Module 9- SLIS 5420

The Dollhouse Murders
By Betty Ren Wright

Wright, B. (1983). The dollhouse murders. New York: Holiday House.

Summary

Amy is a young girl who goes for a visit to her Aunt’s home. The house once belonged to her great-grandparents, who had died 30 years before. Amy finds a unique dollhouse there that looks just like the actual house. As strange things begin to happen with the dollhouse, Amy begins to see the truth behind what really happened in that house many years ago.

Impressions

This book was quite chilling! It was a very interesting read for me, even as an adult. I would want to stress to students that this story might be a little disturbing for younger readers, but I do think the older elementary kids would love it. It is not your typical mystery book, which is what gives it such appeal to the reader. I will be recommending that my own children read this one.

Reviews

The combination of a beautiful, fascinating dollhouse, dark family secrets, ghostly events, danger, and suspense are sufficient to make this a likely choice for escape reading.

Harris, K., & Gerhardt, L. N. (1983). The Dollhouse Murders (Book Review). School Library Journal, 30(3), 84.

Considering that this is a young adult novel written in 1983 for Scholastic books (you know, the ones that you could order from your class room in Elementary school), I was pretty darn impressed with the books atmosphere and its building tension throughout. Although it was a pretty fast read (I read it on my communte and during my lunch hour on Friday), I found it to be a pretty cool horror story for younger girls.

Retrieved from Wisdom of Bookmonkey blog:
http://wisdomofbookmonkey.blogspot.com/2011/02/book-review-dollhouse-murders.html

Suggestions for Use

This book would be a great read aloud for upper elementary grades. As you read through the story, stop and ask questions about what’s going on in the story. Allow students to give their personal opinions about the events that are occurring and why they think they might be happening. Discuss foreshadowing and how authors use it to give the reader clues about what is going to happen next.

Module 8- SLIS 5420

The Hunger Games
By Suzanne Collins

Collins, S. (2008). The hunger games. New York: Scholastic Press.

Summary

In what’s left of the United States, there is Panem, made up of 12 districts and the Capitol. As all the districts struggle to stay alive, with little food or resources and a hard line of oppression, the Capitol remains as the shining center of everything. People there are wealthy and know nothing of hunger or poverty, as they live lavish and unaffected lives. As part of the cruelty of the Capitol, the Hunger Games are forced upon all districts, in which one boy and one girl from each district are forced to fight each other to the death. The one who remains is the victor, and to the victor go the spoils. After 16 year old Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her little sister’s place in the Games, she must learn how to survive without losing everything she is and everyone she cares about.

Impressions

I don’t know where to begin….this book truly amazed and controlled me from the first chapter! I could not put it down! It was the best book I think I have read, maybe EVER, and if not, then the best one I can remember, anyway. I was sucked into the story quickly and it consumed me until the last page. Of course, then I had to immediately start the second one. The characters are so believable in this story, with real struggles and real emotions, just as anyone in their situations would have. Although the premise of the Games is a little farfetched, the reader is still given the feeling something this sinister could happen sometime in the future. The author’s use of the media, mixed with glamourous lifestyles of untouchable people (as we see celebrities), is very relatable to our society. The undertones that Collins uses throughout the series leave the reader wanting more.

Reviews

Collins's characters are completely realistic and sympathetic as they form alliances and friendships in the face of overwhelming odds; the plot is tense, dramatic, and engrossing. This book will definitely resonate with the generation raised on reality shows like "Survivor" and "American Gladiator."

Baird, J. (2008). The Hunger Games. School Library Journal, 54(9), 176-177.

Imagine Survivor, with kids, televised in real time with the entire country watching. And instead of being voted off the island, you're locked in a death match till the last kid is left standing. For a sheer thrill ride that's bound to hook teens and adults, and for its mordant social commentary, this novel gets my vote.

Roback, D. (2009). The Hunger Games. Publishers Weekly, 256(1), 24.

Suggestions for Use

This book might not be well-suited for an actual library lesson; however, middle school students could use the story to jump start a persuasive/expository writing activity. At the end of the book, Katniss makes a choice about whether to end her life by eating poisonous berries. Students will decide their answer to this question: If you were Katniss, what would you have done? Eaten the berries? Killed Peeta? Exactly what she did in the story? Explain your feelings and why you would make this choice.

Module 7- SLIS 5420

A Step From Heaven
By An Na

Na, A. (2001). A step from heaven. New York: Penguin Books.

