The Tyranny of Petticoats Blog Tour

Title: A Tyranny of Petticoats: 15 Stories of Belles, Bank Robbers & Other Badass Girls 
Publisher: Candlewick 
Publication Date: March 8th, 2016 
Genre/Format: Historical Fiction/Fantasy/Short Stories 
GoodReads Summary: From an impressive sisterhood of YA writers comes an edge-of-your-seat anthology of historical fiction and fantasy featuring a diverse array of daring heroines.

Criss-cross America — on dogsleds and ships, stagecoaches and trains — from pirate ships off the coast of the Carolinas to the peace, love, and protests of 1960s Chicago. Join fifteen of today’s most talented writers of young adult literature on a thrill ride through history with American girls charting their own course. They are monsters and mediums, bodyguards and barkeeps, screenwriters and schoolteachers, heiresses and hobos. They're making their own way in often-hostile lands, using every weapon in their arsenals, facing down murderers and marriage proposals. And they all have a story to tell. 

With stories by:

J. Anderson Coats

Andrea Cremer

Y. S. Lee

Katherine Longshore

Marie Lu

Kekla Magoon

Marissa Meyer

Saundra Mitchell

Beth Revis

Caroline Richmond

Lindsay Smith

Jessica Spotswood

Robin Talley

Leslye Walton

Elizabeth Wein

Today I'm sharing a short question and answer with three of the awesome authors who contributed to A Tyranny of Petticoats: Katherine Longshore, Marie Lu, and Kekla Magoon!

Katherine Longshore - Hard Times 

Question and Answer with Katherine Longshore

What inspired you to write about this particular time and place?

My enduring fascination with both hobos (that is, people who hitch rides on freight trains) and old movies. At a very young age, I was given a book that included illustrations of hobo symbols, and I have looked for signs of train jumpers ever since. As a teenager, I was obsessed with Hollywood’s early golden age and binge-watched swashbucklers, musicals, and screwball comedies. That these two worlds coexisted during the Great Depression is a dichotomy I was eager to explore.

What was the most interesting piece of research you uncovered while writing your story?

I don’t know if you’d call it research, but I was impressed by the number of people who have either jumped trains or know someone who did: from the family friend who remembers feeding hobos out of her back door in Ogden, Utah, to the critique group partner whose father rode the rails, to three famous Jacks — London, Dempsey, and Kerouac. For a while, it seemed that everyone I spoke to about “Hard Times” had their own rail adventure to tell.

Who is your favorite woman in history and why?

I don’t have a favorite — there are too many to choose from! — but I think my first historical crush was on Amelia Earhart, another 1930s icon. Even as a child, I saw her as a heroic figure and a star of feminism. Her courage, stubbornness, and mysterious disappearance make her endlessly fascinating.

Kekla Magoon - Pulse of the Panthers 

Question and Answer with Kekla Magoon

What inspired you to write about this particular time and place?

I’ve been interested in the 1960s and the Black Panther Party for quite a while. My first novel, The Rock and the River, and my third novel, Fire in the Streets, are about teens who become involved with the Black Panther Party in 1968 Chicago. When I thought about what historical moment I’d like to visit for this short-story collection, it was a natural choice. I hope that by writing about this topic, I can help introduce people to a slice of American history that often gets overlooked.

What was the most interesting piece of research you uncovered while writing your story?

Most people are fascinated to learn that the Black Panthers were much more than an armed self-defense collective — they led community-organizing programs, provided free breakfasts for school children in poor communities, established free health clinics, created food pantries, published a newspaper, offered legal aid, established charter schools, and ran candidates for political office. Their work affected and supported thousands of struggling individuals and families in cities nationwide. I’m intrigued by the courage and sacrifice of these black activists, and I continue to be troubled by the lack of attention paid to this moment in history by mainstream education and storytelling. This short story allowed me to explore a character who is on the fringes of the Black Panther movement, which was a fun angle to consider after so much time spent looking toward the heart of black activism in the 1960s and the events and context that spurred the Panthers to turn to self-defense and community-organizing strategies to create change.

Who is your favorite woman in history and why?

