For those of us who are familiar with Lois Lowry from The Giver, this book was a kick in the pants. It is total satire that both makes fun of and pays homage to good, old-fashioned stories like Pollyana, Anne of Green Gables and James and the Giant Peach. It is full of needlessly big words like "nefarious" and "ignominious" with a glossary in the back. I think the author is poking fun at the blythe use of big, twenty-five cent words in childrens literature. There is also a short synopsis of the novels she refers to in the back of the book so we can understand what is so funny even if we haven't read the stories. In the novel, the Willoughby children decide that they should be orphans because all "worthy and winsome" children are orphans. They concoct a plan to become orphans, at the same time the parents have decided to rid themselves of their children and both diabolical plans are set in motion. The parents are villainous, the children are parodies of characters in other books, there is a benefactor, and abandoned baby and a no-nonsense but loving nanny - a la Mary Poppins. It is pretty hilarious. Without the nostalgia of the good, old-fashioned stories I am not sure younger readers would really get the joke. However, I do think it would still be entertaining in a Series of Unfortunate Events kind-of-way. I started the book thinking it was aimed at 4th-6th graders but after I read it I think it would fit more with 6th-Adult. I loved it, who knew Lois Lowry was so versatile?!?
Monday, June 22, 2009
The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry
For those of us who are familiar with Lois Lowry from The Giver, this book was a kick in the pants. It is total satire that both makes fun of and pays homage to good, old-fashioned stories like Pollyana, Anne of Green Gables and James and the Giant Peach. It is full of needlessly big words like "nefarious" and "ignominious" with a glossary in the back. I think the author is poking fun at the blythe use of big, twenty-five cent words in childrens literature. There is also a short synopsis of the novels she refers to in the back of the book so we can understand what is so funny even if we haven't read the stories. In the novel, the Willoughby children decide that they should be orphans because all "worthy and winsome" children are orphans. They concoct a plan to become orphans, at the same time the parents have decided to rid themselves of their children and both diabolical plans are set in motion. The parents are villainous, the children are parodies of characters in other books, there is a benefactor, and abandoned baby and a no-nonsense but loving nanny - a la Mary Poppins. It is pretty hilarious. Without the nostalgia of the good, old-fashioned stories I am not sure younger readers would really get the joke. However, I do think it would still be entertaining in a Series of Unfortunate Events kind-of-way. I started the book thinking it was aimed at 4th-6th graders but after I read it I think it would fit more with 6th-Adult. I loved it, who knew Lois Lowry was so versatile?!?
Behind the Bedroom Wall by Laura E. Williams
From the back cover:
"It is 1942. Korinna, a thirteen-year-old girl in Germany, is an active member of the local Jungmadel, a Nazi youth group, along with many of her friends. She believes that Hitler is helping Germany by dealing with what he calls the "Jewish problem", a campaign she witnesses as her Jewish neighbors are attacked and taken from their homes.
When Korinna discovers that her parents - who are secretly members of an underground resistance group - are sheltering a family of Jewish refugees behind her bedroom wall, she is shocked. As she comes to know the family, her sympathies begin to turn, and when someone tips off the Gestapo, Korinna's loyalties are put to the test. She must decide what she really believes and whom she really trusts."
Sometimes it is difficult to read children's literature as an adult because of what I know. In this case it was especially hard because of the other books I have read about Nazi Germany (Night by Elie Weisel or Diary of Anne Frank) and of course, what I have learned about Auschwitz and other concentration camps in history. I thought the book was well-written with just enough awful information to be shocking (in a good, teaching-sort-of-way) to an adolescent. These young people in Germany were having fun. At the youth group they baked cookies, played games and sang patriotic songs... all while being brain-washed into believing that the Jews (and the infirm, the handicapped or the elderly) were the reason that Germany was in a Depression and if these could be "taken care of" the country would be great again. They were encouraged to harass the other Jewish children and report anyone who was being un-patriotic.
I always read stories like this with a sense of awe for the people who choose to do the right thing, in this case, Korinna's parents helping the Jewish family to escape the "work camps". I wonder if I would be strong enough to risk my life and my family to do what is right. This book addresses those issues but from the standpoint of a teenage girl. It was definitely worth reading. I would be interested to know what a thirteen-year-old might think of this book. I'll have to see if Nick will read it too.
"It is 1942. Korinna, a thirteen-year-old girl in Germany, is an active member of the local Jungmadel, a Nazi youth group, along with many of her friends. She believes that Hitler is helping Germany by dealing with what he calls the "Jewish problem", a campaign she witnesses as her Jewish neighbors are attacked and taken from their homes.
When Korinna discovers that her parents - who are secretly members of an underground resistance group - are sheltering a family of Jewish refugees behind her bedroom wall, she is shocked. As she comes to know the family, her sympathies begin to turn, and when someone tips off the Gestapo, Korinna's loyalties are put to the test. She must decide what she really believes and whom she really trusts."
Sometimes it is difficult to read children's literature as an adult because of what I know. In this case it was especially hard because of the other books I have read about Nazi Germany (Night by Elie Weisel or Diary of Anne Frank) and of course, what I have learned about Auschwitz and other concentration camps in history. I thought the book was well-written with just enough awful information to be shocking (in a good, teaching-sort-of-way) to an adolescent. These young people in Germany were having fun. At the youth group they baked cookies, played games and sang patriotic songs... all while being brain-washed into believing that the Jews (and the infirm, the handicapped or the elderly) were the reason that Germany was in a Depression and if these could be "taken care of" the country would be great again. They were encouraged to harass the other Jewish children and report anyone who was being un-patriotic. I always read stories like this with a sense of awe for the people who choose to do the right thing, in this case, Korinna's parents helping the Jewish family to escape the "work camps". I wonder if I would be strong enough to risk my life and my family to do what is right. This book addresses those issues but from the standpoint of a teenage girl. It was definitely worth reading. I would be interested to know what a thirteen-year-old might think of this book. I'll have to see if Nick will read it too.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
This book is perfect for 6,7,8th grade girls. It is about an orphaned girl from Barbados who comes to a Puritan community to live with relatives. While she is there, she befriends an old Quaker woman, known as the "Witch of Blackbird Pond". When her friendship is discovered, Kit is faced with suspicion, fear and anger and is even accused of witchcraft herself. This book is historical but it has enough suspense and light romance that it would be interesting to an adolescent girl. So far the Newbery Award Winners have lived up to their award status.
Monday, June 1, 2009
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
I cannot believe I never read this book as a child! What a great story! I am definitely keeping this one in my arsenal of Read-Alouds for the Library. It is a well-written, fun, not too scary good vs. evil story with a great ending. What more could you ask for in a children's' book? This summer is going to be great!
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