​

Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo 

Bibliography

DiCamillo, Kate. Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures. Candlewick Press, 2013.

ISBN: 978-0763660406

Plot

Flora, a precocious and cynical 10 year old girl, rescues a squirrel from a ferocious outdoor vacuum cleaner. Named Ulysses after the vacuum cleaner that sucked it up, the squirrel has unusual superpowers, or so Flora believes. After successfully sneaking Ulysses into the house, unawares of her flighty Mother, Flora begins to learn what superpowers the squirrel has acquired. After proving his intelligence and bravery, Ulysses suddenly goes missing, throwing Flora into a search for him before he dies at the hand of his nemesis. Joining Flora are William Spiver, Dr. Meescham, Tootie, and George Buckman for an adventure that will show Flora what really matters in a not-so-terrible world. Along the way, she makes new friends and learns an important fact about her parents.

Critical Analysis 

The story of Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo invokes laughter and tears, with antics and drama aplenty. The plot begins in a normal world, with a cynical little girl whose parents have gone through divorce. The sudden spark of intrigue begins with the first pages, where a short prelude introduces the reader to a large vacuum cleaner. When a squirrel gets sucked up and obtains magical powers, the reader is drawn into a plot which centers on a budding friendship and the discovery of these simple, but profound powers. 

Ulysses as a character is credible, even in the fantastical moments when he is surprising the humans with unusual abilities. He is demonstrated to be kind and philosophical, as well as brave and lighthearted. DiCamillo succeeds in bringing to life a realistic squirrel, with thoughts that are authentic to the character. Flora as well is a multidimensional character, with feelings beyond her self described cynical thoughts. She is determined and full of faith in a sense of adventure and the unbelievable. Flora and Ulysses presents many characters which are developed, from William Spiver to Flora's Father. 

The theme of love conquering all prevails in the plot. Although there is a touch of villain present in a few of the characters, in the end it is love which saves the day. Flora finds through her adventures that her parents, although divorced, both love her tremendously, and are willing to sacrifice their own desires for her. Throughout the book, moments of tenderness between Flora and her individual parents are present and assist in promoting the budding friendships between William Spiver, Flora, and Ulysses. 

Vivid details abound in the setting, and are promoted through cartoon illustrations which are whimsical. The poetry in the story will stay with readers as it ties together the short chapters in the story. A delightful romp through a succinct plot line that shows that family really matters, even if isn't always perfect. 

Excerpts of Reviews 

"Campbell's rounded and gentle soft-penciled illustrations, at times in the form of panel art furthering the action, wonderfully match and add to the sweetness of this oddball story. Rife with marvelously rich vocabulary reminiscent of the early superhero era (e.g., “Holy unanticipated occurrences!”) and amusing glimpses at the world from the point of view of Ulysses the supersquirrel, this book will appeal to a broad audience of sophisticated readers."

School Library Journal 

"In "Flora and Ulysses," longtime fans will find a happy marriage of Mercy Watson's warmth and wackiness and Edward Tulane's gentle life lessons. In Flora, they will find a girl worth knowing, and one they will remember."

New York Times 

"This is a fun and clever tale of an unlikely hero uniting an even more unlikely cast of characters. Kate DiCamillo strikes again. Each character is well-drawn, the story is packed with fun references and asides. It's a perfect blend of poignancy and magic."

Parents Choice Book Awards 

Connections

1. Discuss how Flora and William Spiver became friends. Hold a conversation on how to become friends and be a friend. Read other books about unlikely friendships, such as: 
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead
Charlotte's Web by E. B. White 
Jane, the Fox & Me By Fanny Britt

2. Re-read Ulysses poetry and have students create their own poetry with a message. 

3. Have students create their own comic strips, as K.G. Campbell does in the story. 

4. Read more stories by Kate DiCamillo, such as: 
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
The Magician's Elephant
The Tale of Despereaux
Tiger Rising

The Odyssey a graphic novel by Gareth Hinds

Bibliography 

Hinds, Gareth. The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel. Candlewick Press, 2010.