There are so many amazing women in history. One of my favorites is Zora Neale Hurston, a black author, anthropologist, and activist from the Harlem Renaissance era (1920s and 1930s). She wrote Their Eyes Were Watching God and other things, but she wrote, spoke out, and made herself heard at a time when black women were discounted and overlooked even more than they are today. I also aspire to speak truth in the face of oppression and to be remembered for my voice, and she is an epic model of that specific achievement.

Marie Lu - The Journey

Question and Answer with Marie Lu

What inspired you to write about this particular time and place?

One of my favorite childhood novels was Jean Craighead George’s Julie of the Wolves, and I fell in love with it because of her portrayal of the life and landscape in Alaska. So when Jess first pitched the idea of A Tyranny of Petticoats to me, I immediately knew that I wanted to set my story there. The environment is just so magical, beautiful and wild and harsh — the name Alaska derives from the native Aleut word alyeska, which means “the great land.” I wanted to tell a story about what it might have been like during the time when Alaska’s indigenous people first started encountering outside explorers, and what that meant from various angles, including from the point of view of a young Inupiat girl.

What was the most interesting piece of research you uncovered while writing your story?

There were so many! I especially loved reading mythology from the indigenous cultures, stories about why the stars and animals exist, what the dancing northern lights mean.

Who is your favorite woman in history and why?

Wow, it’s impossible to pick a single woman! My best attempts to narrow this down still end up with two: 1. Marie Curie, perhaps the first famous woman I ever read about as a little girl, and from whom I think I picked my English name to model, and 2. going more modern, Malala Yousafzai, who has already made history and will no doubt continue to for many decades to come. She inspires me every time I think about her.

Check out the other stops on the blog tour!

Date	Blog	Address
March 1	Nerdy Book Club	https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/
March 2	A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust	http://www.foodiebibliophile.com/
March 3	Charting By the Stars	https://chartingbythestars.wordpress.com/
March 4	Unleashing Readers	http://www.unleashingreaders.com/
March 7	Teacher Mentor Texts	http://www.teachmentortexts.com/
March 8	YA Love	http://yaloveblog.com/

Cold War On Maplewood Street

Title: Cold War On Maplewood Street 
Author: Gayle Rosengren 
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers 
Publication Date: August 4th, 2015 
Genre/Format: Historical Fiction/Novel 
GoodReads Summary: Cold War anxieties play out in a sensitively told story set during the Cuban missile crisis in the 1960s, perfect for fans of Gary Schmidt and Kristin Levine. 

Joanna can’t get over how her brother broke his promise to never leave like their dad did. Sam is thousands of miles away on a navy ship, and no matter how often he sends letters, Joanna refuses to write back. When she makes a promise, she keeps it.

But then President Kennedy comes on TV with frightening news about Soviet missiles in Cuba—and that’s where Sam’s heading. Suddenly Joanna’s worries about being home alone, building up the courage to talk to a cute boy, and not being allowed to go to the first boy-girl party in her grade don’t seem so important. Maybe sometimes there are good reasons to break a promise.The tense timeline of the Cuban missile crisis unfolds alongside a powerful, and ultimately hopeful, story about what it means to grow up in a world full of uncertainty. 
What I Think: I'm such a fan of historical fiction but I especially love how this book takes place during a period of time that I hadn't read much about before. When it comes to U.S. History, it always seemed like we never made it very far past the Civil Rights movement. Readers will relate to Joanna, the people in her life, and the struggles she grapples with but the setting helps make this book unique.
     As a mentor text, I would ask students to look think about how Gayle Rosengren brings Joanna's world to life. They can look at their own world and realistic fiction though the lens of Joanna's story. It would be great to compare and contrast between her description of the world and our world now and think about to describe it for others.
Read Together: Grades 4 - 6 
Read Alone: Grades 4 - 6 
Read With: Lost In The Sun by Lisa Graff, Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin, The Battle of Darcy Lane by Tara Altebrando, Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt 
Snatch of Text:   
     "Just before she started down the steps to their apartment, a crawly feeling on the back of her neck made Joanna look up. Mrs. Strenge stood at the window. Her beady eyes stared from a scrawny face surrounded by hair sticking out in all directions, like the Bride of Frankenstein. Her fat black cat glowered down from the windowsill beside her." (p. 10)

