Al Capone Does My Shirts

Choldenko, Gennifer. Al Capone Does My Shirts. New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2004.

Plot: Moose's life has never been easy. It becomes even more complicated when his family moves to Alcatraz. While his parents hope to get Moose's sister, Natalie, into a highly recommended school, Moose wishes he could leave the criminals and crazy warden to return to Santa Monica. His wish intensifies when the warden's daughter gets him and nearly every other junior higher on the island in trouble. To further complicate things, his mother wants him to watch Natalie while she teaches piano. Despite her three year seniority over Moose, Natalie requires the utmost care, especially with so many criminals in their own backyard. Yet, Natalie is not the only one in need of help. Moose must learn how to grow despite his stunted relationships with his parents.

Genre: Coming of Age, Historical Fiction

Reading Level: Ages 8-16

Similar Titles: Al Capone Shines My Shoes, A Year Down Yonder, Budd, Not Buddy

Personal Thoughts: The book is interesting, but I do not think I would have liked it as a tween. It tries to include too much. The novel's main themes involve Natalie's autism, the history of Alcatraz, Moose's issues with his mother, and coming of age. As a result, the novel becomes skewed, focusing on so many topics it fails to adequately address any, causing much of the setting's potential to fall by the wayside with an abrupt ending. The issue of growing up in Alcatraz, the inspiration for the novel's title, seems especially muted. In addition, despite the title's implications, the book is not particularly humorous and is, in fact, rather depressing. True, the novel does provide the necessary service of addressing past grievances and current issues, particularly regarding society's response to older autistics. Yet, it is not fun or easy to read about.

Hatchet

Paulsen, Gary. Hatchet. New York: Bradbury Press, 1987.

Plot: On the way to visit his father in the oil wells of Canada, Brian finds himself in the worst-case scenario. The pilot suffers a heart attack and dies. Brian manages to land the plane, but finds himself lost and alone in the Canadian wilderness. His only tools are his tattered, wet clothes and his small hatchet, bought by his mother. He survives by learning to hunt, fish, make shelter, and create fire with his meager provisions. Yet, even with his survival at risk, he cannot forget the Secret. The Secret caused him to visit his father. The Secret caused his parents to divorce and separate with a national border between them. Yet, the Secret cannot stop him from surviving.

Reading Level: 6-8 grade

Genre: Adventure, Survival

Similar Titles: Julie of the Wolves, Brian’s Return, Sign of the Beaver

Personal Thoughts: The book won a Newbery Honor Award. However, I did not care for it. While this novel covered physiological issues, such as secrets, parental relationships, and coming of age, much of the emotion seems tacked on, almost like the "drama" in a reality-television series. The fact that a boy finds himself in a struggle for survival makes enough conflict for a novel by itself. The family issues fail to add depth or genuine sympathy for the protagonist. Additionally, Brian seems artificially mature and aloof, particularly in comparison to CC from Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society, Sam from My Side of the Mountain,  or Karana from Island of the Blue Dolphins. Unlike the other heroes, never really appears to be a child. Rather, he is an “adult in a kid’s body.” The other protagonists' changes were more gradual and believable. Even so, the novel does present the challenges of survival as challenges. Nothing comes automatically or easily, so that aspect of the story is realistic. Apparently, two sequels came as a result of Hatchet’s success. The novel also provided the basis for Cry in the Wild, a movie made in 1990.

Newbury Books

Well, this concludes our week of Newbury books.

Next week's theme is somewhat more complicated. Usually, a book series inspires the creation of a documentary or a series of documentaries. Recently, documentary series began producing the creation of books. We will look at the series and the books they inspire next week.

Property of Olaf Leillinger
Taken from Wikimedia Commons

Justin Morgan Had a Horse

Henry, Marguerite Henry. Justin Morgan Had a Horse . Chicago : Rand McNally, 1954.

Plot: Joel Goss, much to his delight, is allowed to "gentle" Little Bud, a tiny foal given to his schoolmaster to cancel a debt. However, the realities of horsemanship mean Bub will work hard for other owners. Nevertheless, Joel is determined to one day own the horse that managed to out-work, out-pull, and out-race every challenger. His dedication eventually allows him to keep the foal he once cared for, and lead to the creation of a breed representing the United States.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Animals, Coming of Age

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Similar Titles: King of the Wind, Black Beauty, Misty of Chincoteague

Personal Thoughts: The book won a Newbury Honor.

Like many of Henry's novels, the story focuses on a horse and how it affected its child caretakers. Unfortunately, it does not relay the actual history of the Morgan breed well. Apparently, the "first" Morgan was a stallion named Figure. Figure's lineage, as implied by the novel, remains debatable. However, he was not a random farm horse. Justin Morgan actually bred horses, including the stallion that eventually took his name. To learn more about the history of the Morgan horse, please view here and here.

My Father's Dragon

Gannett, Ruth Stiles. My Father's Dragon. New York : Random House, 1948.

