Module 14: Poetry and Story Collections

Your Own Sylvia by Stephanie Hempshill is the beautifully crafted biography of Sylvia Plath. In this self-titled verse portrait, Hempshill creates a Plath that is both accessible to young adults but also true to the real woman. Hempshill is careful to include important moments in Plath's life, her childhood, college experiences, her struggle with depression and her marriage to Ted Hughes. In addition to staying true to Plath's life, Hempshill is careful to include citations and additional information about the people and events she writes about. This book is a beautiful journey that stays true to Plath's style.

Hemphill, S. (2007). Your own Sylvia: A verse portrait of Sylvia Plath. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers.

Picture Credit: http://www.scls.lib.wi.us/sun/Memoirs.html

Impressions:
As a fan of Sylvia Plath I wasn't sure whether or not I would enjoy this book. Hempshill, however, does a great job of creating poetry that follows the same form that Plath's does. Each time Hempshill tackles another part of Plath's life, she models the verses after one of Plath's own poems. I think this really works to Hempshill's benefit; not only does she inform the reader of Plath's life but she also gets him or her accustomed to the poetry. Her information is accurate and she is sure to include references. This book is not only enjoyable but also educational and can act as a great introduction to Plath's work.

Reviews:

“Distinct, skillfully crafted character voices portray brilliant and beautiful Sylvia Plath, torn apart by her public ambitions, private life, and personal demons. "Drawing on both Plath's writing and nonfiction sources, each poem conveys an experience in the author's life told from the perspective of one of her family members, friends, fellow writers," or acquaintances. Hemphill includes a prose explanation of each poem's factual base. Burdened with guilt over her father's death when she is eight, Plath obsessively strives to prove her worth. She is never too thin, too popular, or too accomplished. Her drive and talent win scholarships to Smith and Cambridge but also require her to seek psychiatric help. Rejecting many suitors, she marries Ted Hughes, a British poet to whom she subordinates her work. After two children, Plath divorces her husband when he finds another woman. His rejection consumes her. Her failure as the perfect wife and mother drives her to suicide at thirty-one. In an absorbing and informative portrait, Hemphill leads readers to Plath's work through specific citations and sometimes uses the form and tone of other Plath poems to create the voices. Hemphill's concluding letter to the reader describes the journaling technique she used to write the text, and her last source note cites http://www.sylviaplathforum.com as an excellent site for research. Hemphill will immerse the mature student and many adults in Plath's life and work and motivate them to learn more about Plath and other poets”—Schall, L. (2007). No title. [Review of the book Your Own Sylvia by S. Hemphill]. Voice of youth Advocates. Retrieved from Bowker’s Books in Print.

“Hemphill ambitiously undertakes a fictionalized portrait of Sylvia Plath in poems, many of them inspired by Plath's own works. Hemphill stays true to the basic framework of the poet's life, highlighting her major milestones: her childhood, college years, her hospitalization and first suicide attempt, as well as her first meeting with poet Ted Hughes-whom Plath would marry (in a poem from his viewpoint, he describes her as "Blond and tall as a magazine/ swimsuit model. I nibble/ at the whippet's neck./ Her lips fury-red, she bites/ me-teeth tearing my cheek./ I retreat, imprinted, stunned")-and her suicide ("She could not help burning herself/ From the inside out,/ Consuming herself/ Like the sun./ But the memory of her light blazes/ Our dark ceiling," Hemphill writes, in the style of Plath's poem "Child"). Accompanying each entry, the author includes footnotes with background information about the people and events alluded to in the poems. Plath committed suicide during a prolific time in her life. Her autobiographical novel, The Bell Jar, had just been published, and she was working furiously on a collection of poems (Ariel) which would be published posthumously. Hemphill's innovative portrait may not shed any new light on this tragic figure, but it could well act as a catalyst to introducing Plath to a new generation. Ages 12-up.”—Publisher’s Weekly (2007). No title. [Review of the book Your Own Sylvia by S. Hemphill]. Retrieved from Bowker’s Books in Print.

Suggestions:
This book would be a great start for younger patrons who show interest in Plath's work. It is filled with citations and references and will undoubtedly peak their interest. Since much of what Hempshill's does is modeling her own writing after Plath's, it could also be used in a creative writing program for teens as a means to help them create their own poetry.

Module 13: Graphic Novels and Series Books

Kin, the first book in Holly Black's Good Neighbors series is the story of a young girl named Rue whose mother disappears and father is accused of murdering one of his students. Rue also begins to see strange looking people in the place of normal ones--people with wings, and horns, and long unearthly fingers. Soon Rue learns that she has the second sight, a gift given to her by her faerie mother. This is only the beginning of Rue's complicated journey into finding her true self and accepting what's in her blood--faerie.

