Moon Over Manifest – Historical Fiction



Bibliography:

Vanderpool, Clare. 2011. MOON OVER MANIFEST. New York: Random House. 978-0-385-73883-5.

Plot Summary:

Abilene Tucker’s father Gideon has been put Abilene on a train bound for Manifest Kansas to live with one of Gideon’s friends so Gideon can do work on the railroad.  Abilene is confused about why he would send her off since they’ve always managed before but what starts out as a boring time in Manifest turns into a mystery of who Gideon really is.  Abilene discovers a cigar box of various personal objects including a letter referring to a spy named the Rattler and with the help of her friends Lettie and Ruthanne they seek out the truth of Gideon’s past.

Critical Analysis:

The story of Gideon and piecing together the characters and timeline is a rather difficult thing to do in the audiobook version of Moon over Manifest.  The narrator does not change her voice significantly when speaking for different characters so it takes awhile to figure out who she is speaking for.  The book is listed for ages 9-12 but I am not sure if this book in the audiobook version is the easiest book to follow along with for this age group. 

The plot of Moon over Manifest is a pretty intricate one that brings up points in history that do not have a huge focus in children’s history books.  The Alcohol Prohibition of the 1920’s is a major focus within this story and is an example of this.  I would imagine it would take some additional explaining for children to fully understand that aspect of the story.  Another major point in history during this time period that children may not fully understand is the Influenza outbreak and how towns were quarantined with the intention of trying to control the outbreak.  Children are more familiar with what the flu is but not so much Influenza. 

The storyline and the mystery of who the Rattler is and who Gideon is is really remarkable and interesting but it is my belief there are aspects of the plot line that would require some additional explaining.  I feel for a young child to read or listen to this story on their own might be a little advanced but in a classroom setting read out loud by a teacher or a parent reading it with their child there would be an opportunity to explain certain points in history that a child might not fully understand. 

Overall this story is unique, interesting and entertaining.  Abilene is a sweet, adventurous girl who is put in situations that would scare many girls her own age such as getting on a train by herself and going to live with a man she’s never met.  Watching Abilene form a bond with Ruthanne and Lettie is so sweet because it’s a type of friendship you know Abilene has never experienced before.  You feel for Abilene and cheer for her through this story, hoping she finds what she is looking for in figuring out who Gideon really is.

Review Excerpts and Awards:

2011 Newbery Medal Winner

2011 Spur Award for Best Western Juvenile Fiction

“Readers will cherish every word up to the heartbreaking yet hopeful and deeply gratifying ending.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Replete with historical details and surprises, Vanderpool’s debut delights, while giving insight into family and community.” – Publishers Weekly

“Ingeniously plotted and gracefully told.” - The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Connections:

·         It would be fun for children after reading this story to create a box of personal objects that represent who they are and share them with the class or have the class try to piece together who the person is based on the objects in the box. 

R My Name is Rachel – Historical Fiction



Bibliography:

Giff, Patricia Reilly. 2011. R MY NAME IS RACHEL. New York: Random House. 978-0-375-83889-7.

Plot Summary:

Rachel loves school, books, Clarence her cat and Miss. Mitzy the owner of the flower shop down the street.  Rachel lives in the city with her dad, brother and sister, her mom died when she was about 2 years old.  It’s 1936, The Depression, Franklin Roosevelt is president and Rachel’s father has lost his job at the bank but he has heard of a bank job upstate in North Lake.  This move will require the family and Clarence to Rachel’s relief, to move to a farm without electricity and many unknowns. 

Critical Analysis:

Patricia Reilly Giff gives a voice to Rachel that is so sweet and genuine; she is someone if you were to meet her in real life you’d just love.  She is twelve years old and Patricia Reilly Giff has given an appropriate voice, emotion and feeling to Rachel that is so true to life.  I’m not sure how many twelve year olds would handle taking care of a house and farm, younger siblings and worrying about how to pay rent but Rachel does and it’s a remarkable story.  The relationship between Rachel who lost her mother at a young age and Miss. Mitzy is one to envy.  She was a support for Rachel; it gave her something else to think about during such a difficult time.

