Bibliography
Marchetta, Melina. 2006. JELLICOE ROAD. New York: Harper Teen. ISBN 9780061431845.
Plot Summary
“My name is Taylor Markham. I live on the Jellicoe Road.” Seventeen year old Taylor Markham is a student at the Jellicoe school, and has been struggling with her family identity since her mother dropped her at a seven eleven when she was eleven. Hannah has been Taylor’s caregiver all these years, but has never let her as close as she’d like, or revealed information about their connection. Taylor struggles through the “Territory Wars” with the area Cadets in for a few months, and the local Townies, and throughout the process forms the first real friendships of her life, and uncovers the mystery of her family and the mysterious Brigadier that is always swooping in to save her.
Critical Analysis
Marchetta pulls the reader into Taylors struggles and accomplishments as she faces her demons and uncovers the truth about her family, and her mother’s issues. The writing style is fluid and adds to the setting, as Australian lingo and terminology is utilized throughout the text. The Jellicoe road is settled in the Australian bush country, and this setting serves as an important facet of the plot line, as the characters make their way through the outlands during the territory wars. The style once understood, is of much importance in the story line. Excerpts from Hannah’s Manuscript also serve as flashbacks to the time when it all began. Taylor transforms from a harsh, complicated young girl, into a caring, unjaded young woman in this complex, mature young adult novel.
Review Excerpt
Booklist- “nearly every relationship in Taylor’s life has unexpected ties to her past, and the continual series of revelations is both the book’s strength and weakness; the melodrama can be trying, but when Marchetta isn’t forcing epiphanies, she has a knack for nuanced characterizations and punchy dialogue. The complexity of the back story will be off-putting to younger readers, but those who stick it out will find rewards in the heartbreaking twists of Marchetta’s saga.”
Connections
*Other books by Melina Marchetta
SAVING FRANCESCA. ISBN 0375829830.
LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI. ISBN 0375836942.
*Have students explore the Australian bush country on the map to better understand the surroundings of the Jellicoe school.
* Student’s could create their own “Little Purple Book” of rules for the territory wars, and illustrate maps of the Jellicoe school and the surrounding areas.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Rapunzel's Revenge
Bibliography
Hale, Shannon. 2008. RAPUNZEL’S REVENGE. Ill. by Nathan Hale. New York: Bloomsbury. ISBN 15999070X.
Plot Summary
Rapunzel’s goal is to free her birth mother and to avenge the wrong-doings she has experienced at the hands of “Mother Gothel” the woman who stole her from her true family, and locked her in a tree for years. Rapunzel makes good use of her extra long hair, utilizing it as a lasso, a whip, an a rope among other things. With the help of her new found friend Jack (of Jack and the beanstalk fame) she is able to free her mother, escape the wicked Gothel, and find love in this Wild West version of a classic tale with a big twist.
Critical Analysis
This Graphic novel ties in traditional folktales with fantasy in a way that is fun, easy to follow, and even easier to look at. The illustrations in this book are fantastic and add an abundance of substance to the written text. The setting is well established both through text and illustrations, and the reader is able to identify the time period, and main personality traits of the characters easily, and to empathize with Rapulzel’s plight. The comic book style of this book is fun and when accompanied with the witty and engaging text, it creates a terrific read.
Review Excerpt
School Library Journal- “This is the tale as you've never seen it before. …While the witch's castle is straight out of a fairy tale, the nearby mining camps and rugged surrounding countryside are a throwback to the Wild West and make sense in the world that the authors and illustrator have crafted. The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive”
Connections
*Official website of Shannon Hale www.squeetus.com
* Have students adapt other common tales into their own Graphic Novel, utilizing classroom references, Manilla paper, colored pencils and Markers.
Hale, Shannon. 2008. RAPUNZEL’S REVENGE. Ill. by Nathan Hale. New York: Bloomsbury. ISBN 15999070X.
Plot Summary
Rapunzel’s goal is to free her birth mother and to avenge the wrong-doings she has experienced at the hands of “Mother Gothel” the woman who stole her from her true family, and locked her in a tree for years. Rapunzel makes good use of her extra long hair, utilizing it as a lasso, a whip, an a rope among other things. With the help of her new found friend Jack (of Jack and the beanstalk fame) she is able to free her mother, escape the wicked Gothel, and find love in this Wild West version of a classic tale with a big twist.
Critical Analysis
This Graphic novel ties in traditional folktales with fantasy in a way that is fun, easy to follow, and even easier to look at. The illustrations in this book are fantastic and add an abundance of substance to the written text. The setting is well established both through text and illustrations, and the reader is able to identify the time period, and main personality traits of the characters easily, and to empathize with Rapulzel’s plight. The comic book style of this book is fun and when accompanied with the witty and engaging text, it creates a terrific read.
