Book Review of Hey, Kiddo

1.       BIBLIOGRAPHY

Krosoczka, Jarrett J. 2018. Hey, Kiddo. New York: Graphix, Scholastic. ISBN 978-0-545-90248-9

2.       PLOT SUMMARY

Demonstrating remarkable ability as a writer and artist, Jarrett Krosoczka creates a graphic novel memoir of his early years, replete with continuous points of hope and resilience to help encourage other readers who may have or may be living through similar circumstances.  Jarrett chronicles his early memories with his mother, who is a heroin addict, and he writes candidly and lovingly about Joe and Shirley, his grandparents who step in to raise Jarrett and care for him.  His grandfather Joe gives Jarrett the gift of a comic book art class at Worcester Art Museum, which serves to recognize and honor his talent that he inherited from his mother.  Jarrett continues to develop and pursue his artistic work, and he goes on to attend college to study art.  Jarrett also includes the experience of reconnecting with his thus-far absent father and the discovery of his half-siblings.  End pages provide the reader with additional information about the author’s story, journey, and work, most notably that he recognizes the love his mother had for him.  This is a story of enduring hope and of honoring the connections that exist among family, however difficult these connections may be.

Grades 6 and up

3.       CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Krosoczka’s honesty and candid style as he tells his story instantly solidifies the story’s believability and, thus, its power to help others dealing with similar family situations to no longer feel alone.  The characters of the memoir, set in Worcester, Massachusetts in the late 70s, 80s, and 90s,  are thoroughly developed, with many nuances and details artfully communicated to the reader through the text and illustrations.  The reader meets the many members of Jarrett’s extended family, as well as his friend Pat and other peers and teachers.  Krosoczka’s art truly captures the reality of living with family addiction, with all of its subsidiary consequences and fallout; yet, a buoyant hope flows through the pages like the ink of the drawings:  Jarrett is facing his life as well as possible—he is feeling his feelings and choosing to pursue his dream.  He does not let the failings of others interfere with his goal to become an illustrator and author.  Yet, he is most certainly impacted by his mother’s actions: “…I always felt the void that Leslie’s absence created.”

The prominent use of the color orange throughout the memoir is, the reader is informed in the end pages, symbolic of the bright pocket squares his grandfather Joe would wear.  Joe’s love and nurturing rescued and carried Jarrett and set him on solid ground, and Jarrett honors his grandfather’s dedication to his well-being in this tangible, beautiful way.  Similarly, Krosoczka honors his grandmother Shirley, who loved pineapples, with endearing pineapple graphics depicted at the opening of each chapter.  The dialogue and prose of the memoir is written in conversational style, which effectively assists in establishing the work as a powerful medium for connecting with others in similar circumstances (now or in the past) and sharing strength in a humble, genuine manner. 

Further, the stylistic brilliance of intertwining the writing and illustrations with personal memorabilia such as letters and past published illustrations from his growing up years serves to intensify the relatability and authenticity of the work.  The importance of loving one’s family and protecting them, of holding fast to one’s dreams, of being authentic and feeling one’s feelings, and of landing in a place of compassion and forgiveness for others who fail us are some of the many themes in this remarkable work.  In his “A Note on the Art” section in the end pages, Krosoczka quotes his teacher, friend, and mentor Mark Lynch reminding him to “celebrate [his] own style.”  This masterful work is fully a testament to his achievement in doing just that.

4.       REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2019 GOLDEN KITE AWARD FOR NON-FICTION FOR OLDER READERS

2019 HARVEY AWARDS BOOK OF THE YEAR

2020 AUDIE AWARD FOR YOUNG ADULT

2018 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST

From Booklist: “There have been a slew of graphic memoirs published for youth in the past couple of years, but the raw, confessional quality and unguarded honesty of Krosoczka’s contribution sets it apart from the crowd.”

From Publishers Weekly:  “This nuanced graphic memoir portrays a whole family and tells a story of finding identity among a life’s complications.”

             

CONNECTIONS

Students could write letters to young Jarrett to affirm his worth and value, even if his biological parents were not able to/did not choose to see this.  The letters could include encouragement for him and words of hope that his life will have purpose, and brighter days are ahead.

Students could write an essay about their favorite hobby or activity (like drawing and art for Jarrett) that helps them feel grounded and connected to their true selves.  Class discussion could include emphasis of the importance of continuing to develop these hobbies and activities throughout the years.  Students could share their essays with the class, if desired.

