The Giver

Bibliography
Lowry, Lois. 1993. The Giver. New York: Dell Laurel Leaf. ISBN: 0440237688.

Plot Summary
Jonas, who is twelve years old, lives in perfect world where there is no sickness, no poverty, and no pains. He lives in a world where everything is mechanical and automatic; everything is already set in place and decided for everyone by a committee of elders. He and his sister were assigned as children to their parents to build a family unit. Nobody questions this world and everybody follows set of strict rules to run the community smoothly. When Jonas turns twelve he is assigned the honorable role of “Receiver of Memory”. Jonas slowly understands the depth and challenges of this role; he starts questioning his world. Through his teacher, the Giver, Jonas sees the world as nobody as seen.

Critical Analysis
Through the story of Jonas, the author, drives the readers through a fantasy world where nothing is normal. This book could be considered scientific fiction because its a world where everything from climate, to surroundings, to birth and death is controlled by human beings. This fantasy is based on the Utopian idea of a perfect world. The author, Lois Lowry, does an excellent job of creating and describing this fantasy world. Bits and pieces of this perfect world are disclosed throughout the novel keeping the element of awe until the end. The story is engaging and suspenseful from the beginning to the end. The ending is especially thought provoking keeping the readers guessing about what happened or what will happen; some readers might even find it unsatisfying. The story, especially the end, can spark a lot of rich discussions.

The Earth Dragon Awakes

Bibliography
Yep, Laurence. 2006. The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 9780060275259.

Plot Summary
This is fictional story of two young boys Henry and Ching that experience the earthquake that truly happened on April 17, 1906. This earthquake was one of the most devastating ones that hit San Francisco and caused great loss of life and property. The boys see that their fathers were actually heroes in crisis.

Critical Analysis
This book is an unusual mixture of fiction and non-fiction. Readers get to experience the historic earthquake through the eyes of two young boys. The author gives two perspectives – one rich, one poor. The story shows that although people deal with crisis differently the disaster hit both the rich and the poor in the same way. Nobody was spared the wrath of the earth dragon. Laurence Yep has done careful research about this earthquake and gives important facts about it throughout the book. Emphasis is paid more on the historical part than the fictional part. The story is used as means for conveying the emotions and to give the readers a more personal journey through the earthquake. Young readers who like non-fiction might like the fresh approach to reading about earthquakes.

The Witch of the Blackbird Pond

Bibliography
Speare, George Elizabeth. 1986. The Witch of the Blackbird Pond. Laurel Leaf Books. ISBN: 04409955779.

Plot Summary
Kit Tyler who has been raised in Barbados is orphaned and has nobody to go to but her aunt who lives in Connecticut. Her upbringing is very different from the conservative and strict life of her Puritan aunt and her family. She realizes that she is not a fit there; whatever she does ends up with the wrong results in this new place. The only place she finds peace is in the meadows and with the old Hannah Tupper. Hannah Tupper lives alone in the meadows and is called the witch of Blackbird Pond. Kit is forbidden in meeting the witch, but Kit finds that Hannah Tupper is just an innocent old lady and is no witch at all. Nat, Kit’s young sailor friend, also likes to visit Hannah Tupper occasionally. When people find out Kit’s friendship with the so called Witch, Kit is also blamed of witchcraft.

Critical Analysis
The Witch of the Blackbird Pond is a thoroughly engaging story that readers won’t be able to put down. Kit is torn between staying who she is and what her relatives want her to be; but due to circumstances she is forced to blend in with the life of the relatives she is living with. Kit’s dilemma is very touching because she slowly starts understanding her new relatives and also can see their love for her, but longs for the freedom she is used to have. The historical conflicts of the time have been neatly woven into the conflicts of Kit’s life, without overshadowing Kit’s story. Preteen readers will enjoy the three budding romances that have been blended into the story making. A lovely story with a very satisfying end.

Sarah, Plain and Tall

Bibliography
MacLachlan, Sarah. 1985. Sarah, Plain and Tall. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. Inc. ISBN: 0064402053.

Plot Summary
Caleb and Anna’s mother died just after Caleb was born. Caleb and Anna’s father, who is a farmer, advertises for bride in the newspaper. He receives a letter from Sarah Elisabeth Wheaton of Maine who agrees to come and stay with them for a month before they can decide to get married. Sarah describes herself as plain and tall and that she is. Anna and Caleb instantly fall in love with her. She tells them stories about her family in Maine and describes the life by the sea to them. The children who have only seen the prairie farms are amazed by her stories of the sea. Anna and Caleb know that Sarah misses her home in Maine and are worried that Sarah will leave. Sarah leaves one day for town and the children are worried she will never come back. The children are delighted when Sarah returns and marries their father.

