tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67531579953216014802024-03-13T00:43:06.874-07:00Mighty SmackdownWe wanted to create a way where we could read a few books, learn about many titles and have fun doing it! The tournament style reading of the Mighty Smackdown means that in the first round each participant reads two books, discusses both in a blog post, selecting one book to move on to the next round. Teachers are asked to commit to one round but most, if not all, continue on. We will read to the end when we will have only one book left standing!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger893125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-2965338006269036732022-05-18T11:42:00.000-07:002022-05-18T11:42:07.848-07:00That's As Close As We Can Get And Still Declare The Winner!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcouRr-sT4T0SKVsLTMFnwb115zyfIGmmeXQ9iJIFhBwcQ_0zLAZA34i-nzHaQ3sj4XaULFzqoUl7xKpJgPJwfAdImOZviEOJUpgwKl4qluVAhNKxaSiolhQDOlh5xyrJ14yhYpS2MT_isQAOv_xVqa-Z4PvP7loyMORJmtJqsfl1XZTmWg4EfNkEw/s262/cranes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="192" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcouRr-sT4T0SKVsLTMFnwb115zyfIGmmeXQ9iJIFhBwcQ_0zLAZA34i-nzHaQ3sj4XaULFzqoUl7xKpJgPJwfAdImOZviEOJUpgwKl4qluVAhNKxaSiolhQDOlh5xyrJ14yhYpS2MT_isQAOv_xVqa-Z4PvP7loyMORJmtJqsfl1XZTmWg4EfNkEw/s1600/cranes.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPxykKoF6WxWKDzqVp7VRoGnivHq-gTK0LbCUyoU13r2dZ4TqGQ1e-patAsuN6BXnRNJLhWusgeYDgm_wpAHCJdqY7Y06ggrKwioPgWH-MdiHS5W3jDnAuF2tN2sFGFozbEA5qo-HVSQTVhhu91vnvUJhLiFw71pn0F4V5zLisudSrOpxu02-oGS4/s268/dragonhoops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="188" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPxykKoF6WxWKDzqVp7VRoGnivHq-gTK0LbCUyoU13r2dZ4TqGQ1e-patAsuN6BXnRNJLhWusgeYDgm_wpAHCJdqY7Y06ggrKwioPgWH-MdiHS5W3jDnAuF2tN2sFGFozbEA5qo-HVSQTVhhu91vnvUJhLiFw71pn0F4V5zLisudSrOpxu02-oGS4/s1600/dragonhoops.jpg" width="188" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5ORYXFcseFrsAU-ptuqfod6a0ywIbrOT-GAIuZyfcAHiYkbY-o4tvzZ0pt9SND27gfb4XSSrSw02_0-C6tRjcQIXLzKv0nhHV7iYm88zGcG0lXitIsug0fHFInqXv_WotbaCmWoQbLZ7xFDjsdQ1BXXuY9-wVanvXkuBxGZZa5gwloWlmJmro33q/s276/furia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="183" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5ORYXFcseFrsAU-ptuqfod6a0ywIbrOT-GAIuZyfcAHiYkbY-o4tvzZ0pt9SND27gfb4XSSrSw02_0-C6tRjcQIXLzKv0nhHV7iYm88zGcG0lXitIsug0fHFInqXv_WotbaCmWoQbLZ7xFDjsdQ1BXXuY9-wVanvXkuBxGZZa5gwloWlmJmro33q/s1600/furia.jpg" width="183" /></a></div><br /> It always fills my withered heart with joy when the three finalists of Smackdown are all so worthy of attention and an audience. You all may not completely agree but I found the finalists to be all MIGHTY contenders. May is a time when ships go down metaphorically speaking. Many of our most eager bloggers and readers are spinning away right now in a distant universe. We had a few schools who did not vote - yet so many of you who took time to come up with criteria and pick a winner. This year's winner was put over the top with just ONE vote. Dragon Hoops wins again (life and art right?) by one. Final scores: 21 Dragons 20 Furia 13 Cranes. Thanks to all our participants who got to see first hand that book choice needs to be the real winner in any battle!<p></p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-81886837930156835602022-05-16T14:09:00.000-07:002022-05-16T14:09:02.923-07:00All good things must come to an end...<p> Another year, another Smackdown.... Here's how it rolled out for Team Sweet Grass:</p><p><b>Vanessa:</b> So much has been said already about these three. For me, Dragon Hoops was a clear third place (and to be honest, lots of other books should have been here before it). I loved Furia and Land of Cranes - they both deserve to be here. And while Land of Cranes could be in my library here at school, I’m picking Furia for the win.</p><p><b>Norma</b>: I don’t like graphic novels but Dragon Hoops was one of the first graphic novels that I can appreciate. I loved Furia and Land of the Cranes. I won’t be disappointed if either was the eventual winner. For me though my choice for the win is Land of the Cranes. It gave me a glimpse into the camps and highlighted the good in people in spite of their circumstances.</p><p><b>Mel</b>:I loved “Land of the Cranes” - her voice telling the story and how she saw things really connected with me. That’s my winner. “Furia” was obviously targeted at a different audience and I thought it was good too although I had to read about 5 chapters before I started to feel into that story (unlike “Cranes” which had me at “Hello”). I like Basketball and sports in general. I love History - especially looking at stories and events from a 3D perspective. BUT . NO. NO. I can not take in that story in pictures. So “Dragon” isn’t a pick for me on any ballot.</p><p><b>Rushmi</b>: I liked Furia and reading about her story, even the expected happy ending. However, the book I would allow to take up some real estate on my bookshelf is Land of Cranes. The topic is not common, and I think the advocacy it brings is excellent. It can reach a number of targeted audiences. It is well written in verse which actually adds to the beauty of the story, and I would think about this character over time because her story made an impact. So, Land of Cranes holds my vote.</p><p><b>Stephanie</b>: I absolutely loved Furia, especially because it took place in Rosario, Argentina and so I felt a special connection to the cultural aspects. I thought the female protagonist was authentic and the storyline interesting. I was immediately hooked by the narrative and it was very eye opening for me to see the more machista side of the Argentine culture because I’ve always studied about the strong females like Las Madres de la plaza de mayo and seen first hand from my mother-in-law’s example, how powerful and effective they have been at evoking change. Despite all of the wonderful reasons why I could choose Furia, my pick is still Land of Cranes. The story is heartbreaking and beautifully told and should be shared with as wide of an audience as possible:)</p><p><b>Emily:</b> Dragon Hoops was okay, but the more I reflect on it, the more frustrated I am that it made it this far. I loved both Land of the Cranes and Furia and I would be happy with either book winning. Land of the Cranes is a painful, beautiful and necessary book, but I’m not sure it’s a book I’ll be able to reread anytime soon. It did take a few chapters for Furia to really grab me, but once it did, I was very invested in the story. I loved Camila’s story of overcoming the expectations and limitations placed upon her. When I think of Furia, the word that comes to mind is “triumphant”. Furia is my pick to win. </p><p><b>Jon: </b> Furia started out strong, but my interest began to wane halfway through. More to come, but my pick is Land of Cranes. Dragon Hoops second place, but Furia didn’t finish as strong as it started.</p><p>Cranes - 5, Furia -2</p>Vanessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10858813508879556580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-41902630586779202532022-04-20T07:11:00.003-07:002022-04-20T07:11:48.321-07:00Worst Blog Ever, but Yay for Dragon Hoops<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a month that has been an uninterrupted flurry
(weather punning partially intended) it’s maybe no surprise that we struggled
to find time other than through some disjointed email correspondence to really
sink into what may have indeed been a smackworthy battle. I’m somewhat more
surprised that after an extended and necessary break for us all, I somehow
completely forgot to craft a blog until now. So, no craft really, but here’s
where we landed. I think our QE team clearly held both books in high regard and
we had good arguments for both to go through. Both books are carefully crafted
and deal with a range of significant issues that are relevant to our students.
