Lily's Crossing

Lily's Crossing

A Review by Amanda Kendall

Bibliography:

Giff, Patricia Reilly. 1997. Lily's Crossing. New York: Random House Inc. 0440414539

Plot Summary:

Lily always spends her summers in Rockaway Beach, New York with her grandmother and father, Poppy. That is until the summer of 1944. Her best friend, Margaret, moved to Detroit with her family, and her father was called overseas. While the war continues in Europe, Lily finds herself with only her grandmother for company on summer vacation and without her beloved father and best friend. With her life turned upside down, Lily is not expecting to make a new friend- least of all, a Hungarian refugee named Albert.  However, through a series of unexpected adventures Lily and Albert begin to trust and open up to each other realizing they have more in common than they thought. Despite their differences, they help and support each other through a difficult summer and forge a friendship neither one will ever forget.

Analysis:

Giff's knack for storytelling brings this WWII story of unlikely friendship to life from the beginning. Lily's character is perfectly flawed making her even more likable.  Her dynamic first-person narration gives the reader the sense they are listening to a dear friend and privy to their deepest secrets and truths. Lily's voice is honest and refreshing, her true feelings coming across on every page. The reader feels Lily's anxiety and guilt right along with her. When Lily meets Albert and they begin to bond over swimming lessons and a stray cat, the two find themselves in the most unlikely friendship that ends up being a lifeline for the both of them. Both dealing with unresolved guilt and loneliness, the two find that a true friendship can transcend even the worst circumstances.

Giff does an impeccable job of recreating life during WWII for her readers. Every detail is woven directly into the story from the price of cookies to the movies being shown at the theater. Posters with slogans like "Loose Lips Sink Ships" and partially blacked-out headlights give authenticity to the story and show Giff's dedicated research on the time period. Each nuance of detail creates a window into Lily's world and the high anxiety and emotions that were a part of that world. Giff has crafted a story that transports back in history while showing us the timeless truth of the power of friendship.

Awards & Reviews:

• Newbery Honor Book 1998
• ALA Notable Children's Book 1998
• A Boston Globe-Horn Honor Book

From Booklist: "With wry comedy and intense feeling…Giff gets across a strong sense of what it was like on the home front during World War II…The friendship story is beautifully drawn."

From Publisher's Weekly: "Exceptional characterizations and a robust story line turn this WWII homefront novel into far more than a period piece."

From Horned Book Magazine: "Details…are woven with great effect into a realistic story."

Connections:
More Historical Fiction by Patricia Reilly Giff:

• Nory Ryan's Song. 0440418291
• Willow Run. 0440238013
• Water Street. 0440419212
•  Maggie's Door. 0440415810
• Gingersnap. 0440421780

More Historical Fictional Books during WWII

• Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker. The War That Saved My Life. 0147510481
• Lowery, Lois. Number the Stars. 0547577095
• McSwigan, Marie and Mary Reardon. Snow Treasure. 0142402249
• Morpurgo, Michael. An Elephant in the Garden. 1250034140
• Park, Linda Sue. When My Name was Keoko. 0547722397
• Reiss, Johanna. The Upstairs Room. 006440370X
• Spinelli, Jerry. Milkweed. 0375861475

Suggested Curricular Connections:

• Take a virtual tour of Rockaway Beach, New York using Google Earth.
• Compare life in the 1940s to modern times. What similarities and differences do you notice? 
• Listen to some popular songs from WWII. Compare those songs to songs of today. 
• Write thank you letters to those currently serving in our armed forces. 
• Create your own WWII poster with a catchy slogan like the many posters Lily saw throughout town.