Summary

Young Ju is just a young girl when she finds out that her family is moving across the ocean from Korea to America. Young has little knowledge of “Mi Gook”, but believes that it will be heaven for her and her family. After arriving in America, the harsh reality of life sets in for her, as her parents struggle to make ends meet, living in a run-down rent house and eating little else but rice every day. She also must deal with learning to speak English and how her new world and new American friends affect her, and more importantly, her parents. As her father slips into a world of drunken abusiveness, Young must make some very adult decisions about her life, as well as her family.

Impressions

I connected with this book on a very personal level, and I’m so glad I took the time to read it. My husband and his family came to the states from Taiwan when he was just 8 years old, and had many of the same struggles that Young Ju faced, with having to learn English, learn the customs of America, and trying to make friends and fit in among the other kids. He, too, had parents that worked all the time, although their financial situation was somewhat better than Young’s. But he had to deal with the same feelings of sadness when they were not there to watch his sporting events, awards ceremonies, etc. because of work. I really feel like this book offered me a much more in-depth look at what life was like for him as he grew up. I think this is an excellent realistic fiction book that does not sugar coat what life experiences can be like for others.

Reviews

In brief chapters that have the intimacy of snapshots, Young Ju tells of her family's immigration from Korea to the United States and their subsequent struggles in a new country. From childhood through adolescence, Young Ju's voice is convincingly articulated, whether as a four-year-old certain that the plane carrying her into the sky must be heaven-bound or as a desperate teenager gathering the courage to report her abusive father. Throughout the novel, images of reaching and dreaming poignantly convey the young narrator's desire to survive her father's brutality and its devastating effect on her family.

Brabander, J. M. (2001). A Step from Heaven (Book Review). Horn Book Magazine, 77(4), 458.

Na has effectively evoked the horror and small joys of the girl's home life while creating sympathetic portraits of all of the members of the family. A beautifully written, affecting work.

Marton, D. S. (2001). A Step from Heaven (Book Review). School Library Journal, 47(5), 156.

Suggestions for Use

Prior to reading, explain to students the premise of the story and the background of Young Ju. Have students think about what it might be like if they had to move to another country now and what challenges they think they would face. Discuss those challenges and possible ways to cope and adapt to a new language, customs, friends, and life in general. After reading, allow students to write about things that Young Ju faced as she grew up and how they felt, being American, when reading the story. (ex: Do you have any friends that are from another country? Have you befriended someone who was different than you? Can you imagine being in that situation, and how you would feel?)

Module 7- SLIS 5420

Out of My Mind
By Sharon Draper

Draper, S. (2010). Out of my mind. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Summary

Melody is tired of not being able to say what she wants to say, when she wants to say it. It has always been this way-she has cerebral palsy and cannot walk or speak. Though the world sees her as dumb, she has extraordinary thoughts and dreams and is extremely intelligent. When she finally discovers a way to make her “voice” heard through a machine, she is thrilled to finally get her thoughts out. But she soon discovers that others still view her as incapable and stupid, even after she proves her smarts by winning a spot on the quiz team. This is a heart-wrenching story about perseverance and strength, as well as a look at how we view and treat others who are different from us.

Impressions

I am so in love with this book! This made me laugh and cry, sometimes in the same paragraph. This book is a real look into how we feel about others who have disabilities and how we sometimes assume things about them without knowing the facts. I had never thought about the fact that someone from one of our special ed classes (who is in the same situation as Melody) might just be a genius. Just because we can’t hear the thoughts inside their heads doesn’t mean there aren’t any there, and that is a lesson we all need to learn. This book was a huge hit with my fourth grade students, as well as the teachers on my campus. It won by a landslide vote for best Bluebonnet and best Tumbleweed for this year. I am so thankful I chose this book to read.

Reviews

This title is a wonderful way to remind students that everybody is different, but they can excel in various ways. It would be a reassuring choice for a child who has a special needs family member. Students who are generally interested in those who are different would enjoy it too.

Green, B. (2010). Out of my mind. Library Media Connection, 28(6), 73.

Kids will benefit from being introduced to Melody and her gutsy, candid, and compelling story. It speaks volumes and reveals the quiet strength and fortitude it takes to overcome disabilities and the misconceptions that go with them.

Follos, A. (2010). Out of my mind. School Library Journal, 56(3), 156.

Suggestions for Use

This book would be an excellent choice for creating a discussion about perceptions and misconceptions about others based on outward appearances. It’s human nature to see someone on the outside and make judgments, while never really looking into who the person is on the inside. Discuss some common disabilities, perhaps of students that attend our school, and have students give honest responses to how they feel about these students when interacting with them. Reinforce that it’s okay to feel any way they do about our special needs friends, but that we also need to realize that most times we have not invested the proper time in getting to know them. Brainstorm ways to try to do this and the benefits we could reap from doing so.