(Image obtained from barnesandnoble.com)
1. Biography:
DiCamillo, K. and Campbell, K. G. 2013. Flora & Ulysses. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. ISBN 978-0-7636-6040-6
2. Plot Summary:
Flora Buckman loves superhero comic books even though her mother considers such books "idiotic high jinks". It is no wonder that she jumps into action just like a superhero to save a squirrel that was being sucked up by a vacuum cleaner. A tremendous bond is formed between her and this very special squirrel. The squirrel has been changed and born anew and so would Flora.
3. Critical Analysis:
Flora Belle Buckman is a "natural-born cynic" who has a unique animal companion. Ulysses , her remarkable squirrel companion, gained super-hero powers after being sucked up by the "Super-Suction, Multi-Terrain 2000X" vacuum cleaner. He became a super-hero through a tragic accident, pretty much the same way other super-heroes have gotten their powers including Flora's comic book hero, the Amazing Incandesto. Ulysses's remarkable powers include supernatural strenght, the ability to fly, write poetry, and the ability to communicate non-verbally with humans. The story is fun, witty, with a touch of mystery and adventure. However, under all the funny episodes and eccentric characters, DiCamillo deals with very realistic issues such as divorce, rejection, and the lost of a loved one. Flora Belle's parents are divorced and she does not feel that her mom loves her. In fact, she believes that her mother loves her little shepherdess lamp more than she does her own daughter. Flora's dad also feel rejected by Flora's mom. He feels that his ex-wife loved her romance novels more than she did him. The plot thickens, when Flora Belle's mom looses her temper and says that her life would be easier without Flora. Soon after, Flora's mother kidnaps Ulysses and Flora illicit the help of her friend William Spiver and his great aunt, Tootie Thickman to find him. William Spiver is battling with his own feelings of rejection as his mother has "banished" him to the home of his great aunt and uncle because he destroyed his step dad's car. William's dad is deceased and his mother has remarried and seems to have chosen her new husband over her son. He feels alienated and alone, so he wears dark glasses that prevent him from seeing. Even so, he attempts to establish and maintain his own identity as William Spiver not just William, as it distinguishes him from the other Williams in the world . Dr. Meescham has also experienced the lost of a love one, her beloved husband. She is also lonely but remains hopeful and gain many new friends including the friendship of a very special squirrel. In the end all is well as Flora's mom admits that she loves her more than anything and the lamp is smashed. Flora's parents get back together and Willem Spiver realizes that he is loved by his aunt and Flora Belle. Campbell creates graphic comic-style black and white illustrations throughout the novel which provides wonderful visuals, that allows the reader to further connect to the story. DiCamillo also conveys a wonderful message that we can find love and acceptance from others when the one that is supposed to provide it unconditionally doesn't. William Spiver found that love in Flora and his aunt Tootie even though his mom had disappointed him. She also lets us know that it is alright to hope. Flora was afraid to hope but in the end she found that she was truly loved by both her parents. Children who need support in dealing with issues such as divorce, lost of a loved one, and rejection could make meaningful connections and find hope through this story.
4. Review Excerpt(s) and Awards:
School Library Journal:
"... But then we come to the lovely Flora and Ulysses. It's written for the 9-12 year- olds of the world but is much sillier and sweeter ..."
Booklist:
"Flora, a determined cynic and avid reader of superhero comics, finds her
cynicism undermined one day by a squirrel ..."
Kirkusreview:
"Original, touching and oh-so-funny tale starring an endearingly implausible superhero and a not-so-cynical girl. (Fantasy. 8-12)"
Awards:
Winner of the 2014 Newbery Medal
Shortlisted for the 2014 Guardian Children's Fiction PrizeA 2013 Parents' Choice Award Winner for Fiction
5. Connections:
DiCamillo's novel Because of Winn-Dixie also deals with a child surviving heartbreak and disappointment. India Opal Buloni, known as Opal by those who know her best, was heartbroken when her mother left seven years ago. Opal waited patiently for her mother's return, asking her father questions about her mother, now a stranger, so that she would recognize her when she returned home. Opal also befriends an animal just like Flora. Opal adopts Winn-Dixie, the stray dog abandoned in the town grocery store. Her new pal, with a lively spirit just like her own, accompanies Opal as she meets new people that would change her life. Flora, William Spiver and Opal find friendship and love from others as they cope with life's disappointments and heartbreaks. In both novels, the protagonist is engaging and entertaining. Both carry a message of hope. Opal finally realizes that her mom wasn't coming back and learns to appreciate life's treasures. She now understands what Gloria has been telling her all along: "...[Y]ou can't hold on to anything. ...[Y]ou can only love what you've got while you've got it." DiCamillo also leaves us with a message of hope in this meaningful story as she touches the heart of her readers and connect with children with similar experiences.
