Review: Surviving Hitler

Surviving Hitler

by Andrea Warren

published by Harper Trophy

copyright 2002

rating: 5 out of 5

Oh - was I in literary heaven last Thursday!

My daughter came home a couple of weeks ago and said that a local author, Andrea Warren, was coming to her school to conduct a writing seminar for AP Lang students. I simply could NOT let this opportunity pass me by. I contacted my daughter's teacher and asked if I might be able to attend if I promised to sit quietly in the back. The request was granted, and I am so grateful!

Andrea Warren lives in the same county as I do - in a town a few miles away. She has written several YA non-fiction books, most notably Under Siege, Pioneer Girl, Orphan Train Rider, and Surviving Hitler. My daughter had read Surviving Hitler a few years ago, and it continues to impact her life.

When I was told that I could attend the seminar, I immediately grabbed my daughter's book and began reading. Since the book is geared toward the YA audience, I could have easily read it in a couple of hours. However, the subject was such that I could really only digest a few chapters a time. The story is biographical - that is, Ms. Warren spent 4 months - several hours every Friday - interviewing Jack Mendelbaum in order to accurately tell his story (edited to reflect author's comments below). As I read the last chapter I realized, with surprise, that the story is told in third person. This was a surprise because as I was reading this book I felt such intimacy; the feeling that I would expect from a first person narrative. As I tried to analyze this, I realized that the author used so many direct quotes, that it gave the appearance of first person point of view. And yet.....I am somewhat grateful for the periodic distance that the third person narration allowed. I am not sure that I could have stomached such a personal encounter with concentration camps that the first person POV would have afforded.

Periodically throughout the eloquent prose is interspersed with dramatic photographs of the time period. The photos are haunting and with each one I wondered what was the story behind that particular picture. As many of you know, I have a great love of dogs - and believe that they are truly man's best friend. The photo that impacted me the most was that of a muzzled German Shepherd held on a leash by a gestapo guard. The hatred in that dog's eyes was truly evident. I know that once given the command, the dog would not hesitate to attack and kill. Oh, what did that dog have to endure to learn such hatred? Oh, what inhumanity did the German soldiers inflict on those in the concentration camps? What are we human beings truly capable of doing, if left to our own evil nature? It is quite the sobering thought.

As far as I am concerned, Surviving Hitler is the perfect book for any elementary school student to read. It provides enough information for students to understand the inhumanity and injustice of the holocaust - while at the same time it does not delve into unnecessary grotesque details. This book will find a sympathetic audience with nearly every audience: young and old; male and female; rich and poor. If you have not had the opportunity to read this book, I would strongly urge you to add it to the TBR pile of required World War II reading material.

I had hoped to add a bit of information regarding the writer's seminar - but I think that may deserve its own post. The impact of this novel should not be diluted in any way.

Speak

My 15 year old daughter rates this book as one of the best books she has ever read. Of my 3 children, Mandy is my reader. She has always enjoyed books, and very often will read her favorites more than once. She read this book about 2 years ago and at the time I thought, "Well, it must be a good teen book." That was in my pre-blog days. That was when I was ignorant of YA literature in the 21st Century. That was before I dared to read YA literature for myself.

The author, Laurie Halse Anderson, has received a lot of accolades this spring with her newest release, Wintergirls. While waiting for my turn for this book at the local library (I believe I began as number 75 in line back in March), I thought I would read Speak, which is now touted as "a contemporary classic" All I can say is WOW! I was immediately transported back in time to my high school days -- not necessarily a place that I ever wanted to revisit, but as a parent, a place that I needed to revisit.

Here is a quick plot summary according to GoodReads.com:

Since the beginning of the school year, high school freshman Melinda has found that it's been getting harder and harder for her to speak out loud: "My throat is always sore, my lips raw.... Every time I try to talk to my parents or a teacher, I sputter or freeze.... It's like I have some kind of spastic laryngitis." What could have caused Melinda to suddenly fall mute? Could it be due to the fact that no one at school is speaking to her because she called the cops and got everyone busted at the seniors' big end-of-summer party? Or maybe it's because her parents' only form of communication is Post-It notes written on their way out the door to their nine-to-whenever jobs. While Melinda is bothered by these things, deep down she knows the real reason why she's been struck mute...