In regard to <i>Me and Banksy,</i> There was a sense that while the larger
issue of privacy, particularly in the cyber world, was one our kids at the high
school would be eager to engage with, some of the specific socio-economic
context and (This is just me) the overly cutesy pitter patter dialogue, may not
speak to our kids quite as much. This is our second sitting with Dragon Hoops
and I think it confirmed our sense that it is a book that has broad appeal -
both in content and in form - for our students. We’d like to see <i>Dragon
Hoops </i>move on into the final round.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Brent McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13224520443150460410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-42517226776787904242022-04-19T10:16:00.001-07:002022-04-19T10:16:35.984-07:00Ellerslie Campus votes for Land of the Cranes! <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhm8WU5mVF2ue5mstrmLceTjuxUeNqelvbzcrsBxMWIN41gNYlnqA831HjE7PXDJvWVysfK_BUpPf-7vofJwq8VXD9aUt4uzs8WG8KGCH_tix1YTQ4naS7sY7HWoyRhfXHxzn8GB7rrqVqxZqT3iDvnyTvDqGilaCgKinMjf6-HO7Sn8v_CHO8sdIGIZA" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjR01Lhq1WWnvAaSbRdx6Fgt3SKhWPBZR03-h_liUAAjLauyz043Ure22_TUxrDqj6L88PK1bi0OdTUWhIGeEhWz5jBuMoKuurvi1Fvd4ime6R4bcgA9f75rgCMlWCvoYY9cRiToonR9VU_YBvh2t1CNRI94JvTqTUQr7WnGXSwQAxB94XIe5i-7L663g" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjR01Lhq1WWnvAaSbRdx6Fgt3SKhWPBZR03-h_liUAAjLauyz043Ure22_TUxrDqj6L88PK1bi0OdTUWhIGeEhWz5jBuMoKuurvi1Fvd4ime6R4bcgA9f75rgCMlWCvoYY9cRiToonR9VU_YBvh2t1CNRI94JvTqTUQr7WnGXSwQAxB94XIe5i-7L663g" width="160" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhm8WU5mVF2ue5mstrmLceTjuxUeNqelvbzcrsBxMWIN41gNYlnqA831HjE7PXDJvWVysfK_BUpPf-7vofJwq8VXD9aUt4uzs8WG8KGCH_tix1YTQ4naS7sY7HWoyRhfXHxzn8GB7rrqVqxZqT3iDvnyTvDqGilaCgKinMjf6-HO7Sn8v_CHO8sdIGIZA" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div></div><p>For whatever reason, we had a hard time getting into <i>Furia</i> this round. The details were believable and realistic... the coming of age premise mixed with the constant pressures to fit into societal norms and familial expectations is one that will resonate with many readers... I'd definitely recommend this novel to older Div 3 and 4 students. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBFt_Gb2lAL9TElB335yga0BRsOlG4cmALScb6ew0NEgKgpHTEUVpHpORNJZsMGB37s64MoplKczTfbE4W5-vfz--fXWughTWANGhATDAGeQHYgT2PJqUYMVfeYEFsZvQTqzbc1Pxs2TsV4OW3iRfyvs7YlFdWti5jmE_Iev3P-qHdsS9bvUfAFijOqQ" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="192" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBFt_Gb2lAL9TElB335yga0BRsOlG4cmALScb6ew0NEgKgpHTEUVpHpORNJZsMGB37s64MoplKczTfbE4W5-vfz--fXWughTWANGhATDAGeQHYgT2PJqUYMVfeYEFsZvQTqzbc1Pxs2TsV4OW3iRfyvs7YlFdWti5jmE_Iev3P-qHdsS9bvUfAFijOqQ=w160-h218" width="160" /></a></div>On the other hand, we fell hard for <i>The Land of the Cranes. </i>Everything about the text draws readers in. <i>Land of the Cranes</i> is gut wrenching and humbling demanding great empathy and compassion from readers. This is a highly engaging text told through the eyes and words of a young poet at heart as she grapples with in/justice and humanity in the face of dehumanizing immigration policies. We highly recommend this text in any Div 2-4 classroom (with guidance and supportive conversations for readers as this is a heavy hitting text with a lot to unpack).<p></p><p>"Trigger warnings: deportation, ICE, family separation, physical and emotional abuse, child abuse, recollection of sexual assault, racist and xenophobic slurs' </p>BDonauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017789564980731778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-32562577497220795312022-04-14T08:18:00.000-07:002022-04-14T08:18:05.052-07:00Banksy vs. Dragon Hoops<p>I liked both books this round, and I think I could recommend either to my students. My vote goes to Dragon Hoops this round, simply because I know it will be a popular choice with many students who don't like reading but like basketball. Right now I have two boys asking me for it every time they come in, when normally they just fake read during our independent reading time. Banksy is a better novel overall, but Dragon Hoops will be more popular with kids. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-89481225736717262102022-04-13T14:44:00.000-07:002022-04-13T14:44:25.301-07:00<p style="text-align: center;"> The Kids from Sweet Grass blog about:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f0b9615f-7fff-d3b2-e6cb-626cbddca32f"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 275px; overflow: hidden; width: 183px;"><img height="275" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Gya7niHVgp-hU9kzU7z5BPRm7vQ6_kuBUuPbN7TA3iWoTyfhai-N-Y7c_bOmpGOvjXs-MMWsq7u5SIj1nwQmO_zxv--ugYxlfdwrejlHUrPSm1e3uPLVuq2L6nefBPl2mKbdlp45" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="183" /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> vs </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 268px; overflow: hidden; width: 188px;"><img height="268" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/zvPaG-5SRJUF8vs2RxPTMh9nQx0Mu-vQf2MhsxYEWCnxEYJupDLfuN9aSjN-dRyfkwd3sBHUzNQdaQr6f0zFTinnb55nAmaGARj9bQ2P7VrVjTIB12B3rujf67RPZFDqqBbn702E" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="188" /></span></span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2dd5c965-7fff-1fb9-5028-1483ff438678"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vanessa:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I’ll make this quick, my vote is for Banksy. Although Dragon Hoops was fine, I have read the last four books now and the other 2 (Land of Cranes and Furia) are both better than these two. So whatever goes out on the side will be my Zombie pick. Much has been said about Banksy and Hoops in previous rounds. Banksy was better. That is all.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Norma:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Dragon hoops was a graphic novel that I did appreciate. I think a lot of that had to do with a subject area that was of interest to me. I enjoyed Banksy as well. My vote is for Banksy,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mel:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Banksy all the way on these two. It did take me about half-way through to start to like it but felt it picked up as things went along. NO to Graphic Novels for me. I am confused by characters and storylines when a story is told with pictures. I admit it. I give up. I would have enjoyed the story if it was written out. Land of the Cranes is still my pick (even over Banksy).</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Emily</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Dragon Hoops was fine. The sections that dealt with the history of basketball were cool to read, but the narrative failed to grip me. Banksy hooked me right from the beginning. I was far more invested in this story, and it was a much more satisfying book to read. I vote Banksy.</span></p></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-264f7357-7fff-bdfa-effe-07901efd1cd0" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">Stephanie</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">: Well, I have surprised myself with this one. I loved the book Me and Banksy; however, my vote is for Dragon Hoops. I thought Dragon Hoops was cleverly written. I actually thought the meta techniques of the author and his writing process were interesting. It allowed us to see the choices that a writer has to make and how really difficult the Phelps history was for him to tell, especially when no verdict was officially given and all of the players that he knew personally had such a different impression of him. I was so engaged in all of the different histories of basketball. I honestly couldn’t put the book down, and Lionel stole the book from me on numerous occasions after constantly sneak-reading over my shoulder. Clearly, it’s an excellent book, if a 4 foot 11 Comparative Literature major and lover of art chooses it over Me and Banksy!! </span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-3a908832-7fff-2d40-b531-c987c3841f98" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">Rushmi</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">: I can appreciate a book about sports, and learn the history as we go. In the form of a graphic novel, it was easier to learn the history too. However, reading about an author who doesn’t know what to write about for the duration of the book did not win me over, and my interest fizzled out. Bansky on the other hand had me asking more and more questions, wanting to find out about the true Bansky. The typical highschool happy ending was regular but overall this one takes my vote. </span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Jon:</b> Read Dragon Hoops, did not finish Banksy therefore, </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">abstained from voting at the time of publishing. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 268px; overflow: hidden; width: 188px;"><br /></span></span></span></p>Vanessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10858813508879556580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-25476980632684621362022-02-28T13:36:00.002-08:002022-02-28T13:37:41.375-08:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3XvriGvzUNUPP4taHNG10J4l6pZT2-i5bhUcJpjWiX8gU7IFyJYFmAQAmLdNTaD6OjT469WmGTHKwYg9Qt7qGCfYa-yoIVK2-WkC7qCoosodnpdCIvz1bFtJP_UOCmqqAZTrOWh96Nw9t-VI-w2r1R5SSOdB1YjXbdLt1cw9YYphXM0yedXyteUk9Vw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="332" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3XvriGvzUNUPP4taHNG10J4l6pZT2-i5bhUcJpjWiX8gU7IFyJYFmAQAmLdNTaD6OjT469WmGTHKwYg9Qt7qGCfYa-yoIVK2-WkC7qCoosodnpdCIvz1bFtJP_UOCmqqAZTrOWh96Nw9t-VI-w2r1R5SSOdB1YjXbdLt1cw9YYphXM0yedXyteUk9Vw=w133-h200" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrMp5bTuJlXTeBXYXLo_d27Jjqe0ZcsqoXaS75yoMPU3GNjsFdxG5hBUADmLMjjEvpMh9z9s5bZzzwVg-feS57OQlicDlLIwiXnaI1ynBkAKz-JKToeR1YGhL7hv6BkjcPtRNJZjyMNOHbsUXytlVLziN4DC11jLCXciWzuvWUBqysK1f3Ur5D7WgzvA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrMp5bTuJlXTeBXYXLo_d27Jjqe0ZcsqoXaS75yoMPU3GNjsFdxG5hBUADmLMjjEvpMh9z9s5bZzzwVg-feS57OQlicDlLIwiXnaI1ynBkAKz-JKToeR1YGhL7hv6BkjcPtRNJZjyMNOHbsUXytlVLziN4DC11jLCXciWzuvWUBqysK1f3Ur5D7WgzvA=w133-h200" width="133" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Late to the blogging and I now feel like this post has to become a defense of why Traci Chee's <i>We are Not Free</i> should be our zombie pick!