Module 15: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Summary: Through a series of letters, Charlie reveals the inner turmoil of his freshman year as he grapples with abuse, the death of his aunt and the suicide of a close friend. When seniors Patrick and his stepsister, Sam, befriend Charlie, they open up his world and he begins to come out of his shell. As Sam and Patrick prepare to leave for college, Charlie realize that many of his problems stem from childhood abuse. 

Citation:

Chbosky, S. (2012). The perks of being a wallflower. New York, NY: Gallery Books.

Impressions: The epistolary nature of the narrative definitely makes the story more intense and personal than your standard third person narrative. Charlie's story and downward spiral becomes so intense that I had to take a break from reading a few times. 

Reviews:

Aspiring filmmaker/first-novelist Chbosky adds an upbeat ending to a tale of teenaged angst—the right combination of realism and uplift to allow it on high school reading lists, though some might object to the sexuality, drinking, and dope-smoking. More sophisticated readers might object to the rip-off of Salinger, though Chbosky pays homage by having his protagonist read Catcher in the Rye. Like Holden, Charlie oozes sincerity, rails against celebrity phoniness, and feels an extraliterary bond with his favorite writers (Harper Lee, Fitzgerald, Kerouac, Ayn Rand, etc.). But Charlie’s no rich kid: the third child in a middle-class family, he attends public school in western Pennsylvania, has an older brother who plays football at Penn State, and an older sister who worries about boys a lot. An epistolary novel addressed to an anonymous “friend,” Charlie’s letters cover his first year in high school, a time haunted by the recent suicide of his best friend. Always quick to shed tears, Charlie also feels guilty about the death of his Aunt Helen, a troubled woman who lived with Charlie’s family at the time of her fatal car wreck. Though he begins as a friendless observer, Charlie is soon pals with seniors Patrick and Sam (for Samantha), stepsiblings who include Charlie in their circle, where he smokes pot for the first time, drops acid, and falls madly in love with the inaccessible Sam. His first relationship ends miserably because Charlie remains compulsively honest, though he proves a loyal friend (to Patrick when he’s gay-bashed) and brother (when his sister needs an abortion). Depressed when all his friends prepare for college, Charlie has a catatonic breakdown, which resolves itself neatly and reveals a long-repressed truth about Aunt Helen. A plain-written narrative suggesting that passivity, and thinking too much, lead to confusion and anxiety. Perhaps the folks at (co-publisher) MTV see the synergy here with Daria or any number of videos by the sensitive singer-songwriters they feature.

The perks of being a wallflower. (2010, May 20). Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/stephen-chbosky/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower/

Library Use: This would be another great book to generate discussions about sensitive topics such as sexual abuse. Since it it frequently on the banned book list, it would also be a great way to discuss why it has been banned and why it is an important book to read.

Module 14: Tricks

Summary: Ellen Hopkins profiles five different teens--Eden, Seth, Whitney, Ginger, and Cody who all turn to prostitution for different reasons. Eden is the daughter of  preacher who falls into prostitution after her father discovers her illicit relationship with a young man. After escaping a camp designed to "reform" her,  she turns to prostitution to survive. Seth's father kicks him out of the house after discovering he is gay. After drifting from man to man and trying to find a place to live, Seth becomes a prostitute to survive. Whitney is forced into prostitution by her rebound boyfriend. Ginger is a victim of sexual abuse by her mother's boyfriend. Cody becomes a prostitute to support his family.

Citation:

Hopkins, E. (2009). Tricks. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Impressions: Much like Crank, this book unflinchingly tackles a controversial issue. Hopkins never sugarcoats the truth so at times, this book was difficult to read. Like her previous books, it shows how a few wrong choices can result in devastating consequences. Considering how popular media tends to romanticize prostitution, this is a sobering example of how the real world works.

Reviews:

Gr 9 Up-- Five teens desperately seek to find their way through the darkness in Hopkins's latest epic novel in verse. Eden flees an evangelical household; Cody blocks out a family illness with gambling and sex; Whitney gives up her body in exchange for the love she finds so elusive; Seth struggles to define himself as a homosexual; and Ginger comes to terms with an awful truth about her neglectful mother. Burden after burden piles on the teens' shoulders until they resort to the unthinkable in order to survive. As they near rock bottom, their narratives begin to intersect. It is only when their paths converge that a glimmer of redemption appears out of the hopelessness. From the punch delivered by the title, to the teens' raw voices, to the visual impact of the free verse, Hopkins once again produces a graphic, intense tale that will speak to mature teens.


Maza, J. H. (2009, October). Tricks. School Library Journal, 55(10), 128-128. Retrieved May 8, 2016, from Academic Search Complete.

Library Use: I think it would be an excellent discussion starter about the consequences of our decisions and the reality of prostitution. I think it is an excellent way to let teens know that there is help out there and they are alone.

Module 13: Boys Over Flowers, Volume 1

 Summary: Tsukushi is the new scholarship student at the elite Eitoku Academy. Everything is going well until she stands up for a fellow classmate who is being bullied by the F4, four privileged, spoiled rich boys who run the school. By standing up to them, she earns a "red slip" which marks her as a target for bullying by the elite few. Even fellow students ignore her for fear of attracting attention to themselves. Not one to be bullied, Tsukushi stand up for herself and begins to inspire others to do the same.

Citation:

Kamio, Y. (2003). Boys over flowers. Hana yori dango (Vol. 1). San Francisco, CA: Viz.

Impressions: As much as I loved parts of this manga, I found other parts a bit to over the top for a shojo manga. For example, the F4 pay a group of boys to rape Tsukushi. The attempt is foiled but this is a romance manga and considering I know how the series ends (she ends up with the leader of the F4), I found that problematic for a title that is rated T for teen. If it hadn't been for the incident, I would have really liked this manga. The artwork is engaging and the theme is timely.

