Elijah of Buxton

Elijah of Buxton. Christopher Paul Curtis. New York: Scholastic Press, 2007. 344 pages. $16.99 (Hardcover). ISBN 978-0-439-02344-3. Grades 4-7.

My Thoughts/Potential Reactions…

I found it difficult to get in to this story, and once I did push through my initial hesitance I still couldn’t get engaged. While I appreciate the new knowledge I have gained about the Elgin Settlement and Buxton Mission of Raleigh, as well as the fact that Canada did become a place of refuge for runaway slaves, I did not particularly enjoy this book. I think this book is very well written, and that Christopher Paul Curtis does an amazing job with the dialect, but it just didn’t appeal to me. I wonder if readers in the target audience would feel the same way.

I think some readers would be distracted by the dialect in the story, especially if they are not strong readers. I also think that some readers may find this book boring. Yes, there are some action filled, amusing aspects (running through the woods to get away from Mr. Leroy, the snake in the cookie jar experience, the carnival, the hunt to America for the Preacher), but I thought they were far and few between. I also think that young readers will be bored by all the talk of Elijah’s fragility. I know all of this examination and wonder of being grown is supposed to develop his character and make us relate to him, but it just got on my nerves. I hope that some young readers can identify with his growing up, but it didn’t happen for me and I doubt it will for every reader. I do think kids will laugh at the classroom scene where Cooter and Elijah ponder the meaning of “Familiarity breeds contempt.” That was one of the funny, memorable parts. I felt that this book just dragged on and was a little lengthy and I think kids will react similarly.

Clearly, however, since it is the recipient of the Coretta Scott King and Newberry Honor Awards, this book is an excellent addition to children’s literature. I do think some kids will love this historical fiction novel due to the tumultuous and emotional time period it depicts. I am sure that some readers will be touched by the story of freed slaves and the stress of leaving your family behind. I think this book would be an interesting tool in teaching about this time period in the classroom and that kids would prefer this to textbooks. I am glad that there is not a definite ending and that everything doesn’t get wrapped up neatly at the end of this story. If it did so I feel like the book would be sending a false message, since more times than not slave stories ended in tragedy. I think this might be a downer for some readers, but I admire its honesty.

I hate that I am ragging on this book, but I have read so many GREAT books this summer and this one didn’t register on my fantastic list. I would much rather recommend I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly: The Diary of Patsy, a Freed Girl to readers looking for a novel about slaves. Of course these two books do tell completely different stories, but I found Hansen’s novel more relatable and easy to read. Granted, I think Elijah of Buxton would be more appealing to the male reader. Elijah’s point of view, the mystery pistols, breaking the rules, ragging on the girls, getting in trouble, etc. are all things that would make boys enjoy this story. I am not sure if girls would find a character they could relate to and be interested in following. I do think that this piece of literature should be publicized and acknowledged and I am glad I read it, but it just wasn’t one of my favorites.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Grace Lin. New York: Little, Brown, and Company, 2009. 282 pages. $16.99 (Hardcover). ISBN 978-0-316-11427-1. Grades 3-7.