Laurie Halse Anderson's first novel is a stunning and sympathetic tribute to the teenage outcast. The triumphant ending, in which Melinda finds her voice, is cause for cheering (while many readers might also shed a tear or two). After reading Speak, it will be hard for any teen to look at the class scapegoat again without a measure of compassion and understanding for that person--who may be screaming beneath the silence. (Ages 13 and older) --Jennifer Hubert

They say that growing up today is totally different than it was when we were younger. I do agree with that statement, to a certain extent. I don't remember worrying about being gunned down in the hallway by a fellow student, but I do remember being intimidated and embarrassed by the jock crowd. I don't remember fearing for my life, but I do remember wishing I could crawl in a hole and disappear for 3 years of my life. And yet, so much of what I read in this book was completely reminiscent of emotions and feelings that I experienced in school. How does Ms. Anderson do it?! I mean, she is only two years younger than me (I did a bit of research on the internet), and yet she was so capable of recalling those distant memories as if she just recently experienced them. Let me see if I can give you just a few examples:

The First Ten Lies they tell you in high school:

1. We are here to help you.
2. You will have enough time to get to your class before the bell rings.
3. The dress code will be enforced.
4. No smoking is allowed on school grounds.
5. Our football team will win the championship this year.
6. We expect more of you here.
7. Guidance counselors are always available to listen.
8. Your schedule was created with your needs in mind.
9. Your locker combination is private.
10. These will be the years you look back on fondly.

or...there is the Ten More Lies they tell you in high school:

1. You will use algebra in your adult lives.
2. Driving to school is a privilege that can be taken away.
3. Students must stay on campus for lunch.
4. The new textbooks will arrive any day now.
5. Colleges care about more than your SAT scores.
6. We are enforcing the dress code.
7. We will figure out how to turn off the heat soon.
8. Our bus drivers are highly trained professionals
9. There is nothing wrong with summer school.
10. We want to hear what you have to say.

While I am not sure I agree with 20 out of 20 here --- I most definitely agree with about 15 of those (including the one about dress code being listed twice).

Ms. Anderson also creates a list of all the cliques in this Syracuse, NY high school, which honestly, has not changed much in the past 3 decades when I was in a CT high school:

....ninth-graders are herded into the auditorium. We fall into clans: Jocks, Country Clubbers, Idiot Savants, Cheerleaders, Human Waste, Eruotrash, Future Fascists of America, Big Hair Chix, the Marthas, Suffering Artists, Thespians, Goths, Shredders. I am clanless. ..... I have entered high school with the wrong hair, the wrong clothes, the wrong attitude. And I don't have anyone to sit with.

I am Outcast.

I remember reading an interview with Markus Zusak (author of The Book Thief) where he said: "I like the idea that every page in a book can have a gem on it." This is exactly what Laurie Halse Anderson does in writing Speak. I am sure that I could turn to any random page in the book and find some "gem" from which I could read, re-read, analyze and relive my adolescence. I do not wish to post all of them in this short review (as I think you simply must go out and read this book for yourself), but I will leave you with one thought that is true for people of all ages. These words of wisdom are being said to Melinda, our 9th grade protagonist, by her art teacher, Mr. Freeman:

Art without emotion is like chocolate cake without sugar. It makes you gag......Think about love, or hate, or joy, or rage - whatever makes you feel something, makes your palms sweat or your toes curl. Focus on that feeling. When people don't express themselves, they die one piece at a time. You'd be shocked at how many adults are really dead inside - walking through their days with no idea who they are, just waiting for a heart attack or cancer or a Mack truck to come along and finish the job. It's the saddest thing I know." (page 122)

Is that not powerful?! And the entire book is full of such insightful thoughts and expressions, some from adults, but most from Melinda's perspective.

If you have a teen - or a child nearing the turbulent adolescent years, you simply must do yourself the favor of reading this book. Not all our children will experience the traumatic event that Melinda had to endure, but I guarantee that all teens experience trauma. We, as parents, must walk a very fine line. We must know when to give them their space, and when to interfere and encourage them to speak. We must promise to listen - really hear what they are saying. We must offer compassion, but not trite answers. As the saying goes "a child does not care how much you know until you show them how much you care."

The Giver

I must confess that I truly did not know what I was getting into when I started this blog back in December, 2008. I had read several book blogs for a couple of months -- I enjoyed reading them -- I enjoyed reading books -- I find writing cathartic --- it seemed like a good fit for me. What I did not expect to find was the wonderful camaraderie of this blogging community --- the huge number of books that I would add to my TBR list each and every week --- and a deep appreciation of ALL genres of literature, including Young Adult (YA) novels.

