Wishtree

Title: Wishtree 
Author: Katherine Applegate 
Illustrator: Charles Santoso
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: September 26th, 2017 
Genre/Format: Fiction/Novel 
GoodReads Summary: Trees can't tell jokes, but they can certainly tell stories. . . .

Red is an oak tree who is many rings old. Red is the neighborhood "wishtree"—people write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red's branches. Along with her crow friend Bongo and other animals who seek refuge in Red's hollows, this "wishtree" watches over the neighborhood.You might say Red has seen it all. Until a new family moves in. Not everyone is welcoming, and Red's experiences as a wishtree are more important than ever.  
What I Think: Oh, Katherine Applegate. She's done it again. I love Wishtree so much. It's another book from her with a whole lot of heart. And the most fascinating thing is the main character is a tree who has a whole lot of heart. I'm so excited to share this with young readers because I'm sure it will spark great discussion. 
     As I was reading I kept thinking of Paul Fleischman's Seedfolks and I might go reread it to see how they might connect. Overall, the tone in Wishtree reminded me of Seedfolks but I also saw similarities in the themes.
     The tone of Wishtree is so clear because Katherine so purely writes Red (the wishtree) as a character. It's beautiful. When I think about characters in my own writing, I think about who they are and what I know about them that my readers might never know. I make sure I know what they have gone through as characters before the story starts because all those little experiences shape who they are. Everything that has happened to them is part of why they make the decisions they do. It's not always easy for a writer to not include all of these past experiences...I've seen lots of student writers tell readers way too much early on. I *might* happen to also do this in my own writing, especially in first drafts. But in revisions, I can usually spot when I'm telling and either delete my rambling or find a way to work it in without dumping all the information in one spot. 
     One other way Wishtree can be used as a mentor text is to look at foreshadowing. Katherine gives us really subtle clues of theme throughout the book. I pulled two examples to share in the snatch of text. Both of these come at the end of a chapter. Red is so wise but if readers stop and think about what he's pointing out along the way, we can start to recognize some foreshadowing in the story. As a writer, I've found that I'm able to find little snippets of clues I can leave for my reader along the way. Some of them make it into my first draft but I find that I'm better able to add in foreshadowing during revisions when I know where my story is going overall. One of my favorite mentor texts for foreshadowing is One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo with illustrations by David Small. There are so many clues along the way if you just slow down and really pay attention. The trick to being able to pepper in foreshadowing as a writer is to recognize how authors use foreshadowing as a reader. And Wishtree allows you to do just that!
Snatch of Text: 
     "If this were a fairy tale, I would tell you there was something magical about Samar. That she cast a spell on the animals, perhaps. Animals don't just leave their nests and burrows willingly. They are afraid of people, with good reason. 
     But this isn't a fairy tale, and there was no spell. Animals compete for resources, just like humans.
     They eat one another. They fight for dominance. Nature is not always pretty or fair or kind. But sometimes surprises happen. And Samar, every spring night, reminded me there is beauty in stillness and grace in acceptance. 
     And that you're never too old to be surprised." 

     "Watching Bongo soar, I considered, not for the first time, my rambling roots. What would it be like to fly? To burrow? To swim? To gallop?
     Delightful, no doubt. Sheer joy. And yet. I wouldn't trade a single rootlet for any of it. 
     It is a great gift indeed to love who you are."
Writing Prompt: Why does Katherine Applegate choose to end two chapters with the phrases like the snatches of text above? 

