Historical Fiction: "Nightjohn"

Bibliography

Paulsen, Gary. Nightjohn. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young

     Readers, 1995.

Plot Summary

Sarny, a twelve year old slave girl narrates this story of bravery and hardship.  It takes place on a plantation in the 1850’s.  Sarny’s life changes course when the slave master brings home a new slave, Nightjohn.  He quickly befriends the young Sarny and begins to teach her how to read, even though it is strictly forbidden.  Sarny learns that Nightjohn had once escaped to freedom.  After learning the value of literacy and education, he gives it all up to share with other slaves what he has learned.  The reader is left with a hopeful glimpse of Sarny’s future.

Critical Analysis

The style of this book is consistent with the nineteenth century historical perspective.  The language is written as if an uneducated southern slave girl wrote it.  The reader gets a full-scale view of the abuse and the horrors that slaves faced from plantation owners.  While the story reveals Sarny’s child like nature, it is also apparent the ways she was forced to grow up quickly in this horrific environment.  Sarny becomes a heroine and the reader cannot help but to get behind her effort to learn.  “Nightjohn” is well researched and authentic to the mid-nineteenth century. 

Review Excerpts

PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: “Convincingly written in dialect, this graphic depiction of slavery evokes shame for this country's forefathers and sorrow for the victims of their inhumanity. Ages 12-up.”

BOOKLIST: “What gives the story transcendence is the character Nightjohn, who fires Sarny with hope.”

Connections

Students can read slave biographies and compare their experiences with Sarny and Nightjohn’s. 

Students can read James Lincoln Collier’s “Jump Ship to Freedom” and discuss the horrors and triumphs of the characters portrayed. 

Historical Fiction: "Catherine, Called Birdy"

Bibliography

Cushman, Karen. Catherine, Called Birdy. New York: Harper Trophy, 1994.

Plot Summary

“Catherine, Called Birdy” takes place in the thirteenth century.  Catherine, is thirteen years old, which means it is time to begin thinking about marriage.  Her father is anxious to come into some wealth and begins to negotiate with local well-off bachelors for his daughter’s hand in marriage, no matter what their looks or their age.  Catherine does not take this lying down and instead does everything she can to drive off her perspective suitors.  This all takes place in the midst of her daily life and chores. 

Critical Analysis

Cushman writes this story as stylized entries from Catherine’s diary.   While Catherine’s English, as the narrator, is easy to understand, the book is full of different phrases that are realistic to the time period.  For example, “God’s ears!”, “Corpus Bones” and using the word “mayhap” instead of “maybe”.  This historical fiction novel allows the reader to better understand daily life in the thirteen century.  Cushman describes the lack of bathing, arranged marriages, chores and meals eaten throughout a year, starting in September.   Beginning with October 13^th, each diary entry describes the Saint’s feast day associated with each date.  The reader learns about the strange customs, ointments and foods popular in the 13^th Century while simultaneously reading about Catherine’s fight for independence in a world where young women had little to no rights. 

Awards Won and Review Excerpts

Newberry Honor Book

1995 Notable Children’s Book (ALA)

1995 Best Book for Young Adults (ALA)

Quick Picks for Young Adults 1995 (ALA)

Starred Review in THE HORN BOOK- “Fascinating and thought-provoking.”

Starred Review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL- “A feminist far ahead of her time, she is both believable and loveable.”

Connections

Students could research medieval women’s rights and compare them to what they find in “Catherine, Called Birdy” and to what women have today. 

Students can read other books by Karen Cushman: “The Midwife’s Apprentice”, “The Loud Silence of Francine Green” and “Matilda Bone” for further insight into life in the middle ages. 

Historical Fiction: "The River Between Us"

Bibliography

Peck, Richard. The River Between Us. New York: Puffin, 2005.