Activity #1:
After reading and discussing the story, have students create a character Map. Model first and provide clear instructions. Students can write "Flora" in the center of their sheet or draw a picture of her. Have students first turn and talk to a partner about Flora's character traits and what traits helped her cope with her parents' divorce. Students must justify each character trait by explaining how it was demonstrated in the story.
Activity #2:
Have students create their own animal super hero.
- Choose an animal
- Create a list and describe at least 3 superpowers
- Choose a superhero name that coincides with the superpowers
- Who would be his/her friends/enemies? Why?
- Draw your superhero and give him/her a uniform
Present your super-hero in a unique and creative way.
Children's Response:
My eight year old said that the story reminded him of the book Turbo. Turbo was a snail that fell into a car engine and then became super fast. My son liked the story but he mainly focused on the super-hero squirrel and the children's attempt to rescue the squirrel. He ignored the underlying theme of divorce and the issues of rejection and coping with the lost of a loved one. The fourteen year old also liked the novel and focused on the adventure and super-hero part of the story. His attitude was matter-of-fact concerning the issue of divorce. I guess because divorce is so prevalent, he accepts it as a part of life. The issue of William losing his dad was sad and depressing to him because he is close to his dad. He also did not like William's mother and felt that she had rejected her own son.
Resources used:
(Image obtained from barnesandnoble.com)
1. Bibliography:
Anderson, L. H. 1999. Speak. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. ISBN 0-374-37152
2. Plot Summary:
Melinda Sordino, a High school freshman, has a traumatic experience that caused her to accidentally bust an end of the year summer party. She is unable to talk about what happened to her, so she doesn't say why she called the police. She is ostracized by her peers, including her best friend, and nearly stops speaking altogether.
3. Critical analysis:
Melinda Sordino attends a senior party with her friends, the summer before her freshman year of high school. There she meets Andy Evans who rapes her outside the woods. Melinda calls 9-1-1, but she does not know what to say and she is caught making the call. So, she then runs home. The police come and break up the party, and some people get arrested and Melinda is seen as a snitch. Melinda does not tell anyone what happened to her, she remains silent. She starts high school as an outcast, abandoned by her old friends , and shunned by her peers for calling the police. She never speaks of the incident and sinks into depression. Melinda is befriended by a new girl, Heather, who clings to her but later ditches her for "the Marthas", the "popular" girls at Merryweather High. Melinda, begins to skip school as her depression deepens. She withdraws from her already distant parents and other figures of authority. Adults see her silence as her way of getting "attention". However, she befriends her lab partner, David Petrakis, and he encourages her to speak up for herself. Melinda tries to communicate with her ex-best friend and writes down that she was raped the night of the party. Rachel is very empathetic but soon becomes outraged when she finds out that the culprit was her new boyfriend. Rachel accuses Melinda of jealousy and lying. However, the truth finally comes out about what happened at the party when Andy attacks Melinda in her "sanctuary", the abandoned janitor's closet. The students now knew the truth and they no longer treat Melinda as an outcast but as a sort of hero instead. Finally, Melinda tells her story to her art teacher, Mr. Freeman, and the truth sets her free. Melinda's best friend Rachel, who was dating Andy, breaks up with him and reaches out to her. Anderson bravely tackles the issue of teen rape in this novel. She writes the story in a diary format, the plot is not linear and she uses jumpy narrative to mirror the trauma Melinda experienced. Anderson uses symbolism in the narrative by incorporating the book , The Scarlet Letter(a woman shunned) and the poster of Maya Angelou(who was also raped as a child and was a selective mute for years) to further represent Melinda's trauma. This is truly a story of survival as Melinda learns to express her voice through the art she creates for Mr. Freeman's class which slowly helps Melinda to acknowledge what happened. She faced her problems and recreated her identity. This message of hope in the face of sexual and physical abuse, ostracism, and depression should truly encourage young adults facing similar situations.