Reminds Me Of…

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a fantastic book. It embodies familiar aspects of adventure, riddles and mystery but gives it a new twist of Asian proverbs and folktales. While this book introduces new stories, it reminded me of some classic favorites. The idea of changing your fortune or your stars is not a new one, but Where the Mountain Meets the Moon introduces a new way of doing so. The Old Man of the Moon and the Book of Fortune hold the answers, but of course the journey to get there is difficult. Changing fortune reminded me of the film A Knight’s Tale, with Heath Ledger. In this film a young peasant boy wants to joust and learn to be a knight and he uses disguise and training to try to better his fortune. While the characters are different, the story of an underdog getting ahead is similar, and I was just reminded of how people want to and often do in fairytales/fiction manage to change their fortune. I know there are other stories like this as well, but I cannot think of titles right now to save my life. The journey to the Never Ending Mountain and to see the Old Man of the Mood definitely reminded my of The Wizard of Oz. Minli may not follow a yellowbrick road, but she does follow a path and she does encounter several helpful friends along the way. I think that readers familiar with The Wizard of Oz will instantly make the connection and enjoy the story. I do love how the friends Minli meets along the way are different, and I love that they share stories with her. I was also reminded of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland due to the talking fish, dragons, tiger spirit, and other fantastical encounters Minli has along the way. While the overall story is amazing and touching I think the individual stories that are told throughout it really make it special. It is these stories that really show some of the Asian proverbs and culture that Lin wanted to share. The incorporation of all these tales and idea reminds me of some Native American fiction I have read where the elders share stories with the younger ones for entertainment and teaching purposes. For example, Joseph Bruchac’s The Heart of a Chief and Michael Dorris’s Sees Behing Trees mix traditional stories and sayings from Native American culture in to their stories. 

The Dark Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural

The Dark Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural. Patricia C. McKissack. Illus. by Brian Pinkney. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1992. 122 pages. $15.00 (Hardcover). ISBN 0-679-81863-4. Grades 3-8.

The dark-thirty is “the half hour just before nightfall, [when] you have exactly half an hour to get home before the monsters [come] out.” Patricia C. McKissack shares ten spine prickling tales of the supernatural rooted in African American history that will have readers rushing to get home before nightfall. Runaway slaves disappearing from cliffs, voodoo chants causing illness, ghosts haunting the streets, clocks signaling death, and a mysterious monster are just a few of the haunting treats offered in this book. These tales are not completely fictitious, as their settings or characters are based on actual people and events, which are explained in the brief introductions preceding each story.  The writing style, dialects, and themes vary throughout the tales, drawing readers in to a new experience each time, as if a group of storytellers were presenting. Although the tales are chilling, they offer more food for thought than for nightmares and will be enjoyed by the target audience. McKissack expertly draws on her own personal experience, African American history, and generations of stories to create an educational and fun experience while promoting the oral storytelling tradition of her culture. Pinkney's black and white illustrations help make the tales come alive for readers, adding to the stories' chilling effect. A great tool for grabbing readers' attention.  Highly Recommended

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice. Phillip Hoose. New York: Melanie Kroupa Books, 2009. 133 pages. $19.95 (Hardcover). ISBN 978-0-374-31322-7. Grades 6-12.

My Thoughts…

You may be surprised to hear that I have already talked about this book with several different people, but if you knew how much I learned you may not be. I remember the first time I learned that Rosa Parks was not just some random lady who started the Montgomery Bus Boycott, rather that she was an ideal catalyst due to her professional nature, steady job, demeanor, etc. I was like dang, someone could have told me that back in the day. I was even more surprised to learn about Claudette Colvin, however, and how this brave girl was the one who started it all. Although I was not surprised by the horrendous racism and ridiculous arrests that took place during this period, reading the specifics still sent shivers down my spine and upset me. I can only imagine how students would react to hearing these stories, especially if they haven’t heard them before.

I think this book is an awesome teaching/informational tool. The way it is written is conducive to learning and is less difficult to follow than a text book. I liked that there were summary sections as well as sections taken directly from interviews with the key players. The photographs that were included, along with the tidbits of information in the margins went even deeper than the story and gave a sense of what else was going on during this time. I loved reading what Claudette had to say the most. You could feel the emotion and you could tell that it wasn’t being candy coated. I think Claudette Colvin is an amazing role model too, and that high school girls especially would respect and look up to her.  Although the subjects are COMPLETELY different I was reminded of Jim Murphy’s An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. This book is historical fiction, but taught me so much. When I told me aunt about some of the books I have been reading I compared these two saying I would be a heck of a lot smarter if I read these books when I was in high school because they are actually interesting. If I was teaching the Civil Rights movement I would also incorporate other picture books rather than dry textbooks first, that way the textbook readings wouldn’t be boring. For example, Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport would be a great companion to this title. All in all this was a great book, and I really learned a lot!

Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night

Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night. Joyce Sidman. Illus. by Rick Allen. New York: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2010. 32 pages. $16.99(Hardcover). ISBN 978-0-547-15228-8. Grades 3-6.

Reminds Me Of...

The first book I thought of alter/while reading Dark Emperor was Yum! ¡MmMm! ¡Qué rico! Americas’ Sproutings by Pat Mora and illustrated by Rafael López. This is another nonfiction book of poetry that has poems on one side of the page and information on the following page. It too has a glossary. Although the subjects are different, nature and food, the style book is similar. I think both books introduce poetry to children and work to teach them about what they are reading. I think they are good informational and enjoyable tools. Yum! ¡MmMm! ¡Qué rico! Americas’ Sproutings is written in Haikus, which is another form of poetry that could be taught alongside the more traditional poems found in Dark Emperor. I also believe that Joyce Sidman has already written and published other volumes of nature related poetry that readers would also enjoy. Like this book there is information and a glossary included to add to learning in Song of the Water Boatman and Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow.  Of course the oldie but VERY GOODIE is Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends. No, I did not just choose this book because it is poetry, even though that is a huge similarity, but because the different style and forms of poetry found within its covers. For example, the poem “Dark Emperor” about the great horned owl in Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night is a shape poem in the shape of an owl. There are poems of different shapes in styles in Where the Sidewalk Ends that could serve as more examples of poetry.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. Jacqueline Kelly. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2009. 340 pages. $16.99 (Hardcover). ISBN 978-0-8050-8841-0. Grades 5-8.

“I had never classified myself with other girls. I was not of their species; I was different.” Eleven-year-old Calpurnia Virginia Tate, less formally Callie Vee, was indeed different. In 1899 when other girls her age were busy learning how to sew with accuracy and cook delectable dinners, she was off exploring the natural world around her. She loved spending hours with her amateur naturalist grandfather gathering specimens, making observations, and testing out the scientific method. When Callie and her grandfather discover a new species of vetch her ambitions and hope for the future grow; and as new inventions appear she realizes that there is a bigger world out there that she wants to be a part of. Although the turn of the century is approaching and Callie is ready to embrace it, her conservative Texas town and her society driven mother pose obstacles. Jacqueline Kelly not only transports readers to a sweltering Texas town in 1899 through details and historic accuracy of her debut novel, but places readers in the middle of scientific controversy and technological advancement. She successfully portrays the emotional turmoil of being an individual that young people encounter every day and translates it in to a different era. Readers are introduced to the controversy of Charles Darwin, the awe of telephones and automobiles, and just how different their way of life is. Recommended

My Thoughts...

It took me a little while to get drawn in to The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, but I think it had more to do with my reading situation than the text itself. While I am not a big fan of science and nature, I found that because this was the chosen outlet of interest and self discovery for the main character that I too became invested in her successes and experiences with it. I also found that I loved learning about the turn of the 20^th century, a period that I seemed to forget from my one U.S. history class in high school. The fact that the book took place in rural Texas, where gender, social, and religious roles were so important and defined was especially interesting to me, and I enjoyed the story of those who were “before their time” and ready to break the molds, like Callie Vee. I really enjoyed that there were so many different stories within this larger story; because it was a good representation of all of the different factors one faces when growing up. There is a little side story for each aspect of Callie Vee’s growth, and since they are all different there is a little something for every reader. I personally found her desire to meddle in her brother’s love life amusing and cute, and I liked to learn about the courting rituals. I also laughed at how cute and personable all the different brothers were; and how this family really could have existed and lived like this.

