Elijah of Buxton, Unabridged Audio Edition

Curtis, Christopher Paul. 2008. Elijah of Buxton. Narr. Mirron Willis. Listening Library. ISBN: 978-0739367193

Plot Summary

Elijah is the freeborn son of runaway slaves who live in the free community of Buxton. Canada. Growing up free, he doesn't completely understand what it was like to live in slavery, but the adults in his community can never forget. Elijah, who is very trusting and friendly, finds out that a shady member of the community seems to have run off with the life savings of another slave who was intending to purchase the freedom of his family. Elijah determines to help his friend by recovering the funds, taking him across the border into Detroit, where the realities of the slave trade break into his consciousness like no second-hand stories ever could. Elijah is left with the struggle of wanting to do the right thing, but not knowing what that might be.

Critical Analysis

Curtis' Elijah of Buxton is an authentically written tale of a free-born black in North America. Curtis is a master storyteller who can deftly weave smaller, seemingly insignificant stories into to the creation of an artistic tapestry for a character. From the "rope cookies" in the jar to the antics of the conjurer, the reader/listener can't help laughing along with good ol' 'Lijah. But these stories also build his character, show how respectful, thoughtful, and sweetly naive he is, which is how the climax of the story (his traveling to America) remains so believable and powerful.  

The style of the writing only aides in transporting the reader or listener to that time and place. Curtis handles the dialect perfectly, both in phrases, such as Elijah watching the "flimflam" of the conjurer, to the grammar ( "I's sorry, ma'am, I's just 'bout to bust from not seeing my mama!"). While the style may take some getting used to, especially for those only reading the book, the audio component can help to bridge that gap for inexperienced readers. The way Mirron Willis reads it, it flows seamlessly and authentically. Willis is also able to handle the various voices on the CD with no problem.His pacing, accents, pitch, and tone all help to distinguish between characters. 

One of the major themes that I enjoyed about this book was Elijah's coming-of-age. It seems that with each chapter, he grows in his understanding of what a grown-man is supposed to be. Whether it's helping Mrs. Holton memorialize her husband with just the right words, or stepping up to help slaves in need when even the grown-ups around him won't help, Elijah learns how to follow his own heart in what he knows is right. In the end, he finds out that being grown and doing the right thing can sometimes break your heart, but is always satisfying. 

Professional Praise

2008 John Newbery Medal

2008 Coretta Scott King Award for Authors
2008 Scott O'Dell Award

From Booklist: "Many readers drawn to the book by humor will find themselves at times on the edges of their seats in suspense and, at other moments, moved to tears. A fine, original novel from a gifted storyteller."

From AudioFile: "Mirron Willis delivers depth of emotion as he shapes the story's rhythms and pacing. He successfully shifts from a light comedic tone of much of the story to a tone of chilling determination when Elijah becomes involved in a dangerous mission to free a group of slaves."

Connections

Christopher Paul Curtis has so many other great books to check out!

The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 (2000) ISBN 978-0440228004

Bud, Not Buddy (2004) ISBN 978-0553494105

The Mighty Miss Malone (2013) ISBN 978-0440422143

You could also check out some of these books to help your reader with background information on slavery and the Underground Railroad

What Was the Underground Railroad? (2013) Yona Zeldis McDonough. ISBN 978-0448467122

If You Lived When There Was Slavery in America (2004) Anne Kamma. ISBN 978-0439567060

Henry's Freedom Box (2007) Ellen Levine. ISBN 978-0439777339

Breaking Stalin's Nose

Yelchin, Eugene. 2011. Breaking Stalin's Nose. New York: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 9780905092165

Plot Summary

Sasha loves Joseph Stalin and the Communist party. He is all set to join the Young Pioneers, which is the group for future communist citizens. He views every interaction through the lens of communist devotion. When his classmates disappear, he feels certain that it is for their own good, and the good of the country. When his dad, who is the most devoted communist, is arrested, Sasha knows it is a mistake that Stalin himself will fix once he finds out. But things only go from bad to worse when Sasha accidentally breaks the nose off of Stalin's bust at school. He is certain that he will be taken away next for defacing the sacred likeness of the Soviet leader. The comfort and safety he felt by being a part of the communist community is quickly disappearing. Is there anywhere that Sasha can feel safe again?

