In Princess Posey and the Christmas Magic (Putnam, 2103), first grade protagonist Posey is beginning to mature. In this book, the seventh in the series, author Stephanie Greene and illustrator Stephanie Roth Sisson masterfully present some challenging emotional issues for Posey to ponder. Not only does she desire for Santa to bring her a highly unrealistic Christmas gift, she learns that her beloved neighbor, Mrs. Romero, has a deceased child. In addition, Gramps has asked Mrs. Romero for date! These are huge events for any feisty first grader to wrap their magic wand around.
In their starred review, here’s what Kirkus had to say about these eloquently crafted story threads. “A subplot about Gramps and his new love interest, neighbor Mrs. Romero, adds much to the story, making it more than just a story about a little girl. When Mrs. Romero shares a childhood picture of Barbara, her little girl who died years ago, the twist is revealed with calm, believable emotion.”
In her own thoughtful and tender way, Posey, with the help of her all-powerful tutu, is beginning to step outside of her own needs to become more aware of sadness and joys experienced by those around her. She’s growing up with each turn of the page, as are her faithful readers.
Historical fiction can sometimes be a hard sell in the library when placed next to an especially popular zombie/vampire/goth novel. That’s why a historical fiction book must be able to transport the reader to another place and time while also making the actions, thoughts and desires of the characters accessible and believable to a modern child or young adult. Here are a few more books that will tempt all ages.
For younger readers:
Red Kite, Blue Kite written by by Ji-li Jiang and illustrated by Greg Ruth. A heart-breaking, yet hopeful story of a young boy and his father who are caught up in chaos of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. A great book to introduce this time period to older children but also a way to reach children whose parents or close relatives have been incarcerated. Appropriate for all ages.
For older readers:
The Friendship Doll by Kirby Larson. In 1927, fifty-eight exquisite hand-made dolls were sent from Japan to the United States to foster friendship and understanding between the two countries. Four stories set during the Great Depression and one in present-day bring to light a little remembered historical event. The writing is lyrical and engaging for readers eight years and up.
The Wicked and the Just by J. Anderson Coats. Told from the point of view of Cecily, a spoiled teenage girl whose father has just moved the family into occupied Wales in order to improve the family fortune and Gwenhwyfar, the teenage former inhabitant and now servant of the castle manor. A compassionate and vivid picture of early medieval life with two main characters that can at times display very modern wants and desires. There is some violence in the novel.
ReaderKidZ guest Melissa Buron has worked as a librarian and teacher for young people in Africa, Europe, and the United States for the past twenty years. She is an author, blogger and journalist. You can find her at www.melissaburon.com, or on Facebook, LinkedIn and on Twitter (@melissaburon).
I’ve always loved historical fiction, even if at the moment it’s a hard sell in the library when placed next to an especially popular zombie/vampire/goth novel. That’s why a historical fiction book must be able to transport the reader to another place and time while also making the actions, thoughts and desires of the characters accessible and believable to a modern child or young adult. Here are a few books that can tempt even the most devout fantasy lover.
For younger readers:
Unspoken: A Story of the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole. When a young girl finds a runaway slave in her barn, she must decide if she has the courage to do what she believes to be right. A wordless picture book illustrated in soft pencil, this book is is especially useful for explaining the concept and history of the Underground Railroad to very young children. Appropriate for all ages.
A Boy Called Dickens written by Deborah Hopkinson and illustrated by John Hendrix. Hopkinson offers a fictionalized account of Charles Dickens’ childhood complete with hints concerning the inspiration of some of his famous novels. A great introduction to the author for younger children and a good complement to students already familiar with Charles Dickens’ work. Ages 6 and up.
For older readers:
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi. Although not a recent publication, the depth of historical details and character development make The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle a must-read for all lovers of historical fiction. In 1832 Charlotte, a prim and proper young lady sets off from England to return to her family in Rhode Island. Along the way Charlotte discovers that her strictly defined rules of behavior must change if she is to survive the voyage. A wonderful tale of empowerment and growing-up. Ages 9 and above.
For the past twenty years Melissa Buron has worked as a librarian and teacher for young people in Africa, Europe and the United States. In addition, she is an author, blogger and journalist. You can find her at www.melissaburon.com, or on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter (@melissaburon). Contact her with your favorite historical fiction books or just to say “hi!”.
In 2007, debut novelist Leah Pileggi toured the Idaho Penitentiary in Boise, Idaho. She discovered that the youngest prisoner incarcerated had been ten years old in the 1880s. Caught in a wave of disbelief, she was inspired by the boy’s story. She knew she wanted to write about his survival, and the seeds for her historical novel took root.
In Prisoner 88, Jake Oliver Evans celebrates his eleventh birthday in the Idaho Territorial Penitentiary. He is sentenced to five years for shooting a man who threatened his father. A father who could barely take care of his son after his wife died.
Life in prison is rough for Jake. It’s summertime and there is no air conditioning and the stench is worse than that of a pig farm. Burly, unclean, hardened criminals are housed in three rows of cells, one on top of the other. Every day, Jake makes the most of his life. He mucks pig stalls and eats three square meals, more food than he’s seen in a lifetime. A couple of inmates befriend him and teach him to read and write. They watch his back. When his release date arrives; his pa disowns him. Jake has no place to go. But the kind warden isn’t about to see this courageous young boy drift through life without a second chance, and soon Jake’s ripping up his past and embracing his future. Pileggi tells a riveting story about a boy’s coming-of-age, friendship, and how family can be found in the most unusual places. She skillfully creates a heroic protagonist that will live on in young readers’ hearts—long after—the last page has been turned. For ages 10 and up.
To see pictures of the Idaho Penitentiary nicknamed “Old Pen,” click HERE.
“MAYBE YOU HAVE never read a book written by a ghost before. I am a ghost…I should tell you something else. I see things before they happen. You are probably thinking, ‘I wish I could see things before they happen.’
Be careful what you wish for.”
Author Tim Tingle is a masterful storyteller on stage or in a book with the written word. With this newest book, I warn you that you might have the same experience I did. You begin the first chapter, intending to read for a little while, but you can’t stop. One surprise happens on the heels of another. To create HOW I BECAME A GHOST, Tim Tingle re-walked the steps of his great-great-grandfather, recorded the stories of tribal elders, and then wrote this incredible page-turner for young readers (and adults as well). Yes, this book is about the Choctaw Trail of Tears but no, it will not leave you sad or depressed, instead, you will be amazed at the strength of community and the courage and of many individuals – even a talking dog!
Once you read one of Tingle’s books, you will want to read more. I encourage you to look at CROSSING BOK CHITTO, praised by Publishers Weekly as “…a moving and wholly original story about the intersection of cultures.” One more suggestion: SPIRITS DARK AND LIGHT which was given this description: “Tingle is a master storyteller, his flow and timing are superb. Young readers will feel like he’s talking directly to them,” by American Indians in Children’s Literature.
BUFFALO BIRD GIRL written and illustrated by S.D. Nelson, is a very different book, but one filled with images and information that give a rich account of the daily life of the Hidatsa people of the Dakotas. The actual words and stories once told by Buffalo Bird Girl are illustrated with archival photographs, maps, drawings, and the brilliant, startling images painted by S. D. Nelson.
These two books offer two very different stories, two Native perspectives, of American history told in engaging voices and accessible formats. What an opportunity to discuss with young readers the impact of “western expansion” on these two tribal nations.
Based on the true story of a young Jewish girl living in Paris during the horrific days of the Nazi invasion, Odette’s Secretsis a poignant and thoughtful depiction of one child’s life and death experience. As is stated on the flap copy, “Inspired by the life of the real Odette Meyers – and written in moving free-verse poetry – this is a story of determination to survive, and of a young girl forced to hide in plain sight.”
Inspiration struck author Maryann Macdonald when she read the a plaque placed near an old Parisian elementary school in honor of the Jewish children who had been deported from France during World War II. She was compelled to know more about these children. After much research, Maryann came across Doors to Madame Marie, the autobiography of Odette Meyers, one of those children who had been deported! She then became fascinated with this remarkable story, so much so that she returned to Paris to walk where Odette’s feet once tread. As a result of her quest to fully understand Odette, Maryann has tenderly told an amazing tale of trauma and triumph through the point of view of a young girl, a survivor like no other.
In hopes of guiding readers and educators to a better understanding of Odette’s experience, Maryann is offering a free, downloadable CCSS Annotated Teacher’s Guide as a pictorial companion for the novel. In it you’ll find writing activities, discussion questions, a map foldable, a timeline activity, and more.
Earlier this week, we learned about the real Odette on whom the historical fiction Odette’s Secrets was closely based. Today, author Maryann MacDonald tells ReaderKidZ more about writing this book.
How long did it take you to write Odette’s Secrets?
A long time. I discovered Odette’s book in the autumn of 2006, and met Daniel, Odette’s son, shortly afterwards. In 2007, I went to the Vendee to explore Odette’s life there. Afterwards, I began writing the book at my kitchen table in Paris. I wrote many drafts as the book evolved. In 2008, I found my agent, Steven Chudney, whose own father had been a hidden child in Poland. About two years later, we found the perfect editor at Bloomsbury, and after more revision, the book was scheduled to come out in 2012. However, it was delayed until 2013 for various reasons.
I have learned, as a writer, the importance of patience and of believing in my work. I have also learned not to put all my eggs into one basket. My picture book, The Christmas Cat(Dial, 2013), based on a drawing by Leonardo da Vinci, was also written during this time, as was another picture book published in 2010, How to Hug(Marshall Cavendish, 2011). The Christmas Cat won’t be out until later this month!
Where do you work?
I tend to work at home or at the library. Coffee shops don’t really work for me…too distracting. Now that I’m back in New York I often go to the wonderful New York Society Library on 79th Street. They have a whole floor reserved just for writers and the atmosphere there, with everyone else around me working, makes me feel like I should be busy, too.
What were you like as a child? How were you and Odette similar? Different?
Odette was an only child, doted on by her parents and godmother. While she was in Paris, she lived the supervised life of a city child.
My life growing up as one of eight children in the Detroit suburbs was quite different. Most of the time, no one knew where we were or what we were doing. Odette had the experience of living in big family and having a lot of freedom when she lived in the Vendee. She liked it, and so did I, although sometimes I dreamed of being a pampered only child. Like Odette’s Papa, my father introduced me to the world of books and reading. And like her, I loved exploring and playing games. I suspect we could have been friends.
You mentioned that you grew up in a neighborhood where there were many WWII stories. Do you remember any that stuck with you especially? Did your own parents or grandparents have any stories?
My best friend’s father was in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp during WWII. He escaped but was recaptured, and weighed only 80 pounds when he returned home. He didn’t talk much about what had happened to him, but instead spent a lot of time in his garage working alone on radios. It seemed to be understood that his wartime experiences set him apart.
By contrast, my petite Aunt Dorothy was proud of her WWII factory work. She was so small she was able to crawl inside airplane wings to solder the pieces together. Dorothy was an elegant woman whose fingers were always painted bright red. I loved imagining her as Rosie the Riveter.
Leave a comment to be entered to win a free copy of Maryann MacDonald’s ODETTE’S SECRETS. We’ll draw one lucky winner Friday, October the 11th and contact you by email. Good luck!
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