Module 10: Rapunzel's Revenge, by Shannon and Dean Hale

Summary: This graphic novel is a colorful reimagining of the Rapunzel fairy tale. In it, Rapunzel discovers that her mother is in fact her kidnapper, and that her real mother is a slave in the woman's mining camps. When she attempts escape, the woman who raised her imprisons her in a tower deep within an enchanted forest, where Rapunzel's hair magically grows. When Rapunzel's locks have grown long enough, she uses them to escape her prison, planning to rescue her real mother from enslavement. Beyond the forest is a Wild West-type obstacle course, where Rapunzel and her new friend Jack battle outlaws and save kidnapped young ladies, as they make their way back towards the villa where Rapunzel grew up. Rapunzel brandishes her long braid like a whip as she engages in skirmishes with bandits and gunslingers, and she and Jack eventually manage to infiltrate Mother Gothel's fortress and rescue Rapunzel's mother.

Reference: Hale, S., and Hale, D. (2008). Rapunzel's Revenge. New York, NY: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books.

Impressions: I like the spin this graphic novel puts on the familiar trope of the damsel in distress, making Rapunzel gutsy and witty as she takes her own destiny in hand. Even though she teams up with and falls in love with Jack, it's Rapunzel who saves them from the outlaws by slinging her whip-like braids, defeats Mother Gothel's henchmen, and whose help Jack needs with his giant problem back home. The dialogue is funny and irreverent, and Nathan Hale's illustrations are compliment the narrative.

Review: The popular author of Princess Academy teams with her husband and illustrator Hale (no relation) for a muscular retelling of the famously long-haired heroine's story, set in a fairy-tale version of the Wild West. The Hales' Rapunzel, the narrator, lives like royalty with witchy Mother Gothel, but defies orders, scaling villa walls to see what's outside--a shocking wasteland of earth-scarring mines and smoke-billowing towers. She recognizes a mine worker from a recurrent dream: it's her birth mother, from whom she was taken as punishment for her father's theft from Mother G.'s garden. Their brief reunion sets the plot in motion. Mother G. banishes Rapunzel to a forest treehouse, checking annually for repentance, which never comes. Rapunzel uses her brick-red braids first to escape, then like Indiana Jones with his whip, to knock out the villains whom she and her new sidekick, Jack (of Beanstalk fame), encounter as they navigate hostile territory to free Rapunzel's morn from peril. Illustrator Hale's detailed, candy-colored artwork demands close viewing, as it carries the action--Rapunzel's many scrapes are nearly wordless. With its can-do heroine, witty dialogue and romantic ending, this graphic novel has something for nearly everybody. 

Rapunzel's Revenge [review]. (2008). Publishers Weekly, 255(31), 63.

Suggested Use: I would present this book to middle school kids along with Paul O. Zelinsky's Rapunzel, a more traditional presentation of the fairy tale. I'd ask kids to talk about the different approaches each book takes to the fairy tale, including dialogue, narrative, and illustration style. I'd then ask the kids to consider their own favorite fairy tale, and reimagine the hero or heroine as the protagonist of a modern graphic novel. They could either write a brief story about the character, draw and illustration or two of the character's adventures, or both. 

Module 10: And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Summary: The authors of this book inform us that, every year, penguins pair off to start families. Usually, male and female penguins pair up. And Tango Makes Three is the true story of two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo named Roy and Silo, who become partners. They perform the same mating behavior as the other penguin couples, even building a nest and sitting on a rock as though it were an egg. When the zookeepers observe this behavior, they bring an egg for Roy and Silo to hatch. The two male penguins carefully tend the egg until it hatches. The baby penguin is called Tango, and Roy and Silo care for her exactly as the other penguin pairs care for their young, feeding her, keeping her warm, and teaching her how to swim.

Reference: Richardson, J., and Parnell, P. (2005). And Tango makes three. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Impressions: Even though I understand why some people would want to ban this book, it's hard to understand how they could justify it. After all, it's just the true story of some penguins. Authors Richardson and Parnell don't discuss the politics of penguin sexuality, or the ways in which Tango's family might be like human families. The great thing about this book is that it makes its point by presenting a true, simple story of a family that behaves much like any other. The illustrations are sweet and the penguins are adorable, because penguins always are.

