Tuesday, March 30, 2010

So what do we think? Tuck Everlasting



 So what do we think? Tuck Everlasting

Babbitt, Natalie. (1975) Tuck Everlasting. Thorndike Press/Square Fish, Scholastic Inc. ISBN 10: 0312369816; reviewed ISBN 0-7862-5181-6. Publisher reading level grades 5-6. Litland.com age recommendation 10-14. See full review at http://www.litland.com/

Publisher description: Time drags by for Winnie Foster, an eleven-year-old girl who lives in a house bordering the woods owned by her family. Winnie spends her summer days under the watchful eye of her grandmother. Most of the time it's too hot to be out in the sun, and when Winnie does actually venture outside, she never goes beyond the fence of the yard. But one morning she sneaks away into the woods and there she sees a young man drinking from a mysterious spring of water he uncovers at the base of tree. The young man, Jesse Tuck, discovers Winnie watching him. So he kidnaps her.


Our thoughts:


This is a fabulous story. Mae and Angus Tuck, along with sons Miles and Jesse, have a problem; they accidentally became immortal. But they don’t want to be. Angus Tuck dreams of what it is like to go to Heaven, and teaches Winnie about the wheel of life which his family has “stepped off”. While at first the Tucks may seem to be the ‘bad guys” as they kidnap Winnie, we see the truly bad person is the man in the yellow jacket who manipulates people and information to paint a false picture of the situation. Then using this to his advantage, he coerces the Fosters into making a decisions to give up part of their local legacy. The author goes beyond just the unjust act itself (manipulation of the Fosters) to letting us know its true consequences: chipping away at the family heritage.

There is a scene near the end where Mae Tuck shoots the man in the yellow jacket. Rather than unnecessary detail of the shot’s physical impact, Babbitt stays focused on the meaning and consequences of the action itself. In doing so, she strengthens the moment rather than depleting it.

Her writing style is rich with nary a word wasted. The reader is left feeling love and care for all of the earth’s creatures, compassion for the Tucks, and respect for others who don’t understand but are well meaning. We can picture in our minds the toad, the heat wave, early morning fishing, and the heaving of the galloping horse.

This is also a story of a girl coming of age in 1880. A time in history when children were still allowed to be children and, yet, once a teen they take on adult responsibilities quickly. For the first time, Winnie has her own life experiences that are not shared by her family, and so she is learning how to deal with that feeling of loving and hating independence at the same time; having a secret you can’t share with those who love you even though it isn’t a bad secret; having to use adult wisdom at a young age. It is an interesting way to look at childhood, that of having shared experiences contrasted with those that a person experiences independent from their family, and the reader can feel the confused emotions thanks to the author’s excellent work. When with the Tucks, Winnie enjoyed having them as her own friends that she didn’t share with her family. Now that they needed help, it was an uncertain state of mind in which to be.

All of this is held within the context of the Tuck’s view of themselves. Although voiced by son Miles, it is clear the entire family sees that they should make a difference in the world. The domino and ripple effects of the actions by one single person are known and felt. Winnie chooses to make a difference in the world. She realizes she must make small mistakes to accomplish the larger mission of protecting the world from the curse held in the spring’s water. As in the old poem quoted in the book:

“Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage.”

There are other kinds of prisons in life, and the Tucks were living in one until the end of time.  

This is an excellent book for families to read together. It is appropriate for all ages, although of most interest to readers in 5th-8th grades. Choosing this story for your family reading hour or book club will give you much to talk through, and grow together as a family. It would also be an excellent teacher choice for in-class reading. In either the home or school settings, this book would be useful in an integrated curriculum using literature to learn about American history in the 19th century. Talking about books such as Tuck Everlasting is an important part of understanding and growing in our own value system, while also giving concrete examples for good behaviour to emulate. We cannot say enough about this great book!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Honorable mention: Big Daddy's Dream




  Big Daddy’s Dream

Dorham, Sylvia. (2007) Big Daddy’s Dream. USA: Trafford Publishing. ISBN: 978-1-4251-3337-5. Recommended ages 8 and younger.See www.litland.com

