Book Reviews

Title: Island of the Blue Dolphins

Author: Scott O’Dell

Publisher: Dell Yearling

Copyright Date: 1960

Number of Pages: 184

Reading Level: Grade 5- Grade 12

Genre: Novel, Historical Fiction

Awards Won: John Newbery Medal

Summary: This novel is based on the true story of Juana Maria, the "Woman of San Nicolas Island", a Nicoleño Indian left alone for 18 years on San Nicolas Island, one of the Channel Islands off the California coast, before being rescued in 1853. By this time Juana Maria was the last known member of her tribe, and was unable to communicate with anyone she met on the mainland. She lived with the family of George Nidever, one of the men involved in rescuing her, but died after only seven weeks.
The main character is a girl named Wonapalei and her secret name is Karana. Her people live in a village called Ghalas. One day, a ship of Aleuts led by Captain Orlov a Russion arrives and persuades the people into letting them hunt sea otter. A battle breaks out when the tribe is not paid back. Later a new Chief leaves the island for help, and is able to send a ship to help his people to the mainland. Karana urges the captain to wait for her brother Ramo to return, but the ship needs to leave before a storm approaches. The ship departs without them. Ramo is killed by a pack of dogs and alone on the island Karana must provide for herself. Karana feels a close kinship to animals and takes care of them. Later Karana realizes that she is lonely without other people. After two years, a boat comes back and Karana dresses her best, but the rescuers realize that her attire is not appropriate for the mainland so they have a dress made for her. Karana dislikes the dress but realizes that she must wear it because this is the beginning of her new life, and the ship sails away taking her to Santa Barbara, California.
Reaction:  This novel was a good read. I like historical books that are based on a true story. The details and descriptions of the island were amazing. Overall it was a great book.
Recommendations: This book would be great for boys or girls. I would recommend that this be read for the study of Indian tribes and the culture. There are many themes that can be learned such as loneliness and companionship, forgiveness and trust, and survival and resilience. Moral development is a large chunk of this book, so this allows the reader to think about their own experiences and how they applied them to their lives.
Potential Problems/Conflicts: There were some fighting scenes and emotional tugs when her brother dies. The climax is when Karana is rescued by the White men. 

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Title: The Indian in the Cupboard

Author: Lynne Reid Banks

Publisher: Doubleday, Delacorte Press

Copyright Date: 1980

Number of Pages: 181

Reading Level: Grade 3- Grade 8

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy

Summary: A young boy, Omri, receives a cupboard from his brother, Gillon, for his birthday. He uses a "magical" key that belonged to his great-grandmother, to bring a plastic Native American figurine to life with the cupboard. The now living Indian reveals his name as Little Bear and he is an Iroquois who lived in the 18th century. Omri's best friend, Patrick, finds out about the magic cupboard, and brings a cowboy, Boone, into the present. Despite the fights and rivalries between the two tiny men, Patrick refuses to send them back until it is too late — Little Bear wounds Boone with an arrow while they are watching an Indian television show. Although Omri has a World War I medic figure, which could treat the injured Boone, he cannot be brought to life as the key is missing. After a brief adventure with Gillon's pet rat, that had escaped, the key is found and Boone is treated. However, Little Bear is a demanding character, and ultimately Omri must provide him with a bride, Bright Stars. Omri thinks it best to send Little Bear, Bright Stars and (with Patrick's agreement) Boone. They are sent back to their time and Omri gives his mother the key so he is not tempted to bring them back.

Reaction: I really enjoyed the Indian in the Cupboard. I remember as a child reading this book and then watching the movie that goes along with it. You get to use your imagination the whole time you read the story, which I love. Just getting a taste of what the 18^th century held through the characters is amazing.

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to any boys. Boys would really enjoy this since it is about cowboys and Indians. Girls would also enjoy this story line. I would rate this book fairly high. You are intrigued the whole time and always wondering what will happen next. The book is a great way to get children interested in the 18^th century and other historical events.

Potential Problems/Conflicts: There is conflict and war portrayed, but it is Indians and cowboys.

