Pay the Piper by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple

Pay the Piper is "A Rock 'n' Roll Fairy Tale" as explained on the front cover. It is a modern take on the Pied Piper of Hamelin that, as the authors state, attempts to answer the "why?" of the Pied Piper story. In Pay the Piper, the piper is part of a rock n roll band with a folk influence (ie the pipe). A teenage girl reporter, at the concert, overhears a key conversation and witnesses rats dancing for the piper. She begins to piece things together, but when all the children disappear on Halloween it is up to her to save the day.

The story is told from two perspectives-- that of the girl and that of the Pied Piper (named Gringas). Gringas' perspective is told through his inner monologue and memories of his past. The text is italicized to indicate this to the reader. Initially, the reader has very little information about the individual with the inner thoughts. It was an effective way to draw me into the story. I was curious to figure out who the character was. Through his inner thoughts, the reader learns the "why" of his fate as the Pied Piper. Simultaneously, the young girl is piecing the clues together herself. I enjoyed the authors' way of conveying the back story to me. Each time Gringas had a thought, I was able to put a little more of the puzzle together-- much like the heroine of the story.

While the story didn't really feel like a fairy tale, the depiction of teenage girls and family dynamics was interesting. As a backdrop to the mystery of the book, the girl deals with over-bearing parents, an annoying little brother, and she has an assortment of comical friends. She even has a teenage crush. So, while the story of the Pied Piper is unfolding, I also laughed at the modern teenage drama depicted in the book.

Since many traditional tales include weak female characters, I appreciated that the teenage girl was smarter than everyone else-- even the 800 year old Gringas. She didn't ask for any guy's help, she solved the curse dooming Gringas as the Pied Piper, and took action to save all of the kids in town. While the author's proclaim Pay the Piper as a fairy tale, I am unsure as to whether it really is. It seems more like fantasy to me. But, hopefully I'll be able to figure it all out for sure in a few weeks when we learn about fantasy. :)

I have one major beef with the authors. They quoted what they said was the earliest account in their author notes at the beginning of the book, but I found no bibliography to back it up. Additionally, there were no source notes or references included anywhere to indicate that their assertions about the story's origins and scholarly theories were based on something.

I have definitely never read another book like this one.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

In this tail (lol), each character desires something uncommon-- "light" (either literally or figuratively). Masterfully, their stories are woven together by DiCamillo and their lives intertwine as the action unfolds. One, with a pure heart, intelligence, and a voice who encourages him, is able to live his dream-- his desire comes true. Another, with a "crooked" heart and intelligence but with a voice who leads him astray, attempts to live his dream, but his plan is evil. Since his heart is crooked and he has been lead astray, his dream is thwarted. (Thank goodness!) And, yet another character, with little intelligence and no one who believes in her, can not live her dream either. In DiCamillo's traditional tale, good triumphs over evil and kindness saves them all.

As I finished The Tale of Despereaux last night, my first instinct was to pick up the next book on my list so I could get it started and finished a little sooner. But, my mind (and heart) said, "no!" I needed to think this book over and spend a little longer relishing it.

After only a few short chapters, I was hooked by DiCamillo's writing style in Despereaux. As she addressed me!--"the Reader," I couldn't wait to keep reading. I wanted to see how she was going to pull me in again. She actually compelled me to look up perfidy in the dictionary even though I had a pretty good idea what the word meant. With simple but descriptive events and dialogue, I knew the characters-- Despereaux's mother, the over-dramatic, self-absorbed, and silly mouse. Despereaux's individuality-- the mouse who was born with his eyes open.

I love how DiCamillo told each character's story individually at first. I knew that the characters' fates were intertwined but knowing each characters' back story helped to make each one a well-developed, sympathetic character. While Roscuro's plan was diabolical, I felt for him because he had his heart broken and fate had conspired to ruin his dream. He could not enjoy the light because he had unintentionally caused the queen's death. He was ruined by that broken heart and Botticelli.

Character development is one area where Despereaux differs from many traditional tales. Generally, characters are flat and stereo-typical in traditional tales. But, DiCamillo's main characters were well-developed. Despereaux loved to read, refused to conform to his society, showed bravery but also moments of weakness and terror in the face of great difficulty, and dared to follow his dream. Through the events DiCamillo described and the well-developed characters' complex actions and emotions, I was led to really consider what her message was. In the end, I think she is saying that it is best to be your own person but that you must have bravery, intelligence, encouragement, kindness, and daring for your dream to come true.

Bridge to Terabithia-- The Movie

I don't think I have ever seen a movie that stuck so closely to the book events. I was amazed that only details were changed-- the paints as a birthday instead of a Christmas present or Dad working at a hardware store not in DC. Of course there were others, but the story remained quite true to the book.

The thing I found most interesting about the movie was how I responded to Leslie's death. I usually boo-hoo to movies AND books. When reading the book, I didn't get upset about Leslie's death until Jess accepted that it had really happened. At the time, I thought that the TV in the background or other things had kept my emotions from becoming involved. However, I had the same reaction to the movie. In the woods when he talked to him father, I teared up and felt the pull at my heart strings--not before. I interpret my reactions to mean that the writer/director has incredible power over me by the way the characters respond to situations. I know that I often get pulled in when reading or watching movies, but it has never been so clear to me how much I identify with the main characters. It amazes me how powerful words can be!!

For mass marketing, I understand why the time period was updated and special effects were used to make Terabithia, but I have mixed feelings about those decisions. In terms of the time period, I think the story was less believable as present day. Children today seem over-exposed to adult situations. I had a hard time believing that these children were so innocent and child-like as fifth graders. I can't imagine a single 5th grader I know having an imaginary world. My husband even leaned over during the movie and asked, "How old are these kids supposed to be?" But, I believed it when the setting was 25 years ago. I didn't mind the fantasy world of Terabithia though. As an adult reading the book, I had difficulty becoming absorbed into their play in Terabithia. With the visuals provided by the movie, I was able to enjoy that part of the storyline more. I thought the fantasy world was used judiciously. The movie still seemed grounded in the reality of Jess' life.

Overall, I enjoyed the movie but liked the book better.

The Great Gracie Chase Stop that Dog! by Cynthia Rylant

I went to my school's library today and was in for a shock! Only about 10 Cynthia Rylant books were there. I hope that just means that she is popular with the kids and not that we only have 10 Cynthia Rylant books!

Immediately upon starting The Great Gracie Chase... I thought of my own dogs. I chuckled throughout because my dogs are much like Gracie. Like Gracie, Kylie (one of my dogs) likes nothing better than to lay around the quiet house all day. She also hates for people to come near our house. I'm sure the mailman loves putting mail in our slot each day-- she barks and barks. When Gracie started to run, I thought of my other dog, Niko. He LOVES to get out, and there is no catching him. Like the characters in this story we have to give up before we get him. There is just no use trying. Also like Gracie, he comes home in his due time. Obviously, I had close personal connections to The Great Gracie Chase.

This book by Cynthia Rylant is a light-hearted story that any dog lover can enjoy. The story is told from Gracie's perspective. She's a good dog who decided to go for a walk and then made a huge chase. Using the dog's perspective gives people who may have been on the other end of a similar situation (namely, chasing their own dog) a different point of view.

Mark Teague's illustrations also provide enjoyment for the reader because the pictures give you a great visual. Throughout the story, Gracie is the center of attention, but in the background of each full bleed illustration, you see the people attempting to chase her. They meet with accidents and are put in precarious positions because of Gracie. The illustrations bring the viewer into the action and everything seems off kilter-- the perspective of the illustrations changes constantly. Sometimes the viewer is looking from above, sometimes from below, sometimes from in front. Additionally, all the buildings and trees are crooked, like you might see them while running.

This would be an enjoyable read aloud for young or older students because who hasn't been a part of a great dog chase?

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

As a child, I read and read and read. But, my memories of reading rarely include a specific book title or author. Bridge to Terabithia is one book I do remember though. As I got ready to reread it, I couldn't remember much detail except that someone dies. Knowing that about the story really changed the way I read it. I found myself looking for foreshadows and trying to figure out which character it was going to be. Long before I found any evidence in the text, I suspected it was Leslie. Jess and Leslie so obviously had a close bond and Jess was definitely the main character. But, I loved the "ah-ha" moment when I read and recognized the foreshadowing comment by May Belle-- "'But Leslie,' she insisted. 'What if you die? What's going to happen to you if you die?'" I find that I often overlook literary elements like foreshadowing, allusion, etc so it gave me a sense of accomplishment to feel like I "got it." As I write this, I'm thinking, "wow, this is only a kid's book." But, I was proud of myself nonetheless.

Paterson's language fascinated me throughout. I have sticky notes all over my copy with examples of phrases that got my attention. In the very first pages, I was able to visualize Jess and his family. I knew immediately, in the first paragraph, that the setting was in the rural South, just from the way she phrased her sentences. For instance, "...once he began running he would be hot as popping grease." or "Momma would be mad as flies in a fruit jar..." I could go on and on. Okay, one more powerful quote. At the end when Jess is moving beyond Terabithia, he thinks, "It was up to him to pay back to the world in beauty and caring what Leslie had loaned him in vision and strength." That sentence spoke to me because I could see that Jess had learned from Leslie and their friendship had changed him for the better. He recognized in this part of the book that Leslie had been a gift and that a part of her would stay with him forever.

Throughout Terabithia, Paterson dealt with loneliness. Early on, Jess was identified as a loner who wanted to make an impression on someone-- he wanted to be the fastest runner. Even after Leslie's death he thought that he would be the only kid whose best friend had died. He was looking to stand out in some way. Most of his family took him for granted and he did not feel a connection with any of them. Similarly, Leslie was lonely in her new home. Their friendship seems destined because they fulfilled such a need for one another. Jess' mother and father also seemed like lonely characters. They dealt with their loneliness differently. Jess' mother didn't want to be bothered. She retreated into herself as a result of her loneliness. She slept a lot. While Jess' father was not a well developed character, he seemed alone because he traveled far distances each day and was distant with Jess.

Of course, no response to Bridge would be complete without reflecting on Leslie's death. Early in the story, Jess drew a picture of a hippopotamus going over a cliff and then in the Smithsonian, he sees the buffalo going over the cliff. I know it must relate to Leslie's death, but I haven't figured it out completely. I think the animals going over the cliff may represent how the world Jess knows is about to fall away beneath him and he will be torn to bits (figuratively of course) by Leslie's death.

I have to admit, I'm a little nervous about seeing the movie. I'm afraid it might ruin my memory of the book.

The Mountains of Tibet by Mordicai Gerstein

As I was getting ready to read Chapter 4, I went to the library to get a copy of The Man Who Walked Between the Towers. While I was there, I picked up another book by Mordicai Gerstein-- The Mountains of Tibet. I thought it would be interesting to see how the two stories compare.

The Mountains of Tibet is about a Tibetan man who always dreamed of seeing the world. When he dies, he has the opportunity to choose another life or going to "heaven." The man chooses to have another life and eventually chooses a life very much like the life he just led.

As with the story of Petit, this story is about an individual who wants an adventure. As a boy, the man always gazes off thinking of what else is out there. However, the Tibetan man does not have the adventure he expected-- instead he has the adventure of choosing his new life. In addition, the man's choices show how comforting and safe home can feel.

While reading, I was struck by how different the illustrations are between the two books. While The Man Who Walked Between the Towers involves ever changing perspective and framing that varies from page to page, the illustrations in The Mountains of Tibet are consistently placed from page to page and the perspective remains the same throughout. I got the distinct sense of being outside of the action in The Mountains of Tibet. It is interesting to have read the quote from Gerstein that he studied Tibetan art before creating the illustrations for this book. It is apparent that they are in a different style than those in The Man Who Walked Between the Towers.

Having read Chapter 4, I appreciated more about the decisions made in the picturebook's layout. I have almost no formal knowledge of art, so I was intrigued by what I noticed while reading. Before the man's death and after he is reborn, text and illustrations are shown on the same page with consistent layout-- illustration at the top and text at the bottom. The text is also carefully balanced between the left and right pages. After the man's death, the placement of the illustrations and text change. The dead man, having to make his choices, is placed centrally on each left hand page with text above and below the illustration. He seems safe in a circle of blue and is obviously central to the story. Pictures representing his many choices are placed on the right hand page-- also encapsulated in a circle. Considering the book's subject matter, reincarnation, I think the circular illustrations help to convey the "circle of life" and continuous nature of the universe.

How much I have been missing when looking at picturebooks!