Critical Analysis
Patricia MacLachlan has written an adorable and heart warming story. It is a short story that carries a lot of delicate emotions. The children’s memories of their mother and the family’s loneliness without a mother and wife can be somewhat sad for younger children. But the story quickly becomes lively when Sarah arrives on the farm to live with the family. Anna and Caleb are very loveable characters and readers will hope along with them that Sarah stays with them for good. The children’s longing for motherly love has been handled very beautifully in this story.

The timeline when the story happens, the language, the settings make this a classic historical fiction story. Children will find it amusing to read about how people lived, what they wore, what work they did, what kind of transportation they had, and how they communicated with somebody living far away.

Because of Winn-Dixie

Bibliography
DeCamillo, Katie. 2000. Because of Winn-Dixie. Scholastic, Inc. ISBN: 043925051X.

Plot Summary
Opal and her father, who is preacher, move to Naomi, Florida. Opal is feeling very lonely in the new place and also misses her mother who had left Opal when she was little. One day Opal finds this funny dog creating chaos at the supermarket. Opal instantly falls in love with this dog and befriends this dog whom she calls, Winn-Dixie. Opal is able to talk about everything with Winn-Dixie and also makes new friends with the help of Winn-Dixie. After making friends Opal sees life from a new perspective.

Critican Analysis
Because of Winn-Dixie is a sensitive, yet delightful story. All characters are very well defined each contributing to the story in its own sweet way. The dog, Winn-Dixie is so loveable and seems to be the best friend a child could ever have. The dog seems to be in tune with the problems in Opal’s life and always provides Opal the comfort she needs. Children reading this book will be able to easily relate with the relationship Opal has with her pet. Opal is different from usual kids, has no friends, and the friends she makes are much older than her. The story deals with issues of separation from mother, being different, and being lonely. Opal is constantly trying to find out more about her mother and does not understand why her mother would leave her. The story is sad at times, but the lively characters bring the humor and energy into the story.

Rules

Bibliography
Lord, Cynthia. 2006. Rules. Scholastic, Inc. ISBN: 9780545036406

Plot Summary
Twelve year old Catherine just longs for a normal life but that doesn’t seem to happen as her brother has autism and her whole family’s life revolves around it. Catherine constantly has to make adjustments for her brother, feels neglected by her parents, and is sometimes embarrassed by her brother’s behaviour when she is around her friends. Catherine tries to find the friend she has always wanted in Kristi, the next door neighbour. She also makes friend with Jason who can only communicate using picture cards. Catherine’s experiences with both her friends make her rethink what is normal and what is more important to her.

Critical Analysis
A very touching story that will make readers analyze relationships. Catherine’s problems seems very real because she is torn between the love for her brother and his unending needs. Readers can emphatize with Catherine character who as a big sister always has to make adjustments for her autistic brother. Parents are also so engrossed in meeting the special needs of their son that they tend to forget the normal needs of their daughter. Everybody’s perspective seems to be valid and justified. Catherine’s relationship with Jason gives her a new paerspective about relationships. The theme of need for acceptance, feeling different, and growing up through experiences has been sensitively handled in this story. The story is a balanced blend of humor and emotions making it is good read for older readers. Readers will get an insight into life someone who does not suffer from a disability themself but still have to deal with the problems surrounding it everyday. Lot of attention is usually given to people suffering from disability but this story is written from the perspective of somebody who has a family member suffering from disability.

Review Excerpts
School Library Journal – A lovely, warm read and a great discussion starter (http://www.amazon.com/).
Booklist – A heart warming first novel (http://www.amazon.com/).

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus

Bibliography
Park, Barbara. 1992. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus. Illustrated by Denise Brunkus. ISBN: 0439136830.

Plot Summary
It’s Junie B. Jones first day at Kindergarten and first time riding the school bus. She does not like the yellow bus and the children are mean to her. Her new friend Lucille tells Junie B. that her brother told her that children pour chocolate milk on their head in the school bus. That just scared Junie B. Jones and she hid in her class so that nobody could find her and make her ride the school bus. Junie B. Jones is not found before she makes a big scene.

Critical Analysis
This book is the first of the many sequels in the Junie B. Jones series written by Barbara Park. It is brilliantly written and extremely funny. It deals with the normal anxieties about first day of school and riding the big, yellow school bus. The language is very simple and easy to understand for beginner chapter book readers. The sentences are sometimes not grammatically correct but it is how a six year old usually talks and also uniquely defines the character of Junie B. Jones. Junie B. Jones is a loveable character with an exuberant personality. Girls will especially enjoy the little adventures of Junie B. Jones.

This is a perfect for slightly confident readers who want to venture into reading chapter books. This book is a short novel that even parents can read aloud to their children to encourage reading chapter books. Reading short chapter books like Junie B. Jones books can boost reader’s confidence in their reading abilities.