     "'She's an artist,' Uncle Zach pointed out. 'Artists have vivid imaginations.'
     'Mom's not an artist anymore,' Pamela chipped in, tossing her last fork in the general direction of a plate and pulling Joanna along with her to the couch. 'She hasn't painted in weeks.'
     Uncle Zach shook his head at her. 'Whether she paints or not, your mother is still an artist,' he said firmly. 'She sees and feels things differently than we do. More deeply.'" (p. 83)
Writing Prompts: Write about a time in your life when you were mad at someone. How did you handle your anger? What resolved the situation?
Topics Covered: Family, Friendship, Courage, Honesty, Siblings 

I *heart* It:

 

*Thanks to Penguin Young Readers Group for 

a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review!*

Dear Mr. Washington

Title: Dear Mr. Washington 
Author: Lynn Cullen 
Illustrator: Nancy  Carpenter 
Publisher: Dial Books 
Publication Date: January 8th, 2015 
Genre/Format: Historical Fiction/Picture Book 
GoodReads Summary: Based on the true story behind Gilbert Stuart's famous portraits of Washington, this funny historical read will leave rascals, ruffians, and troublemakers of all ages laughing.

Charlotte, James, and baby John have promised to be on their very best behavior for when George Washington comes to have his portrait painted by their father, Gilbert Stuart. But, it seems like every time George Washington comes to visit, Charlotte has to write another apology letter, even when they try to follow George Washington’s Rules of Good Behavior. If these whippersnappers want any dessert, they are going to have to learn some manners—and fast! What results is a hilarious chain of events, a giant mess…and a painting that will be remembered for centuries to come. 
What I Think: I adore how Nancy Carpenter brings Lynn Cullen's imagined history to life. I happened to visit a photography class this week where the teacher was talking about early photography and how people had to sit sit for a few minute. She shared how this made many people look very stiff and almost unnatural in photographs. I recently saw something about this on Twitter and it was so interesting to me. It's a similar case with George Washington having to sit for the artist Gilbert Stuart. So much of what we capture in history are big moments but the behind-the-scenes stories seem to add so much personality and I find that they help us better understand the reality of life. Lynn Cullen only imagined what might have happened as George Washington posed for Gilbert Stuart but it's a wonderful opportunity to discuss etiquette and spur some imagination.
     As a mentor text, I would ask students to think about a big(ish) even in their lives - maybe the first day of school, their favorite birthday, a visit to a special place. If they have a picture of the event, they can bring it in or they can draw a picture of it as a reference. Then ask students to tell the story of that day or leading up to that day. Instantly, what comes to mind for me is my wedding day. We have all sorts of beautiful pictures of my wedding day but what those pictures don't show are that my dad cut his finger badly and had to the emergency room to see if he needed stitches hours before we had to leave for the airport (we had a destination wedding), that my dad (in his haste) accidentally ran over my carry on as he was backing out of the driveway, that my cousin (who was a Maid of Honor) locked herself out of her hotel room minutes before she was supposed to leave for the ceremony and had to convince a hotel worker to let her back in so she could get changed into her dress. There are other stories I can tell about that weekend and all of these details that I know and remember make my wedding so much more special. This is an opportunity to help students see how they might expand upon an event. Students might even interview a family member or another adult about an experience they remember and ask him or her to tell about all the little moments leading up to that big event.
     Within this story, Washington sends the children some rules to follow to practice good behavior. Of course, Nancy Carpenter illustrates this perfectly - having Washington act out some silly things. What if students were asked to write some rules of good behavior for adults? Students are observant and can be super intuitive. I think it would be great to discuss some rules they might want to share with adults or possibly some rules that seem logical but that are important to point out. This might be an opportunity to take pictures of non-examples and examples and put them into a presentation or video. I would suggest doing them Nancy-Carpenter-style and not taking this too seriously - add a little imagination, have a little fun!
Read Together: Grades 2 - 6  
Read Alone: Grades 3 - 5 
Read With: M is for Mischief by Linda Ashman and Nancy Carpenter, 17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore by Jenny Offill and Nancy Carpenter, Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis 
Snatch of Text:  

"RULES OF GOOD BEHAVIOR FOR BOYS AND GIRLS

1. Do not be a Peacock, looking to see how nicely your Shoes

and Stockings fit and how Handsome you are.

