The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Brashares, A. (2001). The sisterhood of the traveling pants. New York: Random House.

Summary

Four friends: Bridget, the bomb-shell blonde athlete; Tibby, the pessimistic film maker; Lena, the shy, beautiful, modest artist; and Carmen, the drama-living writer. One pair of jeans, found in a thrift store, mysteriously fits them all and becomes the glue that holds them all together in their first summer apart since they were born sixteen years ago. Bridget becomes dangerously obsessed with her young, hot coach at a soccer camp in southern California. Carmen, excited at the prospect of spending a whole summer with her father, learns he has been keeping secrets from her. Lena visits her grandparents in Greece, finding love and art in unexpected places. And Tibby, bitter at being left behind at home, befriends twelve-year-old Bailey, who teaches her lessons of life, love, and friendship that she will never forget. During this first summer of the Sisterhood, the girls begin to grow into themselves as individuals while realizing just how much they still need each other.

Worth a bookmark?

I absolutely love this book! Each of the girls gets to tell her story from her own perspective, yet the story of the group is woven together so gracefully that they are never really separate stories. Brashares writes in a way that invites you to be part of the Sisterhood, and you feel like you share in the girls' friendship. The characters are dynamic and far from perfect; it is agonizing to watch them work through their dilemmas yet wonderful to see how they come out on the other side stronger both as individuals and as a group.

In my library…

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series would make excellent reading for a book club for high school girls. Because the movies are extremely different from the books, it would be interesting to discuss the differences and why the filmmakers chose to change such an already wonderful story. Characterization would also be a great skill to teach using these books because each of the characters is so different, yet they complement each other as best friends.

Reviews

Any story that begins "Once upon a time..." has to be good, and this one is. It is hard to imagine that one pair of thrift shop jeans could play such an important role in the lives of four teenage girls. The story begins before the birth of four teenagers when their mothers meet in an aerobics class. Although the mothers drift apart, the girls become close friends. A trip to the local thrift shop and one non-descript pair of jeans become the catalyst for a summer of change. How can one pair of jeans look so incredibly good on four different girls with four dramatically different figures? Its magical, at least that is what the teens think. "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" is born when the girls decide to send the jeans to each other over the summer. The journey of the traveling jeans takes the denim talisman from Greece where Lena discovers herself, to California where Bridget learns a life lesson, to South Carolina where Carmen must learn about family, and finally back home where Tibby discovers the real magic in them-or is it life? (Rita Karr, Children's Literature)

Hoot

Hiaasen, C. (2002). Hoot. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Summary

Hoot is a mystery like no other. While Roy is trying to find a place to fit into his new home in the south Florida, a construction foreman repeatedly reports mysterious vandalism at the site of a new Mother Paula's All American Pancake House, keeping the newest addition to the police force busy figuring out how to report vandalism where nothing was broken. It seems as though the vandal's goal is not theft, but delay and disorder of the building site. Roy makes an unlikely friend in an older, tough girl at school named Beatrice, who eventually lets him in on secrets about her family and the mystery of the running boy he has been curious about since seeing him one morning from his bus window. When he realizes the running boy is the construction site vandal, Roy gets pulled into a complicated web of family issues, new friendships, business, politics, and environmental problems. He learns the boy's sole mission is to preserve the habitat of the small burrowing owls Mother Paula's is indifferent to destroying by building their new restaurant. Even after he decides he should help the owls, Roy has to be creative and gutsy to find a way to save the rare owls who win people's hearts with their tiny "hoot"s.

Worth a bookmark?

It is interesting that the creatures this book revolves around, the small burrowing owls, rarely make an appearance in the story. That they are talked about but rarely seen adds another element of mystery to this book. Although the main issue is preserving an environment there are many other problems Roy and the other characters must deal with in the story, problems like bullying, new friendships, and unique families which readers can learn valuable lessons from. I think this book is great for middle schoolers to learn that they do not have to wait until they are adults to make a positive impact on their world.

In my library…

I would use this book in a unit or display about the environment and endangered species. Although the burrowing owls aren't portrayed as "officially" endangered, it is important for students to learn that building new, exciting places like restaurants or shops often has environmental consequences attached, such as destroying many plants or animals' habitats.

