I Dreamt...A book about hope - Gabriela Olmos

This beautiful book can be used around Remembrance Day but for so many other things as well.  As I was reading I thought about a scenario where kids may be talking about war, guns and drugs and seeming insensitive.  This would be a beautiful addition to a serious conversation. 

The book was created by Mexican artists as a fundraiser for the IBBY Fund for Children in Crisis.  Bibliotherapy is when books and reading is used to help children who have lived through wars, civil conflicts and natural disasters.  Using their reading they think and talk about their experiences.  Children who have not know disaster would also benefit from learning how children other than themselves use literature to cope.

You could use this book for an art project.  They could recreate or create their own work based on what they read.  The use of font style can be discussed for their own artwork and how the font style affects the feeling of the illustrations.

There are some hugely moving quotes that can be taken from this book and used individually.  I believe students can do a reading response from lines such as:

'I dreamt...that danger could be cut into confetti if only you could find the right pair of scissors.'
Oh my.
How about...
'When I woke up I remembered that for many kids life is more of a nightmare than a sweet dream.'

Where the  discussion can lead is dependent on how the students respond to statements such as these.

I love this book.

An Infidel in Paradise - S.J. Laidlaw

This book was free.  I got it at a book sale my first year as a Teacher-Librarian.  I remember reading the back and thinking it sounded good.  It was catalogued and onto the shelf it went.  I remember seeing it from time to time and thinking 'too bad no one will give it a chance'.  I do believe a big part of my job is seeking out those books that no one tries, giving them a try and sharing them with my young readers.  Summer reading marathons came and went and then this Spring I had a parent volunteer go through YA books that have not been signed out since I've come to the library.  'An Infidel in Paradise' was among the group on the outs.  I felt sad for this Canadian novel.  I refused to get rid of it without it being read.  I vowed to read it this summer.

So glad I did.  If I need to talk about abandoning books, I also need to spend some time talking to kids about giving books a chance.  It's ok to abandon, but some books just need a chance.

I've been on a fascination train with all things India.  Pakistan (Paradise) is another setting that I enjoy.  I'm trying to figure out why I enjoy the suffering of these harsh settings.  Is it so far removed from life in the west?  Does the fascination come from learning about a culture that is beautiful, steeped in tradition and one I know little of?  Probably.

Emma in this book is a Canadian who is trying to make sense of Pakistan.  I can empathize with her - I would have made the same blunders she experiences and has to live down.  Also, her family is in disarray.  Family turmoil and dealing with cultural differences are of the themes in this great Canadian novel.

Give it a CHANCE!

The Selection Series - Kiera Cass - Update

Loved it, No wonder young teens love it too.  I bought the next series where Maxon and America have a daughter and she picks her mate in the Selection.  I haven't read that yet.  After 3 books, I was done with this storyline.  I may return to it one day, but I wanted to make sure I had the next part of the story in the library.  Funny that in the Hunger Games, I felt like I was done with it by the last book.  Both these series could be two books instead of 3, in my opinion.

Kudos, to Kiera Cass though!  I was going to abandon 'The Selection' early on.  It was totally worth it to stick it out.

A great idea for a plot line that appeals to teens who will love the Bachelor-style competition, and the characters have enough depth for the discerning reader.  A good summer read!

The Selection - Kiera Cass

This would be a good book for me to talk to students about why we abandon books.  And then I could discuss why SOMETIMES we need to just give a book a little more time.  The first 40 pages of this book I was literally rolling my eyes.  It seemed very much like another trilogy that I had read about 5 years ago.  See if you can guess which one I'm talking about...
-A female protagonist
-Setting - some sort of distopian/post war society
-Citizens are unfairly divided into a caste system read: districts
-A contest is announced and our protagonist finds herself as a favourite
-Her true love is in a lower caste who is worse off than her family
-Adorable sister whom our protagonist loves dearly
-Unnecessary opulence at the very top
-All the 'nation' watches the contest unfold
Puhlese! I couldn't take it.  I had decided to bring this trilogy home this summer because a student recommended it to me.  She often doesn't go for the fluff, so I was intrigued.  After my 40 pages, I put it down and honestly thought about abandoning it and blogging about my reasons.  I went a whole day in my summer reading marathon without reading!  This morning I had some time to myself and decided to give it another 40 pages.  Now?  I have to find out what happens!  America is a strong character who stays true to herself and Prince Maxon is an interesting character too.  The 2 have a connection and right now she is his inside source.  She is going to give him information and Maxon will let her remain so that her family will be taken care of at home.  I predict that he likes her already and is just waiting for her to fall too.  We'll have to see. 

I do allow kids to abandon books and tell them to do so if they have given a book a chance.  I will definitely use this experience as an example.  I will tell students that sometimes you just need to give a book another chance before you REALLY decide whether you are going to stick it out or not!