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">We've had some meh selections this year - four books we didn't love. This bracket changed that. These are both great books. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Although we're not all fans of multi-narrator books, we all agreed <i>We are Not Free</i> was well crafted. The different viewpoints drew us in and kept us reading. We enjoyed that the narrators didn't retell the same parts but moved the story forward. The chart of characters at the beginning helped us to keep track of who was who. We loved how Chee experimented with different styles for the different voices - verse, letters, etc. The varying styles really mirrored how individual the experience was for internees. Some of us grew attached to the characters and wanted more from their perspectives. More than one reviewer was moved to tears by the powerful narrative. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Although one can be intellectually aware of Japanese internment camps in Canada and the US, a book this well written shows us, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large;">emotionally,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> what it was like. The war sections were very powerful. I will be recommending this one to my 9s next year when we talk about Canada's internment camps in WWI and II. The exploration of racism makes it an important book for any classroom.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">We liked <i>Me and </i></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Banksy</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> too. It was well written and dealt with some important topics. A Canadian setting is a nice change</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">. It's an interesting exploration of topic we probably don't give enough though to - surveillance. The exploration of the power of art and of Banksy in particular was interesting. We</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> appreciate the interwoven nature of Banksy and how people can connect social movement/reform through multiple avenues such as art, There's a great lesson about the importance of using one's voice.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The main character is a strong female lead. The secondary characters were not as appealing to some reviewers. We wish the principal had been given a more unlikable back story - as educators, as moms, some of us felt sorry for her and couldn't root for her demise; young readers may not have that problem! Some of the surveillance aspects / security concept were a bit incredulous.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> I appreciated that the girls realized the problem was too big for them and went to the principal for help. I know it's a more exciting story when the young protagonists take on the problem without adult help, but I like that the author showcased that as a way to get help and then got around it to still write the exciting story of the kids having to fix the problem themselves.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Overall, our vote was for <i>We Are Not Free</i>. It's a great story; it's well-written, and the themes are so important. Maybe it has a future as a zombie pick.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Renee, Nikki, Kelly, Krystal, Evelyn</span></span></p>Renee Englothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01008556555242386977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-58091799435822779882022-02-27T20:47:00.000-08:002022-02-27T20:47:11.703-08:00The King Was Our Jam<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Well, befitting this frenetic time of year,
we struggled to find time to get into any in-depth conversation about these two
books, but it was very clear that it was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
King of Jam Sandwiches</i> that won the day for us, even though I think we all
really liked <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Land of the Cranes</i>,
as well. I am a sucker for books where kindness wins the day and that happens
over and over in a novel with some legitimate darkness and sadness. You don’t
have to teach very long before you get to know a few Robbies and Harmonys and
those stories always stay with you, even if, and perhaps because, they aren’t
quite so neatly packaged as these two characters. That isn’t meant as a
criticism. This is a book for kids and I think Eric Walters fundamentally gets
kids and knows that young people - and I could see this book being read right
from upper elementary through to high school - will empathize with the
characters he created. Our Robbies and Harmony don’t always speak as
eloquently, but I think a book like this really inspires us to keep going in
trying to draw out those stories and create that web of support and protection
around our most vulnerable students. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span>I think that last sentence is actually equally
true of <i>The Land of the Cranes.</i> It is
a poignant glimpse into a world that is every bit as troubling and debilitating
as the world of poverty that Eric Walters explores. While I have no doubt that
the book would have a different resonance for us were we living in the United
States, it actually opens up a larger discussion about equity and immigration
that should really be a part of any national discourse. I am not sure that the
decision to present the novel in verse worked for me. Not because there weren’t
moments of powerful imagery or lines that won’t stick with you, but I’m not
convinced that it needed this structure to convey these ideas, with the
possible exception of the interplay between the written poems and the picture
poems. As in <i>The King of Jam Sandwiches</i>,
I deeply appreciated the author note Salazar included at the end of the novel.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We feel fortunate to have a chance to read
both books, but our vote here at QE goes to The King of Jam Sandwiches.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Brent McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13224520443150460410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-32660389490721453212022-02-27T13:22:00.001-08:002022-02-27T13:22:44.024-08:00We Are Not Free competes against Me And Banksy<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjECdMpxrNXc20_MCckWcJSwNbsfmPA6rK-glykneMYrgSbTukL-k_CYvpchePXhCCRXXPkkFB7g-Q43Adz1YnhOGao7PA1dFePnKN9CXVp_Sa8nfUWPEdUamDlS4dW_YPLEd6Fl-QO-UFzs7N1zmkg3kjmDv8dQdTGg8EBGf8tcGt6_4PsB-CC7BTDbA=s120" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="120" data-original-width="80" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjECdMpxrNXc20_MCckWcJSwNbsfmPA6rK-glykneMYrgSbTukL-k_CYvpchePXhCCRXXPkkFB7g-Q43Adz1YnhOGao7PA1dFePnKN9CXVp_Sa8nfUWPEdUamDlS4dW_YPLEd6Fl-QO-UFzs7N1zmkg3kjmDv8dQdTGg8EBGf8tcGt6_4PsB-CC7BTDbA" width="80" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxvroSuCf_PeWM5L4w3DXz0NSHdReR_QxyeTthCGxGKknyiizwHQ-AK0jNpUMPcTVwSLHPl5BScIjMc1ymjhlNUOqPD1CqhzMrTXfdRSlFshjPExtt_qMEQsmeu9Z2gZpovTPXCTvq1JuHlKzCwRg5_yY0oG61EJSmtIMyLlmxb25izf9YTL5XhqNeZg=s120" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="120" data-original-width="80" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxvroSuCf_PeWM5L4w3DXz0NSHdReR_QxyeTthCGxGKknyiizwHQ-AK0jNpUMPcTVwSLHPl5BScIjMc1ymjhlNUOqPD1CqhzMrTXfdRSlFshjPExtt_qMEQsmeu9Z2gZpovTPXCTvq1JuHlKzCwRg5_yY0oG61EJSmtIMyLlmxb25izf9YTL5XhqNeZg" width="80" /></a><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">I
was almost inspired to try my hand at poetry (like a group did earlier this week) but decided I will keep
this short and simple. Both books are worthy reads with themes that
deserve exploration. Me And Banksy highlights the chronic way we are
"watched" in our current society and asks us to challenge the belief
that we are safer through this surveillance. Exploring what does it mean
to be free through the book We Are Not Free is timely because of many recent
national and world events. The multiple viewpoints of the characters
presented in We Are Not Free pulled me and kept the pages turning
quickly. My vote is for We are Not Free (I know it is not the same vote as others in the group).</span><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Maureenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02128094899053528648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-46704556508584309992022-02-25T14:52:00.001-08:002022-02-25T14:52:06.753-08:00Me and Banksy vs. We Are Not Free<p> This was a tough choice for our group, as both texts were really engaging for very different reasons. <i>We Are Not Free</i> offered a unique perspective that hasn't had a lot of coverage in YA literature that I've read. For many students, reading about the Japanese internment in America would be an eye-opening experience, especially paired with discussions about similarities in Canada. The multiple narrators were interesting, and even though each of them only got a chapter, I felt that I really connected to many of the characters. <i>Me and Banksy</i> was engaging for entirely different reasons. The conflict in this story felt very topical and current and felt like it would be very easily relatable for students. The narrator, Dominica, was SO ENGAGING and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way. In the end, we voted for <i>Me and Banksy</i> because we thought it would have a broader readership among our students, but we will definitely book-talk <i>We Are Not Free</i> and encourage everyone to read it! </p>Kerri Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06075227336744003758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-89111399620566749152022-02-25T12:46:00.002-08:002022-02-25T12:46:45.820-08:00Haiku Review<p> My kids know I love haikus. I like how it forces you to play with words, rearrange, come up with alternatives, figure out how to say the most you can within constraints. So in that light I think we will some up ABMs response with the Haiku Review:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>Heart lifts to talk books</p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>Where women push boundaries </p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>Imposed by others</p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p> I suppose I will also include the necessaries. Furia for the win...but not unanimous. Fantasy is a hard read for some of our teachers though we acknowledge many students love it. The Gilded Ones has many ultra violent sections that make some teachers hesitant to lend it out. Furia simply showed us a unique setting and what sealed the deal, even more importantly, was a unique character choice supporting this classic t-shirt quote: Feminism: the Radical Notion that Women Should have the Same Social, Economic & Political Rights as Men</p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-18933376133680517882022-02-24T13:53:00.010-08:002022-02-24T13:53:38.771-08:00Land of Cranes flies away with the vote....