I listened to this book on audio with my husband, who is also a 9th grade algebra teacher in the car. About an hour into the book Alex announced "every teacher should be required to read this book." This is a pretty big statement from him since he is not a reader. I tend to agree with Alex, it should be read by all teachers, and I think students too.
This book made me laugh out loud, want to cry, but most importantly it educated me on what it must be like to WANT to do the right thing but not quite be able to control yourself. In the real world it is actions not intentions that matter and Joey finds himself friendless, often in hot water with consequences to live with, and frustrated. The story is told from Joey's point of view and we find that he is a sympathetic character, with lots of insights to offer the rest of us as we deal with students and peers with ADHD.
This is a perfect book to read to introduce kids to the idea of differences. It is my experience that most grades, if not classrooms have students with ADHD, some that have medicine, but sometimes "forget" to take it and show up at school a completely different student and others who are not diagnosed or medicated. I think this book will help students look upon these kids like real people with problems as opposed to a "freak" or a kid to be shunned.
Amazon.com Review
Joey Pigza has problems. Big problems. He was emotionally abused by his grandmother. He has never met his dad. He can't get along in his elementary school classroom because of his mood swings and his "dud meds." We gradually see that Joey must have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), which is not being effectively controlled with his current medication. Joey's life is a terrifying roller-coaster ride, and Jack Gantos, author of the Rotten Ralph books, drags the reader along to see what life is like with ADD. The story is written from the boy's point of view in a sharp, worried style that veers out of control when Joey does. Joey's control of his own behavior slips away as we read, horrified to see this boy trying to get a grip on his life and failing. He disrupts the class field trip; he puts his finger in a pencil sharpener and injures himself; he swallows his house key. Then he runs through the classroom holding open sharp scissors. When he trips and falls, seriously injuring a classmate, he is transferred to a special-education program in another school. Here, thankfully, he encounters a caring teacher who recommends further medical evaluation, and Joey is eventually able to return to his former school. There is hope for Joey on the last page--he sits in the Big Quiet Chair to read. Gantos has achieved an unusual feat with this book. We want to turn away from Joey's shifting prison of emotions. But for those who stick with him, he shows us what his life is like. We walk a mile in his shoes, our feet hurting all the way. For young readers touched by ADD--and for their teachers and parents--Joey gives us the key to his world. (Ages 10 and older) --Marcie Bovetz --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Publishers Weekly
In a starred review, PW called this National Book Award finalist "an accurate, compassionate and humorous appraisal of a boy with attention-deficit disorder." Ages 10-up. (Feb.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8-Joey Pigza suffers from severe attention deficit disorder and struggles to remain calm when his world chaotically slips through his fingertips. When his medicine wears off, he cannot concentrate or sit still and is constantly in trouble at school. After leaving him for several years in the care of his abusive grandmother, his mother returns to reclaim him and her parental responsibilities. But Joey remains a challenge: he continually disrupts his class, swallows his house key, and runs away during a field trip. Eventually, he injures a classmate and is sent to a special education center for six weeks; here his medication is regulated and he learns how to manage his behavior. Joey leaves the center feeling strong and in control and he triumphantly returns to his old school. Gantos creates a strong cast of multidimensional characters. Joey is inherently a good kid and just as his teachers want him to succeed, readers will empathize and feel his emotional and physical bruises. References to alcoholism and abuse add realism to the novel without impeding the flow of the plot. In his first-person narrative, Joey relates incidents that are heart wrenching and humorous. From the powerful opening lines and fast-moving plot to the thoughtful inner dialogue and satisfying conclusion, readers will cheer for Joey, and for the champion in each of us.
Shawn Brommer, Southern Tier Library System, Painted Post, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
"Gantos is a terrific writer." -- School Library Journal
"In this rollercoaster of a ride, ingenuously and breathlessly narrated by Joey himself, readers are treated to an up-close introduction to life with attention deficit disorder-or being wired, as Joey puts it...Readers of this compelling tragicomedy will know almost from the start that Joey's not just a good kid-he's a great kid." --Starred, The Horn Book
-- Review --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
"In this rollercoaster of a ride, ingenuously and breathlessly narrated by Joey himself, readers are treated to an up-close introduction to life with attention deficit disorder-or being wired, as Joey puts it...Readers of this compelling tragicomedy will know almost from the start that Joey's not just a good kid-he's a great kid." --Starred, The Horn Book
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND is a historical-romance. The main character, Katherine Tyler AKA Kit moves into her uncle's puritan home in Connecticut during America's colonial period from her recently departed high-class grandfather's home in Barbados. To say the least Kit is in for a culture shock, as the town is shocked by her ignorance of and unwilliness to conform to their rules.