Critical Analysis

Breaking Stalin's Nose is written by Eugene Yelchin, a former Soviet Union citizen. His experiences there contributed to the setting of this, his first novel. The book is smaller than average, with lovely black and white illustrations scattered throughout. The short chapters, simple sentence structure, and illustrations at first give the implication that this book is written for young children. However, as I read further, it seemed as though many concepts in the book would be far above the head of the average 10-year-old. An adult would likely need to provide some background information on communism, Joseph Stalin, and the Soviet Union. 

The point of view of Sasha is very believable. The perspective of this 10-year-old protagonist who believes wholeheartedly in the good of Stalin and communism is very sincere. This perspective of events, such as when a Jewish classmate is removed from the school, is hard to reconcile with our 21st century Western ideals, which is perhaps the author's intent. To have a sympathetic character buy-in to clearly disturbing ways of thinking helps us as readers see things from the inside. 

Yet as the day progresses, Sasha is forced to face the unsettling methods of his beloved country. It finally reaches the pivotal point where he can either carry on as he intended to, joining the Young Pioneers and submitting body, soul and mind to the Communist Party, or decide to walk his own path. Far from becoming a rioting revolutionary, Sasha finds that there are other ways to resist, sometimes just by surviving.

The Author's Note included at the end is an insightful and helpful description of the author's first-hand experiences in the Soviet Union in the 1960s. It helps to lend an air of authenticity to the novel that really helps you to feel like you might know now a bit of what it could have been like to live under the Soviet banner. 

Professional Praise

2012 Newbery Honor Book

From Horn Book: "This brief novel gets at the heart of a society that asks its citizens, even its children, to report on relatives and friends. Appropriately menacing illustrations by first-time novelist Yelchin add a sinister tone.” 

From School Library Journal: “Yelchin skillfully combines narrative with dramatic black-and-white illustrations to tell the story of life in the Soviet Union under Stalin.” 

Connections

First, check out Eugene Yelchin's website for this book at http://www.eugeneyelchinbooks.com/breakingstalinsnose/index.php

Then, check out some of these other books that will give readers a better understanding of the times and events in the book:

Capitalism vs. Communism (World Governments), Darcy Frisnia. 2007. ISBN 978-1553193548

Joseph Stalin (Wicked History), Sean McCollum. 2010. ISBN 978-0531223550

I Want To Live: The Diary of a Young Girl in Stalin's Russia, Nina Lugovskaya. 2007. ISBN 978-0618605750

Guest Post: Sofia

Check out my daughter's first book trailer for Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics! Throw a thumbs-up her way!

Bones

Jenkins, Steve. 2010. Bones: Skeletons and How They Work. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780545046510

Topic Summary

Steve Jenkins brings skeletons to life in this nonfiction survey book about bones. From arm bones to ear bones, fruit bat to velociraptor, this book takes you on a journey to learn about how bones are adapted to their purposes, comparing sizes and functions. If you've ever wondered how many bones are in the human skeleton, or what the bones of a dolphin and a dog have in common, this is the book for you!

Critical Analysis

As a survey book about bones, this seems to be an accurate representation. There was no bibliography given, though the author does thank the consulting work of the collections manager of the Department of Mammalogy at the American Museum of Natural History. One of the indicators that give it a greater likelihood of accuracy is that Jenkins notes on each page how the illustrations are proportional. For example, for the spread showing the complete set of human bones, it is noted that the bones are shown at one-fourth actual size. Yet when showcasing the human hand on its own, Jenkins indicates that it is shown at actual size. In addition to giving the reader a better sense of the actual size of the bones, it gives the impression that he was being very deliberate about accuracy in this book. 

The organization of Bones is somewhat haphazard. There is no index or table of contents, and the book sometimes seems to jump from topic to topic without a clear indication of structure. The middle of the book goes from joints to symmetry to jumping. But since this is a short, illustration-dominated book, it doesn't detract that much from the overall impact. 

