Mackler, C. (2003). The earth, my butt & other big round things. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.
ISBN-13:978-07636-1958-9
Brief Summary
Virginia is in high school. As if that fact alone were not enough to make each day stressful, her best friend Shannon (her only real friend) moves to Washington state for the school year, quite a long way from New York. Plus, Virginia, who sincerely believes that she was accidently switched at birth, is the only member of the Shreves family who is not fluent in French and a model look-alike with brunette hair, perfect skin, and a trim body. Virginia is blonde, average looking, and “stout.” The “stout” part is what gives Virginia the most anxiety. She’s a plus size in a single digit sized world.
Virginia develops an eating disorder, partially due to her over-controlling mother and a father who can be rather insensitive with his comments about her body image at times. Virginia’s big sister Anais leaves for a two year commitment with the Peace Corps in Africa. Although Virginia has always worshiped her big brother Byron, who is still a legend at her high school, she becomes estranged after he is expelled from ColumbiaUniversity for committing date rape. Partially narrated via her personal journaling and emails to her friend Shannon, the storyline focuses on her battle to overcome all the challenges which overshadow her life, and begin to display some independence on her pathway to recovery from her eating disorder.
My Impressions
I genuinely enjoyed reading this book, although I got rather impatient with her parents at times. I found myself rooting out loud for her when she finally began to exert some independence and control over her own life. I’d be interested to read a sequel to find out how Virginia fares with one of the activities in which she becomes involved toward the end of the book, her new webzine Earthquack. Reviews
“…There's a lot going on here, and some important elements, such as Virginia's flirtation with self-mutilation, are passed over too quickly. But Mackler writes with such insight and humor (sometimes using strong language to make her point) that many readers will immediately identify with Virginia's longings as well as her fear and loathing. Her gradually evolving ability to stand up to her family is hard won and not always believable, but it provides a hopeful ending for those trying stand on their own two feet…Gr. 7-10.”
-- Booklist (September 1, 2003)
Ilene Cooper
Copyright 2003 Booklist
“Mackler (Love and Other Four-Letter Words) occasionally uses a heavy hand when it comes to making her points ("Recently, I've been finding it harder to pretend that everything is A-OK"), and some of the plot elements, such as the overweight teacher who looks out for Virginia, or Virginia's discovery that a popular girl has an eating disorder, seem scripted. The date rape story line, on the other hand, is gutsy; her brother wasn't just accused of date rape, he actually committed the crime. Ultimately, readers will find it easy to relate to Virginia; she loves junk food, gets nervous about finding someone to sit with in the cafeteria and can't believe that Froggy, the boy she has secretly made out with after school, could be interested in her, not just using her. The e-mails she exchanges with Shannon, and the lists she makes (e.g., "The Fat Girl Code of Conduct") add both realism and insight to her character. The heroine's transformation into someone who finds her own style and speaks her own mind is believable-and worthy of applause. Ages 14-up.”
-- Publisher’s Weekly (July 21, 2003)
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information
“…Strong points in the novel are the issue of date rape and its consequences and, however glossed over, eating disorders. Parental pressure is overdone. Mom and dad are stereotypical of adults so involved in themselves that they cannot see their child for who she is. Some passages are very well done, but the book has an uneven quality in prose style and character development. Told through first-person narrative, journal entries, and e-mail, Virginia's story will interest readers who are looking for one more book with teen angst, a bit of romance, and a kid who is a bit like them or their friends…Gr 7-10.”
-- School Library Journal (September 1, 2003)
Gail Richmond, San Diego Unified Schools, CA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information
Suggestions for Library Use
Concern with one’s body image is so prevalent in our society, far too many pre-teens and teens, both male and female, struggle with eating disorders. In addition, many young people feel alienated from peers and family, especially parents. The humor with which the author tackles some very serious subject matter makes this a good read for upper middle school and high school students.
Wolff, V. E. (1993). make lemonade. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN-10: 0-8050-2228-7
Brief Summary
The free verse novel describes the trials and tribulations of Jolly, a seventeen year old mother of two children, and LaVaughn, a fourteen year old girl who becomes the children’s babysitter. LaVaughn is serious about her school work, and is babysitting to earn money for a college education which will be her ticket out of the neighborhood.
