In the historical fiction and Newbery Honor book, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Charlotte makes the journey to America on a merchant sailing ship with no other passengers. As she soon discovers, there is tension between the captain and the crew. She gets involved in the ensuing drama, and her life is changed forever.
True Confessions explores how significant life events can alter the course of your life. When Charlotte boards the ship, she narrates "What could I do? All my life I had been trained to obey, educated to accept. I could hardly change in a moment" (p.17). Over the course of the two month journey, Charlotte does change. The events that transpire-- mutiny, deceit, murder, and chaos change her so that she is no longer "trained to obey, educated to accept."
While True Confessions takes place in the 19th century and chronicles the journey of a 12 year old girl, the book deals with stereotypes and prejudice in ways that modern children could understand and might understand more clearly because of the historical time period. As evidenced in the quotation above, Charlotte starts out as the stereotypical genteel young lady of the 19th century. She has no voice of her own, attempts to do what would please her father, and feels she must stay "above" the crew. Because of the situation where she finds herself, Charlotte fights against gender stereotyping. She learns to have her own voice, think for herself, and befriend individuals because of who they are, not their station in life. She also becomes friends with the only non-white, an African, on the ship. He meets with prejudice from other crew mates, and racism in the 19th century North is briefly mentioned. Charlotte comes to see that he is a true friend and that they have much in common.
To help the modern reader, Avi provides an appendix with definitions and diagrams to explain sailing terminology and parts of the ship. Descriptions of sailing and details like how time was kept added to the historical context of the book. The appendix was a necessary aid to help the reader understand the descriptions. I have not been drawn to historical fiction, but I will try to read more now that I've enjoyed The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Van Gogh Cafe by Cynthia Rylant
I enjoy reading fantasy, but I think science fiction is more my cup of tea. I had a lot of trouble believing what I was reading in Van Gogh Cafe. In science fiction, I can be drawn into an alternative reality and can be convinced of almost anything. But, with Van Gogh Cafe I read each chapter and tried to figure out an explanation for each magical event. With each chapter, the magic was harder and harder to explain away. But, I just couldn't believe it.
In The Van Gogh Cafe, a man and his daughter run a cafe where magic is known to happen. While there are many incidental characters in the story, the daughter is the one who senses the magic and waits to see how each magical event will turn out.
I did try to consider how each magical event helped the people in Flowers. I especially liked how the possom helped everyone to get along. I had a sense that while each magical event, like with the possom, was meant to help one character in particular, many people benefited from the magic. The possom helped the man go make an animal shelter, the poetry helped the boy find his cat.
I would have liked to know more about the characters that were affected-- the boy or the man or the star. However, the flat characters and short vignettes fit with the setting. In a cafe near a major highway, I'm sure the owners know many locals but don't really know much about them. In addition, the owners probably meet many new faces and do little more than serve them food and see them on their way. Even Clara, the girl, had little characterization. I have no idea what she looks like, what she likes to do (other than work at the cafe), who her friends are, or what kind of a person she is. I missed getting to know the characters in the book.
This is not a book I enjoyed or would recommend to others.
In The Van Gogh Cafe, a man and his daughter run a cafe where magic is known to happen. While there are many incidental characters in the story, the daughter is the one who senses the magic and waits to see how each magical event will turn out.
I did try to consider how each magical event helped the people in Flowers. I especially liked how the possom helped everyone to get along. I had a sense that while each magical event, like with the possom, was meant to help one character in particular, many people benefited from the magic. The possom helped the man go make an animal shelter, the poetry helped the boy find his cat.
I would have liked to know more about the characters that were affected-- the boy or the man or the star. However, the flat characters and short vignettes fit with the setting. In a cafe near a major highway, I'm sure the owners know many locals but don't really know much about them. In addition, the owners probably meet many new faces and do little more than serve them food and see them on their way. Even Clara, the girl, had little characterization. I have no idea what she looks like, what she likes to do (other than work at the cafe), who her friends are, or what kind of a person she is. I missed getting to know the characters in the book.
This is not a book I enjoyed or would recommend to others.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Can you imagine a world without color or emotions? I can't. But, that is the world imagined by Lowry in The Giver. From early on in my reading of this book, I was reminded of 1984. As Lowry described the speakers giving announcements or the regimented daily schedules I thought of the other science fiction book I love.
