TURTLE IN PARADISE



TURTLE IN PARADISE

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Holm, Jennifer. 2010. TURTLE IN PARADISE. New York, NY: Random House. ISBN: 9780375936883

  

PLOT SUMMARY
Turtle is an eleven year old girl who lived with her mother in New Jersey from home to home as her mother found jobs as a housekeeper during The Great Depression in 1935.  Turtle, who was given that nickname because of her tough outer shell, was sent to Key West to live with her aunt (her mother's sister) because her mother's employer didn't like children.  While staying in Key West with her aunt and her three boy cousins, Turtle learns alot about the culture and her people, Conchs (what natives of the Florida Keys were called).  Her cousins and their friends (who are mostly cousins too) belong to The Diaper Gang and watch babies, while using their secret formula for diaper rash and getting paid with candy. Turtle is not allowed in the gang because girls are not allowed.  So, she decides she will help out her aunt by taking lunch to Nana Philly, who she finds out is her grandmother!  The kids, Beans, Kermit and Buddy (her cousins) and Pork Chop, a friend, pretty much have the run of the island (everybody on the island had nicknames).  When Turtle finds a treasure map, she asks them to go on a hunt to find a pirate's treasure with her.  They find the treasure, but get caught in the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. When Turtle's mother, Sadiebelle, hears about the fact that the kids are missing, she rushes to Key West to find her.  The scare of losing Turtle prompted Archie (who was Sadiebelle's current boyfriend) to marry her.  Although, it wasn't just the thought of losing Turtle, but Archie's dream of making it to "Easy Street" and the fact that Turtle had discovered a treasure that might have played into the quick marriage as well.  The story ends with Turtle and her mom finding a place where they belong.

  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Holm created a funny, lovable character in Turtle.  She brought alive the emotions of life during the Great Depression and the culture of Key West during the 1930s.  She made many pop culture references as well.  Turtle doesn't like Shirley Temple (because it never works out for her like it does in the movies), but she enjoys reading comics like Little Orphan Annie and Terry and the Pirates. The book's portrayal of the way of life in Key West was authentic and alive from the food, to the weather, the scorpions, to going sponging, to the fact that nobody wore shoes and even tick-tocking.  The reader can feel the effects of The Great Depression by knowing that Turtle had to leave her mother because her mother had to keep a job and Aunt Minnie's husband, Uncle Vernon had to travel days at a time for work wherever he could find it. 

Although the Great Depression had a toll on the people of Key West, they were fighters.  They were strong people with deep family roots.  The theme of family relationships was shown throughout the story as well.  Holm's easy-going, entertaining style keeps the reader's interest throughout Turtle's many adventures!  Turtle even gives Hemingway advice about writing when he interviews her about the storm!  In the end, Turtle finds out that the real treasure is her family and she remembers Archie's words, "Princess, everybody's got a dream."
 

AWARDS
2011 Newbery Honor Book
2010 Cybil Award Nominee
ALA Notable Book
KIRKUS REVIEWS Best Children's Book 2010

 

REVIEW EXCERPTS

BOOKLIST:
"Turtle is just the right mixture of knowingness and hope; the plot is a hilarious blend of family dramas seasoned with a dollop of adventure."--Starred Review

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:
"This richly detailed novel was inspired by Holm’s great-grandmother’s stories. Readers who enjoy melodic, humorous tales of the past won’t want to miss it."

CONNECTIONS
This book is a great introduction to studies on The Great Depression.  It also provides great character studies and could be paired with studies on geography and learning about The Florida Keys.

Other books on The Great Depressions include:
ESPERANZA RISING by Pam Munoz Ryan
LEAH'S PONY by Elizabeth Friedrich

Research Links
How the Great Depression Affected Key West
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/30147949?uid=3739920&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21101450185057

People and Events in 1935
http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1935.html
Other books written by Jennifer Holm include PENNY FROM HEAVEN and THE TROUBLE WITH MAY AMELIA

 

 

 

 

 



 



UNDER THE BLOOD-RED SUN

 

 

UNDER THE BLOOD-RED SUN

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Salisbury, Graham. 1994. UNDER THE BLOOD-RED SUN. New York, NY: Delacorte Press. ISBN: 038532099X

  

PLOT SUMMARY
Tomi, a thirteen year-old boy, was born in Hawaii to parents who were born in Japan, but came to America to escape poverty.  This story, set in 1941 in Hawaii, focuses on the friendship between Tomi and his best-friend, Billy, a haole (blonde-haired, white boy) before and after the attack on Pearl Harbor.  Even though their family heritages differ, Tomi and Billy share many things in common, including the love of baseball.  One morning, when they are out playing catch, they are surprised by jet planes attacking Pearl Harbor.  At first, they think that it is a drill from the Army base, but then Tomi recognizes the Blood-Red Sun on the planes and they are terrified.  After the attack, the United States declares war against Japan and Tomi's father and grandfather are falsely arrested and taken to internment camps because they are Japanese-American.  Tomi is left as the man of the house helping his mother take care of the home, their finances and his little sister.  With the help of  his loyal friends from his baseball team, he makes it through some very tough times and realizes the value of true friendships and family relationships.