Although LaVaughn is three years younger than Jolly, she not only becomes like a second mother for Jolly’s young kiddos, she helps Jolly put her life back on track. When Jolly gets fired from her minimum wage job after being sexually harassed, LaVaughn persuades her to return to school by enrolling in a special program for teen mothers. The program not only helps young mothers obtain their GED, but learn the basics of parenting and other important life skills as well.
My Impressions
I appreciate the irony of the storyline – LaVaughn is babysitting to earn money for her college education which will lead her to a life style completely opposite of the life which Jolly and her two children are experiencing. In LaVaughn’s quest, she is instrumental in facilitating a better future for Jolly and her kids. LaVaughn matures into a young lady in the process. Jolly not only becomes a much better parent, but lays the foundation for a brighter future for herself as well.
Reviews
“Wolff's latest novel stretches her considerable talents in a new direction. Written in a riveting, stream-of-consciousness fashion, with the lines laid out on the page as if they were the verses of a poem, the book plunges into the depths of inner-city poverty. But instead of focusing on the gangs that spread fear in city tenements, Wolff writes about ordinary folks trying to get by as best they can…There's humor as well as anguish in the tableaux she sets before us, with some of the funniest and most stirring scenes revolving around Jolly's children, both fully realized characters…Rooted not in a particular culture, but in the community of poverty, the story offers a penetrating view of the conditions that foster our ignorance, destroy our self-esteem, and challenge our strength. That education is the bridge to a better life is the unapologetic, unmistakable theme, symbolized by the sprouting of the lemon seeds LaVaughn plants for Jolly's children. At once disturbing and uplifting, this finely nuanced, touching portrait proudly affirms our ability to reach beyond ourselves and reach out to one another…Gr. 7-12.”
-- Booklist (June 1, 1993) Stephanie Zvirin
“‘Radiant with hope, this keenly observed and poignant novel is a stellar addition to YA literature,’ said PW in a starred review, praising Wolff's use of ‘meltingly lyric blank verse’ to tell of two inner-city teenage girls struggling toward better lives…Ages 12-up.”
-- Publisher’s Weekly (July 11, 1994)
“The themes of parental love, sexual harassment, abuse, independence, and the value of education are its underpinnings. LaVaughn is a bright, compassionate teen who is a foil for Jolly, whose only brief role model was a foster parent, Gram, who died. The dynamics between the two young women are multidimensional and elastic--absolutely credible. LaVaughn's mother is a complete character, too, and even Jolly's kids become real. The tale is told in natural first-person, and in rhythmic prose arranged in open verse. The poetic form emphasizes the flow of the teenager's language and thought. The form invites readers to drop some preconceptions about novels, and they will find the plot and characters riveting. Make Lemonade is a triumphant, outstanding story…Gr 7-12”
-- School Library Journal (July 1, 1993) Carolyn Noah, Central Mass. Regional Library System, Worcester, MA
Suggestions for Library Use
Booklist and School Library Journal state the book is appropriate for grades 7-12; Publisher’s Weekly suggests ages 12 and up. I tend to agree due to adult content such as the issue of sexual harassment.
Tripp, V., & Tibbles, J.-P. (2008). American Girl: Josefina: Story collection. Middleton, WI: American Girl. (Original work published 2001) ISBN--13: 9781593694531
Brief Summary
Josefina: Story Collection is a six book series about Josefina, the youngest of four Montoya girls who live in New Mexico in the early 1800s. After the girls’ mother dies, her sister Dolores comes to live with them on the rancho. Although the day to day life was difficult at times, such as the time a flood took most of the sheep on the rancho, Josefina’s sunny personality helps to give a positive spin to most any challenge. Josefina plays the part of Mary in a special celebration at Christmas when another young girl becomes ill. She becomes skilled at weaving rugs to trade for a new flock of sheep to replace the ones lost to the flood. Josefina also learns to read and write, which was uncommon for females during the 1820s. Finally, she is instrumental in her papa’s marriage proposal to her Tia Dolores which thrills the entire family.
My Impressions
I took great pleasure in reading Josefina Story Collection, an American Girl Series collection. The setting for the series is New Mexico during the early 1800s. I thoroughly enjoyed this series, possibly due to the fact that I was born in NM. I also relished the historical information in the “Looking Back” section as well as the “Glossary of Spanish Words.” The character building process of the protagonists throughout the series added depth to the storyline.
