Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Grimes, Nikki. 2002. Bronx Masquerade. New York: Dial ISBN: 0803725698

2.  SUMMARY

Bronx Masquerade is a book of poetry for teens woven with dialogue of high school students detailing their daily experiences of living and going to school in the Bronx. Each student shares part of their angst and adds a poem as a connection to the story as the class studies a poetry unit called Harlem Renaissance.

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Bronx Masquerade is about a class that starts to have “Open Mic Fridays” where students can share their poetry with their classmates while studying poetry in Mr. Ward’s class. As the book progresses, the Open Mic days become more and more popular and go from once a month to every Friday. The ability to share their poems with fellow classmates gives the students an opportunity to express themselves in an atmosphere where they will not be picked on by peers outside the classroom. This opportunity of expression allows the students to be seen for whom they are, not just their outside appearance or environmental conditions.

The poems are introduced first by a 1 to 4 page story from one of the students giving the reader a bit of that student’s life inside or outside school and are accompanied by the student’s poem reflecting on the bit of information they shared previously. The poetry varies in style. Concrete and abstract are the main styles but rap is also introduced as a poetry style.

From Devon’s Black Box poem

In case I forgot to tell you,
I’m allergic to boxes:
Black boxes, shoe boxes,
New boxes, you boxes—
Even cereal boxes
Boasting champions.

From this poem and the previous entry by Devon, the reader learns that Devon doesn’t like to be categorized by stereotypical methods. Teen readers can identify with this and the other selections as students begin to develop a sense of self and individuality. Publisher Weekly’s reviewer states, “By book's end, all the voices have blended seamlessly into a multicultural chorus laden with a message that is probably summed up best by pretty girl, Tanisha Scott's comment, "I am not a skin color or a hank of wavy hair. I am a person, and if they don't get that, it's their problem, not mine."

The author, Nikki Grimes, tackles many issues that teens have to deal with currently. Some readers may be able to identify with the characters while others may simply enjoy reading the poetry and learning about another place and culture. This form of sharing poetry also makes it more appealing to those who are reluctant to give poetry a try. In a book format, with accompanying dialogue and hip cover, even the coolest kid will be okay toting this book around.

The overuse of slang terms by Grimes gives the book a dated feel. The book was written in 2002 and currently, students in 2011 are not using slang terms such as “word” at the end of sentences. This may seem out of date to most teens but can also open up additional dialogue if this book is enjoyed as a class or read aloud.

4.  AWARDS/REVIEWS

2002 Coretta Scott King Award

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Review "Grimes's creative, contemporary premise will hook teens, and the poems may even inspire readers to try a few of their own."

SLJ review: “As always, Grimes gives young people exactly what they're looking for-real characters who show them they are not alone.”

BOOKLIST review: “readers will enjoy the lively, smart voices that talk bravely about real issues and secret fears.”

5.  CONNECTIONS

Bronx Masquerade can be a launching point for starting a teen poetry slam at your library.

To conduct a poetry slam or to learn more visit the below websites:

Author’s website including a study guide and curriculum:

http://www.nikkigrimes.com/

What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sones, Sonya. 2001. WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN’T KNOW. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.  ISBN 9780689841149

2.  SUMMARY

Through prose, the young adult narrator, Sophie, tells the story of her first experiences with love.  Using free verse, she discusses her connections with family and friends with the main focus being the peril with boys. Teen girls will relate to the teen angst portrayed in one of Sonya Sones’ best novels.

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In her own writing style, which Sones has become famous for, she allows the main character to narrate her teenage life experiences through individual poems. The entire novel is written from Sophie’s point of view and is written in a chronological format. The title of each of the entries is written in a different font than the entries themselves. The dialogue is authentic of a teenage girl filled with the desire for approval from her peers over her choice to date a not-so-popular boy, the kids call Murphy.

Sones develops each character beautifully. The ebb and tide of Sophie’s relationship skillfully flows with entry titles teasing its’ contents. With titles such as, The Confession and The Weirdest Thing Happened Tonight, the reader cannot help but continue being pulled into each lyrical verse after the other.

The story of Sophie unfolds as she moves from a relationship with Dylan, a young man not quite fitting Sophie’s love for Murphy, the ideal love in her mind, but not a popular choice amongst her friends. “…the author poignantly captures the tingle and heartache of being young and boy-crazy. She weaves separate free verse poems into a fluid and coherent narrative with a satisfying ending" Publishers Weekly (February 24, 2003).