Reviews

Hiaasen, a columnist for the Miami Herald and the author of many best-selling novels for adults about the wild and wacky side of the state of Florida, offers a hoot of a read here in his first novel for YAs. Roy is the new kid in town, a student at Trace Middle School in Coconut Cove. From the school bus window, as a bully is harassing him, Roy spots a barefoot boy his age running by, and he becomes intrigued. Roy follows the boy, and gradually learns that he is involved in trying to protect the nesting site of some rare burrowing owls. This site is currently an empty lot that is about to be turned into a pancake house by a corporate executive called Chuck Muckle, with the assistance of a bald foreman called Curly. Adventures and misadventures ensue—alligators pop up in portable potties and a tough girl takes a bite out of Roy's bike tire—before Roy works out a way to get revenge on the bully and help the barefoot boy save the owls. My 14-year-old daughter read this and liked it, calling it "clever and funny" and commenting "it was interesting how the plots came together." Hiaasen's trademark over-the-top humor and satire, along with his concern for safeguarding Florida's wildlife, come through clearly and will entertain readers. Here's hoping he continues to write for YAs. Recommended for junior high school students. (Paula Rohrlick; KLIATT – KLIATT)

Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls: Best Friends and Drama Queens

Cabot, M. (2009). Allie Finkle's rules for girls: Best friends and drama queens. New York: Scholastic Press.

Summary

Allie Finkle and her friends are fourth graders who try to welcome a new girl, Cheyenne, into their classroom. Instead of appreciating the girls' offered friendships, Cheyenne tells the girls their lack of interest in boys and kissing makes them immature and proceeds to upset the balance of a peaceful and happy class. All children who have been in school can relate to the excitement and anxiety that happens when a "new kid" joins the class, as the whole class works to figure out the new student's spot in the already established social circles of the class. Allie and her friends do not agree with Cheyenne that they need to have boyfriends to be cool or mature, but are not quite sure how to speak their minds when the whole class is against them. The issue even turns them against each other! Cheyenne also teases the girls for being "babyish" because they still play pretending games. Eventually Allie lets herself break down, having a good cry in her closet when she becomes overwhelmed by the problems she faces. While in the depths of despair she struggles whether or not to tell her mother, then worries about the consequences she may face with her classmates for opening up. This issue of how "grown up" to act at certain ages is one all children will encounter as they grow up, as well as facing peer pressure to do things they know are not appropriate.

Worth a bookmark?

Allie Finkle and her friends are so realistic they remind me of my group of girlfriends when I was in fourth grade! Allie is portrayed as a strong girl who, although she sometimes misses the mark, tries very hard to do the right thing. A reader walks away from this book learning the lesson of the old phrase "What is popular is not always right, and what is right is not always popular." They see a great example of resisting peer pressure—great not because it is easy, but in the sense that it is worthy and makes a stronger person. Readers also learn about dealing with difficult people in a mature way, meaning standing your ground without being rude or mean. Readers who are paying close attention may also be reminded that trusted adults are great resources for help and advice when tough situations arise. Finally, young readers may realize that it is okay to be a kid, just as Allie was in no rush to grow up and have a boyfriend.

In my library…

The Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls series would be excellent for a book club for fourth and fifth grade girls. Both the characters and problems are realistic and not superficial, so readers could easily relate and put themselves in the story. For example, the theme of this particular book is dealing with growing up. Throughout the story the characters struggle to balance what they want to be and do with what other kids their own age are doing, as well as what their parents and teachers expect. For the first time they are told by a peer that what they enjoy is "babyish" and to be mature they must do something they do not understand and are uncomfortable doing. This makes them question their values and views of their world. It seems as though this may be the first time Allie and her friends have encountered serious peer pressure. Although they try to resist, even Sophie and Caroline give in to do what Cheyenne says simply because it is easier or less embarrassing than to go against her. Allie finds that sticking up for herself and what she believes does not make her popular with the girls in her class, yet she does not give in and in the end is proud of herself and stronger for it. A reader can easily imagine she and her own friends in the situations Allie and her friends encounter, and may learn some valuable lessons about how to survive growing up following Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls.

Reviews

Gr 3–5—Allie Finkle is anxious to return to school after a rather boring winter break. Her spirits perk up when she hears about a new girl from Canada who will be joining their fourth grade class. However, Cheyenne is not what Allie and her best friends expected: she's a bully and thinks all the girls are immature. Cheyenne forms a new clique and institutes a new game which involves chasing boys on the playground and kissing them when caught. She orders all girls to "go with" a boy, even though most of Allie's classmates don't have a clue what they means. In this third book (Scholastic, 2009) in Meg Cabot's series, Allie decides she's not quite ready to be a grown-up and wants to enjoy life as a kid, no matter what Cheyenne tells her. Narrator Tara Sands perfectly voices the naïve but charming nine-year-old, expressing Allie's rollercoaster of emotions. She easily transitions from incredulous Allie and strong willed Cheyenne to sweet but authoritative Miss Hunter. The pacing is faultless and the production quality is first-rate. An excellent choice for individual or classroom listening.—Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, MN (School Library Journal)

Skippyjon Jones

Schachner, J. (2003). Skippyjon Jones. New York: Dutton's Children's Books.

