A Modern Day Heroine ... from 1899

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

by Jacqueline Kelly

Calpurnia Tate came to me by way of a great friend who managed to get hold of an advance copy at an ALA conference earlier in 2009. By the time I got to it, there was buzz building about it in the talk about this year’s award winners, and rightfully so.

Summary

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is the story of a young girl living in west Texas in 1899. She is the only girl amongst several brothers, and unlike most girls of the time, she is more interested in science than sewing. Calpurnia’s interests in science and exploring are encouraged by her grandfather, a quiet, somewhat intimidating man who built the family pecan business and now spends his days tinkering in his lab and collecting specimens for observation.

Upon entering his personal library and getting glimpse of the books he reads and specimens he studies, Calpurnia is quickly enamored with science and making observations about the plant and animal life taking place around her. While her brothers consider their grandfather a somewhat unapproachable man, Calpurnia quickly becomes fast friends with the family patriarch, assisting him, asking questions, and learning. It is only when Calpurnia’s mother begins to take notice of her lack of interest in more feminine activities such as sewing and playing the piano, that Calpurnia begins to realize that science isn’t what she is “supposed” to do.

Worth Staying Up Past Bedtime?

Like I said in my introduction, there’s good reason this book has been getting some buzz. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate manages the great feat of taking young readers to an early time, yet never feels slow or dull. It also highlights the challenges young women of Calpurnia’s time were up against - those with ambitions toward higher education or careers were not always well-received or supported. Calpurnia is a great heroine for young girls, and I loved reading about her scientific ambitions and discoveries.

Reviews

“Interwoven with the scientific theme are threads of daily life in a large family—the bonds with siblings, the conversations overheard, the unspoken understandings and misunderstandings—all told with wry humor and a sharp eye for details that bring the characters and the setting to life.” - Booklist

“The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate” is the most delightful historical novel for tweens in many, many years. …Callie’s struggles to find a place in the world where she’ll be encouraged in the gawky joys of intellectual curiosity are fresh, funny, and poignant today.”— The New Yorker, “Book Bench” section

“Kelly, without anachronism, has created a memorable, warm, spirited young woman who’s refreshingly ahead of her time.”—The Horn Book Review

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

Transitions

Hello again, dear readers ... whoever you are ...

The spring semester has begun, and with it, a new batch of classes for me to tackle. While I no longer have to read numerous children’s books each week, I’m still reading them (of COURSE, I’m still reading them!). I’ve decided to keep this blog active as well, because I like sharing my thoughts on these books, and having a record of what I’ve read. To this point, all entries/reviews on this blog were for books I read for my SLIS 5420 course at UNT, which I completed in December 2009. From here, the format will change slightly, though I’ll still provide a summary and my own thoughts on each book I read.

Enjoy!

That's Brit Speak for "Kissing"

Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging

by Louise Rennison

Summary

Louise Rennison captures a year in the life of British teen Georgia Nicolson in this hilarious journal-style novel. Georgia chronicles the happenings of her everyday life - from the antics of her cat, Angus (who is part Scottish wildcat) to her lessons in snogging (that’s Brit speak for kissing, for all you Americans) - and leaves no detail out. She shares her dealings with frustrating parents, boy-obsessed friends, and school teachers who get mad when she laughs at their unintentional double entendres. She learns a few lessons and provides many laughs as she makes her way through the year, and readers get to experience it all right alongside her.

Worth staying up past bedtime?

I can’t remember the last time I laughed out loud so much while reading a book. I loved Georgia’s dry humor and unashamed questions and observations of her life and the lives of those around her. She’s something of a Bridget Jones for teens, and asks all the questions and has all the thoughts that any girl her age can relate to.

This book has received some challenges regarding its content, and while I can’t find anything specific about what was being challenged, I’m guessing it’s Georgia’s use of a French swear word (which is never defined, so readers who don’t know French must do their own research) and her talk about snogging boys and wondering what else they want to do with girls. In my opinion, her words are far from offensive, and her thoughts are completely normal and relatable. This book would be a fun and worthwhile addition to any library’s young adult collection.

Reviews

In a spectacular YA debut (Rennison is a comedy writer and columnist), the author creates a winning protagonist in the persona of 14-year-old Georgia Nicolson, whose wry observations and self-deprecating humor covers everything from prudish parents and bed-wetting three-year-old siblings to errant cat behavior and kissing (aka snogging) lessons. Teens will discover that nothing is sacred here (e.g., "Talking of breasts, I'm worried that I may end up like the rest of the women in my family, with just the one bust, like a sort of shelf affair"). Rennison exquisitely captures the fine art of the adolescent ability to turn chaos into stand-up comedy. For instance, when Georgia's father finds a new job in New Zealand, the teen says she's already formed her opinion of the country based on the TV show Neighbours; when her mother says, "Well, that's set in Australia," Georgia thinks, "What is this, a family crisis or a geography test?" Written as diary entries, the novel flouts the conceit, as when Georgia reports on a tennis match that she's playing concurrently ("I fall to my knees like McEnroe and the crowd is going mad"). - Publisher’s Weekly

In the library

This is definitely a book that girls will enjoy, and it would be well-suited for a reading group or book club. Georgia uses plenty of British slang, so have the students compare the American words to the British (the American version of the book has a British slang dictionary at the back that would be conducive to this).

Georgia shares a lot her personal embarrassments, such as how she attended a costume party dressed as a stuffed olive. If the group is comfortable with each other, ask them to share an embarrassing story that they now find funny. Use the book as a way of showing girls that embarrassing things happen to EVERYONE, and it’s okay to laugh about it.

SLIS 5420

Module 15

Dec. 7-13

Every Face a Different Shade

Bronx Masquerade

by Nikki Grimes

Summary

A group of students in a Bronx high school are studying the Harlem Renessance, and the poetry of the era takes hold. The teacher declares Open Mike Fridays, and encourages his students to bring in their personal poems to share with the class. Author Grimes presents their poetry mixed in with the personal stories behind it, along with the observations of a few classmates, in particular, a student named Tyronne, who, before the unit began, hardly gave school a second thought.

The students poems reflect their fears, dreams, thoughts, and observations, and by sharing their personal experiences with each other in the form of poetry, they all begin to see each other differently, and with more respect. And as a class, they begin to show others that they are not just rowdy kids with no ambitions, but real people who cannot be classified based on their location or skin color.

Worth staying up past bedtime?

Absolutely. I could not put this book down. I love how Grimes separates the poems with the students personal observations of what inspires the written words. Her teenagers are so real, and their problems and thoughts are so in-line with today’s young adults. I found myself relating to them and thinking back on my own high school experience as I read their words. The poems also have a lot to say about discrimination and the way many of the kids in Bronx are stereotyped simply based on their race or where they live. I enjoyed hearing their thoughts about those issues, and seeing their passion for rising above the rough and tumble street life so many people expect them to fall into.

Reviews

“As always, Grimes gives young people exactly what they’re looking for - real characters who show them they are not alone.” - School Library Journal

“All of the [students], black, Latino, white, male, and female, talk about the unease and alienation endemic to their ages, and they do it in fresh and appealing voices. Rich and complex.” - Kirkus Reviews

In the library

Read Bronx Masquerade aloud with students and then discuss their thoughts about poetry - both in the book, and in general. Students who may have been left with a bad taste in their mouth from previous poetry experiences might have something new to say after hearing Grimes’ fresh, teen-infused words.

Consider hosting an open mike poetry reading. Invite students to bring in their original poems, and kick the event off with a reading from Grimes’ book or something similar.

SLIS 5420

Module 14

Nov. 30-Dec.5