ISBN: 978-0763642686

Plot  
Odysseus is trapped on an island after he offends one of the gods returning home from the Trojan War. When the gods decide to release him, he begins a journey back to his home in Ithaca, where hundreds of suitors are spoiling his food and waiting to marry his wife. On the way back home, he stays with King of the Phaeacians and tells his story of how he ended up on the island. After many trials and battles, in which Odysseus loses loyal men to beasts and magic, Odysseus arrives home in Ithaca. With the aid of the gods, he defeats all the suitors and makes peace with their fathers. The book is a graphic novel based on the traditional tale told by Homer.

Critical Analysis

The Odyssey pulls the reader into the fantastical "willing suspension of belief" through its action packed plot line. Odysseus is a character whose flaws and strengths shine clearly through his decisions. Whether choosing to risk his men's safety to defeat the Scylla unsuccessfully, or wisely following the advice of Kings, Odysseus shows that he can be both god-like and human in his flaws. Each of the characters of the gods are also well developed in what Hinds' chooses to portray in the graphic novel. For example, Athena is seen in all aspects as a helper to Odysseus, and her nature as a source of wisdom is shown through these scenes. 

The plot is grounded in a sense of reality, as a lonely boy without a father and a grieving wife are part of the first chapter, something that readers will be able to identify with. A universal theme of good vs. evil is set up from the beginning, when the suitors are ravaging Odysseus' land and animals, and Odysseus is trapped on an island. As Odysseus recounts his tale, he faces foe after foe which further the theme and make the reader yearn for his safe return home to his family. 

The journey plot line is fleshed out within the journey home that Odysseus makes; he re-tells his previous journey while on a present one. Hinds does an excellent job of distinguishing between the two, so that the reader knows by looking at the text boxes which is past experience and which is present action. 

Hinds' illustrations vividly show the action of the classic text. Whether creating a mellow, happy mood in the Isle of the Mists, to the bloodshed at the final victory over the suitors, the watercolor acts as a portrait of the story. Gareth Hinds also demonstrates knowledge of the original text and respect towards the language of The Odyssey. He directly quotes the text twice, and uses appropriate vocabulary throughout the story. A well done graphic novel variation of the tale. 

Excerpts of Reviews

"Hinds's beautiful watercolors skillfully capture the rosy-fingered dawn, the wine-dark sea, the land of the dead, and many other settings and characters that will inspire readers. This adaptation goes far above and beyond the “highlights” coverage that other versions such as Tim Mucci's The Odyssey (Sterling, 2010) provide. Hinds's work will be a welcome addition for fans of Homer's original work and for newcomers to this classic story."

School Library Journal 

"Hinds lets the epic story take its time, with a slow build and pages that aren’t afraid to alternate packed dialogue with titanic action. The sumptuous art, produced with grain, texture, and hue, evokes a time long past while detailing every line and drop of sweat on Odysseus’ face and conveying the sheer grandeur of seeing a god rise out of the ocean. Teens may be baffled by the hero’s commitment to the same pantheon of gods who heap trouble in his path, but they will not lose touch with the universal qualities of steadfastness that Odysseus still embodies."

Booklist 

"A timeless long-ago past comes alive in these images of gods and heroes, monsters and enchantresses; of mayhem, lovemaking, and touching reunions-all arrayed in frames whose shape, number, and palette expertly pace and propel the story. As introduction, outline, illustration, and visual translation, a worthy companion to its great predecessors."

The Hornbook 

Connections 

1. Use the Hero's Journey interactive application to explore more Epic texts: 

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/herosjourney/

2. Read The Odyssey by Gillian Cross and compare/contrast with The Odyssey by Gareth Hinds. How are the two visions different and the same? 

3. Learn more about Greek Mythology by reading books such as: 
Heroes of Olympus by Philip Freeman
Tales of the Greek Heroes by Roger Lancelyn Green

​

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

 

Bibliography

Green, John. The fault in our stars. Penguin UK, 2012.

ISBN: 978-0142424179

Plot

Hazel is a young girl who is obsessed with the book An Imperial Affliction by Peter Van Houten. She has terminal lung cancer, and her parents make her go to a cancer support group. At the support group, she meets Augustus, who also has cancer. Augustus and her fall in love, and Augustus uses his Wish from the Make a Wish Foundation to take Hazel to Amsterdam to meet the author of her favorite book, in order to find out the ending. When they meet the author, however, he is a grumpy old man who is so cynical that he refuses the teenagers the answers to the questions they ask. When Hazel and Augustus return to the States, Augustus faces one last challenge to his health, and eventually dies. Hazel performs his eulogy at his funeral and receives a surprising gift.