In the middle of the two relationships Sophie gambles on an online romance. Sones writes,

If I could marry a font

I’d marry his.

I just love it,

The way all of the letters lean

at those quirky angles.

They remind me of the letters

In those thought balloons

In the Sunday’s funnies,

Like words that Snoopy

Or Garfield

might be thinking.

And those question marks are-

Well, they’re adorable.

They just are somehow.

If I could marry a font,

I would definitely marry his.

Chaz seems to be ideal until talk leads to meeting face to face and suddenly, without warning, his on line behavior causes Sophie to be weirded out and she abandons the relationship altogether. I think Sones included this bit of 21st century dating as a warning to teens about internet usage, cyber stalkers and the dangerous implications of on-line trust.

What makes this book a dynamic read is that young adult girls will be able to see themselves in the description of Sophie and her characteristics. The ups and downs, lessons learned and the feelings of young love will make it easy to relate.

4.  AWARDS/REVIEWS

A Junior Library Guild Selection

International Reading Association Young Adult's Choice 2003

2001 Booklist Editor's Choice

American Library Association 2002 Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

American Library Association 2002 Best Book for Young Adults 

VOYA review:  "The poems are snappy, and each one strikes a chord that fluidly moves the reader to the next episode."

BOOKLIST STARRED review:  "The poetry is never pretentious...the very short, sometimes rhythmic lines make each page fly."

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY STARRED review  "...Sophie's honest and earthy story feels destined to captivate a young female audience, avid and reluctant readers alike."

5.  CONNECTIONS

Related websites:

http://www.netpoets.com/poems/teenlove/ contains love poems written from an adolescent's perspective.

http://www.gravityteen.com/poetry/pick.cfm more poetry from the teen perspective. Users may even submit their own poems.

Related books:

Janeczko, Paul B. (1991). Preposterous: Poems of Youth. New York. Orchard Books.
ISBN 0531059014

A poetry anthology that includes many of the themes presented in What My Mother Doesn't Know (i.e.  love, family problems, friendship, secrets, etc...).

Mackler, Carolyn. (2000). Love and Other Four-Letter Words. New York: Delcorte.
ISBN  044022831X

The story of a teenage girl who learns that one's character is strengthened through personal struggles.

http://www.sonyasones.com This web site provides additional biographical information about Sonya Sones and her writings, including descriptions about each book and awards.

Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Wolff, Virginia Euwer. 1993. MAKE LEMONADE. New York: H. Holt. ISBN 9780805022285

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

This novel in free verse, tells the story of 14-year-old inner-city African-American LaVaughn who takes a part-time job sitting for 17-year-old Jolly's two children, Jilly and Jeremy. LaVaughn develops a caring relationship with the children realizing around the same time that Jolly isn't going to make it on her own without assistance. Although she is 3 years younger than Jolly, LaVaughn shows great maturity in helping the single mother get herself together and on the right track for her and her kids.

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Make Lemonade naturally tells a story of some social problems, such as having child before marriage, single-parent family, the living conditions of poor people and the abuse of weapons. From the eyes of La Vaughn, we see the life of ordinary people and their different attitudes toward life.

The format of the book is written from LaVaughn’s point of view and arranged in a diary format, with short chapters of verse. The discussions between LaVaughn and Jolly are compatible to their ages. “LaVaughn's narrative--brief, sometimes ungrammatical sentences in uneven lines, like verse--is in a credible teenage voice suited to readers like Jolly herself; yet it has the economy and subtlety of poetry” Kirkus Review stated (1993).

Along with the verse-like narrative, symbolism plays a large role in this novel and sucks the reader into the story. The book’s first line, “I am telling you this just the way it went...Other people would maybe tell it different, but I was there” causes the reader to keep reading, wanting to know what it is that LaVaughn finds so pertinent to share.  The rhythm of the story leads the reader through a story of struggle, hope, and independence. The reader develops a view that the world in neither black nor white, right or wrong to LaVaughn as she is pulled by two different forces: her strict, college minded mother

My mom sunk her teeth into this one,

This college idea. Every time I look like I’m forgetting college

She reminds me some way.

My mom has an attention span that goes on for years.

Or Jolly’s immature self in a mature situation.

and Jolly, a teenage parent with no guidance who is often quoted in the book as saying “no one TOLD me”.