Summary

Skippyjon Jones is an extrodinary, remarkable Siamese kitten. No matter how hard she tries, Skippyjon's mother cannot tame his vivid imagination that makes him act like anything but a cat. When he is banished to his room think about what it means to be a Siamese cat, he cannot resist the call of his closet despite his mother's orders to stay out. Skippyjon's closet, it seems, is the portal to other lands created by his own imagination. In this adventure, Skippyjon becomes El Skippito, the great sword fighter, who helps a band of Chihuahuas defeat the Great Bumblebeeto who steals all their beans. As El Skippito's sword pops the Great Bumblebeeto in the deserts of Mexico, freeing all the stolen beans for the doggies, Skippyjon breaks open a piñata in his closet, exploding candy and toys all over his room. The great noise brings Mama Junebug Jones running, and she scoops him up with hugs and kisses, wondering aloud, "What am I going to do with you, Mr. Cocopugs?"

Worth a bookmark?

I haven't laughed so much reading a book in a long time! Skippyjon Jones is a mischievous yet endearing, unforgettable character whose imagination is as big as his giant ears. It has a perfect mix of mischief, humor, and adventure that kids of many ages can relate to and enjoy. When his mind's adventure takes him to Mexico, he develops a hilarious dialect mingled with a few Spanish words he knows. The book is best enjoyed read out loud!

In my library…

Stories about Skippyjon Jones are great books to get kids thinking, talking, and writing about their own imaginations. Most kids can remember a time when his or her imagination got carried away. This book would also be a great Mexican cultural connection because there are many words from the Spanish language included in the story. Kids who are familiar with Spanish would enjoy sharing their knowledge of these words with other kids.

Reviews

Skippyjon Jones is not your ordinary Siamese cat. He enjoys being with the birds and much to his mother's displeasure, he sleeps with them, eats worms and plays in the birdbath. This just is not the type of behavior she expects from her son. Banished to his room, and warned to stay out of his closet, Skippyjon does not seem to be the least bit fazed. He actually ends up on another adventure, and this time he is a masked bandito consorting with a group of dogs—the Chimichangos. The fearless Skippyjon saves them from an awful monster bumblebee named Alfredo Buzzito. It turns out that the bee is actually a birthday piñata and when he punctures it all the goodies come spilling out all over his room. Mama for once is not really upset and the irrepressible Skippyjon is ready for his next adventure. The illustrations are as humorous as the story and kids will enjoy them. The text is sprinkled with Spanish terms, which may make reading it aloud a challenge for some and a big hit for others. There is no pronunciation guide for those who may not be familiar with Spanish. 2004, Dutton, Ages 3 to 8. (Marilyn Courtot-Children's Literature)

Postcards from No Man’s Land

Chambers, A. (1999). Postcards from no man's land. New York: Speak.

Summary

Amsterdam, World War II, occupied by German Nazis. Amsterdam, fifty years later, "an old city occupied by the young" (p. 3). What do the two have in common? Jacob Todd is about to find out how deeply connected are the past and present of this mysterious city. Jacob, a teenager traveling to Amsterdam for the first time to honor his grandfather and namesake, an English solider who died in Oosterbeek during WWII, learns much more about his family than he ever expected. Jacob has lived with his grandmother most of his life, growing up rather sheltered in a middle class English home and hearing stories of his heroic grandfather his grandmother describes as the ideal man. His host family includes Geertrui, who as a young woman nursed his wounded grandfather and has since maintained a friendship with Jacob's grandmother. On her death bed, Geertrui has enlisted the help of her grandson, Daan, to help her write the true story of the relationship that developed between her and Jacob's grandfather so that Jacob may truly understand the man his grandfather was. While in the city, Jacob meets a variety of people young and old who begin to open his eyes to the possibilities that lie beyond his sheltered, proper world. As Jacob discovers many truths about himself, he begins to question and explore his own world views—gender identities, significance of historical landmarks such as the home of "his" beloved Anne Frank, his own sexuality, even the concept of euthanasia—within the context of this old yet liberal city.

Worth a bookmark?

