Actual Size

Module 7, SLIS 5420

Summary

Steve Jenkins, the author and illustrator of this book, uses paper collages to create images of unusually small and large animals, or portions of them, to give the reader an idea of the varying sizes of animals found in nature. Sometimes, such as on the cover of the book, the images are transposed to give a sense of proportion between different species. Each entry includes information on the height and weight of the animal depicted. The end of the book includes a recap of the species mentioned in it, with more information about their habitat, habits, and what they eat. The illustrations are colorful and the use of collage helps to create a sense of texture in the images.

Bibliographic Information

Jenkins, Steve. Actual Size. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. ISBN: 0-618-37594-5

My Thoughts

This picture book has a mixture of animals that are scary and benign. Some are interesting to children because they are unusually small and others because they are unusually large. Some are simply interesting because children will have encountered them in their other readings and will be interested in seeing how big or small they are. In any case, they are unlikely to have actually encountered the given species covered in the book, as they are rather exotic to American readers. This list covers animals from all around the globe. The inclusion of more information about each species at the end is a nice touch, as readers will want to know more information about them. The individual entries in the rest of the book follow a predictable pattern that lends it a comfortable aspect.

Reviews

PreS-Gr 5-In striking torn-and-cut paper collages, Jenkins depicts 18 animals and insects-or a part of their body-in actual size. One illustration compares an atlas moth with a 12-inch wingspan to a dwarf goby fish, which is 1/3-inch long. The eye of a giant squid, at a foot across, occupies a spread to terrific effect; only the snout and tongue-curling its two-foot length across two pages and littered with termites-are visible in the picture of the giant anteater. The hand of a gorilla fills a page opposite the entire pygmy mouse lemur with its tiny human-fingertip-sized palm. The saltwater crocodile grows to 23 feet, so tremendous that its head occupies a three-page foldout. On the reverse side is the rat-eating Goliath frog, a staggering 36 inches long in full hop. One or two lines of text briefly introduce each animal and give specific measurements, e.g., the gorilla stands 5 1/2 feet tall and weighs 600 pounds, while the mouse lemur is 2 1/2 inches tall and weighs 1 ounce. The end matter offers full pictures of the creatures and more details about their habitats and habits. Mixing deceptive simplicity with absolute clarity, this beautiful book is an enticing way to introduce children to the glorious diversity of our natural world, or to illustrate to budding scientists the importance of comparison, measurement, observation, and record keeping. A thoroughly engaging read-aloud and a must-have for any collection.
Ratterree, Dona. School Library Journal. June 1, 2004.


Gr. 1-3. As in many of his previous bestiaries, including the Caldecott Honor Book What Can You Do with a Tail Like This? (2003), Jenkins' newest presents a parade of cut-paper animals, each accompanied by a pithy line of text. The difference here is the scale: everything appears at actual size. Jenkins' masterstroke, though, is his inclusion of creatures both great and small, so while petite critters fit comfortably within 12-by-20-inch spreads, larger ones appear as evocatively cropped bits and pieces: a gorilla's massive hand; a Siberian tiger's snarling mug; the unnerving, basketball-size eye of a giant squid. The resulting juxtapositions will leave children marveling at one species' daintiness, then shuddering as they mentally sketch in the unseen portions of more formidable beasts. Jenkins' artwork is gorgeous (a gatefold of a frog in midleap is particularly memorable), and, at the end of the book, thumbnail images of the featured animals paired with information about habitat and behavior put the piquant visuals into a broader context. An unusual, unusually effective tool for connecting children to nature's astonishing variety.
Mattson, Jennifer. Booklist. May 15, 2004.

Awards

Booklist Editors' Choice - Books for Youth- Young Readers Category

Suggestions for Use in Library

Children of all ages are interested in animals. This book is a useful way to intoduce the idea of comparing the size and weight of the unusual animals shown here with animals that the children are more likely to be familiar with, such as pets, people, and wildlife that live in their own geographic areas, or those they have seen in a zoo.

