Calamity Jack

1. Bibliography

Hale, Shannon & Hale, Dean. 2010. CALAMITY JACK Ill. by Nathan Hale. New York: Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781599900766.

2. Summary

In this graphic novel interpretation of "Jack and the beanstalk," Jack is a born schemer who climbs a magical beanstalk in the hope of exacting justice from a mean giant and gaining a fortune for his widowed mother, aided by some friends including Rapunzel.

3. Critical Analysis

Readers will relish this gleeful mix of fairy tale, adventure and romance. This sequel to the energetic Rapunzel’s Revenge focuses on Rapunzel’s sidekick, Calamity Jack and this time Rapuzel is the sidekick. This Jack has American Indian roots and is roguish without the cruel or arrogant undertones sometimes present in other stories. The full-color graphic novel starts with a history of Jack’s criminal history, where every caper, though marginally successful, ends with him in more trouble than he bargained for, including the complete destruction of his mother’s home and business. As in the book Rapunzel’s Revenge, a lot of action combines with clever plotting, in text allusions, and a bit of romance to produce a fully satisfying read.

Nathan Hale’s graphic design is exceptionally well laid out and easy to follow, even for those still getting the hang of the format. The full-color artwork has depth, energy, and plenty of exaggerated violence and humor. The story stands alone in its focus on Jack and his troubles, but it will entice readers to pick up Rapunzel’s Revenge to see how he teamed up with the feisty Rapunzel in the first place. The drawings are done in a clear and energetic style which suits the steampunk city as well as the Wild West. Fans of the previous book will be happy to see this new installment, which should handily garner new fans as well.

4. Awards and Review Excerpts

- AWARDS -

Booklist Great Graphic Novels for Teens, 2011 ; American Library Association

- REVIEW EXCERPTS -

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE review: “A fantastic story that keeps the fun tone of Rapunzel’s Revenge while also breaking new ground, Calamity Jack shows how good storytellers can pay homage to classic fairytales without being limited by familiar plots.”

VOYA review: “In the genre of revisionist fairytales, Jack's tales are among the most re-told; however, the Hales provide a truly refreshing and fun version of the rascal.”

5. Connections

Create your own graphic novel using a fairytale character in new adventures.

Read Rapunzel’s Revenge and compare Jack and Rapunzel’s characters/attitudes in the two stories.

Have students turn a fractured fairy tale into a graphic novel of their own design.

The Book Thief

1. Bibliography

Zusak, Markus. 2005. THE BOOK THIEF. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 9780375831003.

2. Summary

Set in Nazi Germany, this book describes Liesel Meminger’s relationship with her foster parents, Hans and Rosa, and the other residents of their neighborhood, as well as a Jewish fist-fighter who hides in her home during the escalation of World War II. With the help of Hans, Liesel shows the community that stories and friendship are some of the best gifts one has to offer.

3. Critical Analysis

The narrator is Death who does not choose those whose souls he takes; it is his job to gather them after their owners have died. He is appalled by the way in which humans often behave, and especially the horrendous ways in which victims of Hitler’s fanaticism meet their appointments with him. It’s a clever device, allowing for dispassionate observation of events and for a different commentary on matters which can lose their impact by becoming over familiar. It also provides opportunities for Death to drop oblique remarks, leaving the reader fearful for sympathetic characters. This is not a ‘them and us’ war novel. Death portrays what he sees through metaphorical colors that add to the sensory details of the story. However, Death is not sinister and he is very unobtrusive. The reader is not always aware of him because much of the story is seen through Liesel’s, the book thief’s, eyes. Death finds her story in the rubble from the bombing of Munich and is recounting it. Most of all, it is about survival; the survival of people in the first instance, but it is also a reflection on the survival of books despite efforts to eradicate them, and of words too in the face of a political system which makes everyone afraid of saying too much. It’s a haunting tale, a strange mixture of ugliness and beauty, of cruelty and kindness, heart-warming and heart-rending, full of vivid metaphor and an absolutely compelling read. It can be read on several levels and without a doubt will be enjoyed by adults as well as older teenagers.

4. Awards and Review Excerpts

- AWARDS -

2006 - Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best Book (South East Asia & South Pacific)

2006 - Horn Book Fanfare

2006 - Kirkus Reviews Editor Choice Award

2006 - School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

2006 - Daniel Elliott Peace Award

2006 - Publishers Weekly Best Children Book of the Year

2006 - Booklist ChildrenEditors' Choice

2006 - Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book

2007 - Boeke Prize

2007 - ALA Best Books for Young Adults

2007 - Michael L. Printz Honor Book

2007 - Book Sense Book of the Year

- REVIEW EXCERPTS -

BOOKS FOR KEEPS review: “Within this powerful novel, the power of story is manifest when, for example, Liesel distracts her neighbours as they shelter from bombings, and where Max finds distraction from his basement hideout by creating stories. The Book Thief has much to say to thoughtful readers, young and old.”

