Scott O'Dell Award winning book - Elijah of Buxton

BibliographyCurtis, Christopher Paul. 2007. ELIJAH OF BUXTON. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439023443

Plot Summary
Eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman was the first child born into freedom in the Canadian settlement of Buxton. His mother is concerned that he is such a "fra-gile" boy since he is quite gullible and sensitive. However, everything changes when a former slave who calls himself the "Right Reverend Deacon Doctor Zephariah Connerly the Third" runs off with money that Elijah's friend Mr. Leroy had saved to buy his family out of slavery. Feeling that he is to blame, Elijah journeys with Mr. Leroy to America to find the thief and bring him to justice. He soon sees the horrors of slavery that he had only heard about from his parents and other ex-slaves. Facing such horrors while finding the courage to save a child that would otherwise be immersed into slavery, he proves that he is not as "fra-gile" as his mother thought him to be.

Critical Analysis
Curtis takes us on an unforgettable journey through the eyes of Elijah Freedman, the first child "born free" to former slaves in Buxton, a settlement for ex-slaves in Canada. Through the eyes of Elijah, the reader is transported to the settlement in Buxton, a place united by the experiences of slavery shared by most of its residents. The setting is vividly described through the eyes of Elijah as are his feelings of being too "fra-gile" for a boy about to become a young man. Readers can find humor in the naivety and gullibility of Elijah such as when he visits a traveling carnival and really thinks that a mesmerist is going to shoot lightning bolts from his eyes and make him levitate: "The first thing I did was look straight up, partly so's I wouldn't have to see the stage, but mostly 'cause if the Preacher was gonna force me to watch and get floated off by lightning coming outta some white man's eyes, I wanted to see if there was something I could latch ahold on to afore I ended up in the clouds." At the same time, readers witness how the boy becomes stronger, capable of risking his neck to cross the border to help Mr. Leroy find the preacher who stole his money. As he does this, he is confronted with the horrors of slavery, which only proves to the reader that he is "fra-gile" no more but a hero for doing what was right and saving a young child that was bound for slavery.

The colloquial language of the characters brings authenticity to the story, making readers feel even more "in the moment" and the author's note at the end lets readers know that the settlement of Buxton is a real place. Knowing that much of the story is based on fact, readers young and old will no doubt feel immensely touched by a story written so true to the history of the time.

Excerpt Review(s)
BookList - "Many readers drawn to the book by humor will find themselves at times on the edge of their seats in suspense and, at other moments, moved to tears."
Kirkus Reviews - "It's 1859, in Buxton, a settlement for slaves making it to freedom in Canada, a setting so thoroughly evoked, with characters so real, that readers will live the story, not just read it."
School Library Journal - "Curtis' talent for dealing with painful periods of history with grace and sensitivity is as strong as ever."

Connections
*Books about the history of slavery:
Hamilton, Virginia. MANY THOUSAND GONE: AFRICAN AMERICANS FROM SLAVERY TO FREEDOM. ISBN 0679879366
Lester, Julius. TO BE A SLAVE. ISBN 0141310014
Lester, Julius. FROM SLAVE SHIP TO FREEDOM ROAD. ISBN 0140566694

Historical Fiction - The Midwife's Apprentice

Bibliography
Cushman, Karen. 1996. THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE. New York: HarperTrophy. ISBN 006440630X

Plot Summary
One evening an orphaned girl with no home or name but Brat is found by Jane, a cold and ill-tempered midwife, who calls her Beetle and takes her in as her apprentice. It's a hard-working life for Beetle, but she makes a place for herself, adopting a cat and befriending one of the village boys. Anxious to learn the trade, she secretly observes Jane's midwifery skills, something that the midwife tried to keep her ignorant of. As her confidence builds, she gives herself a real name at last: Alyce. However, when she is requested to deliver a baby and fails, she runs away, believing she is too stupid to be of any worth. With time, she discovers that she is capable of doing some things right and returns to Jane, determined to continue her apprenticeship this time around without giving up.