The Wednesday Wars

Module 6, SLIS 5420

Summary

Holling Hoodhood is left in a strange situation. His fellow Protestants in school have moved away, and the Catholic and Jewish students leave school on Wednesday afternoons for religious instruction. He, alone, is left with the teacher during this time, and he feels that his teacher, Mrs. Baker, hates him for this. At first he suspects her of siccing the school bully on him, but then he comes to believe that she is trying to wear him out through meaningless school chores like cleaning the erasures or the chalkboard. Eventually, she decides to use this time to teach him Shakespeare, and he loves it! He finds parallels in the stories with his own life and his previous love of Treasure Island. He finds the characters and their situations interesting and challenging. He comes to appreciate his time alone with his teacher. Their new relationship leads him into strange new experiences, such as performing in a Shakespeare production, excelling at cross-country track, and meeting famous baseball players. Along with the life and history lessons, there is a great deal of humor that the young reader will appreciate.

Bibliographic Information

Schmidt, Gary D. The Wednesday Wars. Clarion Books, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-618-72483-3

My Thoughts

In addition to the story of Holling's struggles in school on Wednesday afternoons, the reader is introduced to historical pieces of information about the Vietnam war and the toll it takes on families left behind. Walter Cronkite is a newscaster that many turn to for information about the increasingly distressing war. Wives turn to each other in support groups, dreading telegrams from the government/military about the status of their spouses.

Holling also learns lessons such as teachers can be more than they seem on the surface. Mrs. Baker is not only interested in literature like that of Shakespeare, but she also helps him to improve his form as a long distance runner on the track team, that rare underclassman that has the talent or knack to make the varsity team. She is a former olympic silver medal winner! Ultimately, this novel expresses hope and it is a good choice for not only learning about how to cope as a student, but how to excel. Along the way the reader learns some important history as well. This is told in a very funny style. The back story of the classroom rats is hilarious!

Reviews

Gr 5-8-This entertaining and nuanced novel limns Holling Hoodhood's seventh-grade year in his Long Island community, beginning in the fall of 1967. His classmates, half of whom are Jewish, the other half Catholic, leave early on Wednesdays to attend religious training. As the sole Presbyterian, he finds himself stranded with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, whom he's sure has it in for him. She starts off creating mindless chores for him but then induces him to read Shakespeare-lots of Shakespeare. Chapters titled by month initially seem overlong, relating such diverse elements as two terrifying escaped rats, cream puffs from a local bakery, his dad being a cheapskate/cutthroat architect, and Holling's tentative and sweet relationship with classmate Meryl Lee. The scary Doug Swieteck, and his even more frightening brother, and the Vietnam War are recurring menaces. A subplot involves a classmate who, as a recent Vietnamese refugee, is learning English and suffers taunts and prejudice. Cross-country tryouts, rescuing his older runaway sister, and opening day at Yankee Stadium are highlights. There are laugh-out-loud moments that leaven the many poignant ones as Schmidt explores many important themes, not the least of which is what makes a person a hero. The tone may seem cloying at first and the plot occasionally goes over-the-top, but readers who stick with the story will be rewarded. They will appreciate Holling's gentle, caring ways and will be sad to have the book end.

Shoemaker, Joel. School Library Journal. July 1, 2007


*Starred Review* On Wednesday afternoons, while his Catholic and Jewish schoolmates attend religious instruction, Holling Hoodhood, the only Presbyterian in his seventh grade, is alone in the classroom with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, who Holling is convinced hates his guts. He feels more certain after Mrs. Baker assigns Shakespeare's plays for Holling to discuss during their shared afternoons. Each month in Holling's tumultuous seventh-grade year is a chapter in this quietly powerful coming-of-age novel set in suburban Long Island during the late '60s. The slow start may deter some readers, and Mrs. Baker is too good to be true: she arranges a meeting between Holling and the New York Yankees, brokers a deal to save a student's father's architectural firm, and, after revealing her past as an Olympic runner, coaches Holling to the varsity cross-country team. However, Schmidt, whose Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy (2005) was named both a Printz and a Newbery Honor Book, makes the implausible believable and the everyday momentous. Seamlessly, he?nbsp;knits together the story's?nbsp; themes: the cultural uproar of the '60s, the internal uproar of early adolescence, and the timeless wisdom of Shakespeare's words. Holling's unwavering, distinctive voice offers a gentle, hopeful, moving story of a boy who, with the right help, learns to stretch beyond the limitations of his family, his violent times, and his fear, as he leaps into his future with his?nbsp;eyes and his heart wide open.
Engberg, Gillian. Booklist. June 1, 2007.

Awards

ALA Notable Children's Books
Booklist Editors' Choice
Newbery Honor Books
Oprah's Kids' Reading Lists
Texas Lone Star Reading Lists
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults

Suggestions for Use in Library

Is a closer relationship with a teacher always a bad thing from a student's point of view? In what other ways can students learn from the experience of other adults in their lives? These are some questions that one can explore with reading assignments for this book.