Book Review of The Graveyard Book

1.       BIBLIOGRAPHY

Gaiman, Neil. Ill. by Dave McKean. 2008. The Graveyard Book. New York: Harper. ISBN 978-0-06-053094-5

2.       PLOT SUMMARY

Nobody Owens is a boy who bridges the worlds of the living and the dead.  When The man Jack brutally kills his family and attempts to kill him when he is a very small child, the Graveyard and its inhabitants take him under their wing and protect him as he grows to adulthood.  “Bod” has the Owenses as his loving parents, Silas as his wise guardian, and a host of other graveyard companions to care for him and look after him as the years go by.  Jack seeks to harm the boy, as do other creatures and characters weaved throughout the story; his graveyard family dutifully protects him.   When Bod is of age and the time comes for him to face Jack and leave the graveyard, claiming his life fully as his own, many mysteries come to light, Jack’s fate is sealed, and Nobody Owens is ready to LIVE.

              Grades 6 and up

3.       CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Truly a work of brilliance, The Graveyard Book is a story that will endure throughout generations of readers to come, as would a stately gravestone, fashioned with care.  Nobody Owens is a thoroughly endearing character who is undoubtedly brave and resilient at every turn.  Those of the graveyard who care for him are relatable, as well, and appreciated for the various protective roles they play to usher young Bod into adulthood.  Gaiman's authoritative, unassuming style consistently succeeds in creating a world that seems to come expansively alive, in spite of many of its characters' much-deadness.

The Lady on the Gray, as she comes to ensure Bod’s protective society, declares, “The dead should have charity,” and the reader is assured that Bod’s earthly mother’s imploring will be honored—her son will be cared for well.  Mysterious Silas lends a sturdy workability to the unlikely plot, and his gift of a bridge to Bod symbolizes the boy’s import as a connecting force between the worlds of the living and the dead.  Numerous near misses and misadventures illustrate the bravery of Bod and the dedication of the graveyard characters in their work to protect the boy.  As he is given "Freedom of the Graveyard," the setting is solidified, and the plot is made fully believable.  The characters leave relief prints along the pathway of the story, establishing the presence of the themes of familial duty, the indestructible power of love and of destiny, and the alchemical process of a child growing from fully dependent to fully independent, ready to embark upon the journey of life.  At the close of the novel, Gaiman, in his characteristically skilled voice, notes that a symbolic “tree that grew out of the gutter on the spire had fallen in the last storm, taking a handful of the slate-black roof tiles with it.”  Like this tree, Bod grew and thrived in the graveyard for a time, but this was never meant to be a permanent dwelling place for him, for he is full of life and ready to explore all that his days will hold for him:  “’I want to see life.  I want to hold it in my hands…I want everything.’”  

              Read it, experience it. Let it change you. It will.

4.       REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

JOHN NEWBERY MEDAL 2009

CARNEGIE MEDAL 2010

HUGO AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL 2009

From The Horn Book Magazine:  “Gaiman’s assured plotting is as bittersweet as it is action-filled—the ending, which is also a beginning, is an unexpected tearjerker—and makes this ghost-story-cum-coming-of-age-novel as readable as it is accomplished.”

This is an utterly captivating tale that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of ghostly characters. There is plenty of darkness, but the novel’s ultimate message is strong and life affirming

From Booklist:  “This is an utterly captivating tale that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of ghostly characters.  There is plenty of darkness, but the novel’s ultimate message is strong and life affirming.”

5.       CONNECTIONS

Students could read Gaiman’s Coraline (2012) ISBN  0380807343 and study the two novels in conjunction, analyzing the author’s style, as well as similarities and differences of the two protagonists.

Students could perform a reader’s theater of The Graveyard Book in class or as an after school extracurricular book study activity.

Upon completion of the novel study, older students could read and engage in comparative analysis of Dylan Thomas’s poem “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.”

