JUNE 28, 2007
This Land Was Made for You and Me: The Life & Songs of Woody Guthrie by Elizabeth Partridge
This biography chronicals the life of folk singer Woody Guthrie from his birth in 1912 until his death in 1967. Although he wrote hundreds and hundreds of songs during his lifetime, none may be more well-known than "This Land Was Made for You and Me" which he wrote in 1940 as a reaction to the Irving Berlin song "God Bless America" which he felt over-romanticized America. His original title, "God Blessed America", spoke of all the things that he saw as he criss-crossed America by foot and train from the golden valleys to the diamond deserts. Woody was also an activist cheering for the poor, sick, and hungry people around the country who were out of work and underpaid. He played at union rallies and benefit concerts. Tragic family history is detailed as well as Woody's marriages, children, and work history. Photographs and other memorabilia make this an extremely interesting read and would be suitable for teens in grades 6 and up, as well as adults who are more familiar with Woody's story.
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JUNE 27, 2007
Tangerine by Edward Bloor
While soccer and football at times occupy center stage -
Tangerine is clearly more than a "sports novel." Paul, protagonist and narrator, is a legally blind newcomer to Tangerine County, Florida. Denied the opportunity to play goalie on the soccer team at his assigned school, he gets the opportunity to do so when he is transferred to a nearby middle school where "minorities are in the majority." Rich in sub-plots (Paul's father's obsession with his brother's football career, his mother's involvement with community activism, his brother's increasingly abhorrent behavior, and his own growing commitment to his teammates and their families), the reader wonders if all the conflicts and controversies can be resolved before the end of the novel. Teens will enjoy reports of games featuring intense rivalries and will become involved in Paul's struggles to be true to himself and to his family. Appropriate for grades 7 - 10.
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JUNE 25, 2007
Spite Fences by Trudy Krisher
This is a very powerful novel that shows the injustices given to African-American people during the Civil Rights era in the early 1960s.
Maggie Pugh, a white girl, is 13 years old, and has lived in Kinship, Georgia all of her life. She doesn't have it easy, as she lives on the poor side of town, has a father out of work, a sister who is adored by Maggie's mother,and Maggie is abused by her mother. Maggie's only escape is through her camera. It helps Maggie to see a lot of beauty in the world, plus it helps her to see all of the prejudices as well.
Maggie has a terrible secret, and it haunts her throughout the book. With her camera, she is able to slowly reveal the events that haunt her. Maggie also is beginning to question why things are they way they are. Maggie is beginning to wonder why there are separate parks, schools, churches, restrooms, etc. for "coloreds," and why white people have such a dislike of "colored," people. Maggie has a black friend, Zeke, and a new black friend, George Hardy, and these men help her to understand about accepting black people as people, and not just by the color of their skin.
Maggie has a lot of strength, and she has to depend on that strength to pull her through her mother's abuses, and even through the horrible ordeal that her neighbor, Virgil Boggs, puts her through. There are some graphic and very disturbing scenes throughout this story, but it helps to make a point of the atrocities suffered by innocent people due to the ignorance and prejudices of others.
This is an an excellent read, and would be good for social studies. "Spite Fences," is a winner of the International Reading Association Award. This book is recommended for those readers in grades 7-10.
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JUNE 20, 2007
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Twelve year old Catherine is a sister to David, her young brother. Younger brothers can typically be a "pain" and embarrassing while growing up as siblings. However, Catherine's brother, David, is autistic. Catherine loves her brother but is torn between her feelings of love for him and embarrassment over behaviors of which are a part of David's disability. Catherine makes rules for David. She hopes the rules will help David behave appropriately, at least, in front of her friends. Catherine shares her dilemma in this sensitive book by author, Cynthia Lord, who is the parent of an autistic child. Catherine befriends a young man, Jason, who is paraplegic and uses a communication board in their conversations. The struggle is realistic between young people with disabilities, family members and finding acceptance with peers. This book is a 2007 Newbery Honor Book and most appropriate for children in grades 4-7.
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JUNE 4, 2007
Fallout by Trudy Krisher
It is 1954 and Senator Joseph McCarthy is accusing several members of the State Department of Communism. Also, it is the height of the Cold War, and people try to protect themselves against the threat of a nuclear attack. In Easton, North Carolina, the residents there are very pro-McCarthy and anti-Communism, as well as very good at preparing for hurricanes.
One young resident, Genevieve, is beginning her freshman year of high school. Naturally a quiet person, who prefers to spend her evenings writing poetry, versus being one of the popular girls with their Peter Pan collar blouses and saddle shoes. Genevieve is feeling lonelier than usual, as her best friend, Sally, has moved away.
At the start of the school year, a new girl from California, Brenda Wompers, is in Genevieve's grade. Brenda is so completely different from anyone that Genevieve has ever met, that Genevieve slowly gets to know Brenda. Brenda challenges everything at the school from the dress code to what she can do on her science project.
Over the course of the school year, Brenda and her parents cause a lot of controversy. Brenda's parents question the school's Civil Defense program, the use of the words "under God," in the Pledge of Allegiance, and try to show the school that there are some very serious dangers with all of the atomic testing going on. Brenda and her family are eventually ostracized by the town. During a hurricane, Genevieve helps the Wompers.
As Genevieve gets to know Brenda better, Genevieve learns to think for herself more, rather than just agreeing with the beliefs of her parents. In turn, Brenda starts to question some of the beliefs of her parents, and starts to feel things more, rather than just solely rely on facts. Both girls learn that each has something valuable to give, and that not everything can be defined in black and white.
This is an extremely well-written book, that would be a good book for discussions in either English or social studies classes. It is well-researched and provides a lot of thought-provoking questions. Genevieve is a very sympathetic character, and I am sure many teens could relate to her questions about politics, religion, and choosing friends. Recommended for Grades 7-10.
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