In The Giver, people live in a world where they do not know emotions, choice, or color. There is no such thing as happiness, remorse, anger, love, courage or fear. People are not even affected by killing another through "release." As I was reading the book, I constantly thought, "why?" "why bother even living?" I think that is what Lowry was attempting to elucidate for all of us. Yes-- there is pain, heart-ache, fear, and unhappiness. But, negative feelings are balanced by joy, love, exhilaration, and courage. I was proud of Jonas as he realized that he could not allow the community to continue without emotion. In part, I think his feelings were selfish, he didn't want to live such a solitary life. However, more than that, I think he wanted to share the wonderful (and sometimes painful) emotions with the people he loved. With the capacity to love, he wanted to share it. In the end, he showed himself to be selfless. He lost his family, his home, his safety, his physical well-being so that others could feel and might make choices.
Lowry's descriptions of the Giver as a pained, tormented, old looking man made me think about how lucky we all are. All the things we experience would totally weigh us down psychologically if we couldn't share them with others. The Giver experienced some relief as he transferred memories to Jonas and could share not only the bad but the good.
At the beginning of the book, I thought that much of the story was just about giving us information so we could picture the community so different from our own lives. However, I was happily surprised when I realized how Lowry had tied together her descriptions with important events that moved the story along. For instance, learning about Father's job as Nurturer introduced us to Gabriel, an important character at the end of the book. Learning about the public admonishments informed us that Jonas could see more than others, what we later discover is his ability to see "beyond", to see color.
It made so much sense at the end to discover that Rosemary was The Giver's daughter. Of course the prospect of causing her pain and unhappiness was difficult for him. Only he, in the whole community, actually had the capacity to love and he was forced to transform his child. However, it is still somewhat unclear to me why Rosemary asked for release. Why couldn't she bear it? Did she come to love her father and couldn't bear to see him in pain? Did she lack the bravery to bear the burden? But, I suppose The Giver wondered as well.
In The Giver, people live in a world where they do not know emotions, choice, or color. There is no such thing as happiness, remorse, anger, love, courage or fear. People are not even affected by killing another through "release." As I was reading the book, I constantly thought, "why?" "why bother even living?" I think that is what Lowry was attempting to elucidate for all of us. Yes-- there is pain, heart-ache, fear, and unhappiness. But, negative feelings are balanced by joy, love, exhilaration, and courage. I was proud of Jonas as he realized that he could not allow the community to continue without emotion. In part, I think his feelings were selfish, he didn't want to live such a solitary life. However, more than that, I think he wanted to share the wonderful (and sometimes painful) emotions with the people he loved. With the capacity to love, he wanted to share it. In the end, he showed himself to be selfless. He lost his family, his home, his safety, his physical well-being so that others could feel and might make choices.
Lowry's descriptions of the Giver as a pained, tormented, old looking man made me think about how lucky we all are. All the things we experience would totally weigh us down psychologically if we couldn't share them with others. The Giver experienced some relief as he transferred memories to Jonas and could share not only the bad but the good.
At the beginning of the book, I thought that much of the story was just about giving us information so we could picture the community so different from our own lives. However, I was happily surprised when I realized how Lowry had tied together her descriptions with important events that moved the story along. For instance, learning about Father's job as Nurturer introduced us to Gabriel, an important character at the end of the book. Learning about the public admonishments informed us that Jonas could see more than others, what we later discover is his ability to see "beyond", to see color.
It made so much sense at the end to discover that Rosemary was The Giver's daughter. Of course the prospect of causing her pain and unhappiness was difficult for him. Only he, in the whole community, actually had the capacity to love and he was forced to transform his child. However, it is still somewhat unclear to me why Rosemary asked for release. Why couldn't she bear it? Did she come to love her father and couldn't bear to see him in pain? Did she lack the bravery to bear the burden? But, I suppose The Giver wondered as well.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
The Egyptian Cinderella by Shirley Climo illustrated by Ruth Heller
The Egyptian Cinderella tells the story of a Greek girl kidnapped and sold into slavery in Egypt. The other servants resented her because she was different, but her master loved how beautifully she danced. As a result, he gave her gold slippers. When the other girls went to see the Pharoah, Rhodopis was left behind. A falcon came along and stole one of her gold slippers. The falcon took the slipper to the Pharoah and he came looking for its owner. In time, he found Rhodopis. He married her and found her Greek features beautiful.