Publisher’s description: Based on a true story, Big Daddy follows his dream to build a city. In a cabbage patch in what is now Daly City, California, he sees the setting for his dream. Big Daddy's Dream follows him through a forty-year career as his dream leads him to build not only a city, but a multi-cultural family and community. When he shares his story with his children and grandchildren, he inspires a whole new generation of dreamers. Vividly illustrated, "Big Daddy's Dream" will inspire your children and students to build their own dreams. (Trafford Publishing)

Our thoughts:

Coming from a long line of carpenters, this book brought tears to my eyes. It has an important message to children that they CAN achieve their dreams. But underlying that message is the realization of the cumulative effect of a lifetime of work. There is also a message of humility, as Big Daddy did not seek fame nor fortune; rather, to quietly help others. The book’s multigenerational theme ties the youngest child to the heritage of his elders. It is a touching store that will inspire young children that no dream is impossible. Enjoy it!

So what do we think? Bubba and Giganto: Odds against us




Bubba and Giganto: Odds against us

Schizas, Lea. (2008) Bubba and Giganto: Odds against us.  OK: 4RV publishing, LLC. ISBN-10: 0979751365. Publisher recommends 6th grade and up. Litland agrees, although content can be appropriate for younger advanced readers (note one profane word). See www.litland.com for full review.  

Our Thoughts:

Ever play sports, even if just occasionally? Remember that kid who cheats? The other one who intentionally kicks you in a way that might injure you to get you off the field? The mean insults thrown at you throughout the game? And they call that fun?

Yet there is something about the game that makes us want to be out on the field, overcoming the abuse and winning in spite of it. Perhaps it is that innate desire for good to conquer evil that is created in every fibre of our being. Instinctively, the more the abuse, the more driven we are to overcome it. Game on!

This is the setting for Bubba and Giganto.  At  the beginning, the story reads like an adult attempting to sound like a child. However, it quickly moves into self-talk and banter that is more realistic, so don’t let that turn you off. The characters are real too...a few “popular” types have control over all the kids due to their lack of courage to stand up for each other. Bubba is used to bullying  and thankful his new friend Dave turned out to be so nice. We can feel the frustration as Bubba  worries about being bullied, wonders why Dave puts up with it, and seeks to unravel Dave’s secret.  We can feel the remorse as he learns from his own bad behaviour.

This story demonstrates the true love of friendship. Not in the terms pushed on us by today’s media: not a “bromance”, nor a same-sex attraction. Just good, old fashioned brotherhood.  It is ok once again for men of all ages to admit, yea I love you like a brother.

Bubba is far from perfect. He seems to always think first about how a person or situation can be useful to him. Yet he immediately recognizes goodness, appreciates it and takes on a selfless rather than selfish perspective each time. So we see his formation take place before our eyes, imperfect as it seems.

This is a great book for tween boys. But don’t worry, girls will enjoy it too, and soccer-playing girls can especially relate to much of the story. Bullying is a universal theme: it cuts across age and gender. The book Bubba and Giganto portrays it quite well. The manner in which this story plays out lends it well to discussing friendship, behaviour, collaboration, and meanness. Put it on the summer reading list, and also make it the first class reading assignment when school starts the new year. Litland.com highly recommends this book!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

So what do we think? The Neil Gaiman interview

Author Neil Gaiman’s Dark World: CBS interview available at


http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6282354n&tag=contentMain;contentBody .

Wondering who is the mind behind the books Coraline and The Graveyard Book? Get a peek into the mind of Neil Gaiman. Joking about his serial-killer doll and acknowledging he sees the joy of the monsters and ghost fiction is in “the miraculous”, we can better understand how his fascination for the dark side of the supernatural world flavors and guides his writing.

As an example, in the book and movie Coraline, the character ends up in a world on “the other side”. She doesn’t choose to go back to her family because of love for the family. Rather, it is a self-serving choice in which she prefers her dysfunctional life over that presented in the world “on the other side”. It has been praised as being kiddie pre-Goth.

In contrast, Litland.com continues to uncover books that nurture the soul rather than test it. Unlike other book reviewers who promote all new releases and top sellers, we highlight those plus lesser-known authors whose plots present choices of right over wrong and whose characters (while not perfect) can think selflessly of others. We encourage families to talk about all potential books and together choose which to read.

We support parents and teachers who select books that demonstrate the behaviour they wish to see in their students and children. As author Linda Sue Parker recently stated "Reading is the safest way to practice your life".

So what do YOU think?