Fiction,Fantasy, and YA Review #3- RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE

Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale. Illustrated by Nathan Hale

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hale, Shannon and Dean Hale. Illustrated by Nathan Hale. Rapunzel's Revenge. New York, N.Y.: Bloomsbury, 2008.

ISBN 978-1-599-90288-3

2.     PLOT SUMMARY

Rapunzel’s Revenge is a fantasy graphic novel in which Rapunzel is separated from her real family as a little girl and taken in by the evil Gothel. At age 12, Rapunzel decides to look over the wall and see what it outside. What she sees is desolate and ugly. Beyond the wall, she meets the woman who is her real mother.  She is separated from her again and is taken back to Gothel who punishes her by locking her up in a tall tree for four years. During this time, Rapunzel’s hair grows to incredible lengths, and she eventually escapes her prison vowing to find and free her mother. This vow takes her on an adventure where she meets Jack. Jack and Rapunzel become good friends and work together to find a way to free Rapunzel’s real mother from the evil Gothel.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Set in the Wild West, Rapunzel’s Revenge has familiar elements to the classic tale but is different from the traditional story. One of the main differences is the setting.  This allows Hale to have Rapunzel braid her hair into two long braids and use them as lassos.  The illustrations are clever at sharing the exciting, non-stop action of the Wild West.  The colorful and vibrant frames are filled with illustrations that complement the storyline. The layout of the book is a graphic novel which allows many alterations in plot and setting. While the plot is engaging and is a pleasant departure from the more traditional Rapunzel, the inclusion of Jack as a side kick instead of a prince is unusual.  This change may appeal to some readers, and it also might encourage more young male teenagers to read the book. While the traditional tale is appropriate for younger readers, the altered format limits the audience to readers who are older and may be familiar with the graphic novel format. 

4.  REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens - 2009

Young Readers Choice Award: Intermediate

ALA Notable Children’s Book- Middle Readers Category- 2009

From School Library Journal: “The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive.”

From Booklist: “Rich with humor and excitement, this is an alternate version of a classic that will become a fast favorite of young readers.”

5. CONNECTIONS

Gather read-a-like books to read such as:

Levine, Gail Carson, Ella Enchanted, ISBN: 978-0-060-27510-5

Yolen, Jane, Foiled, ISBN: 978-0-606-14452-0

Gather other Shannon and Dean Hale books to read such as:

The Princess in Black, ISBN:  978-0-763-67888-3

Calamity Jack, ISBN:  978-1-599-90373-6

Fiction, Fantasy, and YA Review #2- LOOKING FOR ALASKA

Looking for Alaska by John Green

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Green, John. Looking for Alaska: A Novel. New York: Dutton Children's Books, 2005.

ISBN 978-0-525-47506-4

2.     PLOT SUMMARY

Miles Halter is a sixteen-year-old with a fascination for last words.  He transfers to a boarding school in Alabama and becomes fast friends to his roommate Chip "Colonel" Martin. The Colonel introduces him to Alaska Young, a beautiful, literate and intellectually gifted teenager with a head full of elaborate pranks. Under the guidance of his new friends, Miles learns to drink, smoke, escape punishment, and understand people. Miles learns valuable lessons about loyalty, friendship, and life throughout the entire book.
 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The writing in this book is as great as I always expect from John Green, and the story unfolds with a great pace that makes you never want to put the book down. You will probably feel some excitement, sadness, and maybe even a little anger reading this book, but I think this book will be memorable. This is an outstanding coming-of-age novel that does not resort to a "happily ever after" ending, but the characters each seek closure on their own terms. The characters are well drawn, witty, and full of individual quirks. This book also includes some fun pranks, some great humor, and some shocking turns of events. I loved the "before"/"after" and the whole countdown. I thought that was a really neat tool that helped build suspense. This book is for older or more mature teens who can handle raw truth presented with none of the rough parts buffed off.  Also, this book is on many schools “banned book lists” because of the drinking, smoking, and sex, so be sure that you do not present this book to your students if your school has a banned book list.

4.  REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Michael L. Printz Award

YALSA Best Books for Young Adults - 2006

School Library Journal Best Books - 2005

From School Library Journal: “Green draws Alaska so lovingly, in self-loathing darkness as well as energetic light, that readers mourn her loss along with her friends.”

From Kirkus: “What sings and soars in this gorgeously told tale is Green's mastery of language and the sweet, rough edges of Pudge's voice.”

5. CONNECTIONS

Gather read-a-like books to read such as:

Asher, Jay, Thirteen Reasons Why, ISBN: 978-1-595-14171-2

Hubbard, Jenny, Paper Covers Rock, ISBN: 978-0-385-74055-5

Gather other John Green books to read such as:

The Fault in Our Stars, ISBN:  978-0-525-47881-2

Paper Towns, ISBN:  978-0-525-47818-8

Some discussion questions:

Miles tells the story from his own first-person voice. How might the book differ if it had been told in Alaska’s voice or the Colonel’s? Or even in 3^rd person?

The Colonel says, “everybody’s got a talent.” Do you? 

What do you think “The Great Perhaps” means?