According to the author's note, the story of Rhodopis was first recorded in first century B.C. And, a greek slaved named Rhodopis did marry a Pharoah.
Unlike other Cinderella versions I have read, Rhodopis is not particularly kind. In all the other versions, the author states that she is very kind and good. However, that is not the case in The Egyptian Cinderella. Rhodopis is described as loving animals and dancing beautifully.
A falcon is the "magical" creature that leads the Pharoah to Rhodopis. (A falcon is the animal that the sky god, Horus, would come to earth as, according to the author's note.) So, while there is no fairy godmother changing the way Rhodopis (Cinderella) looks, an other-worldly character does allow the Pharoah and Rhodopis to meet.
The illustrations of the book remind me of artwork I have seen from Egypt. The characters are depicted in profile and the body positions are reminiscent of Egyptian artwork. Bodies are angular, hair hangs down and eyes are decorated. Even the falcon is similar to Egyptian artwork. While I think the pictures could have been culturally insensitive, each individual has different facial features. I did not get the impression that all of the women looked the same. The illustrations drew me into the story and reminded me that I was reading a different, earlier! version of a story I know well.
According to the author's note, the story of Rhodopis was first recorded in first century B.C. And, a greek slaved named Rhodopis did marry a Pharoah.
Unlike other Cinderella versions I have read, Rhodopis is not particularly kind. In all the other versions, the author states that she is very kind and good. However, that is not the case in The Egyptian Cinderella. Rhodopis is described as loving animals and dancing beautifully.
A falcon is the "magical" creature that leads the Pharoah to Rhodopis. (A falcon is the animal that the sky god, Horus, would come to earth as, according to the author's note.) So, while there is no fairy godmother changing the way Rhodopis (Cinderella) looks, an other-worldly character does allow the Pharoah and Rhodopis to meet.
The illustrations of the book remind me of artwork I have seen from Egypt. The characters are depicted in profile and the body positions are reminiscent of Egyptian artwork. Bodies are angular, hair hangs down and eyes are decorated. Even the falcon is similar to Egyptian artwork. While I think the pictures could have been culturally insensitive, each individual has different facial features. I did not get the impression that all of the women looked the same. The illustrations drew me into the story and reminded me that I was reading a different, earlier! version of a story I know well.
Smoky Mountain Rose: An Appalachian Cinderella by Alan Schroeder pictures by Brad Sneed
In this version of Cinderella, the tale takes place in the Appalachia mountains. The culture, language, and environment are clear through the words and illustrations of the picturebook.
There were some changes, but the story very much follows the Perrault version of Cinderella. One notable change was that of the father. He was a very minor character in Perrault's version, however he has a more prominent role in this story. The father asks Rose (Cinderella) if he should try to remarry and then feels remorse over how Rose is treated by the step-mother and sisters. I was glad that someone in the story loved Rose-- she wasn't completely forgotten by her father when he remarried.
The language used is very amusing. I felt like I could hear the narrator. Words are spelled as they are to be pronounced and colorful figurative language is used throughout. For example,
"Now lis'en" (the very first line of the book)
"Way I see it, we'd all fit together neater'n a jigsaw" (The father had high hopes for his new marriage.)
"why, they were so mean they'd steal flies from a blind spider" (describing the step sisters)
"they started a-howlin': 'Lawd-a-marcy! Who'd want to dance with a dirt clod lak you?'" (I love how he spelled like)
My favorite part though, is the fairy godmother. It's a pig who can talk and do magic. She has no magic wand but grunts and carries on when doing magic.
The illustrations in Smoky Mountain Rose are beautiful. They are watercolors with vivid colors. Most of the illustrations are full-bleed on one page with text on the other. The use of full-bleed illustrations is different than other fairy tales. Usually, like in the Perrault version, illustrations are framed, giving the reader a sense of distance. But, that is not the case in Smoky Mountain Rose. The reader is drawn into the illustrations and I think it makes Rose a more "real" character. Rose is depicted in various places on the page. When the attention is on her, she is centered however her back is in view when she is being mistreated. It is not until you see her at the ball that she is centered and faces the reader. Throughout the ball scene, she is obviously the center of attention in the text and the illustrations.