The Depression is a time in history that can be difficult to explain to younger children. Patricia Reilly Giff did an amazing job showing the effects of how the Depression effected people but didn’t feel it necessary to go into all of the extreme explanations of how it happened.  It would be easy for an author to get too much into the why’s and how’s the Depression occurred but of course this is not something children will understand.  In real life much of a child’s understanding of something that is above their head is their parents’ interpretation or comments of what is happening so for Patricia Reilly Giff to give phrases such as, “Can’t you ask Uncle Elliot for help with money?  Just until President Franklin Roosevelt fixes the Depression?”  From a child’s understanding they are naive in believing someone can fix something like the Depression and Rachel has that nativity that is so true for children especially children who are thrust into adult situations similar to Rachel’s. 

Review Excerpts and Awards:

“Rich characters and raw, real emotions make this much more than the usual horse story.” – The Horn Book Magazine

“The horror of war is clearly conveyed without graphic specifics, and the historical framework makes this a strong classroom choice.  It is the intertwined, personal stories of the two girls, though, they will win hearts.” – Booklist

“As usual, Giff’s characters are beautifully nuanced and entirely real, her prose is as streamlined and efficient as a galloping Thoroughbred and her quiet ending breaks your heart.  A stakes winner.” – Kirkus Reviews, Starred

“Thoughtfully crafted narratives…alternate between each heroine…As she brings these characters and history alive, Giff again demonstrates her own gift for storytelling.” – Publishers Weekly, Starred

Connections:

·         This book is a perfect opportunity for a discussion and many lessons on the Depression and why it occurred.  There are many layers from a government and business aspect of why the Depression occurred and if explained in the correct manner children can understand the Depression.  A lesson who Franklin Roosevelt was and what he did as our President during the Depression can be included too.  There are many age appropriate Biographies where children can do some research and bring facts back to the class to discuss further.   



Elijah of Buxton – Historical Fiction



Bibliography:

Curtis, Christopher Paul. 2007. ELIJAH OF BUXTON. New York: Scholastic Press. 978-0-439-02344-3.

Plot Summary:

Elijah lives in Buxton, Canada just north of the United States border.  He is proudly the first child to be born into freedom in a settlement of runaway slaves.  Elijah is fortunate to be growing up in an area where he has his best friend Cooter, school and a town full of people that know each other but he will soon see what horrific things the settlers of Buxton had to endure during their days as slaves in the United States.  When one of Elijah’s friends is robbed of the money he was going to use to buy his family out of slavery, Elijah sets off on a journey that open his eyes to a world he is not familiar. 

Critical Analysis:

There is a fine line that authors have to be aware of when writing historical fiction and making sure they do not stereotype characters.  Christopher Paul Curtis does an amazing job writing in a style that is indicative of this timeframe but does it in a way that doesn’t ever come across as offensive or demeaning.  He shortens and combines words to capture how they would be spoken in a more broken English and under educated manner that really makes you realize how little or no education many slaves didn’t receive.  A good example of this type of writing is, “And y’all choosed the most beautifullest, most perfectest day for doing it!  Only thing I’s got to ask is, what kept you?” 

Anyone who reads Elijah of Buxton will realize how much research Christopher Paul Curtis had to do to honor who the characters are and the setting of which the story takes place.  Due to this story taking place in the 1800’s Christopher Paul Curtis had to do enough research on Buxton Canada and slavery to create a visual image in his head so he could describe it accurately in his story.  He stated, “This novel came to me in a way that was far different than any other.  From the word ‘go’ Elijah and I became close friends.  When I’d go to the library to write, it was as if he were anxiously waiting for me, waiting to tell about his life, his worries, his adventures.”  This can be seen, heard and felt in Christopher Paul Curtis’ writing. 

Review Excerpts and Awards:

Newbery Honor

Coretta Scott King Author Award

Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction

TD Children’s Literature Book Award

CLA Book of the Year

Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s Literature Finalist

Connections:

·         This book discusses slavery, this is a perfect opportunity for children to delve deeper into the United States’ history and learn more about slavery.  Where did slaves come from?  How were they captured?  What states practiced slavery?  A classroom of children could ask questions about slavery, compile a list and each student could be responsible for researching the information and bringing it back to the class and sharing it.  Slavery is a difficult topic to discuss but to do it as an open forum of question and answer would help all students learn and get the information.





