The Invention of Hugo Cabret. 978-0-439-81378-5. Brian Selznick (Author & Illustrator). 2007. Caldecott Award. Age 13-15. White working class.
Synopsis:
Hugo is a young boy who has lost his father in a fire and is now forced to live with his uncle in the train station. Hugo becomes his apprentice and learns how to take care of all the clocks in the train station. One day Hugo's uncle disappears and Hugo takes on the responsibility of the clocks so he does not have to get taken away. To stay alive, he resorts to stealing food and is also stealing pieces for the automaton from the toy store. He gets caught by the owner and Hugo ends up working for him to make up for the stealing he has done. Hugo continues to work for the owner of the toy store because the owner has taken his precious notebook that his father had given him.
Through the story, Hugo gets to know the owner of the store, Georges Meilies and Isabelle, his goddaughter. Hugo and Isabelle find out that Georges Meilies was a movie maker and a magician. They work together to help Papa Georges remember and in the end Papa Georges is recognized for his work. Hugo then worked to make his own automaton and to become a magician.
This would be a great book to use to have students think about what they are good at and what they would like to do with their lives after school or even during school. I think it also helps students to see the importance of talking and can help the students open up if the time calls for it. It would be great in history too. There could be many things you could do to learn about the old movies and discuss how things change over time.
Critique:
The characterization was real and believable to me. I thought they acted like the children would back then and were the trouble makers young people can be. The plot was also one in which the problem was clear and you were led along as you read. It was difficult to put the book down because you wanted to know what would happen to Hugo and what the automaton had to write and it's significance. The author showed the story to you as well. Some pages were only drawings and then the written story picked up where the drawings left off. It was a wonderful way to read a story. It was not distracting at all to have the pictures in the middle of some points because it was refreshing to use pictures instead of words.
I think the author was trying to tell the readers that it is better to talk than to keep it all secret and locked up inside. It can do some damage to you as a person and can also get you into trouble with others and authorities. Once the characters, Hugo and Papa Georges began to talk things began to fall in line.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Big Mouth & Ugly Girl. 0066237564. Joyce Carol Oats. 2002. Age 15-17. Caucasian Upper Class.
Ursula is nicknamed Ugly Girl and Matt's nickname is Big Mouth. These two have gone to school together for many years, but have never really been friends. One day, Matt was accused of threatening to bomb the school and massacre as many people as he can. Matt finds himself in a lot of trouble with the police and school. Luckily, Ursula heard Matt at lunch and told the principal there was a misunderstanding.
Bullying is prevelant in schools and this book should be used to show how things should be dealt with. Ursula shows what a good young citizen looks like and at age 15-17, they need to see that. This book would lead good discussions about right and wrong and how to treat others.
Everything gets cleared up and Matt is able to go back to school, but that doesn't stop the taunts of the students. Matt's life is turned upside down academically and feels forced out of his position as Vice President of his class and also leaves the school paper. Matt's parents decide to sue the school and while this is going on Ursula and Matt become close friends. Through the lawsuit, Ursula helps Matt make it through the trying times and the lawsuit is eventually dropped. Matt finally gets his life back on track and has his column published in the New York Times.
Unfortunately, this story is all too true. Children can be very cruel and do some things that ruin other's lives. The author really shows how a lie can make things go upside-down for a whole family and how rumors can spread like wild fire. The problem is very clear from the beginning, Matt is being accused of threatening to bomb the school. Throughout the book, there are many events that leads the reader through the book. The author gives the reader some information at critical moments, but doesn't give it all away so the reader is compelled to read on. The themes are clear, lying is wrong and standing up for what you believe in can be powerful. Matt was wrongfully accused and the consequences of this are shown and Ursula stood up for Matt because she believed he was innocent. She made a huge difference in Matt's ordeal.
Ursula is nicknamed Ugly Girl and Matt's nickname is Big Mouth. These two have gone to school together for many years, but have never really been friends. One day, Matt was accused of threatening to bomb the school and massacre as many people as he can. Matt finds himself in a lot of trouble with the police and school. Luckily, Ursula heard Matt at lunch and told the principal there was a misunderstanding.
Bullying is prevelant in schools and this book should be used to show how things should be dealt with. Ursula shows what a good young citizen looks like and at age 15-17, they need to see that. This book would lead good discussions about right and wrong and how to treat others.