Critical Analysis
Cushman paints a realistic picture of medieval England as the people and language of the time come to life with her witty detail as when she says "Beetle sometimes feared Jane Sharp was a witch, for she mumbled to herself and once a pail of milk curdled as she passed, but mostly she knew Jane was what she first appeared, a woman neither young nor old, neither fat nor thin, with a sharp nose and sharp glance and a wimple starched in sharp pleats." With simplicity, wit, and humor, Cushman captures our attention with the story of a homeless and nameless young girl (Alyce) looking to find her place in the world. It's a theme most readers can relate to, as many of us come to doubt who we are as she does after failing to deliver a baby during a diffcult birth. She is struck by failure, thinks that she is too stupid to be the midwife's apprentice, and runs away. Through her experiences she finally discovers the truth in what her friend from the village had told her, "You got guts and common sense. Just because you don't know everything don't mean you know nothing. Even Jane Midwife herself don't know everything, though she think she do." Finally seeing the beauty and self-worth in her that others did, she returns to the village to continue her apprenticeship. Her determination is felt when she tells Jane, "Jane Sharp! It is I, Alyce, your apprentice. I have come back. And if you do not let me in, I will try again and again. I can do what you tell me and take what you give me, and I know how to try and risk and fail and try again and not give up. I will not go away." The story is wonderfully told and carries a message that readers will be happy to hear.

Review Excerpt(s)
Publishers Weekly - "Cushman has an almost unrivaled ability to build atmosphere, and her evocation of a medieval village, if not scholarly in its authenticity, is supremely colorful and pungent."
BookList - "Kids will love this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she's not ugly or stupid or alone."
School Library Journal - "Earthy humor, the foibles of humans both high and low, and a fascinating mix of superstition and genuinely helpful herbal rememdies attached to childbirth make this a truly delightful introduction to a world seldom seen in children's literature."

Connections
*Students can be asked to write about something they failed at and how that made them feel.
*Students can research how different times and different places saw midwives differently.

Classic work of historical fiction - The Whipping Boy

Bibliography
Fleischman, Sid. 1986. THE WHIPPING BOY. by Peter Sis. New York: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 0439441420

Plot Summary
Jemmy is an orpahned rat-catcher taken from the village to serve as the whipping boy for obnoxious Prince Brat. Since it is forbidden to physically harm the heir to the throne, Jemmy must suffer the punishment for the spoiled prince's mischief. Jemmy, tired of being thrashed, plans to run away, but Prince Brat beats him to it. He demands that Jemmy come with him and the two embark on an adventure involving two dangerous outlaws chasing after them. By the end, the two boys manage to escape and become friends and Prince Brat is changed for the better.

Critical Analysis
Fleischman makes this tale of a bratty prince come to life as the story mentions the trouble he causes with his practical jokes such as dumping bullfrogs in the moat to disturb everyone's sleep, hog-greasing the horses' saddles so that the knights slip and fall off, and tying the lords and ladies' wigs to their chairs so that when they stand up their wigs come flying off. His meaness and selfishness is reflected in him seeking to find pleasure from the whipping boy's pain. "A whipping boy is supposed to yowl like a stuck pig! We dress you up fancy and feed you royal, don't we? It's no fun if you don't bawl!" Jemmy, the whipping boy, is made to be a respectable hero as he endures the pain of the punishments without a noise uttered. He turns out to be not only street wise but more educated than the prince himself as he takes note of the prince's lessons while the prince refuses to learn how to read and write, saying "Pish-posh. I can always get someone to write my name for me." The plot is simple and entertaining, as the reader finds interest in the runaway adventure of Prince Brat and Jemmy to see if they can put aside their differences and work together to escape the clutches of Hold-Your-Nose Billy and Cutwater, two dangerous outlaws. To the reader's delight, annoying Prince Brat returns to the castle a changed person, which is demonstrated when he places Jemmy under his protection for saving him and the two become friends.

Short chapters make this story easy to read, giving readers a nice change of pace. Not only are the characters vividly portrayed, but the adventures of the boys are splashed with humor as when the reader finds out at the end of the story that the two outlaws escaped from the rat infested sewers only to unknowingly board a ship full of convicts "bound for a speck of island in distant waters. A convict island." Sis' black and white pen and ink illustrations capture the humor of the text and emphasize particular events in the story to match the author's comic style.

Review Excerpt(s)
Kirkus Reviews - "A rollicking tale of adventure and mistaken identity, written in a style reminiscent of 19th-century melodrama."
School Library Journal - "Supplmentary characters are well-drawn both by Fleischman and by Sis, so the whole hangs together in basic appeal."

