Module 15: Go Ask Alice: Written by anonymous

Book Summary: 


Go Ask Alice is a story about a girl who accidentally takes drugs, when acid is put into her drink. It changes her life. Her parents try to help her, as they move to a new house, but she ends up finding her way back to LSD, again. She is in and out of hospitals, including a mental hospital, because of it. Alice runs away with a friend and tries to make a go of it on her own, but ends up getting raped. The end does not mention  that she dies, as it is a diary. In fact, Alice seems to be getting better and better. However, Alice does die, but we are not told whether or not it is an accidental or intentional overdose.


APA Reference: 


Anonymous (2005). Go Ask Alice. New York : Simon Pulse/Simon Schuster.


My Impressions: 

Kids are naturally curious and this book gives a lot of information about what can happen to a person who takes drugs, accidentally or not. It is a book that every teenager ought to read, in my view, as it is better to experience drugs through the eyes of someone else rather than first hand. While sometimes one's sibling or cousin comes into contact with drugs and one learns about drugs this way, other times, like Alice found out, one can find out accidentally.That is a scary and dangerous ride, which does not always have a happy ending. In the case of Alice, I was sad that in the end (or, really, after the end, in the epilogue), she dies of an overdose. However, her book lives on as a testament to her life and so, does a lot of good, I think.

There is a lot of honesty in the book, in every way, including sexual and how she feels being high and having sex. For this reason, I think it is appropriate for older kids as opposed to younger ones.

As an aside, I have a close relative who had a similar experience, but recovered and has been clean for 5 years. In her case, it happened at an older age, so maybe that made a difference. Becoming addicted as a teenager is more difficult, I think, to recover from, as teens have so many other issues to deal with, aside from that.


Professional Review: 


"Alice is your typical teenaged girl. She worries that she is too fat. She wants a boyfriend: “I wish I were popular and beautiful and wealthy and talented.” She frequently makes resolutions in her diary to do better in school, work toward a calmer relationship with her mother, and lose weight. Her life changes when she goes to a party and is given acid in her drink. She loves the feeling the drug gives her: “Closed my eyes and the music began to absorb me physically. I could smell it and touch it and feel it as well as hear it.” She wants more and quickly becomes a part of the drug scene. For about a year and a halfAlice goes on and off drugs and runs away from home twice. Each time she manages to find her way back to her parents. They take her in, get her help, and all seems to be rosy until Alice is once again given acid without her knowledge. This time, she has a bad trip, ends up in the hospital, and then a mental hospital. Her parents stick by her, but her life of drug abuse ultimately ends with a fatal overdose--whether it is intentional or accidental is not known. Go Ask Alice has become a classic story of warning against the use of drugs. For the teen scene of 2006, this story will appear as slightly dated. The issues of relationships both in and out of school have not changed much in the last thirty years, but there are subtle differences in the culture that may prove distracting for a young person reading this book today. The basic story remains a chilling cautionary tale. 2005 (orig. 1971), Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster, $6.99, $5.99 and $16.95. Ages 14 to 18."

Smith-D'Arezzo, W. M. (2005). [Book review of the book Go ask Alice by Anonymous]. Children's Literature Independent Information and Reviews. Retrieved from Children's Literature Database via Ebscohost: http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2378/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~IcJ8SG:5

Library Uses:


The students, whose age would be above 14 yrs., could share as to whether they actually knew someone who had a problem with drugs and what they learned from the second-hand experience. Alternatively, students could talk about anything they have a weakness for or possible addiction to, as drugs are an addiction, like anything else, albeit more dangerous. Further, the librarian could share some websites with information regarding addiction, drug awareness and education. As a possible extension, the librarian could have a speaker from the community come and share his or her experience with drugs and how he or she recovered from it.  

Module 14: A Curious Collection of Cats: Writen by Betsy Franco; Illustrated by Michael Wertz

Book Summary: 


This little book has a series of poems in it, of various formats, discussing the traits and behavior of cats in various situations and one including a dog and cat who are friends, "Q-tip" and "Rosie." Quite a few rhyme. The style of illustration appears to be paper cut outs, but are graphically done. They will appeal to the younger reader.


APA Reference: 


Franco, B. (2009). A Curious Collection of Cats. Berkeley: Tricycle Press.