Review: In this true, straightforwardly (so to speak) delivered tale, two male chinstrap penguins at New York City's Central Park Zoo bond, build a nest and--thanks to a helping hand from an observant zookeeper--hatch and raise a penguin chick. Seeing that the penguins dubbed Roy and Silo "did everything together. They bowed to each other. And walked together. They sang to each other. And swam together," their keeper, Mr. Gramzay, thinks, "They must be in love." And so, when Roy and Silo copy the other penguin couples and build a nest of stones, it's Gramzay who brings a neighboring couple's second egg for them to tend, then names the resulting hatchling "Tango." Cole gives the proud parents and their surrogate offspring small smiles, but otherwise depicts figures and setting with tidy, appealing accuracy. Unlike Harvey Fierstein's groundbreaking The Sissy Duckling (2002), also illustrated by Cole, this doesn't carry its agenda on its shoulder; readers may find its theme of acceptance even more convincing for being delivered in such a matter of fact, non-preachy way.

AND TANGO MAKES THREE [review]. (2005). Kirkus Reviews, 73(11), 642.

Suggested Use: Like I said, my favorite thing about this book is its simple presentation of a penguin family at the zoo. I wouldn't draw any negative attention to this book by emphasizing its banned/challenged status. I'd simply include it in a book display about zoo animals, and maybe include it in a story time, with penguin puppets. It'd be a hit, I'm sure.

Module 9: This is Just to Say, by Joyce Sidman

Summary: This is a collection of poems by Joyce Sidman, written in the voices of a fictional group of sixth-graders and their teachers, friends and parents, and patterned after William Carlos Williams' poem of the same title. The poems, written in a variety of forms, are presented in two sections: one for apologies by students, and one for responses. For instance, in one poem, a boy from the class apologizes to his father for vandalizing the garage windows. The boys father responds with a poem of his own, forgiving him for the broken windows and expressing pride in the boy's academic achievement. Some of the poems are written by students in the voices of other people and creatures, who either can't or won't respond.

Reference: Sidman, J. (2007). This is just to say: Poems of apology and forgiveness. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin.

Impressions: My favorite thing about this book is illustrations. Supposedly done by a student in the class, Pamela Zagarenski's collage-like illustrations are saturated in blues, golds, and reds. The background for each poem is a different color, and the poems are illustrated with folk art-like drawings and what looks like dictionary text. The poems themselves are entertaining, and each is a lovely example of a different type of poem, like a haiku or pantoum. This book would be a great introduction to poetry for early grade school to middle school aged children. I enjoyed the way Sidman created a unique voice for each poet.

Review: Mrs. Merz assigns her sixth-grade students to write poems of apology, and what emerges is a surprising array of emotions, poetic forms, and subjects from dead pets and biting hamsters to angry siblings and betrayal of trust. The children decide to create their own book of these poems, complete with an introduction and occasional notes by editor Anthony K. Fast-talking Thomas writes a humorous poem patterned after William Carlos Williams's "This Is Just to Say," apologizing to Mrs. Garcia in the office, for stealing the jelly donuts in the teachers' lounge: "Forgive me/they were delicious/so sweet/and so gloppy." Mrs. Garcia's response poem says, "Of course I forgive you./But I still have to call your mother." A more serious concern emerges in "Next Time," written by Jewel: "Please, please come back./Don't leave me spinning alone,/like a slow, sad tornado./I'm sorry, Daddy./Next time I'll be/perfect." In the response poem, Jewel describes her father's wrenching reply telling her that, "None of the stupid things/I have ever done/are even close to being your fault." Sidman's ear is keen, capturing many voices. Her skill as a poet accessible to young people is unmatched. Zagarenski's delicately outlined collage drawings and paintings are created on mixed backgrounds-notebook paper, paper bags, newspaper, graph paper, school supplies. This is an important book both for its creativity and for its wisdom.

Bock, L. (2007). This Is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness [review]. School Library Journal, 53(5), 162.

Summary: As I said, this book would be a great introduction to poetry. A librarian could work with a school teacher to create an activity where students read the poems aloud, discuss the elements of poetry and its forms, and then create their own poems. They could choose their favorite type of poem represented in the book, and use that pattern to write their own poems. I wouldn't ask them to do apologies, but I would ask them to write a poem for another person, perhaps about why that person is important, or what they like about them.

Module 9: Crank, by Ellen Hopkins

Summary: Crank is the story of crank addict Kristina, told in verse, When Kristina visits her deadbeat father one summer, she falls in love with Adam, the boy downstairs, who introduces her to the drug crank. Crank makes Kristina feel confident and excited, like a totally different person,. The romance with Adam doesn't last, but the habit does, as Kristina (and her alter ego, Bree) spirals out of control and into full-blown addiction. In seemingly no time, Kristina is skipping school, lying to her parents, and selling the drug to feed her raging habit. After Kristina is raped by a guy who charges her afterwards for the drugs they smoked together, she finds herself pregnant.