Walt Whitman Words For America - Informational



Bibliography:

Kerley, Barbara. 2004. WALT WHITMAN WORDS FOR AMERICA. Ill. By Brian Selznick. New York: Scholastic Press. 0-439-35791-8.

Plot Summary:

At the age of 12 Walt Whitman worked as a printer’s apprentice and within “two years he was setting articles that he himself had written.”  When his first employer gave him a library card he later called that moment as “the signal event of my life up to that time.”  Walt Whitman’s goal was to help his country in some way; he discovered how to do this once the Civil War started.  Walt Whitman dedicated a large part of his life spending time with soldiers who were dying or who were severely injured during the Civil War.  He chronicled his experiences with these soldiers and ultimately wrote a book of poetry about the Civil War.  His experiences traveling the United States, the time spent with wounded and dying soldiers and his personal connection to President Abraham Lincoln shaped Walt Whitman’s poetry and helped make him one of the most famous American poets of our time.

Critical Analysis: 

Not many children or adults are aware of the work that Walt Whitman did during the Civil War; this book does an amazing job explaining everything Walt accomplished, why he did it and his amazing literary end result, Drum-Taps his book of Civil War poetry.  “The Good Gray Poet” wrote “….For all my days---not those of peace alone---the days of war the same…For all the brave strong men---devoted, hardy men---who’ve forward sprung in freedom’s help, all years, all lands….Thanks---joyful thanks!---a soldier’s, traveler’s thanks.”  Between the ways the story was written, so passionately and peaceful, to the beautiful illustrations depicting Walt and his journey it just makes you want to hug the man and say thank you.  At a time when so many men and woman are at war it’s a nice reminder to know there are people out there like Walt Whitman who are giving themselves selflessly to the wounded and dying soldiers.

The family element to this story is so refreshing too, as someone who has an older brother and to think not knowing if he’s harmed or even alive I cannot imagine what lengths I would go to get to him.  That is such a great element to the story and one children need to hear and identify with.  Reading about Walt rushing from hospital to hospital looking for his brother, not knowing what state his brother would be in when he was found was a bit heart wrenching.  It was wonderful to read at the end of the story how close Walt Whitman was to his parents and brothers and sisters, a man to truly admire and one for kids to look up to.

Barbera Kerley and Brian Selznick both stated within the book that they spent a tremendous amount of time researching Walt Whitman and his work with Civil War soldiers.  They were able to pull poems from his original works to incorporate them into the story but an actual photo of Walt Whitman is what began the research for the story.  Brian Selznick looked at many photographs taken during the Civil War times to create accuracy within the illustrations too.  Barbera Kerley and Brian Selznick did an amazing job taking real life information and images and turning them into an informational story that both children and adults will love.

 

 

Review Excerpts and Awards:

New York Times Bestseller

Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

An exuberant picture-book biography that focuses on Whitman's formative years and his selfless work as a Civil War nurse. Delightfully old-fashioned in design, its oversized pages are replete with graceful illustrations and snippets of poetry. – School Library Journal

Connections:

·         I would love to see children research Walt Whitman further, read his poetry, pick out a favorite and read it aloud to the class.  He is such a phenomenal man and I think he goes unrecognized in today’s schools.

·         Abraham Lincoln was mentioned briefly throughout this story; this is a great opportunity for children to research him further to read about his beliefs on slavery in the south and why he fought so hard to abolish it.  I would incorporate books on Abraham Lincoln in with this book and have a full discussion on slavery, why it’s wrong and what it would be like to grow up as a slave. 

Bodies from the Ice - Informational

Bibliography:

Deem, James M. 2008. BODIES FROM THE ICE. New York: Houghton Mifflin Books. 978-0-618-80045-2.

Plot Summary:

Glaciers all around the world are rapidly melting.  The bodies of men, woman and children who died on these glaciers hundreds if not thousands of years ago are being discovered because the ice is melting.  Artifacts that were buried with these bodies are also being discovered, scientists are able to run tests on these bodies and artifacts to help us further understand who our ancestors were, what they ate, how they hunted and how they lived.  Bodies from the Ice features amazing color photographs and drawings to help piece together five different stories about body discoveries made around the world.  The pictures that are included in this story add an amazing visual of what was discovered and the state of which these bodies were discovered.   