Connections
*Other stories set in Medieval times:
De Angeli, Marguerite. THE DOOR IN THE WALL. ISBN 0440227798
Cushman, Karen. CATHERINE CALLED BIRDY. ISBN 0064405842
Cushman, Karen. THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE. ISBN 006440630X

Historical Non-fiction - An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793

Bibliography
Murphy, Jim. 2003. AN AMERICAN PLAGUE: THE TRUE AND TERRIFYING STORY OF THE YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC OF 1793. Clarion Books: New York. ISBN 0395776082

Plot Summary
In this Newberry Honor, National Book Award Finalist, and Robert F. Sibert Medal winning book, Jim Murphy recreates the devastation experienced by the city of Philadelphia in 1793 caused by an incurable outbreak of a disease known as yellow fever. Along with the yellow fever epidemic, Murphy details the major social and political events of the time, as well as medical beliefs and practices.

Critical Analysis
Murphy transports readers to the city of Philadelphia during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. He chronicles this terrifying time based on firsthand accounts both medical an non-medical. The ever present sense of fear and impending doom during the crisis is vividly expressed in the text. Murphy tells of a headstone of a yellow fever victim that bore the words "Stay Passenger where I lie/ As you are now so once was I/ As I am now so You shall be/ Prepare for Death and follow me."

Interweaved throughout the text are the social and political conditions of the time. Heroes such as the Free African Society whose life-saving efforts helped the infected while most Whites fled were still regarded with indignitity as a book published during the time villified Black nurses as extortionists. President George Washington's conflict with the French because of his refusal to support them in their war against Britain is also cited throughout the story. Murphy explains how the fever had a significant impact on the situation, quoting John Adams--"nothing but the yellow fever...could have saved the United States from a total revolution of government." The medical beliefs and practices of the time are also noted, such as bloodletting, removing blood from the body in an effort to cure patients. Although many of the medical treatments seem ludacris, they give us an intersting look into the world of medicine in the 18th century.

Archival artwork and photocopies of documents bring the story to life by helping the reader picture what the city was like back then. A comprehensive history in the book's final chapter details the yellow fever phenomenon. It gives the reader insight to other outbreaks, its causes, and ways it has tried to be prevented, although the fact that it has no cure is sure to make some readers uneasy. Source notes, acknowledgements, a note about the illustrations, and an index prove the accuracy of the book.

Review Exerpt(s)
BookList - "History, science, politics, and public health come together in this dramatic account of the disastrous yellow fever epidemic that hit the nation's capital more than 200 years ago."
Kirkus Reviews - "A mesmerizing account that will make readers happy they live in the 21st century."
School Library Journal - "Murphy chronicles this frightening time with solid research and a flair for weaving facts into fascinating stories"

Connections
*Other plagues that students can read about:
Farrell, Jeanette. INVISIBLE ENEMIES: STORIES OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES. ISBN 0374336075
Corine, Phyllis. THE BLACK DEATH. ISBN 1560062991
Marrin, Albert. DR.JENNER AND THE SPECKLED MONSTER: THE SEARCH FOR THE SMALLPOX VACCINE. ISBN 0525469222

Biography - Houdini:Greatest Mystery Man and Escape King

Bibliography
Krull, Kathleen. 2005. HOUDINI: WORLD'S GREATEST MYSTERY MAN AND ESCAPE KING. by Eric Velasquez. Walker and Company: New York. ISBN 0802789536

Plot Summary
Author Kathleen Krull and illustrator Eric Velasquez team up to tell the remarkable story of Harry Houdini, the world's most famous magician. His life story is interspersed with tellings of his most famous feats such as "The Underwater Handcuff Release" and "The Suspended Straight Jacket." His story is not only entertaining but inspiring as it tells how he came from nothing (being homeless at times) to making a name and fortune for himself.

Critical Analysis
Krull's biography of Houdini gives us a brief look into his life and accomplishments. Krull includes a quote from Houdini himself--"My mind is the key that sets me free." This quote is supported by Krull's account of how when the magician put his mind to it, he held steadfast to his goals. "When learning something new, he would practice six, seven, eight hours a day...he practiced the hardest at conquering fear." Krull not only shares his life story, but entertains us by sharing his incredible and daring feats presented in a stage performance-like manner, narrated by an announcer in a top hat and tails.

Velasquez's oil illustrations are dramatic, as dramatic as the dangerous stunts Houdini performs and which the illustrator brilliantly freeze-frames. The illustrations are appropriately reminiscent of the advertisements seen in the period in which Houdini lived. A "Behind the Scences" endnote gives the reader clues as to how Houdini was able to perform such magnificent feats, such as spitting on his wrists before being bound to make them slippery. A bibliography is also included, which is great for readers who want to read more about this man of mystery.