4. Review(s) and Awards:
Goodreads:
"Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now her old friends won't talk to her, and people she doesn't even know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is alone, inside her own head. But even that's not safe. Because there's something she's trying not to think about, something about the night of the party that, if she let it in, would ..."
Kirkusreview:
"The plot is gripping and the characters are powerfully drawn, but it is its raw and unvarnished look at the dynamics of the high school experience that makes this a novel that will be hard for readers to forget. (Fiction. 12+)"
Publisher's weekly:
"In a stunning first novel, Anderson uses keen observations and vivid imagery to pull readers into the head of an isolated teenager. ..."
Awards:
5. Connections:
In the novel Silent to the Bone (2000) by E. L. Koningsburg, Branwell Zamborska is unable to speak after his infant sister Nicole suffers a head injury and slips into a coma. He is suspected of causing the accident and is taken to the Juvenile Behavioral Center. Connor, his best friend is the first-person narrator. As in Speak a traumatic event causes Branwell to withdraw into silence. Like Melinda, Branwell is afraid to speak-up and therefor allows the abuser to take away his voice. Both characters were wrongly accused and misunderstood. Unlike Rachel in the novel Speak, Connor believes in his best friend and tries to solve the mystery. When Branwell first speaks since the incident, he explains that Nikki was neglected and harmed by tobacco smoke coming from Vivian(the babysitter) and her boyfriend Morris. He feels guilty for looking at Vivian's breasts, with only one of the incidents being accidental. He feels that the police cannot be told about the child abuse without also learning that Vivian saw Branwell become erect. Connor convinces Branwell that he has to come to terms with the events connected to the incident and stop Vivian from harming another child. In both novels the victims felt ashamed but they had to take a stand.
Activity #1:
After reading the book, have students write a reflective piece of at least one page. They could use the following questions as a guide.
What part of the story resonated with you the most? Why?
What connections did you make? Explain
Activity # 2: After reading the book, create a WEB of the major issues the author addresses in the book. List the issues the class indicated and have the students choose any one of the issues from the list to research further as it pertains to teenagers/young adults. Teenage sexual abuse, physical abuse and depression are examples of subjects the students could research. Students who chose similar issues could team up with no more than 3 in a group. Students must provide statistics indicating the number of youths affected, programs and places that offer assistance, and what schools are doing to help young people cope with such issues.
They should conclude by suggesting programs their school or district could implement to help their youth cope with the different challenges they are facing today.
Children's response(s):
My fourteen year old was outraged by the way Melinda's best friend treated her. He felt that a good friend should be there for you no matter what. He didn't know any one who was dealing with the issue of rape but he could easily see how a party could get out of hand without adult supervision.
Resources used:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com
http://www.kirkusreview.com
http://www.goodreads.com
http://www.amazon.com
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://publishersweekly.com
(Image obtained from barneandnobel.com)
1. Bibliography:
Holm, J. L. & Holm, M. 2007. BABYMOUSE, SKATER GIRL. New York: Random House, Inc. ISBN 978-0-375-83989-4
2. Plot Summary:
Babymouse is ready to win her very own trophy. She is tired of just receiving an honorable mention. So, when coach Bearnakova tells her she has talent, she becomes determined to win the skating competition. She readily accepts coach Bearnakova's offer to train her, but will she be able to sacrifice her precious cupcakes, spending time with good friends or just having time to read a good book?