2. Do not run in the Streets no go too

slowly with your Mouth open.

...nor Shake your Arms nor kick the earth

no go upon your Toes in a Dancing fashion."

Writing Prompts: Write your own rules of good behavior - but instead of writing them for boys and girls - write them for adults in your life. How might you keep them simple but send a clear message at the same time. Choose an event or moment in your life that stands out to you - take some time to share the little stories that make that moment memorable to you and bring it to life for your reader.
Topics Covered: Family, Etiquette, Imagination, Integration - Art, Integration - Social Studies 

I *heart* It:

Caminar - Poetry Friday

Poetry Friday is hosting by Diane at Random Noodling today! Be sure to stop on over to see all the other Poetry Friday posts and share the poetry love!


Title: Caminar  
Author: Skila Brown 
Publisher: Candlewick Press 
Publication Date: March 11th, 2014 
Genre/Format: Historical Fiction/Novel In Verse 
GoodReads Summary: Set in 1981 Guatemala, a lyrical debut novel tells the powerful tale of a boy who must decide what it means to be a man during a time of war. 

Carlos knows that when the soldiers arrive with warnings about the Communist rebels, it is time to be a man and defend the village, keep everyone safe. But Mama tells him not yet — he’s still her quiet moonfaced boy. The soldiers laugh at the villagers, and before they move on, a neighbor is found dangling from a tree, a sign on his neck:Communist. Mama tells Carlos to run and hide, then try to find her. . . . Numb and alone, he must join a band of guerillas as they trek to the top of the mountain where Carlos’s abuela lives. Will he be in time, and brave enough, to warn them about the soldiers? What will he do then? A novel in verse inspired by actual events during Guatemala’s civil war, Caminar is the moving story of a boy who loses nearly everything before discovering who he really is. 
What I Think: Everyone on my mom's side of the family is from Guatemala but I have never been. I speak Spanish (enough) and we participate in many traditions from Guatemala. My parents visit often, they actually just came back this past Sunday from a trip. My grandmother, uncle cousins and other extended family still live there. So why haven't I been? Mostly because my mom doesn't feel that it's safe. She worries about something happening to us and so I haven't been. Whether this is truly a reason not to go, it definitely factors in. (Another reason is that their seasons are opposite of ours here near Chicago so when I suggest we go in the summer when school is out, my mom reminds me that it's their rainy season and just not a nice time to visit.)
     My point in sharing my mom's concerns about our safety is that this book gives some insight into what people in Guatemala experienced during Guatemala's civil war which took place from 1960 to 1996 and how there are lasting effects of this war even to this day.
     Skila Brown does an excellent job of bringing what the main character experiences to life. The imagery is wonderful, letting the reader experience what it might be like to be teetering between childhood and adulthood and thrust into a harrowing situation where he has to make decisions that impact his life and also those of others. It makes me sad but I'm so glad Skila wrote this book and shared this story.
Read Together: Grades 5 - 12  
Read Alone: Grades 6 - 12 
Read With: A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah, Sold by Patricia McCormick 
Snatch of Text:  

Soccer

"I did not have to be big --- just strong

enough to make a wall

with my body,

keep everyone       away

from the ball at my feet.

Then I could move,

    tap it      from one foot          to the next,

go down the field            and never lose

I could move the ball

safely, closer to the goal,

close enough to score,

but I was too afraid

it would be     taken

before it reached the goal.

So I passed

        instead. Even though Mateo's shot

                         didn't make it, I sighed with relief.

