The First Part Last by Angela Johnson

Bibliography:

Johnson, Angela. The First Part Last. 2003. Simon Pulse. ISBN 13-978068984922

Plot Summary:

Angela Johnson's book The First Part Last is the story of a teenage boy named Bobby. Bobby girlfriend Nia becomes pregnant. They are left with the decision of keeping the baby. They decide to keep the baby but consider adoption. Johnson's allows the reader to feel what Bobby and Nia are feeling. Johnson's character Nia is face with many choices and speaks of her dreams of wanting to be a firefighter. It appears through Nia's dreams that she knows what is in store for her. Bobby is just trying to take things one day at a time. He is left caring for their daughter Feather after Nia is left in a coma. Johnson shows how hard it is for a teen to care for a baby through Bobby's eyes. Bobby's love for Nia and Feather keeps him driven. Johnson portrays a strong voice in this novel and allows the reader to feel compassion and hope for Bobby as the story ends with him leaving New York. Bobby and Feather go to Heaven where his big brother lives to start their own chapter of life. One of hope, promise and happiness.

Critical Analysis:

Angela Johnson's book The First Part Last received the 2004 Coretta Scott King Award for best African American Writer and 2004 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Literature for Young Adult. This short book is written from a teenage boy's point-of-view about being a teen dad. Johnson did not glamorize this short book, focusing her theme on teen parents. She allows the readers to walk in the main character's shoes. The reader feels his pain, joy and sorrows. Johnson's main character Bobby appears to be an ordinary sixteen year-old male, skipping school, eating pizza and going to matinee with his friends K-Boy and J.L. Bobby parents have giving him sole responsibility of taking care of his' daughter Feather. He has to take her to the doctor, babysitter and is in charge of caring for her through the night. This leaves him very tried and he can barely cope with the responsibility of school and raising a baby. Johnson allows the readers to share Bobby and Nia intimate relationship as well as they trails and troubles. Bobby's girlfriend Nia seems to be very strong but passion. She cares for Bobby, this is shown when she decides to keep the baby but considers adoption. Bobby is supportive of Nia's decision and goes with her on doctor visits, rubs her ankles and stomach as well as tries to spend as much time with her as possible. Bobby and Nia even go dancing while Nia is pregnant. Johnson separates her chapters into then and now. Bobby starts out in the now and goes into flash backs about the then (things that already happened). The ending is sad once the reader learns that Nia is left in a coma, leaving Bobby to care for Feather alone. I think seeing Nia like this helps him decide to keep her and not give her up for adoption. Johnson's gives the reader a wonderful inside view of what it is like to be a teen parent by portraying to young teens in a serious loving and caring relationship.

Review Excerpt(s):

From School Library Journal Grade 8 Up-Brief, poetic, and absolutely riveting, this gem of a novel tells the story of a young father struggling to raise an infant. Bobby, 16, is a sensitive and intelligent narrator. His parents are supportive but refuse to take over the child-care duties, so he struggles to balance parenting, school, and friends who don't comprehend his new role. Alternate chapters go back to the story of Bobby's relationship with his girlfriend Nia and how parents and friends reacted to the news of her pregnancy. Bobby's parents are well-developed characters, Nia's upper-class family somewhat less so. Flashbacks lead to the revelation in the final chapters that Nia is in an irreversible coma caused by eclampsia. This twist, which explains why Bobby is raising Feather on his own against the advice of both families, seems melodramatic. So does a chapter in which Bobby snaps from the pressure and spends an entire day spray painting a picture on a brick wall, only to be arrested for vandalism. However, any flaws in the plot are overshadowed by the beautiful writing. Scenes in which Bobby expresses his love for his daughter are breathtaking. Teens who enjoyed Margaret Bechard's Hanging on to Max (Millbrook, 2002) will love this book, too, despite very different conclusions. The attractive cover photo of a young black man cradling an infant will attract readers.Miranda Doyle, San Francisco Public Library Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 6-12. Bobby, the teenage artist and single-parent dad in Johnson's Coretta Scott King Award winner, Heaven (1998), tells his story here. At 16, he's scared to be raising his baby, Feather, but he's totally devoted to caring for her, even as she keeps him up all night, and he knows that his college plans are on hold. In short chapters alternating between "now" and "then," he talks about the baby that now fills his life, and he remembers the pregnancy of his beloved girlfriend, Nia. Yes, the teens' parents were right. The couple should have used birth control; adoption could have meant freedom. But when Nia suffers irreversible postpartum brain damage, Bobby takes their newborn baby home. There's no romanticizing. The exhaustion is real, and Bobby gets in trouble with the police and nearly messes up everything. But from the first page, readers feel the physical reality of Bobby's new world: what it's like to hold Feather on his stomach, smell her skin, touch her clenched fists, feel her shiver, and kiss the top of her curly head. Johnson makes poetry with the simplest words in short, spare sentences that teens will read again and again. The great cover photo shows the strong African American teen holding his tiny baby in his arms. Hazel Rochman Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Connects:

Good book to introduce to teenagers about making choices. Have students read book and discuss the seriousness of being a teen parent. Have teens discuss what they want out of life and what choices they need to look at before having sex and serious relationships before they are ready.

Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf by Jennifer L. Holm

Bibliography:
Holm. Jennifer L. Middle School Is worse Than Meatloaf. 2007. Ginee Seo Books. Illustrations by Castaldi, Elicia. ISBN 9780689852817

Plot Summary:

Jennifer L. Holm's book Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf is very charming. Any twelve-year-old girl could relate it. The main character is Genevieve Davis, nicknamed Ginny. At the beginning of this weirdly written diary Ginny has a list of back-to -school items. These are some items that Ginny have listed that will help make seventh grade enjoyable for her: new school shoes and new toe shoes for ballet; new back pack; new binder (a cool one this year) and the yellow sweater at the mall of Gerard's. Her mom's response is "too expensive! wait for x-mas. Mom". Ginny also has "Ginny Big To Do List!!!". Her number one to-do-list item is to get a dad. Ginny gets a new dad "Bob Wright" and must accept all that comes with a new dad like shaving cream and him leaving the toilet set-up in the restroom. Ginny also has two brothers, one older (Henry) and one younger (Timmy). Her older brother is a handful and is eventually sent off to Military school. Her younger brother is just a little brother who like to run around in his underwear and cape; in which he does at her thirteen birthday sleepover. This causes Ginny great embarrassment. As any normal middle school student Ginny sees her life as folding in on her; her big brother is sent to military school, her little brother runs around in a cape; she does not get the part of sugar plum fairy in the ballet recital and she has a new dad. We all know that middle school students expect for the world to revolve around them and when Ginny world is turned up side down she copes as any normal middle school students does; her grades drop and she wants out. She wants to go live with her grandfather in Florida. But as the story unfolds things look up for Ginny and she wins the science fair with her brilliantly constructed model of the human brain. She also goes on a date to the school dance with a boy (Brian Bukvic). What a great book, this book definitely leaves the reader anticipating how eighth grade will turn out for Ginny. I look forward for a part two.

Critical Analysis:

Jennifer L. Holm's book Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf is about twelve-year-old Genevieve Davis. Genevieve nickname is Ginny. Holm's main character, Ginny is a typical pre-teen, who just wants to be accepted and liked. Many twelve-year-old girls could relate to Ginny, wanting the last fashion, which is too expensive. Wanting to like by popular kids, sit in back of bus with cool kids and for her mom to be happy. Ginny is not welcomed by the popular kids and does not get to sit in the back of the bus. But her mom is happy when she remarries Bob. Ironically Ginny is the happiest camper once her mom gets remarried. Her older brother Henry) gets sent to military school and her younger brother (Timmy) always wears a cape, with is embarrassing. Holm's sets the tone of a happy young girl at the beginning of this weirdly written dairy of list and short notes. Her main character is sadness in the middle of the school because of all the things that happen. Lastly she is happy again because she wins the science fair, letting the reader know that life does get better if you keep reading. Holm's style of writing is simple and easy to follow. When I first pick-up this book I thought it looked interesting but would be hard to follow. It was very easy to follow and each page connected smoothly. As stated in my plot summary I look forward to Holm's writing a part two and Elicia Castaldi doing another creative word of art as the illustrator. It appears that Elicia took a lot thought and preciseness when putting the picture together for this book. I surprisingly enjoyed it and read it in about two hours. As a middle school teacher I highly recommend this quick read to any middle school girl who is looking for a good book to read quickly.

Review Excerpt(s):
From School Library Journal
Grade 5–7—Ginny Davis begins seventh grade with a list of items to accomplish. This list, along with lots of other "stuff"—including diary entries, refrigerator notes, cards from Grandpa, and IM screen messages—convey a year full of ups and downs. Digitally rendered collage illustrations realistically depict the various means of communication, and the story flows easily from one colorful page to the next. Ginny is fairly typical—she wants to look good for her school picture but ends up with a hair disaster the night before. She babysits but can't seem to increase her bank balance. She has problems with friends, boys, and clothes. But readers also learn about some deeper issues. She has a hard time adjusting to a new stepfather, and her older brother has difficulties with alcohol and poor behavior choices. Ginny's pain is expressed through report card grades that drop to Cs and hall passes to the school counselor. However, the year ends on a high note as she discovers a talent for art and gets asked to the Spring Fling. The story combines honesty and humor to create a believable and appealing voice. Not quite a graphic novel but not a traditional narrative either, Holm's creative book should hook readers, especially girls who want something out of the ordinary.—Diana Pierce, Running Brushy Middle School, Cedar Park, TX Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Product Description
Ginny has ten items on her big to-do list for seventh grade. None of them, however, include accidentally turning her hair pink. Or getting sent to detention for throwing frogs in class. Or losing the lead role in the ballet recital to her ex-best friend. Or the thousand other things that can go wrong between September and June. But it looks like it's shaping up to be that kind of a year! Here's the story of one girl's worst school year ever -- told completely through her stuff.


Connections:
Have middle school students write out their expectations for middle school at the beginning of school year. At the end of school year have students review their expectation to see if they met any of them. Have students make their own middle school to-do list. Have students create their own journals using the same format as Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf.

RULES by Cynthia Lord

Bibliography:

Lord, Cynthia. RULES. 2006. Scholastic Press. ISBN 043944382

Plot Summary:

Cynthia Lord's RULES main character is twelve-year-old Catherine. She just wants to have a "normal" life. Her brother has autism and her parents seem to revolve their lives around his disability. She has spent years trying to teach her brother David the rules so he will not embarrass her. Rules such as: " Chew with your mouth closed."; "No toys in the fish tank" and "If the bathroom door is closed, knock (especially if Catherine has a friend over)!" But Catherine hardly ever has friends over, she has a best friend named Melissa. Unfortunately Melissa spends the entire summer in California with her dad. This leaves Catherine to befriend the new girl on the block, Kristi. Also in the process of making new friends she befriends Jason. She meets Jason at David's doctor appointment (occupational therapy, Stephanie). Jason is in a wheelchair and cannot talk. Catherine learns that Jason is very intelligent. She uses her artistic art work to make him communication cards because the one he have are boring. She makes them bright and colorful. She also gives him his own voice through the cards such as : "Stinks a big one!!!"; "Gross!" and "Awesome!" While Catherine gives David a list of rules, she also has a list of unwritten rules for herself such as: "Leaving out isn't the same as lying." and "Not everything worth keeping has a to be useful." Catherine eventually learns what acceptance in normalcy really are when she befriends Jason. She must meet Kristi at a dance and she has told Kristi a lot about Jason, except that he is in a wheelchair and cannot talk. Once Jason shows up at the dance and they dance Catherine learns how to let go, be herself, and not worry about what others think.

Critical Analysis:

Cynthia Lord's RULES received the Newbery Honor Book for 2007 and ALA Notable Children's Books. It is a contemporary realistic fiction book. The reader can relate to twelve-year-old Catherine who is coping with having a brother who is autistic and her parents centers everything around him. Lord's book RULES reflects the societal times of today. Focusing the themes on family, friends,disabilities and acceptance. Lord's does a great job of portraying the life of an adolescent living with a brother who has autistic. Catherine must cope with this, all she wants to have is a "normal" life and be accepted. She dealing with life by making a list of rules for her brother David to follow. These rules are to keep life "normal". These rules are her strength for survival for living with an autistic brother. But they also become her weakness. Catherine gets so consumed with rules that she stops enjoying life. She does not realize that it is all right for David to put toys in the fish tank. Her rules become a power struggle because David is autistic, he does not understand what he is doing is not right. Lord's has a easy style and a nice rhythm, making this book a fast, easy and enjoyable read. She gives off a sense of humor that also the readers to become intimate with the main character, feeling her hardship as an adolescent who just wants to be accepted at home and with peers. Catherine goes through an emotional journey and growth and realizes at the end of the book that it is fine to let go and be herself. Lord's does an excellent job of creating a believable character and a real life situation. Many young girls could related to this book who have sibling with disabilities. I really enjoyed this book, although it dealt a very serious topic, it was humorous and fun to read.

Review Excerpt(s):

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7-Twelve-year-old Catherine has conflicting feelings about her younger brother, David, who is autistic. While she loves him, she is also embarrassed by his behavior and feels neglected by their parents. In an effort to keep life on an even keel, Catherine creates rules for him (It's okay to hug Mom but not the clerk at the video store). Each chapter title is also a rule, and lots more are interspersed throughout the book. When Kristi moves in next door, Catherine hopes that the girl will become a friend, but is anxious about her reaction to David. Then Catherine meets and befriends Jason, a nonverbal paraplegic who uses a book of pictures to communicate, she begins to understand that normal is difficult, and perhaps unnecessary, to define. Rules of behavior are less important than acceptance of others. Catherine is an endearing narrator who tells her story with both humor and heartbreak. Her love for her brother is as real as are her frustrations with him. Lord has candidly captured the delicate dynamics in a family that revolves around a child's disability. Set in coastal Maine, this sensitive story is about being different, feeling different, and finding acceptance. A lovely, warm read, and a great discussion starter.-Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-7. "No toys in the fish tank" is one of many rules that 12-year-old Catherine shares with her autistic younger brother, David, to help him understand his world. Lots of the rules are practical. Others are more subtle and shed light on issues in Catherine's own life. Torn between love for her brother and impatience with the responsibilities and embarrassment he brings, she strives to be on her parents' radar and to establish an identity of her own. At her brother's clinic, Catherine befriends a wheelchair-bound boy, Jason, who talks by pointing at word cards in a communication notebook. Her drawing skills and additional vocabulary cards--including "whatever" (which prompts Jason to roll his eyes at his mother)--enliven his speech. The details of autistic behavior are handled well, as are depictions of relationships: Catherine experiences some of the same unease with Jason that others do in the presence of her brother. In the end, Jason helps Catherine see that her rules may really be excuses, opening the way for her to look at things differently. A heartwarming first novel. Cindy Dobrez Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Connections:

Have students research autism. Have students role play by putting themselves in someone shoes. Have students work in cooperative groups and create five rules that they would need to survive on a desert island or five rules they think they need to survive in life. Lastly, have students choose their favorite rule from the book RULES and write why that particular rule was important to them.

When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Parks

Bibliography:

Parks, Linda Sue. When My Name Was Keoke. 2004. Yearling Publisher. ISBN-10:0440419441


Plot Summary:

Linda Sue Parks gives great insight from a Korean Family point of view. Sun-hee and Tae-yul are the main characters. They alternate telling of the days of living in Korea as it is occupied by the Japanese. The Japanese occupation of Korean is one of humiliate. They had to change their names to Japanese names, learn to speak Japanese and could no longer wave their Korean flag. They are forced to give up their culture and honor the Japanese empire. Sun-hee name changes to Keoke and Tae-yul name changes to Nobubo. Sun-hee and Tae-yul show great proud and strength as they are forced to live under the Japanese rule. As a young girl Sun-hee experiences are different from Tae-yul. Sun-hee is expected to be silent and must investigate to find out what is going on. She has to deal with being a female in both cultures. Tae-yul is a young boy as while but is given a little more insight than Sun-hee. He takes his role very serious and enlist in the Japanese air force as a suicide bomber to save his family, especially his uncle who is hiding out because he is against the Japanese rule and will not give in to their culture. Linda Sue Parks leaves the readers on the edge as the story ends. The reader knows that Tae-yul is a live but no word of uncle is stated. This leaves the reader waiting for a part II.


Critical Analysis:

Linda Sue Parks novel When My Name Was Keoke is written in first person of alternating voices between two siblings. It is set in Korea during 1940-1945. The main characters are Sun-hee who is 10 years and her brother Tae-yul who is 13 years old. These characters seem real and believable. Sun-hee and Tae-yul must change their names under the Japanese regime. Sun-hee name is changes to Keoke and Tae-yul name is changed to Nobubo. The reader can feel their pain as they are striped of their culture. Under the Japanses regime they must change their names, learn the Japanese language and give honor the the Japanese Emperor. Also, the readers hearts falls when Tae-yul box of belongings are returned to his parents, one is left to keep reading to see if he following through with the suicide mission or does he do the right thing and not complete this mission. The plot was not sugar-coated it was written where the reader could enjoy and follow alone. It was at times suspenseful; such as will Tae-yul and his Uncle return home. The readers wondered if the Japanese would find out the real reason Tae-yul joined the Japanese military. Will he live or die. The theme of this novel is of dignity and courage during turbulent times. Sun-hee and Tae-yul as well as their family maintain their dignity and courage for their culture. Their mom hides a Korean tree and flag. When possible, mainly at home, they call one another by their Korean names and speak to one another in Korean. This steam less novels allow the readers to follow along and develop vivid pictures as he or she reads the story.

Review Excerpt(s):

From School Library JournalGrades 6-9--Living in Korea in the 1940s was difficult because the Japanese, who occupied the country, seemed determined to obliterate Korean culture and to impose their own on its residents. Sun-hee and her older brother, Tae-yul, still go to school every day, but lessons now consist of lectures and recitations designed to glorify Japan. To add to their unhappiness, everyone, adults and children alike, must give up their Korean names and take new Japanese ones. Sun-hee, now called Keoko, and Tae-yul, newly named Nobuo, tell the story in alternating narrative voices. They describe the hardships their family is forced to face as Japan becomes enmeshed in World War II and detail their individual struggles to understand what is happening. Tension mounts as Uncle, working with the Korean resistance movement, goes into hiding, and Tae-yul takes a drastic step that he feels is necessary to protect the family. What is outstanding is the insight Park gives into the complex minds of these young people. Each of them reacts to the events in different ways-Sun-hee takes refuge in writing while Tae-yul throws his energies into physical work. Yet in both cases they develop subtle plans to resist the enemy. Like the Rose of Sharon tree, symbol of Korea, which the family pots and hides in their shed until their country is free, Sun-hee and Tae-yul endure and grow. This beautifully crafted and moving novel joins a small but growing body of literature, such as Haemi Balgassi's Peacebound Trains (Clarion, 1996) and Sook Nyul Choi's The Year of Impossible Goodbyes (Houghton, 1991), that expands readers' understanding of this period.Barbara Scotto, Michael Driscoll School, Brookline, MACopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.



Connections:

Students could use novel as a supplement when studying Korean during World War II. Students could even use novel for reading theater.

The Game of Silence by Louise Erdrich

Bibliography:


Erdrich, Louise. 2005. The Game of Silence. Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 0060297905





Plot Summary:
Louise Erdrich writes a very knowledgeable novel about a little girl name Omakayas, who belongs to the Ojibwe tribe. The Ojibwe are living a peaceful live until their lives are interrupted.
They now are emerged into a porttait of a family and culture that are on the brink of a major change in their lives. Omakaya must face her visions, that seem to be her gift and lead her family to the next chapter of their lives. Endrich portrait of harvesting rice, smoke fish, telling stores, sledding on the snow, preparing for a wedding enables the reader to gain a fuller picture of the time, place and way of life of the Ojibwe people.

Critical Analysis:
Omakayas in Louise Endrich novel The Game of Silence is the main character. The story takes place in 1850 on an island in Lake Superior. The novel tells of the lives of the Ojibwe tribe. The chimookomanage were the white people (page 20), who wanted Omakayas and her people to leave their land and move west. Omakayas and her people know this means danger. They also know that the black marks (writing) were not right. They had only given permission for them to take the trees, cooper not the earth itself. The Ojibwes did not have a written language they relied on their memory and the earth. They know what the chimookomange would do because the chimookomange at force Miskobines and his people from their lands and everything they possessed, they had to leave behind. The Game of Silence was a game the children played. This game was important because it give the grow-ups the opportunity to communicate important business without distractions. Prizes were given for those who complied to the rules of the game; no talking. Endrich does not sugar-coat the plot and does not use stereotyping to get her point across. She delivers a powerful theme of not taking things for granted. Once Omakaya realizes her home and way of life is endanger she must face her fears, which will allow her and family to move on with their lives. Endrich does a outstanding job of writing this novel and capturing the souls of the Ojibwe people. She provides a comprehensive glossary of Ojibwe terms and dozens of lovely pencil illustrations of the characters and their natural surroundings.


Review Excerpt(s):
From School Library
JournalGrade 5-8 -Omakayas's tale, begun in The Birchbark House (Hyperion, 1999), continues in this book. Older and more insightful, Omakayas begins to understand the elements of life more fully as she accepts her gift of telling dreams. Changes are coming to the Ojibwa people and she struggles to deal with all that she is experiencing and her dreams foretell. Her sister falls in love with a warrior, strange and lost members of her tribe come to rely on her, and her people are threatened with certain eviction from their homes and food supply. But traditions are strong, and after Omakayas is sent off into nature to face the spirits and her dreams, she learns to accept the fate of her people and comes to see it as an adventure, "the next life they would live together on this earth." Although the story is set on an island in Lake Superior in 1850, readers will identify with the everyday activities of the Ojibwa, from snowball fights to fishing excursions, providing a parallel to their own lives while encouraging an appreciation for one that is very different. The action is somewhat slow, but Erdrich's captivating tale of four seasons portrays a deep appreciation of our environment, our history, and our Native American sisters and brothers.-Kimberly Monaghan, formerly at Vernon Area Public Library, IL Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Booklist
*Starred Review* Gr. 5-8. Like its predecessor The Birchbark House (1999), this long-awaited sequel is framed by catastrophe, but the core of the story, which is set in 1850, is white settlers' threats to the traditional Ojibwe way of life. Omakayas is now nine and living at her beautiful island home in Lake Superior. But whites want Ojibwe off the island: Where will they go? In addition to an abundance of details about life through the seasons, Erdrich deals with the wider meaning of family and Omakayas' coming-of-age on a vision quest. Just on the edge of the child's daily life and coming ever closer are the whites--among them, a Catholic "soul-stealer" priest and a friendly teacher who helps the children learn to read and write both Ojibwe and English so that they can confront cheating white agents. Readers familiar with the first book will welcome the return of several richly drawn non reverential characters, including Omakayas' pesky brother, her irritable mom, and her bold, tough mentor, Old Tallow. As Erdrich said in the Booklist Story Behind the Story, "Little House on the Lake" [BKL Ap 1 99], about The Birchbark House, her research into her ancestors revealed the horrifying history and also a culture rich, funny, and warm. In this heartrending novel the sense of what was lost is overwhelming. Hazel RochmanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Connections:
Students could use this material when studying Native American Indian tribes or spoken languages that were later written.

Number The Stars by Lois Lowry

Bibliography:

Lowry, Lois. 1989. Number The Stars. New York: Yearling , an imprint of Random House Children's Books . ISBN 9780440403272

Plot Summary:

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry is a book of historical fiction about the Holocaust. The main character is ten-year-old Annemaria Johansen. Annemaria lives in Copenhagen, Denmark. The year is 1943 and Nazi forces have occupied Denmark for over three years. Ellen Rosen, who is Jewish, is Annemaria's best friend. Annamaria and Ellen both try to live normal lives under the Nazi occupation. They still attend school and play games with each other. When the book opens the girls are on their way home from school and they are racing one another. It is made known that things are not normal when they are stopped by two Nazi soldiers. The soldiers tell them to stop: "Halte!" This is a German word that for the past three or more years the girls have become familiar with. Soon the Nazi forces begin questioning rabbis in the local synagogue for the names of Jewish families. Ellen Rosen and her parents are listed along with other Jewish families. The Nazi forces begin looking for these families to relocate them. Annamaria and her parents know this means trouble and must help Ellen and all the other Jewish families. Nazi soldiers come to Annamaria's apartment in the middle of the night looking for Jewish families. Ellen is safe because she is disguised as Annamaria deceased older sister. Now, Annamaria's parents know they must move quickly to save Ellen and the other Jewish families. Mr. Johansen, Annamaria's dad, calls his brother-in-law, Henrik. He asks "Is the weather good for fishing?" This was a code for "is it okay to bring Ellen over?" Annemarie, Ellen, Mrs. Johansen and Kirsti (Annamaria's younger sister) leave by train for Uncle Henrik's home in Gilleleje. Later Ellen is reunited with her parents as a funereal for Great-aunt Birte is faked. Ellen and the other Jewish families are taken down to Uncle Henrik's boat. Annamarie now understands that the Jewish families will be taken safety in Sweden. Two years later the war is over. All of Denmark celebrates. Annemaria awaits Ellen's return. She ask her father to mend Ellen's necklace, which is broken the night the Nazi soldiers come to the apartment. She wants to wear it in honor of her best friend.

Critical Analysis:
Lois Lowry's Number the Stars is a historical fiction story that gives the reader a view of a little girl named Annamaria and her family of how they helped saved the Jewish families in Copenhagen, Denmark (which is were the setting of the story takes place). Annamaria and her family and friends of these Denmark's Jewish families are brave. They risk their own lives to help save these families. From the moment the reader opens this book, the readers in forced to read more. The reader is forced to keep reading to find out what happens to Ellen's parents, do the Jewish families make it to the boat and what happened to Annemaria's mother. As the plot thicken in the middle of the story, the reader is left in suspense of will the Jewish family survive or will thw Nazi soldiers find out where they are. The plot was not sugar -coated and it made known that Ellen and the other Jewish families were not the only ones in great danger but Annemaria and the other families were at risk as well. The theme of the number is bravery and true friendship. The reader can identify with the importance of friendship and doing what is right. Lois' Lowry's style of written is soft, it reflects the warmth of a ten-year-old girls heart, bravery, innocence and love. Lowry's character Annemaria is precious, her concern and love for her friend Ellen turns into bravery and her innocence keeps her alive. The title is taken from Psalm 147.4, in which the writer of psalm relates that Gods has numbered all the stars in the universe. It is meant to tie into the star of David and Ellen's necklace.

Review Excerpt(s):

From Publishers Weekly

Set in Nazi-occupied Denmark in 1943, this 1990 Newbery winner tells of a 10-year-old girl who undertakes a dangerous mission to save her best friend. Ages 10-14. Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-7. The gripping story of a ten-year-old Danish girl and her family's courageous efforts to smuggle Jews out of their Nazi-occupied homeland to safety in Sweden. Readers are taken to the very heart of Annemarie's experience, and, through her eyes, come to understand the true meaning of bravery. Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Connections:

Lois Lowry's book Number The Stars is a great supplement to use when 8th ELA teachers are Reading The Dairy of Anne Frank. Number The Stars will help give another insight of those who helped out the Jews during the Holocaust. Student can write a compare/contrast paper of how the main characters roles differin each book.

