Module 15: Th1rteen R3asons Why

Book Summary
Hannah Baker committed suicide and no one knew why. Before she did, she recorded 7 tapes with 13 stories that tell the 13 reasons why she chose to take her own life. The story unfolds through Hannah's words and Clay's (the narrator) thoughts. The story is sad at times, gripping, and sucks you in as you ask why this girl chose to take her life and as Clay deals with his thoughts and feelings surrounding her life and death.

Citation 
Asher, J. (2007). Th1rteen r3asons why: a novel. New York: Razorbill.

My Impressions
I absolutely loved this book. It is a little weird to say that, but I couldn't put it down. I literally was reading it at every chance I got. I kept thinking, "This needs to be a required reading assignment for every high school student and most middle school students." The story makes you think about how the smallest word or action can change someone's life and how you affect others. There are sexually themed comments and scenes, but despite that, I think that middle school and up should definitely be reading this book. I had been waiting for this week in this course just so I could read this book, as I had heard so much about it.

Review Excerpts 
Dobrez, C. (2007). Thirteen Reasons Why. Booklist, 104(1), 109.

"The message about how we treat one another, although sometimes heave, makes for compelling reading."

Lewis, J. (2007). Thirteen Reasons Why. School Library Journal, 53(11), 116.
"Clay's pain is palpable and exquisitely drawn in gripping, casually poetic prose. The complex and soulful characters expose astoundingly rich and singularly teenage inner lives, with emotions as raw as cut writes. ... The episodic structure is nicely suited to reluctant readers, but the breakneck pace and dizzying emotion are the true source of this novel's irresistible readability at all levels."

Suggestion for Use in a Library
There was a part in the book where Hannah describes a class where the teacher has bags for each student. The students could write notes of encouragement to each other. I would like to take this idea and spin it a bit. I would want to put up bulletin boards up either in the library or in the hallway outside. Students would be able to write anonymous notes to each other and display them there. i would also want to have a place for students to write and post their feelings about things, good or bad. Sometimes you need a place to vent your feelings. I would encourage them to use poetry and they would never be required to post anything unless they chose to. Everything could be anonymous. I would also like to have a safe place for students to come and talk to each other. Maybe set aside a day and time where they could meet and talk. Students keep so much inside and don't think anyone cares or would listen. I would want to have a place where that could happen. I would discuss with the counselor the best way to do this and invite him/her to be involved as well.

Module 14: Scranimals

Book Summary
This book is a book of poetry about the animals on Scranimal Island. The animals on this island are interesting, to say the least. They are either combinations between food and animals or two different types of animals. Each animal has a story associated with it that is told through poetry.

Citation 
Prelutsky, J. (2002). Scranimals. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

My Impressions
I am someone who is not too fond of poetry, but I found myself truly enjoying the poems about these animals. I also loved the creativity of the authors and their creations. I would love to see what else they could come up with. This book would be really good for introducing the concept of poetry and just enjoying it without analyzing too much. 

Review Excerpts 
Scranimals (Book). (2003). School Library Journal, 49(10), 32 

"On this fantastical journey to Scranimal Island, a menagerie of mixed-up creatures is introduced through clever, rhymed verses. Sis's inventive depictions of such species as "spinachickens", "potatoads", and "mangorillas" are outrageously funny." 

Lindsay, N., Jones, T. E., Toth, L., Charnizon, M., Grabarek, D., & Larkins, J. (2002). Scranimals (Book). School Library Journal, 48(9), 217. 
"Prelutsky introduces the curious inhabitants of Scranimal Island through his skillful and captivating poems." 

Suggestion for Use in a Library
I would create my own Scranimal Island in the library. I would encourage students to create their own Scranimal to include on the island. They could draw pictures of them and write short poems about the animal and how they would act and live.

Module 13: Otto's Orange Day

Book Summary
Otto is a boy who loves the color orange. One day his aunt sends him a gift in the form of a lamp. Otto's rubs the lamp to clean it and out comes a genie. Otto's one wish (he is only allowed one) is that everything is orange. Otto learns quickly that just because orange is his favorite, not everything should be orange. The story continues with Otto and his aunt trying to right the world and its colors. 

