Module 15: Forever

Blume, J. (1975). Forever. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.

Summary

Katherine is a high school student who starts dating Michael. This book is about their relationship, especially when they take it to a sexual level. Katherine is portrayed as responsible in that she goes to the doctor for birth control pills. The book explores not only teen sexuality but the love that so many teens think they have found.

Worth Another Cup of Tea?

Absolutely, I love Judy Blume, and this is no exception. While this book is usually found on controversial lists, in my opinion it is an excellent book that explores sexuality in a responsible way. I especially like the foreward in the newer version that mentions sexually transmitted diseases.

Reviews

More than thirty years ago, Judy Blume's sensational teen romance debuted to much controversy. A candid account of young love that provides details about everything from a young couple's first meeting through sexual curiosity, exploration, and activity, this book is as relevant for teens today as it was to teens in the seventies. From the moment Katherine and Michael meet at a friend's party, the sparks fly. Although they attend different schools, the pair get together every chance they can, and their relationship deepens. Before long, things are getting serious: they are thinking about sex, talking about sex, and planning for sex. It feels like they will be together forever. Then, summer comes, and family plans pull them apart. They write each other often and plan to reunite as soon as they can, but life—and love—can be unexpected. While employed as a camp counselor, Katherine meets Theo. She is surprised by the attraction she feels for him. What do such feelings say about love? Commitment? Forever? Michael? Modern readers may giggle at the lack of cell phones and other modern accoutrements, but they are sure to be drawn into this time-tested tale of first love.--Children's Literature

In The Library

I would recommend this book for high school students and think it would be a great book for a discussion group. I might also recommend it to the counselors for a group or even the health teacher.

Module 14: Cool Salsa

Carlson, Lori et. al (1995). Cool salsa. Logan, IA: Perfection Learning Corporation.

Summary

This is a collection of poems written by various Latin American authors. The poems are diverse in their style and subject matter. They are written in Spanish and English.

Worth Another Cup of Tea?

Yes, this was a very interesting collection of poems, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading them. I thought it was very interesting to see the differences in cultures and also how the cultures are blended.

Reviews

As hot as jalapenos and as cool as jazz, this collection serves up "ingles con chile" and Spanish that "you feel in the blood of your soul." Lyrical, traditional poems share space with street-smart free verse, and works by the likes of Sandra Cisneros and Gary Soto are juxtaposed with entries from lesser-knowns. Illustrating the "beat and pulse" of generations of U.S. writers of Latin American heritage, the poems are presented both in the original and in translation; poems making use of both languages are easily accessible to English-only readers by virtue of an appended glossary of Spanish terms. In his introduction, Hijuelos ( The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love ) focuses on the "unrelenting, unending sense of second classness" that his parents experienced as Cuban emigrants and explains how this "sense" affected his uses of English and Spanish. The political agenda is not hidden, but the potency of the volume lies in Carlson's eclectic selection of voices--her volume approximates what one poet here calls "a Mixtec chant that touches la tierra and the heavens." Ages 12-up.--Publishers Weekly

This collection of eloquent and intensely personal poems by twenty-nine Latin American poets resonates with the conflicting emotions, cultural diversity, material hardships, sweet memories, occasional heartbreak, and joyous incidents that underscore the lives of those of us who have grown up as Latinos in the United States. From personal experience I can vouch for the authenticity of feeling and candid insight of these impassioned voices that clamor to be heard, and I understand the daunting task of a youngster coping with a strange language and unfamiliar customs while dealing with the marked differences between a deeply traditional home environment and the enticing wide open world waiting outside. We straddled this intangible but very real fence on a daily basis; as a result, and as demonstrated in these poems, we developed dual psyches, a cultural hybridization of sorts, not at all an unhappy condition since it allowed us to function in two very different worlds while holding fast to our ancestral heritage. The vivid images in these pages range from, among others, the fear of identity loss in Luis Alberto Ambroggio's Learning English; the difference in cultural customs in Dia De Los Muertos by Abelardo B. Delgado; the touching memories of a distant homeland in There's An Orange Tree Out There by Alfonso Quijada Urias; a heartfelt plea for understanding in Ana Castillo's We Would Like You To Know, as well as the joyful romp of Aquatic Show by Daniel Jacome Roca, and the free- wheeling rhythms in poems such as Why Do Men Wear Earrings On One Ear? by Trinidad Sanchez, Jr. and Where You From? by Gina Valdes that combine English and Spanish in a fluid lyrical stream. Oscar Hijuelos's excellent introduction gives us a perceptive look at what it means to grow up as a bi-cultural child who is also a first- generation American, and the glossary is particularly helpful in defining slang expressions which differ from country to country. I was impressed by the skillful translators who have captured both the authors' meaning and much of the musicality of the Spanish language, and although in a few cases I might have chosen slightly different terms, it is gratifying to see that they have all been faithful to the original poems. The biographical notes will help interested YAs to locate other works by these eminent writers. This exciting anthology entertains and illuminates, and will be enjoyed by poetry-loving YAs and all those who would like a glimpse into the heart and soul of what is now the fastest growing minority in the United States.--Voice of Youth Advocates, February, 1995.

