The Ghost Belonged to Me

Richard Peck.  The Ghost Belonged to Me

New York:  Puffin Books, 1975, 159p.

Narrator 13-year-old Alexander Armsworth lets the reader know from page one that this is ghost story.  The ghost is his, thanks to his special gift. His classmate Blossom Culp reveals the existence of a ghost in Alexander’s barn.  This ghost will change his life and save other lives on her way to finding peace on the other side. The year is 1913 and Alexander is pulled into the story of how the Civil War era ghost of Inez Dumaine came to live in his small Illinois town. Alexander will become a reluctant hero and help Inez finally rest peacefully.  Peck puts the ghostly aspect of the book out right away, and then pulls back for a while to develop colorful characters like Uncle Miles, who knows the whole story of how Inez came to haunt the barn. Alexander’s social climbing mother and husband-hunting sister along with a sharp newspaper reporter and the clever Blossom all lend humor to the story against an accurately painted historical backdrop.  Richard Peck uses excellent chapter transitions and foreshadowing to keep interest high.  His use of the vernacular of the time feels especially accurate. The font used is similar to that of an old typewriter, creating an historical mood as well.

I chose this book from the Margaret A. Edwards list because I am a Richard Peck fan, but not familiar with his earlier works.  The Richard Peck stamp is strong on this work of historical fiction, with mention of the 1904 World’s Fair and lots of description of early automobiles.  This book is similar in style to his more recent titles; A Year Down Yonder, Fair Weather and A Long Way from Chicago.  There are colorful characters of the older generation who bring humor and wisdom to the story.   The dry humor of plain folks who lived in a simpler time in the Midwest had me laughing out loud.  Peck certainly lives up to the quality of delivering an “authentic voice” that the Margaret A. Edwards award recognizes.

2P
5Q

Even though this work is 30 years old, it is certainly a humorous work of historical fiction with a ghostly twist.  As such, it would be a good book to recommend to middle school teachers as a read-aloud to sixth graders.  It reads like a movie because Peck is so skilled at painting a scene in your mind.

The cover art shows a very ghostly Inez and Alexander saving a trolley car from disaster.  It has a supernatural/historical tone that may appeal to readers, especially those familiar with Richard Peck’s work.

The First Part Last

Angela Johnson.  The First Part Last

Waterville, Maine, Thorndike Press.  2003. 144p.

Sixteen-year-old Bobby is the father of a beautiful eleven day old daughter named Feather.  He is living with his mom, but raising her by himself.  He wishes he could have the wisdom that will come with age now, instead of being young and faced with life-altering parenthood before he was ready to change.  Bobby tells his story in poetic chapters that alternate between “then” (before Feather) and “now” (after Feather).  With simple, powerful, believable words, Bobby shares the details of his relationships with his girlfriend Nia, his friends and his family.  He falls quickly back to being a normal sixteen year old – shooting hoops and skipping school and then is jolted to reality with the responsibility of caring for Feather.  Even the chapter that breaks from the pattern – the chapter written by Nia as she passes from life to coma as a result of eclampsia – flows naturally in the story.   It seems Angela Johnson has left nothing out – diaper changes, banter with friends, the love of a boy and a girl, parent anguish – it’s all there.

This was my first read of a contemporary teen novel that addresses real-life urban teen issues.  I was drawn in and spellbound by the language and the drama of the story.  It wasn’t just the teen pregnancy issue, it was the very real portrayal of life in the city, being sixteen and all that comes with that – parties, school, dealing with adults, knowing the people in your apartment building and neighborhood.  I was surprised by the turn of events at the end when Bobby decides to leave New York City for small town Ohio.  He seemed so much a part of the city that it is hard to believe he wants open green spaces for he and his daughter.  I could understand it as wanting to get away from all that has happened, but not such a dramatic leap.

5P
5Q

This book will appeal to all teens because of the high quality dramatic telling of a story that could happen to any of them.  The easy readability makes it accessible to all teen readers.

