Review for "Stitches: A Memoir"

Bibliography: Small, David. Stitches: A Memoir. 2009. New York: W. W. Norton & Co. Print. ISBN: 978-0393338966

Critical Analysis

The beauty of this graphic novel is contained in the transparent healing that it's creation offered it's author. The text opens when the author is six, and it is immediately clear that David Small's childhood did not take place in a happy, loving home environment. We are introduced to his family and their particular languages - his mother coughs, sobs, and bangs cupboard doors, his father punches a punching bag, his brother beats on drums, and the author gets sick. Throughout the book we never see one character smile, except the cheery smiles of strangers, and the frenetic smiles of his father and his medical team when he gets sick.

Throughout the story, Small continues to find solace in his artwork, and his books, which his mother disapproves of. The tone of the story is serious, heavy, stressed, and depressed. It would be an exhausting read if Small didn't give so much back to the reader with his gift of illustration. The tightness we see on the characters faces is not apparent in his drawings, which are loose, pleasant to look at, and done with a great skill with shadow and light. Although all of the characters are three-dimensional and believable, the author focuses mainly on his own growth and dynamism, and at the end of this difficult story the reader is left with a quiet hope. Because this isn't a story that is plot driven, but focuses on the protagonists home life, the reader's main concern is that the protagonist make it out of his abusive home with his sense of self in tact, and an authentic purpose. The reader is not disappointed.


Review Excerpts

Library Journal: "Stitches is compelling, disturbing, yet surprisingly easy to read and more than meets the high standard set by the widely praised Fun Home . With some sexual issues; highly recommended for older teens up."

Booklist: "Like other “important” graphic works it seems destined to sit beside—think no less than Maus—this is a frequently disturbing, pitch-black funny, ultimately cathartic story whose full impact can only be delivered in the comics medium, which keeps it palatable as it reinforces its appalling aspects. If there’s any fight left in the argument that comics aren’t legitimate literature, this is just the thing to enlighten the naysayers."


Awards and Recognition

YALSA Alex Award
National Book Award Finalist

Connections

This is a good read, but it doesn't necessarily look like a book that a young adult might be immediately drawn to. This would be a book that could really benefit from a book talk. Because the story centers on the pain of isolation the protagonist feels, and this is a pain felt by many in their young adult years, book talking this book may heighten interest amongst possible readers. The story ends in hope, it is ultimately an "It gets better," message that many young adults could find useful. Hopefully, book talking this title would increase it's circulation, and help young adults learn that finding a passion to focus one's energy on can be a life-saver.

Review for "The Graveyard Book"

Bibliography: Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. 2008. New York: HarperCollins. Print. ISBN: 978-0060530945

Critical Analysis

"There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife." This is the first sentence of The Graveyard Book, and it is accompanied by double-spread black pages, and a hand stretching across, holding a long knife. Thus we are introduced to the murderer who will haunt the story, the murderer that kills an entire family in the first chapter, but somehow misses the baby boy. This baby, completely oblivious to the horrendous crime that is being committed, climbs out of his crib, down the stairs, and all the way up the hill to an old, forgotten graveyard.

Through the adventures of this child, who is eventually named, "Nobody Owens" we learn about the dead.  In The Graveyard Book we learn that the dead appear after dark, in the cemeteries they have been buried in, as benign, ethereal figures.  As Nobody grows up he learns the art of sacrifice, he develops independence and strength, and he overcomes naivete. The language used in the book has shades of the formality and romance of the ages gone by, and approaches the subject of death with a gentle, almost comforting touch. The imagery used in this story is as quietly beautiful and as  strangely inviting as a graveyard can be on a sunny afternoon.


Review Excerpts

Booklist: "There is plenty of darkness, but the novel’s ultimate message is strong and life affirming. Although marketed to the younger YA set, this is a rich story with broad appeal and is highly recommended for teens of all ages."

Kirkus Reviews: "Closer in tone to American Gods than to Coraline, but permeated with Bod's innocence, this needs to be read by anyone who is or has ever been a child."