Critical Analysis 
The characters of Hazel and Augustus may be identifiable with teenagers. They are both attempting to be individualists through their shared disease. Augustus manages this more clearly through selfless acts rather than complete selfishness, while Hazel moves through the plot largely unchanged in her attitude towards life and people. Augustus seems to grow in his battle with the disease, as he gives his wish to Hazel and allows his weakness to present itself. I found that the characters were both somewhat cruel to their parents in their actions and words - both seemed to disregard their parents as sidekicks to their lives.

The plot is mostly true to life, however, it does have a large amount of predictability in the attitude it takes on death and suffering. Although the plot involves two children who have cancer, there are rare moments when the children are doing child-like activities, such as school or even play. Most of the plot is either the two children "hanging out", or on an adventure in Amsterdam, which is not an entirely plausible setting. Very rarely during the story is a hospital or doctor mentioned.

Green presents through the plot line a point of view that those who suffer are only able to be hurt, not hurt others, such as their parents. He also presents teenagers with the view that a relationship is unilateral, rather than communal. Hazel and Augustus pursue their relationship void of their parents or even their close friend Isaac. This theme of singular romance is prevalent through the book, as well as a theme of finding identity. According to the main characters, identity is found in having cancer and also in another person.

Green presents both gender's sides of the story in The Fault in Our Stars, with a sensitive male figure in Augustus and the voice of Hazel heard loudly. The issue of cancer is presented within a family structure, showing how each character's families affect them and assist them with the disease. The plot also presents conflicts that arise out of the impact that cancer has on the family. 

Excerpts of Reviews 

"Beautifully conceived and executed, this story artfully examines the largest possible considerations—life, love, and death—with sensitivity, intelligence, honesty, and integrity. In the process, Green shows his readers what it is like to live with cancer, sometimes no more than a breath or a heartbeat away from death. But it is life that Green spiritedly celebrates here, even while acknowledging its pain. In its every aspect, this novel is a triumph."

Booklist 

"The Fault in Our Stars is a love story, one of the most genuine and moving ones in recent American fiction, but it’s also an existential tragedy of tremendous intelligence and courage and sadness."

Time Magazine 

“John Green deftly mixes the profound and the quotidian in this tough, touching valentine to the human spirit.” 

The Washington Post

Connections

1. Read other stories in which the main protagonist has cancer, such as: 
Ida B. by Katherine Hannigan 
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr 

2. After reading the book, go to John Green's Q&A about the book. http://johngreenbooks.com/questions-about-the-fault-in-our-stars-spoilers/
Have students write their own questions that they would ask the author about the book. 

3. Discuss how, near the end of their lives, both Hazel and Augustus chose to make the best of it and went overseas, fell in love, and started a new friendship. Have students think about what they would do, or can do now, to make the best out of a hard situation they are going through, or even just their general lives. 

4, Read other books written by John Green, such as: 
An Abundance of Katherines 
Looking for Alaska 
Paper Towns 
Will Grayson, Will Grayson 

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary Schmidt

Bibliography 

Schmidt, Gary D. Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster boy. Random House LLC, 2008.

ISBN: 978-0544022799

Plot
At the start of the 20th century, Turner Buckminster and his family move from Boston to Maine. Turner can't help getting into trouble with his minister Father, and starts off on a bad foot with the boys of the town due to differences in baseball technique. Lizzie Bright lives with her grandfather and other African Americans on Malaga Island off the coast of the town. When Turner goes adventuring by himself, they meet and instantly form a friendship. Lizzie and Turner's separate worlds further collide when the town decides to force the islanders off, uprooting their homes and lives. Turner is a strong, vocal advocate against the proposition, and has to work to overcome prejudice and stereotyping, even in his own home.

Critical Analysis

In Lizzie and Turner's story, readers are able to identify with two strong children who, against the odds, hold onto hope for their world. The theme of hope, with all of its uncertainties, is prominent through Lizzie's befriending of Turner, the adventures they share on the water and playing organ with Mrs. Cobb, and Turner's insistence to find Lizzie when they are eventually separated. Schmidt brings the setting alive with descriptive language. The reader will be able to feel the seaside breeze, and the cold as winter sets in with despair to the people of Malaga.