Tea Rex

Title: Tea Rex
Author: Molly Idle
Illustrator: Molly Idle
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Publication Date: April 9th, 2013
Genre/Format: Fantasy/Picture Book
GoodReads Summary: Some tea parties are for grown-ups.
Some are for girls.But this tea party is for a very special guest.And it is important to follow some rules . . .like providing comfortable chairs,and good conversation,and yummy food. But sometimes that is not enough for special guests,especially when their manners are more Cretaceous than gracious . . .
Introducing Tea Rex, a guest that just about any child would love to have to tea!
What I Think: Can you imagine having afternoon tea and your guest is a dinosaur? We just read Tyrannosaurus Wrecks! by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallan and I think it would match so well with Tea Rex. Peanut and I had a great conversation about how Tyrannosaurus' friends helped him learn to be less disruptive in their classroom. But inviting Tyrannosaurus to tea and hoping he would have manners for that is a different story. 
     Over the summer, Peanut got to attend Nerd Camp Junior and listen to Kelly DiPucchio speak. She talked to the kids about taking a normal, everyday topic and putting a twist into it. She handed out cards with pictures on them and then the kids had to come up with a twist to go with the image on their card. It was pretty fun and I can see how this activity would work really great after reading Tea Rex as well. It would be fun to imagine how a Tyrannosaurus would be able to participate in any of our everyday life experiences.
     Many children are familiar with If You Give a Mouse a Cookie but I love this circular tale. Kids will have fun predicting what is going to happen next and following along with the story. 
     When I took Composition my junior year in high school, we had to write an expository piece explaining how not to do something or how to do something most people wouldn't usually encourage. It was a neat exercise because it allowed us to be a little more creative than simply describing how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or something like that. I wrote about how to get kicked it our a movie theater - outlining all the obnoxious things people do at the movies that might get them reprimanded if not kicked out. This writing activity can easily be used after reading this book. Students can outline all the things they need to know when attending afternoon tea but then they can outline all the things not to do at tea. I would love to see kids act this out or draw their own illustrations for this!
Read Together: Grades Pre-K - 2
Read Alone: Grades Pre-K - 2
Read With: Tyrannosaurus Wrecks! by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallan, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (series) by Laura Numeroff, Tea Party Rules by Amy Dyckman
Snatch of Text:

"When hosting an afternoon tea for a special friend ---

greet your guest at the door."

Writing Prompts: Write about what someone needs to do in order to prepare for afternoon tea and/or a guidebook for how to act when you are invited to afternoon tea...or maybe how not to act when you are invited to tea!
Topics Covered: Friendship, Manners

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The Infects

Title: Infects

Author: Sean Beaudoin

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Publication Date: September, 2012

Genre/Format: Sci-Fi, Humor/Novel

Goodreads Summary: A feast for the brain, this gory and genuinely hilarious take on zombie culture simultaneously skewers, pays tribute to, and elevates the horror genre.
     Seventeen-year-old Nero is stuck in the wilderness with a bunch of other juvenile delinquents on an “Inward Trek.” As if that weren’t bad enough, his counselors have turned into flesh-eating maniacs overnight and are now chowing down on his fellow miscreants. As in any classic monster flick worth its salted popcorn, plentiful carnage sends survivors rabbiting into the woods while the mindless horde of “infects” shambles, moans, and drools behind. Of course, these kids have seen zombie movies. They generate “Zombie Rules” almost as quickly as cheeky remarks, but attitude alone can’t keep the biters back.
     Serving up a cast of irreverent, slightly twisted characters, an unexpected villain, and an ending you won’t see coming, here is a savvy tale that that’s a delight to read—whether you’re a rabid zombie fan or freshly bitten—and an incisive commentary on the evil that lurks within each of us.

What Kellee Thinks: Sean Beaudoin definitely has a unique style that you cannot confuse with anyone else. It is like when you see a movie and you know who the director is - that is how distinct Sean's writing is. And what he does so well is keep his style yet still has characters that have distinct voices that you can distinguish between. He actually reminds me of John Green in that way; however, Sean Beaudoin is more of the underground, quirky, dry twisted humor sort of way. This book also reminded me of the humor you found in Libba Bray's Beauty Queens in that it is very much a parody of qualities of pop culture and primarily emulated at zombie flicks such as Zombieland and Shaun of the Dead. 
     Once you get used to Beaudoin's style, the story sucks you in. An incomparable cast of characters takes us through a survival guide against those who want to eat you. You lose some you care about, you cheer when some turn and many will dream about one particular female. Between the cast of characters, the humorous plot line and Beaudoin's style, many will eat up this novel.
What Jen Thinks: I agree with Kellee, this is one of the most unique examples of voice that I have ever read. The whole novel exudes voice and energy. I felt like I needed to be running in place the entire time, it's completely an amped up book. I kept making connections with all the zombie stories I read when I read Zombies Vs. Unicorns. Those are some wild stories, it's amazing how unique zombie stories can be and reading all of those really expanded my whole thinking of zombies and of where they come from or what it means to be a zombie. It's an amazing exercise in writing - to think like a zombie and to try to understand a zombies hopes and dreams - they are...well, were...people, too. I love the idea of not simply accepting that a zombie is a dead person who's soul and essence are gone. What if when a person becomes a zombie he or she is still who he or she was....or that some people can become zombies but still act completely normal - like Edward is a vampire but has committed himself to not eating people. Is there a zombie who can withstand diving into a bowl full of brains? Talk about stepping into someone else's shoes and trying to walk about. I'm so impressed with Sean Beaudoin and what he has created with The Infects. I can completely see how readers are going to devour this book. Mmmmm...brains, I mean...books. 

