Caroline Akervik's Blog, page 8

Review of the Enemy Above by Michael P Spradlin

Twelve-year-old Anton inhabits a world gone mad. He lives in the Ukraine which has been overrun by the Nazi war machine. He is Jewish in a land that the Nazis are seeking to make Judenfrei. Anton's father has joined the Polish resistance. His uncles are considering doing so as well, so only his Bubbe or grandmother remains with him. Facing dire jeopardy, he and his grandmother and other villagers flee to some hidden underground caves. But when the sadistic Major Van Duesen exposes their hiding place and captures Bubbe, Anton realizes he can no longer hide if he wants to save his grandmother.

The Enemy Above is a fast paced historical thriller that chronicles almost incomprehensible tragedy in a sensitive manner than makes accessible to children. Should be on a shelf with Number the Stars.

Review - Book One of the Trials of Apollo, The Hidden Oracle

I am a Rick Riordan fan. I loved the Percy Jackson series. In fact, I prefer Percy to Harry Potter. Percy is cute, strong, brave, and decidedly not self pitying, unlike Harry. Percy doesn't whine. Nor does Jason from the Heroes of Olympus. He's buff and honorable, and all around appealing character. I am not quite as big of fan of the Kane Chronicles, just because I don't particularly care for the focus on death in Egyptian mythology, but Carter and Sadie are appealing characters as well. All of these heroes and heroines are flawed in unique and different ways, and they are all sympathetic to readers.

On the other hand, Apollo is a mess. His voice, despite his body and his deteriorating memories, is clearly adult. He is a messed up dude and a total narcissist. I wonder how children will relate to him. In addition, a reader has to have more than a passing familiarity with the loves of his immortal life. Apollo is being punished by Zeus by being forced to live as a limited, unattractive human teenager. Through his experiences, Apollo begins to grow in maturity and insight. It is a clever trope and very successful in the story. Apollo does become more appealing as the story proceeds. And yet, I wonder if kids will relate to his adult attitudes and reflections. I'll have to ask my students. I really enjoyed following the travails of this very flawed god.

Jeanne Styczinski's Charming Counting Books

Recently, I had the great pleasure of meeting the very talented artist and author Jeanne Styczinski at a writing group. Jeanne was a kindergarten teacher for many years and her knowledge of and connection with children of this age is immediately apparent when reading her work. Her counting book Papa, How Does the Sun Shine? connects nature facts with whimsy in a patterned, rhyming read aloud that I can't wait to share with my own students. Her art work evokes Eric Carle while also possessing a unique humor. I can't wait for her upcoming release  Who Will Be My Friend? which she shared a sneak peak at in the Writer's Group. Jeanne's work is a real find for preschool and kindergarten teachers. Her website is: http://jeannekaypublishing.com/ .

.

Review of School of Fear by Gitty Daneshvari

This is an interesting and quirky book. I saw the trailer on the Scholastic Book Fair CD and shared it with my students. They found it very engaging. The premise is that four students with crippling phobias, including of insects, water, death, and tight places are sent by their parents to a remote, technology free school where they will be "cured." The headmistress of the school, Mrs. Wellington, is an eccentric former beauty queen. The concept of the story is cool as is the location. Daneshvari does an excellent job of setting the scene and creating rich and believable characters. However, once everything is set up, the story falls a little flat. It's to pat and easy to resolve, and a little (disappointingly) predictable. Still, a worthwhile read for the concept and characters. I really liked how each chapter begins with the definition of a phobia.

Michael Perry words of wisdom - The Writer's Craft

Recently, I had the very great pleasure to listen to Michael Perry, one of my favorite regional authors, speak with third graders about the writing craft. His words resonated with me. Among the key points that he brought up is that we as writers learn about and absorb material from the everyday inspirations we see all around us. He also observed that the "exotic" is always relative. What may be unremarkable for us as individuals, may be truly unique for a person who lives in a very different setting. One of the students asked Mr. Perry whom he would identify as his favorite author. To this, he replied: "the next writer I read."Also, he reminded us of the important truth that we read writers to learn about writing. In this media rich age, it can be challenging to find the will power and time to turn off the screen and read, but it is a critical part of the writer's craft.