The plot is based significantly on the true events of what happened on Malaga Island, and brings historical authenticity through the painful words and feelings of the townspeople. In the struggle over the Island and its population, the reader is able to see the reality that most people have good and bad struggling within them, such as is shown by the characters of Will and Pastor Buckminster. Each person has to decide what will motivate them; and their motivations will always lead them to the eventual conclusion, whether for good or evil. Schmidt weaves together a tale that is moving towards the plight of humans in a story which is historically accurate to the setting and events.

Personal Response

II found myself drawn into this story due to both the words themselves, and the events that occurred. Knowing that the story was based on a true event made the lives of the two young people come alive as if they had actually existed. One of them, Lizzie, did exist, although perhaps not in the exact personality. Gary Schmidt has a way with words that made me see everyday occurrences in a new way. I found myself staring at sunrises, noticing small breezes, and experiencing nature around me in new ways after reading phrases such as:

"The sea breeze found him and twisted around him like a cat asking for a bowl of milk" (Page 213 Kindle edition).

"And the pines! The pines threw their roots around the shore's boulders, grappling with the living rocks and wrestling them into position" (Page 58 Kindle edition).

I could almost feel the ending coming; a person could know it before they read the actual words on the page, merely because they knew how life often happens outside of regular fairy tales. Schmidt pulls the reader into the climax so that they anticipate this ending while holding vigorously to the hope that it will not end so badly, that Lizzie will end up living with the Buckminsters, and that perhaps, not so many people would have died. Death, as in our own reality, hits the reader in the face like the wind of the coast, and leaves you feeling quite stunned that it happened.

Excerpts of Reviews

"From the sad and shameful actual destruction of an island community in 1912, Schmidt weaves an evocative novel... Although the story is hauntingly sad, there is much humor, too. Schmidt's writing is infused with feeling and rich in imagery. With fully developed, memorable characters and a fascinating, little-known piece of history, this novel will leave a powerful impression on readers."

School Library Journal

"But the removal of the Malaga community really happened, and Schmidt weaves that history into a powerful tale of friendship and coming-of-age, adding a lyrical sense of the coastal landscape. Characters are drawn without reverence in this haunting combination of fact and fiction that has a powerful and tragic climax."

Booklist

Connections 

1. Learn more about African American history with books such as the ones below.  

Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson
The Beatitudes: From Slavery to Civil Rights by Carole Boston Weatherford

2. Read more historical fiction set in the early 1900's which include African American protagonists. 

Words by Heart by Ouida Sebestyen.

The Well: David's Story by Mildrid Taylor 

Dave at Night by Gail Carson Levine 

3. Use the Maine State Museum (http://www.mainestatemuseum.org) and Maine Memory Project (http://www.mainememory.net) to introduce primary sources about Malaga Island to students. Compare the material in Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy to the primary sources.

The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages

Bibliography
Klages, Ellen. The green glass sea. Penguin, 2008.
ISBN: 978-0142411490

Plot
Dewey Kerrigan, an inventor of gadgets and gizmos, takes the train to Los Alamos, where her father is stationed with the army as a mathematician working on a secret gadget. Dewey does not fit in at school, with her introverted behavior and constant work with tools and parts. An inquisitive and inventive girl, she chooses to hang out with boys discussing radios or other technologies. Suze, another young girl on "the Hill", the base on Los Alamos, is bossy and brave, making her an outcast at school as well. When Dewey's father is sent to Washington for work, Dewey and Suze must live together and learn to understand the other. Then, when tragedy strikes, they must learn to move forward, relying on each other as World War II moves to a close. Set amidst the creation of the Atomic Bomb in Los Alamos, the story centers around the girls' relationship and the work their parents do to end the war.