                                        Because my pass did." (p. 6)

Reading Strategies to Practice: Activating Background Knowledge, Visualizing, Making Inferences, Making Connections  
Writing Strategies to Practice: Descriptive, Figurative Language, Personal Narrative
Writing Prompts: Write about a time in your life when you had to be brave and trust in someone or something even though you weren't sure if you truly did trust him or the situation. 
Topics Covered: Family, Loyalty, Trust, Determination, Courage, Will 

I *heart* It:

The Mighty Lalouche

Title: The Mighty Lalouche 
Author: Matthew Olshan   
Illustrator: Sophia Blackall  
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade 
Publication Date: May 14th, 2013 
Genre/Format: Historical Fiction/Picture Book
GoodReads Summary:  In Paris, France, there lived a humble postman named Lalouche. He was small, but his hands were nimble, his legs were fast, and his arms were strong. When his job was replaced by an electric car, he turned to boxing to support himself and his pet finch, Genevieve. But--"You? A boxer?" the fighters asked. "I could sneeze and knock you down!" Still, Lalouche refused to give up. And perhaps small Lalouche was just nimble . . . just fast . . . and just strong enough to beat his fierce competitors. This is a marvelous story, full of humor and heart, and illustrated by Sophie Blackall, winner of a New York Times Best Illustrated Award. 
What Jen Thinks: I'm not sure if there's a name for a time when you read exactly the right book that you need at just the right time in your life but that happened to me with this book. I'm still thinking about what I want to be when I grow up. As I learn and grow more and more, I discover new things that I'm passionate about and I'm finding opportunities that are taking my life in different directions. This is exactly what happens to our funky friend Lalouche. I actually really love Lalouche. He seems like a simple guy who knows what he likes and knows what's important to him. He has a sweet little bird friend who means a lot to him. And then something unexpected and crummy happens to Lalouche. Lalouche has to make a decision! Does he accept defeat or does he make the most of his situation and take advantage of an opportunity that crosses his path. I think readers will fall in love with this little man and want to root for him but learn from his story as well.
What Kellee Thinks: This is one of those books that you read and you automatically want to share with others. It is so interesting and quirky, illustrated perfectly, and teaches you about an interesting time in French history. Within the first pages, you fall in love with LaLouche and I love that he is brave enough to not only do something that seems impossible, but to stand up to those who are bigger, stronger, and meaner than he is.  And the story is told in a fun, humorous way that, in the end, teaches the reader a lesson about following your heart.
     One of my favorite things about this book is the illustrations. They fit the time period perfectly and remind me of the later work of  Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Jean-Marc Côté. By emulating the feel of these French artists, Sophie Blackall has transported the reader to the late 19th century streets of France. 
     This book is also chock-full of teaching opportunities. The vocabulary and descriptive language that fills these pages are opportunities to practice a ton of reading and writing strategies including showing a character's traits without stating them, exclamatory sentences filled with descriptive language (onomatopoeia, imagery, alliteration), and learning new vocabulary. 
Read Together: Grades K to 8
Read Alone: Grades 3 to 5
Read With: Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet, The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordical Gerstein 
Snatch of Text:   

"One hundred and few-odd years ago,

in Paris France, there lived

a humble postman named Lalouche.

He was small, Lalouche,

and rather bony,

but his hands were nimble,

his legs were fast,

and his arms were strong."

Reading Strategies to Practice: Vocabulary Development, Character Traits
Writing Strategies to Practice: Onomatopoeia, Alliteration, Exclamatory Sentences, Descriptive Language, Commas (series)
Writing Prompts: At the end LaLouche makes a decision that is a bit controversial. Do you agree with his decision? Would you have made the same decision? Explain your answers using evidence from the text to support your answer.
Topics Covered: Hopes, Dreams, Determination, Love, Passion

We *heart* It: 