Chickadee

Chickadee

A Review by Amanda Kendall

Bibliography:

Erdrich, Louise. 2012. Chickadee. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. 0060577924

Plot Summary:

Set in 1866, Chickadee is the fourth book in the Birchbark House series.  The story continues the adventures of an Ojibwe family, only now the focus is on the next generation. Chickadee and Mokoons are twins with an irreplaceable bond. Although small for their age, they are crafty and resourceful. When an unpopular tribe member mocks Chickadee's size, Mokoons makes a plan to trick old Zhigaag and embarrass him. However, the trick has a horrible consequence. Chickadee is stolen in the middle of the night by Zhigaag's unruly, enormous sons as revenge.  Chickadee is tossed in a mail sack and hauled off to become the servant of the loud and disgusting brothers. As Chickadee finds himself further and further from home, he must rely on his Ojibwe survival skills and the guidance of his namesake, the chickadee to survive. Encountering many challenges along the way, Chickadee finds the strength and courage to continue his journey and make his way back to his family.

Analysis:

Erdich's eloquent story flows effortlessly from beginning to end. Using her own family history as inspiration, she captures the Ojibwe way of life throughout the novel through detailed descriptions of scenery and character actions. Erdich's characters each have a unique, strong personality that plays an important role in guiding the family towards its resolution. Yet, at the center of each character is the importance of family, tradition, and love. The story flips back and forth between Chickadee's adventure and his family's adventures, telling two stories in one as they both seek to be reunited. Each family member faces many of the harsh realities of living on the plains during the 1860s including encounters with white settlers, relentless clouds of mosquitoes, and fording rivers with supply wagons. The stories overlap beautifully, weaving the cultural skills of the Ojibwe tribe and highlighting the blending of cultures on the plains as more white settlers moved west.

Erdich's pencil renderings throughout the novel add to the story's authenticity and readability.  Each illustration offers the reader a clearer sense of the character's tools, clothing, and way of life. The illustrations break up the text at just the right intervals enhancing the writing with clear and detailed visuals. The chickadee bird print at the beginning of each chapter adds continuity throughout the novel, highlighting the small yet powerful bird and boy alike. Chickadee's story is one that will stay with readers.  An exquisitely crafted story of an indigenous American family that offers a valuable perspective of evolving life on the plains in the 1860s while reminding every reader of the importance of family and love.

Awards & Reviews:

• Scott O'Dell Award

From Kirkus Reviews: "A beautifully evolving story of an indigenous American family." 

From Publisher's Weekly: "Readers will want to follow this family for many seasons to come."

From School Library Journal: "Erdrich’s storytelling is masterful. Readers will be more than happy to welcome little Chickadee into their hearts."

Connections:
More Books in the Birchbark House series:

• The Birchbark House. 0786814543
• The Game of Silence. 0064410293
• The Porcupine Year. 0064410307
• Makoons. 0060577932

More Scott O'Dell Award Winners:

• Anderson, Laurie Halse. Chains. 1416905863
• Gantos, Jack. Dead End in Norvelt. 1250010233
• Garcia, Rita Williams. One Crazy Summer. 0060760907
• Holm, Jennifer. Full of Beans. 055351038X
• Larson, Kirby. Dash. 0545416361
• Phelan, Matt. The Storm in the Barn. 0763652903
• Wolk, Lauren. Beyond the Bright Sea. 1101994851

Suggested Curricular Connections:

• Using the skills of the Ojibwe, create a pouch or patch using beads.
• Research and learn more about the Ojibwe way of life and traditions. 
• Participate in oral storytelling of both traditional Native American myths and legends as well as family stories that have been passed down. 
• Use a large map to mark the migration of the Ojibwe from the Atlantic coast to the Great Lakes over time. 
• Write a song like the one given to Chickadee that inspires hope and strength when sung. 
• Create your own family tree.

Breaking Stalin's Nose

Breaking Stalin's Nose

A Review by Amanda Kendall

Bibliography:

Yelchin, Eugene. 2011. Breaking Stalin's Nose. New York: Henry Hold and Company. 1250034108

Plot Summary:

How many days can it take to change your view on everything you hold dear in this world?

Two days. It takes Sasha Zaichik two days.