Physical signs of symbolism show up in the form of lemon seeds as LaVaughn plants them to show Jeremy, Jolly’s son, how things grow. Just like life, disappointment occurs when the seeds fail to grow. LaVaughn brings in new seeds, she and Jolly argue about whether to tell Jeremy the truth or to plant the new seeds and not tell Jeremy. Jolly is attempting to shelter him from the disappointment she so often feels, and LaVaughn believes this is a good teaching opportunity, one about truth. Keeping in mind that as the story continues, LaVaughn begins to break away from Jolly as she begins pulling her life together. Jolly stops LaVaughn in the hall one day and tells her, "Hey, you wouldn't guess what come up out of that dirt. We got a little green thing, a little lemon thing comin' up".  It’s obvious the lemon seeds are a metaphor for the growth of both girls.

The story is unforgettable and the rhythm of each passage depicts the ups and downs of the story.  Poetic devices such as repetition, line length, and the use of all capitalization are used to simulate strong feeling. In the passage below you can see how these elements are artfully constructed.

And in comes Jeremy. "Looky," he says, holding up his hand
and from her bed has already come
a scream that the world is ending.
In Jeremy's hand like the Statue of Liberty
is a bunch of hair, clean sheared,
I quick look around his head -
How did he get scissors at his age,
what has he cut,
and where's the blood,
and will I be calling 911, all these things I'm thinking at once.

But underneath I think I knew the instant I saw his face
the same time with her screaming I absolutely think I knew.
“Jeremy, I canNOT beLIEVE what you've DONE/to your SISter,”

Make Lemonade is a book full of style and reflects the work of a true poet. The first book in a trilogy documenting LaVaughn’s coming of age, this novel would be a literary circle or book club selection. This book is not an ideal read-aloud since it is written in a stream of conscious style and may be difficult to follow, orally. The light Make Lemonade sheds on the struggles people endure to provide for their families is valuable for students of varied socio-economic backgrounds.

4.  AWARDS/REVIEWS

Oregon Book Award

The Golden Kite Award for Fiction.

American Library Association (ALA) Notable Children's Book

American Library Association (ALA) Best Book for Young Adults

Booklist Top of the List winner

SLJ STARRED review: "The poetic form emphasizes the flow of the teenager's language and thought. The form invites readers to drop some preconceptions about novels, and they will find the plot and characters riveting. MAKE LEMONADE is a triumphant, outstanding story."

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY review: "Radiant with hope, this keenly observed and poignant novel is a stellar addition to YA literature.

5.  CONNECTIONS

http://www.storknet.com/cubbies/parenting/finances.htm This link is a helpful resource for single moms who will need financial assistance. It easily describes the resources available and how to find them locally:

http://www.ed.gov/programs/campisp/index.html Information about the Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools Program.

 
http://www.ed.gov/programs/trioupbound/index.html Upward Bound main page. Upward Bound is a TRIO program that is designed to make first generation college students successful.

Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Gantos, Jack. 2002. HOLE IN MY LIFE. New York, NY. Farrar, Straus and Giroux Publishers. ISBN: 0374430896

2.  SUMMARY

Written by Gantos himself, this book tells of his teenage years just right before finishing high school. Gantos finds himself alone and without supervision which often places him in dangerous situations. The final act, that put him in prison, was smuggling hash from the Caribbean island of St. Croix up to the northern coast of the US to New York for ten thousand dollars in the summer of 1971. An aspiring writer at the time, Gantos shares with the reader one of the darkest times in his life.

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This memoir written by notable young adult author jack Gantos, takes a look at a few years into his troublesome youth. The account takes place in the summer of 1971. While Gantos sets up the back story about his growing up and family relocations, he emphasizes his desire to always wanting to be a writer and attend college. In his struggle to gather the funds needed for college, he offers to captain a boat from the Caribbean to the US East Coast to deliver and eventually sell hash in New York City. What seemed like an easy way to earn ten thousand dollars turned out to be one that dimmed his future. After being watched for weeks by federal agents, Gantos was arrested and placed in prison for his part in the illegal selling and distribution of a controlled substance. Publisher’s weekly reviewer writes,

“Knowing that the narrator is destined to land in jail keeps suspense at a high pitch, but this book's remarkable achievement is the multiple points of view that emerge, as experiences force a fledgling writer to continually revise his perspective of himself and the world around him”

The book then goes on to provide an in-depth look of the sensitive and intelligent boy residing behind a tough exterior. Due to his young age, being a first time offender and some fortunate luck, Gantos served 15 month in prison. The majority of it away from the normal inmate population as Gantos was able to talk his way into a job in the hospital wing of the prison.