<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">LAND OF CRANES vs KING OF JAM SANDWICHES<span> </span></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><i><span style="font-family: arial;">A Unanimous vote!</span></i></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Vanessa</b>: Both very quick reads and both very different. I loved King of Jam Sandwiches and can totally see kids at my school liking it. There were some laugh out loud moments in the beginning. It is going to be a classic upper elementary read. Land of Cranes, written in verse (admittedly not my favorite format), was an emotional journey that really showed the reality behind kids trapped at border crossings. For me, the story was compelling and heart-wrenching. I can see how both books moved forward in previous rounds but now. head to head, <i>Land of Cranes is the clear winner for me.<br /></i><br /><b>Norma: </b>I first read King of Jam Sandwiches and loved it. Great for elementary schools. I then read Land of the Cranes and also loved it. This format is definitely growing on me too. The more compelling story for me, and <i>my choice to move ahead, is Land of the Cranes</i>. The story is a timely one and provides a perspective that will be easily accessible to young readers.<br /><br /><br /><b>Mel:</b> I liked both of these but <i>my winner is “Land of the Cranes”</i>. This story reminded me of “American Grafitti” which I also liked. I loved the flow of the language and that it was written in verse from her perspective. She had big insights into the adults and issues around her and I loved how she understood them from a simple (but profound) place. Reminds us that kids DO get what’s going on around them even if they miss the bigger complexities. (I could argue a little for the Jam book too but feel like it’s theme is familiar already in other books we’ve read so far).<br /><br /><b>Steph:</b> <i>I too vote for Land of the Cranes</i>. Although I thought King of Jam Sandwiches was excellent and would highly recommend it, Land of Cranes was absolutely beautiful. I actually enjoy verse because I think it takes special skill to paint these poignant images with so few words. The book made me cry on more than one occasion and there are images that will stay with me forever.<br /><br /><b>Rushmi</b>: The King of Jam Sandwiches was a great read, but my vote goes to Land of Cranes. Both have few characters but the King was fairly simplistic. I enjoyed reading through to see how it ended. Cranes is a more intense topic, and leaves lots to think about, lots to be thankful for, and lends itself to more conversation around current events as well as diversity. The imagery is beautiful and the story tugs at the heart. <i>My vote is for Land of the Cranes.</i><br /><br /><b>Emily:</b> King of Jam Sandwiches is funny and heartfelt while still dealing with serious topics. I really enjoyed the story of friendship, and how topics of abandonment and neglect were dealt with in a respectful and age appropriate way.<br />Normally I hate novels in verse. The format irritates me, and I find myself wishing for a “regular” novel the entire time I’m reading. But with Land of the Cranes, after the first 15 pages I was sucked into the story of Betita and her family’s struggle. This book was painfully beautiful, and so powerful. I was unprepared for the emotional response I had to this book, and it has quickly become one of my favorites of the Smackdown so far.<br /><i>My vote is for Land of the Cranes.</i><br /><br /><b>Jon:</b> Despite how much I don’t care for book-in-verse, Land of Cranes is a story that not only needs to be told, but needs to be heard. It did not shy away from the horrors committed, but also delivered them in palatable pieces. The mixture of Spanish and English was also nice- someone clearly trying to retain who they are is a struggle felt by many. Jam Sandwiches was just okay…It’s downfall was playing too heavily into the trope<br /><br /><b>Renae (DDM)</b> - I liked both books as well, and I’d include both in my classroom libraries for junior high. King of Jam Sandwiches reminded me a lot of another great book that was on last year’s YRCA list called No Fixed Address–either of these titles would be great read alouds for a grade 7 class. Land of the Cranes was a beautifully written book with strong imagery. I think it is an important story to be told and is my pick to move forward to the next round. </span>Vanessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10858813508879556580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-30042022699963880272022-02-22T11:19:00.004-08:002022-02-22T11:19:26.706-08:00<p>Dragon Hoops vs Electric Kingdom!</p><p><br /></p><p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dragon Hoops drew me in immediately. This was a big surprise as I not only dislike sports but tend not to like many graphic novels. There was something about Yang's writing that made me care about this team and want to know more about his unique and unexpected journey with them. I learned so much about basketball and even a bit about history and found myself really rooting for the characters. The Electric Kingdom, however, was very confusing and hard to keep track of who was who. I often felt frustrated that I couldn't recall the back story of a particular character and who they were connected to as just too many characters were coming up. I also am so tired of the dystopic, end of the world, narrative so it felt tiresome at times. What I did like about Electric Kingdom was it's interesting spin on this apocalyptic world. Having said that, it honestly felt too heavy to read at times. I actually felt pained by it. Yet, I really needed to know how it ends (more on that in a minute) so I guess the author did a good job in pulling the reader in. However, much like the story, the ending was confusing and I'm still not sure what happened. Thus, our team's vote goes to Dragon Hoops.</span></p>Bhattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424750413408474473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-57338626640413175952022-01-09T21:18:00.000-08:002022-01-09T21:18:48.548-08:00Furia Wins The Day<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Well, this was not a particularly close call
for us. We did not have one person go to bat for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Intruder</i> in this one. I will say that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Intruder</i> struck me as a good, somewhat old fashioned narrative,
that our kids maybe don’t get exposed to enough in their formative years these
days. Even Disney kids shows can spend more time raising an ironic eyebrow than
actually engaging an audience in the plot. So, I think there are kids that will
definitely find this to be a compelling read and I think they will like young
Margot. She’s dealing with unimaginable trauma, but we still see the person she
is shining through, even if the very insular nature of her circumstances
throughout the novel maybe limits the depth of her character. I think a lot of
kids would keep reading through this just to find out exactly what is going on,
even if all of them might not be satisfied with the ending. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Camila (Furia) is another character that kids
will be drawn to. Her life, too, is complex and she is another strong character
who will inspire both empathy and admiration. I have played and coached soccer
my entire life and I certainly think that any kid who is “futbol-obsessed” (as
our author is described on the book jacket) would find both the descriptions of
play and the rags to riches rise to Serie A for Diego to be a compelling
backdrop for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Furia’</i>s complex
narrative. I don’t think, however, (much like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dragon Hoops</i> in the first round) a reader would need to have much,
if any, background in sport to still find this an engaging read, While the
storyline is interesting in itself and kids will legitimately keep reading to
find out where everything is going, at the heart of the narrative is a social
justice warrior. This is a story rooted in time and place, and I suspect<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that an interview with the author would
provide us with stories from her youth in Argentina that would be every bit as
gripping as this novel. Soccer may be the driving force for Camila to claim her
own identity, but this is also a powerful exploration of female agency and the
forces - historical, cultural etc. - that have kept young women just like
Camila fixed in place. There are elements of this story that read like any teen
drama -real or fictional): familial conflict, disagreements between friends,
barriers to love - to name just three - but there are also very profound ideas
at work here and these ideas are explored in a sometimes nuanced manner.
Ultimately, it is a story of struggle and hope, not just for our young
protagonist, but for something better for us all as we move forward. I think
this would be an engaging read for young people to not only see themselves as