Danitra Brown Leaves Town by Nikki Grimes

Bibliography:
Grimes, Nikki. 2002. Danitra Brown Leaves Town. Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN: 0688131565.

Plot Summary:
Nikki Grimes' book Danitra Brown Leaves Town is a book of poems which are letters written between two best friends. Zuri is really sad that her best friend Danitra is leaving her alone and in the city with no one to play with, to go to the country to visit family. Zuri's sadness turns to madness. When Danitra calls her to tell her she is leaving all Zuri can feel is mad: "But why am I suppose to care when my suppose to be best friend is leaving me and loving it?" Zuri isn't left alone, she meets a new friend named Nina and "wondered why I'd never noticed Nina before." But, Nina does not take the place of her best friend Danitra. Zuri gets a letter from Danitra and the readers can feel the friendship's warmth: "I ripped Danitra's letter open, in spite of my worst fear. I bit my lip until I read "I wish that you were here." This begins a series of letters between the two as they write to one another about their summer vacations. Danitra writes to Zuri about "clusters of fireflies" and "blue-black" skies. Zuri writes to Danitra about block parties and softball. Their letters are poems of friendship that all readers can relate too. Allowing older reader such as myself to remember times of childhood summer breaks that consist of best friends, softball, dragonflies and fireworks to celebrate the fourth of July. At the end the two best friends reunite with a much stronger bond: "
" A good hello is knowing when we're far apart,
at heart we're still together;
and being glad you're home again
'cause that is ten times better."

Critical Analysis:
Nikki Grimes' book Danitra Brown Leaves Town is warm and inviting. Its use of simple vocabulary and poetic verse makes it easy for elementary students to enjoy. Nikki Grimes language helps the readers feel very emotional attached to these two characters . As the reader reads these poems written among two best friends the author allows the reader to share their letters of friendship. This book is great as a read aloud. While the reader read the poems, he could share the beautifully illustrated pictures in the book. These illustrations by Floyd Cooper helps effectively capture the expressions of the two main characters (Danitra and Zuri) in the books. The illustration's' beautifully faded pastel colors allows the readers to feel the summer fun that consist of friendship, insects, softball, 4th of July and the summer's heat.

Review Excerpt(s):
From School Library Journal
Grades 3-5--Grimes and Cooper return with another story told through poems about Danitra Brown and Zuri Jackson. This time, the friends exchange letters all summer long while Danitra is visiting relatives. Zuri starts out feeling angry and disappointed that Danitra is leaving her behind and doesn't seem to care, but eventually both girls make new friends while they look forward to being together again. Some vignettes may leave readers with perplexing questions; for example, Danitra describes a stubborn dragonfly that she's sure would like to eat her, but the accompanying image depicts her smiling at it benignly. All in all, however, Cooper's photo-realist artwork in soft hues against glowing backdrops is a lovely complement to the girls' many moods.
Catherine Thread gill, Charleston County Public Library, SC
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
Ages 4-8. The best friends from Meet Danitra Brown (1994) celebrate summer apart and together in this warm story, told in simple free verse with big, joyful oil-wash paintings. The girls' friendship frames the story. At first Zuri is hurt that Danitra leaves to go to her family in the country, but then Danitra writes "I wish that you were here" and shares her delight in camping out under the stars, climbing trees, and discovering "a different Danitra." Meanwhile Zuri finds lots of fun and a new friend in her city neighborhood. The surprise is in the details: on one page Zuri writes to Danitra about a hip-swinging, head-bobbling, foot-stomping block party, and the bouncy painting shows Cooper at his best. Just as vital are the words and pictures of Danitra swinging in the country garden. Kids will see that both friends travel far and welcome each other home. Hazel RochmanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Connections:
This book can be used to get students thinking about their summer breaks. One could use this book as a guide or pre-writing activity to get students to write. Students could read this book than write about their summer breaks and their best friends.