***WARNING MANY SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT.... DO NOT CONTINUE IF YOU WANT TO READ THE BOOK***
The story develops in two major locales, the home in which Kat is staying along with aunt and uncle, Rachel and Matthew wood and their children, her cousins Judith and Mercy. At the house much work and little play is afforded Kit, and her only joy is when courters come calling on the girls. This is wrenching however because it is fairly early in the novel that it is clear that the lovers are mismatched.
The second is the home and surrounding meadows of Hanna Tupper, a Quaker gossiped by townspeople to be a witch and her frequent visitors Nat Eaton, a sailor and Prudence Kruff, a young girl, Prudence Kruff, who Kit is secretly teaching to read. This is Kit's sanctuary, here Kit finds true friendship with Hanna, falls in love with Nat, and finds purpose in her life by teaching Prudence.
Kit's continued visit to the Tupper house, despite her uncle forbidding it causes Kit herself to be charged with Witchcraft. For awhile things look quite dire for Kit, but her true friends Nat and Prudence step forward, risking physical harm to themselves in doing so, and are able to clear her name.
In the end all is well that ends well, however as the mismatched lovers are able to correctly match themselves without any harm being caused to the relationship of the girls, a feat I spent most of last night trying to figure out how Elizabeth Speare would accomplish this during the colonial time period where boyfriend swapping was not so common.
Overall while everything did fit together just perfectly in the end, in almost a cliché way, I can’t help but to admit I loved this book. I really did love Kit, and her cousin Mercy (Judith not so much) and I wanted them to be happy and with the men that would best suit them and I really did spend a lot of time thinking about how this could be accomplished. I also really loved Kit as a strong young woman character, especially considering this book was written in the 50's, and was surly a feminist political symbol to the girl readers of the time. Finally, it did a great job of being historically accurate and valuable.
I will recommend this book be on the 8th grade summer reading list because it fits in perfectly with the 8th grade Social Studies curriculum (US History) and is literarily sound as noted by winning the 1959 Newberry Award. This book lends to the History classes' discussion of patriots v. loyalists, French and Indian War, The Witch Trials, Puritanism, and Quakers.
Here are what other people said about the book:
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Forced to leave her sunny Caribbean home for the bleak Connecticut Colony, Kit Tyler is filled with trepidation. As they sail up the river to Kit's new home, the teasing and moodiness of a young sailor named Nat doesn't help. Still, her unsinkable spirit soon bobs back up. What this spirited teenager doesn't count on, however, is how her aunt and uncle's stern Puritan community will view her. In the colonies of 1687, a girl who swims, wears silk and satin gowns, and talks back to her elders is not only headstrong, she is in grave danger of being regarded as a witch. When Kit befriends an old Quaker woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond, it is more than the ascetics can take: soon Kit is defending her life. Who can she count on as she confronts these angry and suspicious townspeople?
A thoroughly exciting and rewarding Newbery Medal winner and ALA Notable Children's Book, Elizabeth George Speare's The Witch of Blackbird Pond brings this frightening period of witch hysteria to life. Readers will wonder at the power of the mob mentality, and the need for communities in desperate times--even current times--to find a scapegoat. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8-Mary Beth Hurt gives an excellent performance in this reading of the Newbery Award-winning novel by Elizabeth George Speare (HM, 1958). The setting is the Colony of Connecticut in 1687 amid the political and religious conflicts of that day. Sixteen-year-old Kit Tyler unexpectedly arrives at her aunt and uncle's doorstep and is unprepared for the new world which awaits her. Having been raised by her grandfather in Barbados, she doesn't understand the conflict between those loyal to the king and those who defend the Connecticut Charter. Unprepared for the religious intolerance and rigidity of the Puritan community, she is constantly astounding her aunt, uncle, and cousins with her dress, behavior, and ideas. She takes comfort in her secret friendship with the widow, Hannah Tupper, who has been expelled from Massachusetts because she is a Quaker and suspected of being a witch. When a deathly sickness strikes the village, first Hannah and then Kit are accused of being witches. Through these conflicts and experiences, Kit comes to know and accept herself. She learns not to make hasty judgments about people, and that there are always two sides to every conflict. There are several minor plots as well, including three romances, which help to bring this time and place to life. Hurt's use of vocal inflection and expression make this an excellent choice for listening whether as an enrichment to the social studies curriculum or purely for pleasure.