Black, H. (2008). The good neighbors book #1: Kin. New York: Graphix.

Picture Credit: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/holly-black/kin.htm



Impressions:
This graphic novel is a beautifully illustrated book. It not only tells the story of Rue and her journey to understand herself but also incorporates a great deal of old folklore and mythology. Black has done her research and this lends a feeling of well-known truth to the story. The art by Ted Naifeh is beautifully done and some of the fairy illustrations are reminiscent of older fairy drawings by renowned fantasy artist Arthur Rackham. This book was my first experience with Holly Black and I was a little hesitant to jump on the Black bandwagon. I actually really liked this book and I think it it has a lot to do with the fact that Black obviously knows her stuff. She doesn't drop older myths or folklore but uses them to her advantage.

Reviews:

“Readers meet Rue Silver at a pivotal time in her life-on the day she starts seeing things for what they truly are. Her ethereal mother has disappeared, and there is a possibility that her professor father has had something to do with it. Further complicating her situation, the people around her begin to resemble creatures from another world. When her mother's strange family takes her under its wings, she realizes and tries to reject her ties to the fairie world, but the gift of sight that is awakening in her will prove too seductive to refuse. The story ends at the beginning of Rue's acceptance of her supernatural birthright and her determination to solve the mystery of her mother's disappearance. Black's provocative characters and story line blend perfectly with Naifeh's shadowy black-and-white illustrations. The melding of high school reality and the fairie existence that is taking over Rue's world is skillfully done, and the story's themes of family and how it is perceived and of how one see the world are profound. Black is no stranger to the fairie realm, and her first foray into graphic novels is a ringing success.”—Lehner, L. (2009). No title. [Review for the book Kin by H. Black]. Voice of Youth Advocates. Retrieved from Bowker’s Books in Print.

“After her mother suddenly disappears, Rue Silver finds out that the woman was a faerie. Rue's father, Thaddeus, a human, is suspected of murdering her, as well as one of his students. As Rue solves these two mysteries, she also finds out more about her parents' relationship, and her own relationship with them. Willowy, brooding Rue and her Goth punk friends don't look too different from the glamorous, aloof faeries, and this sophisticated tale is well served by Naifeh's stylish, angular illustrations. This book will appeal to readers of Holly Black's fiction and fans of intelligent, otherworldly stories such as Neil Gaiman's "Sandman" series (Vertigo).”—Goldstein, L. (2008). No title [Review of the book Kin by H. Black]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from Bowker’s Books in Print.

Suggestions:
Although I only read the first book, this series would be great for a book group focusing on fairy tales or old folklore. It could also be used as an example of newer books that incorporate older mythologies.

Module 12: Biography and Autobiography

One Beetle Too Many by Kathryn Lasky chronicles the adventuresome life of Charles Darwin. The story begins by painting a picture of the character of the young Charles Darwin as a curious boy with a vast collection of bugs, plants, and nature's curios. Lasky follows Darwin through his school life, early career, and his eventual introduction into his life as a naturalist. Lasky's approach gives readers an honest and objective view of the life of Darwin. She writes about the concern he felt when writing Origin of the Species and the fact that he never intended people to take it as an attack on Christianity. Overall the book is a fair and basic introduction to the life of a brilliant man.

Lasky, K. (2009). One beetle too many: The extraordinary adventures of Charles Darwin. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Picture Credit: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/One-Beetle-Too-Many/Kathryn-Lasky/9780763614362

Impressions:
I really enjoyed this book. The biography of a naturalist could be a difficult thing to write into a children's book, but Lasky manages to convey Darwin's quirks with humor. In One Beetle Too Many, Darwin's life becomes a beautifully illustrated adventure. Matthew Trueman's illustrations are are rich in color and the animals are vividly portrayed. Lasky writes about Darwin with obvious admiration but she also manages to paint a fairly objective picture of his life and beliefs. It was a relief to read something about Darwin that didn't demonize his character or beliefs.

Reviews:

“Darwin's legendary five-year voyage to South America aboard the Beagle forms the centerpiece of this informative picture book for confident readers. Lasky begins with Darwin's childhood as a poor but remarkably curious student; he landed his spot as the naturalist on the Beagle more due to his enthusiasm than any standing in the scientific field. With clarity and style, Lasky recounts the puzzling things that he found on the trip, explores the questions he began asking, and hints at the conclusions he would arrive at, both in terms of biology and geology. Trueman's skillful blend of inks, watercolors, pencils, gouache, and collage nicely capture Darwin's fascination with the natural world, with fanciful scenes of Darwin peering through ferns, exploring islands, and even riding a giant turtle. With only a quick rundown of the hullabaloo surrounding the publication of The Origin of Species, the focus here is clearly on Darwin's travels, and this accessible jaunt will easily situate the man as a natural adventurer in kids' minds before he becomes just another stuffy old scientist.”—Chipman, I. (2009). No title. [Review of the book One Beetle Too Many by K. Lasky]. Booklist. Retrieved from Bowker’s Books in Print.