The cover art for the copy I found on the shelf shows a black male with long hair and dreadlocks holding a newborn with a pink sleeper.  He is looking past her as she sleeps. It is a powerful symbol for the entire story and one that would tell teens in an instant what the book holds.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Jeff Kinney.  Diary of a Wimpy Kid

New York:  Amulet Books, 2007. 217p.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid takes the reader into journal of a middle school kid named Gregory.  He is small in stature and big on schemes.  In the journal are his observations and reflections on trying to find his way – trying to be popular at school, trying to be the middle kid in his family.  Yet, everything he does seems to have an unfortunate turn of events.  His plans are often foiled and he is embarrassed by the outcomes.   His journal chronicles his relationships with his brothers, his best friend, bullies, girls, teachers and his parents. Gregory’s misadventures have the reader turning the page to find out what will happen next.  The journal entries on lined paper and dotted with sketches flow easily from one hapless event to the next.

Tweens and younger will relate to Gregory’s experiences. Whether it is the little brother who is the angel or the big brother who tricks him or a best friend who is far from ideal, they will find something to identify with.  His thoughts seem very real and honest. An example is his distorted sense of fairness and how clueless he is about how his friends see him.  Most of what happens to Gregory is probably pretty accurate for a young middle school kid.  I like how Gregory is spirited and clever, even when those qualities get him into trouble.  This is a book that parents will love as well, as some of the humor is for them.  The comic drawings are especially effective, especially the facial expressions.  They are simple, childlike and convincing. It is probably a book to be enjoyed by kids as young as third grade for the goofy humor, but reluctant middle school readers will laugh with it too.

4P
4Q

It is probably a book to be enjoyed by kids as young as third grade for the goofy humor, but middle school readers, especially reluctant readers, will laugh with it too.

The cover art with it’s cartoon drawing of the hapless Gregory will catch reader’s attention, especially if they are looking for cartoon or graphic novel format.  Many readers will recognize Gregory as a character from the funbrain.com website.

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy

Gary D. Schmidt.  Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy

New York:  Clarion Books, 2004.  217 p.

Turner Buckminster is uprooted from Boston to the Phippsburg on the coast of Maine.  The year is 1912.  He is ridiculed by the boys in the town and quickly finds himself not measuring up to the standards set for the minister’s son.  All he wants to do is “light out for the Territories” in the west and escape from the expectations of his harsh father.  The sea breeze calls Turner and he wanders to the coast where he meets Lizzie, who lives on the island just offshore.  Lizzie is everything Turner is not.  She is black, free to roam where she pleases, loved and adored by her preacher grandfather and comfortable on the sea.  Lizzie and Turner’s lives are caught up in an ugly act of hypocrisy on the part of the townspeople who will take the prime property of Malaga Island for their own economic gain.  The “God fearing” people of Phippsburg tell Lizzie and the other free black settlers who have been there for generations they will have to leave.  Turner loses his innocent view of life as the adults who can’t fathom his friendship with a black girl heap shame on him.  Some redemption is found in older townspeople who are not caught up in the ugly hatred of the residents of Malaga and who help Turner and Lizzie grow their friendship despite barriers.  Tragedy and hope emerge as Turner comes of age, sees his father’s failings and strengths and is finally able to “look at things straight on” and understand the beauty of “two souls coming together” and the pain of parting.

The author includes historical notes about Malaga Island off the coast of Maine.  The facts of how a conservative New England community put away from them a poor, ethnically diverse population and tried to destroy any evidence of their existence are documented for the reader.

This is a well-told tale of a very tragic chapter in the history of Maine.  Gary Schmidt’s use of figurative language and excellent character development are just right to bring this story to life for historical fiction fans. The imagery of the sea, its breezes, moods, creatures and freedom adds to the richness of the text.  The friendship of Lizzie and Turner, the contrast of Turner’s minister father and Lizzie’s preacher grandfather and the surprises brought to the story by the elderly Mrs. Cobb are engaging and make for a high quality read.

5Q
2P

This book would be an excellent choice for a middle school reading list that included historical fiction or for someone interested in the history of race relations in America.

The cover art grabs attention with a primitive; Americana type illustration of a black girl and a white boy in a boat that is being help up by a whale. The whale’s eye looks both out to the reader and up at the girl and boy in the boat.