they are, but also see themselves as agents of change.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Furia</i> is our pick to move forward into the next round. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Brent McKeownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13224520443150460410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-81773460781031818542022-01-09T16:41:00.001-08:002022-01-09T16:52:12.392-08:00"Endless Kitten Videos"<p><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="190" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUTyMKs1BCX1exUTFBC8ajcToT-idK26N-a1g328qnQopekRljUjVxJSSJDv_8dJmT4AfucRKNF8ZJebLwzYKkcZbg7H0a5jfLSrD27zAlJ4lgG7eS3OLbSuIhr_O5c8Y0d31pc9X4SmtVb3D2CM0wRSRjfyIzL8GcExidIZxIUftEldwsuusVd8T_hw=w97-h144" width="97" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjc8tncXNuKZOB0oMutMUuqEpezrcpI2rRmmZ3OEQOJxksq9IUgh7kkGjQL2MjyhcVtGYP-NeF-5d5erIpzSvLdClBSEFtK9Us-pTWb0EhPc1EtUobCA4XUSPGATsEf2Swo8WofvP-XhLV7Z0yazlSD-Fgs3d3htNES4oT85bxbxcfGcO9YC63jif0cAA=s230" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="169" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjc8tncXNuKZOB0oMutMUuqEpezrcpI2rRmmZ3OEQOJxksq9IUgh7kkGjQL2MjyhcVtGYP-NeF-5d5erIpzSvLdClBSEFtK9Us-pTWb0EhPc1EtUobCA4XUSPGATsEf2Swo8WofvP-XhLV7Z0yazlSD-Fgs3d3htNES4oT85bxbxcfGcO9YC63jif0cAA=w95-h129" width="95" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>Once again, the opinionated, polemic, and verbose literary giants of A. Blair McPherson convened virtually over the break to determine the fates of two very different yet compelling novels: </span><i style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">Echo Mountain </i><span style="text-align: left;">(penned by Lauren Wolk of </span><i style="text-align: left;">Wolf Hollow </i><span style="text-align: left;">and </span><i style="text-align: left;">Beyond the Bright Sea</i><span style="text-align: left;"> fame) and </span><i style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">Land of the Cranes </i><span style="text-align: left;">(written by Aida Salzar who also authored </span><i style="text-align: left;">The Moon Within). </i><span style="text-align: left;">Several interesting themes emerged from this spirited discussion, all of which struck at the heart of both the power and the frustration of the Smackdown: </span><i style="text-align: left;">what are the best criteria upon which to rely to determine the superior book?</i></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">In-Your-Face Realism vs. Escapism</u></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span> It was during this phase of the discussion where the titular inspiration came about; a number of contributors have been yearning for literature that isn't about COVID or racism or some other hopeless and fractious theme: how about a book that, for example, relies on the beauty of the prose, or does delve into idyllic descriptions unironically? Where the plot might have its share of hardship and struggle, but each of the characters offers redeeming qualities, and things are tied up in a nice little bow in the end? This was the thrust of appeal that captured a sizeable amount of our participants: Wolk is known and has been lauded for her elegant and detailed historical fiction style, and the lessons learned in her stories are valuable and applicable but don't come attached with that soul-crushing energy that a lot of recent books seem to pack.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span> On the other hand, many ABMers felt that "Cranes" was a book that "needed to be out in the world." With its focus on the main Latinx character Betita and her family's harrowing experience in a US detention centre, many felt the themes and topics in this book are too important to ignore. Rather than shy away from hard realities, Salazar swoops into the heart of the hurt, much like her literary motif the crane would. Almost all acknowledged that escapist literature has its place, but the fact that this story, fictionalized but based on true events and experiences, cannot and should not be ignored.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Audience Considerations</u></i></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span> This criterion is an important one: can the books I encounter during Smackdown be read by my students? Using my own class and grade as an example (such is the privilege exercised by the blogger, haha), Grade 6, "Echo", with its complex and mature writing style and its length (350+ pages), might prove to be a struggle for my emerging and struggling reader. Further, because the book does not offer a traditional antagonist (as it did so wonderfully and frighteningly with Betty Glengarry in Wolf Hollow), even read as a read-aloud this novel may not capture the imagination or the relevancy of an upper elementary audience.</span><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span> "Cranes" has its share of difficulties as well. Its hard-boiled dedication to realistic themes and situations may put this in the "inappropriate" column for even the most astute and aware junior-highers, let alone my sixth graders. With depictions of sexual assault and abhorrent restroom conditions, as an example, this novel, as presently zeitgeist-y as it might be, could prove to inspire anxiety and squeamishness that many educators may use to declare the book out of bounds. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span><b><i><u>"Prose Pose"</u></i></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>Someone aptly quipped that "novels in verse are IN right now." How very true. Relying on the power of poetry gives the author a sense of freedom, artistic expression, and a sort of 'breeziness' while relinquishing none of the story's topical strength. As is the case with Salzar and "Cranes", the reader will certainly feel the pain, terror, and anxiety of the characters, while enjoying the unique enjambment choices of the author. "Echo", while relying on a more, dare I say it, traditional, conventional approach, loses nothing by way of style, thematic power, or artistry. Wolk paints the main character, Ellie, with a masterful brush, elegantly and poignantly taking us through her joys and struggles as she aptly embraces Depression-era rural life, while desperately and almost fervently searching for a cure for her comatose father. The other characters are well fleshed-out and sympathetic, and the descriptions of life on an unforgiving mountain are expertly depicted. Both writers are at the top of their game, as disparate as their approaches may be.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>"Que?"</u></i></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>Another interesting point that came up with the use of Spanish in Land of the Cranes. Some readers felt the inclusion of Spanish or Spanglish elements made it difficult to comprehend without needing a dictionary or online reference tool. While this did not seem to deter most from enjoying the book or denying the relevancy or power of the inclusion of Spanish, it was an obvious roadblock. One participant said it made them empathize with the struggle of our ELL student population, while others compared it to similar difficulties found in the previous round when reading American As Paneer Pie. Others, however, armed with prior knowledge of the Romance languages, and, to a more limited degree, exposure to Spanish-language visual media, found the bilingualism either a non-issue or enjoyable. (I for one, gave myself a high-five when I remembered that dulzura (Spanish) means dolce (Italian- thanks, childhood piano lessons!) which means sweet in English. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Miscellaneous Tidbits...and the Conclusion</u></i></b></p><p style="text-align: left;">Finally, would Smackdown be Smackdown without the requisite:</p><p style="text-align: left;">- accusations of gaslighting?</p><p style="text-align: left;">- declarations of surprise and shame and disappointment in one's reading peers?</p><p style="text-align: left;">- (unwittingly) muted rants?</p><p style="text-align: left;">- dreams of post-Covid, in-person jabs?</p><p style="text-align: left;">Of course it wouldn't! And it all served to drive our conversation to its inevitable (yet still debatable) conclusion: Land of the Cranes flies off to the next round, as Echo Mountain remains, solid and steady as its story may be, relegated to the dustbin of histor(ical fiction). For some die-hard fans who would consider themselves "Wolk" or "Laurenites" to the extreme, Echo Mountain may be a candidate for the Zombie pick, but perhaps it's still too early to tell. :)</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><span><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><span><br /></span></span></p>Benny Makhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11419654695223906963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-32725107063235956222022-01-09T14:55:00.002-08:002022-01-09T14:55:36.393-08:00Its Banksy for us!<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Me and Banksy by Tanya Lloyd Kyi vs. The Lion of Mars by Jennifer L. Holm </span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Me and Banksy is our pick for this round. It features Dominica, a relatable and likeable protagonist, who is forced to confront her pseudo-dictator of a principal and the inner struggle to do what is right in the face of danger. The Lion of Mars tells the story of Bell, a boy who has grown up on Mars his whole life. The book dives into themes of belonging, family, and redemption. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Me and Banksy is definitely the more relatable story for junior high/high school students. It also connects to themes of current societal issues regarding technology vs. surveillance, the proliferation of cyber-bullying, and of standing up for one's beliefs against those in power.</div>Bhattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424750413408474473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-17738275388944280932022-01-07T16:57:00.000-08:002022-01-07T16:57:02.598-08:00Entrapment Abounds!<p>Two great reads: one about Japanese-American teenagers forced into incarceration camps after Pearl Harbor, the other about the Thai boys' soccer team trapped in an underground cave in 2018.