“Large and humorous mixed-media illustrations will draw children to this large-format biography. Using watercolor, graphite pencil, gouache, acrylic ink, colored pencil, and collage, Trueman captures Darwin's world and adventures. Cartoonlike people have prominent noses, expressive faces, and enormous hands. Throughout, the naturalist appears to be both curious and hapless, a description he might have given himself in his own modest journals. Lasky's text balances the exuberant artwork with well-organized information, gracefully sprinkling in quotes from Darwin's own writing. Touching briefly on his childhood, the text devotes most of the space to Darwin's years on the Beagle, explaining how his discoveries in geology, paleontology, and animal anatomy on that trip led to his theory about evolution. Lasky uses Darwin's own words to show that he questioned the literal nature of the Bible and the divinity of Jesus, but that he wrote several times praising God as the Creator. Although the text is brief, it creates a clear view of a man who was troubled by the implications of his observations and who, at the end of his life, was more interested in experimenting with earthworms and carnivorous plants than in promoting his theory.”—Heath, E. (2009). No title. [Review of the book One Beetle Too Many by K. Lasky]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from Bowker’s Books in Print.

Suggestions:
Because the illustrations are so beautiful, this item would work well in a story time with informational books about strange or curious animals. It would also be neat to brings some bugs in, either alive in a bug box or ones pinned on a board, to use as part of the storytime.

Module 11: Informational Books

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World, by Jennifer Armstrong, is a detailed account of the Antarctic Expedition of Ernest Shackleton and the crew members aboard the Endurance. This is an amazing true story of the men who set out to explore uncharted territory and ended up spending over a year in the hostile Antarctic environment. This book chronicles Shackleton's journey from start to finish and makes excellent use of crew journals, photographs, and primary sources kept in a museum.

Armstrong, J. (2000). Shipwreck at the bottom of the world: The Extraordinary true story of Shackleton and the Endurance. New York: Random House.

Picture Credit: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/a/jennifer-armstrong/shipwreck-at-bottom-of-world.htm

Impressions:
I'm usually a fan of fiction so I wasn't sure whether or not I would enjoy this book. I also had a vague familiarity with the topic so I decided to go ahead and give it a try. To my complete surprise, I really enjoyed it. Armstrong describes Shackleton's journey in great detail and interjects her well-written narrative with information concerning different aspects of exploration. Armstrong's informational writing is not at all dry, but is every bit as interesting as her narrative. The events of this journey are so remarkable that sometimes it's hard to remember that everything is true. There is never a boring or slow moment in this book.

Reviews:

“When their ship, Endurance, became icebound in Antarctica and sank in 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton and his 27 crewmen were 100 miles from land. Unbelievably, they all survived. At first, the men played on the ice to kill time, but after Endurance sank, they took to their life boats, and spent a year and a half traveling over ice, water, and mountains to reach safety. Taylor Mali's narration of the book by Jennifer Armstrong (Crown, 1998) is riveting, and his shifts from one accent to the next are effective and not at all distracting. The text moves from diary entries to explanations of how to read the sun, and the descriptions of the terrain and weather are superb. This is a very effective presentation of not only how the disaster occurred, but of the toll it took on the crew and how they rose to the challenge.” –Moesch, C. (2000). No title. [Review of the book Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance by J. Armstrong]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from Bowker’s Books in Print.

“Filled with intriguing details and written with dramatic style, this riveting account of the ill-fated Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition reads like an adventure novel. In 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton attempted to be the first explorer to cross Antarctica by foot "from sea to sea." On the eve of World War I, he set out with a crew of scientists and sailors on a specially designed ship, Endurance, but he and his team never reached their objective. The ship became entrapped in ice, and the men were forced to abandon their mission and try to survive in the brutally harsh Antarctic wasteland for 19 months. Thanks to Shackleton's leadership, the bravery of his crew, and a lot of luck, everyone survived. The astonishing circumstances of their ordeal include a treacherous hike across miles of frozen wasteland, an 800-mile open-boat journey through savage seas, and a perilous trek across the uncharted mountain ranges of South Georgia Island. Armstrong brings all of these experiences vividly to life, frequently using quotes from members of the expedition. Excellent black-and-white photographs taken during the journey document the entire adventure story. Elizabeth Cody Kimmel's Ice Story (Clarion, 1999) has larger and more plentiful photographs but Armstrong's text is far more engaging. Kimmel relates all of the facts skillfully, but Armstrong crafts them into an unforgettable story of true heroism and the triumph of the human spirit. A book that will capture the attention and imagination of any reader.”—Sullivan, E. (2010). No title. [Review of the book Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance by J. Armstrong.]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from Bowker’s Books in Print.