Book Review of Nory Ryan's Song

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Giff, Patricia Reilly. 2000. Nory Ryan’s Song. New York: Yearling, Random House Children’s Books. ISBN 978-0-440-41829-0

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Patricia Reilly Giff’s novel Nory Ryan’s Song takes place in Ireland in 1845 at the beginning of the Great Hunger, An Gorta Mór.  Narrated by twelve-year-old Nory, the meticulously researched narrative  describes the terror and desperation of the families that were oppressed and starved by the cruel English rulers who shipped their food to England while they were left to starve.  Nory resolutely carries a song of hope in her heart, which serves her well as she learns to be resilient after the death of her mother in childbirth three years ago and her father being long absent as he works on the ships to try to earn the rent that the Ryan’s had to pay to the English rulers for their very own land.  Further, her eldest sister Maggie marries and leaves the western coast of Ireland that is home to set sail for Brooklyn, New York, America.  Nory holds onto hope that she, her sister Celia, her brother Patrick (Patch, Patcheen), and her Granda will also join Maggie and her new husband so they will all live together in America and no longer be hungry.  Nory’s story is closely connected with her best friend Sean Mallon and Anna Donnelly, who is a great healer and imparts all of her knowledge to Nory.  The story takes the reader down rich valleys of discovery as Nory finds her full strength and endures through this tragedy, preparing to traverse to more hopeful times.

Grade 4 and up

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Both in Patricia Reilly Giff’s dedication and in her letter to readers at the end of Nory Ryan’s Song, the reader witnesses the immense amount of personal investment the author has in her attempt to authentically tell this story.  These are her people.  This is part of her story.  She has told it strongly and beautifully, with heartbreaking accuracy won through tremendous researching efforts—travels, interviews, investigations.  The setting of the story, on the western coast of Ireland, is vividly depicted, and one feels as though the curtain of time is being lifted to allow glimpses into the intimate homes and lives and connections shared among the characters.  Giff’s use of olfactory imagery abounds and pulls the reader into the experiences of the characters’ lives:  initially the fresh, expansive scents of the sea and “the smell of spring, or fuchsia growing along the walls in August,” to the shock and horror of the scent of rot that swept over the fields--An Gorta Mór.  Giff’s steady, stylistic use of Irish dialect anchors the story, making each dialogic interchange believable and fascinating.  The reader learns of the sidhe (shee), which are “creatures from another world who supposedly cause trouble.”  The very young Irish boy children, such as Nory’s loving brother Patch, are dressed in long dresses to hide them from the sidhe by making them appear to be girls because they steal little boys.  [The authenticity of this element is concurred by photographs the reviewer has seen of her Irish grandfather, born in America in 1917, in these very dresses!]

Although the history is told in an accurate manner, appropriate for young readers, this is a story not easy to write nor to read.   Giff  does not hide the reality of what happened; yet, she weaves the strength, resilience, resourcefulness, and hope of the Irish people onto every page.  Enduring familial love, strong community ties, caring for one another, and always keeping hope in our hearts are themes Giff expertly communicates through her work in this story.  Fact and fiction are held in a truly balanced blend to ensure that readers understand the realities of the Irish people during this dark time in their history.  Just as Anna Donnelly’s wisdom of cures continues on in Nory’s spirited life, also the light within the Irish spirit forever continues to endure.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Golden Kite Award, 2001, Honor Book, Fiction

Parents’ Choice Award, 2000, Gold, Fiction

From Kirkus Reviews:  “…Nory’s patient, stubborn endurance lights up this tale, and the promise of better times to come is well deserved.”

From Children’s Literature:  “Based on her own family’s history and extensive research of the Great Hunger, Patricia Reilly Giff has written a tender and uplifting story of a remarkable girl who saw hope in spite of tragedy.  The writing is as proud, strong, and dignified as the people who suffered through this difficult time.  It is the author’s gift and tribute to the courageous spirit of the Irish.  Nory Ryan is an unforgettable heroine and her story is one to treasure.”

5. CONNECTIONS

A connection for English classes could be the reading of Giff’s additional titles featuring Nory Ryan:  Maggie’s Door and Water Street for fascinating character studies of Nory and of her daughter Bird (in Water Street).

A history class connection could be to research, study, discuss, and write reflections upon the realities that precipitated and solidified the Great Hunger to lead students to a thorough understanding of the causes and ramifications of this terribly tragic time period in history.