My Impressions: 


I found the book to be visually fun and charming, even though the poems are trite and unoriginal, and mostly rhyming, such as one  titled, "Balancing Act," where the poem is, "Kabob's an agile athlete. His balance is sublime. Even falling upside down, He lands upright each time." The illustrations are fun, colorful and contrast well. I think they are the highlight of the book.


Professional Review: 


"We’ve had a fair amount of dog poetry in the last few years, so it’s only fair that cats get their turn too. Franco offers thirty-two verses devoted to the feline kind, each one featuring a specific, often named, cat or two, and describing a particular attribute or behavior. Verse forms are varied, including haikus and ballad-meter stanzas (and a limerick to boot). Though they’re classified as concrete poems, many of them are simply creatively laid out rather than genuine examples of the genre, and the poems rarely rise above the serviceable from a technical, writerly standpoint. Nonetheless, there’s charm in their individual engagement with their subject cats, and readers will enjoy recognizing their own cats’ characters in the verses. Some of the illustrations are rather overbusy, and the graphic impact tends to overpower the text and make it difficult to read; the digitally worked monoprints have the strong-figured vigor of woodcuts, though, with their emphasis on outline and element balance rather than texture. This could entice readers who fell in love with Janeczko’s A Poke in the I (BCCB 6/01) or Sidman’s Meow Ruff ?(BCCB 5/06) and, of course, cat lovers, who may find it inspiration for creating feline verses of their own Review Code: Ad -- Additional book of acceptable quality for collections needing more material in the area. (c) Copyright 2006, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2009, Tricycle, 40p., $16.99. Grades 4-7."

Stevenson, D. (2009). [Book review of the book A Curious Collection of Cats by Betsy Franco].The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, 62(11). Retrieved from Children's Literature Database via Ebscohost:  http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2378/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~Pe3iT5:5

Library Uses:

Students could write their own cat poem with a paper cut out designing it to share with the group. 

Module 13: Tales from Outer Suburbia: Written and illustrated by Shaun Tan

Book Summary: 


Tales from Outer Suburbia is a book that is full of stories that are a bit odd, at first glance, but really lovely.  It starts out with the story of a buffalo who lives in a vacant lot, and goes through a lot of well-told and imaginative, albeit slightly dystopian stories about what Earth is like after we are through using it up.


APA Reference: 


Tan, S. (2009). Tales from Outer Suburbia. New York : Arthur A Levine Books.


My Impressions: 


This is one of the best and most imaginative books I have ever read. Tan's story of "Eric," the foreign exchange student, who lives inside the kitchen cupboard, was a real delight. The illustration of his living space, left as a present for the family, was so beautiful! Another of the stories that struck me was "No other country," where the family finds a fantasy world leading from their attic, a bit like the mysterious wardrobe in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In "Stick People," there are ubiquitous upside down trees that are harassed by the kids. In another story, "Our Expedition," the kids from suburbia go to find a place missing on their dad's map and find the end of the world. There is also a companion you can make from recycled appliances, that is planted and watered. The book gives a perspective about the Earth and our treatment of it. We can definitely learn from this thought-provoking artist and writer.


Professional Review: 


"Far from the simple life, Tan's suburbia is full of exotic characters and strange situations. Made up of fifteen short stories, Tales from Outer Suburbia explores various issues related to the rise of the suburbs. Several stories deal with the consequences of consumerism. There is even a how-to guide on creating a lovable pet from discarded electronics. Another tale describes two children who travel across town searching for the end of the concrete sprawl. At last they come to the end of the road and find nothing exists beyond the sheer drop-off. Other memorable stories range from cold war fall-out, a neighborhood full of idle "backyard missiles" which have found diverse practical uses over the years, to tracing the fate of discarded poems. Throughout Tan's masterful blend of visual and written art, the reader is taken on a nostalgic journey. Every inch of the book is carefully designed, alternating between various mediums-paint, pencil, and colleague-to bring the ideas to life. The stories each stand on their own, while also uniting to complete a holistic vision of modern suburbia. Tales from Outer Suburbia is ideal for use in the classroom as it can be studied and analyzed either lightly or in great depth depending on the students' individual levels. One reading is not enough, and readers will continue to glean more each time they visit "Outer Suburbia." Rating: Outstanding. Reading Level: Intermediate; Young adult;. Category: Short stories; Fiction. 2008, Scholastic, 92 p., $19.99. © 2002, Brigham Young University."