In addition to the things I liked in this book, there were aspects that I think were particularly poignant and important for young adult literature and general. The historical fiction, for example, is a great way to introduce readers to the past and in this case introduce me to the past. I knew that there was controversy about Darwin’s Origin of Species, but this book goes a little deeper in to that, while also encouraging stepping outside the bounds of popular opinion. I also loved that each chapter featured an excerpt from this text. I loved the personal evolution of not only Calpurnia in this story, but of her brothers, her family, and society. It was great to read about Callie’s self-discovery amidst and her personal struggles, but it was even more interesting to see how they aligned with the social movement, technology, science, and already determined social roles. I also think the relationship and bond between Callie and her grandfather is important because it represents two generations coming together. Her grandfather taught her about the natural world and the past, while Callie kept her grandpa in the present. Young adults often forget that adults lived in another time and can shed light on a whole new world. I wondered what my grandparents really learned and lived through while reading this book. Overall I really enjoyed this book once I sat down and really started reading.

Oh, I did find it interesting that the author’s note acknowledged she took some liberties with history and that real historians would be able to pick them out. Well, I couldn’t and I wonder if young adults who have studied the period could.

Potential Reaction...

Callie Vee is eleven years old, an age similar to the target audience. What she shares in common with them is that she is growing up, facing challenges, and struggling to come in to her own. Although this story takes place in 1899 and the roles Callie faces are different than those of today’s young adults, readers will still be able to identify with her desire to pursue her interests and be herself. I think young girls, especially those that may be more interested in math, science, maybe academics in general, or sports than make-up and clothes would see themselves in Callie. I also think that students interested in science, nature, and history would be interested in the general circumstances and background of the story. I think the controversy and speculation around The Origin of Species in particular may encourage students to ask more questions about nature and evolution to their teachers, or inspire them to check out the book for themselves in the library. I am sure that some readers could find the fascination with nature and observation ‘boring,’ but I think that more students will find that they too want to know more about their surroundings. I think readers may become more aware of what is going on around them. They pay more attention to the squirrels in their back yard, or the different plants they see while out at lunch. I also think that they may become more aware of the social and gender roles that are set up around them. Of course women no longer take special classes in sewing or manners at school, but there are observable differences in their social roles. I wonder if female readers especially would begin to question this.

In addition to making the story relate to their own lives, I think readers will be interested in the historical setting. For example, young adults today have their cell phones attached to their fingers or ears at all times. I think it would be amazing for them to learn about the first telephone in one Texas town and how important it was. The same goes for automobiles. I think it will be eye opening for them to know how people lived before televisions and air conditioning. I also think readers will take interest in the courting story of Callie’s brother. I think some kids will laugh about all the formalities, but it would be an interesting contrast to today’s mating rituals. I do think that adult readers may hold a special place in their hearts for this book due to the family relationships, like that of Callie Vee and her grandpa. I think the intergenerational connection may be lost on younger readers. Then again, maybe the young readers will be close with their grandparents already or start asking questions about their lives and form a new bond.

Reminds Me Of...

I am drawing a complete blank here with titles, but I know I have read/heard/seen other young adult materials with similar themes. In particular I know I have read stories about girls wanting to step outside society’s prescribed social roles and explore other areas like Callie Vee. While this isn’t necessarily a coming of age story it is a coming in to one’s own story, and there are tons of books out there like this for young adults too. Based on my most recent class in Latino literature some coming to age books that come to mind are Becoming Naomi León and The Dreamer both by Pam Muñoz Ryan and Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez. I think The Dreamer in particular is similar to The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate because Neftalí’s character loves to write and wants to write, even though his father is dead set on him becoming a doctor, an engineer, or having another respectable profession. This story is also set in an older period and readers learn about social and territorial struggles in Chile. Neftalí, like Callie Vee, is also interesting in his surroundings. He collects treasures that inspire him, and he finds nature beautiful. Actually, the more I think about it, the more these titles could interest the same readers.

The historical fiction aspect of this book can also be found in many other titles. Recently I’ve read Fever 1793 and while it is not the same time period, it is another novel that follows a young girl’s struggle to survive while also growing up too quickly. The historical setting and background will appeal to those interested in history, science and medicine. I am sure that as I continue my journey through YA literature I will come across more titles that remind me of this one

An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793

An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. Jim Murphy. New York: Clarion Books, 2003. 165 pages. $17.00 (Hardcover). ISBN 0-395-77608-2. Grades 6-12.  