At times this story was difficult to read, not because of how it was written but because of the intensity of the issues presented through the telling of Jacob's and Geetrui's stories. As he begins exploring Amsterdam, he quickly learns that the rest of the world is not exactly like home: one of his first experiences is being attracted to and flirting with a young woman at a café, only to discover that she is actually a he. This happening, in addition to Daan's views and sexual preferences, cause Jacob to reexamine his own sexuality and views about relationships and marriage. Jacob is also faced with a very difficult decision at the end of the book, whether or not to tell his grandmother, who is still deeply in love with his grandfather even fifty years after his death, the truth about his and Geertrui's relationship before his death. Geertrui is also faced with difficult decisions: as a young woman, many stem from surviving physically and mentally in a war-torn country, and later in life to decide how to spend her last days. The ripple effect of those decisions reaches across generations and families. Chambers weaves together the dual stories of Jacob and Geetrui beautifully to show the connection between past and present. Although this book will probably not make it to my list of ones to read again and again, the story was never dull and was one of those that made the reader uncomfortable in a good way, causing the reader to examine his or her own values and social ideas along with the characters.

In my library…

This book effectively opens doors for exploring social issues that young adults face more frequently today than in the past. It is easy for teens to say they believe one way or another on an issue without ever taking the time to consider it for themselves, but it takes much more maturity and consideration to debate an issue in context. For example, instead of writing about or discussing, "Do you think euthanasia is right?" a more meaningful question would be "Do you agree with Geertrui's decision to have an assisted death in her circumstances? Why or why not?" Additional social issues pervade this book, posting questions that all teens will have to answer for themselves at some point in their lives. The best thing about this book in that context is that it defines no wrong or right answers, only presents the issues an different perspectives on them, leaving the reader to draw his or her own conclusions.

Reviews

This book received international acclaim after its 1999 publication in Europe. Older teens on this side of the Atlantic now have a chance to read the two complex and challenging narratives intertwined in this beautifully written novel. When 17-year-old Jacob travels solo from England as his grandmother's representative at a ceremony in the Netherlands commemorating the World War II Battle of Arnhem, he is transformed. Jacob is intrigued and excited by new ideas engendered by initially bewildering experiences: the strangely disturbing Anne Frank house in Amsterdam, new acquaintances who cross gender lines, and, most of all, the imminent assisted death of the elderly lady who was his grandfather's wartime nurse and has kept in contact with his family. This frail Dutchwoman, the second narrator, has her own startling tale to tell, recalling in detail her short but passionate relationship with another Jacob long ago, when the whole world seemed to be burning and when serious, irrevocable choices were made in haste. The protagonists in these coming-of-age stories face real-world decisions involving love, sexuality, and friendship, linking the teenagers across time and generations, and leading to a conclusion as convincing as it is absorbing and thought-provoking. -Starr E. Smith, Fairfax County Public Library, VA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information (School Library Journal)

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

Speare, E. (1958). The witch of Blackbird Pond. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers.

Summary

Even though she has traveled a long way for it, Kit Tyler is not impressed by her first glimpse of America. From the deck of the Dolphin, the ship that has brought her from her home in Barbados, Kit surveys the dreary shoreline of the American colonies of 1687. In stark contrast to the vivid flowers, white beaches, and bright blue waters of her home, the Connecticut Colony offers little aesthetically pleasing landscape. After her grandfather's death, Kit has come to America to live with her aunt's family, whom she has never met and who do not readily accept this unreserved cousin from the islands. Kit, with her high spirits, love of literature and fashion, and outgoing personality struggles to adjust to this rigid, Puritan way of life and it seems as though she will never learn to fit in…nor is she sure that she wants to. Difficulties with patience, politics, religion, unmet expectations, and unrequited love trouble Kit throughout her first year in the Colony. Feeling particularly stifled one day she escapes to the meadow around Blackbird Pond, appealing in its resemblance to the vast seas she left behind. Here she befriends Hannah Tupper, an old widow who makes her home around the marshes and is rumored to be a witch. Although her stern Uncle Matthew forbids it, Kit's friendship with Hannah blossoms and leads to other secret relationships, including Nat, the son of the Dolphin's captain, that will eventually lead the town to believe Kit is a witch herself! With an outraged mob on a witch hunt heading for Hannah, Kit steals her away with Nat's help. After helping prove Kit's innocence at a witch trial, Nat disappears without a word during a long winter in which Kit discovers where her heart truly lies. With spring, Nat returns to Connecticut with his own vessel, christened the Witch, with a promise to never leave Kit behind again.

Worth a bookmark?