and

Paperboy

Title:  Paperboy
Author: Vince Vawter 
Publisher:  Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication Date:  May 14, 2013
Genre/Format:  Historical Fiction/Novel
GoodReads Summary:  An 11-year-old boy living in Memphis in 1959 throws the meanest fastball in town, but talking is a whole different ball game. He can barely say a word without stuttering, not even his own name. So when he takes over his best friend's paper route for the month of July, he knows he'll be forced to communicate with the different customers, including a housewife who drinks too much and a retired merchant marine who seems to know just about everything. 
     The paper route poses challenges, but it's a run-in with the neighborhood junkman, a bully and thief, that stirs up real trouble--and puts the boy's life, as well as that of his family's devoted housekeeper, in danger.
What Jen Thinks: This year on American Idol, one of the top finalists was a guy named Lazaro Arbos, who has a stutter. He takes a long time to produce words when he is talking but when he is singing, the words come out beautifully. I loved watching him progress through the competition and to hear his story. At one point, Lazarro shared how difficult it can be for someone with a stutter to make and friendships. It really touched my heart and I found myself making connections between Lazaro and the main character in this book. I'm currently listening to the book Quiet by Susan Cain and that is giving me a totally different perspective on introverts and personalities in general. Throughout the book, I thought so much about how a stutter really impacts who you want to be and what you can do in life. I found myself thinking of Mattie from Hound Dog True by Linda Urban. Mattie is painfully shy and in a way she reminded me of the main character in Paperboy.
     I really enjoyed Vince's descriptions in this book. As a mentor text, it would be great for kids to look at how he describes while not simply telling the reader about what is happening. He uses clues about what might be happening at a certain moment or place and describes what is going on in a scene to show more about what is happening. I especially love the snatch of text below where he describes dusk. I can exactly visualize that time of night when you really start to notice bugs hanging around. When you all of a sudden realize the sun has almost disappeared and you can't really see what's going on around you any more. I love how this simple snatch of text can be an example of how how kids can describe in their writing. 
What Kellee Thinks: I found this book fascinating. It dealt with many different topics from stuttering to racism in the South and definitely shows the power of others in helping a young person find his/her voice (and in this book, that is a literal statement). I loved how it was written because although our narrator wasn't very vocal in his life, he loved writing and found his voice through his writing. It is through this art that he is able to tell his story. It is also quite interesting that though he is writing his story, he withholds his name until the very end because he has trouble saying it himself. He is referred to mostly as "Little Man" throughout the book. 
     But, by far, my favorite thing about this story is all of the characters our narrator gets involved with when he begins his paper route. First is Little Man's first crush, a pretty young wife who likes to drink and who Little Man cannot figure out. Second is a homeless man who bullies Little Man out of some of his possessions and is haunted by his past. Third, and most importantly, is a Merchant Marine who shows Little Man that there is more out there and that he can be whomever he wants to be. It is through these different adults that our narrator really starts to become his own. 
     In the classroom, this book would be a great discussion start about many different topics. Since it is historical, it gives a different perspective into many different topics including television and racism. Vawter also writes this novel with a great voice and makes interesting choices with punctuation that would be interesting to talk to students about. 
Read Together: Grades 6 - 8 
Read Alone: Grades 6 - 8 
Read With:  Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper, Wonder by RJ Palacio, Okay For Now by Gary Schmidt, The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan, Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine, Hound Dog True by Linda Urba
Snatch of Text: 

"The streets are like friends I don't have to talk to." (p. 11)

"I didn't know what time it was but I knew I was going to have a tough time beating it home by seven o'clock. It wasn't pitch-dark yet but more flies were swarming around the porch light and a few lightning bugs were warming up out in the yard for a big Friday night in Memphis." (p. 33)

     "I didn't have to think too long because I had wanted to see the inside of Mr. Spiro's house all along. I was nervous but not from knowing I might have to say something. The nervousness came from being excited just like before the first pitch of a ball game.
     The house was not going to be like my house. I was sure of that. But I didn't know what to expect. Never in a gazillion years could I have guessed what I was going to see.
     Books. Hundreds. Thousands. Wall to wall. Floor to ceiling." (p. 101-102)

"I wish I had a book

That did not have an end.

I go to pick it up

And it is new again.

The words feel real 

And mine to share.

The have no sound.

They have no air.

My voice is clear

And lets me speak

My fear is gone

I'm never weak.

My words all come

And right on time.

The words are true

The words are mine."

(p. 108-109)

Mentor Text For:  Voice, First Person Point of View, Grammar, Simile, Making Predictions, Contractions (p. 30), Poetry (p. 108-109), Descriptive, Personal Narrative
Writing Prompts:  There are some unexpected players in this young boy's life that he would have never thought would affect him the way they did. Think of someone in your life that you thank for helping, influencing, or changing you and write them a thank you letter. 
Topics Covered: Candide, Voltaire, Speech Pathology, Baseball, Alcoholism, Anxiety, Infidelity, Genetics, Fathers, Heidegger, Existentialism, Segregation, Linguistics, Language, Race Relations, Faith, History of the Alphabet (p. 64-65), Myths (p. 66), Television (p. 44)

We *Heart* It: 

We're happy to be part of the Paperboy blog tour! 