In The Library

This would be great for a Hispanic Heritage Month display and for read-alouds. I would also recommend it to Spanish teachers of all levels to use in their classrooms.

Module 13: Nancy Drew #19: Cliffhanger

Petrucha, S. (2009). Nancy drew #19: Cliffhanger. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.

Summary

Girl detective Nancy Drew is in the woods with a group of scientists searching for an area where a certain plant can grow that might help cure Alzheimer's. When a crime is committed, she chases the thief and in true Nancy fashion, she ends up in danger, hanging from a cliff, but luckily, her good friends and sidekicks George and Bess come to her rescue and help her catch the thief.

Worth Another Cup of Tea?

Being an old-school Nancy Drew fan, I was intrigued by this graphic series. I had never read comics or graphic novels before, and honestly, I don't think I'll start now. I didn't like the way Nancy, George, and Bess were drawn. It was just too different from the original series, and I guess I wasn't ready for change. The story itself was very similar to the old books in its formula.

Reviews

I could not find any reviews of this book.

In The Library

I might suggest this to reluctant readers to get them interested in mysteries and books in general.

Module 12: Harvesting Hope

Krull, K. (2003). Harvesting hope. New York, NY: Harcourt, Inc.

Summary

This is the story of Cesar Chavez's life from early boyhood through his famous march across California to gain contracts and better working conditions for farmworkers. The book starts out when Cesar is a young boy, living on his family's ranch in Arizona. Life is good, and his family is doing well. In 1937, a drought hit the ranch, and Cesar's family is forced to go to California to look for work. Cesar's life changes dramatically. The living conditions are terrible, and they must work long hours under hard conditions on farms for very little money. The landowners in the book are very cruel and treat the farmworkers like animals. As Cesar grows up, he becomes a natural leader of the farmworkers and begins organizing them to try to fight for more pay and better working conditions. He preaches a message of nonviolence and organized strikes. The end of the book tells of Chavez's role in the creation of the National Farm Workers Association and of his famous march across California which ultimately led to contracts for farmworkers with better pay and better working conditions.

Worth Another Cup of Tea?

In my opinion, this was a very sensational portrayal of Chavez's life and of the plight of American farmworkers. Some of the descriptions are a little extremist, for example, during the march, "he and many others had blood seeping out of their shoes". I completely agree that the farmworkers had terrible conditions, but since this is written for small children, I can only imagine the visual images they might get when reading this book. I also wondered if all landowners were as cruel as those portrayed in the book. Having said that, it's a good introduction for young children to what type of person Cesar Chavez was and what he stood for.

Reviews

Gr. 2-4. When Cesar Chavez was 10 years old, drought forced his family to leave its Arizona ranch and move to California. The family became migrant workers, poorly paid and badly treated. As an adult, Chavez organized a nonviolent revolt, culminating in a 300-mile protest march that produced the first farmworkers' contract. Krull's language demonstrates a poetic sensibility (The eighty acres of their ranch were an island in the shimmering Arizona desert, and the stars were all their own. ), but the vocabulary will challenge young children, and a few socio-cultural details aren't made clear: some kids will wonder about the White Trade Only signs and why Chavez couldn't speak Spanish in school. But Morales' gorgeous paintings, with their rounded, organic forms and lush, gemstone hues, more than make up for glitches as they draw children deeply into an inspiring picture-book account of a young boy who grew up to change the world. --Booklist, June, 2003.

r 3-6-The dramatic story of Chavez's 340-mile march to protest the working conditions of migrant farmworkers in California is the centerpiece of this well-told biography. Readers meet Chavez at his grandparents' home in Arizona where he lived happily amid a large extended family. His childhood was cut short when, due to financial difficulties, the family was forced to move to California to seek employment. After years of laboring in the fields, Chavez became increasingly disturbed by the inhuman living conditions imposed by the growers. The historic 1965 strike against grape growers and the subsequent march for "La Causa" are vividly recounted, and Chavez's victory-the agreement by the growers granting the workers better conditions and higher pay-is palpable. While sufficient background information is provided to support the story and encourage further research, focusing on one event makes the story appealing to younger readers. The text is largely limited to one side of a spread; beautifully rendered earth-toned illustrations flow out from behind the words and onto the facing page. A fine addition to any collection.--School Library Journal, June, 2003.