Guest Blog By Parker - Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Parker - Age 10
Me: So Parker, you have read all the 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' books this summer, correct?
P: Correct

Me: Was this the first time you read them all?
P: Yes

Me: But not the first time for some of them, right?
P: Yep

Me: Why do you like these books so much?
P: Cuz I like how there's pictures and words

Me: There are lots of other books around that have pictures and words.  Why do you think you (and lots of other kids) always go back to read these books?
P: Because the person in the book, Greg, is about the same age as me

Me: That's interesting?
P: Uh huh, he does stuff that I would do.

Me: Like what? What type of things would you do or think is interesting?
P: Ummm, that's a hard one.  He's always going over to his friends Rowley's house.  I like how he has a big brother and I like to read what he does.

Me: The big brother is a bit of a goof, right?
P: Ya

Me: Do you think you are ever going to try another book?
P: Yes

Me: When?
P: Well, I've already tried the villager book.

Me: Like, you've really tried?
P: Ummmm well, I read 20 pages, so ya, I guess

Me: Why don't you try 20 more pages and get back to me?
P: OK, later

Me: <<<<sigh>>>

Hurry, Freedom - Canadian Flyer Adventures - Frieda Wishinsky

Guest Blogger - Abby (Age 7, turning 8 next month)

Did you like this book?
Yes

Why?
Because I learned lots of new things and it was very nice.  It is a real story and people got to freedom.

What was your favourite part?
When they were getting to Canada off the raft

Tell me about the setting of the book
I thought about a house with no windows or doors at first but then one window with a lantern in it.  Around it would be forest and a horse and wagon.  But all around would be forest.  Then you would go farther into the woods (about 10 meters???).  You turn to your left and a cave would be there.  In front of you is a bridge and water all around the bridge.  After there is land and forest and a beach.

Why is this an adventure?
 Because you have to get across the water without people catching you.  And they were all around you at night.  And you were trying to get there.

What did you learn about the Underground Railroad?
I learned that slave catchers would try and catch black people.  There was a nice man and lady that were trying to help everyone who was slaves.  The slave catchers try to catch them.  They try to catch them to get money.  They get money because the slave owners set out people to catch them.  Emily and Matt are trying to help.

The Underground Railroad is how the slaves can get released to freedom.
Slaves run away from slave owners that make them work.
Nice people volunteer to help them get to Canada because Canada is a safe place

Thanks, Abby!  Keep up the summer reading!

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - John Boyne

Adele's song, 'Set Fire to the Rain' was the song that randomly came on as I sat down to write this post immediately after finishing this book.  Bruno definitely set fire to the rain as he found himself inside the concentration camp that was run by his father.  I did not cry.  Instead, I was wishing that Bruno's father would find out what happened to his son.  And how many other sons died under his role as Commandant? 

In 2016 it is hard to imagine, but Boyne ominously writes at the end,

'Of course all this happened a long time ago and nothing like that could ever happen again.' 

Right?

I've often felt that it's odd that I have a fascination with the stories of the Holocaust.  Reading Boyne's Author's Note has given me license to continue my exploration of this genre and to celebrate my fascination.  It is important to tell and retell these stories.  I love Bruno - his innocence and his honesty.  His childlike naivete is so refreshing with such a bleak backdrop that is the setting.  Bruno has no idea why he is at 'Out-With' and if he did know, he would not understand.  What he understands is that people should always be treated with respect and kindness.  Yes he is an innocent, naive nine year old and he is full of misunderstandings and misperceptions, but he knows what's right.  He knows the treatment of Maria, Pavel, Shmuel is wrong.  He knows that Kotler is an evil bully.  That's simple.  What Bruno doesn't understand finds hims on the wrong side of the fence.  If he ever does figure it out, it's too late.

The idea for the story came to Boyne through an image of two boys sitting on either side of a fence, having a conversation.  Fences and walls are a topic that could take you through an entire year of read alouds and reader's workshop.  The fence in this book could be seen as another character.  Again from Boyne's Author's Note, 

'Fences such as this one...still exist; it is unlikely that they will ever fully disappear.  But whatever reaction you have to this story, I hope that the voices of Bruno and Shmuel will continue to resonate with you as they have with me.  Their lost voices must continue to be heard; their untold stories must continue to be recounted;  For they represent the ones who didn't live to tell their stories themselves.'

Fences like are found all over the world and is the main reason Boyne never names Auschwitz outright.  He wants us to think about other issues where fences have been used to keep people out or in.   

There is one question you can ask a class during a discussion of the Holocaust.  It is the question that Boyne is asked most often,
 
Do you think a child raised in Nazi Germany could be as naive as Bruno is in the novel?

It's impossible to answer given that we have the benefit of hindsight, but it is a fascinating discussion.  Are we in 2016 as complacent as people seemed during this time?  Would we have stood up and done something?  Would you?  This is the question to ask.