Read Together: Grades 11 and up 

Read Alone: Grades 9 and up

Read With: Gaff by Shan Corea, Zombies Vs. Unicorns edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbastelier, Never Slow Dance with a Zombie by E. Van Lowe, Beauty Queen by Libba Bray, Zombie in Love by Kelly DiPucchio

Snatch of Text: "But Petal Gazes was a whole other universe, a different orbit, a brighter sun. She was a tenth straight espresso, pure feedback, wet-toe-in-socket beautiful. 
At least to him. 
Which went directly against Nick's long-standing policy: Never Want Anything. 
Treeless Christmas? Eggless Easter? Toastless morning? 
It's hard to be disappointed when you don't give a crap. 
But now he really, really wanted something. 
Petal Gazes." (p. 8)

Mentor Text for: Voice, Style, Humor, Parody, Allusions, Word Play, Vocabulary, Flashback, Dialogue, Making Connections, Activating Background Knowledge, Perspective

Writing Prompts: Write your own short story about what would happen if you encountered a zombie. Write a short story from the perspective of a zombie, show the reader what he or she might not realize or appreciate about zombies. 

Topics Covered: Family, Friendship, Love, Survival, Courage, Zombies

Kellee and Jen *heart* It: 

and

**Thank you to Candlewick Press for providing copies of The Infects for review**

Lemonade

Title: Lemonade and Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word

Author: Bob Raczka

Illustrator: Nancy Doniger

Publisher: Roaring Book Press

Publication Date: March, 2011

Genre/Format: Poetry/Collection

Goodreads Summary: Play with your words! A brand new poetic form that turns word puzzles into poetry. 

 
Part anagram, part rebus, part riddle--these poems capture a scene from a child's daily life and present a puzzle to solve. Sometimes sweet and sometimes funny, but always clever, these poems are fun to read and even more fun for kids to write. Bob Raczka is a fresh, new voice in children's poetry who knows that fun and games can turn a poetry lesson into lemonade!

What I Think: What a great mentor text for poetry! It will be a great book to use with students (mostly students who "hate" poetry) to introduce them to poetry that is not scary. I love how each word has each word's poem in two sytles- one is more concrete where the letter is put under the where the letter is in the word while the other puts it in the traditional style. A great addition to any poetry collection. 

Read Together: Grades 1 to 8

Read Alone: Grades 2 to 8

Read With: Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku by Lee Wardlaw, I am the Book by Lee Bennet Hopkins, Any poetry collection

Snatch of Text: 

 

 Constellation

a

silent

lion

tells 

an

ancient 

tale

Mentor Text for: Poetry, Style

Writing Prompts: Think of a word and create a poem based on the word, just liked the book Lemonade. You should only use the letters in the word to complete the poem and it should describe, define or tell a story about the word you chose. 

Topics Covered: Word Play, Poetry

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Blood Red Road

Title: Blood Red Road

Author: Moira Young

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Publication Date: June 2011

Genre/Format: Science Fiction- Dystopian/Novel

Goodreads Summary: Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

What I Think: 1. What amazing world building! Moira Young did an amazing job with not only the setting, but the "government" in her debut novel. 

2. The cover of this book truly sets the tone for the story. Even when the story isn't taking place in the desert, the setting plays a major role in the story. 

3. Sada. Wow. She is a strong woman protagonist. Though I found her hard to like at points, I knew it was from her passion boiling inside that she acted the way she did. 

4. The best pet in a book every! Nero, the crow, is the secret star of the book.

5. The relationships in this book are things of beauty. The details in characterization that Young meticulously added to the story made it so that you are emotionally connected to all of the characters although there are many of them. 

6. Girl. Cage. Fighting. Wow- it is brutal!

Read Together: Grades 8 to 12

Read Alone: Grades 9 to 12

Read With: Enclave by Ann Aguirre, Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky, Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines, Fire & Graceling by Kristin Cashore, Knife of Never Letting Go (series) by Patrick Ness

Snatch of Text: "Lugh got born first. One Midwinter Day when the sun hangs low in the sky. 

Then me. Two hours later. 

That pretty much says it all. 

Lugh goes first, always first, and I follow on behind. 

An that's fine. 

That's right. 

That's how it's meant to be." (p. 1) 

Mentor Text for: Writing Style, World Building, Setting, Characterization

Writing Prompts: Moira Young decided not to use quotation marks when writing this book- why do you think that is? Did you like her choice? Explain your answer.

Topics Covered: Government, World Building, Violence, Love, Family

I *heart* It: