Review: Bodies from the Ice

Bibliography:

Deem, James M. 2008. Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 9780618800452

Plot Summary:

Glaciers form, according to James. M. Deem’s Bodies from the Ice, when “more snow accumulates on a mountain than can melt during the summer.” For unknown reasons, the world’s glaciers have been melting for the past one hundred years. Some are disappearing completely. As areas thaw that may have been frozen for hundreds of years, bodies are occasionally revealed. Deem’s book tells about several of these instances. One chapter describes the discovery of a well-preserved young man who lived 5,300 years ago. Another involves the finding of preserved child sacrifices in Peru. Yet another is the discovery of the body of a man who may or may not have been the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Throughout the book, Deem gives information on glaciers, how they are changing, possible reasons why, and what readers can do about it.

Critical Review:

Bodies from the Ice, by award-winning author James M. Deem, should carry a warning label: “Dead bodies inside.” The pages of this book are filled with vivid descriptions and images of the dead. Deem’s book concerns recent discoveries of preserved bodies, newly revealed as glaciers around the world continue to recede. Bodies from the Ice is packed with information, alternating between general information about glaciers and specific stories about notable human remains that have been found on them.

Deem’s writing is aimed at teens, but adults may find themselves drawn to the subject matter as well. There is a lot of text, but readers are carried along by amazing photographs throughout. It is one thing to read about the discovery of mountain climber George Mallory’s body. It is quite another to see it, frozen on the side of Mount Everest, skin bleached bone-white in the sun. Gruesome photos such as this might be what draw in young readers, but those who stick with Deem for the rest of the book will also learn a good deal about glaciers. Deem weaves through the book a theme of environmental responsibility. It is in these portions that Deem is at his most passionate. Scientists believe that many of the glaciers described in this book will be completely melted within the next fifty years, possibly due to global warming. Deem ends his book by challenging each reader to “make a personal decision about global warming and act accordingly.”

Review Excerpts:

“There are books about melting glaciers and books about frozen bodies, but this attractive offering combines the topics in a way that will intrigue readers.”- Booklist (December 1, 2008)

“With its extensive bibliography, suggested Web sites, and a listing of glaciers to visit, Bodies is a fantastic resource. Deem superbly weaves diverse geographical settings, time periods, and climate issues into a readable work that reveals the increasing interdisciplinary dimensions of the sciences.” – School Library Journal (December 1, 2008)

Connections:

Read and compare Deem’s other “bodies” books, Bodies from the Bog and Bodies from the Ash: Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii.

Pair with the PBS home video Extreme Ice, which is about global warming and the glaciers.

Compare other books about glaciers, such as Icebergs and Glaciers by Seymour Simon.

Review: The Adventures of Marco Polo

Bibliography:

Freedman, Russell. 2006. The Adventures of Marco Polo. Ill. By Bagram Ibatoulline. New York: Arthur A. Levine. ISBN 043952394

Plot Summary:

The name Marco Polo is synonymous with exploration. In this biography, Russell Freedman tells of Marco Polo’s life, focusing on his years in Kublai Khan’s China; made famous in Polo’s book The Description of the World. Freedman writes of the wonders Polo described: dust storms, bandits, crocodiles, pirates, the wonders of China, the amazing city of Quinsai, and Polo’s eventual trip back home accompanying one of Khan’s daughters. A section at the end of the book discusses arguments supporting and rebuffing Polo’s claims. Polo’s stories, which have sparked the imagination of millions through the years, get new life in Freedman’s book.

Critical Review:

Was Marco Polo one of the greatest explorers the world has ever known? Or was he a liar who fabricated amazing stories about adventures that never really happened? A past Newbery Award Winner, Freedman’s beautifully illustrated book tells the life of Marco Polo; those events in his life that probably did happen, and those events that may have happened. Perfect for middle readers, Freedman’s writing is challenging, but always clear and engaging. Although The Adventures of Marco Polo is nonfiction, Freedman’s descriptions of Polo’s travels often read like an adventure book.

The abundant illustrations are a combination of archival pieces and new paintings by Bagram Ibatoulline. Ibatoulline states that he emulated the artistic styles of the different cultures Polo documented. His artwork blends beautifully with the true period pieces. With Ibatoulline’s detailed paintings, the beige “aged” paper, the gold leaf effect of the cover, the burgundy endpapers - this is truly a beautiful book that will entice readers young and old.

Does it really matter whether Polo truly travelled to China or not? Freedman doesn’t seem to think so. Truth, lies, or a combination of the two, Marco Polo’s book ignited imaginations, including those of other great explorers (including Christopher Columbus). Freedman’s book beautifully captures that sense of exploration; the excitement of seeing wonders that few have ever seen before.

Review Excerpts:

“Newbery Medal-winner Freedman takes readers along on Polo's journey in a book that is as beautiful as many of the sights the explorer observed.” - Booklist (October 15, 2006)

“Freedman's impeccable research, historical fidelity and flair for engrossing narrative nonfiction combine with handsome bookmaking for a highly recommended biography.”- Publishers Weekly (October 2, 2006)

Connections:

Read other books by Russell Freedman (including his Newbery Award Winning Lincoln: A Photobiography)

Compare other books about Marco Polo (such as Marco Polo: A Photographer’s Journey by Michael Yamashita and Marco Polo: The Boy Who Traveled the Medieval World by Mick McCarty)

Pair with Kublai Khan: Emporer of the Everything by Kathleen Krull for a discussion of Khan and his empire

Using map paper, older students could create a map and overlay overlay comparing modern Asia with Asia when Polo was alive

Review: Tornadoes

Bibliography:

Simon, Seymour. 1999. Tornadoes. New York: Morrow. ISBN 0688146473

Plot Summary:

In this photograph-packed book, Seymour Simon describes current knowledge about most violent natural phenomenon. In a clear, easy-to-read style, Simon explains how tornadoes are formed and where and when they are most likely to occur. He also describes some of the most historically notable tornadoes, the Fujita rating scale, and what to do in case of a tornado.

Critical Review:

There are few things more fascinating and awe-inspiring than nature at her most violent. In his book, Tornadoes, Seymour Simon seeks to give young readers current information on this phenomena. Simon’s book does a great job of presenting information that is appropriate for the middle grades, but in a format that is very non-threatening to reluctant readers. The text is large and the book is full of gripping, colorful photographs. Simon’s writing succeeds at presenting potentially complex ideas (such as the formation of tornadoes) in a clear, concise manner. The illustrations, which include high quality photographs of tornadoes, radar shots, maps, etc., are well-chosen and ably illustrate what the text is describing. Young readers interested in weather will be captivated by this combination of current information and beautiful photography.

Review Excerpts:

“…Make room on your shelves for Simons standout view of a cataclysmic manifestation.” - School Library Journal (June 1, 1999)

“Incredible full-color photographs and diagrams, clearly portraying the different formations and devastating power of the windstorms, complement the text perfectly. A must for middle-grade students researching the subject, the book is sure to appeal to browsers as well.” - Booklist (May 1, 1999)

Connections:

Read other books in Seymour Simon’s weather series, including Storms, Weather, and Lightning.

Read other books on tornadoes, including Stephen Kramer’s Tornado: Nature in Action and Eye of the Storm, and Tornado by Catherine Chambers, and compare.

View a documentary about tornadoes or storm chasers.

Allow students to brainstorm the safest place for them to be in the event of a tornado warning at home or at school.

Let students build tornado jars with water, soap, vinegar, and food coloring.

Review: One of those hideous books where the mother dies

Bibliography:

Sones, Sonya. 2004. One of those hideous books where the mother dies. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0689858205

Plot Summary:

After the death of her mother, Ruby is forced to move to California to live with her estranged father, famous movie actor Whip Logan. Ruby struggles with the loss of her mother, the pain of separation from her best friend and boyfriend, and the stress of creating a new life in California. Although she develops a close relationship with her father’s gay “assistant”, Max, her father’s own attempts at reconciliation are met with resentment. They are, according to Ruby, “a decade-and-a-half too late.” A series of events, including a betrayal by her best friend, push Ruby to the breaking point. Her discovery of Whip’s homosexuality casts his perceived abandonment of her in a different light, and as he shelters her during a California earthquake, she is finally able to acknowledge his love for her.

Critical Review:

Ruby, the protagonist in Sonya Sones’ verse novel One of those hideous books where the mother dies, states at the beginning of the book, “I love to read/But my life better not turn out/to be like one of those hideous books/where the mother dies/and so the girl has to/go live with her absentee father/who turns out to be an alcoholic heroin addict…” These fears mark the start of Ruby’s journey, from the loss of her mother, to her new life in California with her estranged father.

The book is made up of a series of one to two page free verse poems or letters. Although a number of the poems could certainly be enjoyed on their own, the poetry generally functions as part of an overall narrative. Reading Ruby’s poems feels very much like reading a diary or journal; there is a deeply personal quality to the writing.

Some of the plot elements don’t always ring true (particularly the ending, with its earthquake climax and fairytale-like resolution), but the emotions of Ruby invariably do. Passages concerning her mother’s death are heart-wrenching: “The tears surge to my eyes/swelling and stinging like salty waves./But I don’t cry./I never do anymore./Not since Mom./I guess I must have used up/my entire lifetime supply of tears/on the night she died.” Ruby’s struggle with issues of loss and belonging will likely resonate with teens, and when Ruby finally finds her tears, many readers will, as well. Sones has created a moving and humorous account of one girl’s journey from grief to hope.

Review Excerpts:

“It is true that the mother dies, but this hilarious and painfully real novel in verse and letters is anything but hideous.”– Voice of Youth Advocates (October 1, 2004)

“This is not just another one of those gimmicky novels written in poetry. It's solid and well written, and Sones has a lot to say about the importance of carefully assessing people and situations and about opening the door to one's own happiness.” – School Library Journal (August 1, 2004)

“A satisfying, moving novel that will be a winner for both eager and reluctant readers.” – Booklist (May 1, 2004)

Connections:

Read Sonya Sones other verse novels, including What My Mother Doesn’t Know, and What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know

Read verse novels by other authors, such as Ellen Hopkins and Steven Herrick and compare writing styles, characters, and subject matter.

Students can create a playlist for one of the characters in the book. What songs would that character choose for his/her “mix tape”? Students can create cover art, tracklisting, and, if possible, create the actual CD.

Students could create a collage representing one of the characters. Choose objects or images that in some way represent who that character is and what his/her conflicts are.

Review: Blue Lipstick

Bibliography:

Grandits, John. 2007. Blue Lipstick. New York: Clarion. ISBN 9780618568604

Plot Summary:

Blue Lipstick is a collection of concrete poems by John Grandits. In these poems we meet Jessie - a highly individual, cello-playing, vegetarian high school student (who also writes poetry to her cat). Jessie’s observations give readers a humorous view into the mind of an adolescent, as she struggles to define herself and her place in the world around her.

Critical Review:

Blue Lipstick is John Grandits’ second volume of concrete poetry. In concrete poetry, the words of the poem are arranged to form a visual somehow related to the poem. In the poem “Bad Hair Day”, for example, the lines of the poem form the wild strands of Jessie’s hair. The connection between poem and form can be literal (as above) or symbolic, as in the poem “Style”. This poem has Jessie lamenting the cost of developing a unique style of dress. The words of the poem form a dollar sign.

Grandits’ poetry is generally free verse. Its conversational tone deftly evokes the free-form thoughts of a teenager. The writing style meshes well with the visual aspect of the poems. Often the writing, coupled with the poem’s physical form, gives the poem a kinetic feeling, propelling the reader forward. In the poem “Volleyball”, for example, the reader follows the lines of text from one side of the net to the other, evoking the back-and-forth motion of a volleyball game.