The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation

Sid Jacobsen and Ernie Colon.  The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation

New York:  Hill and Wang, 2006.  133p.

In an attempt to make the Report of the 9/11 Commission accessible to all, this graphic novel format was created.  The book opens with simultaneous timelines of the four hijacked planes on the morning of the 11th of September, 2001. We also learn about the history of the rise of terrorism in the Middle East under the leadership of Bin Laden.  The history of counter-terrorism in the United States follows, beginning with the first bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993 and recounting various terrorists strikes against the west around the world. The reader also learns of the ways the 9/11 terrorists gained access to the United States, how they formed training cells in Europe and organized the 9/11 attacks.  The role of the United States government in dealing with terrorist threats is also outlined, with the change in administration in 2000 playing a large role. The book continues with the account of the loss of life and heroic acts of 9/11 in New York, Washington and on the airplanes.  Through each chapter, the finding of weakness and error in that particular aspect of the attacks is highlighted in yellow boxes so readers can understand the Commission’s findings in the context of the story. Within these yellow boxes the reader learns of the chilling reality of the lack of communication and information sharing between vital government agencies like the FAA, Justice Department, FBI, CIA, Immigration and Naturalization Service and National Security Agency. The report findings express concern about the slow and unfocused response to early terrorist threats.  The Commission report points out the communication failures on the ground the day of the attacks between 911 operators, police, fire and port authority rescuers. The need for a unified command on the part of different agencies is addressed.   The decision of the Bush administration to invade Iran post 9/11 is covered at the very end of the book. Recommendations are made for an imaginative approach to understanding the possibilities that terrorists could use – in other words, to think outside the box.  The U.S. government is also advised to go global on efforts to reduce terrorism and re-organize government agencies to work together.

A forward by Thomas Kean and Lee Hamilton who chaired the 9/11 commission, acknowledges the book’s adherence to the facts of the 9/11 Commission’s report.  Once I read the forward, I eagerly dove in to read and comprehend the findings of the Commission.  As a visual learner, I probably would never have picked up the 624 page print version of this report, but knowing this was an authoritative account, I was excited that it brought the account of September 11, 2001 to life.  The artwork is of a high quality, capturing the drama and emotion of what transpired, but not being overly explicit with violent images.  The text on each page is clear with an easy to read font.  I could easily read through all the dialogue and captions, or just refer to the yellow box with the Commission’s findings and recommendations. I believe this piece of history is told comprehensively in a format teens and all visual learners will relate to.  This would be an excellent book for use in a middle or high school social studies class to begin the discussion about terrorism and the U.S. response.  The topic feels one that should continue with young adults– especially to assess and reassess the effectiveness of the department of Homeland Security and the war on terrorism around the world.

5Q
2P

This book would appeal to middle or high school readers who have an interest in the 9/11 attacks or need an authoritative non-fiction reference for research purposes.

The cover art would appeal to those with an interest in 9/11 as the graphic images include a firefighter overcome with emotion and a photo-like graphic image of smoke pouring from the World Trade Center towers.

Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX, The Law That Changed the Future of Girls in America

Karen Blumenthal.  Let Me Play:  The Story of Title IX, The Law That Changed the Future of Girls in America

New York: Atheneum, 2005.  124p.

The history of equal rights for women in America is chronicled, beginning in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York.  Susan B. Anthony and other suffragettes led the movement to pass the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution in the first decades of the 20th century.  Sputknik and the space race that followed, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the formation of the National Organization for Women defined the 1960’s as a time of further opportunities for women. But, it was Edith Green; a Congresswoman from Portland, Oregon who drafted the Title IX legislation in the 1970’s after learning that federal law did not forbid discrimination based on sex in America’s schools. This law’s ride through the House and Senate was threatened with roadblocks, detours and amendments time and again.  Edith Green was so unhappy with its changes she refused to vote for it.  Even after its passage, enforcement and even survival were not guaranteed.  Blumenthal’s presentation is balanced, making sure to include the voices of those who opposed Title IX.  The format of the book includes political and popular cartoons and statistics documenting the changes in girls’ participation in educational programs and sports at the high school and college level.  Extra features in grey boxes bring background information about the players in the story – famous women athletes, politicians and more.  The author uses clever titles for these boxes like “instant replay”, “player profile” and “extra innings.”  An extensive bibliography, time line and annotations add to the strength of the content.