There were some changes, but the story very much follows the Perrault version of Cinderella. One notable change was that of the father. He was a very minor character in Perrault's version, however he has a more prominent role in this story. The father asks Rose (Cinderella) if he should try to remarry and then feels remorse over how Rose is treated by the step-mother and sisters. I was glad that someone in the story loved Rose-- she wasn't completely forgotten by her father when he remarried.
The language used is very amusing. I felt like I could hear the narrator. Words are spelled as they are to be pronounced and colorful figurative language is used throughout. For example,
"Now lis'en" (the very first line of the book)
"Way I see it, we'd all fit together neater'n a jigsaw" (The father had high hopes for his new marriage.)
"why, they were so mean they'd steal flies from a blind spider" (describing the step sisters)
"they started a-howlin': 'Lawd-a-marcy! Who'd want to dance with a dirt clod lak you?'" (I love how he spelled like)
My favorite part though, is the fairy godmother. It's a pig who can talk and do magic. She has no magic wand but grunts and carries on when doing magic.
The illustrations in Smoky Mountain Rose are beautiful. They are watercolors with vivid colors. Most of the illustrations are full-bleed on one page with text on the other. The use of full-bleed illustrations is different than other fairy tales. Usually, like in the Perrault version, illustrations are framed, giving the reader a sense of distance. But, that is not the case in Smoky Mountain Rose. The reader is drawn into the illustrations and I think it makes Rose a more "real" character. Rose is depicted in various places on the page. When the attention is on her, she is centered however her back is in view when she is being mistreated. It is not until you see her at the ball that she is centered and faces the reader. Throughout the ball scene, she is obviously the center of attention in the text and the illustrations.
Cinderella by Charles Perrault retold by Amy Ehrlich illustrated by Susan Jeffers
Like many Americans, my knowledge of Cinderella comes from the Disney version I watched as a girl. So, I thought I should actually read the French version it was based on!
In Perrault's version of Cinderella, Cinderella is the stepdaughter who is forced to work unmercifully by her stepmother and sisters. When there is a ball, her fairy godmother makes her a coach, horses, a coachman, and a beautiful dress. She goes to the ball and enchants everyone-- even her stepsisters-- with her beauty and kindness. On the second night, she leaves behind her glass slipper. She tries it on later when the prince is looking for her. Her sisters ask for her forgiveness, she marries the prince, and all live happily ever after.
I can't help but compare this version to the Disney version. I cringed as I had the thoughts while reading, but it couldn't be helped. There are no mice that befriend Cinderella in the Perrault version. In the movie, there is only one ball that Cinderella attends and she is not as forgiving or kind to her sisters.
In Perrault's version, Cinderella's goodness and kindness are highlighted throughout. She is kind to her sisters at the ball and easily forgives them when they repent after realizing she is the princess from the ball. The moral seems to be that one should be forgiving no matter what others have done to you. I wanted to say, "They don't deserve your forgiveness! Don't be so nice to them! They are only repenting because they are selfish." I guess I'm too old for the fairy tale ending. And, I am none too sure I really want that to be the ending. Couldn't she have forgiven them but not welcomed them into her court and helped them marry well?
The illustrations in the book were beautiful. They were ink line drawings. The illustrations depicted Cinderella's emotions well. On the dedication page, you see Cinderella sitting by a gate looking forlorn, lonely, and sad. There is red bird that shows up in each illustration where Cinderella is being mistreated. It is as if the bird is her companion and friend. However, when she is at the ball or with her Fairy Godmother, the bird is not in the illustration. I probably wouldn't have even noticed him, but he is illustrated in the front matter and is also perched on Cinderella's shoulder on the cover. The illustrations added depth to Cinderella's character.
In Perrault's version of Cinderella, Cinderella is the stepdaughter who is forced to work unmercifully by her stepmother and sisters. When there is a ball, her fairy godmother makes her a coach, horses, a coachman, and a beautiful dress. She goes to the ball and enchants everyone-- even her stepsisters-- with her beauty and kindness. On the second night, she leaves behind her glass slipper. She tries it on later when the prince is looking for her. Her sisters ask for her forgiveness, she marries the prince, and all live happily ever after.
I can't help but compare this version to the Disney version. I cringed as I had the thoughts while reading, but it couldn't be helped. There are no mice that befriend Cinderella in the Perrault version. In the movie, there is only one ball that Cinderella attends and she is not as forgiving or kind to her sisters.