The Chippewa Valley Book Festival was a blast!

I so enjoyed meeting with the students of several of the schools in the Eau Claire School District as part of the Authors-in-the-Schools program of the Chippewa Valley Book Festival. The kids were wonderful, so enthusiastic and engaged. The Book Festival, itself, was amazing. I attended a presentation by Naomi Shihab Nye. She was incredible. What a special weekend!

Here are some pictures from my school visits:


For some more information on the Chippewa Valley Book Festival: http://www.cvbookfest.org/.

Malcolm Under the Stars by W. H. Beck, a heartfelt story with charm galore

This is a charming story filled with suspense. Under Beck's deft touch, McKenna School comes to life, with all of its sights, sounds, and scents. As you progress through the story, you find yourself rooting for the sometimes unlikely allies.

In the end, as a mother and a librarian, what resonated most with me is the bittersweet truth that all of the "nutters" eventually grow up and move on. Throughout the story, Malcolm grapples with the knowledge that he is facing a future without Amelia, but could his future hold someone else who will need Malcolm, his courage, and his big heart, as well as the other animals of the Midnight Academy? Like Malcolm sniffing a crumb out of Jovahn's pocket, I "sniff" and hope for a sequel.

Review of Red Berries White Clouds Blue Sky by Sandra Dallas

Tomi Itano is a twelve-year-old American girl of Japanese descent. Her parents came to this country for freedom and opportunity.  In the aftermath of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Tomi's father is suspected of being a spy and is taken away while Tomi and the rest of her family are sent to an internment camp.

I enjoyed this book. The story is told from Tomi's point of view which allows a reader to truly grasp and share her dismay at the gross injustice being enacted upon these people. One particularly poignant moment occurs when Tomi asks a boy who has been prejudiced against Americans of Japanese descent what language he speaks at home. He responds: "German." This is a compelling moment in the story that is deftly handled by Dallas.

The book is subtle and delicate in tone and illuminates a tragic chapter in American history in a way that is immediately accessible to middle grade readers. My only criticism of the story is that Dallas ties it up too neatly in the end, but I will leave it at that.

This is a book that I intend to share with my fourth and fifth grade students in the upcoming school year.

Chippewa Valley Book Festival - Author in the schools

I am super excited that I will be one of the authors presenting in the schools as part of the Chippewa Valley Book Festival in October. It is a wonderful event and I have thoroughly enjoyed having the authors appear at my school.

Chippewa Valley Book Festival - Authors in the Schools

Review - ONCE by Morris Gleitzman

Once is an interesting read. It is the story of Felix, a Jewish boy whose parents have hidden him in a Catholic orphanage in Poland. Felix is a hopeless optimist in the very best sense. He genuinely believes that his bookseller parents will ultimately be returning to reclaim him, that, for the past three years, they have been simply hiding and protecting their books. Felix is a storyteller who has recorded his stories for his parents in his journal. Felix sets off through war torn, 1940s Poland in search of his parents. Along the way, the horrible and tragic reality of World War Two becomes apparent even to Felix, who truly imagines the best in all things and people. He rescues a little girl named Zelda and, accompanied by her, finds his way to the sheltering protection of a kindly dentist. The story is beautifully written and Felix is a compelling and sympathetic protagonist. It is nearly painful to watch as the veil of optimism is torn from Felix's mind and heart. Still, throughout the story, Felix's essential goodness remains untouched. The essence of the story is captured in the title, that is: "Everybody deserves to have something good in their life at least . . . Once." The concept is beautiful and this theme underpins the story. There is no easy resolution to Felix's life situation, and the author handles it deftly. A compelling read for students in fifth grade and above. The reading level makes it accessible to younger students, but the subject matter would be more accessible and comprehensible to middle grade readers.