“The trouble with every generation is that they haven’t read the minutes of the last meeting,” said U. S. representative Edith Green, the author of Title IX legislation.  I was fascinated to read through decades worth of “minutes of the meetings” that were held before Title IX was passed in Blumenthal’s book. I found a new hero in Edith Green.  She was a teacher and mother who went from the PTA to Washington D.C. where she had a reputation as a shrewd fighter and a hard worker.  She was appalled to learn that girls were not afforded the same educational opportunities as boys in this country and let that energy drive her mission to correct that. She also knew how to play the political game in Washington to make her case against huge odds and “slip” the legislation through.   I think teenage girls will be very interested to learn of the biased view many held that girls did not need to advance in education, since they weren’t as smart as men and weren’t going to be family breadwinners.   I think it is important for young women today to know the history behind this groundbreaking piece of legislation so they don’t take it for granted and guard it from future changes or abolition.

2P
5Q

Teen girls with an interest in or assignment to research women’s rights or women’s sports history will enjoy this book.

The cover art will be engaging to teen girls who like sports and a bit of history with its photo of early teen girls from the 1970’s lined up with smiles and mitts in hand, ready to play baseball.

Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. 183p.

The stars and planets align for one night to bring recently dumped Nick and insecure-in-love Norah together.  The question that causes their cosmic collision is “will you be my girlfriend for five minutes?” as Nick desperately tries to survive the arrival of his ex-girlfriend at a music club where he is the straight guy in a gay band.  The kiss designed to make ex-girlfriend (and acquaintance of Norah) Tris jealous turns out to cause sparks to fly between Nick and Norah.   From that kiss until the sun rises and brings an end to the night of music and romance, readers alternate chapters narrated first by Nick and then Norah’s voice.  Feelings seesaw between “yes this relationship could work out” and  “what the heck am I doing?” Quick, witty banter punctuates the pages since Nick and Norah both know and love the music world and speak its language.  It seems they were destined to meet since Norah has been in love with the playlists, poems and lyrics to original songs Nick created for Tris before their breakup. “The best g…d…  boyfriend the rest of us at Sacred Heart never had.”  Together they risk sharing the feelings of rejection and a chance at new love.

The lingo and energy of the indie music scene in New York City pulled me in to the story right away.  The set-up for Nick and Norah’s lives to intersect is cleverly done and I found myself turning the pages quickly to see what would happen next. The story line had some surprises along the way, with Norah’s ex showing up and Tris and Norah having a heart to heart talk about Nick. Instead of staying predictable, the story was fresh with each change of voice from Nick to Norah.  I wondered if the music lingo was for real or contrived – especially in the first chapter.  Is this how young rockers talk to each other and about their experiences with the music they play?  Are the words contrived by a writer trying to be hip about the club scene in New York? How much research did the writers do in writing the book?  I also wondered if underage kids would move so easily in the club scene in New York.  The book has been a popular seller (perhaps boosted by the movie) so teens must not be as critical as me.

4Q
5P

This book would certainly appeal to teens, perhaps 14 or 15 and older, especially those who are into the music scene.

Teens will recognize Michael Cera on the cover of the book in a photo from the movie adaptation.  This will certainly draw them in to picking up the book and seeing the movie.

What My Mother Doesn’t Know

Sonya Sones.  What My Mother Doesn’t Know

New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001. 259p.

Fifteen-year-old Sophie is sorting out feelings of love, like and lust.  She discovers that dating the boy of her dreams is not all she dreamed it would be.  She also discovers that the boy everyone thinks is a geek is much more than the label he’s been branded with.  It turns out that dorky Murphy is really a kindred spirit when it comes to art and that the chemistry between them is electrifying.    So she struggles through the tug of “popular guy – not a match” vs. “unpopular guy – perfect fit.”  Through it all she has good friends who help her find humor in agonizing situations.  She grows with the pain of understanding a mother and father who are way too busy with their own dark places to help her sort through her growing up questions.