Impressions: This book is a quick read, and I can see why young people enjoy the novel in verse; the poems Hopkins uses to tell Kristina's story are vivid and highly illustrative. To me, the story seemed melodramatic to the point of being didactic: Hopkins is clearly trying to make a point about the dangers of drug use, and her language (outdated teenage slang) seems cliche and overdone.

Reference: Hopkins, E. (2004). Crank. New York, NY: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Review: Nonfiction author Hopkins pens her first novel, written in verse, introducing 15-year-old narrator Kristina, who reveals how she became addicted to crank, and how the stimulant turned her from straight-A student to drug dealer, and eventually a teen mom. On a court-ordered visit to see her slimy and long-absent dad, she meets-and is instantly attracted to -- Adam, who sports a "tawny six pack,/and a smile." Soon, Adam introduces her to "the monster" (there, she also unleashes a new personality, id-driven Bree). Her addiction grows, as does Bree's control. Readers get a vivid sense of the highs and lows involved with using crank ("I needed food, sleep,/but the monster denied/every bit of it"). Her life changes quickly: Soon she's dating two guys, both of whom use crank; says "Fuck you" to her mom, can't keep tip with school, and loses her old friends. There are plenty of dramatic moments: The first time she does crank, for example, her dad joins her. That same night, she stumbles into a bad area and is almost raped, and Adam's girlfriend tries to kill herself. Later in the book, she does get raped and starts selling the drug for the Mexican Mafia. Readers will appreciate the creative use of form here (some poems, for instance, are written in two columns that can be read separately or together), and although the author is definitely on a mission, she creates a world nearly as consuming and disturbing as the titular drug.

CRANK (Book). (2004). Publishers Weekly, 251(44), 63-64.

Suggested Use: I would use this book for a teen book club during National Poetry Week. Poetry often seems dry and inaccessible to young people; one thing this book does well is show how poetry can be engaging and offer a new approach to story telling. I'd like to hear what teens had to say after reading the novel, about poetry and about Kristina's experiences.  

Module 8: Cam Jansen and the Wedding Cake Mystery

Summary: Cam and her friends are performing in the talent show at the senior center where she and her dad help out. When she and her friends arrive, they meet Ken the baker. Ken has made a cake for a wedding later that evening, and the cake is waiting in his van. When Ken returns to his van after the show, he finds the cake missing. Luckily, Cam has a photographic memory, which she uses to track down the cake thief and save the wedding. 

Reference: Adler, D.A. (2010). Cam Jansen and the wedding cake mystery. New York, NY: Viking. 

Impressions: My niece chose this book to read, so it must have some entertainment value for early chapter-book readers, but it seemed very boring to me. The mystery is uninteresting and there's not much characterization. Also, once Cam locates the cake and the crook is apprehended, the author doesn't give any explanation for the theft. I guess the thief just wanted some cake...

Review: David A. Adler has done it again. His newest addition in the popular Cam Jansen series, Cam Jansen and the Wedding Cake Mystery, is sure to please fans of our favorite sleuth and attract new ones. While helping out at a senior center program, Cam is called on to help solve the mystery of a missing wedding cake and other tasty treats. Adler uses humor, suspense, and the unexpected to keep the reader captivated until the very end. Readers will also enjoy the chance to be “super sleuths” of their own through questions and activities at the end of the book.

McNeil, A. (2011, May 17). May Teacher Advisor Reviews [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://bookboxdaily.scholastic.com/2011/05/17/may-teacher-advisor-reviews/. 

Suggested Use: I would use this or another, more interesting mystery, to inspire a mystery activity for young chapter-book readers. The kids could be given a set of clues, which they would use to track down some fun missing object (a book or something silly, like a sandwich). The team to solve the mystery would win a small prize. 

Module 8: The Ruby in the Smoke, by Philip Pullman

Summary: This is the story of Sally Lockhart, whose father has just mysteriously died at sea, leaving her an orphan in Victorian England. At her new home with a sour and unaffectionate relative, Sally receives a confusing note warning her to "beware the Seven Blessings," and to locate a man called Marchbanks. Sally soon finds herself in mortal danger as she tries to solve the mystery of her father's suspicious death, and becomes embroiled in the hunt for a priceless ruby.

Reference: Pullman, P. (1985). The Ruby in the Smoke. New York, NY: Random House Children's Books.

Impressions: This book is so much fun, especially for fans of historical fiction. It's moody and atmospheric, and the villains are genuinely creepy in a Dickensian sort of way. I love how this book takes the template of a Victorian mystery, but instead of making Sally dainty and mercurial, as a true Victorian-era thriller like The Moonstone would, Sally is tough and take-charge, navigating the opium dens and slums of London to find her father's murderer and locate the ruby that is his legacy to her. The supporting characters are equally entertaining.

