Horses and Polar Exploration

Piggy-backing on The Winter Pony, next week will focus on polar exploration.

Jerome is the prettiest penguin

The Winter Pony

 
Lawrence, Iain. The Winter Pony. New York : Delacorte Press, 2011.

Plot: The first eight years of James Pigg, a Russian pony, were rough. Unfortunately, his future proves to be even more difficult. The pale stallion, with nineteen other ponies, embark on Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated voyage to the South Pole. Fighting old fears and new circumstances, the pony attempts to carry the equipment needed for the expedition to reach true south. However, ponies, dogs, and men fall to questionable decisions, limited rations, unexpected dangers, and terrible weather. James Pigg wishes to please the first people to show him kindness, but none of his efforts can conquer the fury of Antarctica.

Genre: Animals, Historical Fiction, Adventure

Reading Levels: Grades 4-8; keep in mind, this is a sad book. Please do not send me nasty letters if a reader cries while reviewing it.

Similar Titles: The Pole, Emma's River

Personal Thoughts: I really wanted to like the text. To Lawrence's credit, he avoids painting Scott as an idiot or Admundsen as a cad. He also avoids describing Scott as an insufferable hero. The author's views follow an extremely neutral view, which many texts aimed at adults fail to accomplish. However, the text also carries some unfortunate implications. The pony's early life is marked by fictionalized brutality. True, James Pigg was a worn horse at the time of the purchase, but painting every Russian and Mongolian as brutal while every Englishman displays knowledge and compassion carries some racist tones. Describing the dogs as wolf-like savages and the horses as saintly victims also seems necessary, particularly given the stubborn nature and complicated background of the equines. The tragic end of the pony abruptly shocks readers as well. Lawson writes the book expertly with a solid acknowledgment of the facts, but the fictional aspects of the novel paint an unrealistic view of the world facing Scott's ponies.

Side Note: I told you to stop, Jerome.

War Horse

Morpugo, Michael. War Horse. New York : Scholastic Press, 2007.

Plot: Bought on a whim by a drunk farmer, Joey, a little colt, suddenly finds himself thrust in a strange barn. The farmer's son, a quiet, thoughtful, gentle boy, keeps his father from harming the skittish bay and teaches the colt to work in the field. The calm situation shatters at the start of the first World War. Joey finds himself torn away from the boy he loves and lead to the front lines as a cavalry horse. Despite the sacrifices of the men around him, Joey gets captured by the Germans, transitioning from an ambulance steed to a gun horse. Yet, the promise of a boy in England continually inspires the war horse. The farmer's son will find him.

Genre: Animals, Historical Fiction

Reading Level: Grades 4-8

Similar Titles: Cracker, Black Beauty, Gib Rides Home

Personal Thoughts: The book reads much like Black Beauty, highlighting some of the issues facing horses as beasts of burden. Unlike the generic long-ago setting of Sewell's, novel, Morpugo's text focuses on the good and ugly aspects associated with horses during one of the worst wars the world has ever known. Problems such as improper treatment, poor medical care, and post-wartime brutality find mention. To the text's credit, though, it avoids casting any one side of the war as exclusively bad or entirely good. Benign Germans interact with callous Englishmen and vice-versa. While the cruelty of war finds discussion, so does courage, loyalty, and humanity. The book takes an unusual but interesting look at the last war that used horses as a major resource.

The story provided the inspiration for plays, museum displays, and a movie.

Side note: Jerome, Toothless is going to get mad.

The Kingfisher Illustrated Horse and Pony Encyclopedia

Randsford, Sandy. The Kingfisher Illustrated Horse and Pony Encyclopedia. Boston : Kingfisher, 2004.

Plot: The text offers information about horses and ponies with ample photographs. Many of the illustrations feature trainers and veterinarians working with the equines, highlighting professional handling and responsible care for the animals. Additionally, the text lists different horse-related products, such as feed and bedding, and addresses the benefits and problems of each. The book provides solid facts about training, maintaining, and selecting horses and ponies for riding, driving, and showing.

Genre: Animals, Animal Care

Reading Level: Grades 4-8

Similar Titles: Smithsonian Handbook: Horses, Encyclopedia of the Horse

Personal Thoughts: The book surprised me. Unlike a lot of animal encyclopedias, the test did not focus extensively on individual breeds. Instead, only breeds suitable for tweens enjoyed a paragraph or two of information. Most of the encyclopedia focused on details involving actual equine care, such as husbandry, equipment, and training. Also, many of the photographs featured younger, tween-age keepers, showing readers they can provide the work needed to care for ponies and horses. I highly recommend the title for equine enthusiasts as a realistic look into the reality of keeping the animals.