My (incorrect) assumption used to be that YA novels were written for the 11-16 year old crowd and those who are older than that are too "mature" for the adolescent content. OH MY --- I have been proven wrong on several accounts. I am absolutely LOVING the Harry Potter audiobooks --- and The Giver is definitely not just for the YA audience!

I finished reading this book about 2 weeks ago, but I was finding it difficult to formulate a review. Since I read the book for my high school book club, I decided to delay my review posting until we met as a group to discuss the book. One of the students in the class chose this as one of her all-time favorite books, and that is how it came to be our final book selection for the academic year.


Here is a summary of the book, as it appears in a Bookrags PDF file:

Where Jonas lives, life is safe, orderly, and predictable. Rules are strictly adhered to;every aspect of a person's life is carefully planned. People rarely make choices on their own; everything is decided for them by the community. There is no snow or sunshine, no colors or music, no animals or nature.

People in the community take special care to avoid doing or saying anything different.In the community, one must not say anything that causes discomfort to others, and one must use language precisely. Husbands and wives are matched as couples by a Committee of Elders who reviews each individual to see if a person's characteristics will be compatible with those of his mate. Exactly two children−one male and one female−are assigned to each family unit. The elderly live at the House of the Old.

When Jonas and other Elevens become Twelves in December, they receive their Assignments that assign them to their particular fields of profession. Jonas is assigned to become a Receiver of Memories. He will be the one person in the community who has access to all the memories of the past. The Receiver has knowledge of things that no one in the community has access to, but the Receiver also has the responsibility to shoulder the burden of sorrow and pain that the memories bring.

Gradually, through the memories he receives from The Giver, Jonas comes to realize the various truths about the community. He realizes that it is unfair to deprive people of ever being able to make choices for themselves about their own lives. He understands that the people of the community have no genuine feelings. Feelings have never been a part of their lives. He also learns that there are different ways to live. Through the memories, he sees people in the past living differently, and feels that the community must change.

Reactions were quite mixed in yesterday's class. Several students began by saying that the ending was "lame." They enjoyed the first portion of the book --- but felt that the ending was weak. Why? Well, after several probing questions and 50 minutes of discussion I think it came down to this: these students want a nice, tidy ending. They did not like the fact that the story ended so abruptly. What is really quite interesting is that they did not equate this "abrupt" ending with an ambiguous ending. They did not see that there are two ways to interpret it. Most of my students chose to interpret the book in an optimistic way: Jonas sees the Christmas lights and this is the start of a new life. There was one student, however, who viewed the lights as a final hallucination before his death.

The book did provoke great discussion from nearly all 6 students. The themes of euthanasia (disguised by the clever euphemism "Release") and Utopian vs Dystopian societies were discussed at length. It was very rewarding for me as a teacher to hear students analyze what they read with the Christian worldview with which they have grown up. Our conclusion is that God's perfect plan is indeed, perfect. While freedom of choice makes for an imperfect world, a world void of choice - or feelings (good and bad) makes for a hopeless one.

I personally found the book to be very thought-provoking and one that I know I will want to re-read (possibly multiple times). While the somewhat simple/straight-forward writing style is geared toward the YA market, I think the subject matter is quite mature. Lois Lowry wrote the book in 1993, and if memory serves me correctly, the media was focused on Dr. Kevorkian (mercy killing), David Koresh (secluded societies who abide by their own laws) and animal cloning. Middle school students in the 1990s were exposed to such issues and I think this fictional story provided an outlet for them to voice their own concerns and opinions on these controversial topics in a non-confrontational way.

While I think these topics are not foreign to our 21st century middle schoolers, I would caution parents to consider reading this book along with your student so that you can help your child understand and interpret some of the more disturbing scenes. I am sure it will provide some wonderful opportunities for mature discussion and sharing of faith and/or value systems.

A Blessing - A Disappointment - and a Breakthrough!

Well, I am typing this post on my returned laptop. I received an email last night at 9:03 saying that my computer was ready for pick-up. Of course, they closed at 9:00pm, so I had to wait until after school today to pick it up. Apparently they could find nothing wrong. The computer started right up for them --- they ran all diagnostic tests ---nothing. Now don't get me wrong --- I am absolutely thrilled that the computer is fine and all files are in tact. BUT...I did not make up that blue screen and the dreaded words "No operating system found" --- so who knows what went wrong. I will be sure to back up all files tonight, just in case.

So, that is my blessing. A working laptop in time for the 24 hour read-a-thon (can I tell you how very excited I am for this event?!). I need to organize an excel spreadsheet to keep track of book stats (yes, I am nerdy like that) -- and I will be ready to go.

I managed to finish Inkspell this week --- and I am not kidding when I say "managed to finish." I was so disappointed in this 2nd book after thoroughly enjoying Inkheart. This book just didn't do it for me, and it took me forever to get through the last 150 pages. I have tried to analyze why this book does not resonate with me, and I think there are a couple of reasons. First of all, the language is not nearly as beautiful; and I have discovered that I truly love words. This book is action oriented -- and I am learning that I am more drawn to books that focus on character development. The first book did a lovely job of developing the main characters in such an eloquent way. I found that the 2nd book relied on the characterization from book one -- really didn't add much to that -- and instead focused on the action of the story -- which seems to go on --- and on --- and on. In my humble opinion the book could have been half the length and I would have enjoyed it more.

I think the 2nd reason why I enjoyed the first book is because the setting of the story took place here on earth: Mo read characters into our world. The 2nd book takes place within the book's setting -- complete with fairies and brownies and little glass men. I am trying to appreciate fantasy fiction -- I really am. But I think I enjoy a book with just a bit of fantastical elements, rather than a huge focus on that realm. Now perhaps as I read more fantasy and learn to appreciate it better, this book would not be such a struggle for me. But at this point in my reading career, I would rather pass. I do not plan to read the 3rd book in the trilogy, Inkdeath, for quite some time --- although I will probably re-read Inkheart several times.

So you have heard the blessing and the disappointment. What is the breakthrough? I have listened to my first audio book (the entire book) and absolutely positively LOVED the experience!! I have tried listenting to audiobooks in the past, but it has always been such a struggle. I am a very visual learner --and my previous attempts with audiobooks have proved fruitless and frustrating. I would have to concentrate so hard to follow the story, that I would be absolutely exhausted within 20 minutes (not a good state of mind when driving in rush hour traffic on the highway). About a month ago I was reading my blogroll and JoAnn was raving about an audiobook she had just finished. I am not exactly sure what she said, but a lightbulb went off and I thought "I have been listening to the wrong books!" I need to listen to books that are "meant" to be read aloud. The first genre that came to mind was Fairy Tales -- and then immediately after that I thought "perhaps this would be the perfect time to try Harry Potter!" (yes, I am probably one of the lone people on this planet who have not read the books nor watched the movies --- you know, it is that fantasy fiction genre again that I have always avoided before).

I borrowed the first book from the library and began listening. I was immediately taken with Jim Dale's voices -- his dramatic reading -- the distinct personalities he draws out of each character -- and I simply could not stop listening. I found myself creating errands to run just so I could listen to the book. At times I simply laughed out loud -- at other times I was amazed at the mature themes that JK Rowling develops through this simple "children's" story. I am totally taken in by this series - and the audio format in which to enjoy them.

I have already borrowed the 2nd audiobook from the library and have listened to the first disc. I am thrilled to have this option for the read-a-thon to give my ole eyes a break. I am thrilled to have discovered that I don't have a faulty screw loose in my processing, but rather, I just need a particular kind of audiobook. Seeing how I have 6 more books -- and thousands of pages - to listen to until I finish the Harry Potter series, I think I am set for a while.

So how about you? Do you enjoy audiobooks? If so, do you recommend a particularly good series that might be good for a "visual" learner like myself? I would love to hear your feedback.

Inkheart

I am always torn about when to write book reviews: Do I write them immediately after reading the book, while it is still fresh on my mind and my next read does not interfere and cause confusion (such is my middle-aged memory) OR do I allow myself the time to ponder my initial reactions to the book and let them meld into a more thoughtful response? As is my usual MOD - I will select option one because quite frankly, I do not trust my memory anymore.

Inkheart was a stretch outside my comfort zone. It is definitely in the realm of fantasy fiction (something my brain just can't seem to grasp yet)....but the idea of bringing characters from books to life was just too appealing to this self-confessed bibliophile. I must say that I am VERY glad that did not allow my preconceived ideas about genre affect my decision. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I am looking forward to reading its sequel, Inkspell (this is actually a trilogy, which concludes with Inkdeath - but I am not sure when I will have the opportunity to read that one).

I posted my review of the first half of the book this week on TSS - so I won't be redundant here. The book grabbed my attention almost immediately - not because of the "fast paced" action (although that does come later), but because of the absolutely exquisite descriptions the author gives about reading books aloud (the main character is Mo - otherwise known as Silvertongue - and he is aptly named); about the physical beauty of books; and about the love, respect, and adoration these characters have toward their vast personal libraries.

I thought the author, Cornelia Funke, did a great job of developing many of the characters: most notably Mo and his daughter Meggie, her elderly great-aunt Elinor, and one of the misplaced characters from the book, Inkheart, Dustfinger. While Mo has experienced quite a bit of sorrow in his recent life (when he "read" certain characters to life, his wife was read into the book --- and unable to return to Mo or Meggie), he has a sweet, kind, gentle spirit that is evident toward everyone with whom he comes in contact. He is a great protector and friend towards his daughter, he is extremely patient and kind toward the cantankerous Elinor, and he is quite tolerant of the books' antagonists -- choosing to put himself in their shoes before judging them. I LOVE Mo! I love his work ethic; I love the passion he has for his work - and for books; I love his voice and magic ability to bring characters to life - literally.

Meggie is a spirited young thing - and we soon learn that she possesses the same magic skill of reading characters to life as her father. Her first successful attempt brings Tinkerbell from Peter Pan into our world - and the author's skillful writing, along with my wisp of imagination, made this seem believable; in fact - as I read this portion of the novel I kept thinking, "If I possessed this magic power - which character would I want to bring to life first? How would I want to interact with them? How would I expect them to react to our foreign world?" I think this is why I liked the book so much --- it helped me to find my creative side -- to ask "what if" and really consider the possibility.

While Dustfinger is definitely one of the "bad guys" and can rarely be trusted, the author has a way of evoking much sympathy for him. Dustfinger just wants to return home. He doesn't know how his story ends (do any of us know how our story will end?!) -- but he wants the comfort of the known - rather than living in a world of the unfamiliar. While he is not the most trustworthy character - and he definitely looks out for number one quite often - Dustfinger also shows compassion towards others. The ending of the book indicates that Dustfinger will definitely be a featured character in Inkspell.

My only real complaint of the book is that I did not think the other "bad guys" - Capricorn, Basta, Flatnose, etc., were as scary as I was told they should be. Now don't get me wrong, I actually enjoyed the fact that this book was not filled with graphic details of blood, guts and physical abuse -- but somehow there was something missing and it failed to capture my imagination that these were truly evil characters. Of course, this PG rated book makes it perfect for the YA fantasy genre in which it is categorized, but quite honestly, I found the book perfectly suitable for this adult audience as well. It is a long by anyone's standards - especially young adults (approximately 550 pages) - but quite captivating. I would imagine that this would be a GREAT audio book - if the narrator reads this story as eloquently as Mo. I would think listening to the various voices of each of the main characters would add further depth and enjoyment to this great tale.

TSS - 4.5.09

This has been a slower reading week for me than the past few weeks in March. School is in high gear preparing for the end-of-the-year assessments. This means more grading for me, and less personal reading time. Oh well....I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel - and that light is only 5 weeks away and it will come in the form of summer vacation!!

I did start a new book for me --- new book and brand new genre. I began reading Inkheart by Cornelia Funke and I am very happy to say that I really LIKE this book so far. As many of you know who regularly read my blog - fantasy literature is not a genre to which I can easily relate. I am a black/white - square shaped realist --- and oftentimes the plot and characters in fantasy fiction totally derail my rational side. This has not been the case with this book, however. I am totally intrigued with the idea of bringing literary characters to life, and while I have only read about one-third of the book (I am on page 187 out of 563), the author has truly created a credible venue for this surreal experience to occur.

I think one of the main reasons this book has held my interest (verses others in this genre) is that the author has a way of describing a love of books in words that truly captivates my attention. The 12 year old protagonist, Meggie, has always been surrounded by books because her father, Mo, is a bookbinder and restores old, dilapidated books to pristine condition. Their entire house (as small as it is) is crammed full of books, and yet it still sounds so inviting:

Stacks of books were piled high all over the house --- not just arragned in neat rows on bookshelves, the way other people kept them, oh no! The books in Mo and Meggie's house were stacked under tables, on chairs, in the corners of rooms. There were books in the kitchen and books in the lavatory. Books on the TV set and in the closet, small piles of books, tall piles of books, books thick and thin, books old and new. They welcomed Meggie down to breakfast with invitingly opened pages, they kept boredom at bay when thte weather was bad. And sometimes you fell over them. (page 4)

Early in the story, Meggie and her father must escape some bad guys, and in doing so they go to the house of Elinor, who is an even greater collector of books than Mo. She has a huge mansion, in which every single room (and she lives there by herself) is crammed full of books. It is a bibliophile's dream home!!

