traumas, such as witnessing his uncle’s suicide. Sweet tops herself—again!—visually reflecting Roget’s wide range as a thinker and product of the Enlightenment. Injecting her watercolor palette with shots of teal, scarlet and fuchsia, Sweet embeds vintage bits (ledger paper, type drawers, botanical illustrations and more), creating a teeming, contemplative, playfully celebratory opus. Exemplary backmatter includes a chronology, author’s and illustrator’s notes, selected bibliography, suggested reading, quotation sources, and a photograph of one of Roget's manuscript pages.

In a word: marvelous! 

5. Connections:

Some of the connections students can make with this book are that they may not have friends, they may be very interested and reliant on books because they learn at a young age that books can always be there for you…they can also maybe relate to brief topics mentioned in the book such as the death of his father, wanting to travel around the world, being a doctor, being shy, or speaking a different language. There are also a lot of pictures in the book that can represent something for students, opening up room for discussions about the topics and pictures.

Book Review #3:  A Perfect Fit: How Lena “Lane” Bryant Changed the Shape of Fashion by Mara Rockliff and illustrated by Juana Martinez–Neal

1. Bibliography: 

Rockliff, Mara, and Juana Martinez-Neal. A Perfect Fit: How Lena “Lane” Bryant Changed the Shape of Fashion. Clarion Books, an Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2022. 

2. Plot Summary:

Lena is from a very small village with her grandparents, who live a poor and humble life. Lina wants more out of life with big dreams, so she sets off to America. Once in America, she began sewing materials and making money, earning more and more each week. This extra money allowed her to pay her relatives back and take some classes such as English and fashion, where she meets her husband. They live happily for a few years and have a baby until suddenly, her husband dies of an illness. Heartbroken, Lena uses her mourning to focus all her attention on sewing. No one compared to her talents in making dresses as beautiful and comfortable and perfectly fit as the ones Lena made. Her success continued to skyrocket so she went to a bank to open a new store, in which she nervously mistakes her name as Lane instead of Lena. Throughout her time in her new store, she perfected her craft in sewing, “she draped…she snipped…and the big, fast machines stitched elegant, comfortable clothes that didn't squeeze or pinch.” 

3. Critical Analysis:

This book did a great job in using a story to the biography and facts of Lena “Lane” Bryant. I will say that the accuracy and the organization of the book were great! However, to me, as an adult, the book felt choppy and not as informational as I would have thought a nonfiction book to be. I think maybe that was the point of the book, though, so that young children aren’t bored or find it too difficult or long to read. This definitely didn’t have the “history” or the “nonfiction” feel to it. It was colorful, short, easy to read, and it even rhymed in some parts of the book to keep it fun and entertaining for children. 

4. Review Excerpt:

Goodreads Review: Lena believed she was helping women look and feel better through her clothing. The back matter does provide more details, but I still was left wanting more. I do appreciate there is a list of Selected Sources. However, I do recommend the book for showing a resourceful female immigrant who helped change the face of fashion with women's comfort and well-being in mind. 

5. Connections:

Students are able to connect by reading about an immigrant, someone who experiences poverty, and maybe relate to Lena. Living in the lower Rio Grande Valley, a lot of our family and ancestors were immigrants at some point or experienced a life of poverty. Additionally, students are able to connect to the fashion part of it, which is trendy and modern right now on social media. The current trend is people go to thrift stores and they upcycle old material into brand new and modern looking outfits. Ultimately, this is a newly published book that has a modern feel to it, all the while being informative about the protagonist's life and biography.

Book Review #4: Benjamin Franklin American Genius: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities by Brandon Marie Miller

1. Bibliography:

Miller, Brandon M. “Benjamin Franklin American Genius: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities.” Chicago Review Press. Chicago, Illinois. 2010. 

2. Plot Summary:

The book starts with the Franklins arriving in New England for a better life, and they are trying to make it by and have a better life. It mostly involves learning tradesmanship… learning a trade will help them get food on their table and pay their living. At first, the culture shock is eye opening to them. While Franklin is looking for jobs, he stands out from others who are part of governmental positions and high status in the town. He eventually was able to get jobs helping the community such as print shops, writing, editing, and teaching. He took full advantage of opportunities to serve the towns and the public. All throughout this time, he watched the divide of Great Britain with the colonies grow wider. Ultimately, Franklin helped get Americans to follow him into the war, he was a bit troubled in picking sides at times and dealing with war related things such as money and loyalty eventually moved to france then came back to philadelphia and continued servicing the public.

3. Critical Analysis:

Some information was choppy in the sense that it would talk about a specific topic such as Franklin trying to find a job, then cut off into a new subject or different part of his life without going back and connecting it. However, the book did have a timeline to make it easier on the readers to follow along and it had the information cut off into chapters. It also had activities that matched what the page was discussing such as how to make a kite, how to make your own candle, a recipe for french bread, creating your own paper, etc. The book also had a lot of little boxes that shared fun facts of the topics discussed in the pages. The pictures shown in the book are really big, some take up half the page, and they are detailed! Something I will also mention is that the pages are full of information, some of them are very very full, making me think this book is for older elementary students or middle schoolers. The vocabulary words used are also bigger and more complex. 

4. Review Excerpt:

Chicago Review Press: This smart and delightful book captures the magic of Benjamin Franklin and shows why his life is so inspiring. Above all, it celebrates his creativity, which was the source of his genius."  —Walter Isaacson, author, Benjamin Franklin: An American Life

5. Connections:

One sentence that stood out to me in the book that students can relate to is where it says “In Massachusetts, a man could live more cheaply and earn more for his hard work. In Boston, the Franklins would build a new life” (1). This resonated to me a lot because my parents did the same thing: they lived and worked in Mexico, but they wanted a better lifestyle for me and my siblings. Living in the Rio Grande Valley, the southernmost tip of Texas, I am sure that students will relate and understand that Franklin’s family migrating for a better life to America makes it no different than their family doing that now. Additionally, students are able to connect to the nonfiction with the facts that are provided in the book. They can relate to the settings and locations mentioned in the book, maybe they have visited there with family or plan to someday.