Canar, A. (2009). [Book review of the book Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan]. Childrens Book and Play Review, 29(6). Retrieved from Children's Literature Database via Ebscohost:  http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2378/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~TRKbGO:4

"This highly visual, creative book is a compilation of 15 fictitious tales that occur throughout outer suburbia in Australia. Some stories, such as the opening story, “The Water Buffalo,” are short in length, whereas other stories, such as “Eric,” are longer, encompassing 10 or more pages. All 15 stories are accompanied by highly detailed and engaging illustrations that come together with the text splendidly, giving the reader the opportunity to connect aesthetically with both the visuals and the literary merits. The author and illustrator, Shaun Tan, is an accomplished artist and writer who states on his website (www.shauntan.net) that his artistic influences have ranged from picture books such as The Headless Horseman Rides Tonight written by Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by Andrew Lobel (1992) and The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg (1984) to television and film, especially fantasy and science-fiction works such as Star Wars and The Twilight Zone. Among artists whose work has influenced his work, he is able to “list hundreds of illustrators, writers, cartoonists, photographers, filmmakers, and artists,” thus showing the scope of his artistic background. The numerous awards for his art and books include the 2010 Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist, which is given to that year’s best artist of science fiction or fantasy. In 2007, he won the World Fantasy Award, which is awarded to the best fantasy artist for that year. Also, in 2011,  Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann won the Animated Short Film Oscar for The Lost Thing, based on his book of the same title.

    Each story in Tales from Outer Suburbia has different characters who face different trials, and each story seems to illustrate a certain theme. For instance, in “Stick Figures,” the reader finds that, in this part of Outer Suburbia there are stick figures who are literally composed of sticks that roam the suburban landscape. The narrator tells us that, “They have always been here, since before anyone remembers, since before the bush was cleared and all the houses were built” (p. 65). The reader finds out that the stick figures are beaten, mistreated, marginalized, and constantly asked why they are there and what they want from the suburbanites. The story ends with the narrator stating that, “if you stop and stare at them for a long time, you can imagine that they too might be searching for answers….It’s as if they take all of our questions and offer them straight back: Who are you? Why are you here? What do you want?” (p. 69). Through discussion, students could come to see that those who are marginalized in society also have their own questions of others’ roles in modern society. And if we remind ourselves and our students that the setting of this story is the Australian suburbia, connections to the marginalization of Aborigines can be made to the marginalization of the stick figures.

    Although the stories in Tales from Outer Suburbia draw heavily on aspects of the fantasy genre, by reading these stories with a critical lens, readers can draw parallels to modern social issues. Other examples of how the stories in this book highlight sociopolitical issues include “The Amnesia Machine” which presents issues regarding political discourse and deception and ‘Eric,’ which can be used to discuss issues of immigration and migration if read from a critical stance. Another example is the story ‘Wake,’ which is only two pages, yet can foster significant discussions in regards to issues of animal rights.

    Although the stories in this book can be labeled as fantasy, the author has done well to make sure that the setting of the stories—suburban Australia—feels authentic. One example of this authenticity is seen through the author’s word choice. In “Make Your Own Pet,” the author uses phrases such as “rubbish collection” and “gather whatever takes your fancy” (p. 82). It would have been easy for the author or publisher to change the wording in order to make it more familiar for a North American audience; however, the decision to not change the wording in the book keeps the feeling of cultural authenticity. Another example of how authenticity is depicted is through the visuals. On page 11 in “Eric,” there is a picture of an electrical plug that clearly looks Australian and not North American. On the last page of “Grandpa’s Story,” there is a full-page illustration of a road that winds through a suburban neighborhood, with the houses looking similar yet each has different characteristics, exemplifying that, although the Australian suburban life shares similarities, there is diversity in the suburbs as well. Even the trash can in “Stick Figures” has a distinct appearance to it, one which a North American reader will probably not be familiar with. All of these examples lead the reader to feel as though they are encased in a rich Australian setting.

    This book can be juxtaposed with other books by Shaun Tan, including The Arrival (2007) and The Red Tree (2008). Another book that might be of interest for others to pair with Tales from Outer Suburbia is The Dreamer (2010) by Pam Munoz Ryan and illustrated by Peter Sis. Like Shaun Tan’s books, The Dreamer blends beautifully text and visual, but The Dreamer gives biographical information of the poet Pablo Neruda, thereby illustrating to students that blending text and visuals can be used in multiple genres. Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, 96 pp."