Book Review of One Crazy Summer

1.       BIBLIOGRAPHY

Williams-Garcia, Rita. 2010. One Crazy Summer. New York: Amistad, HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 0060760907

2.       PLOT SUMMARY

Set in the late 1960s, One Crazy Summer is a story of three sisters--eleven year old Delphine, nine year old Vonetta, and seven year old Fern--who bravely leave their father and grandmother in Brooklyn to fly to Oakland to seek the mystery that is their absent mother, Cecile.  Cecile, who is a talented poet and involved in the Black Panther movement, left the girls seven years ago and has not been a mother to them since.  The three girls long to know and be known and, of course, to love and be loved by the woman who birthed them.  Yet, Cecile is distant and unloving, sending the girls to a Black Panther summer camp during their month-long visit.  As their grandmother Big Ma had said at their departure to fly to Cecile, “’Better come on and get some loving now…’” and Delphine determined, “She hadn’t had to finish the rest about how this might be the last time in a long while for kissing and hugging.  A flash of memory told me Cecile wasn’t one for kissing and hugging.”  The story is poignantly narrated by Delphine, who is responsible and measured well beyond her eleven years.  She skillfully cares for her animated sisters, and the three girls learn an astounding amount through their adventures about holding their heads high, owning their power, and standing up for themselves, no matter what.   

3.       CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Authentically placed in dynamic 1960s America, Williams-Garcia’s One Crazy Summer will etch its strongly spoken truths onto the spirits of its readers.  Each character is fully believable, and the dialogue and narration are consistently graced with brilliant timing and content.  The plot and the subplots are realistic to the time period of the late 1960s and are written beautifully in a style that is understandable to young readers even though the concepts are profound.  The three main characters live and breathe the essence of their setting, yet they are always connected to the deeper, timeless truths and realities of being young girls with a mother who is choosing not to love them.

  “It was the pure excitement of seeing the world,” Delphine internally muses as she takes a moment to enjoy the sighting of the Golden Gate Bridge on the day trip to San Francisco.  She is never a victim and never internalizes her mother’s inability to love, modeling for her sisters to follow suit—power that lines up with the power of the Black Panther movement.  Delphine keeps her perspective and somehow shields herself and her younger sisters from her mother’s narcissistic brokenness.  Upon learning Cecile’s story, Delphine concludes, “She told me everything I wanted to know and too much.  It was too much.  I’d have to take it out one piece at a time to look at it.”

When the girls recite Cecile’s (Nzila’s, as she named herself) poem, “I Birthed a Black Nation” at the Black Panther rally, they seem to be affirming that they accept who their mother is and they will love her, even if they are never loved back.  What is true power if not this?  At the close of the novel, Cecile looks at Delphine, and we see her heart turn slightly toward her daughter.  We know that she hugs back when all three daughters run to hug her goodbye.  Williams-Garcia’s voice is a gift to readers as she captures this revolutionary time period in America and creates a humorous, unforgettable tale that truly succeeds in connecting and teaching all those lucky enough to read it.

“Extras and Activities” included at the end of the book give readers numerous excellent ideas for further study of the Black Panther movement and women poets who wrote at the time period during which this book is set.

Grades 3 and up

4.       REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

From Booklist:  “Strong-willed, responsible Delphine stirringly narrates this vibrant novel about the subtle ways political movements affect personal lives as well as the universal story of children discovering a reluctant parent’s love.”

From The Horn Book Magazine:  “The setting and time period are as vividly realized as the characters, and readers will want to know more about Delphine and her sisters after they return to Brooklyn with their radical new ideas about the world.”

5.       CONNECTIONS

Coretta Scott King Book Award, 2011, Winner, Author

John Newbery Medal, 2011, Honor Book

National Book Award, 2010, Finalist, Young People’s Literature

Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, 2011, Winner

An English class connection lesson could be to also read Williams-Garcia’s books Be Eleven and Gone Crazy in Alabama, focusing particularly on character studies as the story of Delphine and her sisters continues.

A history class connection could be to research and study the Black Panther movement using accurate, authentic resources and documents, ensuring thorough coverage of Huey Newton, Bobby Hutton (Lil’ Bobby), Bobby Seale, Kathleen Cleaver, Eldridge Cleaver, and other prominent political activists of this movement.

An English, specifically poetry, connection could be to discuss and analyze the poem “I Birthed a Black Nation,” and have students write an in-depth essay about what the poem means to them and how they can be a force of positive change in the world that celebrates and honors diversity.