Be sure to visit the other stops!

May 7^th: Teach Mentor Texts

May 8^th: Random Acts of Reading

May 9^th: Teach Mentor Texts

May 10^th: Ms. Yingling Reads

May 13^th: The Children’s Book Review

May 14^th: Nerdy Book Club

and
**Thank you to Random House Children's Books (specifically Nicole and Vince) for contacting us to be part of the blog tour and sending us a copy for review!**

Jen Rereads The Dreamer

We're halfway through April! It seems like things are going really fast this time of year...I think because  I'm so busy I barely have time to think! I do at least have time to listen to books on my commute still and that might be part of what keeps me going. Reading in general is such a great escape but I am finding that I enjoy rereading more and more because I know I enjoyed the book the first time and anticipate enjoying it again the second time around. If curling up with a good book is like visiting with a friend, curling up to reread a good book is like spending time with a long-time great friend.

Title: The Dreamer 
Author: Pam Munoz Ryan   
Illustrator: Peter Sis 
Publisher: Scholastic 
Publication Date: April, 2010
Genre/Format: Historical Fiction - Fictionalized Biography/Novel 
GoodReads Summary: Neftali finds beauty and wonder everywhere: in the oily colors of mud puddles; a lost glove, sailing on the wind; the music of birds and language. He loves to collect treasures, daydream, and write--pastimes his authoritarian father thinks are for fools. Against all odds, Neftali prevails against his father's cruelty and his own crippling shyness to become one of the most widely read poets in the world, Pablo Neruda. This moving story about the birth of an artist is also a celebration of childhood, imagination, & the strength of the creative spirit. Sure to inspire young writers & artists. 
What I Think: The first time I read The Dreamer I was pleasantly surprised to find out it was based on the childhood of Pablo Neruda. Pablo Neruda is a name that holds so many memories for me. My sweet grandmother has always been an avid reader. When she was little, she read every book in the local library...even the books that weren't appropriate for age when she was young. My grandmother read and read and read. She would tell us stories and jokes and recite poems and songs. I have always been amazed at how much she knew by heart. In college, my husband took a Spanish class and one of his assignments was to memorize and recite Pablo Neruda's Poema 20. I spent hours listening to him repeat the lines over and over again. And when he recited it for my grandmother she recognized it right away and started saying the lines with him. It is a wonderful memory I have of my grandmother and of my husband. After reading this book, I immediately called my grandmother and told her all about it. I was most excited to share that Pablo Neruda would write in green ink because he believes green to be the color of esperanza, which means hope. Esperanza is my grandmothers name and I believe her to be one of the smartest and most creative people I know. She's just a great woman.
     I tell this story of my connection with this book because Pam Munoz Ryan brought Neftali's story to life for me in such a unique way. I didn't know much about Pablo Neruda before reading this book other than he was a very famous poet whose writing was very sensual. Reading The Dreamer helped me really connect with Pablo Neruda and helped me be able to understand his creativity and where his passion came from. I can't imagine being as creative and passionate as Pablo Neruda but being as stifled as he was by his father. The beautiful, lyrical writing seems to exude Neruda's character. I can't recommend this book enough. I think it would be great for older readers to pair with Stitches by David Small which is a autobiographical graphic novel about another artist whose father impacts his life. I can also see it paired with non-fiction text about life in Chile during the time he was growing up in the early 1900's and throughout his life. It would be interesting to look at how the culture and the government and life in general during that time period influenced his father which then impacted his life. I loved getting lost in this book again and being able to think more about his father and to try to understand him.
     I did want to mention that last year around this time, our great friend, Alyson Beecher from Kid Lit Frenzy reviewed The Dreamer for us and also had wonderful things to say as well. You can read her review at Kid Lit Frenzy.
Read Together: Grades 4 - 8 
Read Alone: Grades 5 - 8 
Read With: Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People by Monica Brown, Stitches by David Small, Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell, Okay For Now by Gary D. Schmidt, Paperboy by Vince Vawter 
Snatch of Text:  
     "His sense whirled and he felt giddy. He could not turn his head fast enough to absorb it all: tiny needles of light piercing the canopy, the untamed overgrowth of plants and trees, the musty smell of giant mushrooms, the crisp fragrance of pine, the sudden shrieks and flight of parrots." (p. 95)
     "All morning, Neftali wandered, inhaling the scent of wet leaves, wild herbs, and cinnamon." (p. 97)
Mentor Text For: Activating Background Knowledge, Making Connections, Making Inferences, Personal Narrative, Descriptive 
Writing Prompts: Write about a time in your life when you felt like you wanted something or wanted to do something but someone or something held you back.
Topics Covered: Family, Friendships, Siblings, Confidence, Perseverance, Hopes, Dreams, Adversity, Stuttering, Poetry, Writing, Determination, Creativity

