Graphic Novel: A Game for Swallows by Zeina Abirached

A Game for Swallows: To Die, To Leave, To Return by Zeina Abirached 

Bibliographic Information:

Abirached, Z. (2012). A Game for Swallows: To Die, To Leave, To Return. Minneapolis: Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. Ages 11-16.

Response:

In A Game for Swallows, the book is about a war in Lebanon and a particular family stuck living it in. Zeina, her younger brother, and her parents are only family that have unfortunately found themselves living in discomfort. They can’t walk to the store, around the neighborhood, and their parents had to create a choreographed path over two blocks to see the kid’s grandparents.

To be completely honest, I was not really able to get into this book. I found myself constantly losing focus and had reread parts over and over. It was hard to process anything going on because I just was not into it. On top of that, the book was kind of hard to follow along. On one particular page, there was a conversation going on where I had to first figure out the order of it for me to read it. When reading a book, I like structure and organization. I guess I just didn’t like the way this one was put together. For me, it’s hard to really pay attention to a book when you can’t find any connection to it. I could not really connect to the characters or the story being told. This may have been because one of two things. It was either because a graphic novel is not what I would pick up to read, and the story is about a war.

Critique:

This story is told through the eyes of a young girl named Zeina. It takes place in the middle of war in Lebanon, specifically in the family’s foyer of their home, where they say it’s the only safe place left. The plot of the story is the family, along with other families from the neighborhood just trying to stay safe both before and after they find themselves caught in finding a place to do so. It is written in the form of a graphic novel with all black and white pictures. It particularly reminded me of reading a comic book. I think the theme of the story was family and friendship. This small community comes together during the war because they are all each other have.

Lesson:

The lesson of this story is to just realize how important the relationships between your family and friends really are. Without people that love and care for you, you’re not going to really succeed and really feel safe.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you prefer a graphic novel over a regular novel or the other way around?
2. Do you know anyone who has experience war? Did they fight in a war or live in it?

Activity:

Students will draw their own scene in the book, along with a conversation between any two characters in the story.

Other Resources:

http://www.pinterest.com/adamsbookco/classroom-graphic-novels/

http://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=31642&a=1

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/game-swallows#cart/cleanup

YA Book: A Summer to Die by Lois Lowry

A Summer to Die by Lois Lowry 

Bibliographic Information:

Lowry, L. Ilust. by Oliver, J. (1977). A Summer to Die. New York: Random House Children’s Books Inc. Contemporary Realistic Fiction. 11-14 years old.

Response:

Young adult books have always been my favorite books to read. I have always found them to be the most enjoyable just because they are the most relatable. The book A Summer to Die was no different. I have not actually gone through something to this extent, but it still such a real and genuine story. Part of it was a little unexpected even though the title kind of gave away that something was going to happen. I think it was because I was waiting for something bad to happen to Meg because she was the main character. Even when Molly initially got sick, I thought it was just that she got sick and there was nothing to it.

I did however find Meg’s interaction with Will Banks to be a little off. I thought her first meeting with him could have been changed, because I just don’t think going into this stranger’s house is typical. I also hope young girls who read this book don’t see that as an okay thing to do. I also do think Will Bank’s character was essential in the story though. He played a big role in young Meg’s life.

I think Lois Lowry wrote a great but heartbreaking story. It was so heartfelt because I kind of just put myself in the story along with the character. It must be hard growing up where you feel your sister is just better at everything, and then seeing the person you always thought was so perfect become so weak. I really enjoyed myself as I read this book to this point where I kind of wanted more to it. I wish it was extended a little, because I would definitely read more by this author.

Critique:

The story of A Summer to Die takes place mainly in the country where Meg and her family move to at the beginning of the story. This little part of the country is a field that contains of 3 houses, owned by Will Banks who becomes a good friend of Meg who also tells the story from her point of view. I thought the plot of the story was just going to be Meg dealing with those awkward preteen years but then it becomes a lot more serious when her sister gets diagnosed with leukemia. I thought the theme might be just that no one has it easy, not everyone’s life is perfect.

Lesson:

The lesson that can be taught here is that you never really know what someone could be going through. Someone’s life may look perfect, but not everyone has it easy with no problems to deal with.

Discussion Questions:

1. Based off the title, what do you think is going to happen in the story? What do you think is the cause?
2. What significance do you think Will Banks has in the story? What does he bring and why is he important?

Activity:

Students will write about a person who they believe plays a strong role in their life. They will include what makes them strong, a point where they went through a rough time, and how they overcame that point in their life.

Other Resources:

http://www.bookrags.com/lessonplan/a-summer-to-die/#gsc.tab=0

http://www.lesn.appstate.edu/fryeem/beth%20ama.%20Paula/FINAL/dd1.htm

http://www.carolhurst.com/authors/llowry.html

Challenged Book: Junie B. Jones

Junie B. Jones and that Meanie Jim’s Birthday by Barbara Park

Bibliographic Information:

Park, B. Illus. by Brunkus, D. (1996). Junie B. Jones and that Meanie Jim’s Birthday. New York: Random House Inc. Realistic Fiction. 6-10 years old.

Response:

I remember reading Junie B. Jones books as a kid and I absolutely loved them. There is so much humor and fun that goes along with each story. Even now as an adult, I caught myself laughing at some of things and phrases little Junie B. would say. These books use to be one of my favorite series to read as I read quite a few of them, but the book I chose to read this week was Junie B. Jones and that Meanie Jim’s Birthday. It one of the books with a story that I couldn’t exactly remember.

In this story, the little troublemaker that everyone falls in love with, finds herself in trouble once again. “That meanie Jim” was picking on her like always and decided to not invite her to his birthday party. She was going to be the only one in room nine that wasn’t going to be at Jim’s farm party on Saturday. Junie B. decides to do everything in her power to get that invitation. She asks her grandma for help, her mother, her father, and even tries to steal an invitation from Crybaby William. Junie B. then finds herself in the principal’s office as usual, but this time it was only her in trouble. The principal decides to pull in Meanie Jim into the office as well to settle the problem once and for all.

As I read the story, I sort of realized that every Junie B. Jones book might be the same. Junie B. jones always finds herself in big trouble, and her problems always gets solved. Even though I loved the books as a kid, I’m kind of on the fence with allowing my kids read them. I don’t really want them picking up on the terrible grammar as the entire book is told through Junie B.’s voice. I also don’t really want them thinking that you can be kind of a brat and at the end of the day it’s okay. I do still think however, that it is a fun read.

Critique:

The story of Junie B. Jones and that Meanie Jim’s Birthday is told by Junie B. herself making it a narrative. It takes place in mainly at school, but is also taken to her home and the school place. Like every Junie B. Jones book the plot of the story is her getting herself into trouble. This time she finds herself dealing with Meanie Jim and him not inviting her to his birthday party. She does everything in power to get an invitation and when she finally does, she doesn’t even go. I felt the theme of the story might be that you’re not going to always get what you want, and you just have to deal with it or find a way to solve it.

Lesson:

Going along with the theme, I think a general lesson that can be taught is that life isn’t always going to cater to you. Life is definitely not going to always give you what you want, but there are ways to make the best of the situation.

Discussion Questions:

1. Find a sentence in the story that is not proper. How can you fix it? What is the proper sentence?
2. How do you think Junie B. Jones should have handled the situation with Meanie Jim?

Activity:

Students will find 5 sentences in the book that were not properly written. They will write all sentences correctly and fix all errors.

Other Resources:

http://juniebjones.com/activities?page=2

http://www.lessonplanet.com/search?keywords=junie+b+jones

http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/junie-jones-introduces-literacy-402.html?tab=4