Hill, B. (2011). [Book review of the book Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan]. WOW Review: Reading Across Cultures, 3(3). Retrieved from http://wowlit.org/on-line-publications/review/reviewiii3/14/

Library Uses:

I think that it would be fun for the children to share stories of times when they have dreamed dreams so vivid, like this book, of perhaps traveling in space, like Eric the alien exchange student. Then, they could write a story and read it aloud.

Module 12: Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein: Written and illustrated by Don Brown

Book Summary: 


The book follows Einstein through his life, from his birth in Germany, his childhood, where he was a hot-tempered child who disliked everything but music and math, to his adulthood, where he did his physics research in the evenings, sharing time with his family duties. There are some misstatements, which are clarified in the back of the book, such as references to his winning the Nobel Prize for E=Mc2, whereas he won it for his work on the nature of light in 1921.  


APA Reference: 


Brown, D. (2004). Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.


My Impressions: 


I found the book amusing, as it lends life to the younger years of Einstein. His interest in building "house[s] of cards" and how "builds one fourteen stories high" is quite intriguing, and also, his hot temper, which includes a warning beforehand of "his nose go[ing] white" made me laugh. I found it quite interesting, too, that he did not speak for such a long time, but then immediately launched into witty language, skipping the baby noises altogether. This book is a good one for kids in that it will give the odd ones hope while giving teachers a reason to give every kid a chance to be a genius. The reviewer below notes his responses being "halted," while the book uses the term, "lingering," so there might be a different of opinion about Einstein's communication style.

Professional Review: 

"It matters not a whit if young listeners have ever heard of the twentieth century's renowned genius. They will probably feel they've already met this eccentric little guy somewhere--the introverted kid with the bad temper, the one who'd rather unknot a puzzle than kick a soccer ball, the student who pulls decent grades but drives teachers loony with his halting responses. Brown is again at his best as he zeroes in on those telling traits that trim a larger-than-life figure down to size: Albert whacks his little sister in the head with a hoe, he is disturbed by the sight of soldiers on parade, he suffers from homesickness when separated from his family, and he can't get into college on his first try. As scratchy line-and-watercolor scenes tail the melancholy loner amid mundane social settings in which he keeps furtively to himself, the text plumbs the boy's thoughts that go unsuspected by those around him: "What would it be like to ride a light beam? he wonders"; "Albert's ideas make a picture of space and time and energy and matter that no one has ever seen before." As Einstein the father absentmindedly pushes his child's baby carriage along a Zurich street, the scene segues into a fantasy spread in which the pair are surrounded by galaxies, atoms, equations, and a clock whose numerals are warped by . . . by what? Brown doesn't demand the audience comprehend the science: "For scientists, Albert's discoveries mean the photoelectric effect, theories of relativity, and E=mc2. For the rest of us, his ideas mean automatic door openers, television, space travel, and atomic energy." An endnote offers more information on Einstein's Nobel Prize and on his arm's-length relationship to the atomic bomb. Hmmm--maybe that withdrawn little kid who doesn't concentrate during storytime is really a genius in the making. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2004, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2004, Houghton, 32p, $16.00. Ages 5-8 yrs."

Bush, E. (2004). [Book review of the book Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein  by Don Brown]. The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 58(2). Retrieved from Children's Literature Database via Ebscohost:  http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2378/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~pG6guy:1

Library Uses:

This would be the ideal book for a small class or group. For a group of special needs kids, for students that might be intimidated by science or ever afraid or has socialization issues, this book would assist him or her in realizing that while he or she might be different, but end up contributing greatly later in life. The librarian could share a list of those who were criticized or thought stupid early in life who ended up being great successes in life, such as Einstein, Disney, and others. 

Module 11: What if you met a pirate?: An historical voyage of seafaring speculation: Written and illustrated by Jan Adkins

Book Summary: 


This is a grand tour of all things pirate-related, from their dress, lifestyle, eating, personal habits, to their accessories. There are some wonderful illustrations included that give the reader a real sense of what it was like on the ship.


APA Reference: 


Adkins, J. (2004). What if You Met a Pirate?: An Historical Voyage of Seafaring Speculation. Brookfield, Connecticut: Roaring Brook Press.