Maureen Cash Moffet, St. Anne's Catholic School, Bristol, VA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"Strong plot, fully realized characters and convincing atmosphere distinguish this historical narrative of a girl whose rebellion against bigotry and her Puritan surroundings culminates in a witch hunt and trial."--Booklist.
***WARNING MANY SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT.... DO NOT CONTINUE IF YOU WANT TO READ THE BOOK***
The story develops in two major locales, the home in which Kat is staying along with aunt and uncle, Rachel and Matthew wood and their children, her cousins Judith and Mercy. At the house much work and little play is afforded Kit, and her only joy is when courters come calling on the girls. This is wrenching however because it is fairly early in the novel that it is clear that the lovers are mismatched.
The second is the home and surrounding meadows of Hanna Tupper, a Quaker gossiped by townspeople to be a witch and her frequent visitors Nat Eaton, a sailor and Prudence Kruff, a young girl, Prudence Kruff, who Kit is secretly teaching to read. This is Kit's sanctuary, here Kit finds true friendship with Hanna, falls in love with Nat, and finds purpose in her life by teaching Prudence.
Kit's continued visit to the Tupper house, despite her uncle forbidding it causes Kit herself to be charged with Witchcraft. For awhile things look quite dire for Kit, but her true friends Nat and Prudence step forward, risking physical harm to themselves in doing so, and are able to clear her name.
In the end all is well that ends well, however as the mismatched lovers are able to correctly match themselves without any harm being caused to the relationship of the girls, a feat I spent most of last night trying to figure out how Elizabeth Speare would accomplish this during the colonial time period where boyfriend swapping was not so common.
Overall while everything did fit together just perfectly in the end, in almost a cliché way, I can’t help but to admit I loved this book. I really did love Kit, and her cousin Mercy (Judith not so much) and I wanted them to be happy and with the men that would best suit them and I really did spend a lot of time thinking about how this could be accomplished. I also really loved Kit as a strong young woman character, especially considering this book was written in the 50's, and was surly a feminist political symbol to the girl readers of the time. Finally, it did a great job of being historically accurate and valuable.
I will recommend this book be on the 8th grade summer reading list because it fits in perfectly with the 8th grade Social Studies curriculum (US History) and is literarily sound as noted by winning the 1959 Newberry Award. This book lends to the History classes' discussion of patriots v. loyalists, French and Indian War, The Witch Trials, Puritanism, and Quakers.
Here are what other people said about the book:
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Forced to leave her sunny Caribbean home for the bleak Connecticut Colony, Kit Tyler is filled with trepidation. As they sail up the river to Kit's new home, the teasing and moodiness of a young sailor named Nat doesn't help. Still, her unsinkable spirit soon bobs back up. What this spirited teenager doesn't count on, however, is how her aunt and uncle's stern Puritan community will view her. In the colonies of 1687, a girl who swims, wears silk and satin gowns, and talks back to her elders is not only headstrong, she is in grave danger of being regarded as a witch. When Kit befriends an old Quaker woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond, it is more than the ascetics can take: soon Kit is defending her life. Who can she count on as she confronts these angry and suspicious townspeople?
A thoroughly exciting and rewarding Newbery Medal winner and ALA Notable Children's Book, Elizabeth George Speare's The Witch of Blackbird Pond brings this frightening period of witch hysteria to life. Readers will wonder at the power of the mob mentality, and the need for communities in desperate times--even current times--to find a scapegoat. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8-Mary Beth Hurt gives an excellent performance in this reading of the Newbery Award-winning novel by Elizabeth George Speare (HM, 1958). The setting is the Colony of Connecticut in 1687 amid the political and religious conflicts of that day. Sixteen-year-old Kit Tyler unexpectedly arrives at her aunt and uncle's doorstep and is unprepared for the new world which awaits her. Having been raised by her grandfather in Barbados, she doesn't understand the conflict between those loyal to the king and those who defend the Connecticut Charter. Unprepared for the religious intolerance and rigidity of the Puritan community, she is constantly astounding her aunt, uncle, and cousins with her dress, behavior, and ideas. She takes comfort in her secret friendship with the widow, Hannah Tupper, who has been expelled from Massachusetts because she is a Quaker and suspected of being a witch. When a deathly sickness strikes the village, first Hannah and then Kit are accused of being witches. Through these conflicts and experiences, Kit comes to know and accept herself. She learns not to make hasty judgments about people, and that there are always two sides to every conflict. There are several minor plots as well, including three romances, which help to bring this time and place to life. Hurt's use of vocal inflection and expression make this an excellent choice for listening whether as an enrichment to the social studies curriculum or purely for pleasure.