Side note: Jerome, Toothless is not a horse. Stop it.

Dragons and Horses

Next week, we will review some items about horses.

Horses, not unicorns. Sorry.

Dragon Rider

Funke, Cornelia Caroline. Dragon Rider. New York : Scholastic, 2004.

Plot: After centuries of security, the valley no longer provides a haven from human development. Firedrake, a young male dragon, sets off with Sorrel, a young brownie, to find the legendary Rim of Heaven, a sanctuary for dragons. They soon meet a young human, named Ben, who manages to assist them in their search. His presence, however, may not be as circumstantial as originally believed. Legends speak of a dragon rider whose coming signals the end of the evil Nettlebrand, a dragon hunter. The inevitable conflict between dragons and hunters draws near, but it may take more than dragon fire and human reason to conquer the killer.

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Inkheart, Dealing with Dragons, Falcon's Egg, Children of the Lamp series

Personal Thoughts: The text expertly describes legendary creatures attempting to cope in a modern world. While the beginning annoyingly paints all humans as bringers of disaster, the book later focuses on the benign aspects of humanity. The plot also focuses on lesser-known creatures, such as brownies, djinn, and rocs, adding a dash of the exotic. Far-away locations, like the Sahara and Himalayas also enhance the adventurous aspects of the title. Humor balances the plot nicely, making the strange characters more relatable. Overall, the title is a lengthy but enjoyable read.

Drake's Comprehensive Compendium of Dragonology

Drake, Ernest. Drake's Comprehensive Compendium of Dragonology. Somerville, MA : Candlewick Press, 2009.

Plot: The text guides readers through the art of studying dragons. The book mentions various species of dragon, including the specialized frost dragon, infamous basilisk, and evasive lindworm, as well as some of the more popular psuedo-dragons, such as the phoenix and sea serpent. Facts such as habitat, behavior, and notable characteristics are carefully described and illustrated. Additionally, Drake offers tips for meeting, raising, and tending to the legendary creatures. However, he also warns of dangerous dragons and gives suggestions for surviving an attack. The book is a must-have for any budding dragonologist.

Genre: Picture Books, Fantasy, Realistic

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Dragonology, The Discovery of Dragons, The Sons of the Dragon King: A Chinese Legend

Personal Thoughts: The text offers a surprising amount of writing for a picture book. Still, the written aspect of the book offers a nice balance between the "science," dangers, and characteristics of the creatures. True, the text does not review legends in detail, but since it acts as a beginner's study guide, specific stories would break purpose of the book. The illustrations, usually in black ink, utilize a steampunk style to reflect a Victorian era that never was. As a result, the creatures look realistic and elaborate in a manner that enhances the overall "feel" of the book.



Side Note: It appears Raichu will witness a confrontation between a ryu and undetermined European dragon.

Disappointed...

Well, no one left any recommendations for next week. I will sate my disappointment by reading about dragons.

Don't fear the dragon

Next Week

This week I discovered two things. The first is that faux fur is an *insert your favorite expletive* to work with. The second is that no one sent in any recommendations for topics in my comment box.

I will try again this week. If I do not receive any comments, in two weeks we will probably review some books about talking animals. Or dragons. I like dragons.

Stupid fake fur mane...

Next Week and a Request

 Image taken from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Caution_sign_used_on_roads_pn.svg

It has been a few months since I did some work on the blog, so next week will consist of editing. However, I would like to make a request for feedback. Do you enjoy the direction of the blog? Are there any topics I should review? Should I make more special postings such as the Titles for Tweens series? Should I focus more on non-print media? Please place your recommendations in the comments section.

Catwings

Le Guin, Ursula K. Catwings. New York : Orchard Books, 1988.

Plot: Mrs. Tabby shows little curiosity when her four kittens are born with wings. Yet, as they grow, the city becomes steadily more dangerous to any young cat. She eventually sends them off to find a better home away from the dogs, cars, and hostility. They find a green land with interesting smells and ample fish. Yet, their unusual gift causes fear among the local birds. Eventually, the owl attempts to take matters into her own talons, and the little cats must avoid her nighttime hunts. Still, their mother believed they could leave the city for a better life, and two farm children may lead the winged kittens to it.