Everything gets cleared up and Matt is able to go back to school, but that doesn't stop the taunts of the students. Matt's life is turned upside down academically and feels forced out of his position as Vice President of his class and also leaves the school paper. Matt's parents decide to sue the school and while this is going on Ursula and Matt become close friends. Through the lawsuit, Ursula helps Matt make it through the trying times and the lawsuit is eventually dropped. Matt finally gets his life back on track and has his column published in the New York Times.
Unfortunately, this story is all too true. Children can be very cruel and do some things that ruin other's lives. The author really shows how a lie can make things go upside-down for a whole family and how rumors can spread like wild fire. The problem is very clear from the beginning, Matt is being accused of threatening to bomb the school. Throughout the book, there are many events that leads the reader through the book. The author gives the reader some information at critical moments, but doesn't give it all away so the reader is compelled to read on. The themes are clear, lying is wrong and standing up for what you believe in can be powerful. Matt was wrongfully accused and the consequences of this are shown and Ursula stood up for Matt because she believed he was innocent. She made a huge difference in Matt's ordeal.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Godless. 9781416908166. Pete Hautman. 2004. National Book Award. Age 15. Working class.
Jason decides to start his own religion, the Chutengodians. They believe in The Ten-legged One, which is the water tower. As Jason and Shin organize their religion some of their friends join in and they climb up the tower. In the middle of the night Henry breaks open the lock to the water tower and they all jump in and swim. When they all come out, Henry falls and breaks a few bones. The kids have to go to the authorities to get help and in doing so turn themselves in and get in a lot of trouble for being in the water and on the water tower. In the end, Jason says he isn’t sure what he believes in and he is going to figure it out.
This book would be good to use to discuss bullies and leadership. I think this book is a good way to show students it is okay to question and figure things out on your own.
The characters are real. Henry, who is a bully in the beginning, shows he has more to him than what is on the outside. He turns out to have a lot in common with Jason and they become friends. I also think that they are real because parents do tend to push things on their children and many times the children need to figure things out for themselves. I think it shows a very real topic that comes up in families. The problem was not very clear in the beginning. I wasn’t sure what was important, Henry punching Jason in the face or Catholicism. I eventually watched as Jason became a leader and had paved a path for him and his friends that was one that led them down a bad path.
The author is showing the reader how important it is for the leader to lead in a positive direction. There are many consequences that can come from going down the wrong path and you will bring down the people who follow. I also think a message in there was bullies aren’t always bad people on the outside. Sometimes you have to reach out and you may be surprised at what you find.
Jason decides to start his own religion, the Chutengodians. They believe in The Ten-legged One, which is the water tower. As Jason and Shin organize their religion some of their friends join in and they climb up the tower. In the middle of the night Henry breaks open the lock to the water tower and they all jump in and swim. When they all come out, Henry falls and breaks a few bones. The kids have to go to the authorities to get help and in doing so turn themselves in and get in a lot of trouble for being in the water and on the water tower. In the end, Jason says he isn’t sure what he believes in and he is going to figure it out.
This book would be good to use to discuss bullies and leadership. I think this book is a good way to show students it is okay to question and figure things out on your own.
The characters are real. Henry, who is a bully in the beginning, shows he has more to him than what is on the outside. He turns out to have a lot in common with Jason and they become friends. I also think that they are real because parents do tend to push things on their children and many times the children need to figure things out for themselves. I think it shows a very real topic that comes up in families. The problem was not very clear in the beginning. I wasn’t sure what was important, Henry punching Jason in the face or Catholicism. I eventually watched as Jason became a leader and had paved a path for him and his friends that was one that led them down a bad path.
The author is showing the reader how important it is for the leader to lead in a positive direction. There are many consequences that can come from going down the wrong path and you will bring down the people who follow. I also think a message in there was bullies aren’t always bad people on the outside. Sometimes you have to reach out and you may be surprised at what you find.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Trial
Monster. 0060280786. Walter Dean Meyers. Christopher Myers. 1999. Coretta Scott King Award & Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence. Age 14-15. African American Working Class.
Steve is facing life in prison for felony murder. He is only 16 years old and is struggling to cope with the reality of his situation. He decides to write down everything that is going on as a movie script to help him keep his composure and deal with his circumstance.
Steve is on trial for going into a drugstore and coming out with the all clear signal. The two people that went in to rob the store, killed the owner during the hold up and left. During the trial Steve is not getting a good feeling from his lawyer, Kathy O'Brien. She makes it sound as if the trial is not going well for him and Steve doesn't believe O'Brien thinks he is innocent.