The Teacher's Funeral

Module 6, SLIS 5420

Summary

Russell Culver is 15 years old and lives in rural Indiana in the early 1900s. He lives for the annual showcase of new, mechanized farm equipment that arrives each year on the train with all of the pomp and production of a circus. He dreams of running off with his friend Charlie to South Dakota to work in the fields and earn gobs of money. He does not live for school. During summer vacation he and his schoolmates learn of the death of their teacher, and they dream that is will take some time to replace her. After all, who would want to take over teaching so few students in their out of the way town in a simple, one room schoolhouse? Unfortunately for Russell, the answer is his older sister, Tansy. He suffers under her tutelage as she treats him like any other student. He cannot react to her like any other teacher, however, as they still live under the same roof with their parents. His father, especially, makes him respect his sister in her new role.

Russell has many adventures during the school year and his academic endeavors are stretched as his sister tries new teaching methods on all of the students, who are a rather mismatched bunch in both background and age. Russell comes to grudgingly respect the efforts of his sister and even root for her as she tries to earn her provisionary teachers certificate (she is only 17!)

Bibliographic Information

Peck, Richard. The Teacher's Funeral. Dial Books, 2004. ISBN: 0-8037-2736-4

My Thoughts

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It is historical fiction set in a time that did not seem to have anything glamorous going for it. The attention to detail about rural life in that time made it a wonderful read. The one room schoolhouse filled with students mismatched in age and educational level really brought home what it was like to live in a time and place that did not necessarily place much importance on education. The 3-way efforts of the boys/men to win Tansy's heart added in turns a bit of comedy, drama, and suspense that was a welcome addition. Who will win, if anyone, in this competition?

Russell suffers some disappointments through the course of the story, such as learning that school will continue, and through the watchful eye of his own sister. He also must abandon his dream of leaving home to make money in the fields of the Dakotas. But he also learns that his family really cares for him and is watching out for his best interests. He first learns this is true in the character of his father, who seems to know every move Russell is about to make and then shields him from what would be his worst mistakes, helping him to discover why these actions would not turn out to help his own best interests. He also learns that while his sister Tansy is tough on him, her own motivation is to help him to meet his potential in life.

Reviews

This novel demonstrates the intelligence and integrity of VOYA's review system. To list Peck's ample achievement and awards would exhaust the word limit; suffice to say, Peck is the epitome of literary excellence and his latest book is no exception. Peck fills his coming-of-age story with vivid characters like Aunt Maud and dazzling use of vernacular in the book's voice and dialogue. Set in rural Indiana at the turn of the twentieth century, the reckons, Maws, and jists are stacked like rows of corn as Peck pulls readers inside life in a one-room school. After their teacher dies, fifteen-year-old Russell, his brother Lloyd, and their schoolmates hope that the school will be closed, but sadly a new teacher is hired, who just happens to be Russell's older sister Tansy. And that is when things get interesting-or do they? How will the Hee Haw humor play in a hip-hop culture? It is hard to imagine any teen reading this book unless already a fan of Peck's writing, not just because of the genre (historical fiction historically ranks low on teen reading surveys), but rather because of Peck's attraction with historical re-creation, not fast action or funny dialogue. Judgments about quality emerge from expertise, while popularity pronouncements stem from experience, but the book's subtitle, a comedy in three parts, obscures objectivity. Despite pratfalls and privy fires, there is plenty of corn here but little comedy. The cover of the book, like the comedy within it, was not seen.-Patrick Jones. With twists and turns and comedy in the middle, the author imparts his message that education is important when you want to achieve your dream. The book is written from the view of a fifteen-year-old, and I think that readers closer to that age will enjoy the book. I liked it because it was funny, and I enjoyed reading a tale about a boy who is against school (just like most of us).
David, Liza M. Voice of Youth Advocates. December 1, 2004.