My Impressions: 


I have always loved pirates and thought this book was quite entertaining. Adkins gives quite a lot of illustrated information about the real daily life of pirates and these are funny, too, especially his drawing with a pirate sitting on the "seat of ease." To me, his book was not revealing, but it will be for a younger crowd, who will revel in its historical details, such as the different kinds of ships, weapons and famous pirates in history.

Professional Review: 


"Can it be that walking the plank was a fictional punishment invented by illustrator Howard Pyle? In this appealing book, Adkins gives readers the lowdown on what life under the pirate flag was really like. After setting up the conventional portrait of swaggering, singing sailors in colorful duds, he replaces it with a more realistic picture of hard-working sailors who "might swashbuckle just a few hours each month" and bathed considerably less. Yet this realistic portrayal of pirates and their activities is even more intriguing than the romanticized version he debunks. Adkins strikes just the right note in the text, always informative and frequently entertaining as well. Bright with color washes, the excellent, energetic drawings show pirates engaged in a variety of activities, from pumping out the bilge to braiding each other's hair to using the open-air bathroom at the front of the ship. In a send-up of current book marketing, the back cover carries appreciative comments by the likes of Queen Elizabeth I and Leonardo da Vinci. Where pirate fever runs high this spirited presentation will find an enthusiastic audience. For more titles, see the Read-alikes, "Ship Ahoy!" [BKL S 1 04]. Category: Books for Middle Readers--Nonfiction. 2004, Millbrook/Roaring Brook, $16.95. Gr. 3-5. Starred."

Phelan, C. (2004). [Book review of the book  What if You Met a Pirate?: An Historical Voyage of Seafaring Speculation by Jan Adkins]. Booklist, 101(4). Retrieved from Children's Literature Database via Ebscohost:  http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2378/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~nLSk4Y:1

Library Uses:

A good activity for the library would be to have a swashbuckling day. Everyone could come dressed up as a pirate and practice swashbuckling with pretend cardboard swords, of course. One could invite a teacher of swordplay and have a practice class in fake fencing. 

Module 10: The Yellow Star: The Legend of Christian X King of Denmark: Written by Carmen Agra Deedy; Illustrated by Henri Sorenson

Book Summary: 


The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark tells the story of King Christian X, who was King of Denmark during the Holocaust. The story tells of how the King wore the star, which prompted his people to do the same, in order to lend support to the Jews in Denmark who were ordered to wear the yellow star of David. It is a legend, as no one in Denmark was asked to wear a yellow star. The author explains this in the back of the book.


APA Reference: 


Deedy, C. A. (2000). The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark. Atlanta: Peachtree.


My Impressions: 


I found the book well-written with beautiful, detailed illustrations. It is an introduction to the holocaust done in a tasteful manner. In one part, the King is standing outside looking at the stars asking himself how he can hide a star? Then, he realizes the answer, with the help of the stars, their sisters. I love this part best, really. Overall, I think the book could be true, if everyone were that brave. After all, if others had stood up against the Jews being singled out, in other places where the stars were used as identifying symbols of being Jewish, eventually the Nazis would not have been able to go through with their plans.


Professional Review: 

"This delightful book by Carmen Agra Deedy, professional storyteller and author of a librarian favorite, The Library Dragon (Peachtree, 1994), is a perfect introduction for young readers to the difficult story of the Holocaust. The Yellow Star retells a well-known story of the good people of Denmark during the Nazi occupation of their country. When the Jews of Denmark were forced to wear yellow stars upon their clothing, King Christian, the legend tells us, was so outraged that he began to wear a star upon his own clothing. The Danish population quietly followed suit and took part in the only recorded state-sponsored act of communal defiance. The story is surprisingly moving because it is told so simply. It would be suitable for a child as young as second or third grade, with a willing adult nearby to answer the many questions that it would surely elicit. The pictures are large and realistic with one page especially charming in its depiction of the different types of Danes living happily in Denmark, including, of course, canine Great Danes. The way the author chooses to reveal the agonizing of the King and his eventual moral decision is suspenseful and inspiring. This book held a group of fourth graders spellbound as I read it to them last month. It would be an excellent addition to the many recent books on tolerance and human rights. Although this legend is not known to be based in truth, the reason the story has persisted in Holocaust lore is precisely because, among Nazi-occupied countries, only Denmark succeeded in rescuing the overwhelming majority of its Jews. (A total of only 60 Danish Jews were killed during this time period.) The author tells us, in her author's note, that this legend persists because it provides for us a symbol of unity and hope. "What if it had happened? What if every Dane, from shoemaker to priest, had worn the yellow Star of David? And what if we could follow that example today against violations of human rights? What if the good and strong people of the world stood shoulder to shoulder, crowding the streets and filling the squares, saying, 'You cannot do this injustice to our sisters and brothers, or you must do it to us as well.' What if?" 2000, Peachtree, $16.95. Ages 9 to 12."