I really enjoyed reading The Witch of Blackbird Pond. I have had the personal experience of calling several places "home" in my life, so I identified with Kit in her struggle to figure out where her true home was. Despite constant opposition from her new family and people of in the town, Kit found a way to do what she knew in her heart was right, like befriending and helping Hannah Tupper and Prudence. What I like so much about her character is that Kit was not disrespectful, spiteful, or defiant in her efforts to maintain her identity and values; instead, she truly tried to blend into her new life. Nat Eaton put it best when he compared Kit to a tropical bird being made to live in a sparrow's world (pg. 127). Kit Tyler is one of my new favorite literary characters and I look forward to reading this book again.

In my library…

A character study of Kit Tyler would be a great way to use this book in a library setting. Students could choose female main characters from other books to compare and contrast the problems and emotions each encounter in her story. This would be a great project for middle school aged girls to explore positive character traits in strong female characters. This book also provides a historical fiction link by weaving in many of the problems that American colonists faced before the Revolutionary War, including conflict with the King, prejudice, and religious intolerance.

Reviews

Strong plot, fully realized characters and convincing atmosphere distinguish this historical narrative of a girl whose rebellion against bigotry and her Puritan surroundings culminates in a witch hunt and trial. (Booklist)

This book has a lively plot and excellent characterizations. The background has every dimension of reality. (The New York Times)

Bud, Not Buddy

Curtis, C.P. (1999). Bud, not Buddy. New York: Delacorte Press.

Summary

Bud Caldwell is a ten-year-old orphan living in Michigan during the Great Depression. Add that to the fact that he's a black kid on his own after running away from his latest foster home, and Bud's in a real tight spot. Armed with nothing more than a suitcase holding all his worldly possessions and "Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Our of Yourself", he sets out to walk from Flint to Grand Rapids, boldly determined to find the father he never knew. Bud's only clue to the man he thinks his father is a blue flyer his mother always looked at advertising Herman E. Calloway's band. After getting a ride from union man Lefty Lewis he makes it to Grand Rapids, where he wins over the members of Herman E. Calloway's band. However, Mr. C himself is less than thrilled with this kid who claims to be his son as Bud wonders what his mother could have seen in this cantankerous old man. As the pages of Bud's story unfold, Herman is stunned to discover the ending to his long-lost daughter's story and a grandson he didn't know he had, and Bud finally finds a home with his grandfather's band.

Worth a bookmark?

Bud, Not Buddy is a great book not only because it is so well-written, but also because of the many struggles of life it addresses. Readers learn about life in Michigan for African-Americans during the Depression through the eyes of a kid. Although Bud is wise beyond his years, Curtis does not let us forget that Bud is only ten by sprinkling in kid-like character traits, like an irrational fear of vampires and a vivid imagination. Bud's story is also one of discovering your roots and finding out where you come from at any cost. Even though Bud met many obstacles, his determination to find his family carried him forward. Herman E. Calloway represents regret and second chances, as his character is shocked to find out who Bud truly is. I loved reading this book, and was thrilled to find out that Herman E. Calloway and Lefty Lewis were based on Curtis's own grandfathers. Bud, Not Buddy is certainly worthy of the Coretta Scott King and Newbery Medal awards it has won.

In my library…

There are so many different facets of this book that would be great to use to get students thinking and talking about social and historical issues. This book would be most appropriately used in grades five through eight. After a group of students read this book I would facilitate discussions about the different themes within the story, perhaps in a blog format or Read & Respond display board or folder.

Reviews

In a story that's as far-fetched as it is irresistible, and as classic as it is immediate, a deserving orphan boy finds a home. It's the Depression, and Bud (not Buddy) is ten and has been on his own since his mother died when he was six. In and out of the Flint, Michigan, children's home and foster homes ever since, Bud decides to take off and find his father after a particularly terrible, though riotously recounted, evening with his latest foster family. Helped only by a few clues his mother left him, and his own mental list of "Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself," Bud makes his way to a food pantry, then to the library to do some research (only to find that his beloved librarian, one Charlemae Rollins, has moved to Chicago), and finally to the local Hooverville where he just misses hopping a freight to Chicago. Undaunted, he decides to walk to Grand Rapids, where he hopes his father, the bandleader Herman E. Calloway, will be. Lefty Lewis, the kindly union man who gives Bud a lift, is not the first benevolent presence to help the boy on his way, nor will he be the last. There's a bit of the Little Rascals in Bud, and a bit more of Shirley Temple as his kind heart and ingenuous ways bring tears to the eyes of the crustiest of old men-not his father, but close enough. But Bud's fresh voice keeps the senti-mentality to a reasonable simmer, and the story zips along in step with Bud's own panache. (r.s., Horn Book, Nov./Dec. 1999)