Plot Summary

Tilly Pruitt, the teenage daughter of a somewhat poor family from Illinois, lives with her mother, sister and twin brother.  They take in two mysterious female borders in 1861, the fancy Delphine and the silent, darker Calinda.    There is much speculation as to who these two women are, but they quickly find a place with this rural family.  As the Civil War draws closer, tensions rise threatening to test everyone’s allegiances.  Noah, Tilly’s brother is sent off to war and from that point on, everything changes.

Critical Analysis

Peck writes a compelling story with the U.S. Civil War as the backdrop that is obviously well researched.  It is authentic, with actual Civil War battles, towns and dates listed.  The reader gets a glimpse of the agony and pain the Civil War caused, not just for soldiers, but for the families they left behind.  A lesser told women’s perspective is given of the U.S. Civil War as Tilly and Delphine experience it first hand on their adventure to save Noah.

The style of the book is written as Howard Leland Hutchings recalls a childhood story of visiting his Dad’s childhood home and learning the stories about his grandparents.  Starting in chapter two, Tilly’s character is the narrator.  The two stories come together in the last chapter.  As the story unfolds, new revelations are made about his family that reveal the issue of race and what implications being white or black held.  This story is realistic to the Civil War era. There was even a distinct dialect difference between northern Tilly and southern Delphine.

Awards Won and Review Excerpts

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “In this thoroughly researched novel, Peck masterfully describes the female Civil War experience, the subtle and not-too-subtle ways the country was changing, and the split in loyalty that separated towns and even families.”


BOOKLIST: “It's a riveting story that shows racism everywhere and young people facing war, not sure what side to be on or why.”

Connections

The students can follow up with “The War Within: a Novel of the Civil War” by Carol Mathis and compare the experiences of the two families.

Students can choose a specific battle listed within “A River Between Us” and research the battle to find parallels from the book. 

Nonfiction- "Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery"

Bibliography

Freedman, Russell. Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery. New York: Clarion

     Books, 1993.

Plot Summary

Freedman explores the life of Eleanor Roosevelt.  He begins with her childhood and takes the reader through her awkwardness as a teenager, meeting and marrying F.D.R., becoming a mother and first lady, the trials of her marriage and eventually her death. 

Critical Analysis

This biography is organized well and follows the chronological order of Roosevelt’s life.  There is a table contents and an index to help the reader find specific information quickly.  The information appears to be accurate and well researched.  Freedman even lists other books written on the life of Eleanor Roosevelt at the end of the biography.   He has many direct quotes from Roosevelt and her family and friends.  There are photos of Eleanor that compliment her story throughout the book and several at the end with captions that allow the reader to better visualize her life story.  The biography is well designed and stylized for middle schoolers, with a somewhat cartoon characture of Eleanor Roosevelt on the cover.  The almost two hundred pages are not stuffed full of text, thus not too overwhelming to younger readers. 

Awards Won and Review Excerpts

Newberry Honor Book

Starred review in BOOKLIST: “This is a book to read across the generations.”

Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “The sensitivity and frankness of this volume, as well as the extensive, supporting black-and-white photographs, mark this as a wide-ranging, honest appraisal of this admirable, courageous woman.”

Connections

This biography could be used to help support the social studies curriculum discussing World War I, the Great Depression, The New Deal and World War II. 

This biography could be used in conjunction with other strong, famous women to compare their contributions.  

Nonfiction- "Destination Space"

Bibliography

Simon, Seymour. Destination Space. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2002.

Plot Summary

Seymour Simon allows the reader to view some of the amazing pictures and discoveries that have been made by the Hubble Space Telescope.  He teaches the reader about Mars, Saturn, Supernovas, the collision of galaxies, the life cycle of stars and much more.  He uses common Earth distances to try and help the reader understand what ten billion light years is.  Simon even leaves the reader with thoughts of the new discoveries yet to be made.