Citation 
Lynch, J., & Cammuso, F. (2008). Otto's Orange Day. New York: TOON Books.

My Impressions
I enjoyed this comic book more than I thought I would. It is a very quick read and I think kids would really love it. It teaches a great lesson about being careful with what you wish for and how what you think is best is not always going to turn out great.

Review Excerpts 
Karp, J. (2008). Otto's Orange Day. Booklist, 104(14), 66.

"This book is sure to engage a new generation in the art form; kids will want to read it once, then return to it again and again." 

Fleishhacker, J. (2008). Otto's Orange Day. School Library Journal, 54(5), 153. 
"With the help of Aunt Sally Lee, Otto outsmarts the genie and sets things right.... The cartoons are lively and colorful." 

Suggestion for Use in a Library
My suggestion would be to ask students what their one wish would be and then to have them describe how this wish would make their lives better. I would also ask them to describe how this wish could backfire and go wrong. It would be a good lesson in thinking about what you are wishing for and how it might change your life in ways you were not expecting.

Module 12: Odd Boy Out

Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein

Book Summary 

Odd Boy Out is a picture book biography of Albert Einstein. It is a short account of his life and work through the lens of him being considered an "odd boy". It leads the reader through Einstein's family and professional life and in the end shows that the "odd boy" grows into a great thinker and that our perception of him today is much different than that of his peers as he was growing up.

Citation 

Brown, D. (2004). Odd boy out: Young Albert Einstein. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

My Impressions

I have always been intrigued with Albert Einstein. I have done multiple research projects on him and know a great deal about his life. I have never viewed his life through this lens before. I believe we could all relate to the feelings of being odd and isolated. This is a great book for children to see how being odd is not necessarily a bad thing.

Review Excerpts 
Jones, T. E., Toth, L., Charnizon, M., Grabarek, D., Larkins, J., & Taniguchi, M. (2004). Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein (Book). School Library Journal, 50(10), 138-139.

"Through eloquent narrative and illustration, Brown offers a thoughtful introduction to an enigmatic man. This book will pique the interest of readers with little or no knowledge of Einstein."


Flynn, K. (2004). Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein (Book). Horn Book Magazine, 80(5), 604-605. 
"The book's message about different ways of and approaches to learning is clear and will surely be appreciated by the intended audience"

Suggestions for Use in a Library

Who hasn't felt odd or isolated or different in their life. Children are often feeling this way and think they are the only ones who do. I would create a board in my library (or perhaps in the hallway) that would allow students to have a safe place to share their feelings. I would provide cards for students to write on where they could share their feelings of being different or odd. They also could share stories and things about others that they like (that the recipient might consider to be odd about themselves).

Module 11: Bodies from the Ash

Bodies from the Ash: Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii

Book Summary 

This book is an informational narrative on the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the deaths of the citizens of Pompeii as a result of the eruption. It focuses on a timeline of events and explaining how the people died. The author also includes pictures and stories of the people who have been found and what might have happened to them. 

Citation 

Deem, J. (2005). Bodies from the ash: Life and death in ancient Pompeii. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. 

My Impressions

I found this book to be interesting and informative. I thought the writing was slightly above the intended grade level, but it wasn't watered down or dumbed down, which I enjoyed. I believe students would enjoy the perfect combination of gore with the photographs and information with the text. It would be a good book for someone who knew little about the events that led to the deaths of the people of Pompeii.

Review Excerpts 
Kearns, J., Jones, T. E., Toth, L., Charnizon, M., Grabarek, D., & Raben, D. (2005). Bodies from the Ash: Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii. School Library Journal, 51(12), 164-165.

"Dramatic photographs of the casts capture the horror of this event and help readers to envision day-to-day life in this civilization. With incredibly engrossing images and narrative, this is a powerful and poignant piece of nonfiction"

Cooper, I. (2005). Bodies from the Ash: Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii. Booklist, 102(5), 39.

"But the jewels here are the numerous black-and-white (and some color) photographs, especially those featuring the plaster casts and skeletons of people in their death throes. The horizontal format, with pages looking as though they were partially bordered in marble, makes an attractive setting for the art."

Suggestions for Use in a Library

I think this book would be a good basis for students to talk to their parents, grandparents, and other family members about events that have happened during their lifetimes. Grandparents, especially, are a wealth of information on historical events that students may be learning about. I think students could create a project that has them looking at photographs from a historical time in the lives of the family member and telling the story from the family member's perspective. It would give students a new perspective to look at other than just the one presented in their history books.

Module 10: Apples to Oregon

Apples to Oregon

Book Summary

Apples to Oregon is a mostly tall tale (according to the author) that tells the story of how the first apple tree was brought to Oregon. Although the story is mostly made up, it is based on a real story, which the author describes in the notes at the end. This book is a story of the hardships of taking fruit trees and children across the plains and rivers from Iowa to Oregon.

Citation 

Hopkinson, D. (2004). Apples to Oregon: Being the (slightly) true narrative of how a brave pioneer father brought apples, peaches, pears, plums, grapes, and cherries (and children) across the plains. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks.

My Impressions

I really enjoyed this book. It's series of events is a little outrageous and not entirely historical, but it is a good take on the Oregon Trail and understanding that the trip was not always easy. It is a fun book and an interesting spin on something that could be dry and boring.

Review Excerpts

Burg, R. (2004). Apples to Oregon: Being the (Slightly) True Narrative of How a Brave Pioneer Father Brought Apples, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Grapes, and Cherries (and Children) across the Plains (Book). School Library Journal, 50(9), 162-163.

"Amusing details abound, and the slightly exaggerated humor of the pictures is in perfect balance with the tone of the text. The plucky heroine .... often takes center stage. An entertaining choice for storytimes or an amusing supplement to units on westward expansion."

Weisman, K. (2004). Apples to Oregon: Being the (Slightly) True Narrative of How a Brave Pioneer Father Brought Apples, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Grapes, and Cherries (and Children) Across the Plains (Book). Booklist, 101(1), 132.

"Hopkinson's alliterative tall tale is rich in language that begs to be read out loud... and Carpenter's colorful oil paintings add to the exaggerated fun."

Suggestions for Use in a Library

I love the idea of having students create tall tales based on historical events. Perhaps there could be a competition to see who's tale is the craziest, while still holding to the basic facts of the event itself. We could have the younger classes listen to the tales and be the judges based on entertainment, while the teachers could judge based on historical accuracy.

Module 9: Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds

Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds

Book Summary

Cam Jansen is a young girl with a photographic memory. When she wants to remember something she says, "Click" and takes a mental picture, which earns her the nickname of Cam. This is the first book of the series and Cam and her friend are at the mall when a ruckus occurs over a robbery at the jewelry store. She takes a mental picture of the scene and eventually helps the police find the true robber with her memory of key, seemingly insignificant details about the scene.

Citation 

Adler, D. (1980). Cam Jansen and the mystery of the stolen diamonds. New York: Penguin Group.

My Impressions

I remember reading this series as a child and liking it. I found the story to be very basic and I figured out the true robber at the beginning. But, I liked how the story unfolded and how Cam figured it out and proved it. For a beginner reader getting into mystery books, this would be a great place to start.

Review Excerpts

Stevenson, D. (1980). Cam Jansen and the mystery of the stolen diamonds (Book). School Library Journal, 26(9), 84.

"David Adler has come up with a neat plot that gives Cam's resourcefulness plenty of chance to shine"

Suggestions for Use in a Library

I think I would use this as a lesson in paying attention to detail. I would create a scenario that could be acted out, either by older students or teachers/staff. I would have the students write a summary of what they saw and see who came the closest to having all the details. This could lead to a discussion of how important paying attention to details could be.