INIS Children’s Books Ireland Magazine review: “This is a memorable piece of work - beautifully written, rich and poetic in language and peopled with wonderful characters.”

5. Connections

Read other books about WWII from both the point of view of the Nazis and the Jews

Write an alternative ending for the story

Write the story of Liesel’s parents

Discuss what stories would make them feel less scared if they were in a situation such as Liesel’s neighbors in the bomb shelter

Rules

1. Bibliography

Lord, Cynthia. 2006. RULES. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780439443821

2. Summary

Frustrated at life with an autistic brother, twelve-year-old Catherine longs for a normal existence. She tries to make her life more normal by giving her brother lots of rules to follow, but her world is further complicated by a friendship with a young paraplegic named Jason. . In the end, Jason helps Catherine see that her rules may really be excuses, opening the way for her to look at things differently.

3. Critical Analysis

Growing up with an autistic younger brother is not easy and it seems far harder when the pre-teen years hit. Catherine feels as though David’s needs far overshadow her own in the family but the embarrassment his behavior causes her is the worst of it. Nevertheless, Catherine understands what David’s world is like and when she snaps at him, she is beset by guilt. It is this sensitivity that allows her to befriend a boy her age with severe communication problems who is wheelchair-bound. Gaining a stronger sense of herself and demanding what she needs as a member of the family allows her to move beyond embarrassment into acceptance. One of the treats in this book is that David echoes words rather than generating his own and he frequently speaks in lines he remembers from Arnold Lobel’s Frog & Toad. The details of autistic behavior are handled well, as are depictions of relationships: Catherine experiences some of the same unease with Jason that others do in the presence of her brother. Catherine’s tentative relationship with her new neighbor Kristi is complicated further when she develops an unexpected friendship with Jason, a regular client at the clinic David visits for occupational therapy. Fourteen-year-old Jason travels in a wheelchair, and talks by pointing to word cards in his communication book. After a rocky start, the two become closer as Catherine creates new word cards for Jason’s book. Moving his repertoire beyond the stock words and phrases provided by his therapist, Catherine enables him to show some attitude and give voice to his adolescent sarcasm. Catherine likes Jason, but now she’s worried about what Kristi will think of him as well as David. Preferring to keep Jason a secret from Kristi, Catherine ends up falling short in the eyes of both her new friends when it comes to trust and honesty. As Catherine struggles to find her way into these new relationships, her feelings for her brother float realistically between frustration, embarrassment, love, protectiveness, and everyday sibling ups-and-downs. Her carefully constructed rules for David are really about her own need to feel in control, and to understand and live with a brother who is often misunderstood or teased by others. As the parent of an autistic child, Cynthia Lord writes with familiarity and empathy for Catherine and her family. Readers will sympathize with Catherine’s struggle to explain the world to David through his beloved rules and her frustration at his demanding, embarrassing behaviors and his garnering the majority of parental attention, combined with Jason’s expressive limitations, this book will provide considerable food for thought.

4. Awards and Review Excerpts

- AWARDS -

Buckeye Children's Book Award, 2008 Winner Grades 6-8 Ohio
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award, 2008 Winner Vermont
Great Stone Face Award, 2008 Winner New Hampshire
John Newbery Medal, 2007 Honor Book United States
Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2008 Winner Grade 6-8 Kentucky
Maine Student Book Award, 2007-2008 Winner Maine
Massachusetts Children's Book Award, 2010 Honor Bok Massachusetts
Mitten Award, 2006 Winner Michigan
Schneider Family Book Award, 2007 Winner Middle School United States
Skipping Stones Honor Award, 2007 Winner Multicultural and International Awareness Books United States
Voice of Youth Award, 2009-2010 Third Place United States EXCERPTS -

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE review: “This is a story that depicts the impact of a needy child on an entire family very realistically.”

LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTION review: “The first-person narrative is very engaging, and readers will identify with Catherine's struggles and cheer for her at the end. This is a great book to help students gain some understanding about autism, while also providing a good read.”

5. Connections

Have students consider what words they would require if they were in Jason’s position as well as what words they’d be likely to get if adults were their sole source. They could also write a list of words that they would add and reasons why.

Write a list of rules they would make for their younger brother or sister.

Discuss a situation in which they were embarrassed by someone they love and how they overcame it