Gr 6 Up-C'mon back to rural Indiana in 1904 and join 15-year-old Russell, whose summer ends with the unexpected death of old Miss Myrt Arbuckle. Russell and his younger brother are thrilled because just maybe the school board will decide to stop its foolishness and tear down the one-room schoolhouse. Surely it doesn't pay to hire a new teacher for the six students who attend. But to his utter horror, one is hired and it's none other than his extremely bossy older sister, even though she still has a year left of high school herself. Tansy takes to teaching with vigor and manages to circumvent all of the high jinx and calamities that threaten to undermine her authority, such as an accidental fire in the privy and a puff adder in her desk drawer. Peck expertly evokes humor and colloquial speech and mores with such sentences as "The water wasn't crotch-deep on a dwarf at that point," and "She had a snout on her long enough to drink water down a crawdad hole." Even readers who are blas? about current technological advances will be as excited as Russell is when he sees the steel Case Agitator threshing machine down from Wisconsin on its once-yearly exhibit, or the Overland Automobile Company's Bullet No. 2 racing car that can travel a mile in an unheard-of 43 seconds. Another gem from Peck-and a fabulous lead-in to titles such as Olive Burns's Cold Sassy Tree (Houghton, 1984).
Riley, Susan. School Library Journal. November 1, 2004.

Awards

ALA Notable Children's Books
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults

Suggestions for Use in Library

The Little House series features scences in a 1 room schoolhouse from a girl's perspective. This is another good book to explore what school was like in earlier days and in different circumstances, in this case from a boy's perspective. Compare and contrast. Are their experiences different? Superstitions also play a role in some of the "practical" jokes played in the book. Would these jokes work today?

Ship Breaker

Module 5, SLIS 5420

Summary

Nailer is a 14-year-old who works on old, abandoned ships. His job is to remove valuable metal scrap from them, working with other youths to fulfill their quota for the bosses. The job is dangerous and it does not pay much. Still, it is better to belong to a crew who have exchanged oaths of belonging that to try to get by on one's own. Nailer lives with his father, Richard, a dangerous and violent man who is addicted to drugs and alcohol. The only good things in his life are his work with the crew and his friendship with Pima and her mother, Sadna. After falling into a hold full of oil and nearly dying from a wound from scrap metal, Nailer is considered a Lucky Boy, favored by the Fates.

A terrible hurricane hits their home, and Nailer and Pima set out to find some food. They discover a recent shipwreck. The wrecked ship is that of wealthy owners. They stash some loot they find and then discover a survivor. She is a rich girl named Nita. They nurse her back to health and she promises that her family will reward them for saving her. Before her people can rescue her, Nailer's dad arrives with some other toughs, taking the salvage and looking to sell Nita for ransom.

Nailer and Rita escape with the help of a half-man named Tool. They journey to the remains of the city Orleans to try and unite Nita with her people. There she is captured by Richard again, along with enemies of her father. Can Nailer find allies of Nita's family and help to rescue her? Can he escape his father's wrath?

Bibliographic Information

Bacigalupi, Paolo. Ship Breaker. Little, Brown and Company, 2010. ISBN: 978-0-316-05621-2

My Thoughts

Ship Breaker is definitely a book for Young Adults. There is a great deal of introspection on the part of Nailer that would be lost on younger readers. There is also a fair amount of violence. Nailer is forced into a conflict with one of his father's goons and must cut her throat to protect himself and Pima's mother. He also kills his father in self-defense. In between these acts, there is a great deal of speculation on Nailer's part regarding what is easy and what is right, and how his actions will affect his life and the lives of those he cares for. In the end, he finds a way to remove himself from his former life of despair and set himself on a path that may lead to better things, though there is no guarantee.

The world Nailer inhabits has suffered some kind of disaster of the climate, brought on by global warming. There is not a great deal of information given about what has happened, but it is revealed that the ice surrounding the North Pole has melted, polar bears are extinct, and there is a limit on carbon emitions and a return to ships powered by sail instead of oil. Also, hurricanes of category 6 are a regular occurence and have destroyed New Orleans and a subsequent attempt at rebuilding the city.

Reviews

Gr 7 Up-A fast-paced postapocalyptic adventure set on the American Gulf Coast. Nailer works light crew; his dirty, dangerous job is to crawl deep into the wrecks of the ancient oil tankers that line the beach, scavenging copper wire and turning it over to his crew boss. After a brutal hurricane passes over, Nailer and his friend Pima stumble upon the wreck of a luxurious clipper ship. It's filled with valuable goods-a "Lucky Strike" that could make them rich, if only they can find a safe way to cash it in. Amid the wreckage, a girl barely clings to life. If they help her, she tells them, she can show them a world of privilege that they have never known. But can they trust her? And if so, can they keep the girl safe from Nailer's drug-addicted father? Exciting and sometimes violent, this book will appeal to older fans of Scott Westerfeld's "Uglies" series (S & S) and similar action-oriented science fiction.
Bass, Hayden. School Library Journal. June 1, 2010.