Reviews:
It's spring in Japan. News reports on the nuclear disaster, and havoc and destruction wrought by the earthquake and tsunami are intertwined with progress reports on the wave of cherry blossoms sweeping across the nation. In the mountains, wild vegetables are beginning to push through the snow. Many of these weeds are sansai: mountain vegetables prized for their delicate flavor and sold in farmer's markets. On a given weekend, you may see women and a few men carefully poring over the warming earth, foraging for fuki no to (coltsfoot), warabi (ferns) and my favorite, tsukushi (horsetail shoot).
Tsukushi also happens to be the name of my very favorite Japanese heroine. She's the main character of Yoko Kamio's wildly successful manga series, Hana Yori Dango, which loosely translates to Boys Over Flowers, a pun that refers to people's preference for dango, or sweet rice dumplings, over flowers during a cherry blossom viewing picnic. Trust me, it makes more sense in Japanese than English. All the same, you must read this series.
The story begins at Eitoku Academy, where the students have a novel approach to bullying: Every few weeks an unsuspecting student opens his locker, sees a flag hanging inside and hyperventilates. It's a signal that the student will now be subject to mandatory ostracism and torture, while the cliquey F4, scions of Japan's wealthiest families, will sit back and watch. It's Gossip Girl meets Survivor. Into this fray steps young Tsukushi, a scholarship student.
In the summer of 2007, I spent a great deal of time absorbing Hana Yori Dango. Why? I too, attended an elite prep school in northern California with a trenchant cliquey system of which teachers were sometimes a part. I too, cowered from bullies and skipped lunch altogether to avoid having to figure out where to sit, while I longed for acceptance and escape. I'm an adult now, but my adolescent me still cheers for Tsukushi.
Because when Tsukushi's friend is bullied, she takes on Domyoji, the leader of the F4. Naturally, she gets a red flag. Incensed, she declares war on the clique, later marching up to Domyoji and kicking him in the face in the cafeteria. He topples over in full view of his minions and falls instantly in love. So begins a very complicated romance.
By the early 90s when the series came out, the "bamboo shoot" days of post war Japan, in which the country was forced to forage to find something to eat, had ended. But money did not provide an answer to the existential questions of the Japanese youth. Nationwide bullying became so popular an incident as to become a regular feature on the nightly news.
In 2010, Princess Aiko, the only daughter of the Crowned Prince, made headlines when she refused to attend school due to harassment. In Hana Yori Dango, Kamio was making a statement about the impact of wealth on the young. But in Tsukushi, she was also appealing directly to what she knew had made Japan so great: kindness toward others, a belief in justice and fairness, and the ability to regenerate, as wild weeds always do.
"I am a tough, wild weed!" Tsukushi often reminds Doumyoji, herself and us, when facing challenges that might otherwise seem impossible to surmount. With this strength, often missing in depictions of Japanese women in the west, Tsukushi takes on the bullies in her school and her own inner fears, to emerge a picture of composed triumph.

Mockett, M. M. (2011, March 28). Head over heels for 'Boys Over Flowers' Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2011/04/15/134563204/head-over-heels-for-boys-over-flowers

Library Use: I think it would be a good way to generate a conversation about bullying and problematic favorite characters. This manga is extremely popular with middle and high school teens so I think it would be a great way to talk to teens about sexual violence.

Module 12: Just Being Audrey

Summary: The life of Audrey Hepburn from early days in ballet school to her career in film and beyond. The beautifully illustrated book delves into her development as a fashion icon Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.

Citation:

Cardillo, M. & Denos, J. (2011). Just being Audrey. New York: Balzer Bray.

Impressions: I found this book to be a perfect melding of art and writing. The watercolor illustrations brought Audrey to life and were the perfect personification of her personality. For a juvenile biography, the book covered all the major points in her life with the same grace that she herself possessed in life.

Reviews:

   K-Gr 3-In this delightful introduction to Audrey Hepburn, readers learn that as a child, she was gangly and imaginative, in a world of her own. When she announced that she wanted to be the prima ballerina of all of Europe, her mother told her that the world was bigger than she was, and to always be kind, a tenet that seems to have stuck with her for life. She was born into a family of some privilege (her mother was a baroness), but their small wealth was no match for the advancing Nazi troops in World War II. Along with her family and 40 others, she hid in a country house with no heat and little to eat. Through the ordeal, she kept dancing and taught the other children. As the war in Europe ended, a UN volunteer gave her a chocolate bar, an act of kindness that seemed to inspire her. After the young woman realized that she would be more suited to acting, her Cinderella career took her from London to Broadway to Hollywood, but the power in this book lies beyond her fame in the spotlight. Her generous humanitarian spirit is seen through her actions and deeds as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF as she used her celebrity as a vehicle to assist others. With a light, sweet narrative style, readers can almost picture Hepburn dancing as they turn the pages. Evocative of the period, Denos's almost impressionistic pen-and-ink and watercolor artwork is lively and colorful. This picture-book biography is a great addition to any collection.


Donnelly, A. (2011). [Just Being Audrey]. School Library Journal, 57(4), 158.

Library Use: I think this would be a wonderful way to promote biographies. Although I don't know how many children know Audrey Hepburn, I think this would be a book that their parents would pick up and share with them. The illustrations would definitely appeal to the "princess" crowd.

Module 11: The Day-Glo Brothers

Summary: The true story of Bob and Joe Switzer, two enterprising brothers who accidentally invent Day-Glo paint. While experimenting with fluorescent paint for Joe's magic act, Bob creates the dye that would eventually become Day-Glo paint.

Citation:

Barton, C., & Persiani, T. (2009). The Day-Glo brothers: The true story of Bob and Joe Switzer's bright ideas and brand-new colors. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.

Impressions: This falls under the category of stuff you see every day but didn't know how it was invented. I don't remember a world without Day-Glo colors so I found this book fascinating. I also like the retro illustrations that are reminiscent of late 1950's/early 1960's and the way to book goes from black and white line drawings to drawings with splashes of color (first fluorescent and then Day-Glo).

Reviews:
First featured in the Fall Preview, Chris Barton breaks down the story behind the discovery of Day-Glo colors in this tale of two brothers--one practical, one creative--who worked together to develop the neon brights that forever changed the world. The book required extensive research, as Barton delved into one brother's notes and interviews with the family to re-create the story The effort was well worth it. "The final pages explode in Day-Glo radiance," said the Kirkus reviews: "Rendered in 1950s-cartoon style, with bold lines and stretched perspectives, these two putty-limbed brothers shine even more brightly than the paints and dyes they created." (Ages 4-8)

The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer's Bright Ideas and Brand-New Colors. (2009). Kirkus Reviews, 77(22), 10.

Library Use: This would be a perfect book to use for either science or art class since it is perfect for STEAM projects. For art, it would be great to use for color mixing and the science of color. In a science classroom, you can also explore the science of color mixing from a chemistry perspective and also explore different types of fluorescence.

Module 10: Tomas and the Library Lady

Summary: Tomas leaves his home in Texas to travel with his migrant worker parents to a new job in Iowa. Thanks to a helpful librarian, Tomas begins to learn about the world around him through books and the library becomes his second home. He begins sharing his stories with his family and the other workers in the camp and becomes a storyteller like his grandfather. When they must leave for another job, he bids farewell to the library lady but his love of books travels with him.

Citation:

Mora, P., & Colón, R. (1997). Tomás and the library lady. New York: Knopf.

Impressions: Much like a lot of the books in this unit, this book left me with tears in my eyes. I need to buy a copy for myself so that when I am having a rough library day, I can bring it out, read it, and remind myself that what we do at the library is important. Tomas Rivera was a real person whose achievements in life were attributed to his early experiences in the library.

The artwork for the book is also extraordinary. The lithographs are done with crosshatching in warm colors that convenes the heartwarming nature of the book.

Reviews:

Gr 1-4-- Mora's slice-of-life account tells of the son of migrant workers (inspired by the boyhood of Hispanic author and educator Tomás Rivera) whose horizons and linguistic skills are thrown wide open by the guidance of a friendly librarian. The hardships of migrant life and the dreams that books and learning provide are carefully delineated in both text and muted illustrations. (Spanish edition: Tomás y la Señora de la Biblioteca)

Renner, C. (2005, July). Tomás and the Library Lady. School Library Journal, 51(7), 44-44. Retrieved  April 2, 2016, from Academic Search Complete. 

Library Use: The book is an wonderful way to demonstrate how libraries can affect your life and open up discussions about how reading can transport you to another place.

Module 9: Who Pushed Humpty Dumpty?

Summary: Binky works the robbery detail out of the Pinecone Division where he ends up investigating the untimely death of Humpty Dumpty. When Pig suddenly sees an upswing in his omelet inventory, Binky suspects that he may have something to do with the crime. Binky also investigates the death of witch by Hansel and Gretel, Snow White's poisoning, and other famous fairy tale cases.

Citation: Levinthal, David, and John Nickle. Who Pushed Humpty Dumpty?: And Other Notorious Nursery Tale Mysteries. New York: Schwartz & Wade, 2012. Print.

Impressions: I love fractured fairy tales and this one deftly combines those with crime noir. Each story is a different case. The illustrations are fun and colorful.

Reviews: 

Gr 1-4 -- These open-and-shut cases of nursery-rhyme mysteries are narrated by Officer Binky, a toad with a manner reminiscent of Joe Friday's on the old Dragnet TV show, with his typical "Just the facts, Ma'am" style. In the first of five short stories, the officer gets a call from Mrs. Bear, who is upset because someone broke into the family home, ate their porridge, sat in their chairs, and slept in their beds. Based upon the evidence-a blond hair and an empty bowl, a piece of blue material caught in a chair that has seen better days, and a disheveled quilt on a bed -- Officer Binky deduces that it "could only be one dame: Goldilocks!" When questioned, she admits to being the intruder. The intrepid cop assures readers that "they'll feed her three meals a day where she's going, and she'll have plenty of time to rest." Hansel and Gretel, Humpty Dumpty, Snow White, and Jack and the Beanstalk are all similarly treated in eight pages or less with the police officer quickly solving the mysteries behind the well-known tales. Illustrations are presented in a variety of sizes and set off by frames in different colors. At the end of each segment, a red stamp reading 'CASE CLOSED' is superimposed over Nickle's richly colored acrylic artwork. The tongue-in-cheek telling of tales will tickle the fancies of children familiar with the originals. -- Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI.

Owen, Maryann H.1. "Who Pushed Humpty Dumpty?: And Other Notorious Nursery Tale Mysteries." School Library Journal 58.9 (2012): 118. Book Review Digest Plus (H.W. Wilson). Web.  2016. 

Library Use: I think this book lends itself to a Readers Theater production. You could do it as a live action show or a puppet show depending on your resources.

Module 8: Artemis Fowl

Summary: Artemis Fowl may be a millionaire, genius, criminal mastermind but when he steals an ancient fairy book and kidnaps a fairy, he unknowingly declares war on the entire underworld. While he is planning on stealing fairy gold, the agents of LEPrecon are closing in on him with an agenda which does not include leaving any human involved alive. As the kidnapped fairy, Captain Holly Short, regains her powers, they find a way for everyone to walk away from the situation unscathed.

Citation:

Colfer, E. (2001). Artemis Fowl. New York: Hyperion Books For Children.

Impressions: Judging from the reviews I read, I think this book suffered from post-Harry Potter syndrome where every book with a young male protagonist involving magic was compared to J.K. Rowling's masterwork. I personally thought the book was inventive, fun, and had a new take on old legends such as leprechauns and fairies. I loved the idea that leprechauns were actually magical police agents who tried to keep the underworld from seeping into the human realm. I love Artemis and really didn't see many parallels between him and Harry Potter. Colfer's writing always reminds me of the late Douglas Adams. It's very tongue-in-cheek and balances humor with action.

Reviews:
Meet Artemis Fowl, Harry Potter's Irish evil twin. A twelve-year-old criminal mastermind, Fowl brings the fairy folk to their knees when he steals their sacred book (translating it on his computer), and kidnaps one of their own, demanding gold for a ransom. Yet while the Harry Potter series exposes the magic tucked within the mundane, Artemis Fowl goes the opposite route. These fairies opt for technological gadgets over pixie dust and, if their dialogue is any indication, seem au courant with our cheesy action movies ("Freeze, Mud Boy"). In fact, Colfer informs us, leprechauns aren't the knicker-wearing, shamrock-waving creatures humans think they are. They are actually "an elite branch of the Lower Elements Police," a.k.a. LEPrecon unit. The self-conscious revisioning of the fairy world as a sort of wisecracking police force with friction among the ranks occurs throughout the novel, stealing focus from the one truly intriguing character, Artemis himself. It is a relief to see fleeting chinks in Artemis's James Bond--style cool, as when he thinks about his mother, who has become severely depressed and delusional since the disappearance of Artemis's father. Still, the long stretches devoted to the fairy world's maneuverings, which only readers fond of technical detail will find appealing, overwhelm these moments. There's a lot of invention here, but it's not used enough in service to the story, and may well be deployed to better effect in the feature film slated for next year.

Heppermann, C. M. (2001, July). Artemis Fowl (Book Review). Horn Book Magazine, 77(4), 449-449. Retrieved March 9, 2016, from Book Review Digest Plus (H.W. Wilson). 

Library Use: I personally used this for me STEM program LEPrecon science so I can see this being used in a science class or as part of a book club. I think it would be useful to talk about the Harry Potter comparison and discuss how the two books differ.

Module 7: Eleanor and Park

Summary: When Eleanor first boards the bus looking for a seat, Park views as nothing more than a nuisance. He is not one to call attention to himself and Eleanor can't help but call attention to herself. Through their mutual love of music and comics, they move from friends to actual boyfriend and girlfriend. Along the way, Park discovers the courage to be himself and stand up for himself and Eleanor and Eleanor finds a safe space away from her neglectful mother and cruel stepfather. When her stepfather discovers her relationship with Park, Eleanor realizes that she is in danger and asks Park to help her escape to her uncle's house in Minnesota.

Citation:

Rowell, R. (2013). Eleanor & Park. New York, NY: St. Martin's Griffin.

Impressions: As a teen in the 1980's, I found the time and the setting for this story very realistic. I was a lot like Park so I could definitely relate to his character. Like many other readers, I was rooting for a happy ending but I think Rowell gave us the ending the story deserved because anything less than that would be unrealistic. I liked the alternating points of view and think she did a good job conveying each character's feelings.

Reviews:
Half-Korean sophomore Park Sheridan is getting through high school by lying low, listening to the Smiths (it's 1986), reading Alan Moore's Watchmen comics, never raising his hand in class, and avoiding the kids he grew up with. Then new girl Eleanor gets on the bus. Tall, with bright red hair and a dress code all her own, she's an instant target. Too nice not to let her sit next to him, Park is alternately resentful and guilty for not being kinder to her. When he realizes she's reading his comics over his shoulder, a silent friendship is born. And slowly, tantalizingly, something more. Adult author Rowell (Attachments), making her YA debut, has a gift for showing what Eleanor and Park, who tell the story in alternating segments, like and admire about each other. Their love is believable and thrilling, but it isn't simple: Eleanor's family is broke, and her stepfather abuses her mother. When the situation turns dangerous, Rowell keeps things surprising, and the solution--imperfect but believable--maintains the novel's delicate balance of light and dark. Ages 13-up. Agent: Christopher Schelling, Selectric Artists. (Mar.)


Eleanor & Park. (2012, December 10). Publishers Weekly, 259(50), 62-63. Retrieved March 5, 2016, from Book Review Digest Plus (H.W. Wilson).

Library Use: I think this would definitely open up dialog about abuse and neglect and how to see the warning signs in other people. I think it's also an excellent example about how music plays such an important part in people's lives.

Module 7: Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things

Summary: Alvin Ho can't talk at school which makes finding friends a bit of a chore. Luckily, Alvin is an expert on planning everything from escaping a fire in the school cafeteria to surviving show and tell so planning to find a friend should be easy. Between escapades such as bringing his father's prized Johnny Astro toy to school (which results in its inevitable destruction) to dealing with his supposedly evil piano teacher, Alvin discovers that his annoying, strange neighbor Flea is really the best friend he could ever need.

Citation:

Look, L., & Pham, L. (2008). Alvin Ho: Allergic to girls, school, and other scary things. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books.

Impressions: My favorite part of this book is the way most of the characters in this book treat Alvin, who is obviously not neurotypical. It is interesting to see neurodiverse characters being treated respectfully and like any neurotypical child. Additionally, I loved the episodic nature of the story and the illustrations.

Reviews:
 Fearful second-grader Alvin Ho has never, not once, said a single word in school. His voice works at home, in the car, on the school bus. "But as soon as I get to school... I am as silent as a side of beef." Like the author's Ruby Lu chapter books (Ruby Lu, Brave and True; Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything, rev. 5/06), this one acknowledges kids' troubles while lightening them in a funny yet respectful way. For instance, Alvin plays cards with the psychotherapist he sees for his anxiety. When he realizes she's letting him win, he says his first words to her -- swear words he's learned from his dad. But they're Shakespearean swear words ('Sit thee on a spit, then eat my sneakers, thou droning beef-witted nut hook'), so she's impressed. There's no miracle cure for Alvin's missing voice, and the book nicely focuses more on his need for friends. At the end, he's still afraid of school, scary movies, etc., but he's made a friend -- and it's (yikes!) a girl. Generously illustrated short chapters include laugh-out-loud descriptions of Alvin's attempt to grow taller (his siblings leave him hanging from a tree branch where he remains forgotten until his mother spots his empty seat at dinner), his fateful decision to bring his dad's beloved childhood Johnny Astro toy for show-and-tell, and his brief membership in a not-so-tough neighborhood gang. Readers will hope Alvin has enough fears to fill yet another small but hugely amusing chapter book.


Brabander, J. M. (2008). [Alvin Ho]. Horn Book Magazine, 84(4), 453.

Library Use: I think this is a good discussion started for issues surrounding children who are neurodiverse like Alvin or eccentric like Flea.

Module 6: Doug Unplugged

Summary: Doug, the robot boy, is supposed to be downloading facts about the city but when he spies a pigeon outside his window, he unplugs himself and forgoes the virtual world for the real world of humans. Along the way, he rides the subway and discovers all the joys the city has to offer including a new human friend.

Citation:

Yaccarino, D. (2013). Doug unplugged. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Impressions: With all the talk about kids being plugged into electronics all day, I thought this book made a good point about unplugging and experiencing life first hand without being preachy. I adore the retro illustrations and bright colors.

Reviews:

A little robot boy goes on an urban adventure. Each morning, Doug's parents plug him in so that he can download lots of facts and become "the smartest robot ever." On the second spread, Doug sits atop a stool, plugged into a computer that looks like ENIAC, with the goal of learning all about the city. He waves goodbye to his parents as they walk off the verso, briefcases in hand, presumably headed off to work. The next page opening has the appearance of a circuit board or retro video game screen, with a tiny picture of plugged-in Doug in the upper-left corner. The spread is designed like a map through everything he is to learn that day, complete with a yellow line highlighting his planned path to various points, with facts about taxis, fountains, skyscrapers, pigeons and so on. When Doug sees a real pigeon on his windowsill, he decides to unplug and venture out to learn about the city in person. He encounters everything from the screen, but the best part of his adventure comes when he befriends a boy in the park. They play together until the boy realizes he doesn't know where his parents are, and then Doug helps reunite them--only to decide he wants to go home, following the classic home-away-home story arc. Yaccarino's retro palette and style suit this robot tale to a T. A lively, colorful celebration of unmediated living. (Picture book. 3-5)


Doug unplugged. (2013, January 15). Kirkus Reviews, 81(2), 47-47. Retrieved February 27, 2016, from Book Review Digest Plus (H.W. Wilson).

Library Use:  This would be a great way to kickoff an electronics free event at a school or library. I can envision using it for a storytime with an emphasis on creative ways to avoid electronic overload.

Module 5: One Crazy Summer

Summary:  Delphine, Vonetta and Fern are being forced to spend the summer with their estranged mother Cecile in Oakland, California. It's a summer of unrest in Oakland and Cecile's friendship with members of the Black Panthers puts her and her children in jeopardy. While attending a Black Panther summer camp, Delphine and her sisters begin to learn the reason behind the unrest and begin for form an uneasy bond with their mother. Slowly, Delphine discovers why her mother abandoned them and finds a voice to her anger.

Citation:

Williams-Garcia, R. (2010). One crazy summer. New York: Amistad.

Impressions: I found myself draw into this story from the beginning and even though I knew a little about the Black Panthers, I found seeing them through the eyes of a child to be quite enlightening. Delphine's innocence contrasted with her mother's world weariness in a way that left both characters changed for the better. 

Reviews:
Gr 4-7-It is 1968, and three black sisters from Brooklyn have been put on a California-bound plane by their father to spend a month with their mother, a poet who ran off years before and is living in Oakland. It's the summer after Black Panther founder Huey Newton was jailed and member Bobby Hutton was gunned down trying to surrender to the Oakland police, and there are men in berets shouting "Black Power" on the news. Delphine, 11, remembers her mother, but after years of separation she's more apt to believe what her grandmother has said about her, that Cecile is a selfish, crazy woman who sleeps on the street. At least Cecile lives in a real house, but she reacts to her daughters' arrival without warmth or even curiosity. Instead, she sends the girls to eat breakfast at a center run by the Black Panther Party and tells them to stay out as long as they can so that she can work on her poetry. Over the course of the next four weeks, Delphine and her younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern, spend a lot of time learning about revolution and staying out of their mother's way. Emotionally challenging and beautifully written, this book immerses readers in a time and place and raises difficult questions of cultural and ethnic identity and personal responsibility. With memorable characters (all three girls have engaging, strong voices) and a powerful story, this is a book well worth reading and rereading.

Markson, T. (2010, March). [One Crazy Summer]. School Library Journal, 56(3), 170-170. Retrieved February 19, 2016, from Book Review Digest Plus (H.W. Wilson). 

Library Use: This would be a perfect book to use for African American History Month. The Black Panthers were an important part of history that is often ignored in children's books because they were so controversial. With the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, I think this book would be a perfect way to bring the history of the black power movement to life in a library program. 

Module 5: The First Last Part

Summary: Bobby is a teenage single parent trapped between the past and the future. When his girlfriend Nia becomes pregnant, they debate whether to put the baby up for adoption or keep it. Then tragedy strikes and Nia falls into a coma. Bobby decides that he can't let their baby, Feather, go and plans on raising her himself.

Citation:

Johnson, A. (2003). The first part last. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Impressions: I think this is one of the few books that I read in one sitting. It was raw and compelling but also sweet and gentle. Bobby's love for Feather and Nia is so beautiful and even though he knows this won't be an easy job, he want to be a good parent to Feather. There are so few stories told from the point of view of a teenage single father and I found this one to be very honest. I liked the way the story moved between the past and the present so you slowly discovered how Bobby became a single father.

Reviews:

Gr 7 Up-- Angela Johnson's Printz Award-winning novel (S & S, 2003) is perfectly suited to the audiobook medium, and Khalipa Oldjohn narrates this first person tale with poignant authenticity of tone and pacing. At 16, Bobby struggles to be a father to his newborn daughter while keeping up with school, maintaining his boyhood friendships, and trying to live up to his parents' expectations. Told in alternating passages of "Now" and "Then," the back-story that has brought Bobby to this point falls steadily but deliberately into place, with the revelation of why Bobby is a single father arriving only near the very end. In spite of its brevity, the story is complex and satisfying. Bobby is both boy and man, responsible and overwhelmed, near panic and able to plan an intelligent and loving future for Feather, the daughter he adores and nurtures. In audio format, this story can readily be shared in just a class period or two and will grab listeners immediately, making it an ideal subject for class discussion. It will also be instantly popular for leisure reading outside of school.


Goldsmith, F., & Mandell, P. L. (2005). The First Part Last. In School Library Journal (Vol. 51, p. 77). Media Source. Retrieved February 17, 2016, from Academic Search Complete.

Library Use: Teenage pregnancy is a touchy topic and I think this book is a good way to create a discussion about the issue especially about the obligations of teenage fathers.

Module 4: The Trumpeter of Krakow

Summary: Joseph Charnetski is bound to protect the Great Tarnov Crystal at all costs. When his family's house is destroyed by fire, his father Andrew takes the family to Krakow to give the crystal to the King of Poland. Unfortunately, the king is not in Krakow so the family must hide from the murderous Tartar's to protect the crystal and their lives. Joseph goes to live near the alchemist Kreutz and takes a job as the trumpeter of Krakow keeping watch on the city. During a scuffle with Tartars who are trying to steal the crystal, Kreutz find it and begins to use it in his experiments. During one of his trances, Kreutz's apprentice Tring conjures up some explosives that set the city of fire. Joseph warns the city while Kreutz wanders around with the crystal. The crystal is finally returned to the king who throws it in the river.

Citation: 

Kelly, E. P.,  & Domanska, J. (1992). The trumpeter of Krakow. New York, NY: Aladin Paperbacks.

Impressions: I tried to like this book. I really did but it was excruciating to read and even more excruciating to summarize. The writing is full of purple prose which may have gone over in the 1920's but seems dated and boring today.

Reviews:

Everyone seems to love The Trumpeter of Krakow, by Eric P. Kelly. Amazon.com has mostly four and five star reviews, and the few one and two star reviews on goodreads.com say non-specific things like "I couldn't finish it" or "really boring" - things that I think kids say about a lot of assigned books that they have no real interest in reading.

So I expected that I would like The Trumpeter of Krakow. I was looking forward to reading about medieval (or mid-evil, as one kid wrote in his review) Poland, as I like historical fiction, and have especially liked most of the other Newbery winners set in the Middle Ages.

Sadly, I really didn't enjoy The Trumpeter much. Maybe I'm becoming curmudgeonly, because the only medalist I've really liked out of the fourteen I've read in the last year is Criss Cross. Or maybe I picked all the best ones first, and now that I'm near the end of all of the Newbery winners, I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel. But I thought I was going like The Trumpeter of Krakow!

My problem with the story started right away in the first chapter - "The Man Who Wouldn't Sell His Pumpkins". The first sentence of the chapter states that "It was in late July of the year 1461 that the sun rose one morning red and fiery as if ushering in the midsummer's hottest day" (p. 7). Some interesting descriptions of wagons and people on the road to Krakow follow, and we meet the villain, whom you can tell is really bad because he's so ugly:

"It was the face, however, that betrayed the soul beneath. It was a dark, oval, wicked face - the eyes were greenish and narrow and the eyebrow line above them ran straight across the bridge of the nose, giving the effect of a monkey rather than a man. One cheek was marked with a buttonlike scar, the scar of the button plague that is so common in the lands east of the Volga, or even the Dnieper, and marks the bearer as a Tartar or a Cossack or a Mongol. The ears were low set and ugly. The mouth looked like the slit that boys make in the pumpkins they carry on the eve of Allhallows" (p. 12).

Now hold it right there. In 1461, boys in Poland did not make jack-o-lanterns out of pumpkins. Squash and pumpkins were domesticated by the American Indians in prehistoric North America, and before 1492, there wasn't much of chance for Europeans to grow pumpkins (or tomatoes, chili peppers, kidney/pinto/Lima beans, tobacco, maize, potatoes, zinnias or petunias, either). Well, maybe this wasn't widely known in 1928, and anyway, it's only a descriptive passage.

But wait a minute. A few pages later, we learn that a man, a woman, and their son have a huge yellow pumpkin in their wagon - and the man (Pan Andrew, or Mr. Andrew) refuses to sell it to the villain, even for its weight in gold. Well, that's where the name of the chapter comes from, obviously, but this late-season pumpkin from the steppes just bothered me. It made me suspicious of all of the other historical descriptions in the book.

I never really felt close to any of the main characters - Joseph (Andrew's son), his mother, Andrew the trumpeter, the alchemist Kreutz, or Kreutz's niece, Elzbietka. The mystery and the suspense that others applaud felt mechanical and forced to me. Although I enjoyed the rather lengthy descriptions of medieval Krakow, with its pillories, university students, cloth traders, night watchmen, and priests, I suspect my 12 year old son wouldn't find it as interesting as I did, especially in the absence of more engaging characters.

I guess I'm glad that so many other people still enjoy this story, but (as with Shen of the Sea), I'm at a loss as to why I don't like it more when so many others do. The whole alchemy and hypnotism story line didn't do much for me, either. But maybe I would have liked it a lot more if not for the pumpkins.

D, S. (2009, September 27). The trumpeter of Krakow. Retrieved from http://newberryproject.blogspot.com/2009/09/trumpeter-of-krakow.html

Library Use: I really can't think of a good way to use this book except as an example of the way standards for good books change throughout the ages. Maybe some day eighty years from now, a teen will think The Hunger Games is overwrought and full of purple prose. Just thinking about this book makes me drowsy. It might make a good way to steady a shaky library table.

Module 4: The One and Only Ivan

Summary: Ivan, the gorilla, is the king of a concrete jungle. Trapped inside the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he performs for customers while hoping for something more. Something he can't even express but he knows exists. When his friend, Stella the elderly elephant, passes away from neglect and abuse, Ivan decides that the new baby elephant, Ruby, deserves a better life than the one they have been leading. Through his art, he begins to achieve new fame and attract the attention of animal rights workers. With the help of Julia, the janitor's daughter and Bob, the stray dog, Ivan and Ruby finally find a new life at the zoo where they can live with animals like themselves.

Citation:

Applegate, K. (2012). The one and only Ivan. New York: Harper.

Impressions: This was another book that had my crying by the end. I love the fact that the book is told from Ivan's point of view. Since Ivan has a childlike naivete like the target audience for this book, you experience his awakening and realization that there is life beyond his concrete prison.

Reviews:

How Ivan confronts his harrowing past yet stays true to his nature exemplifies everything youngsters need to know about courage.

Living in a "domain" of glass, metal and cement at the Big Top Mall, Ivan sometimes forgets whether to act like a gorilla or a human--except Ivan does not think much of humans. He describes their behavior as frantic, whereas he is a peaceful artist. Fittingly, Ivan narrates his tale in short, image-rich sentences and acute, sometimes humorous, observations that are all the more heartbreaking for their simple delivery His sorrow is palpable, but he stoically endures the cruelty of humans until Ruby the baby elephant is abused. In a pivotal scene, Ivan finally admits his domain is a cage, and rather than let Ruby live and die in grim circumstances, he promises to save her. In order to express his plea in a painting, Ivan must bravely face buried memories of the lush jungle, his family and their brutal murder, which is recounted in a brief, powerful chapter sure to arouse readers' passions. In a compelling ending, the more challenging question Applegate poses is whether or not Ivan will remember what it was like to be a gorilla. Spot art captures poignant moments throughout.

Utterly believable, this bittersweet story, complete with an author's note identifying the real Ivan, will inspire a new generation of advocates, (author's note) (Fiction. 8-12)

The one and only Ivan. (2012, November 16). Kirkus Reviews, 45-46. Retrieved February 13, 2016, from Book Review Digest Plus (H.W. Wilson). 

Library Use: This would definitely generate discussions about animal rights and would be appropriate for everything from a book group to a science class. The more we learn about animal intelligence, the more we feel the need to correct the way we have treated animals in the past. This book is a perfect springboard for that type of discussion.

Module 3: The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend

Summary: Beekle is an imaginary friend without a child to befriend him. After waiting a long time, he ventures into the real world to find his friend. Instead, he finds a cold world without any joy until he discovers a playground full of children. When he thinks all is lost, a young girl spots him up in a tree. Alice recognizes him and they become fast friends.

Citation:

Santat, D. (2014). The adventures of Beekle: The unimaginary friend. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

Impressions: I love how Santat's work in this books likes retro and modern at the same time. The depth of emotion his characters convey makes the story more touching and immediate. You feel for Beekle and rejoice when he finds Alice. The story itself is very simply but when combined with the expressive artwork, it creates a powerful story.

Reviews:
PreS-Gr 2— How long would you wait and how far a journey would you make to find your truest friend? Born on an island for imaginary friends, Beekle waits to be "imagined by a real child." He waits and he waits, but his turn never comes. Filled with impetuous courage, Beekle does the unimaginable and heads out across deep waters until he reaches the real world. He finds that life there is so harried that no one notices him. Eventually, as he waits at the top of a star-leafed tree, a small girl with a friendly face calls out to him with a picture in her hand. They learn to be friends, share adventures and snacks, joke, "and together they did the unimaginable." Santat's attention to detail in the mixed-media illustrations shares a child's eye for laughter and movement on full-bleed spreads with strategically placed text. Gazes of wonderment, broad smiles, and changes in perspective ensure an easy transition from page to page. Beekle's round white visage and taped orange paper crown are immediately identifiable in each scene, a sharp contrast to his surroundings against variations of dark neutrals on a city street or the brightly colored dragons of a child's imagination. Like Beekle's new friend, there's something here that feels just right as an "unimaginary" friendship creates a joyous, recognizable bond. A terrific addition to any library.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX

Elam, M. (2014, April). Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend. School Library Journal, 60(4), 134-134. Retrieved February 7, 2016, from Book Review Digest Plus (H.W. Wilson). 

Library Use: Inspired by the drawings in the front and back of kids with their imaginary friends, I would do an art program where kids could design their own imaginary friend using a variety of media ranging from paint and paper to 3-D sock friends.

Module 3:Locomotive

Summary: Follow a family heading west as they travel by train from Omaha, Nebraska to Sacramento, California. Experience the sites and sounds of train travel in 1869 from boarding the train and having your ticket punched to having lunch at a railroad restaurant. See famous sites and treacherous territory.

Citation:

Floca, B. (2013). Locomotive. S.l.: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Impressions: This is one of the most lavishly illustrated picture books that I have ever seen. The research and detail that has gone into this book is truly amazing. To make things even better, the text is written in free verse. It's a perfect melding of text and illustrations.

Reviews:

Leave it to the author/illustrator who has three times been awarded the Robert F. Sibert Honor Award (Lightship, Moonshot, Ballet for Martha) to bring readers an epic, yet also intimate, 64-page picture book about America's first transcontinental railroad and the "iron horses" that rode them-the great trains of 1869 that took Americans on the "new road of rails" made for crossing the country Brian Floca's Locomotive will surely go down as one of 2013's best picture books, an intricately detailed and exhaustively researched look at the Union Pacific, the Central Pacific and the spike made of gold that once joined them. In vivid and precise free verse, Floca frames the story with a family traveling to California, and it is with them that readers take the exhilarating ride. Floca's research--which was conducted over several years and included driving the transcontinental route himself, which he describes as an "invaluable" part of his studies-makes for an engaging, highly accessible piece of nonfiction. "So much of all (that time period) comes down to us in posed, sometimes stiff, always still, black-and-white pictures," Floca says, "but the period and its inventions would amaze any age with their color, motion and vitality Getting a feel for that, and getting to write and paint about it--it was a great experience!" A remarkable achievement, Locomotive is a must-see for readers of all ages. All aboard!


Danielson, J. (2013, May 31). Brian Floca's Locomotive: A vivid free-verse ride across America. Kirkus Reviews, 42-42. Retrieved February 7, 2016, from Book Review Digest Plus (H.W. Wilson).

Library Use: I would do a program around this book and invite members of the local toy train group to set up a display related to this book. Since kids love trains, this would be a perfect way to tie the book into a large scale exhibit or event.

Module 2: Madeline

Summary: Madeline is the smallest of twelve girls under Miss Clavel's care. Madeline is brave, loves the winter, and knows how to frighten Miss Clavel. One night Madeline's appendix bursts and she is taken to the hospital. While she is recovering , Miss Clavel brings the other girls to visit her in the hospital where she shows off her scar and new toys from her father.

Citation:

Bemelmans, L. (1967). Madeline. New York: Viking Press.

Impressions: As much as I like the story, I love the different Paris landmarks featured in the book. It really is a subtle tour of Paris. The artwork is simple, yet iconic. Like Curious George, the color palette was determined by the printing process at the time but the colors aren't as jarring as they are in other books of the time. 

Reviews:
The first book I would like to share with you is the picture book Madeline. The book was written and illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans. This was my favorite book when I was little.
Madeline, the character, is a student at an all-girl boarding school in Paris that is lead by a nun named Miss Clavel. Miss Clavel runs an orderly operation where the girls are in two straight lines as they “break their bread, and brush their teeth, and went to bed”. But Madeline has a tendency to test the waters with Miss Clavel (which results in many other adventures: Madeline’s Rescue, Madeline in London, Madeline and the Bad Hat, Madeline and the Gypsies).
In this book, Ludwig Bemelman uses brisk rhyming to tell the story of how Miss Clavel’s regular routine is disrupted when Madeline gets an attack of appendicitis one night and is rushed to the hospital. With great concern Miss Clavel and the other girls quietly visit Madeline in the hospital only to find “toys and candy and the dollhouse from Papa”!
What I really love about the Madeline books are the illustrations. Bemelmans illustrations fascinated me as a child. I love them because they are not perfect. Most of the picture books I read when I was young had beautiful illustrations. I did enjoy those books as well, but I felt frustrated that I could not draw like that. But I did (and still do) draw more like Bemelmans’ style for the Madeline books. I delight in studying the details of his quirky illustrations, the chandeliers, the ivy covered walls, and the Paris landmarks. Madeline.com talks about how he also contributed illustrations for New Yorker, Bazaar, and Fortune magazines. Bemelmans also painted murals at New York's Carlyle Hotel. Madeline.com tells us
"Although Bemelmans became famous for his Madeline books, he always considered himself more an artist illustrator than a writer, and later in life he became a serious painter with works now on display in the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the Museé National d'Art of Paris."
So it is clear why the American Library Association awarded Bemelmans with a Caldecott Honor Award, an award that recognizes the artists of distinguished American children picture books.

