The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

I have to admit that it took me awhile to pick this up - mostly because of its size, but once I did, it was difficult to put down. Edgar Sawtelle, mute from birth, and his family raise and train pure-bred dogs. Edgar has an incredible ability to communicate with dogs; in particular his own dog, Almondine. Several chapters are told from the dog's point of view. Edgar sets out to prove that his father was murdered but another death causes him to run away with three of the prize dogs. Set in the backwoods of Wisconsin, this multi-faceted story is a coming-of-age story, a story of friendship between a boy and his dogs, and a story filled with mystery. The images portrayed by Wroblewski , in his first novel, are powerful. Great adult reading - also advanced young adults.

Bread and Roses, Too

One of the assignments for my students was to listen to an interview with Katherine Paterson and read one of her books. Since I've read Bridge to Terabithia so often, I picked up a newer Paterson, Bread and Roses, Too (2006). It's a fictionalized account of the 1912 Bread and Roses strike of mill workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Paterson tells the story from the points of view of Jake, the son of an alcoholic father, who survives by sleeping in the streets and Rosa, the daughter of one of the female strike "rabble rousers." Paterson's historical fiction is so well written that you feel compelled to learn more about the historical incident. It's also a timely story, and upper elementary age children will be able to relate to the struggles when parents lose jobs. It's yet another example of Paterson's skill in writing for children. I enjoy hearing why authors write about the things they do. Paterson was inspired to write this book after seeing a photograph of 35 children taken on the steps of the Old Socialist Labor Hall in Barre, Vermont captioned, “Children of Lawrence Massachusettes, Bread and Roses Strike come to Barre," Paterson's home town.
In 2006 Paterson won the annual Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for Literature given by the Swedish government. The $640,000 prize is the biggest international award dedicated to writers of children's books. Paterson was honored for her "deft aesthetic touch" that builds "on the inner strength and courage of her main characters," the jury said. She "gets right under the skin of the vulnerable young people she creates, whether in historical or exotic settings, or in the grim reality of the USA today."

The Willoughbys

As I get ready to leave for ALA Midwinter and the announcements of Newbery awards, I feel I should post my recent reading of Lois Lowry's The Willoughbys. Since she already won two Newberys (The Giver, Number the Stars) and this book appeared on several lists of potential winners, it might have a chance of winning. I don't think so, however. It was funny and the way she wove several plot lines together was again masterful. There's the orphaned four Willoughby children and their nanny; the baby on the doorstep and the supposedly widowed eccentric candy mogul, and the mother and son lost in a Swiss avalanche. There are many references to other books with "appealing orphans," i.e., James and the Giant Peach, Hansel and Gretel. Lowry also includes a glossary to define some of the vocabulary words she uses throughout the book. "Alabaster is actually a kind of mineral used for sculptures. But it can also be an adjective meaning white like that mineral. See if you can remember where the word alabaster appears in "America the Beautiful." Then you can be a Jeopardy! contestant, as this author once was." It's funny - an "old-fashioned parody." It's great book for teachers as they discuss adjectives - with upper elementary students.
P. 22 - When the Willoughbys find a baby in a basket, they drop her off on a neighbor's doorstep and then name her Ruth. "Because... we are the ruthless Willoughbys." That line made me laugh out loud. I guess if I had to create a reading ladder (like I make my students do) it would hook up with the Lemony Snicket books.

Hour I First Believed

I admit this book does not fit into the Kid Lit category, but I did read it and I want to remember it for a future book club discussion. I'm heading to Denver, Colorado for ALA later this week so the account of the Columbine killings felt eerily close to home. I was teaching in Wilson at the time and remember my principal telling us what had happened. And I also remember all the lock downs, etc. that ensued. While it's on my mind, I also am reflecting on the heroic efforts of the pilot during the landing on the river. As Carrie G. reminded me, every time we're getting ready to fly, there is some kind of airline incident. One more reflection about this past week. I found out that my canine friend, Mickey, has a cancerous mass. I would not be able to get through Marley and Me this week. It's very difficult for me to write this - he has been my friend and companion for almost 12 years and has seen me through some very stressful periods in my life.

OK, back to the book. I was sucked in almost immediately. I am getting ready to discuss with my class how children respond to literature so I need to practice what I preach. The main charachter, Caelum Quirk, is an English teacher. He discusses with his students the need to "become the characters," and live inside the book when you are reading. So true, and I think that what makes a book meaningful - relating that closely to some aspect of the book. It's finding that aspect with kids that's important - not whether they can analyze everything to death. (p. 7). On p. 228, he is describing his editor/wife "who could finesse a sentence, change a verb, and make a whole paragraph sing." Making it sing - I remember vividly using that same phrase with one of my writers at the Parkland Press. Her copy just did not "sing." Unfortunately, I was not a good enough editor to teach her HOW to make it sing. It seems to me that some people are just naturals.

Also I was very intrigued by Lamb's use of Picasso's Minotauromachia (683) and how he asked his writing class to describe their own "myth." (470). My recent work with art and literature really has interested me in looking closer at the concept.

Dead Dogs

Happy New Year!

I'm getting ready for Spring semester and thinking about my own reading habits. I want to keep better track of the books I read. That's why I started this blog. I think it will be a good way to share our thoughts about books and kids. I also want to do something "profound" with my reading. I just read No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman. It's a fast read - funny and meaningful (football jocks vs. drama "geeks") at the same time.

Eighth-grader Wallace Wallace receives detention when he turns in a negative review of the book, Old Shep, My Pal. Wallace bases his negativity on the fact that dogs in stories die (Where the Red Fern Grows, Old Yeller), and Mr. Fogelman does not appreciate his comments. Detention means he can't play football and must attend play rehearsals, directed by Mr. Fogelman. The play is based on Old Shep. Wallace adds his special touch to the script and rehearsals in this book for middle school students. Of course, it includes a touch of football, romance, and advice from Julia Roberts. I started reading Korman's books last year when I picked up Schooled - another great book.

I also just got back from the movie, Marley and Me, so No More Dead Dogs really was appropriate. Take your tissues!

So back to profound - there's a librarian mentioned several times in the book. Another character, Trudi Davis, "... headed straight to the library. Mrs. McConville was so cool. She always let me be the first to read the new issue of Teen Dazzle magazine, even before it got catalogued into the computer. " (p. 40). Later, p. 109, Trudi suggest the library should switch to Cosmo, but Mrs. McConvilled gets "... all bent out of shape." In another reference, (p. 95) Mr. Fogelman is rattled by his class. so he "... sent them to the library to work on research papers," and he moved to the teachers' lounge to calm his nerves. I think I'll start keeping an eye open for the image of librarians in books for children and young adults.