  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Salisbury created a setting in Hawaii during World War II where hints of anti-Japanese sentiment was growing.  Prior to the Pearl Harbor attack, even though through Tomi's eyes, he was proud of his heritage, he also saw the need to ask his grandfather to not show his Japanese flag or other family heirlooms.  As Tomi narrated this story, it was interesting to see this era through an eighth grade boy's eyes.  His life seemed as normal as any other teenage boy.  He loved playing baseball, listening to radio shows, playing with his dog Lucky and hanging with his friends.  He enjoyed going fishing with his father and helping take care of his father's pigeons as well.  Salisbury's use of dialect and language helped the reader to authentically connect with Tomi and his family.  Hints of Japanese culture were mentioned throughout the book, but mostly the story showed how Japanese-Americans had thoughts and dreams and feelings just like everybody else, but that they had to overcome many prejudices because of the war.  One afternoon as Tomi was coming home, Mr. Wilson (the man whose property they lived on and whose house his mother wokred in), stopped him and threatened, "Listen to this, boy....you people are walking on mighty thin ice around here.  You tell your father I don't want to see anymore of that Jap crap around my place....you understand?" Poor Tomi didn't understand or know why Mr. Wilson was so angry at him, afterall, he was American too.  Tomi's friends stood by him and helped him through very tough times.  Tomi showed courage, honor and strength while his friends showed true loyalty.  This story was intriguing and very emotional.  The author followed a chronological timeline depicting life right before the attack and immediately after, describing the terror through children's eyes and adults' alike.  "My God, Billy whispered,....this is for real!" as he watched the attack from the banyan tree.     
 

AWARDS
1995 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
A BOOKLIST Children’s Editor’s Choice
1998 Hawaii Nene Award
 

REVIEW EXCERPTS

BOOKLIST:
"Salisbury spares few details--the fear, the horror, the sounds, the smells all envelop the reader as they do the characters. And so do the grief and shame. The Japanese embarrassment is palatable, and, of course, life is never the same again."-Frances Bradbury

PUBLISHER'SWEEKLY
"Torn between his love of all things American and the traditional ways of his parents and grandparents, a young Japanese American comes of age during the political upheaval of WWII."
 

CONNECTIONS

This historical fiction novel can open the door to many discussions and activities.  The topics of war, patriotism, racism/prejudism, friendships, family relationships/dynamics, etc. can all be studied.  http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780440411390&view=tg

ONE CRAZY SUMMER

ONE CRAZY SUMMER

 

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

Williams-Garcia, Rita. 2010. ONE CRAZY SUMMER. New York, NY: Amistad-HarpersCollins. ISBN 9780060760892.

  

PLOT
Delphine, the eleven year old narrator, travels with her two younger sisters on a plane from New York to Oakland, California for a month-long visit with their mother, who had abandoned them years ago.  The story is placed in 1968 during one of the roughest times in American History.  The girls' mother seems to be bothered by the fact that they have come to stay with her and Delphine begins to believe the stories that her grandmother has told her about her mother: that she is no-good and crazy.  Their mother doesn't let them in the kitchen, because that is where she works on her poetry. So the girls have to go get their breakfast and stay for most of the day (so that they stay out of their mother's path) at the center run by The Black Panthers where they learn about Huey Newton, Bobby Hutton and the "Black Power" movement.  In the end, the girls unveil some truths about their mother and re-connect in a powerful way.

  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Williams-Garcia, an accredited historical-fiction author, does a fine job with the authenticity of this story.  She builds the characters with strengths and weaknesses characteristic of the times.  Delphine, who is only eleven, had to grow up fast because she was responsible to take care of her younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern (even when they fight with each other) because their mother abandoned them when they were very young.  When the girls arrived in Oakland to see their mother, Cecile, she was not excited to see them.  Cecile said, “No one wants you out here making a mess, stopping my work.”  Even though Delphine and her sisters lived with a loving father and grandmother, the pain of not feeling her mother's love was evident. "We weren't about to leave Oakland without getting what we'd come for.  It only took Fern to know we needed a hug from our mother." 