Reviews
“This well-researched novel includes the usual ``Peek into the Past'' section that provides a historical context for the story, as well as a glossary of Spanish words. Tripp writes in an undemanding style, with a less dynamic heroine, and a more predictable plot than other titles in the series; still, a familiar format and readers' brand loyalty mean this book will find a ready and eager audience. (Fiction. 7-10)”
-- Kirkus Reviews (1997) Kirkus Associates, LP.
“The life of Mexican settlers in New Mexico in 1824 is introduced in two easy-to-read stories….The characters are engaging, the plotting brisk, and the situations ones to which contemporary girls can relate. Accurate historical data is incorporated painlessly into the stories and fleshed out in "Peek into the Past" sections. Glossaries define the Spanish words used in the texts. Sound additions to a time-tested series…Grade 2-5.”
-- School Library Journal (1997)
Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Suggestions for Library Use
Bowker’s mentions that the book is for grades 2 and up; the reviews mainly suggest 2nd-5th grades. However, I would recommend this series to my 6th grade female students even though it may be a bit young for them. The historical novel is a fresh look at a culture not commonly mentioned in UShistory. I do not think the male students would appreciate the all girl cast of characters.
Everyone is familiar with the famous incident during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s during which Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama. However, a young girl named Claudette Colvin was actually the first person to refuse to move to the back of the bus so that a while female could have the row of seats to herself. Although she was only fifteen at the time and acted passively by only refusing to give up her seat, Claudette was dragged from the bus, handcuffed, arrested, and placed in an adult cell in the city jail.
Though Claudette was involved in the movement associated with the famous bus boycott in Montgomery, and worked with both Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it was decided that Park’s incident should be highlighted rather than that of Claudette. At the time, Claudette was a pregnant teenager, and it was thought that she would not present as positive an image as the more mature, better connected Parks would. However, Claudette was one of five plaintiffs in Browder v. Gayle, a lawsuit in 1956 stating that the Montgomery and Alabama segregation laws regarding public buses was unconstitutional based on Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka in 1954. As we know, they won!
My Impressions
I’m really pleased to have read Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice. I’m familiar with the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s, including the famous incident with Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Therefore, it was surprising to me to read that a young girl was actually the first person to refuse to move to the back of the bus. If you have an opportunity to experience this biography, it will provide a good read and some great information with which you may be unfamiliar! Enjoy!
Reviews
“Nine months before Rosa Parks' history-making protest on a city bus, Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old Montgomery, Alabama, high-school student, was arrested and jailed for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger. Hoose draws from numerous personal interviews with Colvin in this exceptional title that is part historical account, part memoir. Hoose's lucid explanations of background figures and events alternate with lengthy passages in Colvin's own words, and the mix of voices creates a comprehensive view of the Montgomery bus boycott and the landmark court case, Browder v. Gayle, that grew from it. At the center of the headline-grabbing turmoil is teenager Colvin, who became pregnant during the boycott; and her frank, candid words about both her personal and political experiences will galvanize young readers. On each attractively designed spread, text boxes and archival images, including photos and reproduced documents, extend the gripping story…this inspiring title shows the incredible difference that a single young person can make, even as it demonstrates the multitude of interconnected lives that create and sustain a political movement. Thorough chapter notes and suggestions for further reading close this title, which will find an avid readership beyond the classroom.”
“…Investigating Colvin's actions, asking why Rosa Parks's role has overshadowed Colvin's, Hoose (We Were There, Too! Young People in U.S. History) introduces readers to a resolute and courageous teenager and explores the politics of the NAACP and bus-boycott leadership...Hoose's evenhanded account investigates Colvin's motives and influences, and carefully establishes the historical context so that readers can appreciate both Colvin's maturity and bravery and the boycott leadership's pragmatism. Illus. with b&w photos. Ages 10-up.”
