Water Street

Author Study Selection

Author:  Patricia Reilly Giff, 2006, Wendy Lamb Books

Water Street is another excellent piece of literature from Patricia Reilly Giff.  The main character, Bird, is only thirteen years old in 1875, but she has many responsibilities that make her seem older than she is.  She meets Thomas, a boy about her age, who moves into the apartment above her family.  Though neither of them wants to be forward about their feelings, she loves Thomas, and he certainly loves her, and that main theme runs throughout the entire story.  They are witnesses to the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, and Bird's father is a worker on the building crew.  Both Bird's and Thomas's families immigrated to the United States from Ireland at the time of the potato famine.  Bird is almost done with the 8th grade, and it will soon be time for her to work.  She has fancied the idea of becoming a healer like her mother, but she is not sure she can stomach all the blood.  Through twists and turns of life, Bird and Thomas both graduate from the eighth grade and attend high school--Thomas on a scholarship, and Bird on the money saved by her parents.  The hard road to this point is the crowning achievement in the lives of these children.

I thoroughly enjoyed every part of this book.  The author carefully integrated love, disappointment, heartache, joy, and family in a seemingly effortless way.  I thought the characters were accurately portrayed as having lived in the 1870s in America, and the real problems associated with this time period, including injury, poverty, and crime, were evident in the story.  This would be an excellent piece of historical fiction for middle schoolers to read.  I think teachers would also really like this book because it is another great story by a time-honored author.        

Heart of a Shepherd

Author:  Roseanne Parry, 2009, Random House

When I find a book I really enjoy reading, I treasure it.  I cannot describe how much I liked Heart of a Shepherd  by Roseanne Parry.  Ignatius, commonly called "Brother," is not used to taking care of the family's ranch.  With 3 older brothers and a father, he is looked upon as a child.  But, everything changes when his father is called to serve in Iraq, and his brothers scatter to Boot Camp and boarding school.  Brother is left to help his grandparents run the ranch.  He communicates with his brothers via e-mail and instant message on the computer, and they constantly give him advice.  (That must be what older brothers are meant to do.)  Through all the ups and downs of life on the ranch without his family, Brother ends up the hero as he rises to man of the house.  He also realizes a call into Christian ministry during this period, which is a huge part of his growth.  And, in the end, his brothers respect his work unlike ever before.

This is the ultimate heart-warming, heart-wrenching juvenile chapter book.  I identified with Brother because I also grew up on a farm and know the challenges associated with rural living.  His call into ministry touched me deeply because I have felt a similar call for my life.  I loved the honesty and determination of the characters in this book, especially when Brother stepped up and took charge at a very young age.  I admit to crying by the end of the story because of the life changes experienced by this family.  It is more than one would wish for an adolescent to experience, but it happens in our world more often than we may realize. Try this book with 6-8 graders.  The reading is not difficult, and the storyline is appropriate.  I promise that the heart of this shepherd will melt yours. 

Dandelions

Author:  Eve Bunting, 1995, Harcourt Brace & Co.
Illustrator:  Greg Shed

As Zoe and her family made their way into Nebraska Territory in the 19th century, the promise of new life was evident, but sadness lingered.  They had just left their family in Illinois to move west, lured perhaps by the Homestead Act of 1862.  Mama was pregnant, and she, Zoe, Rebecca, and Papa hitched up the wagon and set off toward a distant, unfamiliar land.  Papa had gone a year earlier to stake their land, and they found his stake amid miles of unsettled territory.  Their closest neighbors were three hours away, and the "town" was even farther.  Mama was depressed about leaving everything she had ever known, and the rest of the family wanted to make it better for her.

So, one day, Zoe and her father left Rebecca and Mama at the neighbors' while they went onto town.  Once, when Zoe looked down, she saw beautiful yellow dandelions, and she convinced Papa to dig them up.  She wanted to take them home to Mama.  When they got home, they planted the dandelions on the roof of their sod house because Mama had been afraid Zoe and Papa wouldn't find their way back.  Now, their home had a beautiful yellow roof, and it symbolized everything about their life:  Some of the flowers might die, but many will take root and prosper.  Just like their family.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I can't imagine picking up my family and moving them to unsettled territory, hoping that everything will go well.  This period of time was ripe for settlement west of the Mississippi River, and people were lured by the promise of free land.  The illustrations in this book were beautiful and reminiscent at the same time.  The simplicity of their design encouraged the use of my imagination.  Pick up a copy of this book and make it available to your students.  I'm sure they will enjoy it, too.

Esperanza Rising

Author:  Pam Munoz Ryan, 2000, Scholastic

Esperanza Rising is the story of a privileged young Mexican girl, her servants, and their radical life change.  Esperanza Ortega is the daughter of a wealthy ranch owner in Aguascalientes, Mexico.  She means everything to her father, and he dies suddenly after being attacked by bandits.  Her whole life changes instantly when her greedy uncles take over the ranch, burn it to the ground, and force Esperanza, her mother, and their servants out of the country when one of the uncles imposes marriage on Esperanza's mother.  Alfonso and Hortensia, the servants, and their son, Miguel, take Esperanza and her mother to the United States, but they had to leave Abuelita behind due to an illness.  Esperanza finds her place in a whole new world, one in which she must work to provide for her family.  She is used to ordering people around, but now, she is equal to her former servants.  When her mother falls ill with Valley Fever, Esperanza desperately longs for her to get well, and she eventually does.  Secretly, Miguel goes back to Mexico to retrieve Abuelita many months after they fled.  When the family is together again, so is Esperanza's heart.

I thought this was a poignant story of major life changes, heartache, and new friendships.  Esperanza embodies the idea that present circumstances are not set in stone for ever.  I was saddened by the reasons for her life change, but I think she embraced them as best as she could.  This would be an excellent reading choice for upper elementary and junior high students.  I think the boys would like it, even though it features a female protagonist.  It is especially indicative of the time period, and, while it is difficult to imagine, it tells a real story in a fictional way.

Weedflower

Author:  Cynthia Kadohata, 2006, Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Cynthia Kadohata takes her readers on a trip of sadness and heartbreak in the book Weedflower.  Twelve-year-old Sumiko and her six-year-old brother Tak-Tak live with their aunt, uncle, cousins, and grandfather on their flower farm in California.  Sumiko and Tak-Tak came into their relatives' care when their parents perished in a car accident.  Their family unit is very strong, and their main struggle is to fit in with the rest of the world.  That is not a big issue, however, until December 7, 1941 when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.  Suddenly, Japanese-Americans become the target of hostility, racism, and segregation.  Sumiko's uncle and grandfather are moved to a work camp in North Dakota, and the rest of her family, including Sumiko, are shipped to Poston, Ariz. where there is a permanent relocation site for Japanese.  As far as the reader knows, Sumiko never returns to her home in California; rather, she spends many days in Poston, then moves near Chicago.  During her time in Poston, Sumiko makes many friends, and it is sad when she has to leave them behind.  This was a time of great sorrow for Japanese-Americans as they were treated like baggage instead of human beings.

I loved this book from cover to cover.  When I started reading, I did not realize that the setting was December, 1941, so I had no idea what was ahead.  Sumiko struggles to fit in with her peers, but she finds steadfast love and friendship in Poston.  I was amazed by how caring Sumiko was to Tak-Tak.  Tak-Tak seemed innocent and trusting, and he followed his sister everywhere.  Through the heartbreak of losing their parents to being relocated in a concentration camp, Sumiko and her brother never seemed to lose hope in the future.  Honestly, I do not know if I would have been as calm as Sumiko had I been in the same situation.  Looking back, some of the greatest injustices in history were done to some of the most innocent people, and Weedflower documents a story of strength, trust, and determination through a time of injustice.  For that reason, I will always remember this book.    

Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire State Building

Author:      Deborah Hopkinson, 2006, Schwartz & Wade Books
Illustrator:  James Ransome
Genre Study--Historical Fiction

To this day, the construction of the Empire State Building is a feat not easily topped.  Once the tallest building in the world, the Empire State Building was opened on May 1, 1931.  According to this book, more than three thousand men put in over seven million hours to construct the magnificent structure.  And, perhaps most impressive, it was completed in record time:  410 days. 

This book by Deborah Hopkinson is an informative piece of historical fiction.  It follows a boy plagued by the Depression and his family's struggle to get by.  He watches the Empire State Building being built and desperately wishes he could help in some way.  In the end, his father takes him to the observation deck to look down over the streets of Manhattan.  His father is amazed at the feat of mankind.  He believes if man could create such a structure, man can do anything.

I was in awe of the information presented in this book.  It presents true facts from the standpoint of an innocent young boy.  I have always wanted to visit New York, and when I do, I will definitely visit the Empire State Building.  It is an icon of New York City, as well as the United States of America.  In addition, I was intrigued to read about the TV tower that stands 204 feet above the roof of the building.  In doing some additional research, I learned that this tower was first utilized by NBC, and now it is shared by several television networks.  Interestingly, NBC's Today celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2012.  On the morning of January 13, the Empire State Building was lit in the colors of Today:  red, orange, and yellow.  This was the first time the colors have been changed to reflect a television show. 

I guess this iconic building actually represents two feats of mankind:  an opulent structure and a popular entertainment medium.  What would the little boy's father think today?


      

The Cats in Krasinski Square

Author:       Karen Hesse, 2004, Scholastic
Illustrator:  Wendy Watson
Genre Study--Historical Fiction

I must be honest:  I know very little about the non-American portions of World War II.  For someone who loves history, I need to study that period more closely.  Recently while doing so, I came across a fantastic piece of historical fiction called The Cats in Krasinski Square.  If the book included a time stamp, it would be set in Poland in the late-1930's and early-1940's.  A little girl who has escaped from a Jewish ghetto blends with the people of Warsaw.  She and her sister plan to sneak food into the ghetto but hear rumblings that the Gestapo (German State Police) will be at the train station with dogs to sniff for food.  The little girl cannot be outwitted, however, and she uses cats she feeds in Krasinski Square to lure the dogs away from the train station, thereby allowing the sisters to take food to their Jewish friends.

A book like this takes me back to a different time.  I assume a different mindset; one that allows me to empathize with people such as this little girl.  This was a horrible period in world history, and children who read this book will gain a tiny bit of insight into the life of a refugee.  In addition, there is a historical note included in the back of the book that gives information about Jews living in Poland.  I wholeheartedly recommend this book as a piece of historical fiction for middle and upper-elementary students.

Seeing the Elephant: A Story of the Civil War

Author:       Pat Hughes, 2007, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Illustrator:  Ken Stark
Genre Study--Historical Fiction

Seeing the Elephant is a moving story of heroism, determination, and patriotism.  Israel, a young boy of ten, waves goodbye to his older brothers who have gone into the Civil War to fight on behalf of the North.  While the brothers are gone, Israel writes numerous letters to them, and when one of them comes home with typhoid, he hopes to rekindle their brotherly affection.  Instead, their relationship has changed, most likely on account of the war, and Israel is sad.  But no sadness can describe how he feels when an acquaintance named Graff dies in the hospital.  Graff, a Rebel fighter from South Carolina, makes an unlikely friend with Israel, and when Graff dies, Israel realizes the true cost of the war. 

This somewhat-true account of a staunch Union family meeting a Confederate army man is captivating.  What surprised me the most is the maturity of this particular 10-year-old.  The book reflects the belief that "war makes boys into men," and even though Israel was too young to fight, he realized the gravity of the situation.  I would definitely recommend this book to older elementary children as a piece of historical fiction.  It is truly a window into a different era; an era that would change the face of America for decades.

Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal

Author:      Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, 2009, Carolrhoda Books
Illustrator:  R. Gregory Christie
Coretta Scott King Award

If you were a settler on the western frontier in the late-1800s, you might have feared outlaws coming into your territory.  There was plenty of open space, and one could ride for miles without pause.  However, if Bass Reeves was in town, you would have nothing to fear.  This story is one about the true character of a black United States marshal who always caught the outlaws he chased.  Bass Reeves may be a man few people have heard of, but he was one of the greatest deputy marshals that ever patrolled the frontier.  This Coretta Scott King award-winning book is one to treasure, and every student will be enthralled with visions of the rough-and-tumble life of the early American west.

Not only is this an intriguing piece of non-fiction; the pictures are equally amazing.  They look almost child-like, and I assume that is what the illustrator was hoping to achieve.  The illustrations lack precise detail, and consequently, the reader must use his imagination to fill in the gaps.  Nonetheless, the entire book, including the historical timeline at the back, is a wonderful piece of American literature; one that shines a light on a black American who, during a time of racial inequality, did a fine job of bringing criminals to justice.  Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal, is certainly a notable figure of American history.