*Starred Review* This YA debut by Bacigalupi, a rising star in adult science fiction, presents a dystopian future like so many YA sf novels. What is uncommon, though, is that although Bacigalupi's future earth is brilliantly imagined and its genesis anchored in contemporary issues, it is secondary to the memorable characters. In a world in which society has stratified, fossil fuels have been consumed, and the seas have risen and drowned coastal cities, Nailer, 17, scavenges beached tankers for scrap metals on the Gulf Coast. Every day, he tries to make quota and avoid his violent, drug-addicted father. After he discovers a modern clipper ship washed up on the beach, Nailer thinks his fortune is made, but then he discovers a survivor trapped in the wreckage the swank daughter of a shipping-company owner. Should he slit the girl's throat and sell her for parts or take a chance and help her? Clearly respecting his audience, Bacigalupi skillfully integrates his world building into the compelling narrative, threading the backstory into the pulsing action. The characters are layered and complex, and their almost unthinkable actions and choices seem totally credible. Vivid, brutal, and thematically rich, this captivating title is sure to win teen fans for the award-winning Bacigalupi.
Rutan, Lynn. Booklist. May 15, 2010.

Awards

None to date

Suggestions for Use in Library

This would be a good book for discussion amongst teens. There are several choices that Nailer makes in the course of the book that could be discussed. What are the consequences of making different decisions than the ones Nailer makes? What would you have done in his place, and why? Do you think the world in which Nailer lives is a possible future for mankind? Why or why not?

The Night Tourist

Module 5, SLIS 5420

Summary

Jack Perdu is a high school student who is a wiz at Latin, but does not have friends. He lives with his father, a professor, on the Yale campus. His mother died in an accident involving a collapsed scaffold. He is hit by a car and begins to see and hear extraordinary things. After finding his mother's name scrawled on an old map dropped by a man who then jumps out of a window, Jack finds himself examined by a strange doctor. Jack steals a golden token from his office but has no idea why he has done this. Killing time in the train station while waiting for his train home from the doctor's appointment, he befriends a girl his age who wants to show him some of the secrets of the train station. It turns out that his new friend, Euri, is a ghost, and she has brought him to the world of the dead underneath New York. His stolen token has granted him passage into this strange world. He and Euri begin to search for his mother, as she may still be there if she has not yet passed on to the Elysium, the realm of eternal peace.

Jack learns that he has only 3 nights in the underworld to find his mother. If he does not leave by then, he will have to stay forever. He and Euri must dodge the 3-headed dog Cerberus and his handlers, whose job is to protect the underworld from invasion by the living. Jack has some close scrapes with the "law", but he eventually finds his mother and learns the truth about her past and why she is still in the underworld. He has also learned Euri's secrets and he longs to get back to the world of the living and bring her with him. Can he succeed?

Bibliographic Information

Marsh, Katherine. The Night Tourist. Hyperion Books for Children, 2007. ISBN: 978-1-4231-0689-0

My Thoughts

This fantasy novel includes a well-thought-out world, the New York underground inhabited by the spirits of the dead. They have many freedoms, but there are also rules to their existence. For instance, they can only come out and visit the city above during the night. They cannot fly over water, etc. Many of the ghosts "haunt" sites that were important to them in life, keeping up with the goings on of their loved ones. Others attend entertainments like an NBA basketball game or a performance of The Producers, hovering high above the living spectators and performers. Jack experiences a great deal of confusion in this new world, and comes to rely on experienced ghosts like Euri and her friends. He also begins to see this experience as paralleling that of the tale of Orpheus, who in mythology visits the underworld to rescue his lost love. There is a great deal in this story that would appeal to young readers. Jack is on a quest, devoid of parental guidance, to try and find, and perhaps return with, his mother. He learns about the importance of friendship and perhaps finds his first love, though in a rather odd place. Finally, Jack learns of responsibility. Only he has the power to return Euri to the land of the living. He also has a responsibility to return to his father in the land of the living and let him know about the fate of his mother.