In The Library

This would be a great addition to a display for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Module 11: An Egg is Quiet

Aston, D. (2006). An egg is quiet. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books.

Summary

This is an absolutely beautifully written and illustrated book about eggs. The descriptions are simple to understand and match the pictures perfectly. Eggs are described in color, size, shape, and how they are developed. A very simple explanation of how the embryo is formed is offered with pictures showing the development of a chicken, a fish, and a grasshopper. Towards the end of the book, we see birds hatch and the final double page illustration is a variety of birds.

Worth Another Cup of Tea?

Yes, this is a beautiful book that would be wonderful to show to children to teach about eggs and the start of life.

Reviews

K-Gr 2-An exceptionally handsome book on eggs, from the delicate ova of the green lacewing to the rosy roe of the Atlantic salmon to the mammoth bulk of an ostrich egg. Aston's simple, readable text celebrates their marvelous diversity, commenting on size, shape, coloration, and where they might be found. The author occasionally attributes sensibilities to eggs ("An egg is clever," for example). Still, her quiet descriptions of egg engineering and embryo development (no mention of mating) are on the mark, and are beautifully supported by Long's splendid watercolor depictions of a wide variety of eggs. (One teeny carp-Steller's jays are not spelled with an "ar," though they are stellar performers when wheedling for your lunch at a campsite!) A beautiful guide to the unexpected panoply of "the egg."--School Library Journal, June, 2006.

PreS-Gr. 2. This beautifully illustrated introduction to eggs resembles pages drawn from a naturalist's diary. The text, scrolled out in elegant brown ink, works on two levels. Larger print makes simple observations that, read together, sound almost like poetry: An egg is quiet. . . . An egg is colorful. An egg is shapely. On each spread, words in smaller print match up with illustrations to offer more facts about bird and fish eggs across the animal spectrum. The illustrations are too detailed for read-alouds, but there's a great deal here to engage children up close. The succinct text will draw young fact hounds, particularly fans of Steve Jenkins' Biggest, Strongest, Fastest (1995) and his similar titles. Long's illustrations are elegant and simple, and the gallery of eggs, as brilliantly colored and polished as gems, will inspire kids to marvel at animals' variety and beauty. A spread showing X-ray views of young embryos growing into animal young makes this a good choice for reinforcing concepts about life cycles.--Booklist, April, 2006.

In The Library

This is an excellent book for young children that could be used as a storytime to supplement learning about eggs, embryos, etc.

Module 10: Esperanza Rising

Munoz, P. (2000). Esperanza rising. New York, NY: Scholastic.

Summary

This is an excellent book about a young girl named Esperanza (which appropriately means hope) who is growing up very rich in Mexico. Tragedy strikes her family, and they are forced to move to America to look for new opportunities. Instead of a life of privilege, she now has to work long, hard hours on a farm. She also has to face ridicule and prejudice in her new life in California. She is determined to rise above all of it.

Worth Another Cup of Tea?

Yes, this is a very good book that I found to be very interesting and uplifting in the end. It is hard reading about the struggles Esperanza has in California, but it's important to know about this type of life. Working in a school with immigrants, I found her story to be similar to some of my students: not the details, but the overall theme of leaving everything you know and experiencing something completely different.

Reviews

The author of Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride (1999) and Riding Freedom (1997) again approaches historical fiction, this time using her own grandmother as source material. In 1930, Esperanza lives a privileged life on a ranch in Aguascalientes, Mexico. But when her father dies, the post-Revolutionary culture and politics force her to leave with her mother for California. Now they are indebted to the family who previously worked for them, for securing them work on a farm in the San Joaquin valley. Esperanza balks at her new situation, but eventually becomes as accustomed to it as she was in her previous home, and comes to realize that she is still relatively privileged to be on a year-round farm with a strong community. She sees migrant workers forced from their jobs by families arriving from the Dust Bowl, and camps of strikers—many of them US citizens—deported in the "voluntary repatriation" that sent at least 450,000 Mexicans and Mexican-Americans back to Mexico in the early 1930s. Ryan's narrative has an epic tone, characters that develop little and predictably, and a romantic patina that often undercuts the harshness of her story. But her style is engaging, her characters appealing, and her story is one that—though a deep-rooted part of the history of California, the Depression, and thus the nation—is little heard in children's fiction. It bears telling to a wider audience. (author's note) (Fiction. 9-15)--Kirkus Reviews, October, 2000.