There were no haphazard piles lying around as they did at home. Every book obviously had its place. But where other people have wallpaper, pictures, or just an empty wall, Elinor had bookshelves. The shelves were white and went right up to the ceiling in the entrance hall through which she had first led them, but in the next room and the corridor beyond it the shelves were as black as the tiles on the floor......She was just staring at the books. The shelves on which they stood smelled of frshly sawn wood. They went all the way up to a sky-blue ceiling with tiny lights in it, hanging there like stars. Narrow wooden stepladders on casters stood by the shelves, ready to help any reader up to the top shelves. There were reading desks with books lying open on them, held in place by brass chains that shone like gold. There were glass display cases containing books with pages stainged by age but showing the most wonderful pictures.
(pages 37-39)

The fantasy aspect of the novel surrounds Mo's ability to bring books to life when he reads them aloud. It began when Meggie was young and his reading aloud mysteriously produced only inanimate objects. However, when Meggie was 3 years old, Mo read aloud from the book Inkheart to his daugther and wife. This time, however, actual characters from the story came to life - and Meggie's mother disappeared into the story. Mo desperately tried to read the characters back into the story - or read his wife back out - but to no avail. It was at that time that Mo decided he would never read aloud again, and Meggie began reading books on her own.

The "bad guys" chasing Mo and Meggie are the antagonists from the novel and their ring leader is Capricorn. They want to use Mo's amazing powers to bring the money, gold, and treasures from other works of fiction into their greedy possession. They capture Mo - whom they refer to as Silvertongue - and have him begin reading Treasure Island. The words and phrases that Funke uses to describe Mo's reading inflections are masterful:

To think of the magic that he could have worked in her room with his voice, a voice that gave a different flavor to every word, made every sentence a melody! (page 175)

"I have read that book many times," said a voice that shook, "but I never saw it all as vividly as I did today. And I didn't just see it....I smelled it, the salt and the tar and the musty odor of the accursed island...."(page 177)

I will probably not finish this book for a while. I still have to teach (and therefore review) the Hobbit, Midsummer Night's Dream, Cyrano de Bergerac and several adventures of Sherlock Holmes. I do think it is a book that I can easily pick up after a respite of a few days, and I look forward to the many adventures ahead of me.

So how about you? What books do you plan to read in the month of April?

TSS – 3.29.09

I was a reading fool this week – or at least for me. I managed to complete (all in various starting stages) 5 books this week. I would like to think of it as my training period for the 24 hour Read-a-thon on April 18-19. In reality, it is because we just started back to school and I had managed to complete all lesson plans over Spring break. I am sure my free time will decrease as we get closer to the end of the school year, with final projects, tests and activities.

Anyway, the 5 books that I managed to complete include:

• Jane Austen Ruined my Life by Beth Patillo (review to come)
  
• The Help by Kathryn Stockett (review here)
• The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop by Lewis Buzbee (review here)
  
• Coraline by Neil Gaiman (see below)
• The Love We Share Without Knowing by Christopher Barzak (actually completed at the end of last week, but will count it anyway --- review to come)
  

The last two books were definite stretches for me. I do not read much YA literature, except for what I teach in my 7th grade class, and being at a small private school, my choices are quite limited as to which books I can/should teach. Coraline will probably not be one of those selected books, but I am glad that I read it. I am ashamed to say that I had not heard of Neil Gaiman until he was nominated, and then won, the prestigious Newberry Award in 2009 for The Graveyard Book. I have had that on hold at the library for the past 6 weeks, and am hopeful it will be available for the Read-a-thon. I thought Coraline might be a good book to start, as it has just been released into a movie and there might be some students who would be discussing the movie version at school (so far I have not heard it mentioned, but then again, Twilight was just released in DVD form and that is now all the rage among the junior high girls). I liked the book – didn't love it, but that has more to do with the fact that the genre isn't my favorite rather than a criticism of the author's writing style.

