When My Name Was Keoko

When My Name Was Keoko

By Linda Sue Park

Houghton Mifflin Company

Copyright 2002

pp. 199

When My Name Was Keoko

Required

     A compelling novel, When My Name Was Keoko, provides the reader with a remarkable historical description of a family during the Japanese occupation of Korea. I feel some background knowledge is definitely needed before reading this novel. Personally, I was not very familiar with many of the geographical locations discussed in the book and would have benefited from looking a map.

    After being “graciously allowed” to take Japanese names Sun-hee becomes Keoko. With her entire world turned upside down, Sun-hee tries to make sense of all the changes. The book is alternately told from the point of Sun-hee and her older brother, Tae-yul. I feel it is very helpful to see varying points of view in this story because it makes the story seem well-rounded and unbiased.

       I made several connections to this novel. First, when the Koreans’ radios were taken away it reminded me of what is happening in China with the restrictions of the Google website. By limiting informational access, governments feel they can keep their citizens under control. Secondly, I connected to the father’s belief of the importance of education because of my own families same beliefs. An educated citizen is a citizen with a mind of his or her own and dangerous to governmental control. I feel the father’s quiet resistance of the Japanese took a great deal of self-control and courage. In my opinion, this type of resistance is much harder than the uncle’s outward displays. The father did not agree with new ways, yet had to play the part for the safety of his family.

     This is a terrific book for the middle school student. The historical information is outstanding and the themes are plentiful, so each student should be able to make many connections to the world and to his or her self.

The 9/11 Report

The 9/11 Report

By Jacobson and Colon

Hill and Wang

Copyright 2006

pp. 133

The 9/11 Report

Required

     I was very hesitant about reading this book for a couple of reasons, first the graphic novel format and second, the content. While I did find the graphic novel format of this book hard to follow at times, I did like the visual permanence of the text. I often found myself flipping back to another page to review a fact or reread the text for a better understanding. I feel the pictures greatly helped to enhance the telling of the story, especially the timeline. I had three small children at the time of the attacks and did not watch any morning television except cartoons, so I personally did not hear about the attacks until after the second plane had crashed. The timeline helped me put into perspective the order of the actual events.

     I had a particularly hard time when 9/11 occurred, and I chose to focus on my small children, ignoring the constant news updates. While I realize this was probably not the best way of dealing with the events, it helped me at the time. Therefore, when I was reading this report, I had a difficult time following some of the chapters. While I was reading, I did have several concerns about our government officials and agencies. Why during transitions of government officials does there not seem to be any listening going on? Why are aides demoted due to political reasons, even though he or she is the best candidate for the job? Why do our government agencies not communicate with each other?  There appears to be more concern about who has more power than with the best interest of our county.

     I do believe this is an essential book to read. Our world has forever changed due to these horrific events and we must all realize that is our duty as Americans to be well-informed citizens.

Remember

Remember

The Journey to School Integration

By Toni Morrison

Houghton Mifflin Company

Copyright 2004

pp. 78

Remember

The Journey to School Integration

Required

     Remember The Journey to School Integration is a profound and moving book. Remembering is an important action one must do, as not to forget the past and repeat the same mistakes. Morrison helped me to realize the importance of taking responsibility for one’s own actions. How often does one tell his or her children one thing, but behave in the opposite manner? If children live with bullying, are they more likely to become a bully themselves? Are friends and their views more important than standing up for what one knows is right? These are all questions I had while reading this stirring picture book.

     I could not believe the hatred of many people shown in these emotional pictures. As Morrison asked, “Why are they afraid of me?” I feel people often label others because they are afraid of what they do not know. The picture and text on page twenty-three reminded me of my own children on their first day of school and their feelings of wanting to belong. I believe everyone wants to belong and everyone is afraid of not belonging. This book reminds us that we each want the very best for our children and sometimes it just takes one person to make the change.

The Wall

The Wall

By Peter Sis

Frances Foster Books

Copyright 2007

pp.50

The Wall

Required

      A visually powerful book! Sis’s use of line, space, and color is outstanding and very symbolic. The reader is taken on an incredible journey of communist Czechoslovakia through the eyes of a growing child. Along with the story, there is informational text next to each of the illustrations. The informational text helps to give the reader essential background information about the communist regime. I have often wondered how people could become dutiful servants of such a regime, now I realize they grew up not knowing anything different. There was no free will. Sis symbolizes this constraint through the use of the color red. The only other colors are shown when the boy is drawing for himself. He still has part of his spirit alive, a part the government try as they might can not take away.