-- Publisher’s Weekly (February 2, 2009) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information
“…Hoose, who had been curious about the often-unidentified teen who first defied bus segregation, persuaded her to tell her story. His book puts Colvin back into the historical record, combining her reminiscences with narrative about her life and the tumultuous events of the boycott. He includes background about segregated Montgomery and places Colvin's story into the context of the larger Civil Rights Movement. The text is supplemented with black-and-white photos, reproductions of period newspapers and documents, and sidebars. While virtually all students know Rosa Parks's story, this well-written and engaging book will introduce them to a teen who also fought for racial justice and give them a new perspective on the era, making it an outstanding choice for most collections…Gr 6 Up”
-- School Library Journal (February 1, 2009) Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information
Suggestions for Library Use
I agree with School Library Journal that this title is appropriate for students in 6th grade and up. Some of the material, such as the teen pregnancy, is more suitable for the older reader. Claudette Colvin would be an excellent addition to social studies, history, and government curricula in addition to language arts and English. Students always hear that “they can make a difference.” However, they need the opportunity to read engaging, factual accounts about pre-teens/teens their age who do “make a difference.”
Stone, T. L. (2009). Almost astronauts: 13 women who dared to dream. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.
ISBN-13:978-0-7636-3611-1
Brief Summary
Almost Astronauts addresses the issues of thirteen females, the “Mercury 13,” who were interested in becoming a part of NASA’s space program in the 1960s as well as the effect their influence had on women in flight/space in the decades which followed. It highlights the gender prejudices and misconceptions prevalent in the 1960s, which precluded the female pilots from joining NASA’s space program at that time.
My Impressions
Almost Astronauts is an excellent non-fiction book! It is written as a narrative in chronological order with the exception of chapter one which highlights the STS-93 mission of which Eileen M. Collins is the first female to act as commander of a US space mission. The nonfiction includes numerous graphics which tie into the content of the text well. Although the book is only 134 pages from cover to cover, it is extremely comprehensive. This nonfiction book has a thorough table of contents, index, and bibliography. The reference aids include an author’s note, an appendix, further reading and webliography sections, sources and source notes, photography credits, an index, and acknowledgements.
Reviews
“…This dramatic, large-size photo-essay covers their stories, along with the exciting politics of the women's liberation struggle in the 1950s and '60s (What is a woman's place?) and the breakthrough science and technology surrounding space exploration, including details of the would-be astronauts' tests and training. The chatty, immediate style (Picture this) and full-page photos make for a fast read, and the crucial civil-rights history will stay with readers. The long, spacious back matter is part of the story, with detailed chapter notes and a bibliography.”
“Enlivened by numerous b&w and color photographs, this thorough book takes readers back to the early 1960s to tell the story of 13 women who underwent a battery of physical endurance tests (including hours spent in a deprivation tank) and psychological analysis to determine their readiness to travel in space. A gripping narrative surfaces in Stone's text, as the women are repeatedly thwarted by NASA, discriminated against and patronized by society...Readers with an interest in history and in women's struggle for equality will undoubtedly be moved. Ages 10-up.”
-- Publisher’s Weekly (May 4, 2009)
Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information
“Stone adopts a tone of righteous indignation in chronicling the quixotic efforts of 13 women to win admission into NASA's initial astronaut training program in the early 1960s…Properly noting, however, that losing ‘depends on where you draw the finish line,’ the author closes with chapters on how women did ultimately win their way into space-not only as mission specialists, but also as pilots and commanders. Illustrated with sheaves of photos, and based on published sources, recently discovered documents, and original interviews with surviving members of the ‘Mercury 13,’ this passionately written account of a classic but little-known challenge to established gender prejudices also introduces readers to a select group of courageous, independent women…Gr 5-7”
-- School Library Journal (March 1, 2009) John Peters, New York Public Library Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information
Suggestions for Library Use
In my opinion, adults should enjoy the book as well as its intended audience of middle school students. However, it does not necessarily target only pre-teens and teens. In fact, due to the rather textbook-like nature of the author’s presentation of the material, most pre-teens and teens would probably view it as a resource for essays and reports rather than a source for pleasure reading. The exception, of course, might be students interested in flight or space. Almost Astronauts is a “must read” for young women interested in science and engineering!