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Title: Lincoln a Photobiography

Author: Russell Freedman

Publisher: Clarion Books

Copyright: 1987

Pages: 160

Genre: Biography

Reading Level: Grades 2- up

Awards: Newbery

Summary: Abraham Lincoln was a great man. This photo biography covers Lincoln’s entire life from his childhood, his stint as a lawyer, and his courtship and marriage to Mary Todd Lincoln. Also it covers his ascent from Congressman to President, ending with the final chapter of the account of his assassination and death.

Reaction: From the beginning to the end, Abraham’s life was full of grit, drama and glory. Freedman really shows the real Lincoln both public and private. Seeing Lincoln at home and in his private moments, allows us to understand his depth as a man and as a leader. Russell Freeman digs through layers of hero worship and reveals a tenderhearted man who was one of our most important presidents. I loved learning more about Lincoln and how he lived; in a different way than textbooks teach.

Recommendation: Children who read this book will gain an understanding of some of the personal, economic, and political ramifications of slavery and liberty. I would recommend that teachers allow their students to read this book for a history subject. I would rate that this could be read by kids age eight and up.

Potential Problems/Conflicts: There is much slavery discussed throughout the biography.  There are also black and white photographs of dead soldiers, description of war and death. Lincoln’s assassination is described. Lincoln and his wife also suffer the loss of two children. The responsibility for the Civil War rests heavily on Lincoln’s shoulders.

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Title: The Great Gilly Hopkins

Author: Katherine Paterson

Publisher: Crowell

Copyright: 1978

Pages: 160

Genre: Children’s Novel

Awards: Newbery Award 

Summary:  The main characters name is Gilly Hopkins and she is on her way to yet another foster home in Maryland with her social worker, Miss Ellis. Gilly is 11 years old and has spent most of her time bouncing from foster families. Gilly is bright and self-reliant but also bitter and angry from years of abandonment and rejection. She has a fixation that her birth mother will come back for her one day. At first, Gilly loathes her new foster mother, Maime Trotter, but Trotter refuses to fall for Gilly’s manipulative tactics. Gilly’s only pleasure is in bullying the other foster child in the home, William Ernest Teague. Gilly must confront her own issues with racism since she becomes friend with a blind African American man named Mr. Randolph.

           Gilly hatches two plans to escape and writes to her mother in San Francisco. She decides that she will still Mr. Randolphs money and buy a bus ticket to San Francisco, but she is picked up by the police and returned to Trotter’s house. Gilly eventually discovers she actually likes her new foster family and teacher. Just as Gilly settles into her new life, she is uprooted once again. Her mother has requested that the state relinquish custody of Gilly to her biological grandmother who lives in Virginia. She ends up living wither her Nonnie and bonding with her, when she has the opportunity of seeing her mother again, she is sad when she hears that her mother is just going to leave again. Gilly pleads with everyone to let her go back to the Trotters, but she ends up living with Nonnie and coping with the situation to make others proud.

Reaction: I enjoyed this novel. Gilly is a tough kid and tends to destroy all of her foster mothers so that she can live with her mysterious real mother. This is a great choice for reluctant readers. This book kept you at your feet and you just wanted to know what will happen next. Good read.

Recommendations: This is a good book to let parent’s know that it is highly appealing especially to kids that are beginning to rebel against authority. This book would allow children to open up and talk with their families or with friends about expectations and how to protect yourself from disappointment. I feel that young girls ages 11 and up would enjoy this book the most, so that they can relate their lives to the character.

Potential problems/conflicts: Gilly beats boys up a lot and terrorizes her teachers. There are nervous breakdowns at points and this book is really great to allow readers to learn how pain can drive a kid into bad behavior. There is a beginning of severe prejudice against African Americans, but then a growth of love by the end. There is an occasional religiously themed profanity.

     

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Title: Deep Down Popular

Author: Phoebe Stone

Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks; First Edition

Copyright date: 2008

Number of pages: 288

Reading Level: Grades 5-7

Genre: Fiction 

Summary: Ever since they were in second grade, Jessie Lou has been in love with Conrad Parker Smith. Conrad had a glow about him that called to people, that drew everyone towards him and made them want to be his friend. As far as Jessie Lou thinks of it, Conrad is just deep down popular, right to his bones. Jessie Lou knows that she would never be in the same league as Conrad. A new brace on Conrad's leg changes all of that. 
Conrad  had to quit the soccer team and can no longer keep up with the popular kids, Jessie Lou finds herself in the unfortunate position of having to help Conrad home from school. She, Conrad, and awkward tagalong Quentin Duster become the Lewis, Clark and Sacajawea of West Taluka Falls, striking a solid friendship that makes Jessie Lou the happiest girl in the world. 

Reaction: At first I was sort of  put off by the grammatical idiosyncrasies and dialect present throughout the book, but after awhile got use to it and found them sort of endearing to the characters.ter. Jessie Lou is the type of character that can make many people connect with her.  

Recommendation: I thought the book was pretty good for girls age 10 and up. It was a good love story with a twist. If you like southern accents and the type of atmosphere then this book is perfect for you. This is a great book to read on a rainy morning.

Potential Problems/Conflicts: There were some grammatical idiosyncrasies and the dialect was sometimes hard to follow. Other than some confusing points in the story, this is a typical teen love story.

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Title: Maniac Magee

Author: Jerry Spinelli

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Copyright date: 1990

Number of pages: 184

Reading Level: Grade 3- Grade 12

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult Novel

Awards won: Newbery Medal

  

Summary: To sum up the story, it is about prejudice, love, home, baseball, fear, and understanding. The main character, Jeffrey Lionel Magee, also known as Maniac Magee’s parents were killed in a trolley accident when he was three and he spent the next eight years in his crazy Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan’s home. They hated each other but refused to divorce and so they lived together and did not speak to each other, just used Jeffrey as their conversation traveler. Soon enough Jeffrey runs away in search for a real home. He ends up in the town of Two mills. Two Mills is a town divided by race into the East and West End. Jeffrey becomes “Maniac Magee”, the subject of legends that have lasted ever since. When he was searching for a place to belong he succeeds in uniting some of the town by forcing a few of the Blacks and Whites to get to know each other. In the end, Jeffrey Magee finds a loving home.

Reaction: At first I was not really interested in who and what is Maniac Magee. I read the first few pages and was surprised when I could the book by the looks of the cover, but when I read the title, it made me wonder not put it down. There are parts that are fun and entertaining, and of course other parts that break your heart. The novel is emotional and I think that is what makes it great. Some children may even relate to some of the stories within it.

Recommendations: I would recommend reading this novel when studying prejudice. There is enough work within this novel to take up a whole school year. You can learn a lot about nicknames in this novel, because almost everyone in the book has at least one nickname. There is a subplot in the book about learning, and how you can teach yourself to know more. Homes show much importance to the plot. There is a lot about baseball in Maniac Magee, which can interest young boys. For girls, there is a strong female character in it.

Potential Problems/Conflicts: There is some prejudice and different extents of how love for another is shown.

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 Title: DINOTRUX

Author: Chris Gall

Genre: Non-Fiction

Publisher: Hachette Book Group

Copyright Date: 2009

Number of Pages: 32

Reading Level: Preschool- Grade 2

Summary: Millions of years ago, DINOTRUX ruled the earth! These mighty part-truck, part-dino creatures rumbled, plowed and bulldozed their way through the centuries, demolishing anything in their path. There was the nosy Craneosauraus and hungry Garbageadon, and many more! One day there was a flash of light and a terrible storm, some Dinotrux began to rust, but the smart ones went south and now are always on the job.

Reaction: As soon as I saw the cover, I couldn’t just put the book down without reading it. The idea of trucks as dinosaurs is terrific. The descriptions are thoughtful and kept interest as it told two stories in one. A fabulous addition is a big bonus foldout page that reveals what happened to the Dinotrux!

Recommendations: I have younger brothers that would absolutely adore this book. I believe that this book would cater nicely to young boys interested in both dinosaurs and trucks.

Potential Problems/Conflicts: I cannot see any problems with the book. It is possible that the illustrations may scare some smaller children, but not likely as they are not realistic.