Gantos simple writing as he writes about his life and the experiences he had can easily be understood and the ramifications of his actions are definitely felt by the reader. Gantos writes about prison life,

“From my cell window I could see a line of houses in the distance. All week the people had been putting up Halloween decorations. We didn't celebrate Halloween in prison . . . or, I should say, every day in prison was scarier than any Halloween, so there was no reason to do anything special on October 31st.”

Without having to go into an adult interpretation of prison life,readers get just enough information to signify that prison is a place they do not want to be. And if the thought of other inmates wasn’t enough of a detour, Gantos uses his descriptive writing to remind the readers that there is more to be concerned about in prison than just other inmates,

“The food in prison was a greasy diet of salted chicken gizzards in larded gravy, chicken wings with oily cheese sauce and deep-fried chicken necks.”

Gantos descriptions convey to the reader that one mistake can change a person’s life forever. As young adults are often faced with choices that can have impacts on their future as adults, A Hole in My Life provides a true account of making the right choices when faced with tough choices. The details are well written and the plot holds the readers interest. The use of the author’s mug shot on the cover lends to the severity of the topic matter and gives readers an idea of what they will be encountering within the pages.

From reading the memoir, you become familiar with how smart and bright the author was at the time and is today. You feel his passion for wanting to be a writer in his youth and understand his lack of guidance to get him in a place where his creativity could be developed. In the book Gantos states that he wanted to take a Creative Writing class but the prerequisite was that you must have all A’s to get in. As a teacher, I know that all A’s doesn’t mean you’re the brightest just as failing grades doesn’t mean your aren’t one of the brightest. Fortunately, Gantos never gave up on his dream to write and didn’t let his past set him back further.

Hole in my life is definitely for older young adult readers. With topics of drugs, sex and prison life I would place this in the high school level.

4. AWARDS/REVIEWS

American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults

American Library Association Notable Children's Books

American Library Association Popular Paperbacks for Young Readers

Michael L. Printz Award – Honor

Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year

Books for the Teen Age, New York Public Library

Parents' Choice Award Winner

Booklist Editors' Choice

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon Award; Horn Book Magazine Fanfare List

School Library Journal Best Books of the Year

Robert F. Sibert Award – Honor

Massachusetts Children's Book Award

KIRKUS STARRED review: "This true tale of the worst year in the author's life will be a big surprise for his many fans . . .This is a story of mistakes, dues, redemption, and finally success at what he always wanted to do: write books."

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY review: “After penning a number of novels for preteens, including the Joey Pigza books and the Jack series, Gantos makes a smooth transition as he addresses an older audience. He uses the same bold honesty found in his fiction to offer a riveting autobiographical account of his teen years and the events may well penetrate the comfort zone of even the most complacent young adults.”

5. CONNECTIONS

Author Web Site: www.jackgantos.com

Other Books by Jack Gantos:

The Jack Henry Books

Jack Adrift: Fourth Grade Without a Clue (2003)

Jack on the Tracks: Four Seasons of Fifth Grade (1999)

Jack's Black Book (1999)

Jack's New Power: Stories from a Caribbean Year (1995)

Heads or Tails: Stories from the Sixth Grade (1994)

The Joey Pigza Books

What Would Joey Do? (2002)

Joey Pigza Loses Control (2000)

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key (1998)

The Rotten Ralph Rotten Readers

Practice Makes Perfect for Rotten Ralph (2002)

Rotten Ralph Helps Out (2001)

Young Adult

Desire Lines (1997)

Other Authors' Memoirs Geared for a Young Adult Audience:

Chris Crutcher, King of the Mild Frontier: an Ill-Advised Autobiography (2003)

Walter Dean Myers, Bad Boy: A Memoir (2002)

Lois Lowry, Looking Back: A Book of Memories (2000)

Madeleine L’Engle, Madeleine L’Engle Herself: Reflections on a Writing Life (2001)

The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Schmidt, Gary D. 2007. THE WEDNESDAY WARS. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0618724834

2.  SUMMARY

Holling Hoodhood, a junior high student during the torrential year of 1967. He is convinced one of his teachers hates him and his sister is sucked into the Flower Child movement going on in the nation. His parents are uninvolved in his life it seems and his classmates have him pegged all wrong.