Wiles, D., & Lagarrigue, J. (2001). Freedom summer. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
ISBN-10: 0-689-83016-5
Brief Summary
Freedom Summer, set in the South in 1964, is representative of historical fiction which uses fictional characters in a real situation. The book reflects the social tradition and values, as well as laws, of separating white Americans and black Americans. The fictional characters Joe and John Henry are young friends. Being of Caucasian decent, Joe is able to enter Mr. Mason’s General Store whereas John Henry is not. Joe is also entitled to swim in the town pool. John Henry is not. However, a law is passed stating that white Americans and black Americans will sit side by side at the lunch counter, use the same restrooms and drinking fountains, and…swim in the town pool. Joe and John Henry can’t wait! In spite of this law, rather than allow the pool to be open to black Americans, the town fills the pool with asphalt. Nevertheless, the young friends don’t give up. After sitting on the diving board and discussing the unfairness of the townspeople’s decision, they walk arm in arm through the front door of Mr. Mason’s General Store to purchase cold, refreshing ice pops for the hot summer day.
My Impressions
Although the story of this uncommon friendship between two young boys in the South is endearing, Lagarrigue’s vibrant illustrations steal the show! His colorful pictures successfully embody the emotions of the time period. The book provides a delightful experience.
Reviews
“‘John Henry Waddell is my best friend,’ begins the narrator of this story, set during a summer of desegregation in the South. John Henry is black and the narrator is white…The boy's voice, presented in punchy, almost poetic sentences, feels overly romanticized, even contrived in places. It's the illustrations that stun. In vibrantly colored, broad strokes, Lagarrigue, who illustrated Nikki Grimes' My Man Blue (1999), paints riveting portraits of the boys, particularly of John Henry, that greatly increase the story's emotional power. Beautiful work by an illustrator to watch… Ages 5-8.”
-- Booklist (February 15, 2001) Gillian Engberg
“Wiles draws on memories of her childhood summers in Mississippi in her first picture book, a slice-of-life story about Joe, a Caucasian boy, and his best friend…John Henry’s hurt and shame ring true in the text, but Joe’s precocious understanding of the situation outstrips his age. (I want to see this town with John Henry’s eyes). An author’s note at the beginning of the book describes her experiences and the atmosphere in her own hometown during this era, when some white business owners preferred to close down rather than open their doors to African-Americans. Younger children will need this background explanation to understand the story’s underlying layers of meaning, or the filling-in of the swimming pool will seem like a mindless bureaucratic blunder rather than concrete prejudice in action. Teachers and parents could use this book as a quiet but powerful introduction to the prejudice experienced by many Americans, and of course the book is a natural to pair with the story of another, more-famous John Henry. Vibrant full-page paintings by talented French-born artist Lagarrigue capture both the palpable heat of southern summer days and the warmth of the boys’ friendship. (Picture book. 6-12)”
-- Kirkus Reviews (January 1, 2001)
“Set in Mississippi during the summer of 1964, Wiles's affecting debut children's book about two boys one white and the other African-American underscores the bittersweet aftermath of the passage of the Civil Rights Act…Wiles delivers her message incisively through the credible voices of her young characters, narrator Joe and his best friend, John Henry, whose mother works as housekeeper for Joe's family…The tale ends on an upbeat if tenuous note, as the boys walk together through the front door of a once-segregated shop to buy ice pops. Lagarrigue's (My Man Blue) softly focused, impressionistic paintings capture the lazy feel of summer days and affirm the bond between the two boys. The artist's close-up portraits of the boys' faces, as well as the body language of other characters, reinforce the narrative's powerful emotional pitch. Ages 4-8.”
Although quite sobering at times, even children benefit from learning the history of our past, those events/mindsets of which we’re proud and those of which we’re not. Therefore, the use of Freedom Summer with any grades as a lead-in to the study of the Civil Rights Movement, the history of the South, prejudice/discrimination, African-Americans, or loyalty/friendship might enhance the engagement and emotional connection of the learner.
Balliett, B., & Helquist, B. (2004). Chasing Vermeer. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN-10: 0-439-37294-1
Brief Summary
The storyline for Chasing Vermeer describes two 6th graders Petra and Calder who attempt to solve a mystery involving a missing painting by Johannes Vermeer, the Dutch artist. The story takes place in a university setting in Chicago. Although Petra and Calder do not figure out who the thief is, they do deduce where the painting is stored, and therefore, cross paths with the thief.