Steve finally makes it to the end of the trial and is found not guilty. He goes back home and begins to make videos of himself to help find himself. He knows his family doesn't seem to know him anymore and his lawyer made him wonder how she saw him.
In the classroom, this book is good for learning about right and wrong and truth and lying. Throughout Steve's story, he spoke of right and wrong and truth and lying. He questioned himself if he knew what the difference was anymore and towards the end he said he does know. Steve also said he would tell Jerry, his younger brother, to think of his tomorrow. I would take this and use it in writing. I would have the students think about what they would tell their younger sibling and write a letter. I would want them to actually make it to a younger sibling, so if they didn't have one I would ask them to think of someone younger and write it to them. Another way to use this book is to get into discussions about how the trial system works. An activity could be to have a trial with the students.
Critique:
The characters were very real in my mind. I actually had to go look in the beginning of the book to see if it was fiction or non fiction because I felt like I was reading someone's true story. There was plenty of interaction with other characters and it was pretty intense at times. Steve seemed to be on trial for something he didn't do so I was anxious to see if he was found guilty or not guilty. Steve was very honest about his feelings and what he was thinking while he was in his cell or speaking to his lawyer or family. He made it very clear he was afraid of what was going on and he would rather have it be a true movie instead of his life. Steve's character made it okay for men to be afraid. Many times men will not show their feelings and I think this book is great for young adult males to see that it is okay to be afraid and not be the tough guy.
The story could not take place anywhere else but in prison. It gives the story a more true feeling of what is going on. He is in prison and is dealing with the scary things that go on in prison and then when he gets out, it is only to the courtroom and he is dealing with an even scarier thing; loosing his life to live behind bars. The main message I took from this story is right and wrong. Steve is facing life behind bars because of the potential of doing something wrong. He has to figure out in his mind as well what is right and wrong and decide if he knows the difference.
The format of this book is different because it is written as a movie script. When I got used to reading it in that format, I was able to follow. The only thing that really was difficult for me was the acronyms used. I couldn't remember what anything meant exept for VO (Voice Over). That was frustrating.
Steve is facing life in prison for felony murder. He is only 16 years old and is struggling to cope with the reality of his situation. He decides to write down everything that is going on as a movie script to help him keep his composure and deal with his circumstance.
Steve is on trial for going into a drugstore and coming out with the all clear signal. The two people that went in to rob the store, killed the owner during the hold up and left. During the trial Steve is not getting a good feeling from his lawyer, Kathy O'Brien. She makes it sound as if the trial is not going well for him and Steve doesn't believe O'Brien thinks he is innocent.
Steve finally makes it to the end of the trial and is found not guilty. He goes back home and begins to make videos of himself to help find himself. He knows his family doesn't seem to know him anymore and his lawyer made him wonder how she saw him.
In the classroom, this book is good for learning about right and wrong and truth and lying. Throughout Steve's story, he spoke of right and wrong and truth and lying. He questioned himself if he knew what the difference was anymore and towards the end he said he does know. Steve also said he would tell Jerry, his younger brother, to think of his tomorrow. I would take this and use it in writing. I would have the students think about what they would tell their younger sibling and write a letter. I would want them to actually make it to a younger sibling, so if they didn't have one I would ask them to think of someone younger and write it to them. Another way to use this book is to get into discussions about how the trial system works. An activity could be to have a trial with the students.
Critique:
The characters were very real in my mind. I actually had to go look in the beginning of the book to see if it was fiction or non fiction because I felt like I was reading someone's true story. There was plenty of interaction with other characters and it was pretty intense at times. Steve seemed to be on trial for something he didn't do so I was anxious to see if he was found guilty or not guilty. Steve was very honest about his feelings and what he was thinking while he was in his cell or speaking to his lawyer or family. He made it very clear he was afraid of what was going on and he would rather have it be a true movie instead of his life. Steve's character made it okay for men to be afraid. Many times men will not show their feelings and I think this book is great for young adult males to see that it is okay to be afraid and not be the tough guy.
The story could not take place anywhere else but in prison. It gives the story a more true feeling of what is going on. He is in prison and is dealing with the scary things that go on in prison and then when he gets out, it is only to the courtroom and he is dealing with an even scarier thing; loosing his life to live behind bars. The main message I took from this story is right and wrong. Steve is facing life behind bars because of the potential of doing something wrong. He has to figure out in his mind as well what is right and wrong and decide if he knows the difference.
The format of this book is different because it is written as a movie script. When I got used to reading it in that format, I was able to follow. The only thing that really was difficult for me was the acronyms used. I couldn't remember what anything meant exept for VO (Voice Over). That was frustrating.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Did he join or didn't he?