Critical Analysis
The Green Glass Sea is built around strong characters in the two main girl protagonists, as well as detailed characterization in their families and the people who live on the base. Dewey and Suze's unique personalities each show how difficult it was to live inside a secret base, with parents who constantly worked for their country. The plot mingles laughter and tragedy; through each circumstance that Dewey faces, it builds upon her previous life experience, much like a real person. This brings authenticity to the novel, starting in 1943 and as Dewey grows up through the war years. Klages has researched both the time and place well, for the setting is easy to conjure as a lone desert army base, and the events that occur demonstrate the difficulty of war on citizens. The book's theme is also about the American people binding together through the difficulty. This is seen in the Gordon's acceptance and love for Dewey, as she faces the loss of her family and constant change. Klages has written not only a peek inside a secret Army project base, but a touching account of growing up and staying true to who you are.

Personal Response


Klages' story of the army life, and also of girls who enjoy "not-so-girly" subjects, was incredibly touching. As I read and got to know both Suze and Dewey's families, I grew to admire them both for the challenges that they faced. The characterization of each girl, while demonstrated differently, resonated with the feeling of wanting to fit in, to find your place, and to have a certainty about your family. As the girls separate stories wove together, each learned to respond with kindness towards the other, and I found they grew more well rounded as characters. Through Dewey, I knew of Suze's sensitive and artistic feeling; through Suze, Dewey's need for friendship and ability to be inclusive shone through. The adults in the story are portrayed as loving parents, a characteristic I enjoyed thoroughly. The historical world of a secret place is not undone by the narrative; the science and work are still shrouded in mystery, even to the end of the story when the radio is cut off mid-sentence of revealing the bomb's effect. Klages brought the time period and place alive to me through the inside perspective of children.
 

Excerpts of Reviews
“Klages makes an impressive debut with an ambitious, meticulously researched novel set during WWII. Writing from the points of view of two displaced children, she successfully recreates life at Los Alamos Camp, where scientists and mathematicians converge with their families to construct and test the first nuclear bomb.”
Publishers Weekly 

"Klages evokes both the big-sky landscape of the Southwest and a community where "everything is secret" with inviting ease and the right details, focusing particularly on the society of the children who live there... Cameo appearances are made by such famous names as Richard Feynman (he helps Dewey build a radio) and Robert Oppenheimer, but the story, an intense but accessible page-turner, firmly belongs to the girls and their families; history and story are drawn together with confidence."
The Horn Book 

 "Many readers will know as little about the true nature of the project as the girls do, so the gradual revelation of facts is especially effective, while those who already know about Los Alamos's historical significance will experience the story in a different, but equally powerful, way."
School Library Journal


Connections 
1. Read more about the science and math behind the atomic bomb. 
Nuclear Fission Reactors by James A. Mahaffey 
How to Split the Atom by Hazel Richardson

2. Read more about the place of Los Alamos. Hold a discussion on what it would have been like to grow up in the secret communities which built the bomb. Children may try their own hand at writing a narrative of the place and time from their perspective as children.
The Gadget by Paul Zindel
Oral History Series: Children of Los Alamos: An Oral History of the Town Where the Atomic Bomb Began (Twayne's Oral History Series) by Katrina R. Mason  
Children of Usher: Growing Up in Los Alamos by Glenn Fishbine

3. Discuss the importance of historical accuracy when writing historical fiction. Read portions of the primary source book, Tales of Los Alamos: Life on the Mesa, 1943 1945 by Bernice Brode, and contrast this with the information given in The Green Glass Sea. 




4. Research with more detail the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, with these books: 
J. Robert Oppenheimer: The Brain Behind the Bomb by Glenn Scherer
Fallout: J. Robert Oppenheimer, Leo Szilard, and the Political Science of the Atomic Bomb by Janine Johnston, Jeffrey Jones, Chris Kemple, and Jim Ottaviani


5. Discuss the idea of inclusion inside circles of friends. Ask students at various parts of the story, such as when Suze has to decide to make fun of Dewey with the other girls or stand up for her, what they would have done. Hold a conversation about why we should be inclusive and outgoing, and some of the positive ramifications. Talk about how being a friend creates friendships.

Alchemy and Meggie Swann by Karen Cushman

Bibliography
Cushman, Karen. Alchemy and Meggy Swann. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010.