For me, it is the illustrations that make this book so alluring. Each page has a different dark, but bold, color background to highlight the simple-but-accurate bone illustrations. There is contrasting white text on each page, both to inform about the topic of the page, as well as to label each bone or animal. The simplicity of it really helps to bring the attention to what it should--the bones. When you have a whole spread of skulls, from human to mouse lemur, that are drawn actual size, it creates an intriguing and curiosity-inspiring inquisitiveness that may well serve as a spring board for the reader to want to further research any or all of the animals featured in this book!


Professional Praise

From School Library Journal: "With applications that range from anatomy to evolution and mathematics, this book will find a place in every collection."

From Booklist: "One of the foremost illuminators of the animal kingdom here takes a peek beneath the skin. . . . Clean design of the intricate skeletons set against solid background colors is striking and provides a wonderful visual introduction to what keeps us all upright."

Connections

If you love Steve Jenkins' style, check out some of his other awesome books!

Actual Size (2011) ISBN 978-0547512914


Biggest, Strongest, Fastest (1997) ISBN 978-0395861363


Just a Second (2011) ISBN 978-0618708963


Or if you have some students who want to learn more about the skeletal system, you might want to check out these resources:

Bones: Our Skeletal System, by Seymour Simon (2000) ISBN 978-0688177218

Learning Resources Skeleton Model

Roylco R5910 Animal X-Ray Set, 8" x 10" Size

The Family Romanov

Fleming, Candace. 2014. The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion & the Fall of Imperial Russia. New York: Schwartz & Wade. ISBN 9780375867828

Topic Summary

This biography follows the reign of the last Tsar of Russia, Nicolas II, and his family. It includes brief elements of Nicolas’ family history, but focuses on his reign, the political events during his reign, and glimpses into the lives of ordinary Russian citizens. The Romanovs are a tight-knit family unit, seeming to desire more privacy and isolation than is good for the ruling family of such a vast empire. Not willing to engage with the changing world, including the plight of the peasant, the rising working class, and the opulent apathy of the nobility, Nicolas drifts closer to the edge of the waterfall without even realizing it. With the final abdication of his throne, Nicolas hopes his sacrifice was enough to save the nation. But was it enough? Or was it too little, too late?

Critical Evaluation

As someone who has read a number of books about the Romanov family, I believe this book to be factually accurate. Many of the stories and incidents I have read about previously. To help support the factual accuracy, the author has supplied an extensive bibliography, including primary sources such as family letters and diaries that were preserved. The bulk of the dialog in the book is attributed to various letters or eye witness accounts. 

The Family Romanov is divided into four parts: Before the Storm, Dark Clouds Gathering, The Storm Breaks, and Final Days. Each part represents a major theme in Nicolas’ reign. In addition to detailed accounts of the family’s interactions, the author also includes the political environment. Sprinkled throughout the book are inset features called “Beyond the Palace Gates” about life for the commoners, which was an interesting contrast to the lives of the nobility. As you read it, it makes it almost seem as though you are reading about two different places and times, so great was the gulf between the experiences of the upper and lower classes. 

For those who are unfamiliar with Russian history, the author also includes a short, one-page “crash course” in Russian ways, including titles, names, and dates. There is also a fairly detailed family tree to help the reader keep track of the sometimes confusing lineages. 

The book also includes a number of black and white photographs of the family, made possible in part because of the love the Romanovs had for their Brownie cameras. The pictures give the reader a peek into the more relaxed way of life they enjoyed. There are also photos of the war, and other key players in the political arena of the day. 

The Family Romanov is a well-written, interest-holding biography of one of the most mysterious, talked-about royal families of modern times. The author brings out the human side of the members of the family, examining both their strengths and shortcomings. It would be enjoyable read for those who are already interested in Russian history, as well as an excellent and thorough introduction for those who are just beginning. 