</p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We Are Not Free</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Traci Chee<br /></span></span></b></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8b9c69b8-7fff-7139-2c73-837248412a6c"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJg5q_cmUQ8zLO2C_q31cvkZq9X82DwXUQzwrDd6EZt8zaAKzmXJ6ckL-60kINW-hH_mCL9QxJ4B2mjJo-7Qyrn0tFKpXysfNQcE8p1limzqc_RikWQlhYWdeAFQV-sUrl9Q9fX_zDQpyOZr1ez54qjDX0oOjr73zJ736pw1nWIzMitZBNdUoVYloWHA=s259" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="195" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJg5q_cmUQ8zLO2C_q31cvkZq9X82DwXUQzwrDd6EZt8zaAKzmXJ6ckL-60kINW-hH_mCL9QxJ4B2mjJo-7Qyrn0tFKpXysfNQcE8p1limzqc_RikWQlhYWdeAFQV-sUrl9Q9fX_zDQpyOZr1ez54qjDX0oOjr73zJ736pw1nWIzMitZBNdUoVYloWHA" width="195" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Historical fiction that successfully incorporates true events as the backdrop to a colourful fictional story… This is what I needed after </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Radium Girls</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">! The telling of </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We Are Not Free</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is broken up into eleven (??) convincing first-person narratives, which gives the story depth and breadth, and emphasizes the interwoven nature of our lives. Ever changing, also, as we grow older and make different choices. My one complaint is that at times, the narrative came off as a little “tell” rather than “show,” particularly during some of the discussions or internal monologues about racism and discrimination. I’m trying to decide if, for the age group this book is designed for, being “on the nose” is perhaps not a bad thing, or if it narrows the opportunity for discussion in the classroom… </span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although focused on the trials and tribulations of adolescents through the adolescent eye, mind, and language, this novel did surprise me at times with insight that resonated with my own experiences as an adult. For example, the description of life as people coming together and drifting apart, repeatedly, until no one is left.. And the deep and emotional attachment a person has to their “home” place, or any place that has temporarily been “home.” The characters soak in the small moments, the small joys and beauties and in-betweens of a life that is full of hardship, with a maturity that I would be thrilled to see reflected by today’s adolescents. These characters have a knack for seeing the richness of life, and it is written beautifully by Chee. I would love to dwell on some of these passages with students and have them draw insight into their own lives.</span></span></p><div><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All Thirteen - </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christina Soontornvat</span></span></b></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDH_WlV22r5czV8mCtJS2z7ic4SQtFWiTNREdHC0X_EjXFwugegCStERM7RFSsf8potrh5zBPTuy9Mz2sMjaMEq0-qHxZvkylEKK62DfCTO7E3t4k05A4kPtG3Niir9tAueAiI5zc4hoxKc61yfn3mYo5QH8kPvU_UXyYs5GPr40g4tJhU2glMhe7RqA=s2560" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1924" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDH_WlV22r5czV8mCtJS2z7ic4SQtFWiTNREdHC0X_EjXFwugegCStERM7RFSsf8potrh5zBPTuy9Mz2sMjaMEq0-qHxZvkylEKK62DfCTO7E3t4k05A4kPtG3Niir9tAueAiI5zc4hoxKc61yfn3mYo5QH8kPvU_UXyYs5GPr40g4tJhU2glMhe7RqA=w186-h247" width="186" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">This was a blistering read, as in, I didn’t move from my spot from cover to cover. The true story of survival from a nightmare situation was told concisely, but with enough detail to keep me enthralled in every moment.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Soontornvat organized and delivered an astonishing number of perspectives and pieces of the event, and wove them together into a coherent narrative that continuously emphasized the complexity and enormity of the task at hand. Even though I knew what the final result would be (from watching the news and… the title), the unfolding of the weeks-long story provided so many details that I hadn’t heard before, but will now never forget. Thematically, human resilience, teamwork, hope against overwhelming odds, and the power of the human spirit are very accessible to students, and I think the vast majority would be captured by the action-packed intensity of the story itself to remain engaged. Of course, I immediately dove into a google rabbit hole looking for pictures and video footage (especially of the famous moment that the rescuers found the team), which is always a good sign. </span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The additional information interspersed throughout the story itself did come off as a bit school-textbook- “Did You Know?”-y and, I confess, I did skip some of them. But only because I couldn’t tear my attention away from the action! I can see most of them as being well-intentioned and useful blurbs to add cultural background for readers who are not familiar with Thailand, but some of them seemed like page fillers. Particularly the entire page dedicated to explaining the phrase, “Practice Makes Perfect.” At the height of the rescue, I did not have time for this!!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Actually.. I could totally see this book having a place in a Science classroom, during a unit that deals with weather/rainfall/erosion.. Perhaps even more so than the ELA classroom.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In conclusion… I found both of these to be engaging and historically-informative, but I am ultimately voting for </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We Are Not Free</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to move forward. The writing itself is richer and, IMO, offers more opportunities in the ELA classroom. </span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Alexahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07155626213242621737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-84464403195203587232022-01-07T16:16:00.002-08:002022-01-07T18:13:50.536-08:00All Thirteen Are Free!<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">Well,
that’s more like it.</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">After
a pretty m’eh first round, we have a finalist for last year’s (2020) National
Book Award versus this year’s (2021) Kirkus winner.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">I
had a few qualms about both if I’m entirely honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But nothing that would stand in the way of
giving both a hearty YAAAAHHHHS.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span face=""Bahnschrift Condensed",sans-serif" lang="EN-US">Sidebar:
HBO’s <i>Station Eleven</i> is currently giving me a lens through which to view
our world right now, a way of generating hope and optimism, focussing on the
truly kind and empathetic during times of crisis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the spirit of this, I’m just going to say
a few things that I love about both of these texts. That’s it. Just things I
love.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">Traci
Chee’s <i>We Are Not Free</i></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">I
love the way that many characters get their chance to narrate a part of the
text, each voice convincingly authentic and revealing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the way the organization of who
“tells” the next piece allows the form of the novel to <i>generate</i> content:
so many interesting parallels and juxtapositions; so many interesting ways in
which characters and contexts and ideologies buffet against each other; so many
<i>Rashomon</i>-ish moments of different people’s perspectives on the same
incident. The seamless integration of both individual character voice and the voice
of authorless authority.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIo3LBJ0IylO9SSuLz6Ci_kWDj4B6I540uX7lXsD-pMqkbP3Gy-xCOlN7Z74n0FyCLhK6iBKPsLk77p_nxVHBaVhrG1FLA4p9Fmn0ru64P3qb5flhmsBzpvh9CHN-njeDJUEzCJWEgKIANxjxZAwP8ZgdXbU-BilDOJnQbGWOW3NKpWwFZDb4MHUGnlg=s287" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="216" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIo3LBJ0IylO9SSuLz6Ci_kWDj4B6I540uX7lXsD-pMqkbP3Gy-xCOlN7Z74n0FyCLhK6iBKPsLk77p_nxVHBaVhrG1FLA4p9Fmn0ru64P3qb5flhmsBzpvh9CHN-njeDJUEzCJWEgKIANxjxZAwP8ZgdXbU-BilDOJnQbGWOW3NKpWwFZDb4MHUGnlg" width="216" /></a></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">I
love the way that this, stealthily, reveals itself as a multimodal text…and
each of those forms reveals something about theme and character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And story.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">I
love how time works in this text. STICK AROUND FOR MY TED TALK ON HOW TIME
WORKS IN THE SAME MANNER IN <i>WE ARE NOT FREE</i> AND THE THIRD SEASON OF <i>SUCCESSION</i>
(I am not joking about this).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">I
really think there is a place for this book as a whole class novel, and would
heartily recommend a class set or two (already purchased—bless you, Book
Warehouse Christmas Season sales). I agree that engagement may be an issue if one
just dropped it into students’ hands, but as a Teaching Text—pretty incredible,
I think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the ways that the
structure of the novel asks the reader to analyze initially at a micro- level,
but eventually at a macro- level…man, give me a grade 10 class <b><i>STAT</i></b>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">Christina
Soontornvat’s <i>All Thirteen</i></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span face=""Bahnschrift SemiBold Condensed",sans-serif" lang="EN-US">Sidebar
2: see...this is non-fiction for Young Adults done right. No one needed to "fictionify"
the account and to insert themselves first-person-style into the narrative to
make this gripping and engaging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just
be well-written and researched and structured.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">I
loved (though…I see others sure didn’t--looking RIGHT. AT. YOU. HRYCUN.) the interstitial breaks in the
narrative to elucidate on “Meditation” or tell me more about “Human Responses
to Levels of Oxygen Concentration.” Maybe I’m a dummy, but I found them really
interesting and illuminating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like…perfectly spaced out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Timely
(and…metaphoric and clever?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Rules To
Dive By”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NOICE). I felt they
proactively gave me the requisite “expertise” to sagely nod when experts were
talking about ketamine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This personal
expertise also appears after watching three hours of, say, Bobsledding during
the Winter Olympics. Illusory sense of expertise, but just what I need!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjcWalgPa3hUK3K16O8pfxmnpy90vv8pJmICFZ1oSi-S0HZq65I_GJxXV3uVCugRamDzeDMNot01fAyV00Bl80t8OfijXrpwVYsrkAorT0TQHo_HAnPgBTG2Jz_BFYMT0NM_8y1YcXSlH30fMFkcinurc4X_Lalpy0jBGiGah5x27fANtdWdz29En9UA=s398" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="299" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjcWalgPa3hUK3K16O8pfxmnpy90vv8pJmICFZ1oSi-S0HZq65I_GJxXV3uVCugRamDzeDMNot01fAyV00Bl80t8OfijXrpwVYsrkAorT0TQHo_HAnPgBTG2Jz_BFYMT0NM_8y1YcXSlH30fMFkcinurc4X_Lalpy0jBGiGah5x27fANtdWdz29En9UA=s320" width="240" /></a></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">I
loved how invested I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love how
many times I cried (like, really crying. Those notes on page 152? Saman Gunan? OOF.