Review Excerpt(s)
School Library Journal - "Readers get a sense of Houdini's commitment, determination, and dedication to is family. His belief in hard work, self-education, and the value of books is emphasized."
Kirkus Reviews - "Adding posters and other evocative details to the settings, the artist accurately depicts the magician, his wife and many of the trunks, cases, shackles and other constraints from which he escaped with (seeming ease)."

Connections
Other books about Houdini:
Fleischman, Sid. ESCAPE!: THE STORY OF THE GREAT HOUDINI. ISBN 0060850949
Selznick, Brian. THE HOUDINI BOX. ISBN 0689844514
Sutherland, Tui. WHO WAS HARRY HOUDINI? ISBN 0448426862

Nonfiction - Animals Nobody Loves

Bibliography
Simon, Seymour. 2001. ANIMALS NOBODY LOVES. SeaStar Books: New York. ISBN 1587170809

Plot Summary
Seymour Simon gives us the facts about 20 of the most unloved animals in nature ranging from bats to the gila monster to piranahs. His purpose is to reveal the truth about these animals, some of which are misunderstood, so that we can decide how we feel about some of nature's weirdest, most dangerous, but also fascinating creatures.

Critical Analysis
Simon sets out to erase the "bad reputation" of the most unloved animals and help readers understand and respect them for what they are. However, sentences such as "The great white shark has a huge appetite and will eat any animal or person that it finds in its path" and "In just one tentacle, there are thousands of stingers that can hurt people as badly as the stings of a huge swarm of bees or wasps" only reinforces their "bad reputation."

Each animal is presented in a two page spread with a full page or larger photo and accompanying paragraphs of information. Although the information gives interesting facts and dispels a few myths such as the belief that bats are blind, it is very brief in length. The book is more useful for browsing the attention-grabbing photos and maybe learning a few interesting tidbits more than for research purposes. It includes a table of contents but has no index or list of sources.

The full color photographs are definitely eye-catching but do not do much to make the animals appear any more pleasing. Photographs such as a vulture picking at a dead carcass, a rattlesnake's gaping mouth revealing venemous fangs, and a wasp stinging another insect only make the animals more repulsive and scary to readers.

Review Excerpt(s)
BookList - "The photos (and even the text) won't do much to change the reputation of animals such as the vulture and the rat, but there's no denying they'll draw a crowd and a chorus of "Gross."
Kirkus Reviews - "Despite his introduction, Simon seldom notes the value of these disliked animals."

Connections
Other books about unliked animals:
Collard, Sneed B. CREEPY CREATURES. ISBN 0881068365
Pringle, Laurence P. ANIMAL MONSTERS: THE TRUTH ABOUT SCARY CREATURES. ISBN 0761450033

Verse Novel - Stop Pretending: What happened when my big sister went crazy

Bibliography
Sones, Sonya. 1999. STOP PRETENDING: WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MY BIG SISTER WENT CRAZY. New York: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 0439250706

Plot Summary
In this very personal verse novel, Sonya Sones writes about her feelings as a thirteen-year-old girl coping with her older sister's mental illness. Her series of poems come together to tell the story of how her sister's condition affects her and her family--she fears she will go crazy too, her former friends shun her, and her parent's marriage nearly falls apart. However, the story also has its pleasant surprises too--she discovers a love for photography, uses it as an outlet to heal herself and her sister, makes a new friend, meets a boy and falls in love.

Critical Analysis
The author's poems paint a very real picture of how mental illness affects not only the person afflicted but also family as well. The emotional power of the author's feelilngs can be felt in lines such as "I blink/and there you suddenly are/inhabiting your eyes again....and a trap door/ at the back of my skull/ swings open,/ letting the gloom/ swirl out." The poems are deeply felt and insightful for those who have never experienced such difficult issues. Together, the poems tell a story that is bleak but glimmers with hope at the end. It is a book that someone who has experienced deep sadness or difficult events can relate to and even be inspired by.

Review Exerpt(s)
Kirkus Reviews - "Collected, they [poems] take on life and movement, the individual frames of a movie that in the unspooling become animated, telling a compelling tale and presenting a painful passage through young adolescence."
BookList - "Based on Sones' own family experience, this debut novel shows the capacity of poetry to record the personal and translate it into the universal."

Connections
*This could be a great book to use when introducing or discussing the serious topic of mental illness.
*Other books about teens facing difficult issues:
Dessen, Sarah. THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER. ISBN 0670036390
Hesse, Karen. OUT OF THE DUST. ISBN
Wolff, Virginia Euwer. MAKE LEMONADE. ISBN 0805080708