“No one knew that a killer was already moving through their streets…an invisible stalker that would go house to house until it had touched everyone in some terrible way.” This mysterious killer was soon identified as yellow fever, and its unrelenting wrath ultimately killed thousands of Philadelphians in 1793. Jim Murphy transports readers to that summer, when the air was thick with heat and reeked of spoiled coffee, stale water, and rotting sewage. He spares none of the gruesome details of suffering and artfully recreates the fear and panic of the infected city. In addition to first hand accounts from sufferers, medical professionals, government officials, and observers; Murphy weaves historic documents and materials in to this intricate, captivating account. This terrifyingly true account expounds on the debated and controversial treatments of the fever, the political unrest and instability that it caused, and selfless activism exemplified by individuals and organizations. The roles of key players like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Dr. Benjamin Rush, and the Free African Society are sure to enlighten and engage readers while sparking their interest in history. Murphy also includes an extensive list of related resources to encourage future examination of the intricacies and situations surrounding the yellow fever. Highly Recommended

My Thoughts...

I tend to stray from books that cause my stomach to turn, but the nausea and ‘squirms’ that I felt while reading this book definitely speak to how well written this detailed and engaging book is. The attention to detail in the text itself was supplemented with the quotes at the start of each chapter, as well as the excerpts from papers and personal records. I found myself trying to read every name and every article in order to get more involved in the text. The style of this book is different to what I am used to, and I kept wanting it to be told in a narrative form. Although there were not characters telling the story, the key players were thoroughly developed and I looked forward to hearing their side/view of history. I especially liked reading about the different cures and opinions of the medical professionals. I found that I read this text more slowly than I would have a fiction novel because I was trying to actually learn about yellow fever, but I found that this nonfiction reading was infinitely more enjoyable than a textbook. I also loved that as a reader I was only as knowledgeable as the characters were at any given point of the book. I kind of knew that mosquitoes carried yellow fever, but I my knowledge increased as the book and time progressed. I was thrilled the there were so many suggested readings as well. As a future librarian I appreciate how the author broke the resources down by type and topic and included a brief synopsis.

Potential Response... 

This title relies heavily on details and facts, but it does not list or drone on about either, much like a textbook could/would. Therefore, I think young adults would find learning about yellow fever’s role in American history much more interesting through this book. Murphy appeals to all five senses through the details in this book, and I find that boys in particular would enjoy the way putrid smells and morbid scenes are described. The suspense and fear that is reflected in the text is also engaging and will pique the interest of young adults as well. I do wonder if the general teenage “I know everything” would kick in while they read this book. The Philadelphians were acting pretty loony, but in their defense they didn’t have the same knowledge of modern medicine our teens have. I think some teenagers may sneer at their ‘ignorance.’ I do think that readers of this book who have an inkling of interest in history or medicine will have a strong desire to learn or read more. There is social, political, medical and even religious history in this novel, which I think would make it appeal to a wide variety of teenagers. Nonfiction books are often hard to get in to, but the details and all of a sudden presence of the problem in this book is sure to get their attention. This book can definitely grab readers’ attention just as suddenly has yellow fever hit Philadelphia.

Reminds me of......

I hate to admit it, but I am very unfamiliar with nonfiction titles for young adults. The nonfiction I am most familiar with tends to be more autobiographical/biographical, like Frida: Viva la Vida =Long Live Life by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand; or considered fiction like The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano by Margarita Engle. These books and other nonfiction titles I have read do focus on characters and tell an individual’s experience with an event or historical period or their life; whether the character is real or not. Like I mentioned in my personal reaction, this book has key players, but their individual stories are not told, rather Murphy gives an overview of the event in detail with supporting facts.