Fins vs. Feet

Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature
By Robin Brande

I had heard about this title previously and when I saw it on the shelf the other day, I decided it was high time to check it out!

Summary
Mena Reece is starting high school on a low note. She’s recently been kicked out of her church and has brought about lawsuits against the pastor and multiple people in the congregation. All because she saw something she thought was wrong and decided to say something about it. As her entire world has revolved around Paradise Christian until now, this has put quite a damper on her social life. Throw in the fact that her parents are barely speaking to her and Mena might as well be invisible.

But while the first day of school proves torturous in many ways – from insults hissed in her ear to getting “accidentally” hip-checked by angry ex-friends – there is an unexpected bright spot. Mena’s biology teacher, Ms. Shepard, who is funky, dynamic, passionate about science, and just all-around intriguing. Ms. Shepard soon begins a unit on evolution, and while Mena would have previously been part of the “back turners” – the group of kids from her church who demand to be taught intelligent design and turn their chairs around in protest of the teaching of evolution – she finds herself really thinking about Ms. Shepard’s lessons, and begins to think about things on her own for change.

The events that occur during the evolution unit become bigger than anyone could have anticipated, and Mena finds herself facing questions about the co-existence of science and religion. In the end, she must decide what truths are those that are most comfortable to her, and find her own path to accepting what she knows is best for herself.

Worth staying up past bedtime?
Rating: Up ‘Til Dawn

Oh wow. If you are at all interested in a fiction story that sinks its teeth into some controversial real-life issues, get out and read this book. Yes, there are plenty of teen books out there that deal with topics like sex, drugs, bad parenting, etc., but I can’t think of one I’ve read that tackles religion like this one did. I love that Brande decided to tell the story from the point of view of a girl who maintained her own faith, but wasn’t afraid to question things she saw, thought, and felt. Some of the situations and questions Mena encounters are delicate (she’s never seen Lord of the Rings, because her parents believe it contains witchcraft), but Brande skillfully portrays Mena’s sheltered existence and the countering beliefs of her new friends with grace and respect for all parties. In the end, Mena makes decisions that are comfortable for her while simultaneously learning to open her mind to new ideas and ways of thinking.

Recommended for ages 13 and up.

Get 'Em While They're Hot

Bagels from Benny

by Aubrey Davis

I was straightening books in children’s non-fiction the other day (because I volunteer at the library, not because I’m a compulsive person who just straightens books, although I have been known to do so on occasion ...) and came across a book called Bagels from Benny. I was intrigued for two reasons: 1. The cover illustration was a giant bagel with a beam of light emanating through the center, beaming on to a young boy; and 2. I knew - just knew - it was a Jewish story. It wasn’t until I picked the book up and started reading that I realized this was the first religious-themed children’s book I have read since I started my program.

Summary

Benny is a young boy who’s grandfather owns a bagel shop. Everyday, Benny visits the shop and helps out, always noticing how complimentary the customers are about his grandfather’s bagels. “So crusty outside” cries one. “So soft inside!” says another. One day, as a woman thanks his grandfather, Benny overhears his reply: “Why thank me?” Benny is confused. Didn’t his grandpa make the bagels, meaning he deserves the thanks? When he asks about this, Benny’s grandfather explains the chain involved in making the bagels: flour that was made from wheat, that was made from the earth, which was made by God. Benny understands the chain, and thanks God for the delicious bagels.

But he wonders if God can hear him. So he decides that the best thing to do is share the bagels with God, because God should certainly have the chance to enjoy the result of all that hard work. What follows is Benny’s sweet attempts to share the bagels with God, and a realization that he has helped someone else in the process.

Worth Staying Up Past Bedtime?

I instantly fell in love with this story and would definitely stay up to read it again. A little research showed me that the story is actually based on an ancient Jewish folk tale from Spain, and I love the message it conveys. The illustrations were lovely and descriptive, and I found myself thinking fondly of the best bagels I’ve eaten as I looked at the plump, steaming ones in the pictures.

Reviews
“Even young readers will have no trouble appreciating either wisdom that Grandpa offers, or the close relationship between him and his devout grandson.” - Kirkus Reviews

“In creating a child protagonist and introducing an intergenerational element, Davis increases the folktale’s accessibility to young readers, and his fluid prose, too, is welcoming.” - Publisher’s Weekly

“A valuable addition to Judaic and public children’s collections.” - Jewish Book World

One for the Girls

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

by Judy Blume

Summary

New house, new city, new school, new friends. Bras, boys, bust exercises. Eleven-year-old Margaret Simon has a lot to deal with, and Judy Blume’s classic book Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, follows her as she embarks on a new school year at an age where everything is changing. Margaret is eagerly awaiting the day when she gets to wear a bra, kiss a boy and learn what cramps feel like. She also struggles with bigger issues, like figuring out where God is, and if her habit of talking to God on her own is weird because she doesn’t go to church or a synagogue. All Margaret wants is to fit in, but she also has a lot of questions and thoughts of her own to figure out before she can decide who - and how - she wants to be.

Worth staying up past bedtime?

Absolutely. Even though Margaret and I are separated by about 16 years of life experience, I found her to be a completely relatable and honest character. I wish I had read this book when I was 11, because just like Margaret, I had many questions and confusions about my body, church, friends and school. Her struggles reminded me of my own middle school experiences, and I found myself completely absorbed in her story.

Margaret isn’t perfect, and I loved that about her. She makes mistakes just like the rest of us, and she doesn’t shy away from asking questions and saying what she wants, which I think makes her a great role model for young girls. I felt a twinge of envy when she boldly announced to her mother that she was ready to wear a bra. I know the words didn’t come out my mouth that easily when I made the same declaration many years ago!

I would highly recommend this book to any pre-teen girl and possibly even to the mothers of those girls - just to remind them of what they were going through at that age!

Reviews

"With sensitivity and humor Judy Blume has captured the joys, fears, and uncertainty that surround a young girl approaching adolescence." - Publishers Weekly

"Female readers will identify with Margaret and relate to the things she worries about during her sixth grade year. Although this book was originally published in 1970, the issues Margaret deals with are timely for today's girls on the verge of adolescence. Readers will laugh with Margaret. It will be easy for girls to imagine themselves in Margaret's world because it is a realistic one. She experiences a wide range of emotions, all of which will strike a chord with readers."

-Jeanne K. Pettenati, J.D. Children's Literature

At the library

This book would provide a great discussion topic for a group of girls. Bring in a health professional to answer some of the health and body questions raised in the book, and see if the girls would be comfortable asking their own questions.

In the book, Margaret talks to God when she is worried or confused or when she just wants to get some thoughts out of her head. Ask the girls what they do when they feel like expressing their thoughts, fears and questions. Do they pray, write in a journal, talk to someone? What works and why?

SLIS 5420 / Module 2

Week of Sept. 6-12