Through the events in his 7th grade year of school, Holling develops a passion for Shakespeare, a friendship with the teacher that loathes him and develops his own identity in a pivotal decade in American history.

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Gary Schmidt uses the events of the late 1960’s to aide his story of Hollis Hollingsworth. The Vietnam War is the leading story in newspapers and TV along with the controversial political views of the time. With the additions of two political leader’s assignations the reader becomes quite informed of the feeling of that era in history.

Holling Hoodhood is an average junior high student trying to fit in. He does his best to avoid the school bully, has a crush on a classmate, and attempts to deal with the stressful events occurring around him and at home. The school kids in the book are depicted authentically to the times of which they are portrayed, as well as an all female teaching staff adds to the realism of the times.

Factual events of the time become dulled in as the reader learns of Hollings sister’s dislike of the Vietnam War and the conflicting views of his mother and father adds tension to Hollings home life.

The story takes place physically in a community section of Long Island, New York.  Holling attends junior high, which he finds more traumatic then the world events he is living there. Being the only Presbyterian, Holling must stay after school on Wednesdays while his Catholic and Jewish classmates go off for their religious training. Stuck, he feels, with Mrs. Baker. He believes she is out to get him and make his life miserable. Holling is quoted in the first line of the book, "Of all the kids in the seventh grade at Camillo Junior High, there was one kid that Mrs. Baker hated with heat whiter than the sun. Me.” First she has him doing chores like pounding erasers and cleaning animal cages. When it appears he is enjoying his work. Mrs. Barker devises a new torture method, studying Shakespeare.

Mrs. Baker’s personal association with Vietnam War, her husband oversees fighting, brings the event in to the classroom for the students to witness first hand.

As Booklist points out in a review, “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.”    Holling may feel as if he is fighting a war with her, when actuality, she has stepped in as the parental figure he needs desperately, yet in actuality his own parents are much too concerned with other matters (hippie sister, work) to the job of parenting.

The character, Mai Thi, lends another twist as a new student that has been rescued from Vietnam by the Catholic Relief Agency and brings part of the history of Vietnam into the classroom. The irony of a Vietnam student being taught by a teacher whose husband is fighting against the Vietnamese makes the story one that tugs at the heart and makes the reader develop an understanding for both sides of the issue.

Although the story centers on major historic events, they do not over play the story. Simply, the story is about living life and the events that go on around you as it happens. A quote from the book reminds the reader of current events, both past and present.

“And it really doesn't matter if we're under our desks with our hands over our heads or not, does it? No, said Mrs. Baker. It doesn't really matter. So, why are we practicing?
She thought for a minute. Because it gives comfort, she said. People like to think that if they're prepared then nothing bad can really happen. And perhaps we practice because we feel as if there's nothing else we can do because sometimes it feels as if life is governed by the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.”

This novel is entertaining, funny, involving and causes the reader to reflect on their own lifetime world events and the trials of junior high.

4.  AWARDS/REVIEWS

Cybil Award, 2007 Finalist Young Adult Fiction United States

International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Honor List, 2010 Honor List Writer Canada

John Newbery Medal, 2008 Honor Book United States

Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature, 2008 Winner California United States

Mitten Award, 2007 Honor Book Michigan United States

National Parenting Publications Award, 2007 Gold Book Ages 12 & Up United States

Society of Midland Authors Book Award, 2008 Winner Children's Fiction United States

Thumbs Up! Award, 2008 Nominee Michigan

Amazon Editors' Picks: Top 10 Books, 2007 ; United States

Best Books for Young People, 2007 ; Washington Post; United States

Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2007 ; American Library Association; United States

Booklist Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth, 2008 ; Booklist; United States

Capitol Choices, 2008 ; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States

Children's Book Sense Picks , Summer 2007 ; American Booksellers Association; US

Kirkus Best Young Adult Books, 2007 ; Kirkus; United States

Notable Children's Books in the English Language Arts, 2008 ; NCTE Children'sLiterature Assembly; United States

Notable Children's Books, 2008 ; ALSC American Library Association; United States

Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books, 2007 ; Cahners; United States

YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2008 ; American Library Association; United States

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY STARRED review exert:  Newbery Honor "Schmidt, whose "Lizie Bright" and "The Buckminster Boy" won both Printz and Newbery Honors, delivers another winner...deeply satisfying."

BOOKLIST STARRED review exert:  "Schmidt...makes the implausible believable and the everyday momentous...a gentle, hopeful, moving story."