Reviews

Gr 7 Up-Jack Perdue, a prodigy, lives with his father on the Yale campus where he buries himself in classical literature. When an accident leaves Jack with a head injury, his father sends him to a very strange doctor in New York. Jack has not been to New York since his mother died and he and his dad moved to New Haven. In Grand Central Station, Jack takes a tour and meets a girl named Euri who suggests that he might want to see the underground station-places that the public never get to see. So begins the adventure into the underworld of ghosts as he searches for his mother and learns about her mysterious life and death. Adventure abounds as Jack and Euri visit with deceased authors and constantly avoid the ghost police with a three-headed dog looking for anyone who might be "living." Along the way, Jack discovers some truths about Euri, himself, and his father. Actor Andrew Rannels narrates and provides a realistic voice for each character. Harry Potter fans will enjoy this fantasy (Hyperion, 2007) by Katherine Marsh.
Actkinson, Jeana. School Library Journal. February 1, 2008.

Ninth-grader Jack lives with his father on the campus of Yale University. He is a Classics scholar who does not quite fit in with the other students in his class. After a near-fatal accident, Jack is sent to see a doctor in New York, the place where is mother died eight years ago. Jack meets a girl, Euri, who offers to show him the secret places in Grand Central Station. As she takes him down to the lowest levels, he discovers that they are in the underworld and that Euri is a ghost. Jack believes that it is his chance to see his mother again, but he only has three nights to find her before he must leave, all the while being chased by Cerberus, the three-headed dog who guards the underworld. Jack resolves his feelings of abandonment and helps Euri to realize that her family misses her. This quick read holds the reader's attention. Jack and Euri are likeable teens, trying to figure out where they fit into their worlds. Engaging characters such as Professor Schmitt, another Classics scholar, and poet Ruthven Todd help them in their quest to find Jack's mother and hide them from Cerberus. Marsh creates an interesting alternate world. Students who know classical mythology will understand and enjoy the allusions in the story. This unusual ghost story will appeal on many levels.
Dubois, Deborah L. Voice of Youth Advocates. December 1, 2007.

Awards

Edgar Allan Poe Awards: Best Juvenile Mystery Novel

Suggestions for Use in Library

This would be a good introduction to fantasy for students who are reluctant to test this genre. It is rooted in the real, contemporary world, with Jack visiting a new existence previously unknown to him. It might also serve as a good introduction to mythology, with readers/students following up with the adventures of Orpheus and their depictions of the underworld.

Hoot

Module 4, SLIS 5420

Summary

Roy is riding the bus to school one day when he spots a boy his age running along the sidewalk. Running faster than most could manage, and he does not seem to be on his way to school. This observation sets in motion a series of events that change Roy's life. He cannot get this boy out of his mind, despite the day-to-day irritations such as getting picked on by the school bully. He must pursue this and find out who this boy is! One day, after spotting the running boy again, he punches the bully in the nose in an effort to free himself enough to escape from the bus and try to follow the runner. This gets him into trouble with the school for "fighting" on the bus and skipping school. It also brings him into conflict with a girl soccer player who seems to be defending the running boy for some reason. Roy must defend his actions with officials at school, calm the angry soccer girl, find the runner, and fend off the angry bully. His actions bring him into the defense of small owls that live on a property about to be bulldozed for construction of a pancake house franchise as he joins forces with his new friend the running boy and his half-sister the soccer player. This is a funny book and the reader cannot help but be drawn into the story, learning a bit about the importance of environmental causes along the way.

Bibliographic Information

Hiaasen, Carl. Hoot. Alfred A. Knopf, 2002. ISBN: 0-375-82916-4

My Thoughts

Roy's father works for the federal Department of Justice in some capacity that is not explained, so the family must move across the country to his new postings on a regular basis. This means that Roy is always the new kid. After moving to Florida, he says he is from Montana, where he last lived and a place that he really enjoyed. This earns him the nickname "Cowgirl" with the school bully, who likes to torture him on the bus. Children who frequently move will appreciate how difficult it is to fit in when one is always moving. Roy seems to like a good mystery and cannot help himself in trying to figure out who the running boy is and why the soccer girl is trying to warn him away from finding out. This makes the story appealing to those that love a good mystery. Parallel to this is the story of the strange events at a nearby lot, slowing the progress of the building of a pancake house franchise and the efforts of the local police to stop the vandalism. The two stories merge as it is revealed that the running boy is trying to save a species of burrowing owl that lives on the property from unscrupulous developers. Roy's investigations, unwittingly aided by information from his father's background in law enforcement, lead the children and their schoolmates into a confrontation with the developers and the owls are saved. While the point of view is mostly Roy's, it does change now and then to include members of the police force who are investigating the vandalisms and to include conversations and reactions amongst the developers. This helps to introduce young readers to a more complicated and realistic style of fiction writing. The involvement of these youngsters in helping to prevent and environmental (and legal) wrong helps young readers appreciate how laws work and how anyone, however young, can help in a good cause. Along the way, Roy and his new friends bend or break a few laws. That is certainly a cause for concern. There is sufficient reflection on the possible bad concequences of these acts to help mitigate the inclusion of these scenes.