      Sis also includes portions of his personnel journals in the text. These pages are full of color, enthusiasm, and hope. I thought it was interesting how music seemed to play such an important role in his life and in the spread of western thoughts and ideas. Many parents in the United States also thought the Beatles and Elvis were going to ruin society, but at least U.S. teenagers were able to freely make their own choices.

      I would definitely include this book in my middle school language arts, history or art library, as there are many lessons for students to discover within the layers of this outstanding book.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963

The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963

By Christopher Paul Curtis

Bantam Doubleday Dell

Copyright1995

pp.210

The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963

Required

    This is a wonderful historical fiction novel about a family’s trials and their trip from Flint, Michigan to Birmingham in 1963. The book’s narrator is ten year old, Kenny. Kenny’s older brother, Bryon, an “official juvenile delinquent”, has just turned thirteen and is having many typical teenage rebellion issues. Kenny is somewhat of a misfit with his lazy eye and love of reading. His mother, father, and younger sister, Joetta, make up the rest of the weird Watsons, as Kenny called his family.

     The book deals with many themes such as bullying, friendship, family, respect, and prejudice. I feel upper elementary and middle school students can relate to many of these universal themes. At the start of the book Kenny has to deal with bullying because he is different. When he meets a new kid, who is an outsider being bullied, he must deal with his own emotions of what is “cool” or “uncool”. Should he follow the crowd or stand up for what he believes is right?

     After Bryon pushes his parents last button, they decide he needs to learn some life lessons and spend the summer with his grandmother in Birmingham, Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Watson want their children to respect their heritage and realize the responsibility that goes along with that heritage.

      I thought this was a truly engaging book and I loved the author’s sense of humor throughout the book. It reminded me of the television show Everybody Hates Chris, which my children often watch. As an adult I could connect with the mother as she carefully planned the family trip to Birmingham, then her husband would not follow her directions. A typical occurrence within my household. I would definitely included this book in my classroom library.

The Lion & The Mouse

The Lion & The Mouse

By Jerry Pinkney

Little, Brown And Company

Copyright 2009

pp.36

The Lion & The Mouse

Award Winner (Caldecott)

     Absolutely Gorgeous! Jerry Pinkney tells the classic story of The Lion and The Mouse using only beautifully illustrated pictures. Each full page illustration is a watercolor image of the jungle brought to life. I felt as if I was actually in the jungle with the animals. This wordless book would be a great tool to use for a predicting lesson with students. By studying each illustration closely, students should be able to interpret the animals’ emotions and predict what each animal is thinking or what actions they will take. Students could also work in small groups to write their own story and/or dialogue to accompany the illustrations. The possibilities are endless. I would definitely recommend this beautiful picture book to readers of all levels.

Dear Mr. Henshaw

Dear Mr. Henshaw

By Beverly Cleary

Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

William Morrow and Company

Copyright 198

pp. 134

Dear Mr. Henshaw

Award Winner (Newberry)

     A terrific book for older elementary school readers! The story is told through sequence of letters from a sixth grade boy, Leigh, to his favorite author, Mr. Henshaw. The reader only sees Leigh’s letters to Mr. Henshaw, but is able to predict from Leigh’s responses what Mr. Henshaw’s letters are about. Mr. Henshaw encourages Leigh to write in a diary, so part of the book is also in a journal format.

     Beverly Clearly has written a wonderful book with many layers for the reader to discover. Divorce, disappointment, loneliness, ingenuity, and perseverance are several of the themes running throughout the book. I could connect with Leigh’s feelings of disappointment because after my parents’ divorce my father was also absent much of the time. Like Leigh, I am also an only child and remember how hard it is not to have someone to share those feelings with. Cleary did an excellent job tapping into the true feelings of a child of divorce.

     I feel there are many ways a teacher could use this text in the classroom, especially with writing assignments. Since the reader does not know Mr. Henshaw’s exact responses to Leigh, students could create Mr. Henshaw’s letters based on the following letter Leigh writes. Students could also create journals or write to their favorite author. It is also a great book for a study on point of view. The reader only knows Leigh’s thoughts, what about his mother, father, Mr. Fridley, or Mr. Henshaw. How might they be feeling? I would certainly want this book in my classroom library.