Book Review of Speediest!: 19 Very Fast Animals

1.       Bibliography

Jenkins, Steve. 2018. Speediest!:  19 Very Fast Animals. New York:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN  1328841960

2.       Plot Summary

Jenkins takes the reader on a non-stop adventure through amazing information and data presented about the 19 fastest creatures on earth!  In this riveting book, young readers will marvel at the vivid, dreamlike collage illustrations of each creature that majestically stretch across the white pages in all their speedy glory.  Readers encounter the cheetah, the book cover's featured creature, and discover the top speed of this amazing animal to be a staggering 70 mph, which can only be sustained “for a minute or so.”  Also, the green basilisk lizard, found in Central and South America and nicknamed the “Jesus Christ lizard” due to its ability to “run across the surface of the water,” will be long remembered by young readers.  And, who could forget the aardvark, whose name means “’earth pig,’” and which boasts a top (burrowing!) speed of 8 fmp/mpm (feet per minute/meters per minute)?  Young readers and their parents/guardians and teachers will enjoy this addition to the canon of Steve Jenkins's work again and again, as each reading seems to unearth a newly discovered, scientific surprise.

3.       Critical Analysis

As Jenkins was awarded the Caldecott Honor for What Do You Do With A Tail Like This? (2004), his work carries the assurance of credible research and accurate scholarship.  Each of the 19 creatures showcased by Jenkins is superbly illustrated using Jenkins’s colorful, playful collage technique, which artistically blurs the line between photographic rendering and scientific drawings.  Indeed, the creatures veritably look as though they might just choose to speed right off the page.  Jenkins includes a scale graphic for each creature, comparing it to human size, keeping each entry relevant and digestible in the mind of the young reader.  Also, a keyed globe with textual data specifying where the creatures live is included.  Each creature’s “Top Speed” is declared in an authoritative, gray orb for easy reference.  Jenkins’s knowledgeable, engaging writing style is evidenced in each impeccably accurate paragraph, complete with subheading, about the creatures he selected for this work.  The organization of the work demonstrates true skill and dedication to the creation of a high-quality children’s nonfiction/informational text.

In addition to expertly delivered content on each creature included in Jenkins’s book, he also offers to the reader a useful table of contents, an introductory section on predators and prey (demonstrating an artful general-to-specific approach to the text), an excellent comprehensive, comparative bar chart displaying each creature’s mph/kph to encourage critical thinking, a handy glossary, and a bibliography section to encourage future scholarship.  As a former science teacher, I thoroughly recommend this work for its innovative, captivating content and style.

Reading Level 4.4

Ages 5-12

4.       Review Excerpt(s)

From Booklist:  “With attractive pictures and fascinating facts, these early readers will interest young animal lovers.”

5.       Connections

For a science connection lesson, students could focus on applying the data for rate (r), (“Top Speed”) in this book, to practice working with the distance formula,

d = rt [distance (d) = rate (r) x time (t)].

Students could randomly draw a craft stick or folded paper with one of the included creatures of this book written on it and then work in groups to write their own word problems using the rate data for their creature.  Then, students could teach their problems to the class.

For a science or nonfiction/informational English lesson, students could read, study, discuss, and even present other books by author Steve Jenkins, such as Stinkiest! (2018, ISBN  1328841979) and Trickiest! (2017, ISBN  9781328841957).  The content, writing style, illustrations, and presentation of data could be discussed and compared among these and other works by this author.

Book Review of The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus

                                                                 

1.       Bibliography

Bryant, Jen. 2014.The Right Word:  Roget and His Thesaurus. Ill. by Melissa Sweet. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.  ISBN  0802853854

2.       Plot Summary

The Right Word:  Roget and His Thesaurus tells the fascinating story of Peter Mark Roget and the creation of one of the world’s most valuable resources in 1852—his Thesaurus, which we learn, is Greek for “treasure house.”  Roget was born in London, England in the year of 1779 and had one sister, Annette.  His father died of tuberculosis when he was very young, and he moved often as a child.  He prolifically wrote lists as a child, often in Latin and English, and amazingly wrote his first draft of his masterpiece, his Thesaurus, when he was merely 26 years old.  Peter became a medical doctor at the young age of 19, but he worked as a tutor until he was old enough to garner respect as a practicing medical doctor.  He, all the while, continued to create his lists.  Roget married and had two children, and these adoring children encouraged their father to publish his Thesaurus—and, thankfully, he did so.  He wanted his book to be accessible to all readers, not just the elite of the time:  “Long ago Peter had discovered the power of words.  Now he believed that everyone should have this power—everyone should be able to find the right word whenever they needed it.”  Interestingly, readers learn that Roget also invented the slide rule and the portable chess set!  Roget remained loyal to his path as a thinker and innovator, all the while exuding a quiet confidence and humility.