Scorpions. 0-06-440623-7. Walter Dean Meyers. 1990. Newberry Honors. Ages 12-13. African American Working Class.
Jamal is faced with a decision that could change his life. His family has been in the courtroom finding out Randy's future, prison time. They want to help him make an appeal but they have to come up with the money to pay the bill. Mack tells Jamal that Randy wants Jamal to take over the Scorpions and if Jamal does he can get the money to pay for Randy's lawyer fees for the appeal.
Jamal gets involved with the Scorpions, is given a gun and becomes the leader to many of the members disaproval. Indian and Angel make it very clear they do not like this and Indian wants to be the leader. It doesn't take long before Jamal does not want to be apart of the Scorpions gang and decides to tell Indian he can take over the leader possition. At 11:30pm, Jamal and Tito go to meet Indian and Angel at the park. Tito stayed out of sight with the gun and Jamal went into the park on his own. Indian and Angel began beating Jamal and took out a knife. When Tito saw this, he used the gun and left the park with Jamal.
In the end, Mack took over leadership and Jamal got out of the scorpions.
Scorpions would be a good book to use for social studies. There are many lessons that can be learned and it can be used to work through the decision making process. If you read it to the class as a whole, the class can work through what should be going through your mind when you are making decisions such as what the consequences are of your decision.
Critique:
The characters were very real. They spokek the way you would think people would who are under-educated and living in a rough part of town. It was real as far as the gang being part of their lives too because many times in poor areas there are gangs that have a strong hold in the area.
The problem of money is something everyone faces and can always be solved in many ways. Throughout the book, there were many options mentioned for getting the money. Some of these ways are: Jamal's daddy said he would earn some money for it, Jamal's mama said she was working to earn the money, Jamal got a job to help, Jamal could join the Scorpions, or Jamal and Tito could work.
One theme is to tell the truth. Tito killed one boy and really hurt another. He was so guilt ridden it was ruininig his life so he told the police and Abuela. This helped him to heal and move on with his life. Another theme is to do what is right for you. Throughout the book Jamal listened to what other people told him he should do. He listened and got himself in trouble. If he would have listened to what he thought he would not have gotten into so much trouble and would have been able to keep his job.
The language is rough and it can be a little distracting because the reader can get hung up on the words not being as you expect.
Jamal is faced with a decision that could change his life. His family has been in the courtroom finding out Randy's future, prison time. They want to help him make an appeal but they have to come up with the money to pay the bill. Mack tells Jamal that Randy wants Jamal to take over the Scorpions and if Jamal does he can get the money to pay for Randy's lawyer fees for the appeal.
Jamal gets involved with the Scorpions, is given a gun and becomes the leader to many of the members disaproval. Indian and Angel make it very clear they do not like this and Indian wants to be the leader. It doesn't take long before Jamal does not want to be apart of the Scorpions gang and decides to tell Indian he can take over the leader possition. At 11:30pm, Jamal and Tito go to meet Indian and Angel at the park. Tito stayed out of sight with the gun and Jamal went into the park on his own. Indian and Angel began beating Jamal and took out a knife. When Tito saw this, he used the gun and left the park with Jamal.
In the end, Mack took over leadership and Jamal got out of the scorpions.
Scorpions would be a good book to use for social studies. There are many lessons that can be learned and it can be used to work through the decision making process. If you read it to the class as a whole, the class can work through what should be going through your mind when you are making decisions such as what the consequences are of your decision.
Critique:
The characters were very real. They spokek the way you would think people would who are under-educated and living in a rough part of town. It was real as far as the gang being part of their lives too because many times in poor areas there are gangs that have a strong hold in the area.
The problem of money is something everyone faces and can always be solved in many ways. Throughout the book, there were many options mentioned for getting the money. Some of these ways are: Jamal's daddy said he would earn some money for it, Jamal's mama said she was working to earn the money, Jamal got a job to help, Jamal could join the Scorpions, or Jamal and Tito could work.
One theme is to tell the truth. Tito killed one boy and really hurt another. He was so guilt ridden it was ruininig his life so he told the police and Abuela. This helped him to heal and move on with his life. Another theme is to do what is right for you. Throughout the book Jamal listened to what other people told him he should do. He listened and got himself in trouble. If he would have listened to what he thought he would not have gotten into so much trouble and would have been able to keep his job.
The language is rough and it can be a little distracting because the reader can get hung up on the words not being as you expect.
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