This exciting, well-written historical novel is based on the true-life experiences of the author's grandmother, Esperanza Ortega. Thirteen-year-old Esperanza and her newly widowed mother are forced to leave their fairytale existence at beautiful Rancho de las Rosas in Mexico, to live and work in a migrant worker camp in the San Joaquin Valley during the Great Depression. Adjustments to her new life are difficult for Esperanza and the harsh living conditions and hard labor are so different from her earlier life of privilege and wealth, especially after Mama becomes seriously ill with valley fever. But like the phoenix in her beloved grandma's story, Esperanza endures, "Rising again, with a new life ahead..." The author does a very good job of portraying the caring and solidarity, as well as the hardships, of Mexican-American labor camps of the era. An author's note is included. This book would be a great choice for a multicultural collection.--Children's Literature.

In The Library

I would recommend it to middle school and early high school students. This is a great book for immigrant students to read because they could identify with the overall theme. This would also be a good book to include in a Hispanic Heritage Month display.

Module 9: Somebody

Springer, N. (2009). Somebody. New York, NY: Holiday House.

Summary

This is the story of a fifteen year-old girl who moves frequently with her brother and father. She has been told that her mother abandoned them when she was a little kid. She begins to wonder why she has to change her name and hair color with every move. Her father is emotionally abusive to her and changes his story almost as frequently as they move. One day, she remembers a name, Sherica, and realizes that is her real name. She goes to the library and googles her name and discovers that she was kidnapped by her father when she was little. A computer geek who works at the library named Mason ends up helping her with her search for truth and in finding her mother. Ultimately, this is the story of a young girl searching for answers in a life that has been built on lies.

Worth Another Cup of Tea?

Yes, I liked this book and was compelled to see how it turned out. The first person narration of the story helped me really get inside Sherica's head and understand what she was thinking and going through. Her father's cruel abuse and attempts to keep her fat and unhealthy were hard to read yet necessary to understand the character.

Reviews

Gr 6-9-Suspicious of her family's secretive lifestyle, 15-year-old Sherica finally decides to investigate her past. Just why do she, her older brother, and their father move so frequently, always assuming new names and changing their hair color? Why do Daddy's stories about her mother keep changing? Why don't they have family photos, cell phones, or Internet access? She summons up the courage to apply for her first library card so she can use the computer to search online. When she discovers a picture of herself at age five accompanied by the message, "Help this girl's desperate mother find her," she runs from the building in shock. With the help of a geeky teenage library employee, who learns her secret when he assists the next computer user, Sherica gradually decides to contact her mother while attempting to avoid getting her father into trouble with the law. The plot of this book is ridiculously unbelievable and the characters are flat and undeveloped. Because the topic of child abduction is of great interest and the author is known for other, far superior works, many youngsters will be drawn to this novel only to be disappointed. Those looking for a worthwhile read on this subject should stick with Caroline Cooney's perennially popular The Face on the Milk Carton (Delacorte, 1990).--School Library Journal, August, 2009,

Debbie, Suzy, Louanne, Rose, Patty, Marsha, June, Nancy, Ginny, and Dot are the names by which Sherica has been known as her father moved her and her brother from state to state, town to town. Each move always involves a new hair color, a new school, a new house, and a new job for her father. The only constant in her life is her perpetual eating, a ploy to fill the void inside her. She is told that her mother is a slut who left them for a pony-tailed motorcycle rider, but somehow that does not ring true to her. Sherica is befriended by Adelle, the friendly cashier at the Handy Hardware Store and Locksmith, and Mason, a dweeby, skinny library employee with family problems of his own. With their support, she searches the Internet for her mother and finds words like "abducted," "kidnapped," and The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. She desperately wants to locate her mother but does not want to get her father in trouble. This story just does not work. What fifteen-year-old girl would not wonder whether her constant locations changes were a little strange? Would she not think that rental homes, new jobs, and new names were a tad bizarre or doubt that Mason and his family's escape in the middle of the night was standard? Sherica evokes no sympathy or compassion and has no concern for whether or not she becomes somebody. One would expect more from such a talented and proven author. Give readers of this type of book Caroline B. Cooney's The Face on the Milk Carton (Delacorte, 1990) or Twice Taken by Susan Beth Pfeffer (Delacorte, 1994/VOYA June 1994) as alternatives.--Voice of Youth Advocates, April, 2009.

In The Library

I would recommend this to late middle school or high school girls for reading. It could also be used in a book group.