Handelman, L. (2000). [Book review of the book The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark by Carmen Agra Deedy]. The Five Owls, 15(2). Retrieved from Children's Literature Database via Ebscohost: http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2378/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~H4gH2P:1

"Icons represent ideas. When adults see the iconic “yellow star” sewn onto a piece of cloth, they often automatically think of a dark period in history called Ha Shoah, or the Holocaust. As the Nazis gained power during World War II and Hitler attempted to fulfill his dream of an Aryan world by eliminating those he felt were unworthy (Jews, homosexuals, gypsies, and the mentally ill to name a few), yellow stars were used as a way to mark people of Jewish descent.

    The award-winning book, The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark, is an example of a story about World War II that may very likely provide needed information about the time period for young students who are just learning about the Holocaust. I was a teenager when I heard the story of Anne Frank, my first story about the Holocaust. I remember asking my mother why people who were not Jewish did not stop the Nazis from doing horrible things to people. My Christian mother explained that they did try to prevent the atrocities. “Christians were hiding the Frank family in the attic.” Today I wonder if the guilt of Christians has produced the influx of mythical stories of how Christians saved Jews during World War II by hiding them. I question this representation of the Holocaust.

    Written by Cuban-American storyteller, Carmen Agra Deedy, The Yellow Star is based on a legend about King Christian of Denmark who invited every Dane to wear the yellow star so it would be impossible to discriminate between Jews and non-Jews in Copenhagen when the Nazis begin their occupation in 1940. While the story of the yellow star and how it was used to represent Jews during WWII may provide needed background knowledge for children who do not know what the yellow Jewish star signified, this story is legend often (mis)represented as historical truth – especially by Christians. As a teacher educator, it raises all sorts of questions about how teachers make decisions about quality literature in their classrooms.

    The Yellow Star has won at least 22 different awards. For many parents and teachers purchasing books r children, awards mean a book is worth buying and reading. In my research, I read a number of books about World War II and the Holocaust with a group of elementary teachers and Jewish mothers. I wanted to see how they made decisions about choosing literature for elementary children about such a sensitive time in history. While the teachers felt this book was “soft” enough for young children, the Jewish mothers who read The Yellow Star were disappointed in the too often told “glorification of ‘Christians as Saviors’ story,” the representation of myth as truth, and the relative silence of Jewish voices in the text. In one mother’s words, “Too often, Jews are seen as victims, the poor Jews being saved by the Christians again. The Jews don’t even speak in this book.”

    This critique is an apt representation of The Yellow Star. The story begins with a unifying view of Danes living in Nazi-occupied Denmark. Deedy uses short sentences to describe Danes as “different from each other” and yet “all loyal subjects of their beloved King Christian” (p. 2). This king was so loved that he was able to ride alone in the streets of Copenhagen every morning, and everyone knew that “Danes would all stand together in defense” (p. 4) of the wise king. Deedy uses celestial metaphors throughout the story. War spread across Europe “like a fierce storm” and Nazi soldiers “gathered like dark clouds” at the border. According to Deedy, “The Danes watched and waited to see what their king would do.” After King Christian resisted the threatening Nazi who demanded that the swastika be flown over the palace, Jews were ordered to sew a yellow star onto their clothing so it would be visible at all times. Retrospective images of King Christian in deep thought finally show him looking into the sky at the stars for answers. “If you wished to hide a star…you would hide it among its sisters.”

    The author’s note at the end of this book speaks to the disappointment Deedy felt when she learned this story was a legend or myth. As Deedy points out, Denmark was the only Nazi-occupied country that rescued a majority of its Jews, but “no Jews within Denmark were actually forced to wear theyellow star.” She also asks “what if?” In this question, Deedy urges readers to think about what would have happened if the people of the world had stood up the injustices of the Holocaust rather than simply hiding them. That is the story that must be told, not another myth that ranks a religious denomination as saviors.