Now I might be the only one to see the comparison here, but I felt as though Coraline was a darker version of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis. Coraline, the young protagonist in the story, has just recently moved into a new house, but her parents are too busy with their own careers to pay much attention to her (somewhat reminiscent of the professor in LWW). They allow her to go off on her own and she chooses to spend most of her time exploring (which is exactly what Peter, Edmund, Susan, and Lucy enjoyed doing most). One day Coraline's father suggests that she count the number of windows and doors in the house – which Coraline promptly does. She discovers that there are 14 doors, but the door in the living room (which is rarely used but is stuffed with her grandmother's old furniture) is locked. She convinces her mother to unlock the door, only to discover that there is only a brick wall behind it (similar to the wardrobe being only a closet of coats when Lucy tries to show her siblings the passage way to Narnia).

A few days later, when Coraline is once again alone in the house and bored with seemingly nothing else to do, she sneaks the key off the top shelf in the kitchen and unlocks the living room door. This time, however, instead of finding a brick wall, Coraline discovers a dark passageway (again, just like Lucy walking through the dark wardrobe to eventually discover the winter land of Narnia). At the end of the passage is another townhouse almost exactly like her own. In fact, the people that she meets in this house tell her that they are "her other mother and her other father." Initially Coraline is treated well in this other house – given good food to eat and lots of toys to play with (again, very similar to Edmund originally treated well by the white witch), but as you can guess, all this changes abruptly and Coraline is held here beyond her wishes.

This other house definitely contains supernatural elements, just as one might expect to find in "another" world, but the primary difference between this book and LWW is there is not an Aslan figure. There is a cat who pops in and out of the story at key times and places, but the redemptive element of a savior's sacrifice is missing from this story. Coraline is a formidable heroine, however, and after defeating the "other mother" in her scheme, Coraline is able to return to her "real" home just in time to begin a new school year. I did appreciate Gaiman's writing style and his ability to create a believable young heroine with whom I am sure the YA audience could relate. If I were to give the book a personal rating, I think I would it 3 out of 5 stars.

Sunday Salon - Book Thief and Firmin

I have done a lot of reading this weekend, or at least a lot for me. First of all I had to finish The Book Thief for my high school book club class on Monday. Then I looked at my library list and realized that Firmin was due back on Monday and I could not renew because of previous holds. So, I very quickly started Firmin last night and finished it this afternoon. While on the surface these two books may seem totally unrelated: a young girl in Nazi, Germany vs a literary rat in 1960 Boston --- both books excel in illustrating the power - and poetry - of words.

From the moment I started The Book Thief, I knew that I would want to re-read the book at least once, but probably numerous times. It took me a while to get into the book, mostly, I think, because I had envisioned "death's" point of view to be vastly different from what it was in the novel. I expected death to be evil - sinister - giddy in his accomplishments; but instead, I found this death to be observant, compassionate and questioning humanity. While the story is told from death's perspective, he does focus on a young girl, Liesel, for most of the narrative. He meets Liesel when her brother dies on the train, and he continually "runs into her" as he performs his duty in war-torn Germany.

While this book is quite deserving of a full-length review, I prefer to cut it short and leave the reader with this thought from the author: "I like the idea that every page in a book can have a gem on it." That is precisely what this book has. Each and every page has a minimum of one eloquent passage or beautiful word picture that causes the reader to pause and reflect. In fact, a major theme of the story is the power of words:

"...the Fuhrer decided that he would rule the world with words. 'I will never fire a gun,' he devised, 'I will not have to.'.....He planted (words) day and night, and cultivated them. He watched them grow, until eventually, great forests of words had risen throughout Germany. It was a nation of formed thoughts. While the words were growing, our young Fuhrer also planted seeds to create symbols, and these, too, were well on their way to full bloom. Now the time had come." - page 445

How I wish I could make my students understand this premise. Words are everything. Words can build others up - or tear them down. Words, when cultivated and arranged in just the perfect order, can cause miracles to happen. At the same time, words haphazardly strung together with no thought or effort can lead to devastation. I think there is no other pithy saying that is most inaccurate as: "sticks and stones will break my bones, but names (words) will never hurt me." Words hurt more than swords, and have a much longer lasting effect.

If you have not read The Book Thief, you must put this on your TBR list. While it is considered YA -- it is definitely worthy of an adult's attention.