Breaking Stalin's Nose follows 10-year-old Sasha Zaichik, during the two days that change his world forever. A loyal communist and son of a revered Communist hero, all Sasha wants is to be a part of the Young Pioneers. He is loyal to the communist party, Comrade Stalin, and communism. So when his father is taken away in the middle of the night by men in state security uniforms, Sasha believes it must be some kind of mistake. Now alone on the street, he still goes to school the next day eager to participate in the Young Pioneers assembly. However, when a series of events occur at school, including the nose being broken off a Stalin statue, his classmates are forced to turn on one another accusing each other of suspicious behavior. Teachers and students alike accuse and name people out of fear and retaliation. Government officials and school administration believe what they want to believe. Sasha begins to question everything he has ever known or been told and soon realizes he does not want to be a Young Pioneer anymore.

Analysis:

Yelchin's story of a young boy living in Russia during the height of Stalin's reign is a gripping read from page one. Sasha's character is developed at every turn giving the reader important insight and understanding into the young boy's world and beliefs. The first-person narrative brings Sasha's journey to life through every emotional twist and turn, allowing the reader to feel his anxiety, fear, and disbelief every step of the way. The plot moves forward at a rapid pace, brilliantly weaving nuances of the time period through setting description, characterization, and dialogue. The authenticity captured not only in words, but through the illustrations as well. Each chapter reads effortlessly, as Yelchin simply and eloquently conveys the fear and true realities of living under Stalin's regime. The novel's emotional ending leaves the reader confident in Sasha's decision to refrain from joining the Young Pioneers and hopeful to know what comes next.

Yelchin's black and white illustrations add depth and beauty to each page. The vivid facial expressions and detailed sketches offer the reader a view of both the beauty and harsh realities of living in communist Russia. The illustrations capture the emotion and truth of the time, directly aligning with the complexity of Sasha's feelings throughout the novel.

Yelchin brilliantly uses Sasha's story as a conduit to show the fear that Stalin's regime instigated within his people - a fear that lasted for generations.  In the author's note he writes, "This book is my attempt to expose and confront that fear."  Yelchin's personal and family background growing up in Russia served as his inspiration for this story.  It's a book about power, fear, and the choices we make.

Yelchin's masterful storytelling and honest approach is balanced and well done. A necessary read for us all. 

Awards & Reviews:

• Newbery Honor Winner 2012
• Junior Library Guild Selection 2012
• ALA Notable Children's Book 2012
• The Best Children's Books of 2011 by Horn Book Magazine
• The Best Children's Books of 2011 by Washington Post
• 2012 Top Ten Historical Fiction for Youth by Booklist
• 2012 Michigan Library Association Mitten Award

From The Horn Book: "Although the story takes place over just two days, it is well paced, peeling off the layers of Sasha's naivete to show him - and young readers - the cynicism of the system he trusted."

From Publisher's Weekly: "Picture book author/illustrator Yelchin makes an impressive middle-grade debut with this compact novel about a devoted young Communist in Stalin-era Russia, illustrated with dramatically lit spot art."

From School Library Journal: "Yelchin skillfully combines narrative with dramatic black-and-white illustrations to tell the story of life in the Soviet Union under Stalin."

Connections:
More Books by Eugune Yelchin:

• The Haunting of Falcon House. 1250115086
• Arcady's Goal. B019TMIH7C

More Historical Fiction Newbery Award Winners/Honors:

• Avi. Crispin: The Cross of Lead. 0786816589
• Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bud, Not Buddy. 0440413281
• Larson, Kirby. Hattie Big Sky. 0385735952
• Lowery, Lois. Number the Stars. 0547577095
• Park, Linda Sue. A Single Shard. 0547534264
• Staples, Suzanne Fisher. Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind. 0307977889

Suggested Curricular Connections:

• Compare and contrast different types of governments including democracies, monarchies, and dictatorships. 
• Explore the book's website: breakingstalinsnose.com to learn more about Sasha's story and the historical time period in which it takes place. 
• Share an interview with author Eugene Yelchin. Brainstorm a list of questions to ask the author about the novel and/or his own experience growing up.