HORN BOOK STARRED review exert: "Schmidt rises above the novel's conventions to create memorable and believable characters."

5.  CONNECTIONS

Here are some of Shakespeare's plays and quotes that were mention in the book.

"Pied Ninnies" -The Tempest
"Toads, beetles, bats, light on you!" -The Tempest
"A southwest blow on ye and blister you all o're!" -The Tempest
"Tis almost morning, I would have thee gone." -Romeo and Juliet
"Beware the ides of March." -Julius Ceaser

Author’s website:  http://www.hmhbooks.com/schmidt/

Scholastic curriculum to accompany the book: http://www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/teachers/connections/pdf/WednesdayWars.pdf

Learn more about the 1960’s by visiting the below website and visiting the links throughout. http://www.squidoo.com/sixtiesart . After viewing, Readers Theater in authentic 1960’s garb would make for some fun reading!

Six Days in October: The Stock Market Crash of 1929 by Karen Blumenthal

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Blumenthal, Karen. SIX DAYS IN OCTOBER: THE STOCK MARKET CRASH OF 1929. 2002. New York, NY. Atheneum Books for Young Adults. ISBN: 0689842767

2.  SUMMARY

When reminiscing about dark times in US history, October 1929 would need to be included.  From October 24 through the 29th the fortunes that many Americans had accumulated by investing in the lucrative stock market disappeared just as quickly as it was acquired. At first, the drop in the stocks was viewed as a fluke but as the decline became worse over the next few days it became evident that regaining lost fortunes was not going to happen soon. Over 25 billion dollars from stock market investors (from the car manufacturer to bellboys) vanished. Families lost everything and were forced to sell off personal property and live on the streets to pay off debts. This event affected the course of the nation’s finances for years to come, as investing in the market no longer seemed like a sure thing.  It was many decades later before Wall Street saw trading numbers as they were prior to the crash.

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

For anyone who has ever struggled to understand the ins and outs of the stock market, Six Days in October will make things easy to understand while at the same time explain the stock market crash of 1929 in an educational way that holds the reader's attention. Along with 1920’s illustrations, including actual Wall Street documents and accounts add an authentic feel to the book as a well researched piece of American history.

Wall Street bureau Chief Karen Blumenthal unfolds the six day period of the great stock market crash of 1929. For young readers currently living through the “occupy wall street” issue, this story includes stock market fundamental explained in simple terms for anyone to understand. Side topics scattered throughout the book (What are bonds? What is a stock split?) make understanding the basics easier for the novice.

When telling the story of the actual Wall Street crash, Blumenthal succeeds in taking out the mystery of how Wall Street works along with telling the story of how fascinating the times and the people were during the decade of the 1920’s.To many, playing the market was like a game or making a sure thing bet. Even if you lost, you would always have the chance of recovering.  Before the crash, the stock market had proven itself as a way to get rich quick with little monetary loss. During this time, you were thought to be crazy not to be partaking in the market.  Everyone from tycoons to elevator boys were in on the buying, selling and speculating of the market. The frightening part, the reader finds, is that people were borrowing the funds to do it. Credit was a new thing at the time and seemed like a viable option to many. Borrow the money, make that back plus some, pay back the debt and keep on investing. Not only were individuals (investors) borrowing money but banks and large corporations were as well.

As the government and Federal Reserve tried to step in and minimize this borrowing behavior, those that were key players blocked this from happening. Speculation was good for the market. So it continued. Blumenthal writes, “Executives who had spent their lives building solid reputations cut secret deals in pursuit of their own stock-market riches.” This statement is very reminiscent of current events as well in the world of finance.

It continued of course until late October in 1929 when the market crashed and was unable to turn itself around. The struggle is played out in the 6 crucial days of the market falling and the attempts to turn it around are described in full detail.

Blumenthal’s attention to the fine details about the Wall Street movers and shakers of the time as well as the average person lives and activities makes this a strong and powerful read.  The personal stories make the story authentic and real to the reader. Reading about famed comedian Groucho Marx misfortune as well as ordinary people who gave up lucrative businesses to be speculators and then to lose it all. Publisher’s weekly states that the book is, “A compelling portrait of a defining moment in American history.” With the authors well thought out execution and documentation of the story, this book would make a great addition to any middle school library and studies about the 20th century.