Critical Analysis: 

 James Deem does an amazing job piecing these individual stories together to make an incredible informational book.  Children will find amusement in the beautiful pictures that help piece the stories together.  Seeing pictures of bodies frozen in ice and then laid out on tables after they have been excavated adds a gross element that children will find appealing. 

James Deem not only tells the story of how these bodies were discovered but he also explains the terrain of which the person probably traveled, an explanation of possibly how or why the person died, how and why the bodies were discovered, what is going on environmentally that caused the discovery to take place as well as how our current environmental state is effecting the glaciers, our fresh water supplies and then how we can help rectify the situation.  There is so much more to these stories than just the discovery of the bodies alone and anyone who tries to educate children on the environment and how the melting of the glaciers is effecting mankind will appreciate this truly incredible informational book. 

James Deem is a retired college professor who has written many fiction and nonfiction books.  He had never been to a glacier before researching this book but now that he's been he hopes his book will help encourage children to visit a glacier before they are melted.  He wanted this book to be a memorial to the people who have perished in glacier deaths but to the glaciers too.  With this kind of passion one would have confidence in James Deem and him doing all of the research necessary to create such an amazing book. 

 

 

Review Excerpts and Awards:

2009 Robert F. Sibert Informational Award Honor Book

2011 Prairie Pasque Award Winner

Kirkus Reviews’ Best Children’s Books of 2008

Notable Book for Children 2009 - ALA

There are books about melting glaciers and books about frozen bodies, but this attractive offering combines the topics in a way that will intrigue readers. It begins with a chance discovery by walkers in northern Italy who find a thawing corpse originally thought to be from the 1800s. Scientists later realized the body was more than 5,000 years old. As glaciers melt throughout the world, more frozen bodies are appearing, adding greatly to the knowledge researchers have about history and culture. Individual chapters cover types of glaciers and why they are fertile territory for housing bodies; the Chamonix glacier, which saw women climbers in the early 1800s; and the mystery of George Mallory, who died trying to climb Mt. Everest. Perhaps most fascinating to kids will be the chapter on recently discovered Incan children sacrificed to the gods. The pictures of these children, looking as though they might be sleeping, are arresting. Heavily illustrated with historical memorabilia as well as photos of bodies, scenery, artifacts, and rather simplistic maps, this offers a lot to look at and learn about. Grades 4-7. --Ilene Cooper - Booklist

Connections:

·         What is so fascinating about this book is that it covers information on the discovery of bodies that were lost in glaciers but it also takes on an environmental element too.  Students could do science experiments to recreate burials within ice and how the bodies moved.  They could build mini-glaciers and bury objects within the ice and slowly melt the ice to watch how those buried items move down their man made glacier.  Basically replicating the how the buried bodies moved down the glacier over time as the seasons changed and the glacier ice has melted.

·         At the end of the book there is a section on Personal Ways to Help the Environment, many of the suggestions listed are easy to implement.  Have children raise money to buy a tree and plant it on the school grounds.  If the school doesn’t have a compost pile, have them create one with the lunch garbage.    Do a daily news report, have one child each day search the Internet or news sites to look for environment news and then report back to the class.  Have each child keep track of the number of miles their Mom and Dad drives and see who can cut back the most of number of miles driven per family.   

LET ME PLAY - Informational

Bibliography:

Blumenthal, Karen. 2005. LET ME PLAY. New York: Antheneum Books for Young Readers. 0-689-85957-0.

Plot Summary:

Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus for a white person.  Myra Bradwell was the first female lawyer and appealed one of the first sexual discrimination law suits to the U.S. Supreme Court. U.S. Representative Edith Green fought hard to get the Equal Pay Act and Title IX bill’s passed.  It is woman such as these that have helped paved the way for how woman are treated, how educated woman choose to be and the rights woman have that are equal to that of a man’s.  Let Me Play is a compilation of amazing stories of woman and men who have helped make sure that future generations of woman have the same opportunities as men.  These are the people who helped fight for woman's rights so they could play softball, take accelerated math and science classes, and go to law school and medical school.  It is stories such as these that future generations of girls and boys need to hear so they can realize the impact they can make on society. 