Awards and Recognition

Boston Globe Horn Book Award for Excellence in Children's Literature
Carnegie Medal
Cybil Award
John Newbery Medal
Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature

Connections

A way to help readers/students see the connection this story has to others is to help them recognize motifs, themes, and archetypes present in the story. Readers/students can first brainstorm together and see how many motifs or archetypes they can find in the story. Then, they can try to list other stories that they know of that have these motifs and archetypes. One common archetype that is found within The Graveyard Book is that of the gifted orphan. It would be fun to see how many motifs/themes/archetypes readers can find, and how many stories with similarities they can come up with!

Review for "A Step from Heaven"

Bibliography: Na, An. A Step from Heaven. 2001. New York: Penguin Group. Print. ISBN: 978-0807207215

Critical Analysis

When young Young Ju hears about "Mi Gook," the Korean term for the United States, she mistakenly believes it means "Heaven." In this short coming of age novel, An Na explores the complex and changing world of Young Ju, a Korean girl who immigrates to the United States with her mother and father.

We meet Young Ju when she is four in Korea. The first short chapter is as flowing and unbroken as both the ocean it is set in and the young girls' mind that is experiencing it. Na refrains from using any quotation marks at the beginning of the book, which gives the impression of a young child's mind - flowing from one topic to the next - somewhat unaware of societal boundaries. As the story progresses, and the family moves to the United States, quotation marks are introduced, particularly when the family members are speaking English, this emphasizes the cultural awareness that is increasing for Young Ju as she ages.

The creative mind of Young Ju is explored in this novel told in first person. Many metaphors are used to describe feelings and situations, and the metaphors weave in and out of Young Ju's creative thought process. Here, Young Ju describes a situation in which she is manipulated into telling an untruth regarding a perm her mother has insisted will make her look more American before their immigration,

"Do you like it, Young Ju? Uhmma is smiling. Happy lots of teeth smile. Happy as the letter about Mi Gook. Happy at me. Even though Uhmma tells me I should always tell the truth, and Halmoni says God will be angry if you lie, I want Uhmma to smile lots of happy teeth smile at me.
Young Ju, do you like your curly hair?
I look at the floor. Yes, I lie, quiet as snow."

This book contains a complex story about a girls search for both her own identity and her place within her family. Na explores Young Ju's need for acceptance from her American peers, the academic pressure placed on Young Ju by her hardworking parents, alcoholism and it's detrimental effects, and the devaluation of females in society, and of Young Ju by her own father, in this dynamic tale. While the story confronts the harsh reality of the young protagonist head on, it also ends on a hopeful note, which ultimately proves more satisfying than a contrived, "happy" ending.

Review Excerpts

School Library Journal: "Na has effectively evoked the horror and small joys of the girl's home life while creating sympathetic portraits of all of the members of the family. A beautifully written, affecting work."

Booklist: "This isn't a quick read, especially at the beginning when the child is trying to decipher American words and customs, but the coming-of-age drama will grab teens and make them think of their own conflicts between home and outside. As in the best writing, the particulars make the story universal."

Awards and Recognition

Asian Pacific American Award for Literature
Children's Book Award
Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
Kiriyama Prize

Connections

A Step from Heaven features a female, Asian American protagonist. It is important for children and young adults to read stories that reflect their experiences, and to be exposed to diversity in their reading. Making a display of books, or prominently featuring titles of well-written works for children and young adults that feature protagonists from diverse backgrounds can help promote exposure to diverse works.

Review for "The Storm in the Barn" by Matt Phelan

Bibliography: Phelan, Matt. 2009. The Storm in the Barn. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 978-0763636180


Critical Analysis

In the author's note at the end of the book, Matt Phelan states that he "wanted this book to be a story set in the Dust Bowl but not a story directly about the Dust Bowl." He imagined what living through the Dust Bowl would have seemed like to a child. He came up with a story that featured, "Jack," a boy trying to find his place in a world that had no place for him. In between getting beat up by the local boys, ignored by his depressed father, caring for his sick sister who has "Dust Pneumonia," and listening to tales of a boy named Jack from the local grocer, Jack notices a light emanating from an empty neighbors barn. When his family notices his strange obsession with the barn, they are told by the local doctor to keep an eye on him because he may have "Dust Dementia."