Jessie’s voice is distinct. Through the course of these poems, she struggles to define herself, fiercely trying on new roles (represented by the Blue Lipstick of the title). In an early poem, "The Wall", Jessie's words form a barrier she places between herself and the outside world. By the time she revisits her wall at the end of the collection, Jessie has realized that that being secure in her own identity doesn't require a "me vs. everyone else" attitude; that sometimes, you might just find someone you can relate to in the least likely of places.

Review Excerpts:

“This irreverent, witty collection should resonate with a wide audience.” – School Library Journal (July 1, 2007)

"A cover that'll grab adolescent girls' attention--and the poetry inside is equally appealing." Horn Book (July-August 2007)

Connections:

Read John Grandits’ other book of concrete poems, Technically, Its Not My Fault, which is told from Jessie’s brother’s point of view. Discuss point of view and differences between the way Jessie and Robert might view a common event.

Compare concrete poems in the collection A Poke in the I: A Collection of Concrete Poems.

Students can compose a concrete poem themselves. They can be allowed to choose their own topics. Teacher could also prepare slips of paper with common objects on them (TV set, basketball, etc.) and students would have to write a brief concrete poem somehow related to the object they drew.

Review: Soup for Breakfast

Bibliography:

Brown, Calef. 2008. Soup for Breakfast: A Collection of Pictures and Poems. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 9780618916412

Plot Summary:

Calef Brown’s collection Soup For Breakfast contains fourteen humorous poems connected only by Brown’s unique poetic and visual style. The poems are rhythmic, fanciful, and deal with subjects you just might not read about anywhere else (see: “Oilcloth Tablecloth”). Each poem is accompanied by Brown’s distinctive artwork.

Critical Review:

Calef Brown wants to use poetry to put a smile on your face. Brown’s poetry is lighthearted and often silly. Topics covered in this slim volume include a poem about the joys of eating soup for breakfast, directions for painting on toast, a description of a nose hair moustache, and, something of an anomaly, a message poem that tells us “The mark of our intelligence/is how we treat the elephants”.

Calef uses strong rhythm and rhyme to create a whimsical feel: “I told a secret/to an egret/but he couldn’t keep it/now every sparrow and swallow/in the whole hollow/thinks I’m shallow.” The use of alliteration (as above) and assonance (“why do all grownups/like donuts so much?”) helps give the poems a sing-song feel that rolls off the tongue delightfully.

Brown illustrates his own poems in acrylic. The illustration and the poem together create a singular whole. Brown’s painting style is distinctive. It has a simplistic quality reminiscent of folk art. Brown uses a strong color palette for each poem, giving it a mood that often accentuates elements only suggested in the poem. For example, “Young Moth”, a simple poem about a flying moth, closes with the lines “Sleep tight/Young Moth”. The illustration is steeped in deep midnight blues. Silhouettes of trees and houses with faintly lit windows give the poem a dreamlike quality. The depiction of the moth itself is surreal, with its human face and alien-like antennae. Despite their silliness, the images and feelings these poems and their illustrations create linger long after the book is put away. These are poems that can be enjoyed by all ages. Adults are likely to enjoy reading them as much as children will enjoy hearing them.

Review Excerpts:

“Brown's varied topics and deft touch coupled with his distinctive art make this title a must-have for both school and public libraries.” – School Library Journal (February 1, 2009)

“A good choice for energizing poetry units.” – Booklist (November 15, 2008)

“A smorgasbord of punditry and weirdness, this collection will remind kids that poetry and pictures can exist just for kicks.” – Publishers Weekly (October 13, 2008)

Connections:

Read other works by Calef Brown, including Polkabats and Octopus Slacks and Myra Cohn Livingston Award Winner Flamingos on the Roof: Poems and Paintings

Compare Brown’s poems with other “nonsense” poets such as Shel Silverstein and Ogden Nash.

Let children try their hand at “Painting on Toast”, with real toast and supplies (as described in the book). Children can then eat their creations.