Versi
The Greatest: Muhammad Ali. (2001; New York: Scholastic Press; 172 p; ISBN 9780590543422)
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates
Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates. (2005; Jonah Winter; New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers; ISBN 9780689856433)
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Bone: Out from Boneville
Bone Volume One: Out from Boneville (Smith, Jeff; 2003) ISBN 0963660942
Bone is the first edition in a series of stories about three cousins who are on the run: Phoncible B. Bone (aka Phoney), Smiley Bone, and Fone Bone. The reasons for their plight help to explain some important character traits. Phoney Bone has been run out of town—Boneville—after Phoney shows disrespect for the town’s founder. Phoncible is highly motivated, but not entirely honest and upright. Protagonist Fone Bone is equipped with both courage and the ability to problem solve. Smiley Bone is more likeable than Phoncible, but far less intelligent than Fone.
Phoney and Smiley are separated from Fone, and the story splits into two different paths. While on his own, Fone meets up with Thorn, a young, courageous and talented girl with a secret past. Thorn lives with her hard scrabble grandmother, perhaps the toughest character in the story despite her age. Thorn helps Fone reunite with his cousins, though they encounter great danger and excitement in the form of rat creatures along the way.
Meanwhile, Phoney tries to run another scam with Smiley that may get him into hot water once again. Their storyline is lighter in tone that Fone’s is, and it provides many funny moments.
The Bone cousins’ story is told in black and white line illustrations. As with most graphic novels, it is accessible for a wide range of readers. Author Jeff Smith conveys a slew of emotions and moods among his characters, creating a lively pace for the story.
Bone is the first edition in a series of stories about three cousins who are on the run: Phoncible B. Bone (aka Phoney), Smiley Bone, and Fone Bone. The reasons for their plight help to explain some important character traits. Phoney Bone has been run out of town—Boneville—after Phoney shows disrespect for the town’s founder. Phoncible is highly motivated, but not entirely honest and upright. Protagonist Fone Bone is equipped with both courage and the ability to problem solve. Smiley Bone is more likeable than Phoncible, but far less intelligent than Fone.
Phoney and Smiley are separated from Fone, and the story splits into two different paths. While on his own, Fone meets up with Thorn, a young, courageous and talented girl with a secret past. Thorn lives with her hard scrabble grandmother, perhaps the toughest character in the story despite her age. Thorn helps Fone reunite with his cousins, though they encounter great danger and excitement in the form of rat creatures along the way.
Meanwhile, Phoney tries to run another scam with Smiley that may get him into hot water once again. Their storyline is lighter in tone that Fone’s is, and it provides many funny moments.
The Bone cousins’ story is told in black and white line illustrations. As with most graphic novels, it is accessible for a wide range of readers. Author Jeff Smith conveys a slew of emotions and moods among his characters, creating a lively pace for the story.
Interview with the author here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXwFRZ4nFXA
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Girl Stories
Girl Stories (Weinstein, Lauren R.; 2006) 237 pages; ISBN 9780805078633
An a-typical story about an actual, typical tween, Girl Stories is a series of tales told in graphic novel form by Lauren Weinstein and featuring a 13-year-old narrator named, perhaps autobiographically, Lauren. Weinstein approaches the travails of Lauren in graphic novel form. She does not sugar coat the often difficult, awkward, confusing years of pre- and early teen hood. The vignettes here tell of Lauren’s (embarrassing) hobby of playing with Barbies long after most girls have packed them away, her struggle to be accepted by the cool kids, and her brutally honest account of dropping a friend who might jeopardize her popularity index.
Weinstein explains in her intro that this book represents several years worth of work, and therefore the style of her illustrations changes over time. The straightforward pictures sometimes belie more serious topics and dialogue that address serious tween and teen issues. Angst over wanting a boyfriend or girlfriend and body issues are two such subjects, and though these can quickly evolve into more mature themes, they are also very important issues for young readers. Weinstein’s honesty in depicting one young girl’s struggle with these years is refreshing and comes across as authentic, which many tween readers will appreciate. However, that same honesty makes this titles more appropriate for older tweens than the younger or less mature readers in this group.
The graphic novel format of this book makes it an easy read for some who are put off by longer doses of text, but Weinstein’s language is challenging enough to keep strong readers plenty interested as well.
Recommended for ages 11 and up.
An a-typical story about an actual, typical tween, Girl Stories is a series of tales told in graphic novel form by Lauren Weinstein and featuring a 13-year-old narrator named, perhaps autobiographically, Lauren. Weinstein approaches the travails of Lauren in graphic novel form. She does not sugar coat the often difficult, awkward, confusing years of pre- and early teen hood. The vignettes here tell of Lauren’s (embarrassing) hobby of playing with Barbies long after most girls have packed them away, her struggle to be accepted by the cool kids, and her brutally honest account of dropping a friend who might jeopardize her popularity index.
Weinstein explains in her intro that this book represents several years worth of work, and therefore the style of her illustrations changes over time. The straightforward pictures sometimes belie more serious topics and dialogue that address serious tween and teen issues. Angst over wanting a boyfriend or girlfriend and body issues are two such subjects, and though these can quickly evolve into more mature themes, they are also very important issues for young readers. Weinstein’s honesty in depicting one young girl’s struggle with these years is refreshing and comes across as authentic, which many tween readers will appreciate. However, that same honesty makes this titles more appropriate for older tweens than the younger or less mature readers in this group.
The graphic novel format of this book makes it an easy read for some who are put off by longer doses of text, but Weinstein’s language is challenging enough to keep strong readers plenty interested as well.
Recommended for ages 11 and up.
Monday, April 25, 2011
The Karate Kid
The Karate Kid [Motion Picture] 1985. ISBN 0800138074
Tweens who enjoyed last year’s Karate Kid remake starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan still have reason to check out the 1985 original. Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio), a newcomer to Los Angeles, is bullied and finds help from his apartment manager, Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita, Jr. in an Oscar-nominated performance). Today’s tweens will not know Morita from “Happy Days” fame, but his performance as the wise and patient Karate master from Okinawa might still remind them of someone they know. Morita gets the details right, and along with Macchio’s best performance, creates a relationship that is even more believable than Larusso’s with his teen love interest, Ali (Elisabeth Shue).
The story resonates with tweens 25 years after its release, especially with so many recent high profile incidents of bullying among young people. In the film, Miyagi teaches Daniel that respect and inner peace are more important than physical dominance—as displayed by the more militaristic Cobra Kai martial artists (the bullies) in the film.
Among the highlights of the movie are the “wax on, wax off” scene in which Daniel realizes that seemingly endless household chores are actually lessons in Karate; more subtle are the scenes with Daniel and his mother (Randee Heller), who is having almost as much difficulty finding her way in a new environment as her son is.
While the music and fashion in Karate Kid are dated, the script is filled with realistic dialogue and timeless humor.
View a clip of the film here.
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Twelve Rounds to Glory
Smith’s story told in verse along with bold, colorful illustrations by Bryan Collier combine for a powerful biography of one of the country’s best known athletes. Smith divides the story into twelve rounds, each of which reads as a chapter explaining an important era of Ali’s life.
Each round begins with a quote pertinent to the upcoming chapter. The story begins with a lyrical description of the baby Cassius Clay, born in 1942 in racially divided Kentucky. Smith includes an anecdote in which someone steals Clay’s bicycle. He wants revenge but a police officer informs him, “First, kid, you hafta learn to fight!” Clay takes these words to heart, and his career in fighting begins.
Smith includes many of Clay’s boxing highlights, such as his gold medal turn in the 1960 Olympics, and he explains Clay’s conversion to Islam which leads him to change his name to Muhammad Ali, which means “worthy of praise, high-exalted one.” He also covers Ali’s refusal to join the Army when drafted because it conflicts with the beliefs of his faith. This decision costs him his boxing title and, for several years, his ability to compete.
The story also includes some of Ali’s most notable fights, such as those against George Foreman and Joe Frazier, and it concludes with his current and enduring battle, that against Parkinson’s disease. The portrayal here is one of a tough, disciplined, principled man who influenced his sport perhaps more than anyone else thus far. Twelve Rounds to Glory was awarded the Coretta Scott King award in 2008.
The Giver
Lois Lowry establishes a setting without conflict, strife, or other forms of unpleasantness. It is also a setting of sameness, one in which everything from the weather to collective memories are completely controlled and predictable. Young Jonas, age 12, is about to receive his life assignment from the Elders in the community. This ritual bestows a duty to each child based on the skills they have demonstrated, and Jonas unexpectedly receives the rare and prestigious job of being the Receiver of Memory. Though an important honor, the proclamation terrifies Jonas.
Jonas trades playing games with his peers for training sessions with the man whose job he will take over, the aging Receiver who is now known as the Giver (as he will give the ability to remember to Jonas). Jonas is surprised and alarmed at much of what he learns from the Giver. One of the most disturbing things he learns is that when a member is “released” from their society (such as when the elderly become unwell or when members break society rules), they are not sent off to the mysterious “Elsewhere,” but rather they are killed.
Jonas’s misgivings about his new responsibility come to a head when he finds that a young child they have been fostering, Gabriel, is to be released soon for failing to grow at an acceptable rate. Jonas must make an important decision: remain faithful to his society and his role as the Receiver knowing that Gabriel will be killed, or attempt to save Gabriel by betraying everything and everyone he has ever known.
Lowry’s book has received many awards, including the Newbery Medal.
--Ages 11-14
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