Genre: Fantasy, Animals

Similar Titles: Jane on Her Own, The Warm Place, The Wizard of Oz

Reading Level: Grades 4-7


Personal Thoughts: Le Guin, also known for her Tales of Earthsea series, offers a delightfully fantastic story of strange animals in a familiar world. While cats' atypical trait finds mention, it does not form their primary motivation. They simply seek a better home, although they have a better means than usual to find it. The potential problems, such as finding food and avoiding predators finds realistic description without slipping into a depressing narrative. Lightheartedness and seriousness balance each other nicely in the title.

A total of four books make the Catwings series.

The Outlaw Varjak Paw

Said, S. F. The Outlaw Varjak Paw. Oxford ; New York : David Fickling Books, 2006.

Plot: While Varjak Paw's battle to free the city from the infamous vanishing proves successful, not all ends happily. Sally Bones, a thin, white cat, continues to stretch her power, preventing all other cats from hunting or gathering food for anyone but her and her followers. Varjak's attempts to fight her ends in disaster, since she knows the legendary "Way" of martial arts even better than he does. Yet, when the white cat declares war on cats with no hope of opposing her, Varjak must find the strength to face her, even without the power of the Way. If he cannot conquer her, every cat in the city will perish.

Genre: Fantasy, Animals

Reading Level: Grades 4-7; however, many of the fights contain bloody and violent descriptions, so caution sensitive readers.

Similar Titles: Varjak Paw, The Underneath, Time Cat: The Remarkable Journeys of Jason and Gareth

Personal Thoughts: I found the book extremely interesting and well written, which may appear surprising considering my scathing review of the Warriors series. In the spirit of fairness, I will go over the contrast between the two series:

1. Limited number of characters: While Said's book does include several cats, it does not contain the sheer number of felines in the Warriors series. Each cat's character becomes well described through their interactions with each other, rather than a passing reference in a psuedo-glossery at the book's beginning.

2. Drama based on action: When something dramatic happens, such as the kidnapping of a kitten or the failed battle, it affects the story. The kidnapping leads to the doomed fight, which leads to the loss of the protagonist's mysterious power. Additionally, both situations enhance the characterization of the protagonist as a disadvantaged hero and the antagonist as a genuine threat.

3. No attempt to misinform: The book is, essentially, a martial arts story with cats. It makes no reference to real fighting styles or cat behavior. Said uses the work a a purely fictional story without false facts to lend illegitimate validity.

4. Direction: As mentioned in both the drama and misinformation comments, actions feed into characterization in a world with limited reference to the real one. The novel offers a pure, over-the-top story and does not attempt to do otherwise.

5. Enough information: While the novel does not explain everything, such as how Sally Bones discovered the "Way" or what the "Way" exactly is, it does provide enough information. The way is meant to be mysterious, just like Sally Bones. Eliminating descriptions adds to the strange nature of Varjak's world. However, enough information finds mention, allowing readers to be mystified without being frustrated.

6. Show, don't tell: The book is an adventure novel and key points, such as battles, dreams, and kidnapping find ample, if violent, description.

Overall, the novel succeeds because it relies on action more than description, creating a fast-paced, fascinating world.

The novel is a sequel to Varjak Paw, which inspired a play, opera, and upcoming movie.

Eyewitness: Cats

Clutton-Brock, Juliet. Eyewitness: Cat. New York : Knopf, 1991.

Plot: The text offers the famous Eyewitness-styled descriptions of all thing feline. The various habitats, adaptations, and histories of cats find mention. Additionally, the text lists the different families of cats and their characteristics. Outlines for basic cat care find description, as well. To complement the captions, the book offers a variety of photographs and cartoons to spark further interest. Eyewitness : Cats provides a solid blend of information and illustrations.

Genre: Animals

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Eyewitness series

Personal Thoughts: As longtime readers of the blog know, I enjoy the Eyewitness series, and Cat offers a solid addition. Unfortunately, some of the information in the version I read was outdated (it was about twenty years old, after all) and some was inaccurate. For example, the text mentions cats enjoy a traditionally more benign view in Asian cultures than European ones. This is not true. For example, Asian folktales often describe cats as vampiric and vengeful. Traditional Buddhist mythology claims cats refused to mourn the passing of the Buddha, causing them to loose access to heaven. Some Japanese stories claim cats will become monsters if their tails become too long, so wise owners must crop the animals' tails. Perhaps in an attempt to amend such inacuracies, a more recent version was published in 2004.