This graphic novel walks the boundaries between fantasy and historical fiction. Jack ends up wrestling with and beating the rain, a tall dark, ominous figure. At the close of the story Jack is the recognized hero who has brought the rain. Although this ending may be fulfilling for a child, I found that it cheapened the work, ending the story with a fantastical deus ex machina, and robbing Jack of the important developmental work and growth that could have happened if he dealt with the local bullies, his depressed father, and his feelings regarding his sick sister. Although the author describes his intentions at the end of the book in the "Author's Note" section, I still find the ending unfulfilling.

"The Storm in the Barn" contains artwork that utilizes the dusty earth tones that must have been overwhelming during the Dust Bowl. The characters faces often have a hard, pinched look, which makes my stomach growl just looking at them. The light pencil strokes found in the artwork are reminiscent of a certain unsettled, dusty wind. While mostly wordless, this graphic novel does an amazing job conveying the barren, windy world that the Dust Bowlers were surviving in.

Review Excerpts

Publishers Weekly: "The big novelty here is the Dust Bowl setting, and Phelan's art emphasizes the swirling, billowing clouds of fine grit that obscure even nearby objects. Older readers might have appreciated more text to make up for the lack of visual clarity, but kids will identify with Jack and appreciate his success."

School Library Journal: "Written with simple, direct language, it's an almost wordless book: the illustrations' shadowy grays and blurry lines eloquently depict the haze of the dust. A complex but accessible and fascinating book."

Awards and Recognition

ALA Notable Book 2009
Booklist Starred Review 2009
Horn Book Honor List
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
Texas Bluebonnet Book Award Nominee

Connections

A perfect follow-up activity for this graphic novel would be a guest speaker. Before the guest speaker showed up children could be encouraged to further their research of the historical era, in order to have good questions prepared. I can imagine that looking forward to a guest speaker who lived through the Dust Bowl era would spur research.

Review of "The Midwife's Apprentice" by Karen Cushman

Bibliography: Cushman, Karen. 1995. The Midwife's Apprentice. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN: 978-0064406307

Critical Analysis

At the beginning of the book, "The Midwife's Apprentice," we meet the protagonist, who literally has no name, but "Brat." It is the cold winter, she is an orphan, and she is seeking refuge in a dung heap. The boys in the village she has stopped in to beg have been pelting her with stones, when the town's midwife, Jane, happens upon the scene. The midwife is an important looking woman with a sharp look, and a wimple starched in pleats. She dubs the girl "Beetle" and takes her as an apprentice.

Slowly throughout the story, as we get to know this homeless orphan, she gets to know herself. She rescues a cat from drowning, who becomes a constant companion named "Purr." She names herself, "Alyce," and begins to truly learn the trade of being a midwife. It is not until the end, however, when Alyce leaves the abusive, tyrannical midwife, that she realizes that her true place in the world is as a midwife's apprentice. When she returns to the midwife, strong in her sense of self, she knocks at the door, and proclaims, "Jane Sharp! It is I, Alyce, your apprentice. I have come back. And if you do not let me in, I will try again and again. I can do what you tell me and take what you give me, and I know how to try and risk and fail and try again and not give up. I will not go away."

A healthy bildungsroman, with an eye for specific details of the medieval age, this story embraces the universal themes of perseverance in the face of obstacles and resilience.

Review Excerpts

Publishers Weekly: "Cushman has an almost unrivaled ability to build atmosphere, and her evocation of a medieval village, if not scholarly in its authenticity, is supremely colorful and pungent."

Kirkus Reviews: "From the rebirth in the dung heap to Brat's renaming herself Alyce after a heady visit to a medieval fair, this is not for fans of historical drama only. It's a rouser for all times."