ISBN: 9780547231846


Plot
Meggy Swann is a girl whose mother has sent her to live with her father. Her two main characteristics are her crippled legs and her sharp tongue. Her father is an alchemist who is trying to find the transformation of immortality. While at first he rejects Meggy, eventually he allows her to help him and they work together. Meggy meets Roger, the previous apprentice, and makes friends with a printer and his family, along with the neighboring cobbler and his son. When Meggy overhears a plot to kill a Baron, which her father is intricately involved in, she decides to attempt to stop it. Meggy and Roger, along with the printers help, attempt to save the Baron from death. At the end of the story, her father remains selfish, but Meggy has taken steps to grow out of her own selfishness.


Critical Analysis
The story of Meggy Swann succeeds in its authenticity to the time period, involving the mannerisms, customs, and language of the people at the time. The reader will be thrown into London at the time of Queen Elizabeth, with all its grime and busyness. This accurate setting sets the stage for the plot, involving a well researched occupation of alchemy and the tensions between the rich and poor during the time period. Cushman, writing through Meggy's perspective, brings to life the various personalities that create character in the story, and draw Meggy out of her shell. The theme of selflessness and gratitude peek through the plot line, but rarely make a full appearance due to the abrupt and slight change in Meggy at the very end of the novel. The ending was not well set up by the attitudes displayed in Meggy through the rest of the text. The style of writing was one of the true lacking aspects of the novel; Cushman dwells inside of Meggy's negative and cynical perspective alone, and while it presents the negative aspects of language and dialogue at the time, it rarely sheds light on the more understanding and kind personas that must have lived in the Elizabethean period. The novel does justice to the historical fiction in providing a view into the time period, but the story itself lacks substantive depth to really delight in the characters.


Personal Response
"Toads and Vipers!" this was a long, drawn out story. I chose to listen to this via audiobook. I personally did not enjoy the story; the constant bickering, arguing, name-calling, insulting, and repeating of the phrase "toads and vipers" left me feeling worn out. I almost chose another book when Meggy was going to kill her only friend, the goose; the resigned despondency was quite deep. The main character was sharp and cynical, crippled in spirit as well as the legs it seemed. Not to be too harsh, the author did paint Elizabethean London well; I found myself drawn into the age with all of its sad realities and language. The reading was very well done, the author taking the time to change into the various voices for clarity in what was happening and who was speaking. I recognize that the time period was hard, and do not belittle the circumstances of the book; I only wish that the main character were less negative. And, perhaps, that a different "shocked" expression were used occasionally.


Excerpts of Reviews
"Katherine Kellgren's lively reading of Karen Cushman's novel (Clarion, 2010) is flawless, capturing Meggy's feisty temperament in the period language. Her narration of a wide-range of accents if excellent, and she does a wonderful job singing the ballads that Meggy composes and sings. The sights and sounds of the era and the sense of place and time are vividly depicted as Meggy grows in confidence and independence, using available resources and her wit, courage, and determination to forge a place for herself in her new world."
School Library Journal

"Because so many historical novels set in this period feature girls of royal or noble lineage, it’s bracing to meet Meg, who empties her own chamber pot into the ditch outside her door and trades strings of creative Elizabethan insults with Roger, her best friend."
Booklist

"Cushman has the uncanny ability to take a time and place so remote and make it live. Readers can hear and see and smell it all as if they are right beside Meggy. She employs the syntax and vocabulary of the period so easily that it is understood as if it’s the most contemporary modern slang."
Kirkus


 
Connections

1. Have children create their own ballad, using Elizabethean language. They can use it to tell a familiar story, or a message such as Meggy did in the book.
Book of Ballads by Charles Vess
A Child's Introduction to Poetry: Listen While You Learn About the Magic Words That Have Moved Mountains, Won Battles, and Made Us Laugh and Cry by Michael Driscoll.


2. Learn more about Elizabethean England through informational books.
Elizabethan England (How'd They Do That in) by Russell Roberts
Shakespeare's London: A Guide to Elizabethan London (Sightseers) by Julie Ferris
The Time Traveler's Guide to Elizabethan England by Ian Mortimer
Elizabeth's London: Everyday Life in Elizabethan London by Liza Picard


3. Read additional historical fiction set in the 1500-1600's.
Beware Princess Elizabeth by Carolyn Meyer
Cue for Treason by Geoffrey Trease


 
4. Have students research the printing press through these stories:
Johann Gutenberg and the Amazing Printing Press by Bruce Koscielniak
Johann Gutenberg and the Printing Press (Inventions and Discovery) by Kay Melchisedech Olson
The History of Making Books: From Clay Tablets, Papyrus Rolls, and Illuminated Manuscripts to the Printing Press by Gallimard Jeunesse, Scholastic Books

The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary by Candace Fleming

Bibliography

Fleming, Candace. The Lincolns: A scrapbook look at Abraham and Mary. Random House LLC, 2008.