3. Critical Analysis:
Babymouse, a precocious little mouse, stares at the trophies in her school's trophy case and longs to gain a trophy of her own. She is ready for a chance at glory, so when a famous figure skating coach invites her to train at the ice rink after school, she jumps at the opportunity. Babymouse dreams of being an ice princess so she gladly shows up for practice after practice. However, she quickly discovers that preparing to be the next gold medalist isn’t quite what she expected. Babymouse keeps on practicing, she even imagines that she is the little Babymouse engine that could and is determined not to give up. Yet, what Babymouse thinks she wants, may not be worth fighting so hard for or giving up her favorite pleasure, cupcakes, or spending time with her friends in order to win a trophy. She must endure the stress of 4:30 a.m. alarms, practice before and after school, exhaustion,
having to do homework in the car and a very-competitive teammate. Jennifer Holm has teamed up with her brother Matthew Holm once again to create another delightful Babymouse story. Using her very vivid imagination, she has skilfully created fun and entertaining characters like coach Bearnakova(a bear), the Hippo teacher, Ginger(the very competitive goat) and of course Babymouse with her unruly whiskers and dreams of grandeur. The reader will fall in love with this cute little mouse and her escapades and Babymouse fans will not be disappointed. Babymouse has big dreams, but realizes quickly it may not be worth all her sacrifices. Jenifer Holmes creatively infuses life lessons in this fun-loving fantasy. We are reminded that some dreams may not be worth us sacrificing things that are very dear to us. Also many things in life don't come easy but require hard work and sacrifice. Mathew Holm also plays an integral part in this brother and sister duo. His illustrations fit the story perfectly. The black and white illustrations with splashes of pink, and whimsical heart shapes give homage to Babymouse's fun, sassy, and lively personality. Mathew Holm uses an easy to follow format, thought boxes and comic book frames which gives this story a wonderful design. This graphic fantasy novel offers a wonderful transition to chapter books. Readers will enjoy the humour, irony, and lessons in this delightful fantasy.
4. Review Excerpt(s) and Awards:
Goodreads:
"BEST GYMNAST. BEST speller. Best kazoo player. It seems everyone has a talent except Babymouse. That is, until Babymouse takes to the ice and surprises everyone with her spectacular spins and jubilant jumps. Until the famous Olympic coach, Coach Bearnakorva, discovers her and asks Babymouse to be her new protege. Will Babymouse's dreams of a medal come true? ......"
School Library Journal:
"As she glides across the frozen pond, Babymouse daydreams about being a medal-winning figure skater. She can almost hear the roar of the crowd, the fans cheering her name, the sportscasters' excitement. But when she's actually noticed by a professional coach and told she has talent, Babymouse develops a lust for glory...which is greatly tested by the harsh..."
Barnes and Noble:
"....This seventh in the series certainly does not disappoint. Training to compete as an ice skater proves to be more work than Babymouse ever dreamed."
Awards:
"The series has won multiple Children's Choices awards, and one title was the first graphic novel ever to be named an ALA Notable Children's Book."
- WINNER 2006 - Gryphon Award
- WINNER 2006 - ALA Notable Children's Book
- WINNER 2006 - New York Book Show Awards
5. Connections:
There are about 19 books in the Babymouse series. The graphic novels are very humorous and Babymouse is always learning important lessons. Babymouse is a sassy and loving mouse who sometimes gets down because she can't always do everything just right. She has a very vivid imagination and often imagines herself as the successful lead in books, movies, and musicals. Just as how she imagines herself a successful figure skater in this novel. She daydreams about being famous in Babymouse the Musical and obsesses about the upcoming school musical. When the new kid from England calls her "brilliant", Babymouse musters enough courage to try out for the lead. She is up against the very competitive and mean feline, Felicia Furrypaws. Even though things don't always work out as she plans, Babymouse learns that working hard
and being positive will help her succeed in everything she tries.
Activity #1:
Have students choose their favorite character from the story then have them create a WEB of different words and adjectives that describe their character. Students can work in pairs and brainstorm words with a partner. Establish a minimum number of words students are expected to produce.
Activity# 2:
Using a Venn diagram have students compare and contrast two of their favorite books in the Babymouse series. Provide the students with a rubric and make sure to give clear expectations. Before having the children work independently, compare two of the books in the series whole group first. Have the children turn and talk to their neighbor about what the stories have in common and things that differ in the stories.
Children's Response:
I thought that my boys may have found the novel to girly but instead they enjoyed it. They found it to be amusing and entertaining. My fourteen year old was familiar with the Babymouse series which surprised me. He said he'd always enjoyed the novels and thought they were very funny. He liked Babymouse's vivid imagination and said she was always day dreaming, kind a like girls.
Resources:
