Thank You, Mr. Falker

Sprite is in a hurry

Polacco, Patricia. Thank You, Mr. Falker. New York : Philomel Books, 1998.

Plot: Trisha loves the opportunity school represents. She longs to taste the sweetness of knowledge, just as her grandparents taught her. However, going to school steadily becomes more and more difficult. She can barely read and the other students tease her mercilessly. Eventually, at a new school, Mr. Falker arrives. He defends Trisha from the bullies and shows interest in her art. He also discovers the cause of her reading difficulties. The teacher admires her spirit and courage, so, with the help of a reading tutor, teaches her to finally encounter knowledge's sweetness.

Genre: Autobiography, School, Picture Books

Reading Level: Grades 3-6

Similar Titles: The Talented Clementine, The Hundred Dresses

Personal Thoughts: The story presents dyslexia in a comprehensible and sympathetic manner. As such, it received several awards, including Parent's Choice Honors. However, I am not sure if I would recommend it in a home or library setting. Please do not misunderstand, the title is certainly worthy of the attention it earned. It accurately describes the fear, shame, and loneliness present in dyslexia. However, the actual title reads like an assignment to me. Perhaps the word choice, somewhat dated illustrations, and lack of sympathetic characters beyond the protagonist causes the feelings, but it seems ideal for a classroom, not for leisurely reading.  

Babymouse 11: Dragonslayer

Dragons may not care for the title

Holm, Jennifer L. and Holm, Matthew. Babymouse 11: Dragonslayer. New York : Random House Children's Books, 2009.

Plot: After failing another math test, Babymouse's teacher offers her a chance to improve her grade. Babymouse must join the school's mathlete team and compete in the math olympics. While the mathlete's teacher seems confident and her team counts on her, Babymouse feels overwhelmed. The mathletes speak of one with the pure heart who will redeem the school's honor from the dreaded Owlgarthims. Hoping for the legendary hero, the team captain asks if she is the one. Then the team sees her test. Babymouse must face math and conquer the creature she fears most (besides Felicia Furrypaws).

Genre: Animals, School, Graphic Novels

Reading Level: Grades 4-6

Similar Titles: Uncle Scrooge: Around the World in 80 Bucks, Fangbone series

Personal Thoughts: Like many readers, I have some "dragons" of my own to slay. While I have graduated from test fears, I still struggle against some concepts, pressures, and challenges. Much like Babymouse, the trials I face seem overwhelming. However, like the ink heroine, I need to realize that, while I may never excel in specific talents, I do not need to be terrible at them, either. Such is the real power behind books, even casual, graphic-novel titles. Like G.K. Chesterton noted, such stories "are more than true: not because they teach us dragons exist, but because they teach us dragons can be beaten." While some may mock the title for its silly characters or predictable outcome, it still brings a needed reminder: readers can conquer their fears, even if their fears are greater than they are. I will be purchasing this title.

Ramona the Pest

Clearly, Beverly. Ramona the Pest. 1968.

Plot: Six-year-old Ramona is finally old enough to go to Kindergarten. Despite her eagerness to go, she finds herself in more situations than she expects. Her teacher, Miss Binny, seems nice and smart. David, a classmate, also seems intriguing. However, a curly-haired nemesis and sulky male friend also stalk the classroom. Ramona struggles against strange substitutes, old boots, rainy days, and writing her name. She also navigates the general chaos usually instigated by her own choices. Her desire for attention eventually leads to her dismissal from class. Ramona must learn to face her own frustrations to return to the teacher she adores.

Genre: Realistic Fiction, Growing Up, School

Reading Level: Grades 2-6

Similar Titles: Junie B. Jones, Clementine, Emma Dilemma series

Personal Thoughts: Despite the book's age, it still contains the same appeal as current titles, particularly the Emma Dilemma and Judy Moody series. The story generally avoids transitional subjects, such as fashion, politics, and entertainment. Instead, it focuses on unchanging topics, such as student-teacher relations and family interactions. Ramona is a slightly larger-than-life character in a fairly normal society, so her adventures seem completely feasible and even understandable. Most students balance between wanting approval from their teacher and wishing to misbehave when confronted by a bully. Many younger siblings are repelled and enchanted by their elders. Everyone wishes they could have something slightly better than they can afford. Ramona's struggles are the same as everyone's, even if her reactions break convention. She uses her audience's sympathy to relate to and encourage readers, gaining establishment in even modern libraries.

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.

Frindle

Clements, Andrew. Frindle. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1996.

Plot: When Nicholas Allen finally enters fifth grade, he meets his match in the form of Mrs. Granger, the language teacher. Despite Nick's best efforts, she catches his every attempt to avoid homework and waste class time. Yet, one of her lessons gives Nick the opportunity to fight back. According to Mrs. Granger, words have meaning because people give them meanings. With this fact in mind, Nick plans to implement his new word, "frindle," as a substitute for "pen." Through a network of friends, the word takes over the fifth grade, school, city, and, eventually, nation, despite Mrs. Granger's attempts to stop it. So why do her eyes sparkle whenever she hears the word?

Genre: Realistic

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Similar Titles: No Talking, The Lemonade War, Loser

Personal Thoughts: The novel captures the mentalities present in a school setting excellently. The children behave like kids, not like adults in kid suits. Every class has a smart but squirrely kid like Nick, but Clements reveals how such kids can make major changes. He also describes the one teacher every class dreads, but ultimately learns the most from.

As a side note, this is one of the few realistic novels I found that does not saturate itself in tragedy. I do not know who decided that children, teens, tweens, and adults like reading sad stories where no one wins, but whoever did was mistaken. True, sappy stories do not have much appeal, but this book shows a story can be realistic, with real problems, people, and consequences without painting the world in depression.