Awards and Recognition

John Newbery Medal 1996
Young Readers Choice Award 1998
YALSA - Best Books for Young Adults 1996
ABC Booksellers Choices Award 1996

Connections

Ideally, I would love for readers to be able to visit a medieval historic location as a follow-up activity to this novel, but since we don't live in Europe, it's out of the question! I think another interesting follow-up activity would be to have a modern midwife come and speak to readers. Additionally, if objects could be found that date from the medieval period, or representations, that would be fun - since we are not in Europe, utilizing online resources may be our best bet for getting a flavor of medieval England.

Review of "Bloody Jack"

Bibliography: Meyer, L.A. 2002. Bloody Jack. New York: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN: 978-0152167318

Critical Analysis

The full name of the book is, "Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary 'Jacky' Faber, Ships Boy." In this story we come to know Jacky Faber, born Mary Faber, a girl of about twelve years of age, whose parents and sister died of the plague when she was only seven or eight. When we meet Mary she has been living on the streets of London, begging with a group of street urchins for the past four or five years. When their leader, "Rooster Charlie" is killed by a man who sells bodies to scientists, Mary takes Charlie's clothes and skiv, and heads for the coast. She is able to land a position on a navy vessel heading to sea because she can read. A full-fledged ships boy, she couldn't be prouder and happier in her accomplishments. It takes no longer than her first trip to the ship's bathroom for her to realize that disguising her femininity, which she terms, "The Deception," is going to be more difficult than she first expected.

The author of this story, L.A. Meyer is a former naval officer who lives in a fishing village, and it is clear that in addition to knowing the ins and outs of sailing and naval ships, he also researched the history of the era. But the most striking thing about this story is the protagonist he has created in "Jacky" Mary Faber. Full of spunk, fight, and goodwill, Jacky also is a survivor. She gets her name "Bloody Jack" by shooting a pirate in the back, and although that is her first act of violence, it is not her last. Resourceful, and insightful, this heroine constantly offers the readers gems, such as the following, in which she ponders dresses vs. pants - "I'm thinking that dresses are funny things, though, now that I've actually worn one. Why would a country like ours that prizes the so-called purity of its women so much have them wear something like a dress? I mean, trousers and drawers give a certain amount of protection, it's got to be admitted. Like if someone has evil on his mind and he's go to work through the belts and pant legs and such, it's going to take him a bit of time and effort, during which such time rescue might be on its way . . . with a dress, why, you just lift it up and there you are, objective in sight . . . It's a nagging thing, and probably ain't true, but I'd hate to think that a dress's lack of protection is the whole point of it. Don't seem right, somehow" (Meyer 198).

"Bloody Jack" does a wonderful job of presenting a historical tale that deals with contemporary issues. Gender role analysis is at the heart of this action filled tale of survival.

Review Excerpts

Booklist: "From shooting a pirate in battle to foiling a shipmate's sexual attack to surviving when stranded alone on a Caribbean island, the action in Jacky's tale will entertain readers with a taste for adventure. Phrases from old ballads echo through the text as well as some of the chapter headings, adding to the period feel of the telling. A first novel with a strong voice that is also a memorable piece of historical fiction."

Kirkus Reviews: "Jacky is such a marvelous creation that the other characters feel shadowy in comparison, and the least engaging parts of the novel involve her secret romance with a fellow ship's boy. Capped by a fitting but bittersweet ending, the first-person narrative shines, and a wealth of historical research is seamlessly knitted into the material."

Awards and Recognition

Lupine Award 2002 (Maine)
YALSA - Best Books for Young Adults 2004
ALA - Top Ten Youth First Novels 2003
ALA - Top Ten Historical Fiction for Youth 2003
Bulletin Blue Ribbons 2002

Connections

Drama would be a great follow-up activity for Bloody Jack. I can see children being extremely enthusiastic about acting out a sequence from a seafaring novel - particularly one that involved a fight with pirates! Children could be challenged to get the historical details of speech, costume, and custom correct, which could lead to further research of the historical era the novel is set in.