Fiction, Fantasy, and YA Review #1- THE GRAVEYARD BOOK

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Gaiman, Neil. Illustrations by Dave McKean. The Graveyard Book. New York: Harper, 2008.  ISBN 978-0-060-53094-5

2.     PLOT SUMMARY

The Graveyard Book is the story of Nobody Owens, or Bod to his friends. The only survivor of a murder spree that eliminated his whole family, Bod finds himself in a cemetery, alone in the world and only a toddler. He is “adopted” by ghostly Mr. and Mrs. Owens, and is raised in the cemetery among the dead with the mysterious Silas as his guardian. Bod develops friendships with many of the ghosts, a human friend named Scarlet, and has supernatural adventures all while attempting to evade Jack, his family’s murderer.  

3.     CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The best line in this tragic story is the beginning, “There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife”.  Throughout the book, the setting of the cemetery is crucial. The cemetery becomes like another character. The nuances and traits of the cemetery are crucial in every moment of Bod’s life journey, especially the climax. Bod comes to battle the Jacks, one of whom was responsible for his family’s deaths. While battling them, he saves the life of Scarlet, his human friend, who has returned from Scotland and joins him on his hero’s journey to save the world from the evil Jacks. The climactic death of the final Jack takes place, of course, in Bod’s cemetery.  I found that Bod’s relationship with his ghostly parents to be the least well defined, yet his relationship with Silas is extremely well developed. The themes of the story include good prevailing over evil, the pain of growing up, fear of the unknown, and the power of love.  This is a fantasy book for middle grades, but is very unrealistic.  I struggled to read this story because of the unbelievable thought that a baby could survive living his life in a cemetery.  That aside, many people obviously love this book.

4.  REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Newbery Medal – 2009

Carnegie Medal

Hugo Awards, Best Novel

ALA Notable Children’s Books, Middle Readers Category – 2009

YALSA Best Books for Young Adults - 2009

From School Library Journal: “Gaiman has created a rich, surprising, and sometimes disturbing tale of dreams, ghouls, murderers, trickery, and family.”

From Publisher’s Weekly: “A lavish middle-grade novel, Gaiman's first since Coraline , this gothic fantasy almost lives up to its extravagant advance billing.”

5.      CONNECTIONS

Gather read-alike books to read such as:

Avi, The Seer of Shadows, ISBN: 978-0-060-00017-2

Black, Holly, Doll Bones, ISBN: 978-1-416-96399-8

Gather other Neil Gaiman books to read such as:

The Sleeper and the Spindle, ISBN:  978-0-062-39824-6

Coraline, ISBN:  978-0-380-97778-9

Pair the Graveyard Book with The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. Compare and contrast the two. Discuss similarities and differences.

With students, create a secret society of Jacks who are good, instead of evil. How could they help the world?

Historical Fiction Review #3- PENNY FROM HEAVEN

Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Holm, Jennifer L. Penny from Heaven. New York: Random House Children's Books, 2006.

 ISBN 978-0-375-83687-9

2.     PLOT SUMMARY

In the summer of 1953, life for Penny is split between the mother and grandparents she lives with and the Italian relatives of her deceased father. On one side, her mother is very protective and strict and will not allow Penny to swim in a public pool due to her fear of Penny catching polio. On the other side, her many uncles, aunts and Nonny will do anything to make up for her father not being here.  Even with all of this, Penny still wishes for all the people she loves to quit hating each other, her favorite uncle to stop living in a car and for someone to tell her about her father. One day, while her cousin Frankie and Penny were searching for their grandfather’s buried treasure in Nonny’s basement, Penny’s arm accidentally gets pulled through a wringer. After spending the summer in the hospital, and overcoming the odds of never using her arm again, Penny learns of the history between the two families and the truth behind her father’s death.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Jennifer Holm beautifully balances fact and fiction with this high-quality historical fiction.  "If I could ask Mother one question about my father, it would be what he thought of me.  Did he think I was funny?  Or smart?  Did he love me?"  The family dynamics keep the reader both laughing and sympathizing with Penny. The scenarios that her cousin Frankie drags Penny into are very funny until Penny gets hurt. Penny’s relationships with her various family members are touching and the reader can sense her longing to heal the rift in her family. The author’s note and family album included at the end of the story allow us to understand how Holm’s characters were created. This is an enlightening look at the Italian American culture of the 1950s.

4.  REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Newberry Honor Book- 2007

ALA Notable Children’s Books – Older Readers Category: 2007

From School Library Journal: “Penny and her world are clearly drawn and eminently believable, made up of seamlessly interwoven details from everyday life.”

From Publisher’s Weekly: “Holm includes telling historical details, including information about WWII Italian internment camps and how Penny's mother will not allow her to swim in a public pool or visit a movie theater because of the risk of polio.”

5. CONNECTIONS

Gather read-a-like books to read such as:

Vanderpool, Clare, Moon Over Manifest, ISBN: 978-0-375-85829-1

Williams-Garcia, Rita, One Crazy Summer, ISBN: 978-0-060-76088-5

Gather other Jennifer L. Holm books to read such as:

Our Only May Amelia, ISBN:  978-1-439-50269-3

Turtle in Paradise, ISBN:  978-0-375-83688-6

Discuss why the book belongs in the historical fiction genre.

Discuss the internment camps set up by the United States government during World War II.