My Impressions
I enjoyed Chasing Vermeerbecause I found the characters to be quite delightful. The two middle schoolers actually looked for patterns and utilized problem solving techniques to make inferences (OMGosh!--If only my 6th grade science students would do the same!). I also liked the fact that Calder uses pentominoes, a twelve piece mathematical tool, to help solve the mystery (After science, my second love is math). I learned more about Vermeer and his artwork as well.
Reviews
“The Westing Game, The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler--how exciting to find a book that conjures up these innovative, well-loved titles. That's exactly what Balliett does in her debut novel, which mixes mystery, puzzles, possibilities, and art. The story is set in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood at the University of Chicago's LabSchool, where Balliett was a teacher. There, outsiders Petra and Calder become friends as they try to find out what happened to a missing Vermeer painting. That's really all the plot one needs to know. More important are Balliett's purpose in writing and the way she has structured her story. The former seems to be to get to children to think--about relationships, connections, coincidences, and the subtle language of artwork. To accomplish this, she peppers her story with seemingly random events that eventually come together in a startling, delightful pattern. The novel isn't perfect. It glides over a few nitty-gritty details (how did the thief nab the picture), and occasionally the coincidences seem more silly than serendipitous. However, these are quibbles for a book that offers children something new upon each reading. Adults who understand the links between children's reading and their developing minds and imaginations will see this as special, too. Helquist, who has illustrated the Lemony Snickett books, outdoes himself here, providing an interactive mystery in his pictures… Gr. 5-8.”
-- Booklist (April 1, 2004) Ilene Cooper Copyright 2004 Booklist
“Puzzles nest within puzzles in this ingeniously plotted and lightly delivered first novel that, revolving around the heist of a Vermeer painting, also touches on the nature of coincidence, truth, art and similarly meaty topics. Petra Andalee and Calder Pillay become friends in sixth grade at a school operated by the University of Chicago (Balliett taught at the University's Lab Schools), both of them independent thinkers excited by their maverick teacher, Ms. Hussey…Readers have the edge on the characters, being privy to an enigmatic letter sent to three unidentified persons outlining a centuries-old "crime" against a painter's artistic legacy…The art mystery and the crisp intelligence of the prose immediately recall E.L. Konigsburg, but Balliett is an original: her protagonists also receive clues through dreams, pentominoes (math tools with alphabetic correspondences), secret codes (including some left to readers to decipher) and other deliberately non-rational devices. Helquist (the Lemony Snicket books) compounds the fun with drawings that incorporate the pentomino idea to supply visual clues as well. Thick with devilish red herrings, this smart, playful story never stops challenging (and exhilarating) the audience. Ages 8-12.”
-- Publisher’s Weekly (June 14, 2004)
Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information
“Fans of Ellen Raskin's The Westing Game (Dutton, 1978) and E. L. Konigsburg's From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (Turtleback, 1967) will welcome this novel about two classmates determined to solve the mystery of a missing painting…Balliett also provides lots of plot twists and red herrings along the way. Helquist's atmospheric black-and-white illustrations add to the fun, incorporating clues to a secret message, the answer to which can be found on the publisher's Web site. Puzzles, codes, letters, number and wordplay, a bit of danger, a vivid sense of place, and a wealth of quirky characters enrich the exciting, fast-paced story that's sure to be relished by mystery lovers…Gr 5-8”
-- School Library Journal (July 1, 2004) Marie Orlando, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport NY Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information
Suggestions for Library Use
Although Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, and School Library Journal list this book as appropriate for grades 5-7/8, I don’t think 7th/8th graders at our school would read this book. According to Tunnell and Jacobs, “the rule of thumb” for deciding the age appropriateness for children’s realistic fiction books “is that children will read about characters who are slightly older than they are, but are hesitant about reading books with characters who are younger” (2008, p. 129). I think the same rule of thumb applies to mystery novels for this age group. I would suggest this title for kiddos in grades 4-6 in our school district. I’m certain, however, that fellow librarians and LA teachers will like Chasing Vermeer as well!
We'll explore the world of youth literature together. You'll find a brief summary of each book as well as my impressions, professional reviews, and my suggestions for library use. Enjoy!
For the bookworms and the "soon to be" bookworms who ask for a library pass!
Hey, guys –
I currently teach 6th grade science in Highland Park ISD. I’m quite excited about our SLIS 5720 class and look forward to “meeting” all of you! -- MKS