Professional Praise

Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children

Robert F. Sibert Nonfiction Honor Book

Cybils Award in Nonfiction for Young Adults

From Horn Book: "The epic, sweeping narrative seamlessly incorporates scholarly authority, primary sources, appropriate historical speculation, and a keen eye for the most telling details."

From School Library Journal: "The informative text illuminates their inability to understand the social conditions in Russia and the impact it might have had on them. This is both a sobering work, and the account of the discovery of their bones and the aftermath is at once fascinating and distressing. A solid resource and good recreational reading for high school students."

Connections

Check out Mary Ann Cappiello's awesome blog The Classroom Bookshelf for an extensive list of resources and activities to go along with The Family Romanov. 

Here are some other books about the Romanovs and Russia you can check out!

Magnificence of the Tsars: Ceremonial Men’s Dress of the Imperial Russian Court 1721-1917 (2010). ISBN 978-1851776047

Russian Houses (1995) ISBN 978-3822890493

Jewels of the Tsars: The Romanovs and Imperial Russia (2006) ISBN 978-0865651715

The Royal Diaries: Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess, Russia, 1914 (2000) ISBN 978-0439129084

Journal of a Russian Grand Duchess: Complete Annotated 1913 Diary of Olga Romanov, Eldest Daughter of the Last Tsar (2015) ISBN 978-1508449027

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler

Hoose, Phillip. 2015. The Boys Who Challenged Hitler. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 978-0374300227

Check out my book trailer for this awesome book!

The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus

Bryant, Jen. 2014. The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus. Ill. by Melissa Sweet. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780802853851

Plot Summary

Have you ever struggled to find just the right word? You can feel it on the tip of your brain, but you can’t quite grab it. . . so you grab your nearest thesaurus! In The Right Word, author Jen Bryant tells the story of Peter Roget, the man of many talents and interests who created a thesaurus that is still in print today, more than 150 years later. This lovely book will help young readers understand not only who Peter Roget was, but the beautiful thought that went into his "treasure house."

Critical Analysis

Author Jen Bryant uses simple, elegant prose to tell Roget’s story in this picture book biography. The accuracy of the book is supported by the Author’s Note, Selected Bibliography, For Further Reading, and Sources sections. There is limited dialog, restricted to the occasional word bubble. The pairing of the simple text and the visually stimulating illustrations give the reader the feeling of the cluttered jumble of ideas and concepts that was the impetus for Roget and his attempts to organize and control through his lists. 

Melissa Sweet, illustrator, created a visual banquet of both words and pictures in this slim volume. She captured the spirit of list-making Roget and sprinkled in lists of words, charts, and labels (even for the parts of the title page of the books!) throughout the book. Each of the vignettes supports and furthers the story in its own way. One of my favorites is the pictograph tucked off to the side of the main illustration, indicating how many friends he had at each of his many childhood homes. In the Illustrator’s Note at the end, Sweet discusses her inspiration, both literary and scientific for her colorful, playful, yet systematic drawings, paintings, and mixed media. My favorite part of the book is the back endpage, where she includes the original classification lists that Roget first used. It is a small light illuminating a corner of the brain of a complex, curious, varied man.

Professional Acclaim

2015 The Robert F. Sibert Medal

2015 Caldecott Honor Book

2015 Orbis Pictus Honor Book

From Kirkus Reviews: “Bryant's prose is bright and well-tuned for young readers. . . . Sweet tops herself -- again! -- visually reflecting Roget's wide range as a thinker and product of the Enlightenment.”

From Publisher’s Weekly: “Together with Bryant's sympathetic account, Sweet's gentle riot of images and words humanizes the man behind this ubiquitous reference work and demystifies the thesaurus itself."

Connections

As an introduction to this story, you could give students a pile of objects, such as plastic fruits & vegetables, shoes, silverware, keys, plastic animals, and ask them to sort them out. They will see how organizing and sorting helps to bring order to a jumbled mess, and makes it easier to find what you're looking for.

Other books by Jen Bryant & Melissa Sweet: 

A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin (2013),  ISBN 978-0375867125

A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams (2008), ISBN 978-0802853028