Critical Analysis

The pages are split with one side filled with images from the Hubble Space Telescope and the other with text.  Simon explains what the reader is seeing in these images and refers to them throughout the text.  The information in the text relates directly to the images from the Hubble Space Telescope and appears to be well researched.  The style of the book is perfect for middle school students, as it gives enough information to explain the concept on the page, but not too much to confuse the reader.  In this book there are no chapters or an index.  The pages are not even titled.  The book itself will draw interest as the pictures draw the reader in and make him or her want to investigate what he or she is looking at.   

Review Excerpts

KIRKUS REVIEWS:  “It will leave even readers who are not scientifically inclined with both a clearer understanding of modern astronomy's frontiers, and an enhanced sense of wonder at the starscape's vast, turbulent beauty.”

BOOKLIST: “An attractive, informative addition to a fine series.”

Connections

After reading “Destination Space” students could research new findings in space and create their own narrative of their findings.

This book would be a great introduction to an astronomy unit.  The students could continue with the rest of the series.

Nonfiction- "The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain"

Bibliography

Sís, Peter. The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain. New York: Frances Foster Books, 2007.

Plot Summary

In this biography, Peter Sís takes the reader through his experiences of growing up in Soviet controlled Berlin throughout the Cold War.  Sís shares the restrictions and freedoms that he was denied through text and illustrations.  For instance, he could only read and draw what he was told to and had to report any of his parents’ anti-communist sentiments to the authorities. 

Critical Analysis

The style of this biography is well suited for younger readers.  The illustrations accompanied by captions explain the circumstances he faced growing up in Communist Berlin.  Sís acts as the narrator and writes simple sentences that address how he personally was affected during this turbulent time.   For the most part, the illustrations are black and white with red accents representing the Communist influence.  Some pages are filled with color to express happier times when restrictions were lifted.  The Wall is an incredible resource to teach younger readers what life was like in Berlin during the Cold War.  Sís even includes dated entries from his personal journal throughout the book to help the reader better understand the implications on the people based on what was happening. 

Awards Won and Review Excerpts

The Robert F. Sibert Winner
Caldecott Honor Book

Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Complex, multifaceted, rich in detail, this book shares the artist's specific heritage while connecting to universal longings.”

BOOKLIST: "But this will certainly grab teens—who will grasp both the history and the passionate, youthful rebellions against authority."

Connections

The Wall would fit in well with a social studies unit on Communism or The Cold War.  Students could write their own biography based on their real-life experiences. 
Students could keep a journal for a set period of time and include world events and news as well as the events of their daily life.  The students could show how the happenings in the world affect their personal lives.

Poetry- “Swimming Upstream: Middle School Poems”

Biography

George, Kristine O'Connell. Swimming Upstream: Middle School Poems. New York:
     Clarion Books, 2002.

Plot Summary

Kristine O’Connell George tells the story of a girl and the events and issues she faces during her first year in middle school.  George does this through poetry. The poems allow the reader to follow the main character through her first year of middle school.  Each poem addresses common middle school problems and issues.  Locker troubles, notes and gossip, crushes and homework are some of the many topics covered that the reader will immediately relate to. 

Critical Analysis

George uses a variety of poetic forms to fill this book and tell the unnamed main character’s story in a single voice.  The poems are mostly short and as this sixth grader moves through her first year of middle school, the poems offer a positive conclusion and hope for the future.  Debbie Tilley is the illustrator and while the illustrations are few and far between they do a tremendous job of bringing the poems and story to life. They almost leave the reader wanting more as they reveal these middle schoolers catching glimpses of their first crush, experiencing mishaps in band practice and eating lunch envying their friends sushi.  The poems illicit feelings of nostalgia and middle school aged kids will immediately relate to the events told throughout the book. 

Review Excerpts

BOOKLIST- “There’s a running thread about practicing the flute until at last she can make something like music. Sweet and on key.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL- “Students will relate to this voice navigating "upstream," while they try to find their own place in the middle-school wilderness.”

Connections

Sixth graders who are new to middle school can read this collection of poetry and begin to write their own based on their middle school experiences.
Students can try to identify the different poetic forms George uses throughout the book: rhyme, free verse, acrostic and haiku.