ISBN: 978-0375836183

Plot

The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary is an account of Abraham Lincoln, and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, both separately and as a couple. The book follows the story of their lives from a brief description of their parents, to their births, childhoods, marriage, presidency, and eventual deaths. Fleming also devotes portions of the book to discussing the events and people surrounding the Lincolns, such as the Civil War battles or their friends and cabinet members. These serve to illustrate the Lincolns in ways that round them out as people. By knowing the circumstances of their time and the people they loved (or did not love), the Lincolns are able to be seen as real and courageous people.

Critical Analysis

Both an informative and intriguing account of the Lincoln’s lives from birth until death, The Lincolns by Candace Fleming presents a lavish peek inside their family and the times in which the Lincolns lived. Organizing a vast amount of information, Fleming uses different fonts, word sizes, and pictures to create a scrapbook style; this aids in making the pages turn quickly, as readers ingest small portions of text that build the story and information. Chapters further delineate the information to gain understanding of the different seasons of life that the Lincolns lived through. Archival style pictures on each page not only enhance the scrapbook nature of the text, but the overall understanding of the Lincoln family. The style of writing presents actions and words of the people, and lets the soul and character of Mary and Abraham shine through how they lived. Readers will find themselves inspired by Lincoln as he works through a multitude of perils, as they see his and Mary’s love, diligence, and extreme hard work shown through the insights of Fleming’s research. The brevity of Fleming to narrow all the information available on the Lincoln’s is evident in the book, which focuses on cited quotations and primary sources, noted in the source notes, research notes, index and bibliography. Because of the organization and accuracy, readers will easily be motivated to further reading on the Lincolns when inspired by a particular portion of the work and the simplicity of locating the section of interest. The Lincolns: a scrapbook look at Abraham and Mary is a delightful and accurate work on both Abraham and Mary Lincoln that gives insight into one of the greatest presidents of the United States of America.

Personal Response

After reading this book, I was inspired to get to know the Lincolns in deeper ways through more research and reading. Their marriage and love was touching. Multiple times throughout the story I gave an audible sigh at the vignettes of how they served each other, even through their brokenness or terrible circumstances. I was also struck by how hard the Lincolns worked for the good of the country as a whole. Of course, there were exceptions, such as Mary’s spending and Lincoln’s policies at times, but overall, they worked under dire and grieving events towards the betterment of the American people.

Excerpts of Reviews

"The scrapbook technique . . . remains fresh and lively, a great way to provide a huge amount of information in a format that invites both browsing and in-depth study."

Kirkus Reviews

“Her scholarship over five years pays off with a rich account that is personal and concrete... It's hard to imagine a more engaging or well-told biography of the Lincolns.”

School Library Journal

“On spreads that combine well-chosen visuals with blocks of headlined text, Fleming gives a full, birth-to-death view of the “inextricably bound” Lincolns. Once again, Fleming humanizes her subjects and offers a broader perspective on their times with cleverly juxtaposed facts, anecdotes, and images...Starting with her personal introduction, this exemplary resource will prompt readers to consider how an individual’s life story, and a country’s history, are constructed. “

Booklist

Connections

1. Have children create their own scrapbook page of the life of either Abraham or Mary Lincoln, highlighting areas they find important in the reading. 
   
   
2. While reading through the book, have students create a timeline of the major political events, war battles, and other cultural happenings around the time of the Lincolns.
   
   
3. Children may explore the Lincoln websites located on page 158 of The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary.
   
   
4. Students can perform their own biographical research on each other by interviewing friends and family of another classmate to find out about his or her life thus far. They can arrange their findings into a short book or presentation and present to the class about each other. 
   
   
5. Read other books about the Lincolns, such as: Lincoln: a Photobiography by Russell Freedman, True Stories about Abraham Lincoln by Ruth Belov Gross, and Lincoln in His Own Words by Milton Meltzer.