A full-blown mess, I was)). I loved that there were times, as I turned the page
or came to the end of a chapter, I had a huge exhalation—because I had been
holding my breath for way longer than I should have been.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">I
loved the precise craft of the thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not just the chapters (so cleverly considered!) and the look (the interaction between text and
image!) and the feel (the physical weight of it in my hands!) of it—but there were sentences that truly
made me gasp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Passages that I tagged for
use as Mentor Texts.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">I
feel bad for the book in that <i>The Rescue </i>is such a hit right now, and
documentaries are so widely available on streaming services that…I think lots will
watch the movie rather than read the book (and the eventual [and
pretty-much-inevitable] Oscar-nomination will cement this prediction).
But…there’s lots the book does MUCH. BETTER. than the (pretty good, much-lauded) movie
does, specifically the ways in which the boys and their families remain the
focus— Soontornvat’s very personal interviews and research (THOSE SOURCE NOTES
THO) speak to the story that she was committed to tell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And HOLY TOOT, does she ever.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">Both
are worth reading.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style",serif;">But
my vote goes to <i>We Are Not Free</i>.</span></p>
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<![endif]--></p>Brad Smilanichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05296168083592472611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-47688651960230934862022-01-07T13:39:00.002-08:002022-01-07T13:39:36.627-08:00<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-79284a6a-7fff-8ed3-69df-aefb0d911f43"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Team Sweet Grass</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tune it Out </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">vs The Gilded Ones</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 275px; overflow: hidden; width: 183px;"><img height="275" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/yfXZsgHQ9Oi8lHmpukeLUE0TCU2y6wjdcveSc7NEFa5N91OcNL_ZcYZdQLu1gnxVt--JwQ6Kg_oxYmk68ihr9PLs5Q2UHRGWDpkPrb1-6KoDN9ji7uHGuuheZJJRhhDlDa79mZ_2" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="183" /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 276px; overflow: hidden; width: 183px;"><img height="276" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/gerp1iALWv-QjBFccN_wLYqWcrDPXJv2V3gM0wEd_EihW6EU76_DpsZk5nsK-cudT6eby2UaB_q3uSu0opHlnh7zyFzr6QBiddA2QvTjfsj0ILzCShi4QyqpYwzoTYx8VXgSm6Ww" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="183" /></span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vanessa:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I'm gonna keep this short-ish. These books have very different audiences. If I was picking the best book for my kids, my library - then it’s Tune it Out. But if I am just picking the best book, regardless of audience, just based on writing and story..it Gilded Ones all the way.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tune it Out was a Costco hot dog: digestible, easy to carry around, good with just a little ketchup and mustard, reliable. The Gilded Ones is a full course meal with two kinds of forks and a rich demi-glaze sauce. As much as I love a good hot dog, I’ll pick the other meal 90% of the time. My vote is for Gilded Ones.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Norma</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: I loved both these books and the dilemma is how to choose. I weighed them based on the criteria Vanessa mentioned, elementary audience or best book. I spoke to Steph and had my mind set on </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tune it Out</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; then I spoke to Vanessa and thought maybe </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gilded Ones</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. As I loved them both and agreed with both of them, I thought about which I would read again in a heartbeat, which one I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next as I was reading and which one I would read a sequel to today as I want to know more about the characters…so I flip flopped Steph and will move </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gilded Ones</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> forward. Steph, it took a lot of effort and a hot chocolate. It wasn't so easy to sway me!</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mel:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> My vote isn’t even fair since I completely abandoned one of these books (which is unlike me)! My vote is for “Tune it Out” since I couldn’t get past Chapter 5 in “The Gilded Ones”. They lost me at trying to kill the demon over and over. Mel out. “Tune it Out” was the winner for me while I tuned out it’s rival.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stephanie</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: I also loved both of these books and truly wish we could just say that it’s a tie and let them both go through. After firstly reading Gilded Ones, I recommended it to numerous of my friends. I have never been one to enjoy fantasy, but honestly found myself completely engrossed in the story and the characters. As Vanessa mentioned in her comments, it is definitely rich and a four course meal. I was planning on voting for it, but despite how wonderful it is, I still choose </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tune It Out </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, as I am not so easily swayed Norma:) True </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tune it Out </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is shorter, easier to digest, and a novel targeted to younger audiences; however, this does not take away from the fact that it’s a great story with many clever parts. I really loved how the protagonist was labeled as having one type of condition, but then it was later revealed that it was something different. She was involved in some complex relationships and was processing so many things at once. I loved being witness to this process. I also loved that she made friends with the drama nerds and was able to find herself and set some boundaries in her life:) I’m a sucker for a happy ending!! I vote for </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tune it Out </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">but won’t be sad if Gilded Ones goes through…</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rushmi: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For me, there was no swaying needed. I am</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Gilded Ones</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> all the way! I loved the diversity of the characters, the movement of the plot, and it would have been nice if some of the story lines were more developed, but I was not sure how it would end, so I just had to keep reading! I found Tune it Out to pale in comparison because the plot is fairly simplistic and the pace didn’t hold me. I felt for the character but she seemed to wax and wane in her complexity which I found inconsistent. It would make a good addition to the library due to addressing her emotional and societal issues, but I would rather wait to pick up Namina Forna’s next book, or hope to cheer on the powerful female character Deka in a sequel. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Emily:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was immediately sucked in by </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tune It Out</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and after our last round, I was just happy to have a book with a cohesive narrative that I was interested in. I loved the story of friendship, and how Louise came to understand more about herself and how to set healthy boundaries. The story resolved a bit too quickly for me, but this is absolutely a book that I could put in my classroom library. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I really enjoy fantasy stories so I was predisposed to liking </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Gilded Ones</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from the start. While it was a bit of a slow burn at the beginning, I loved how you got a sense of the world the author was creating. I ended up reading the last half of the book in one sitting - I could not put it down. I loved that Deka was a strong female character that I could root for, and I’m incredibly curious to see how her story continues to unfold in the sequel. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My vote is for </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Gilded Ones.</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jon:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Transitioning from teaching High School in the United States to Middle School/Junior High abroad, and now to Elementary School in Canada, one of the major differences has been the books that I read. I had never given the time of day to YA novels, but since teaching grade 5/6 I would like to think I have read my fair share. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One common theme has been a constant throughout, and this is important because this is what sets one book apart from the other. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nearly every YA novels premise is the same.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m dull and boring, there is nothing exciting about who I am…</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BUT WAIT</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am a wizard/witch/mermaid/third in line to the throne but fell off of the carriage one day and was raised by commoners?!</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m not special, there is nothing unique about me… </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BUT WAIT</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am literally the fabric holding the entire universe together?!</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I am as normal as can be :(, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BUT WAIT, I am the spawn of some ancient deity and have magical powers that somehow don’t activate until I am about 13 years old?!”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And now in </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Gilded Ones</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, “I am just going about my own day wearing my mask as usual, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BUT WAIT, I can’t ever die and my blood is gold, and I can get beheaded a million times. And I’m sad about it :( but I will join this army?”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m over it</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I am all for empowering children, I am all for helping them realize their own potential, but there has to be a better way than the barrage of novels with this same common theme. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Gilded Ones</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is just another book. It did very little to distinguish itself from its peers. I think the author even knew there was little separating itself, too. So much lore was given in the book that deep down in my heart of hearts I believe the author wasn’t expecting to be given a chance at a sequel that she scrambled to get as much of it into the first one as possible. (Not to mention the book is clearly a critique on something… but the reach of things it could be satirizing is so big that after a while I stopped looking that far into the message). </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tune It Out</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is my vote. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Too bad, Jon.....the votes decide and Gilded Ones is moving on...</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Vanessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10858813508879556580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-71921090269065051502022-01-07T10:45:00.002-08:002022-01-07T10:47:18.870-08:00The Lion of Mars eclipses Me and Banksy (Team 5) <p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMl6S6-tt1M1I-OQ8vNDCVUpE36yFPkxx_ORkCWr6K2_keozK96wGx1JgmY-8FEO9P06_KyLRZZRDJunzGAFqc1G8sp8xj10GXDVR3tgUmAknwpgKgell825BRgwijiUo3D_B3k8BpjKwtraP_oYbEwNeSOmr8i3b8O1DwOf-Sx278z7BO0aH_pTtMRw=s414" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="414" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMl6S6-tt1M1I-OQ8vNDCVUpE36yFPkxx_ORkCWr6K2_keozK96wGx1JgmY-8FEO9P06_KyLRZZRDJunzGAFqc1G8sp8xj10GXDVR3tgUmAknwpgKgell825BRgwijiUo3D_B3k8BpjKwtraP_oYbEwNeSOmr8i3b8O1DwOf-Sx278z7BO0aH_pTtMRw=w425-h265" width="425" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's my responsibility to, somewhat begrudgingly, announce that The Lion of Mars has rocketed into round 3 (4 votes to 1) </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>The Lion of Mars:</b> </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Lion of Mars would make an excellent read aloud for Grades 4, 5 and 6. While I enjoyed the story it left me wanting more. I wasn’t satisfied with the sci-fi elements, especially for a story that takes place on Mars. Overall, the Lion of Mars was an enjoyable read that has left me feeling optimistic and hopeful for the future of space colonization. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My vote goes to The Lion of Mars. I felt there was a natural progression as the story unfolded. However, it was somewhat disappointing when a major conflict was resolved with one or two sentences. This left me thinking, “That’s it?!”</span></li></ul><p></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Me and Banksy: </span></b></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I absolutely loved Me and Banksy! I know a common critique of the novel is that Dom and her friends plan this street art protest rather than telling a trusted adult and getting their help to deal with all of the cyberbullying. What’s important to note is that Dom and Saavni tried to tell the principal about the cyberbullying, but Principal Plante did nothing to prevent future incidents. While I have some concern that some students may be inspired to commit similar acts of street art vengeance after reading Me and Banksy, I think the message is far more important than the potential student led protests. Ps. This novel would make a great read aloud or novel study companion to the movie, Moxie (2021). </span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Me and Banksy was quite a boring read for me. I found the plot dragged on, and was left beyond underwhelmed with the principal’s storyline. Boring. Boring. Boring.</span></li></ul><p></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p></blockquote><p></p>BDonauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14017789564980731778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-67265290974865821132022-01-07T10:19:00.002-08:002022-01-07T10:19:32.635-08:00Team Eight: "The Electric Kingdom" Shows "Show Me a Sign" The Door
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiX6w6dZtO8iI_e4uKQylMxSsS_GGn_hlqY-3r2pgUFz8O5uonsvRAAIaipLZysjhhRx5ffRrBl790KU3Sy3BgKP-ddrV1fVJZeOXP4Amzj8gptFNZ12slsgu1V0KBPDPyPkLov_K9RG_WGdDjC8bE5gPFHemNda_pSq7AtZvaWiPqnVh5nyI0qP4f4=s276" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="183" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiX6w6dZtO8iI_e4uKQylMxSsS_GGn_hlqY-3r2pgUFz8O5uonsvRAAIaipLZysjhhRx5ffRrBl790KU3Sy3BgKP-ddrV1fVJZeOXP4Amzj8gptFNZ12slsgu1V0KBPDPyPkLov_K9RG_WGdDjC8bE5gPFHemNda_pSq7AtZvaWiPqnVh5nyI0qP4f4=s320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpkxajgoPL8jWCbsnvZxevwk5YvS10ULLAVfanCRs41TJvTxAloGWBSgHFjFXBJDUOQJlC1evcYLmCS1zzFJgTnHscl5bjRYPCHd1Uoh71E7qXAOa4sVn-HD7S2kZO2E9ekzJrgY285iObfDXmU4Vj8eMtgQv7AlvTmZu620nxgx45xxvUmE1h7if6=s269" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="188" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpkxajgoPL8jWCbsnvZxevwk5YvS10ULLAVfanCRs41TJvTxAloGWBSgHFjFXBJDUOQJlC1evcYLmCS1zzFJgTnHscl5bjRYPCHd1Uoh71E7qXAOa4sVn-HD7S2kZO2E9ekzJrgY285iObfDXmU4Vj8eMtgQv7AlvTmZu620nxgx45xxvUmE1h7if6=s320" /></a></div>
I have to admit I am writing this post as a dissenting voice in a large majority victory for "The Electric Kingdom". However, while I placed the book in the "not for me" category, I did feel as I was reading it that it could really resonate with the right audience. That audience seems to have been my colleagues, and hopefully will also include students, as it does already have a pretty ardent fan base online. Since I am writing impartially, I am going to include primarily the impressions of my colleagues we collected below. Overall, we felt that neither was an absolute home run, and both had a lot to recommend. <div><br /></div><div> "I read The Electric Kingdom first and initially thought I wasn't going to be voting for it because it was too slow to get into. I thought (and still think) that it would be hard to get kids engaged in because of the slow start. However, by the end, I was invested in the characters and actually really liked how the Deliverer storyline played out." </div><div><br /></div><div> "I love a great Dystopian book and can get my head around a little time travelling twist! I actually thought the book was very masterful in circling back through each character and understanding the role of the Deliverer. I liked the analogy that was used in the book about nesting dolls, as that is how I saw the story unfolding - there was the big outline of the story, and every chapter brought in a narrower view of what was happening."</div><div><br /></div><div> "At first, I thought Electric Kingdom was slow going, as it took me a while to invest in the characters. But then I got quite attached to the characters - especially (spoiler redacted). While I don’t think every young adult reader will get into it to stick with it, I do know some more patient readers who will probably like this dystopian world and the idea of time loops." </div><div><br /></div><div> With respect to "Show Me a Sign", we did appreciate the own voices story with a deaf protagonist, and clear narrative compared to "The Electric Kingdom" however, we thought that some of the plotting was a little weak, and the impactful topics it addresses (colonialism, racism, stigma of disability) were not as meaningfully engaged with as we might have hoped. </div><div><br /></div><div> TLDR: "The Electric Kingdom" advances! We hope that it finds an audience, overcoming pandemic fatigue and a slow start, to allow readers to find a juicy middle and (mostly) satisfying conclusion!