In Perrault's version, Cinderella's goodness and kindness are highlighted throughout. She is kind to her sisters at the ball and easily forgives them when they repent after realizing she is the princess from the ball. The moral seems to be that one should be forgiving no matter what others have done to you. I wanted to say, "They don't deserve your forgiveness! Don't be so nice to them! They are only repenting because they are selfish." I guess I'm too old for the fairy tale ending. And, I am none too sure I really want that to be the ending. Couldn't she have forgiven them but not welcomed them into her court and helped them marry well?
The illustrations in the book were beautiful. They were ink line drawings. The illustrations depicted Cinderella's emotions well. On the dedication page, you see Cinderella sitting by a gate looking forlorn, lonely, and sad. There is red bird that shows up in each illustration where Cinderella is being mistreated. It is as if the bird is her companion and friend. However, when she is at the ball or with her Fairy Godmother, the bird is not in the illustration. I probably wouldn't have even noticed him, but he is illustrated in the front matter and is also perched on Cinderella's shoulder on the cover. The illustrations added depth to Cinderella's character.
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit
I have heard many good things about this book, so just had to read it as one of my fantasy entries. Unfortunately, I wasn't that impressed. It was ok, but not anything I would rave about.
Tuck Everlasting is the story of a young girl who happens upon the Tucks in the wood. The Tucks unknowingly drank from a spring giving eternal life. They kidnap her and tell her about their fate. She comes to love them and must help them when events start spiralling out of control.
The first few chapters were difficult to get through. There is extensive description of the wood-- I was a bit bored. As I read on, I began to feel empathetic toward the characters. Through the dialogue between Winnie (the young girl) and each Tuck it became clear that they were unhappy, felt that they belonged nowhere, and had little hope.
The most interesting part of the book was that each 100+ year old Tuck was more child-like than Winnie in many ways. They seemed innocent and needy. Throughout her night with them, each one came to see her while she tried to sleep. Each family member asked her for assurance that she was ok despite the fact that she was trying to sleep. That reminded me of a child going to their parents bed and asking, "Are you awake? Are you awake?" until the parent wakes up. The family members were looking to Winnie for direction and validation-- she even viewed them as helpless.
Babbit explored what life would be like without death. To elucidate her thoughts, she used dialogue between Winnie and the Tucks. From the beginning, I knew that Babbit thought eternal life would be terrible. The Tucks took Winnie so that they could convince her not to drink from the spring. Each member of the family had a slightly different perspective about their plight. The father thought, "It's something you don't find out how you feel until afterwards." (p.119) The mother was saddened because they had to move so often and had no friends. The youngest Tuck was the only one who seemed to enjoy the life. He even tried to convince Winnie to drink from the spring when she turned 17. She was wise enough to understand that she didn't really want eternal life.
Tuck Everlasting is the story of a young girl who happens upon the Tucks in the wood. The Tucks unknowingly drank from a spring giving eternal life. They kidnap her and tell her about their fate. She comes to love them and must help them when events start spiralling out of control.
The first few chapters were difficult to get through. There is extensive description of the wood-- I was a bit bored. As I read on, I began to feel empathetic toward the characters. Through the dialogue between Winnie (the young girl) and each Tuck it became clear that they were unhappy, felt that they belonged nowhere, and had little hope.
The most interesting part of the book was that each 100+ year old Tuck was more child-like than Winnie in many ways. They seemed innocent and needy. Throughout her night with them, each one came to see her while she tried to sleep. Each family member asked her for assurance that she was ok despite the fact that she was trying to sleep. That reminded me of a child going to their parents bed and asking, "Are you awake? Are you awake?" until the parent wakes up. The family members were looking to Winnie for direction and validation-- she even viewed them as helpless.
Babbit explored what life would be like without death. To elucidate her thoughts, she used dialogue between Winnie and the Tucks. From the beginning, I knew that Babbit thought eternal life would be terrible. The Tucks took Winnie so that they could convince her not to drink from the spring. Each member of the family had a slightly different perspective about their plight. The father thought, "It's something you don't find out how you feel until afterwards." (p.119) The mother was saddened because they had to move so often and had no friends. The youngest Tuck was the only one who seemed to enjoy the life. He even tried to convince Winnie to drink from the spring when she turned 17. She was wise enough to understand that she didn't really want eternal life.
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