Review Excerpt
School Library Journal- “This is the tale as you've never seen it before. …While the witch's castle is straight out of a fairy tale, the nearby mining camps and rugged surrounding countryside are a throwback to the Wild West and make sense in the world that the authors and illustrator have crafted. The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive”
Connections
*Official website of Shannon Hale www.squeetus.com
* Have students adapt other common tales into their own Graphic Novel, utilizing classroom references, Manilla paper, colored pencils and Markers.
Princess Academy
Bibliography
\
Hale, Shannon. 2005. PRINCESS ACADEMY. New York: Bloomsbury. ISBN 1582349932.
Plot Summary
Miri, a young girl from the territory of Mount Eskel in Danland has always felt left out and like a burden on her community. Unable to work in the linder quarries with the rest of the village, she spends her days tending to goats, and admiring the mountain flower she was named for, until everything changes. All girls between fourteen and eighteen from Mount Eskel are sent to the Princess Academy, and one will be chosen as the next princess of Danland. Miri is determined to learn as much as she can, and make her family and village proud, even if it means leaving the mountain she loves so much. Miri proves herself to be the brightest girl in the group, as she learns more about the world around her, and herself. Many obstacles are overcome, and bonds are built, but in the end, Miri’s heart realizes she is not meant to be the next Princess of Danland, but rather to improve the mountain community she loves so much.
Critical Analysis
This work of low fantasy is engaging and consistent. The reader can easily empathize with Miri, and root for her as she stands up to the unfair tutor, or worse, the threatening band of bandits that invade the academy. The supernatural “quarry speech” used by villagers is presented in a believable way, and plays a strong role in Miri’s development as a character. The setting of Mount Eskel is well described, and it is easy to visualize the gleaming linder stone and miri flowers as Miri explores the mountain. The theme that even the little people can accomplish big things is prominent throughout this story accompanied by the importance of following your heart.
Review Excerpt
2006 Newberry Honor Book
Kirkus Reviews – “There are many pleasures to this satisfying tale: a precise lyricism to the language and a rhythm to the story that takes its tropes from many places, but its heart from ours...[A]n unalloyed joy."
Connections
*This book is geared towards young female readers.
*Access Shannon Hale’s group reading guide at http://www.squeetus.com/stage/academy.pdf
*Other books by Shannon Hale
ENNA BURNING. ISBN 1582349061.
THE GOOSE GIRL. ISBN 1582349908.
RIVER SECRETS. ISBN 1599902931.
\
Hale, Shannon. 2005. PRINCESS ACADEMY. New York: Bloomsbury. ISBN 1582349932.
Plot Summary
Miri, a young girl from the territory of Mount Eskel in Danland has always felt left out and like a burden on her community. Unable to work in the linder quarries with the rest of the village, she spends her days tending to goats, and admiring the mountain flower she was named for, until everything changes. All girls between fourteen and eighteen from Mount Eskel are sent to the Princess Academy, and one will be chosen as the next princess of Danland. Miri is determined to learn as much as she can, and make her family and village proud, even if it means leaving the mountain she loves so much. Miri proves herself to be the brightest girl in the group, as she learns more about the world around her, and herself. Many obstacles are overcome, and bonds are built, but in the end, Miri’s heart realizes she is not meant to be the next Princess of Danland, but rather to improve the mountain community she loves so much.
Critical Analysis
This work of low fantasy is engaging and consistent. The reader can easily empathize with Miri, and root for her as she stands up to the unfair tutor, or worse, the threatening band of bandits that invade the academy. The supernatural “quarry speech” used by villagers is presented in a believable way, and plays a strong role in Miri’s development as a character. The setting of Mount Eskel is well described, and it is easy to visualize the gleaming linder stone and miri flowers as Miri explores the mountain. The theme that even the little people can accomplish big things is prominent throughout this story accompanied by the importance of following your heart.
Review Excerpt
2006 Newberry Honor Book
Kirkus Reviews – “There are many pleasures to this satisfying tale: a precise lyricism to the language and a rhythm to the story that takes its tropes from many places, but its heart from ours...[A]n unalloyed joy."
Connections
*This book is geared towards young female readers.
*Access Shannon Hale’s group reading guide at http://www.squeetus.com/stage/academy.pdf
*Other books by Shannon Hale
ENNA BURNING. ISBN 1582349061.
THE GOOSE GIRL. ISBN 1582349908.
RIVER SECRETS. ISBN 1599902931.
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