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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Title: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Author: Benjamin Alire Saenz

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: February, 2012

Genre/Format: Contemporary Historical Fiction/Novel

Goodreads Summary: Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

What I Think: So beautifully written. One of those books that you want to tell everyone to read because it is so literary and lyrical. While reading, I felt I had to keep stopping to take notes because I had so much I wanted to share with you all; Aristotle & Dante reminded me of John Green in that way. His characters are so intelligent, the voice so pure and mesmerizing, and the story so enthralling- all aspects of a literary young adult novel. I am not surprised at all of the awards that Aristotle & Dante took home from the ALA Awards as it deserved each and every one of them (Stonewall Book Award, Printz Honor, Pura Belpre Author Award). I know this seems mighty gushy, but I just really fell in love with this novel. 

     There was so many passages throughout that could be used for exemplar pieces of writing (specifically while reading I picked up on the literary devices, characterization, and voice) and can be used to practice reading strategies. The only thing I worry about is the teen appeal for this novel. I could see students thinking it was pretty slow because it is more character-driven than plot-driven. It is about Aristotle & Dante growing up and finding themselves (once again, reminds me a bit of a John Green Novel). Though I can see students who give it a chance being as touched by the book as I am. 

Read Together: Grades 9 and up

Read Alone: Grades 9 and up

Read With: Personal Effects by EM Kokie, Looking for Alaska by John Green, Shine by Lauren Myracle

Snatch of Text: "The war changed him.

     I was born when he came home. 
     Sometimes I think my father has all these scars. On his heart. In his head. All over. It's not such an easy thing to be a son of a man who's been to war. when I was eight, I overheard my mother talking to my Aunt Ophelia on the phone. "I don't think that the war will ever be over for him." Later I asked my Aunt Ophelia if that was true. "Yes," she said, "it's true" 
     "But why won't the war leave my dad alone?"
     "Because your father has a conscience," she said. 
     "What happened to him in the war?"
     "No one knows"
     "Why won't he tell?"
     "Because he can't."" (p. 14)

     "I felt alone, but not in a bad way. I really liked being alone. Maybe I liked it too much. Maybe my father was like that too. 
     I thought of Dante and wondered about him. 
     And it seemed to me that Dante's face was a map of the world. A world without darkness. 
wow, a world without darkness. How beautiful was that?" (p. 56)

Mentor Text for: Characterization, Voice, Descriptive (p. 19 et al.), Compare/Contrast (p. 20), Dialogue, Figurative Language (Metaphor- p. 261 et al.), Vocabulary, Literary Writing

Writing Prompts: Aristotle & Dante love to make up stories about the people on the bus (see p. 21); go and sit outside where you can people watch and spontaneously write short stories about a handful of them. 

Topics Covered: Poetry (Walt Whitman, William Carlos Williams), Philosophers, Literature (Heart of Darkness, Grapes of Wrath, Sun Also Rises, War & Peace), Art History (Mexican Art, Edward Hopper), Comics (p. 19), Identity of 2nd Generation American Immigrants, Light Pollution, Mental Health, Teaching (pgs. 67, 165), Anger, Counseling, PTSD, Survivor's Guilt, Sexual Identity, Puberty, Family Secrets, Hate Crimes, Loyalty, Love (p. 247 et al.), Vietnam, Spontaneous Creative Writing (p. 21 et al.), Guilt/Shame, Family

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