              Ages 5-12

3.       Critical Analysis

Bryant and Sweet’s acclaimed work on Roget and his Thesaurus allow readers to observe and understand a life lived in quiet brilliance.  The inclusion of both a “Sources” and a “Selected Bibliography” section lend credibility to the work, as does the extensive “List of Principal Events” of Roget’s life, with notable world events included.  Bryant’s storytelling skillfully weaves the cloth of Roget’s life in a manner that contextualizes his life stages and accomplishments.  The “Author’s Note” and “Illustrator’s Note” both contribute authenticity to the approach of the work, and the passion for the project is evident in each creators’ approach and command of the subject.  As Sweet declares in her illustrator’s note, “[t]he proverbial thunderclap sounded at the start of my research when I held Roget’s original 1805 word book in my hands.”  These bookmakers—Bryant and Sweet—are bona fide  talents, as they have previously demonstrated in A River of Words:  The Story of William Carlos Williams (2008).  Moreover, the chronological style of this whimsical yet realistic biography lends a workability to the organizational structure.  A “For Further Reading” section is included for curious students who want to learn more.

Bryant and Sweet’s collective design and style of this work are synergistically more together than they could ever be alone.  Bryant’s precise, confident writing style matched with the combination of painterly and unconventional, innovative collage techniques invites young readers in to explore the new world of Roget and how he lived, what happened to him, and what he accomplished in this world.  Sweet’s inclusion of numerous complex lists throughout the work, interspersed with vibrant images and hues, serves to anchor the reader to the specific brilliance and talent possessed by Roget which destined him to create his Thesaurus.  Bryant’s dedication to telling the story of this “fascinating life” is evident on every page (Author’s Note).  Readers will assuredly find this biography of Roget to be a welcome addition to their bookshelves and the story within an unforgettable experience of mind and heart.

4.       Review Excerpt(s)

            2015 Caldecott Honor Book

            2015 Sibert Medal Winner

            From Booklist:  "In brilliant pages teeming with enthusiasm for language and learning, Bryant and Sweet (A Splash of Red, 2013) joyfully celebrate curiosity, the love of knowledge, and the power of words."

From Kirkus Reviews:  “In a word:  marvelous!”

5.       Connections

For an English/creative writing connection lesson, students could also read A River of Words:  The Story of William Carlos Williams (2008), also written by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet (ISBN  0802853021) and discuss the similarities and differences regarding the storytelling and illustrating styles utilized in both works.

An additional English/creative writing connection could be an experiential lesson on how to use Roget’s thematic as well as his alphabetical Thesaurus and having students use the Thesaurus to write an essay or a story with a predetermined amount of “new to them” words, circled or highlighted and defined, depending on age and grade level.  

Book Review of The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary

1.     Bibliography

Fleming, Candace. 2005. The Lincolns:  A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary. New York:  Schwartz & Wade Books.  ISBN  0375836187

2.     Plot Summary

The Lincolns:  A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary affords the reader an otherworldly, vivid view into the inner-workings of the lives of Abraham and Mary Lincoln.  The reader is able to truly study the developmental influences of both figures to an exacting degree, which yields an uncanny perceptivity into their adult lives and decisions.  The harsh realities of unmitigated diseases such as typhoid, cholera, and milk sickness, as well as the heightened dangers of childbirth at this time in American history, coupled with the obstructions which hindered educational and economic access, create a period in history that deeply barraged many early Americans with profound hardship and grief.  The Lincolns were no exception.  As they entered the political realm, Abraham carried his hatred for slavery with him, as his law partner William Herndon recalled, “Against this inhumanity his sense of right and justice rebelled.”  Mary shared this intense hatred for slavery, and they were destined to bring America to the state of abolished slavery across the nation.  Indeed, the reader learns that Abraham’s copy of his favorite book Aesop’s Fables was habitually by his side, where he no doubt garnered the wisdom of “the tale of the lion and the four bulls with its moral:  A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.”  Fleming’s book equally tells the story of two positively brilliant figures in American history who carried the burden of a chasmically factional nation and succeeded in delivering this nation to a state of maturity that would ultimately allow it to begin to truly heal and thrive.