Reviews

Gr 6-9-This is novelist Carl Hiassen's first book for young readers (Knopf, 2002). Set in Florida, an intriguing barefoot runner reminiscent in his innocence of Maniac Magee leads middle school student Roy Eberhardt on an eco-adventure that includes snakes, fish, alligators, a student protest movement, and encounters with big business and law enforcement-all in defense of a nesting site for burrowing owls. This barefoot runner remains fairly enigmatic throughout the story, never truly becoming part of the ordinary world of home, school, and community that newcomer Roy finds so limited after having experienced the majestic Montana mountains. But Roy grows to appreciate Florida by experiencing it through contact with this elusive friend whom he helps to accomplish the seemingly impossible. An interesting cast of adult and student characters is brought to life by actor Chad Lowe who uses his voice deftly to express each in clearly discernible ways. His reading is especially well-paced to assist in following and understanding the changes of setting and characters as the plot moves along in two different sequences for quite some time. It's an appealing story focusing on ecological values, giving it nice classroom potential for science tie-ins. It would also make a great book for family listening because of its timely story line, interesting animal details, lots of local color, and effective message.
Fenn, Jane P. School Library Journal. January 1, 2003.

Gr. 5-8. It seems unlikely that the master of noir-tinged, surrealistic black humor would write a novel for young readers. And, yet, there has always been something delightfully juvenile about Hiaasen's imagination; beneath the bent cynicism lurks a distinctly 12-year-old cackle. In this thoroughly engaging tale of how middle-schooler Roy Eberhardt, new kid in Coconut Cove, learns to love South Florida, Hiaasen lets his inner kid run rampant, both the subversive side that loves to see grown-ups make fools of themselves and the righteously indignant side, appalled at the mess being made of our planet. When Roy teams up with some classic children's lit outsiders to save the home of some tiny burrowing owls, the stage is set for a confrontation between right-thinking kids and slow-witted, wrongheaded civic boosters. But Hiaasen never lets the formula get in his way; the story is full of offbeat humor, buffoonish yet charming supporting characters, and genuinely touching scenes of children enjoying the wildness of nature. He deserves a warm welcome into children's publishing.
Ott, Bill. Booklist. October 15, 2002.

Awards

ALA Notable Children's Books
Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award, Minnesota
Newbery Honor Books
Nutmeg Children's Book Award, Connecticut
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award
Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Choice Book Award, Illinois

Suggestions for Use in Library

This would be a good choice for students or independent readers who are interested in making a difference regarding environmental issues. It might also interest those who move around frequently or just enjoy funny books. Finally, it would be a gentle introduction into books that have changing points of view.

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key

Module 4, SLIS 5420

Summary

Joey Pigza lived with his Grandmother since his Father ran off and his Mother followed. His Grandmother was a lot like him: she had lots of energy and had trouble focusing. This made for a rather strange household and one that was rather messy. Then his Mother returned, bringing a level of stability, though Grandma and Joey still tended to bounce around the place. Joey has trouble at school, especially in the afternoons. He takes a medication to help calm him down, but it does not work so well after lunch. Because of this, Joey does not learn much in the afternoons and becomes quite a distraction to his teacher, Mrs. Maxy. He often is sent to visit the principal, Mrs. Jarzab, or Nurse Holyfield. Because of his frequent disruptions, the principal decides to try a new tactic: Joey will be sent to visit the Special Education room when he gets out of hand. The Teacher there, Mrs. Howard, has some methods of dealing with him that seems to help a little. When he is there, he meets the other children. Some have physical or mental difficulties that make him seem rather normal. Then, in regular class one day, Joey injures another student, accidentally cutting off the tip of her nose with scissors when he trips. This requires that he be moved to the school district's main Special Education facility. This turns out to be a blessing as they have the training and know-how to properly assess Joey's needs and help him through new medication and counseling to control his urges more successfully. He returns to regular school with a new appreciation for the conditions suffered by others in the Special Education program. He also gets a puppy to reward him for his transition!