While Firmin is not nearly as intense in theme or scope as The Book Thief, I must say it was a very pleasurable read and one filled with unsuspecting poetic prose and at times deep insight. The story is told in first person from a rat's point of view. Firmin is the 13th baby rat born in the basement of a Boston used bookstore. Firmin is the runt of the litter, and oftentimes misses out on mealtime at Mom's milk bar. In an effort to thwart his hunger, Firmin begins to eat the shredded paper that his mom has used for a nest. The paper happens to be from one of the used books - and an appetite for literature is born (quite literally). Firmin devours several different books - from a variety of genres - until he realizes the value of the words on the page when read. Firmin then becomes quite discriminating in his taste: he now will only eat the margins of the book in order to savor the written word.

Because of this early introduction to great literature, Firmin seems to relate all sensory perception through stories he has read. This provides great humor for the reader. For example, on his first taste of lettuce, Firmin compares it to Jane Eyre. Upon realizing that he will not be the apple of Ginger Rogers' eye, he takes it upon himself to change his name to Heathcliff. It was moments like these that the narration had me literally laughing out loud.

However, one of the most poignant moments of the story is delivered on the next-to-the-last-page: "Jerry used to say that if you didn't want to live your life over again, then you had wasted it." Quite the sobering thought for a city rat. I have always tried to live my life without regrets, but somehow this quote manages to concisely express those same thoughts in a more eloquent manner.

I would highly recommend this book as well. It is an easy read, but at the same time a very satisfying read. Who would have thought a literary rat would provide such entertainment?

Sunday Salon - 1.25.09

I realized this weekend that I now have 4 full weeks of school before our next little break (President's Day) and I must admit that I was a little depressed. It is not that I don't enjoy teaching - I LOVE it --but I do miss my free time and ability to read books of my own choosing. In the grand scheme of things, however, I consider myself VERY fortunate.

My student book club will be discussing Wuthering Heights tomorrow (the final Masterpiece Theater episode is this evening) and then we will begin reading the Book Thief -- a favorite book selection of one of my students. I have been trying to stay ahead of the game, so I began the Book Thief over Christmas break. I was truly looking forward to this read as I have heard nothing but grand reviews. The concept of Death being the narrator also had me totally intrigued. I am ashamed to say, however, that it has taken me quite a long time to "get into" the book. I probably re-read the prologue at least 3 times. I LOVE the author's writing style - his use of syntax is fascinating to me (so many fragments that eloquently move the reader forward) and his diction is superb (in fact, in the back of the book there is a mini-interview with the author, Markus Zusak - and he shares that "he likes the idea that every page in every book can have a gem on it." He certainly delivers!!).

However......I found that the first few chapters of the book left me totally perplexed most of the time. Now that I have completed nearly half the book, the confusion seems to be kept to a minimum and I now wonder if perhaps this bafflement was supposed to be intentional. The narrator is Death --- and Death, by its very nature is confusing. Why does Death choose to take one person over another? Also, prior to reading the book, I had a pre-disposition toward what I thought Death should sound like. Death should be evil and sinister; in other words, I thought of Death as being synonomous with Satan. This narrator is not. In fact, this narrator is very matter-of-fact and even shows compassion. This image of Death not living up to my expectations has also contributed to my comprehension difficulties. While I think I can understand the author's intent, I am not sure that I like it. When I am confused in my reading I feel stupid -- I feel like "I should be able to understand what is going on --- what is wrong with me?" Especially when the intended audience is Young Adult! However, I have pesevered through this feeling of inadquacy and I am beginning to appreciate the book. The storyline is becoming less cryptic; more intense; and I know that I will immediately desire to re-read the book in order to make sense of what I found confusing to begin with.

In the meantime, I want to share a quote from the book (although it is absolutely true - there is nearly a quote per page that is worthy of highlighting). I enjoyed the quote in context, but I also think it is a beautiful way to summarize my feelings of any library/bookstore. The "book thief" has just discovered the numerous book shelves in the hidden library of the mayor's wife. How I wish I could put my feelings into such eloquent word pictures:
"....and when she eventually stopped and stood in the middle of the room, she spent many minutes looking from the shelves to her fingers and back again ...... she did it again, this time much slower, with her hand facing forward, allowing the dough of her palm to feel the small hurdle of each book. It felt like magic, like beauty, as bright lines of light shone down from the chandelier. Several times, she almost pulled a title from its place but didn't dare disturb them. They were just too perfect." (page 135)

AH.....this is exactly how I feel each and every time I walk into a bookstore or a library. I am just in awe of the shelves and shelves of "perfect" books -- each one begging to share its knowledge and adventure and romance and ideals with me.