Reading level 8.6,

Interest level 3rd-12^th grades

3.     Critical Analysis

                                   

Fleming’s painstakingly accurate research and writing is evidenced on every page of this finished work; indeed, she includes in her Acknowledgments section that every fact is verified by retired professor Dr. Herbert Lasky, Eastern Illinois University.  Further, Fleming is a respected biographer of other titles, such as Our Eleanor (2005) and Ben Franklin's Almanac (2003).  Her Notes and References for The Lincolns:  A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary are impeccably completed.  Replete with documentable dialogue, Fleming's work succeeds in telling the objective, authentic stories of Abraham and Mary Lincoln's lives and how they intertwined in a love story that was true, complex, and loyal (Vardell 266).

The organization of this masterful work, a traditional scrapbook style, proves very intimate and personal.  Readers will find themselves getting completely engrossed in the reading, unaware of the passing of time.  Fleming’s logical, chronological layout lends an orderly, authoritative manner to the book.  The introduction and chronology of both lives prefaces the biography, and reference aids such as chapters, subheadings, and an index serve the reader well in his or her study of Abraham and Mary Lincoln.  A section in the end pages offers additional print and electronic resources for further study, a beautifully written supplemental explanation regarding the research, and exhaustive notes for all of the references contained in the biography.

Regarding the design of this treasure of a book, Fleming includes “A Note on the Type” to inform the reader that the typeface Old Times American, an old fashioned typeface, is used, which results in an attractive, authentic feel for the text of Fleming’s work.  Moreover, the black and white photos and black print on large, white background is intriguing and rather gives the sense that one is thumbing gingerly through old, original historical documents found in a long-forgotten trunk in an attic from antiquity.  The layout certainly supports and enriches the delivery of the subject matter, and the included maps prove fascinating and richly enhance the overall value of the text.

Fleming states in her section in the end pages that offers additional information about the research process for the book that her five years of researching and writing this biography allowed her to “[feel] the Lincolns begin to take shape for [her].  They began to form in [her] heart and in [her] mind until they were no longer merely historical figures but human beings, solid and concrete.”  With her alchemical, precise, and compassionate writing abilities, Fleming breathtakingly succeeds in transferring this coming to life to the reader of her work.

This biography will powerfully open minds, change lives, and shape decisions of young readers to be more conscientious, steadfast learners, helpers, builders, leaders, and redeemers in their lives and in our world—a must read for all students….

Vardell, Sylvia M. 2019. Children's Literature in Action:  A Librarian's Guide (Third Edition). Santa Barbara:  Libraries Unlimited.

4.     Review Excerpt(s)

Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, 2009

Cybils Award, 2008, Finalist, Non-Fiction Middle Grade and Young Adult

Flora Stieglitz Straus Award, 2009

Los Angeles Times Book Prize, 2008, Finalist, Young Adult Literature

Norman A Sugarman Children's Biography Award, 2010, Honor, Children's Biography Award

Orbis Pictus Award, 2009, Honor Book

From Children's Literature:  "This book needs to be a definite addition to any school library."

From Kirkus Reviews:  "The scrapbook technique, used previously in Our Eleanor (2005) and Ben Franklin's Almanac (2003), remains fresh and lively, a great way to provide a huge amount of information in a format that invites both browsing and in-depth study."

5.     Connections

For a history connection, students could also read a biography of Frederick Douglass and/or Russell Freedman’s Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass:  The Story Behind an American Friendship (ISBN  0547385625) and discuss, analyze, and write reflections upon the connections, collaborations, and conflicts between Lincoln and Douglass.

For an additional history connection, students could read and study the Underground Railroad and read a biography of Harriet Tubman, discussing the abolitionist movement in American history and Mary and Abraham’s anti-slavery beliefs and convictions.

For an English connection, students could read, discuss, and write response essays on Walt Whitman’s poem “Oh Captain! My Captain!” and discuss and analyze the profound role of Lincoln upon the history of America.

For a history or social/women's studies lesson, students could discuss and analyze the proposed role of the American housewife as early Americans evolved from lives lived primarily in rural, prairie settlements to more industrialized, mercantile-based communities and how Mary’s life and behavior were scrutinized from this popularized, caricatured perspective.

For an ethics lesson, students could discuss ethics in law practice, as relates to Mary Lincoln’s insanity trial; ethics in journalism (and the evolution of such) could also be discussed as related to the media’s portrayal of the Lincolns and compared/contrasted with other significantly factional periods in American and world history.