Suggestions:

This book would fit perfectly in a display about historical explorations. Additionally, it could also be used in displays about other survivor stores. I had a hard time thinking of an interesting activity to go along with this book, namely because it would take longer than one sitting to read through.

Module 10: Historical Fiction

The Dreamer, by Pam Munoz Ryan, is the story of a young Chilean boy named Neftali who eventually grows up to be the poet Pablo Neruda. As a young boy, however, Neftali is a dreamer, his imagination and creativity is deemed unacceptable by his father who wants him to grow up to be strong, not a "weakling". Despite his father's wishes, Neftali wants nothing more than to go into the forest and observe the beauty of the world. As he gets older, Neftali begins to write and before he knows it, his writing is published in his uncle's paper. In a time of civil unrest and war, Neftali must find it within him to be his own kind of strength.

Munoz-Ryan, P. (2010) The dreamer. New York: Scholastic.

Picture Credit: http://yalitfan.blogspot.com/2010/07/books-in-verse.html

Impressions:
As a fan of Pablo Neruda, I was very excited about reading this book. The prose is absolutely beautiful and the illustrations by Peter Sis help to create an otherworldly atmosphere, even through the pages of a book. Although the style of writing is odd at first, the reader becomes absorbed and soon the story is as entrancing as any fairy tale. Students who are also "dreamers" will find solace in Neftali's oddball ways and be encouraged by the eventual strength he finds.

Reviews:

“Neftali Reyes is indeed a dreamer, a young boy easily distracted by an old discarded boot, a wayward umbrella, an oddly shaped stone, or even a pinecone. Items like these he proudly displays, while other treasures containing words he has written on small scraps of paper remain hidden away-words that even a stuttering boy finds beautiful and manageable, especially when applied to stories or poetry. Neftali's father has no tolerance for such idle thought and considers his writing a meaningless distraction. He demands his son knuckle down and become something sensible, like a businessman, doctor, or dentist. Over time, Neftali matures from a somewhat frail boy into a thin but confident young man and begins to question and resent the limited nature of his father's belief system. Ultimately, and in an effort to remain true to his own convictions, Neftali develops a few ideas of his own. Fictionally based on the childhood of Pablo Neruda (1904¤1973), this book artfully weaves known facts into a tale that depicts the early years of this internationally renowned poet. Infused and alive with nature, drama, mysticism, and grace, this story easily captures the imagination that transports the reader in a way many books aspire to but few attain. Each notable in their own right, the award-winning dream-team collaboration of Munoz-Ryan and Sis has resulted in a marvelous montage of story telling, poetry, and illustration. The Dreamer should readily appeal to both genders, as well as young and old alike.”—Brink, J. (2010). No title. [Review of the book The Dreamer by P. Munoz-Ryan]. Voice of Youth Advocates. Retrieved from Bowker’s Books in Print.

“Readers enter the creative, sensitive mind of Pablo Neruda, the Nobel Prize-winning poet, in this beautifully written fictional biography. Ryan artfully meshes factual details with an absorbing story of a shy Chilean boy whose spirit develops and thrives despite his father's relentless negativity. Neruda, who was born Neftali Reyes, sees, hears, and feels poetry all around him from an early age. Luckily he finds understanding and encouragement from his stepmother and his uncle, whose humanitarian and liberal attitudes toward nature and the rights of the indigenous Mapuche people greatly influence his developing opinions. In early adulthood, Reyes starts using the pseudonym by which he becomes known, taking his last name from that of a famous Czechoslovakian poet. Ryan suggests that this was how he hid his activities from his father. Her poetic prose style totally dovetails with the subject. Interspersed with the text are poems that mimic Neruda's style and push readers to think imaginatively and visually. Sis's whimsical pen-and-ink pointillist illustrations enliven the presentation. Each chapter is preceded by three small drawings that hint at something to come. The perfect marriage of text and art offers an excellent introduction to one of the world's most famous poets. An appended author's note gives further insight into Neruda's beliefs and accomplishments. In addition there are excerpts from several of his poems and odes. This unusual selection would be a fine companion to Deborah Kogan Ray's To Go Singing Through the World (Farrar, 2006).”—Steinberg, R. (2010). No title. [Review of the book The Dreamer by P. Munoz Ryan]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from Bowker’s Books in Print.

Suggestions:
This book would be a great addition to a display about poets and poetry. Librarians (and/or teachers) could use this book in conjunction with some of Neruda's poetry to help students create their own works of poetry. Accompanied by Sis' drawings, they could also illustrate their own poems and present them to a group. Perhaps a poetry night could be held for younger patrons to show of their work!