Bankey, L. (2009, July 17). 'Madeline' by Ludwig Bemelmans. Retrieved from http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/books/madeline-by-ludwig-bemelmans/

Library Use: I would love to do a program based around the sights and sounds of Paris as shown in the book. Travel to Paris with Madeline would feature the sights of Paris along with French treats and tea.

Module 2: Matilda

Summary: Born into a family of cretins, Matilda turns to the library and books for comfort and education. By the time her family remembers to put her in school, she has already developed into a clever, intelligent girl who loves to learn and play tricks on her family. When she arrives at Crunchem Hall Primary School, she delights at her amazing teacher Miss Jennifer Honey whose gentle nature is offset by the horrible headmistress, Miss Trunchbull. Miss Trunchbull is a power crazed bully who regularly throws kids out of windows. While at the school, Matilda begins to develop strange powers that she uses on Miss Trunchbull. When she discovers the Trunchbull has usurped Miss Honey's inheritance, Matilda uses her powers to drive Miss Trunchbull away and convinces her to return the school to Miss Honey. As Matilda's parents are fleeing the country, Matilda pleads with them to let Miss Honey take custody of her and they agree. Together, Miss Honey and Matilda form a new family and life together.

Citation:

Dahl, R., & Blake, Q. (2007). Matilda. New York: Puffin Books.

Impressions: I am a little bit embarrassed that I never read this book. I love Roald Dahl and I can see why this is an instant classic. It's biting satire of middle class values and anti-intellectualism makes it a perfect book for children and adults alike. As a person who believes that family is more than blood, I also liked the relationship between Matilda and Miss Honey.

Reviews:

 Gr 4-6 Dahl's latest piece of madcap mayhem is a story filled with the elements that his fans cravesardonic humor, the evilest of villians, the most virtuous of heroines, and children who eventually defeat those big bad grown-ups. In this book, Matilda isn't just smart, she is `èxtra-ordinary. . .sensitive and brilliant,'' reading Great Expectations as a four year old. Unfortunately, her TV-addict parents neither recognize nor appreciate their daughter's genius. Neglected Matilda finds mentors in librarian Mrs. Phelps and teacher Miss Honey, a woman as sweet as her name implies. Miss Honey, Matilda, and other students are tormented by the child-hating headmistress Trunchbull. Trunchbull has also cheated orphaned niece Miss Honey out of her rightful inheritance, leaving the teacher in extreme poverty. Having practiced revenge techniques on her father, Matilda now applies her untapped mental powers to rid the school of Trunchbull and restore Miss Honey's financial security. If the conclusion is a bit too rapid, the transitions between Matilda's home and school life a bit choppy, and the writing style not as even as in some of Dahl's earlier titles, young readers won't mind. Dahl has written another fun and funny book with a child's perspective on an adult world. As usual, Blake's comical sketches are the perfect complement to the satirical humor. This may not be a teacher's or principal's first choice as a classroom read-aloud, but children will be waiting in line to read it. Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Lib . , Wis.

Piehler, H. (1988, October). Matilda (Book Review) (Undetermined). School Library Journal, 35, 143-143. Retrieved January 31, 2016, from Book Review Digest Plus (H.W. Wilson). 

Library Use: I was use this as a way to discuss the use of satire and middle class values. One of the recurring themes in the book is anti-intellectualism so I would contrast that with the freedom that Matilda achieves through reading.

Module 1: Little Red Writing

Summary: Little Red is a pencil on a mission--to write a story for her class assignment. Little does she know where her story path will lead her as she discovers that Principal Granny has been replaced by the Wolf 3000, the biggest baddest pencil sharpener ever.

Citation: Holub, J., Sweet, M. (2013). Little red writing. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books.

Impressions: I really loved this ingenious retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. It works as both a fractured fairy tale and as a lesson is developing a short story. 

Reviews:
Little Red, a red pencil at Pencil School, embarks on a story-writing assignment, equipped with the advice “to stick to your basic story path so you don’t get lost” and a basket of words to use in case of trouble. Although Little Red begins well, she soon ends up in “a deep, dark, descriptive forest,” so she pulls out the word “scissors” and cuts her way out. A strange growling then causes her to fling more words and flee, but when she notices a tail (an appliance plug on a cord) she follows it to Principal Granny’s office to find a computer-like machine. Though the thing initially purports to be Principal Granny, it eventually reveals itself to be the Wolf 3000, a powerful pencil sharpener who has sharpened Principal Granny down to a stub. Little Red throws her last word—“dynamite”—at the Wolf 3000 and blows it to smithereens, thus rescuing Principal Granny and giving Little Red an exciting conclusion to her assignment. This is an original and action-filled concept, but the story-writing instructional hints feel forced, the plot is rather tangled, and Red’s tool words are too often contrived and convenient. Sweet’s watercolor, pencil, and collage artwork is a whole lot of fun, though, and the details of the pencil-inhabited world are charming if a bit cluttered. Enterprising English teachers willing to give a little added guidance may find this the most useful, and storytime leaders or school librarians may enjoy pairing this with Ahlberg’s The Pencil (BCCB 9/08) or Dromer’s The Obstinate Pen (BCCB 6/12).

Hulick, J.(2013). Little Red Writing by Joan Holub (review). Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 67(4), 217. The Johns Hopkins University Press. Retrieved January 22, 2016, from Project MUSE database.

Library Use: This would be a perfect complement to any language arts class. It succinctly  describes how to use a Story Path, developing a short story, and proper ways to use parts of speech such as nouns, verbs, adverbs, and adjectives. It does all of this in an entertaining format that will grab the reader's attention. I can even see this book being used in middle and high school classes because it never talks down to the reader.