Nonfiction Review-HITLER YOUTH

1. Bibliography

Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. 2005. Hitler Youth: Growing Up In Hitler's Shadow. New York: Scholastic, Inc. ISBN 0439353793

2. Plot Summary

Susan Campbell Bartoletti has revisited one of the darkest times in history when, under the control of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, millions of Jewish people and "undesirables" were persecuted and executed. Told through the stories of the young people that were brought up in Germany at the time, Bartoletti brings this period of history alive from the perspective of former Hitler Youth, persecuted Jewish youth, and young people who bravely resisted the powerful Nazi movement. The book begins in 1932 when Hitler was just becoming powerful as the leader of the rising National Socialist Party and follows historical events through 1945 with the Allied victory of World War II and the suicide of Adolf Hitler. The last chapter summarizes the aftermath of the Third Reich such as the Nuremburg Trials and the state of Germany to the present. Bartoletti leaves young readers with a warning and a challenge: "What are you willing to do to prevent such a shadow from falling over you and others?" There is a brief epilogue that explains "what became of the young people in this book", as well as a timeline of events for the Hitler Youth. Bartoletti also provides an "Author's Note" that explains how her interest in this subject came about as well as a note about the origin of the abundant photographs in the book.

3. Critical Analysis

Bartoletti has taken an extemely profound time in World History and told it in a brand new way: from the perspective of the children who were indoctrinated, betrayed, persecuted, and manipulated by Hitler and the Nazi movement. Not only that, but she has written it in such a clear and simplistically powerful way, that young readers and adults alike will learn and be moved by this account. The stories of the young people that Bartoletti follows helps to personalize the events. Despite the amazing details and amount of information the book contains, the text is never overwhelming. Instead, it is divided into ten chronological chapters that are well organized and accompanied by an abundance of unbelievably powerful black and white photographs. The photographs cover everything from life in Germany, to front lines of battle, to concentration camps and complement the text perfectly. The amount of painstaking research Bartoletti conducted to make this book is evident. She has made an extremely important book that speaks to all mankind, but most importantly, to the next generation of young people-the ones who will decide what direction our future takes and whether or not we are destined to repeat history.

4. Review Excerpts

School Library Journal-Starred Review-"With a focus on the years between 1933 and the end of the war in 1945, Bartoletti explains the roles that millions of boys and girls unwittingly played in the horrors of the Third Reich...Bartoletti lets many of the subjects' words, emotions, and deeds speak for themselves, bringing them together clearly to tell this story unlike anyone else has."

Booklist-Starred Review-"Bartoletti draws on oral histories, diaries, letters, and her own extensive interviews with Holocaust survivors, Hitler Youth, resisters, and bystanders to tell the history from the viewpoints of people who were there."

The Horn Book-Starred Review-"The power of the account...matched by the many period...photographs, well-married to the text by strong captions and placement…"

5. Connections

*This book would complement any World History curriculum on World War II

*Could be used as part of a multicultural unit

*Could be used to introduce or in conjunction with a novel unit dealing with the Holocaust (ex. The Diary of Anne Frank, Number the Stars)

Other books on the Hitler Youth:

Kater, Micheal H. Hitler Youth. ISBN 0674019911

Koch, H.W. Hitler Youth: Origins and Development 1922-1945. ISBN 0815410840

Heck, Alfons. A Child of Hitler: Germany in the Days When God Wore a Swastika. ISBN 0939650444

Rempel, Gerhard. The Hitler Youth and the SS. ISBN 0807842990

Metalmann, Henry. A Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Germany in the 1930's. ISBN 1862272522

Dvorson, Alexa. The Hitler Youth: Marching Towards Madness (Teen Witnesses to the Holocaust) ISBN 1562544624

Other nonfiction books by Susan Campbell Bartoletti:

The Boy Who Dared ISBN 0439680131

Growing up in Coal Country ISBN 0395979145

Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine 1845-1850 ISBN 0618548831

Kids on Strike! ISBN 0618369236

Nonfiction Review-Destination Jupiter

1. Bibliography
Simon, Seymour. 1998. Destination: Jupiter. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0613336917

2. Plot Summary
Seymour Simon provides a wealth of factual information for readers who are interested in learning about "the largest planet in the Solar System": Jupiter. Every aspect of the planet is covered from how to recognize it ("It is the fourth-brightest object in the sky..." and "looks like a bright star") to what Jupiter's clouds are made of (mostly hydrogen and helium). Simon documents the history of attempted human contact with the planet through Hubble Space Telescope, the Voyager, and the Galileo. Young readers will enjoy the colorful way that facts are presented ("If Jupiter were hollow, more than thirteen hundred planet Earths could fit inside it.")

3. Critical Analysis
Even though there is a lot of information in this book, the text is broken up into sections so as to not overwhelm. There are breathtaking photographs on every double page spread that are not only fascinating and beautiful but essential in presenting what is being described in the text. Entertaining trivia help to further explain concepts (for example, in explaining Jupiter's atmospheric pressure-"If you weigh 100 pounds on Earth, you would weigh 264 pounds on Jupiter"). This book is great for young readers who already love outer space as well as those who would like to learn more about it.

4. Review Excerpts
School Library Journal-"Expertly balancing the verbal and visual presentation, Simon again demonstrates his ability to inform and entertain simultaneously."
Kirkus Reviews-"Spectacular full-color photographs. Fascinating...not to be missed."

5. Connections

*This book would complement any science curriculum concerning the solar system.

Other books on Jupiter for young readers:

Landau, Elaine. Jupiter (True Books) ISBN 0531147894

Taylor-Butler, Christine. Jupiter (Scholastic News Nonfiction Readers) ISBN 0531147614

Loewen, James. The Largest Planet: Jupiter (Amazing Science: Planets) ISBN 1404839615

Kerrod, Robin. Jupiter (Planet Library) ISBN 0822539071

Seymour Simon has an extensive body of work on every aspect of outer space. He also has written books on the following subjects (to name a few):

Weather ISBN 0060884398

Bones: Our Skeletal System ISBN 0688177212

Animals Nobody Loves ISBN 1587171554

Seymour Simon's Book of Trains ISBN 0064462234

Oceans ISBN 0060889993

Pyramids and Mummies ISBN 1587172410

Now You See It, Now You Don't: The Amazing World of Optical Illusions ISBN 0688161529

Nonfiction Review-THE BOY ON FAIRFIELD STREET

1. Bibliography
Krull, Kathleen. 2004. The Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up to Become Dr. Suess. Ill. by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. New York: Random House. ISBN 0375822984

2. Plot Summary
With the opening line, "Once upon a time, there lived a boy who feasted on books and was wild about animals," Kathleen Krull begins a journey with readers through the childhood of Ted Geisel, the boy who would one day grow up to be the legendary Dr. Suess, beloved children's writer and illustrator. The book includes details that most likely influenced him and fed his imagination and love of books, such as his father's career as the superintendent of the zoo or the fact that his mother read to him every night. The account details Ted's neighborhood, his friends, the trouble he got into at school and also lesser known facts such as the discrimination that Ted and his family endured during World War I because of their German ethnicity. This book follows Ted Geisel all the way through his school years, college education, and the beginning of his struggling career as a writer and cartoonist. Kathleen Krull concludes her story of "Dr. Suess's" humble beginnings with Ted moving to New York to pursue his budding career selling drawings to magazines and newspapers and, at twenty-two years old, looking forward to an exciting future.

2. Critical Analysis

Kathleen Krull writes an interesting and informative book in a clear way so that young readers may understand and enjoy learning about one of the most profound and beloved children's book author and illustrator of our time. Young readers will be captivated by reading Ted Geisel's story through the eyes of his childhood and will love the endearing flaws that Krull relates such as the fact that Ted struggled in school, had a problem with exaggerating the truth, and was voted "Least Likely to Succeed" by his classmates at Dartmouth. Krull includes an epilogue entitled "On Beyond Fairfield Street" that begins where the story leaves off and describes Ted Geisel's long career as Dr. Suess. There is also a list of "Great Works Written and Illustrated by Dr. Suess" written in a timeline format and a few suggested titles for further reading.

The beautiful paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher complement the story and have the same type of simplistic appeal that the text has. Every double page spread has a page of text and an opposing page with a painting. In this way, the illustrations really depict and help to describe the action in the story. It also creates the perfect amount of text so as to not overwhelm young readers. In the white space surrounding the text, a cast of Dr. Suess's famous characters and doodles dance and tumble across the pages as if accompanying the reader.

4. Review Excerpts

Booklist-" Krull's pithy text is extended by full-page paintings that glow with the memory of yesteryear and capture the mix of humor and poignancy that comes with trying to fit in. Spot art from Geisel's own books enlivens the text pages. "

5. Connections

*This book could be used in a research project for students to learn more about their favorite authors

*Could be used to introduce a book by Dr. Suess

Anther book about the life of Ted Geisel aka Dr. Suess:

Kudlinski, Kathleen. Dr. Suess: Young Author and Artist. ISBN 0689873476

Other biographies by Kathleen Krull:

Lives of Extraordinary Women: Rulers, Rebels (and What the Neighbors Thought). ISBN 0152008071

Leonardo Da Vinci: Giants of Science #1. ISBN 067005920X

Houdini: World's Greatest Mystery Man and Escape King. ISBN 080279646X

The Road to OZ: Twists, Turns, Bumps and Triumphs in the Life of L. Frank Baum. ISBN 0375832165

Poetry Review-STOP PRETENDING

1. Bibliography

Sones, Sonya. 1999. Stop Pretending: what happened when my big sister went crazy. New York: HarperTeen. ISBN 0064462188

2. Plot Summary

In Sonya Sones' first verse novel, she paints the very real struggle of a young thirteen year old girl dealing with her nineteen year old sister's mental breakdown. In a series of poems based on real events in the author's life, the reader travels with the young girl through the horror and denial of her sister's condition, her sadness for the family that has been fractured, her shame and fear that she could go crazy too, and finally her acceptance and healing. Sones captures the voice of a young teenager trying to navigate the world of boyfriends and slumber parties while her family is falling apart.

3. Critical Analysis

Sonya Sones has written an incredibly important book that speaks with raw emotion of grief and loss during a very critical time of life. The succession of poems flow flawlessly and really document the author's progression of emotion and thoughts through these tragic circumstances. The poems do not rhyme and the rhythm is varied but the message and meaning of the poems supersede. The poems range from irrational to reflective, realistically portraying scattered thoughts and emotions inside a person's head. One poem describes a string of highly unlikely dramatic events and ends it all with a promise that if even if all these things happen "I swear I won't go crazy." Another poem about a picture the author has drawn in art class is heavy with symbolism: "I am drawing my sister/with saucers for eyes/...I am drawing my mother/with zippers for eyes/...I am drawing my father /with windows for eyes/...I am drawing myself/without any eyes/at all." The range of emotion in this book is astounding. There is shame and fear of the stigma of mental illness, there is anger at her sister, grief and sadness over the loss of her sister and family, the desire to just be a kid, and hope for healing. There is an author's note at the end of the book that describes the background for these poems and the real experiences that inspired them along with a resource list of several mental health organizations. Told through the observations and struggles of a thirteen year old, young adults with any experience of loss and disruption will be able to identify with this beautifully written novel in verse.

4. Review Excerpts

School Library Journal-"An unpretentious, accessible book that could provide entry points for a discussion about mental illness-its stigma, its realities, and its affect on family members. All of the emotions and feelings are here, the tightness in the teen's chest when thinking about her sibling in the hospital, her grocery list of adjectives for mental illness, and the honest truth in the collection's smallest poem, "I don't want to see you./I dread it./There./I've said it."

Kirkus Reviews-"The form, a story-in-poems, fits the story remarkably well, spotlighting the musings of the 13-year-old narrator, and pinpointing the emotions powerfully."

5. Connections

This book spoke to me in a profound way. I lost my nineteen year old sister in a tragic accident when I was fourteen. I was surprised by the emotions these poems brought up even though my loss was different than those of the author's. Anger, sadness, feeling different from peers, and trying to recapture innocence is just a few of the feelings I could relate to. The thoughts and emotions of the grief process seen through an adolescent's eyes was dead on. This book touches the humanity of many of life's difficult trials.

*This book could spark a discussion with older students on mental illness and the issues surrounding it as well as experiences with loss (divorce, death, etc.)

*Students could be asked to create a poem that would fit in this collection or continue it.

Other books by Sonya Sones:

What my Mother Doesn't Know. ISBN 0689855532

What my Girlfriend Doesn't Know. ISBN 0689876033

One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies. ISBN 1416907882

Other books for young adults dealing with mental illness:

Simon, Clea. Mad House: Growing Up in the Shadow of Mentally Ill Siblings. ISBN 0140274340

Mccormick, Patricia. Cut. ISBN 0439324599

Hopkins, Ellen. Impulse. ISBN 1416903577

Kayson, Susanna. Girl Interrupted. ISBN 0679746048

Wutzel, Elizabeth. Prozac Nation. ISBN 1573229628

Plath, Sylvia. The Bell Jar. ISBN 0061148512

Greenberg, Joanne. I Never Promised You a Rose Garden. ISBN 0451160312

Poetry Review-THIS IS JUST TO SAY

1. Bibliography
Joyce Sidman. 2007. This Is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness. Ill. by Pamela Zagaranski. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618616802

2. Plot Summary
As Anthony K., one of the sixth grade characters in Joyce Sidman's book, explains in his introduction, this collection of poems "is part of a poetry unit we have completed in Mrs. Merz's class." The students of Mrs. Merz's sixth grade class express their remorse and desire for forgiveness for all sorts of misunderstandings and misdeeds ranging from lighthearted (one boy relates how he is not sorry for all the little annoying things he has done to get a classmate's attention but is sorry that she still won't go out with him) to emotionally complex and moving (Please, please come back./...I'm sorry, Daddy./Next time I'll be perfect.) Students use a variety of different poetic forms to express themselves. The next section contains reply poems from the recipients of the apology poems. Not all respond, and of the ones that do, not all extend forgiveness. One collaborated poem of forgiveness is written by two classmates that had apologized to one another for being too rough at dodgeball. While this is a entertaining and easy read for young students, it also captures the emotion of remorse and regret and the healing power of forgiveness.

3. Critical Analysis
The reality of adolescent emotion expressed through the characters makes the reader feel as if this class of sixth graders not only exist, but that they have really gotten to know them on a personal level. The problems they have (and indiscretions) are easy to relate to. The poems are written in different fonts and styles so as to reflect the individuality of the students and create the effect of original poems. None of the poems rhyme and the rhythm is defined in some more than others, but it is the message of the poem that is the priority. There are some great similes in the language of the poems ("you smiled,/but your face looked like a frozen pond" and "Don't leave me spinning alone,/like a slow, sad tornado.") There is an introduction from one of the students explaining the class project and setting up the plot for the reader. There are also occasional author's or editor's notes giving background information on a poem. The one weakness of the book, in my opinion, is that the organization of the apology poems in the front and the response poems in the back is awkward. If both the poems and corresponding responses could share the same layout, the reader would not have to flip back and forth trying to connect them.

Pamela Zagarenski's illustrations use various collage style mediums to create the effect of notes in a journal or a scrapbook. Some of the illustrations include cut-outs of drawings with notebook paper backgrounds, scraps with dictionary entries on them, and various doodles. All of the illustrations help to convey a junior high classroom feel as if the students had drawn the accompanying pictures themselves.

4. Review Excerpts
Publisher's Weekly-"Zagarenski's inventive mixed-media illustrations brim with items found in a classroom: a dictionary entry on "apology," for instance, becomes part of a student's clothing, and white hole reinforcements resemble a character's stolen doughnuts....But the book's odd organization seems a missed opportunity to tie the well-wrought, corresponding poems together and reinforce the complex relationships between the characters."

Children's Literature-" While it is disappointing to realize that the authors of the poems are fictional, each poem still feels as if it were written by a child, expressing dismay at hurting a teacher's feelings or admiration to an older sibling who seems so much cooler than the author."

School Library Journal-"Sidman's ear is keen, capturing many voices. Her skill as a poet accessible to young people is unmatched."

Kirkus Reviews-"Packed with the intensity of everyday pain and sorrow, kids and adults exchange the words that convey grief, delight, love and acceptance of themselves and others. "

5. Connections
*Students could write their own poems of apology and forgiveness.
*This book could be read to introduce a novel with forgiveness as a central theme.
Other poetry books by Joyce Sidman:
Song of the Water Boatmen and Other Pond Poems ISBN 0618135472

Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow ISBN 061856313X

The World According to Dog ISBN 0618283811

Another book of poetry that explores the subject of forgiveness for older students:

Vecchione, Patrice. Revenge and Forgiveness. ISBN 0805073760