4.  AWARDS/REVIEWS

2003 Robert F. Sibert Award Honor Book

CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book

KIRKUS review: "[A] solid exploration of an event whose importance is undisputed but which is rarely so lucidly explained for anyone, let alone young readers."

BOOKLIST review: "Blumenthal combines a fascinating overview of the infamous stock market crash in 1929 with a rare and useful primer of financial basics....Rapid, simply constructed sentences increase the drama and suspense while making difficult concepts easily understood....[A] riveting history..." Gillian Engberg

SLJ review: "In this thoroughly researched work, Blumenthal focuses on the days leading up to and including the crash....Overall, this is a solid account of an important chapter in American history..."

5.  CONNECTIONS

Further explore the stock market crash, the 1920’s and the Great Depression

http://www.history.com/topics/1929-stock-market-crash

Karen Blumenthal Official Page

http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Karen-Blumenthal/1921359

Curriculum for teaching about the Stock market and Wall Street

http://www.science.org.au/nova/047/047act.htm

Among The Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix.

1.   BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. 1998. AMONG THE HIDDEN. New York, NY. Aladdin Fiction. ISBN: 0689824750

2.   SUMMARY:

Luke Gardner is the third child in a totalitarian society where families are limited to two children. Luke is kept hidden inside the house to maintain his anonymity in this strict society. As new housing developments begin to build closer and closer to what was once Luke’s rural home, Luke is not allowed to venture outside or even peer out the windows in fear that the police in charge of population control will discover him. Luke doesn’t always adhere to his families rules and while gazing out a window in their absence he makes a discovery all his own. Another “hidden” child, like himself is living next door.

3.   CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

Haddix first book in her series known as the shadow children, Among the Hidden, develops for the reader a visualization of a society very similar to societies in reality. People of political influence and power have developed strict and sometimes harsh rules to protect them from themselves. To control population and the use of limited resources such as food and energy sources, population is controlled by only allowing the birth of two children to each couple. Along with other limitations, like not buying what they want, and living where they choose, their lives seem somewhat full and happy. Luke, the third child in his family, must remain hidden so that the Population Police do not spot him and take him away from his family. Luke eventually realizes that if he remains hidden he will never have a quality of life or be free. He also realizes that he may have to pay for that freedom by death.

Haddix has developed a quick action and fast paced novel with relatable, intelligent characters. Luke, even though he is locked up, is smart enough to be aware that this way of life is not morally right. Jen, the hidden girl next door, gives Luke books and articles that educate him on both sides of the population argument. He learns about one sided bias and how groups of people can band together to attempt to change policies established by the government. Through his unconventional education, Luke develops his own opinions about the social class known as Barons. The Barons often break rules and show off because their status makes them ‘untouchable”, and allows them to break the rules that others must follow.

As the novel concludes Jen rallies to confront the government of the social injustice and informs them of the “hidden” children’s existence. This act of bravery is paid for with her life. Luke sees what happens to Jen and decides on another course to change the rules. “Because he wasn’t a Baron and didn’t feel like the world owed him anything, he could be more patient, more captious, and more practical. Maybe he could succeed where Jen failed”. Luke thinks to himself and plans an alternative method to battle the injustice. Susan Roberts for School Library Journal writes, “the loss of free will is the fundamental theme of an exciting and compelling story of one young person defying authority and the odds to make a difference”.  Luke will continue on his struggle and the continuation is in the second book of the series, Among the Imposters.

Among the Hidden is an excellent book for developing the concepts of bias and the role government plays in our lives, and what ordinary citizens can do to challenge government, in classroom discussions. I think this book would also be a great read about the consequences of getting caught up in the moment and how a calm, cool head can get results, comparing and contrasting Jen and Luke’s actions. Media also plays a part and would be another learning tool when discussing bias and teaching students that what is written or viewed may not always be the truth.

4.   AWARDS/REVIEWS

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY review:  This futuristic novel focuses on a totalitarian regime and the Internet. PW noted, "The plot development is sometimes implausible and the characterizations a bit brittle, but the unsettling, thought-provoking premise should suffice to keep readers hooked."

KIRKUS review: “Haddix offers much for discussion here, by presenting a world not too different from America right now.”

ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers,

ALA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults,

California Young Reader Medal

Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award (MN)

Nevada Young Readers' Award

5.   CONNECTIONS

Haddix official website: http://www.haddixbooks.com/home.html

Research about current population laws in China, How are the laws enforced? How successful have they been? Are these laws popular or unpopular among the people?