Williams-Garcia portrays the emotions of the times through Delphine's voice and dialect.  She tells the story through Delphine who speaks with a great deal of honesty and candor.  Although she is only eleven, her innocence has been tainted by the realities of the world around her. "His hard stare was for the other reason store clerks' eyes never let up.  We were black kids, and he expected us to be in his gift shop to steal." Delphine was painfully aware of the racism that existed in these times.  "The last thing Pa and Big Ma wanted to hear was how we made a grand Negro spectacle of ourselves."   The author tries to give the reader different perspectives into The Black Panther movement. Delphine says of the center, "It wasn't at all the way the television showed militants (that's what they called the Black Panthers).  Militants, who from the newspapers were angry fist wavers with their mouths wide-open and their rifles for shooting.  They never showed anyone like Sister Mukumbu or Sister Pat, passing out toast and teaching in classrooms."  Delphine wanted to see the good in people.  "I watched the white guys leave unharmed, laughing even....then I heard Crazy Kelvin say, that's the least that the racist dogs can do, and just like that, he spoiled what I thought I knew."   

 This is a very emotional story that raises cultural and ethnic questions.  It is beautifully and passionately written and reveals how important a mother's love is.  It also gives us a great history lesson and helps us to realize how politics can affect our lives and the strong feelings and emotions during the 1960s.   

AWARDS

2011 Coretta Scott King Award Winner

2011 Newbery Honor Book

2011 Scott O’Dell Prize for Historical Fiction

2010 National Book Award Finalist

Junior Library Guild Selection

Texas Library Association Best Book for 2010

 

REVIEW EXCERPTS

“The setting and time period are as vividly realized as the characters, and readers will want to know more about Delphine and her sisters after they return to Brooklyn...” -Horn Book (starred review)

“Emotionally challenging and beautifully written, this book immerses readers in a time and place and raises difficult questions of cultural and ethnic identity and personal responsibility. With memorable characters (all three girls have engaging, strong voices) and a powerful story, this is a book well worth reading and rereading.”-School Library Journal (starred review)

 

“Delphine’s growing awareness of injustice on a personal and universal level is smoothly woven into the story in poetic language that will stimulate and move readers.”-Publishers Weekly

 

CONNECTIONS
The themes in this book include family and race.  It can be paired with other books during The Civil Rights movement and The Black Panthers, such as THE ROCK AND THE RIVER by Kekla Magoon. 

This book also focuses on poetry and a good lesson on poetry could be incorporated as well.

Also consider reading,
LIKE SISTERS ON THE HOMEFRONT by Rita Williams-Garcia



 



OUR ELEANOR

 

OUR ELEANOR: A SCRAPBOOK LOOK AT ELEANOR ROOSEVELT'S

REMARKABLE LIFE

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Fleming, Candace. 2005. OUR ELEANOR: A SCRAPBOOK LOOK AT ELEANOR ROOSEVELT'S REMARKABLE LIFE. New York, NY: Anthem Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780689865442.

 

 PLOT SUMMARY
This biography chronicles the amazing life of Eleanor Roosevelt.  It begins with Eleanor's birth in 1884 and goes on to describe, in text and through illustrations, important people, places, projects and accomplishments in Eleanor's fascinating life. This is an elaborate biography of her remarkable life.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In this extensive, scrapbook-style biography of Eleanor Roosevelt, Fleming starts off using basic research tools such as a timelime and family tree to document Eleanor's life.  It is organized from the time Eleanor's parents were married, to her birth and then describes her not so happy childhood. "I was afraid… afraid that other people would not like me." Then the book goes on to chronicle the important people and places in Eleanor's life. Fleming is frank, honest and detailed with her well-written words.  In addition to her extremely well-versed text, Fleming also uses many photographs (including copies of her birth certificate and handwritten letters and drawings) and anecdotes with interesting tidbits of information to tell of Eleanor's triumphs, awards and even some of her controversies. This is a very moving biography that emphasizes the strength of Eleanor and her effect on all of us as Americans.  As she was quoted, "these crowded hours have been interesting and stimulating. They have, I hope, been useful. They have, at least, been lived to the hilt."

REVIEW EXCERPTS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
 "Enjoyably educational, OUR ELEANOR will be a core title in all collections for years to come."–Andrew Medlar

BOOKLIST
"Ultimately deeply moving portrait."-Jennifer Mattson

CONNECTIONS
Teachers can use this book as a guide to start discussions on what it means to be a humanitarian, to discuss making a difference, and about doing what is right.

One activity could be to have students create timelines emphasizing connections between things of the past (as shown in Eleanor's life) and things in student's lives today. ("Teaching Guide for OUR ELEANOR: A SCRAPBOOK LOOK AT ELEANOR ROOSEVELT'S REMARKABLE LIFE" www.windingoak.com)  

Fleming has connected with children through many of her other biographies, such as, AMELIA LOST, BEN FRANKLIN'S ALAMANC, CLEVER JACK andTHE LINCOLN'S" A SCRAPBOOK LIFE OF ABRAHAM AND MARY.  Teachers should implement these books into their lessons as well.