Plot: Elmer Elevator longs to fly one day. While he expects he will have to wait until he is grown up to reach his dream, a stray cat offers another way. On Wild Island, a baby dragon is forced by lazy jungle animals to work as a ferry. If the boy frees him from the inhabitants of the island, the dragon will certainly allow the boy to ride his back. Armed with six hair ribbons, toothpaste, bubble gum, rubber bands, and two dozen pink lollipops, Elmer sets out to free the dragon.

Genre: Fantasy, Animals

Reading Level: Ages 9-12 (but younger readers will probably enjoy it if someone reads it to them).

Similar Titles: The Dragons of Blueland, Mr. Poppers Penguins, The Little Prince, Peter and the Wolf

Personal Thoughts: The title won a Newbury Honor.

Simply put, reading the book is fun. It reminds me of the cartoons I watched as a child. The descriptions of the animals and the pictures appear like old-fashioned animations. Additionally, the story focuses on nothing other than being a good story. Instead of artificially creating drama through moral dilemmas or emotional outbursts, Gannett simply describes a story about a boy on an adventure. Apparently, the effort of storytelling reached international acclaim. The novel provided the basis for a anime in 1997 (it was not published in the United States).

Since the copywrite has expired, the book can also be downloaded at: Project Glutenberg.

Side note: of course dragons like daffodils.

The Cat Who Went to Heaven

Coatsworth, Elizabeth Jane. The Cat Who Went to Heaven. New York : Macmillan 1958.


Plot: A poor artist reluctantly yields to his housekeeper's desire to keep a small calico kitten. Despite the stigma against cats as unholy, Good Fortune (as the housekeeper calls her) shows pious tendencies, such as releasing sparrows and meditating before the household's shrine. When the artist receives a request from the local temple to paint a portrait of the dying Buddha, he pours his efforts, time, and very soul into the project that may establish him. Good Fortune watches and appears to encourage him, until she realizes he will not paint a cat. According to Buddhist belief, cats refused the teaching and cannot enter Nirvana. Yet, Good Fortune does not show anger or vindictiveness. Instead, she appears depressed and seems to cry. After spending days reflecting on the Buddha to create the portrait, the artist realizes the need for compassion. Despite the religious and economic pressures, he paints a cat in the picture, realizing it will cost him his future.

Or will it?

Genre: Fiction, Animals, Folklore

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Similar Titles: The Boy Who Painted Cats, King of the Wind

Personal Thoughts: According to some of the reviews on Amazon.com, some people find the Newbury Metal winner offensive because the people are mean to cats, the cat dies, and the people are exclusive. I think such reviews miss the point. Yes, the cat dies. Yes, people are mean to the cat. Yes, some kids probably will not like the book because of that. Yet, the story also brings up important concepts like mercy, compassion, and courage.

Often, people encourage each other to do the right thing through stories. The prince saves the princess. The girl stands up for herself. The little group changes the world. Such stories are good and should be told. Yet, it seems most tales neglect the cost of such actions, such as physical pain, social intolerance, and long-lasting consequences. To show compassion, the artist risks ridicule, poverty, and dishonor. Yet, he does not regret it. His actions were worth taking because they were right and compassionate, even if no one ever acknowledges or even understands them. Only after he runs the risk does he find the glory.

The story is not about one good cat. It is about realizing what is right and doing it, no matter the consequences.

Island of the Blue Dolphins

O’Dell, Scott. Island of the Blue Dolphins. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1960.

Plot: When her people prepare leave their island home following a bloody battle with a group of otter hunters, Karana happily boards the ship. However, she realizes her younger brother was left behind. Ignoring the attempts to calm her, she jumps overboard and swims out to him. She and her brother prepare for the return of the ship but, after only a few days, he is killed by wild dogs. Karana must survive on her island alone. The story follows her many years as she finds food, makes weapons, avoids the hunters, dreams of friends, and survives the natural disasters common to the islands off California.

Genre: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Survival

Reading Level: Grades 4-7

Similar Titles: Hatchet, My Side of the Mountain, Julie of the Wolves

Personal Thoughts: The book won a Newbery Medal in 1961.

The book is a good survival story about a survivor. While most survival stories focus on people in completely foreign situations, this is a story about a girl who knows what to do to survive and even thrive. In a sense, she learns to live in her own home. Still, the reader gains a sense of the loneliness and trials she faces. At the same time, the readers realize life on the island becomes a part of her. While the book ends happily, the reader also understands what she looses by leaving the island.

As a side note, I loved this book when I was younger. I literally read the cover off of my copy, taped it back together, and read it until the cover and the first few pages became completely destroyed.

Ninjas

So we regretfully end our review of ninjas. Naturally, there are more resources out there, including Ninja Burger, Naruto, Shogun Assassin, and Enter the Ninja. Yet, the reviewed items may provide a good overview of some of the variety surrounding shinobi.

Next week, we will focus on something a bit more formal. We will look at some Newbury Award and Newbury Honor Books.

Apparently, the Newbury logo is copywrited.

So here is a picture of Jerome stuck in LA traffic.