Maureen Cash Moffet, St. Anne's Catholic School, Bristol, VA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"Strong plot, fully realized characters and convincing atmosphere distinguish this historical narrative of a girl whose rebellion against bigotry and her Puritan surroundings culminates in a witch hunt and trial."--Booklist.
Friday, June 12, 2009
MILLIONS OF CATS by Wanda Gag
MILLIONS OF CATS is a story about a lonely old lady who thinks a cat would brighten her days so her husband goes to fetch her a cat. Her husband however was unable to select just one cat because he liked the uniqueness in each of them so he decided to bring them all home. This was a disaster, as they drank an entire lake and ate an entire field in one feeding. So they asked the cats to select among themselves who was the fairest. In turn they end up eating each other, except one self described "homily" cat stayed above the fray and thusly was the sole survivor. Eventually with the love, food and caring of the old man and woman the cat turned into quite a beautiful cat.
I liked this book because of the morals of staying above the fray, and too much of a good thing is a bad thing. As the 1929 Newberry winner the graphic are not as intense as the graphics of today, but when I read it to my nieces (6 and 3) they didn't complain. They liked the story and looking at the pictures of the cats. (they are true animal lovers!)
This story could be used as a "social story" with a class that has a lot of in-fighting. It could also be used in a Social Studies class to teach the idea of supply and demand.
Other Reviews:
Amazon.com Review
Millions of Cats is a wonderful tale of vanity versus humility, written and illustrated by the singular Wanda Gag. An old man and his wife decide to get a cat, so the old man goes out in search of the prettiest cat of all. When he is forced to choose from "hundreds, thousands, millions and billions and trillions" of cats, he (naturally) brings them all home. When the wife points out their inability to support the legion of felines, it is left to the cats to decide who among them is the prettiest. Anyone who has ever owned more than a single cat can tell you what happens next.
Gag's simple, appealing black ink drawings are perfect for the story, somehow capturing at least the idea of millions of cats in a single page. Repeated lines and the sing-song title refrain make this a read-aloud natural.(Ages 4 to 8) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"This Newbery Honor winner is distinguished by innovative design and a strong storyteller's cadence." (School Library Journal's "One Hundred Books that Shaped the Century")
"A perennial favorite." (The New York Times) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
I liked this book because of the morals of staying above the fray, and too much of a good thing is a bad thing. As the 1929 Newberry winner the graphic are not as intense as the graphics of today, but when I read it to my nieces (6 and 3) they didn't complain. They liked the story and looking at the pictures of the cats. (they are true animal lovers!)
This story could be used as a "social story" with a class that has a lot of in-fighting. It could also be used in a Social Studies class to teach the idea of supply and demand.
Other Reviews:
Amazon.com Review
Millions of Cats is a wonderful tale of vanity versus humility, written and illustrated by the singular Wanda Gag. An old man and his wife decide to get a cat, so the old man goes out in search of the prettiest cat of all. When he is forced to choose from "hundreds, thousands, millions and billions and trillions" of cats, he (naturally) brings them all home. When the wife points out their inability to support the legion of felines, it is left to the cats to decide who among them is the prettiest. Anyone who has ever owned more than a single cat can tell you what happens next.
Gag's simple, appealing black ink drawings are perfect for the story, somehow capturing at least the idea of millions of cats in a single page. Repeated lines and the sing-song title refrain make this a read-aloud natural.(Ages 4 to 8) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"This Newbery Honor winner is distinguished by innovative design and a strong storyteller's cadence." (School Library Journal's "One Hundred Books that Shaped the Century")
"A perennial favorite." (The New York Times) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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