Critical Analysis: 

U.S. Representative Mrs. Edith Green was nicknamed by some as Mrs. Green: “Wicked Witch of the West.”  She was liked by some and disliked by many.  She used her southern charm to get the support of her male U.S. Representatives as well as President John F. Kennedy, but she also worked very hard and for many years to get bills passed that she was so incredibly passionate about.  It took 8 years for Congress to pass Mrs. Green’s Equal Pay Act in 1963.  This is the story of a woman who didn’t let anyone stand in her way; she never wavered in her belief that men and woman should be equal.  Mrs. Edith Green is a woman who should be a hero, mentor and role model for children and adults, her story is retold by Karen Blumenthal in such a passionate way that Mrs. Green would be proud. 

Even though Mrs. Edith Green’s bill was signed by President Richard Nixon on June 23, 1972 it wasn’t until late June 1974 that the rules for Title IX were actually laid out.  The new requirements for Athletics were the hot topic, it came down to males and females having equal opportunity in competitive sports but schools did not have to put as much money towards woman’s sports as men’s.  Females were entitled to the “same quality of locker rooms, coaching, travel and equipment as males were.”   The public had an opportunity to weigh in on the new changes and nearly ten thousand comments from the public flooded in.  More revisions had to be made and during all of this Mrs. Edith Green retired after twenty years in congress.  She had reached her goal of having this bill passed but who would have ever imagined there would be such upheaval in the small details of it. 

When it comes to understanding government, the passing of bills and how long it takes for the bills to actually go into effect is hard for many to understand much less children.  Karen Blumenthal does an amazing job of explaining the process, who is involved and how long the process takes.  This is not an easy feat to accomplish when writing a children’s book but she does it beautifully.  I think for many adults, like myself, who don’t have an advanced understanding of everything comes together a book such as this once can really help us understand too.  The book is written in a way that doesn’t speak down to children, it does incorporates pictures with the text as well as short stories of other woman who were making an impact as Title IX was being passed.  A very impressive book to say the least!

Two years were spent scouring archives, academic works and newspapers.  Time was spent tracking down participants and start athletes to help recreate what occurred during this volatile time.  These are all things that Karen Blumenthal did as she was preparing for the creation of Let Me Play.  This is all information that gives a reader that extra confidence that what the reader is actually reading is accurate and well researched information.  Karen Blumenthal put a tremendous amount of time and effort into the preparation for this book and you can tell as it's being read. 

 

 

Review Excerpts and Awards:

 ALA Amelia Bloomer Project

ALA Best Books for Young Adults

ALA Notable Children’s Books

Gr. 6-9. As in Six Days in October (2002), a compelling overview of the 1929 stock market crash and a financial primer, Wall Street Journal editor Blumenthal uses specific facts and fascinating personal stories to give readers a wide view of history. Here, the author looks at American women's evolving rights by focusing on the history and future of Title IX, which bans sex discrimination in U.S. education. Profiles of groundbreaking female athletes and legislators deftly alternate with highlights of the women's movement, from the early twentieth century through today. The dull paper stock diminishes the many black-and-white photos, but the images are still gripping, and relevant political cartoons and fact boxes add further interest. Few books cover the last few decades of American women's history with such clarity and detail, and this comprehensive title draws attention to the hard-won battles, the struggles that remain, and the chilling possibility that rights, if not fiercely protected, can easily be lost. Gillian Engberg Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved- Booklist

Connections:

·         There are many famous people listed in this book briefly.    How many children have heard the brief line, Rosa Parks did not give up her seat on a bus for a white person, was arrested because of her actions but it received National News coverage and was a major turning point in the Civil Rights Movement?  Well there is a lot more to the story than this and more to who Rosa Parks was and this would be a great opportunity for children to delve deeper into who these people were, why they stood their ground and what ultimately happened to them.  A teacher could start off by sharing a story per day of this book, incorporating it into a history lesson and then having each child choose someone to research further to get even a better understanding of how civil rights and woman’s rights have changed over the years.

·         For a younger group there are many civil rights poems and picture books that deal with woman’s rights and civil rights.  Sharing an age appropriate poem or picture book and then following it up with a story for Let Me Play which might be a bit accelerated for the group but a great opportunity for a teacher to interpret what is being said and then opening up a discussion of how the children would feel if someone told them they couldn’t take a science class or play a sport.  This would bring the impact of what occurred during this time period back to a level of which they would be able to identify with.