The prose of Sonya Sones is magical and real at the same time.  I felt that I knew Sophie’s story and was intimately connected to her life in the hour and a half it took me to read this book.  Sones knows how to choose just the right metaphor or simile to paint a crystal clear picture in my mind of the setting and the feeling.  I could feel the pain, anger and sadness of living with a mother who only watches TV and doesn’t understand that a black dress for a dance is so much cooler than one that looks like a rosebush.  Every word on every page was a gem.  I fell into a bad habit early in the book of skipping the titles of each chapter.  This was a bad idea because Sones is so gifted in her craft that every word on the page adds value to the story.  I’ve never read a book that was so sparse but so honest.

5Q
5P

This book would have broad appeal for grades 6 and up, mostly for girls, but boys may enjoy the window into a girl’s thoughts about dating and love.

The cover art was a bit confusing to me, but the collage of pictures intrigued me enough to do some online reading about the choices of images.  I then understood more about the drawings of old people and tried to make connections to the story with all the other art.

Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood

Ann Brashares.  Forever in Blue:  The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood

New York:  Random House Audio Publishing, 2007.  9 hours, 3 minutes.

Lena, Carmen, Bee and Tibby have finished their first year of college and are scattered to different cities for the summer.  Each is facing a crisis of love – whether with a boy or learning more about loving themselves.  The Traveling Pants of earlier Brashares novels travel from girl to girl, but can’t work their magic as well as human understanding can.  Lena is slowly getting over a broken heart with Kostas while exploring her art. Carmen struggles to make herself “visible” again after an “invisible” year at college by attending a summer theater workshop.  Bee is on an archeological dig and unearths feelings about belonging and family through a relationship with one of her professors.  Tibby finds herself afraid and alone after a fateful step she wasn’t ready to take.  Each chapter begins with a quote that aptly sets the tone for the story ahead.

Teens who have been following the saga of the Traveling Pants will engage with the exploration of topics such as loss of virginity, “friends” who really aren’t friends, love with a married man and sorting out what true love means.  There is lots of tension that keeps you coming back to the story.  The narration by Angela Geothals is excellent as the four girls, but seemed phony to me with male voices, especially Kostas.  Overall this is a great choice for an audio book.

4Q
4P

The cover art features the famous traveling pants, so fans of the series will instantly recognize them and grab the disc set.  The lettering will appeal to teens because it is quirky.

One Whole and Perfect Day

Judith Clarke.  One Whole and Perfect Day

Asheville:  Front Street, 2006. 250p.

Lily is the sensible girl in her family.  She takes care of the grocery shopping, bill paying and even keeps track of when her mom’s car needs maintenance.  Her hands are rough and smell like onions from too much housework and cooking.  She longs to be like the other girls in her grade, but feels old and worn out.  She wishes for just one day where everything feels whole and perfect.  But her family is much less than perfect.  Her mom runs an adult day care center and sometimes brings a client home. Her brother, who rarely finishes anything he starts, has moved out.  Her grandparents are crazy – her grandpop threatening to burn down Lily’s house and her Nana talking to an invisible friend.  Judith Clarke’s third person telling of the story easily moves from one character to another to fill in the details of the life- longings of each.  The reader travels through a lyrically woven tale and soon learns of the interconnectedness of all the characters and how they surprisingly come together for the day they are all hoping for.

I connected immediately with the character of Lily in this book.  I think there are many teens that feel their lives and their families are embarrassingly less than they want them to be.  There is a “six degrees of separation” cleverness to the story that makes you want to read on – especially because the reader knows more about the connections between the characters than the characters do.

4Q
4P

This book would mostly appeal to middle school readers.

The cover art is confusing.  The blue sky with clouds hints at the idea of a perfect day, but the Chinese lanterns are not in synch with the Australian setting.  I kept asking myself throughout the story, “why are there Chinese lanterns on the cover?” There is a Chinese connection in the story, but not a strong enough connection to warrant their place on the cover.