</div><div><br /></div><div>Team Eight: Ben Severson; with input from Laura Johnson, Kerri Boyle, Maureen Roszell, Carla Gust, Chelsey McPherson, April Aitken, Shelley Gosse, Noelle Goudreau, Lisa Landry-Jones, and Krystal Eliuk</div>BenSeversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07966206274252609955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-28183517861145568672022-01-06T13:40:00.001-08:002022-01-06T13:40:06.042-08:00We are Not Free vs All Thirteen (Team 3)<p> </p><p style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOb7LUC6vybTu3fzc7KU7aqZ4YtleNbVCKi2bQtinmFgX7yINZcz5bK7oRyxXDLfl3EILBwbyRl1FIkDOXjVRKaB44o4VHDiSWFZpRb_ck49V6iTl-p2wr2RSNM6E_KpF0gdO5UJQPmILUjivpjr2_Kb2XSrpbXUs59LPrcHTooS9-nlZ2W7uFUYPm=s1024" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="655" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOb7LUC6vybTu3fzc7KU7aqZ4YtleNbVCKi2bQtinmFgX7yINZcz5bK7oRyxXDLfl3EILBwbyRl1FIkDOXjVRKaB44o4VHDiSWFZpRb_ck49V6iTl-p2wr2RSNM6E_KpF0gdO5UJQPmILUjivpjr2_Kb2XSrpbXUs59LPrcHTooS9-nlZ2W7uFUYPm=s320" width="205" /></a></p><div style="text-align: left;">We immediately gravitated towards favoring <i>We are Not Free. </i>We enjoyed the intersecting stories of characters, though sometimes we only hear from cetain characters in a limited capacity. The way each character stands out in some way (ie Yum Yum's blond wig) was nice to read and allowed a way to remind orselves of which narrative we were following. With so many characters, it would have been nice to have had some of the small characters flushed out (side note: the audiobook has unique narration for each character which was great), but it as nice to stay connected to Minnow, a wonderfully human character. We also appreciated how elements from regular life (crushes, school, dances) was infused into the story of internment, and how the excitement about more "fluffy" things (like Betty), lent the book a certain verisimilitude (especially for teens) that one doesn't always encounter in these types of stories. Throughout, hope was very present, and the author balances this with the bleak injustice of the internment. The direct moralisitic elements closer to the end didn't seem to be needed, but it would help students nail down themes. </div><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">In HS, we would likely not buy a class set of <i>We Are Not Free </i>but instead use the novel as an option in a lit circles situation. Alternatively, excerpts from this novel would work well as mentor texts. For instance, we really enjoyed Minnow drawing his neighbors and separating people from different origins, as well as the scene early in the text where Japanese citizens are having to sell off their posessions (lots of chances for amazing conversation and symbolic dicussions). Plus, Minnow being gay acts as a reminder that this part of our population is represented in all aspects of history, including this terrible time. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgv3VERjTGc8V8v053zE8zqlBTFOrtPWS2W-gy1SEIvXvDWyntdhgklg5KMqkm_mTcoRRnPJhT4Qj4zOuN54qq-dxZfxQUuUMQfsxocWOflmDzNDwW1sZ28WvaiU-ttoxf5UQAtw8YpcpineaZHgXVAQweg59-hKbHfMKRjLZJGlR7RGcqpCZ_x_4Mg=s1057" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1057" data-original-width="660" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgv3VERjTGc8V8v053zE8zqlBTFOrtPWS2W-gy1SEIvXvDWyntdhgklg5KMqkm_mTcoRRnPJhT4Qj4zOuN54qq-dxZfxQUuUMQfsxocWOflmDzNDwW1sZ28WvaiU-ttoxf5UQAtw8YpcpineaZHgXVAQweg59-hKbHfMKRjLZJGlR7RGcqpCZ_x_4Mg=s320" width="200" /></a>And now, onto <i>All Thirteen</i>. While the heroic rescue was certainly a fascinating time in our modern history, one of our team put it well when it was stated that this felt like more of a type of book you'd find in a doctor's office waiting rooom. "Yup they got...yup they got rescued; I remember when that happened." The map that was included about the cave system gave some wonderful perspective of the sheer size of the challenge. Still, we felt that some of the charts (like what happens when you have hypothermia) seemed inserted in a clunky way. This was more of a niche interest - how many of our students have been in a cave - for a library. Though we enjoyed the cultural elements that were present, the undelrying culture didn't seem to be as much at the forefront as it could have been. We felt that perhaps more of a memoir format would have been a bit more impactful. SThere was a nice balance of the hope. A reversal of narration, with the majority focused on how these athletes survived emotionally and kept hope alive (with pershaps the informational charts being used to talk about the logistics of the rescue) would have made for a more compelling, authentic narrative.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thus, overall, our vote is for <i>We Are Not Free </i>in this round of smackdown.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mitchy Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15009974343129745475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-58439622298727949742022-01-06T13:06:00.000-08:002022-01-06T13:06:34.662-08:00<h2 style="text-align: left;"> Which is the lesser of our losers?</h2><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcEMyLGEgyLCpCA5q7VuQAgnHnOL1Xz4LMfiM8osXfmgddGudITT3RW6HP8dYX6XxzJncJIWPipyERkSBz1CGD_TplhcvpU2rj4jq8tUSYMDin7apCXSmIipr77lUgYE6ujiA6LfvqsWL/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="126" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcEMyLGEgyLCpCA5q7VuQAgnHnOL1Xz4LMfiM8osXfmgddGudITT3RW6HP8dYX6XxzJncJIWPipyERkSBz1CGD_TplhcvpU2rj4jq8tUSYMDin7apCXSmIipr77lUgYE6ujiA6LfvqsWL/" width="169" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHbF_bo3hiOeiIx1LnDt_ndzl2hXBCW0puLQVAuqWi6PrsmJvUAGd_guhyphenhyphenu8otxUFhIjzg-jOZrvwvs0fE0-8eUCOzf0jap1zP_YJBOVB97fOZiqH2Jk0xV3_VMmlKOdkcS4x5-e27YR4/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHbF_bo3hiOeiIx1LnDt_ndzl2hXBCW0puLQVAuqWi6PrsmJvUAGd_guhyphenhyphenu8otxUFhIjzg-jOZrvwvs0fE0-8eUCOzf0jap1zP_YJBOVB97fOZiqH2Jk0xV3_VMmlKOdkcS4x5-e27YR4/" width="240" /></a></div><br />Anybody got a bracket in which both books really ought to be advancing? Because we'd be happy to give you a spot. We were pretty meh about our first bracket (<i>Ordinary Hazards </i>versus <i>Snapdragon</i>) and are disappointed to be in that situation again. Neither book was awful, but neither was strong. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>American as Paneer Pie </i>has some amazing descriptions of food. The vegetarian dishes Lehka's family prepares are described in some detail; they sound delicious - spicy with layers of flavour. The writing, on the other hand, is bland. Multiple reviewers mentioned not being really hooked until halfway through. Will kids slog through boring for that long? Lots of kids would be able to relate to Lehka's experience as the child of immigrants. Many in our schools would identify with her culturally. Lots of other kids need that window to understand the impact of racial microaggressions. There's important content here and the story had potential, but it needed work.</div><div><br /></div><div>We also weren't big fans of the protagonist. Lehka is whiny and annoying. Shouldn't a protagonist be likeable? We've noticed that self-absorbed protagonists seem to be a trend. Perhaps it's mimicking our reality, but it's not something we'd like to see encouraged. Avantika would have been a heroine we could get behind.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Dragon Hoops</i> is hard to categorize. It's listed as nonfiction. Is it a memoir? A history of basketball? A sports story? A series of character sketches? It's Gene Luen Yang writing a book about Gene Luen Yang writing a basketball graphic novel, that is, this book. There are sections that are pure nonfiction - the history of basketball, the development of women's basketball, how and why basketball took hold in China, a primer on Sikhism. There are sections that are play-by-plays. There are sections that focus on a particular player or coach. There's hints of a great controversy which never really goes anywhere - as sometimes happens in life. A lot of it's about the author thinking about how to write this book and what to do with his life. Some liked this unique approach. Some found it be amateurish. One of the consequences of this approach is that there is no central conflict. There is no plot arc. Many of us didn't feel connected to the author, the characters, the tale.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the end we had two votes for Hoops and three for Paneer, mostly because its anti-racist content gives it slightly more to offer. </div><div><br /></div><div>Fingers crossed for two gripping reads next round!</div><div><br /></div><div>Renée, Kelly, Nicole, Lynette, and Kristen</div>Renee Englothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01008556555242386977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-8776490391960885252022-01-05T19:32:00.002-08:002022-01-05T19:38:46.081-08:00Not always sunshine, lollipops and rainbows<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAS2l7B9HgRgYuODpLeRn5S46684AXff8IUva4Eq4DAAmZTH2u5fs7VOdMVSVL85zv7WlFAjLqgb2TCSnZCKQygJ4-oQLLnUuNwKjC5EH6EFsI1vpLz9cjo6gAMVr6JRzEUEZnGGJwOU/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="150" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAS2l7B9HgRgYuODpLeRn5S46684AXff8IUva4Eq4DAAmZTH2u5fs7VOdMVSVL85zv7WlFAjLqgb2TCSnZCKQygJ4-oQLLnUuNwKjC5EH6EFsI1vpLz9cjo6gAMVr6JRzEUEZnGGJwOU/w115-h174/image.png" width="115" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTVMfQe4GXDaxYmRNXaHbQoz2_ZrZSbNSUVtLxW5Dy8KhN7TQRVOjsu3h2m6tCeo57Bz0ui-wuOQYj65tMmDhwxvPD83-1ofGr7aZKpvGd1Ai1Igi-0fzHc67hbiQfnYTNiI_Hmh9A3E/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="120" data-original-width="80" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTVMfQe4GXDaxYmRNXaHbQoz2_ZrZSbNSUVtLxW5Dy8KhN7TQRVOjsu3h2m6tCeo57Bz0ui-wuOQYj65tMmDhwxvPD83-1ofGr7aZKpvGd1Ai1Igi-0fzHc67hbiQfnYTNiI_Hmh9A3E/w113-h170/image.png" width="113" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTVMfQe4GXDaxYmRNXaHbQoz2_ZrZSbNSUVtLxW5Dy8KhN7TQRVOjsu3h2m6tCeo57Bz0ui-wuOQYj65tMmDhwxvPD83-1ofGr7aZKpvGd1Ai1Igi-0fzHc67hbiQfnYTNiI_Hmh9A3E/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There is certainly a place and purpose for each of these books in a junior high classroom library. I thoroughly enjoyed both. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One book is poetry, one book is prose. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One book I read quickly, not only because of the unencumbered writing style (<i>The car was in the driveway. I wasn't surprised, but I still felt relieved, especially after the previous night.),</i>but because one event spilled into another and I wanted to gather them up to see how they all fit together. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One book I read slowly to digest and absorb each word on the page. (<i>I gave lots of hugs and kept repeating, "I love you, I love you, I love you," because somehow I knew they deserved a gift for tending me in the garden of their family, and my breaking heart was all I had to offer.)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These books dealt with addiction, mental illness, neglect, psychological abuse. But they also had beautiful threads of friendship, kindness and resilience. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My vote goes to <i>Ordinary Hazards: A Memoir </i>by Nikki Grimes. </span></div><br /></div><br /><p></p>Kim Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02264043566968466393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753157995321601480.post-9553404375858139202021-11-23T19:37:00.001-08:002021-11-23T19:37:03.915-08:00 Me and Banksy VS Where the World Ends<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Initially a tie of 2-2, I came in and settled it with my vote for </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me and Banksy.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Both books were good, but very different. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6904506a-7fff-ac23-fb63-d3af090bbb0a"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are looking for something themed with more current issues, then </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Banksy </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is for you. It covers, “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">lots of timely issues addressed with the cyberbullying and the video surveillance - privacy and civil rights...all that good stuff... the message of the power of art</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” (Debbie). I personally loved that it was a story of students standing up for their rights, and what they thought was best for them and their learning environment. There are a couple of twists and turns as the plot unfolds at the end, definitely something junior high kids would enjoy.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you want some historical fiction (1727 to be exact), based upon a true story, and even read in a Scottish accent on the audio book, then this book is a good read (listen?). Some might say slow to start, but others would say well written and interesting. The story takes place on a remote island, where a group of people, mainly men and boys, are dropped off to hunt birds for food. It is a story of survival, as nobody ever returns to bring them all home. Keep in mind, although this is a good book it is not for the faint of heart. In the words of Kym Francis, “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I might be traumatized by the imagery of birds being used as candles?”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me and Banksy</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is the winner of this round!</span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0