    Jews resisted the Nazis during World War II but finding heroic novels of Jewish resistance can be a difficult task. Allegorical picture books like Terrible Things: An Allegory about the Holocaust (1989) by Eve Bunting and The Little Boy Star: An Allegory of the Holocaust (2006) by Rachel Hausfater allow children to think not only about how people treated one another during the Holocaust but about how people treat one another in the present day. And, Karen Hesse’s The Cats in Krasinski Square (2004) is an example of a picture book that describes the bravery and resourcefulness of Jews resisting the Nazis. Based on the experience of Adina Blady Szwalger, this book tells of a young Jewish girl living in Warsaw who helps Jewish resistance fighters confuse the Gestapo in order to get food to Jews living inside the ghetto. Jews have made many contributions to society and these stories deserve to be told. Peachtree Publishers."

Schmidt, R. (2011). [Book review of the book The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark by Carmen Agra Deedy]. WOW Review: Reading Across Cultures 3(2). Retrieved from http://wowlit.org/on-line-publications/review/reviewiii2/11/

Library Uses:

Aside from reading the story aloud, I would share a filmstrip of photographs of the setting and share a brief history of the place. Following the story, I would make sure the students realize that the story is a legend and make a point of noting the bravery of the Danes in rescuing so many of their countrymen and women rather than letting them be taken by the Nazis. Having a further discussion about how things could have been different if the people had chosen, such as is suggested by the author, is also a good idea.

Further, I would give a list of other books that are related to this one and websites for further information. If there is enough time, I would go to some of the websites during the discussion.

Additionally, I would note that it was not just Jews who were put into the concentration camps, but also homosexuals, the Roma (gypsy), those who helped Jews, or anyone who was not seen by the Aryans as acceptable according to them. If there is time, I would propose a discussion about ethnic and cultural tolerance.

Module 9: The Postcard: written by Tony Abbott

Book Summary: 


Jason is helping his dad clean out his grandmother's house and finds an old magazine in which a story seems too familiar. He receives a phone call hinting about a desk having clues. When he looks in the desk of his grandmother, he finds a postcard and another, which leads him on a journey...


APA Reference: 


Abbott, T. (2008). The Postcard. New York : Little, Brown and Co.


My Impressions: 


I liked the book, but it seemed to go nowhere, as at the end, the author is noted to have died.


Professional Review: 

"The cover of this engrossing novel calls it “a mystery within a mystery,” and indeed, Abbott has spun a multi-layered, mesmerizing tale within a tale. This is an outsized valentine to 1940s hardboiled detective fiction, to Florida past and present in all its steamy, seamy “danger and glory,” and to the power of story to capture and transform lives. When thirteen-year-old Jason is summoned to Florida to help his father bury the grandmother he has never met, he is plunged into a series of unsettling discoveries. He learns that his grandparents were never married and that his alleged grandfather is in fact a lawyer’s fabrication. At his grandmother’s funeral, he meets a collection of bizarre and intriguing characters. Then, after an anonymous phone call tells him that “[y]ou can learn a lot at a desk,” he searches his grandmother’s desk and finds a postcard of the old Hotel DeSoto, which is about to be bulldozed. Positioned on the postcard are two almost invisible dots--could these be a clue? Jason’s search leads him to historic landmarks in and around St. Petersburg and Sarasota. There, he uncovers installments of a partially-published detective story that was written by a man who once loved his grandmother and which may hold the key to understanding his own past. Abbott serves up action aplenty, hilarious dialogue, a powerful sense of place, and a poignant message about reclaiming the past. It’s all preposterous, but, as Jason’s new friend Dia tells him, “Maybe it couldn’t happen, but it could still happen.” Maybe, just maybe, it could. 2008, Little Brown, $15.99. Ages 10 to 14."

Mills, C. (2008). [Book review of the book The Postcard by Tony Abbott]. Children's Literature Independent Information and Reviews. Retrieved from Children's Literature Database via Ebscohost: http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2378/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~BnXHQP:2

Library Uses:

This book gives inspiration for a scavenger hunt. After reading this book, I think that it would be fun for the students to split up into two groups and have a scavenger hunt in the library with prizes for the winners.