Review: The first volume in Philip Pullman's Sally Lockhart series (Random, pap. 1988) offers listeners an exemplary experience with classic melodrama. Sixteen-year-old Sally was orphaned when her father's investigation of illicit activities in his trading company led to his death halfway around the world from their home in 19th century London. When mysterious messages lead Sally to his old offices and, apparently, involve her in frightening a staff member there literally to death, she realizes that she needs to explore more fully what led to Lockhart's death and take matters of her present living conditions into hand. With the assistance of a young photographer and his bohemian household, the information provided by an opium addicted sailor and his vicious landlady, and the energetic guidance of the messenger boy at her father's old workplace, Sally uncovers not only the reasons for her father's death but the truth about her own parentage. Shakespearean actor Anton Lesser creates a host of accents and personalities to match this diverse cast of characters. Not only is this a rip-roaring mystery, but the insights offered on Victorian society and technology will intrigue both newcomers to historical fiction and those who thought Dickens would have the ultimate word on representing the era in fiction.

Goldsmith, F., & Mandell, P. L. (2004). The Ruby in the Smoke[review]. School Library Journal, 50(12), 78.

Suggested Use:  COSTUME NIGHT! Kids could come dressed as their favorite characters from historical or steam punk fiction. I think kids who enjoy steam punk would find this book entertaining. It lacks the sci-fi/fantasy element of steam punk, but it really nails the smokey, gritty atmosphere of London during the era of steam power, so I'd include this in a list of suggested books for steam punk or historical fiction costume night!

Module 7: Witch Hunt: The Mysteries of the Salem Witch Trials, by Marc Aronson

Summary: Author Marc Aronson revisits the Salem Witch Trials, using new and old research, as well as primary documents, to put the trials and executions into context. Aronson discusses political tensions and social realities that influenced Salem's reaction to the accusations of witchcraft, and ties this dark historical period to the contemporary experience. The author includes a handy timeline of Puritan history and of the trials, as well as a useful appendix discussing Arthur Miller's well-known play about the Salem witch trials, The Crucible.

Reference: Aronson, M. (2003). Witch-hunt: the mysteries of the Salem witch trials. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Impressions: Like many, I've had a lasting interest in the Salem witch trials, and I found Aronson's book illuminating. We tend to view the Salem witch trials as an isolated incident, but Aronson is careful to explain seventeenth-century culture, particularly in England and the colonies, in a way that sheds light on how these accusations were able to gather the momentum that they did. Aronson also clears up several myths, like the origins of Tituba, who is frequently portrayed as African, though she was actually an Indian from Barbados. The author also explores some of the psychological aspects of the case along with political and historical, so that it becomes easier to imagine how a girl like Ann Putnam, Jr., might become embroiled in the frenzy of accusations and trials. I was especially interested to read about the political tensions between the farmers of Salem Village, with their own church, and the larger, more commercial Salem Town.

Review: The Devil made them do it. So said Puritan minister Increase Mather in 1692, finally speaking out against the accusers and ending the hanging of townsfolk found guilty of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. But, delving into the evidence of court documents and the interpretations of numerous modern scholars, Aronson argues a much more complex case. His deeply researched examination becomes a multilayered lesson in the study and understanding of history. While what actually happened in Salem is not easily discerned, Aronson offers plenty of discussion of possible motives and causes as characters and events are introduced. An opening note to the reader refutes the accuracy of most popular accounts, and several themes and ideas about interpreting the Salem story recur in the substantial introduction and prologue and throughout the analytical text. Early on, Aronson makes an analogy to the social extrapolation of witch characters encountered in folk and fairy tales, and he repeatedly alludes to the events of September 11 as an example of crisis coloring accusations and judgments. He has a particular interest in the erroneous but compelling account Arthur Miller created in his play The Crucible, and references to this are expanded, in a long appendix, which also suggests ways teachers might approach this oft-assigned work. It may well be that teachers will be this book's most apt audience, though teen readers will surely gain insight into the complexities of history itself and the reading and writing of historical material. With as much historiography as history, it's all a bit heavy going, yet the story — what happened and why it may have happened — retains its luster as an intriguing, dramatic exemplar of human experience. A timeline, bibliography, extensive notes, and an index round out the discourse.

Bush, M. A. (2004). Witch-Hunt: Mysteries of the Salem Witch Trials [review]. Horn Book Magazine, 80(1), 96-97.

Suggested Use: In an academic library, I would recommend this book to high school or early-college (freshman and sophomore) students of American History. The Salem Witch Trials have always held a special place in the imagination for those interested in history, and this book puts the trials in a new, more logical context. This would be great for a classroom book report or project.