ALMOST ASTRONAUTS: 13 WOMEN WHO DARED TO DREAM

ALMOST ASTRONAUTS: 13 WOMEN WHO DARED TO DREAM

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Stone, Tanya Lee. 2009. ALMOST ASTRONAUTS: 13 WOMEN WHO DARED TO DREAM. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN  9780763645021.

 

PLOT SUMMARY

This is a true story of thirteen women who had the strength, courage, determination, intelligence, top physical fitness and experience in flying to become astronauts.  Only, they had bigger challenges with the government, because women were not allowed in the space program at that time (early 1960s). Mercury 13, as they were known, fought not only for women in the Space Program, but they were heroes fighting for justice for all women in The United States.

 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This nonfiction, collective biography is easy to read and very interesting.  The photos throughout the book are fantastic and add an element to the story that helps to keep the reader's interest.  Stone's style is very straight-forward and casual.  She organizes the story well by giving us the individual backgrounds of each of the women and main influences and then tying them all together.  She includes quotes such as,"I felt it was an opportunity to try to convince them that a woman could do this type of thing and do it well," Skelton said. "And she was right."  She also gives us detailed descriptions of what the women had to endure to complete their training, including how they had to pass tests such as the Dilbert Dunker, a water survival test.

 

Stone's straight-forward style is shown when she tells of the letter that Carpenter drafted for Vice President Johnson to sign to approve the mission, in which it read, "I'm sure you agree that sex should not be a reason for disqualifying a candidate for orbital flight."  However, Johnson did not sign the letter, but rather wrote "Let's Stop This Now!"  Stone's comment regarding Johnson's response is, "therein lies one of the most troubling, and revealing, strands in this whole story, one that did not come to light until decades later."  She does a fantastic job incorporating facts and history with her easy-to-read, honest words.

 

AWARDS

Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor

Jane Addams Honor

YALSA Nonfiction Finalist

Orbis Pictus Honor

ALA Sibert Medal for the best nonfiction book for young readers of 2010

 

REVIEW EXCERPTS

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

"Illustrated with sheaves of photos, and based on published sources, recently discovered documents, and original interviews with surviving members of the "Mercury 13," this passionately written account of a classic but little-known challenge to established gender prejudices also introduces readers to a select group of courageous, independent women."-John Peters, New York Public Library

 

BOOKLIST

"The chatty, immediate style (“Picture this”) and full-page photos make for a fast read, and the crucial civil-rights history will stay with readers."-Hazel Rochman

CONNECTIONS

This is a great story to use to introduce Civil Rights and Women's Suffrage lessons in addition to teaching about the science and technology of the Space Program.

 

 

 

 

 

 



OUR SOLAR SYSTEM

 

OUR SOLAR SYSTEM

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Simon, Seymour. 1992. OUR SOLAR SYSTEM. New York, NY: William Morrow & Company, Inc. ISBN:  0688099920.

 

PLOT SUMMARY

Simon, an award-winning author, explores our neighbors in space in this interesting, fact-filled book containing over 50 dramatic full-color photos and an easy-to-read text. Readers experience a sweeping tour of the planets, moons, asteroids, meteoroids, and comets that travel around the sun.

 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Simon is an acclaimed, award-winning author of children's informational books about Science.  He starts out this book in easy-to-read, large text describing The Milky Way and its Sun while presenting graphs, charts and vivid photos to capture the reader's interest as well as portray the scientific facts. "The blazing sun blasted away the nearby gases and dust into a spinning oval ring." The book is very well organized as the author travels throughout our solar system giving brief descriptions and interesting facts about each of the planets and their moons.  "The Romans named the brilliant planet Venus after their goddess of love and beauty (because) it is the brightest object in the night sky after our moon."  He also introduces us to the asteroid belt where he describes asteroids-"minor planets", comets-"dirty snowballs" and meteoroids-"bright streaks of light." Simon's brilliant use of photographs enhances his readers' experience as they gain knowledge throughout the book.  The graphic chart/illustration displayed under the front and back covers also provides the reader with fascinating information.  

 

REVIEW EXCERPTS

"This title's eye-catching illustrations and understandable text should encourage young readers to look for further information."-Elaine Fort Weischedel, Turner Free Library, Randolph, MA

 

"One of those "must have" books for children's nonfiction collections, this will be useful as well as beautiful for years to come."-Carolyn Phelan

 

AWARDS

1992 ALA Notable Book

 

CONNECTIONS

Seymour Simon is the author of over one hundred children's books about Science. His award-winning books include STORMS, VOLCANOES, EARTHQUAKES, ICEBERGS AND GLACIERS.  He also has written books with more detailed information on the individual planets to get a more in-depth overview.