Bibiographic Information

Gantos, Jack. Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998. ISBN: 0-374-33664-4

My Thoughts

Joey suffers from attention deficit disorder. The author does a good job of describing what Joey feels under the influence of this condition, both when his medications are working and when they are not. He also does a pretty good job of telling the story through the eyes of a 4th or 5th grader. He describes what he sees and what he feels about that, but it is obvious that he does not always understand and that he does not appreciate the long-term consequences of his actions. During the course of the book, while under treatment, Joey begins to reveal more about what he suffered at the hands of his Grandma. She also had attention deficit disorder and it was untreated, as she was a grownup and was merely thought of as eccentric. Some of her actions, such attempting to lock him in a refrigerator and pretending that his mother would come home immediately if he behaved himself, had profound and unfortunate effects on Joey's behavior and development. With counseling and a new medication structure, Joey returns to almost normal. Because of his condition, he can never be absolutely cured, but the reader sees the beginning of better things for Joey as he learns more about himself. His mother has also realized that she needs to make changes of her own if she intends to provide Joey with a safe environment in which he can grow and develop. This book is a good introduction to attention deficit disorder for those that do not suffer from it, but who may know others that do. It is also a tale of courage for those who have the disorder. In the character of Joey they can see hope for themselves.

Reviews

Joey Pigza is hyperactive and ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), and he knows it. Being wired is something that runs in his family; Joey's father skipped out when Joey was in kindergarten. His mother left shortly afterwards, abandoning Joey to the dubious care of a batty and abusive grandmother. For years Joey lived in chaos, until his mother came home sobered up and determined to take care of him. The trouble is that the meds Joey takes to control his condition work only half a day, and when they wear off he is quite literally off the wall, impossible in a classroom and a menace to himself and others. When Joey precipitates an accident that seriously injures a classmate, he is sent to a special education school?here, as Joey observes, the kids arrive punished already with crippling handicaps. The school marks another turning point for Joey. A supportive caseworker helps Joey deal with and understand his disability, and he is put on a continuous release patch that evens out the delivery of his drugs. Joey returns to his old school feeling calmed down, hopeful, and even a little good about himself. Joey; his gutsy, struggling mother; and his long-suffering teachers come to life in this highly readable novel that is sometimes funny, sometimes heartrending, and both entertaining and engrossing. Be aware, though, that the plot and a lot of Joey's inner dialogues hang on the drugs that do or do not control his condition. Readers uncomfortable with the way that medicines are used to control children's behavior are going to have qualms about this story. There are plenty of Joeys in schools today, and it is good to have one of their stories told with such skill and sympathy.
Patton, Anya. Voice of Youth Advocates. February 1, 1999.

Gr 5-8-Joey Pigza suffers from severe attention deficit disorder and struggles to remain calm when his world chaotically slips through his fingertips. When his medicine wears off, he cannot concentrate or sit still and is constantly in trouble at school. After leaving him for several years in the care of his abusive grandmother, his mother returns to reclaim him and her parental responsibilities. But Joey remains a challenge: he continually disrupts his class, swallows his house key, and runs away during a field trip. Eventually, he injures a classmate and is sent to a special education center for six weeks; here his medication is regulated and he learns how to manage his behavior. Joey leaves the center feeling strong and in control and he triumphantly returns to his old school. Gantos creates a strong cast of multidimensional characters. Joey is inherently a good kid and just as his teachers want him to succeed, readers will empathize and feel his emotional and physical bruises. References to alcoholism and abuse add realism to the novel without impeding the flow of the plot. In his first-person narrative, Joey relates incidents that are heart wrenching and humorous. From the powerful opening lines and fast-moving plot to the thoughtful inner dialogue and satisfying conclusion, readers will cheer for Joey, and for the champion in each of us.
Brommer, Shawn. School Library Journal. December 1, 1998.

Awards

ALA Notable Children's Books
California Young Reader Medal
School Library Journal Best Books
Virginia Readers' Choice Award

Suggestions for Use in Library

This would be a good book to suggest for anyone suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder. It would also make a good class assignment in situations where children are expanding their awareness of conditions that others suffer. I would add that caution be exercised as to not make it to obvious or awkward for fellow students who have this condition if this is made a class assignment!