Genre 6 (Fiction, Fantasy &YA) Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit.

Lunch Lady and the Bake

Sale Bandit

By: Jarrett K. Krosoczka

BIBLIOGRAPHY   

Krosoczka, Jarrett J. 2010. LUNCH LADY AND THE BAKE SALE BANDIT. New York, N.Y. Random House: ISBN: 978-0-375-86729-3

SUMMARY

The Breakfast Bunch has a huge problem! Someone has stolen all of the baked goods for their bake sale so they can raise money for a field trip to the museum. Don’t worry. The Bunch is on a mission to catch the thief who is sabotaging their sale.

CRITICAL REVIEW

What a fun book for everyone!

Jarrett Krosoczka has pieced together a laugh-out-loud funny comic book-like, graphic novel adventure that is easy for his readers to read and follow along with while the Breakfast Bunch catches the bake sale bandit “one crumb at a time.”  Krosoczka’s graphic novel’s humorous situations and exaggerated characters such as “Buszilla,” a bus that eats people, and the “Lunch Cycle,” a  scooter that squirts macaroni and cheese out of the tail pipe, are features of this low fantasy novel that make it that much more interesting and adventurous for young readers. The fun doesn’t stop with the bake sale bandit; Krosoczka has an entire fantasy series of Lunch Lady graphic novels for his readers to enjoy.   

Krosoczka has developed believable and realistic characters that have personalities and features with which many of his young readers will identify. Dee, Hector, and Terrence are middle school students who are curious and ready to solve a mystery at anytime. Along with these three characters there is a know-it-all fellow student named Orson, who is also Hall Monitor, a crusading health teacher named Mrs. Calahan, a crazy bus driver named Brenda, and a crabby custodian named Kalowski. Krosoczka’s Lunch Lady character has an amusing and clever way of referring to food in her conversations, which is an added bonus of humor for his readers. “It’s as dark as the inside of a chocolate doughnut in here! DWOOOSH! The lights are back on. Lunch Lady look! Jumping jelly! The bake sale goodies are gone!” All of Krosoczka’s characters contribute to keeping the story interesting and engaging for the reader. Krosoczka’a characters are consistent throughout the novel, which contributes to the realistic feel of the mystery behind the bake sale goodies going missing.   

Krosoczka has firmly grounded his story in reality at the beginning with Dee, Hector, and Terrence getting on the school bus in the rain, and then gradually moved into fantasy as the lights came back on in the school and the bake sale items were gone. Krosoczka’s fun and entertaining plot provides his readers with a mystery to solve, obstacles to overcome and big scary school bus monsters to defeat. At times graphic novels can be hard to follow, not knowing which bubble to read first, but Krosoczka's story is organized and planned appropriately for his readers. Krosoczka has brilliantly set his stories in a school house. This is a building in which almost every young reader is comfortable. The story uses loud and bold words such as “YEE-HAW”, “WWWWAAAAAAHHHHHHH”, “BBBRRRRRIIIIINNNGGGGG”, “DWOOOOSH”, and  “WWHHOOOSSSHHH” that jump right of the page allowing readers to see, hear and feel the setting as they follow along with the Breakfast Bunch and their corky lunch lady.

Krosoczka has pinpointed the language of his audience. The language used throughout the text is current and makes one feel as if he is listening to conversations between young children. Krosoczka uses phrases such as “What’s up now?!”, “Are you serious?, Out of my way, Orson.” She’s nuts! I’ll say!”, “But we were trying to…” and “My mom is going to kill me.” Krosoczka has created characters that have their own distinct personalities that can be identified through his writing style. Dee is outgoing and demanding, Orson is noisy and carries a chip on his shoulder, Lunch Lady is courageous and caring, Kalowski is frustrated and mad, Mrs. Calahan is passionate and grumpy, and Hector is reserved and a rule follower. 

Krosoczka’s yellow, black, and white cartoon scenes are consistent with the pace of the story. The images are energetic and lively adding to the excitement and mystery of the story. The bright yellow illustrations create an energetic feel for the graphic novel that his readers will appreciate.     

Lunch Lady Series is a great starting point for young readers who are new to fantasy. Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit is also a fun reader for avid fantasy readers as well.  I would recommend this graphic novel to all readers of any age. The action packed novel doesn’t end there for his readers.  Krosoczka ends his story with the notion that there will be another mystery to solve on their field trip to the museum. The Lunch Lady series should definitely be a part of every reader’s fantasy collection.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Kirkus Review – “A delightfully fun escapist read. Be sure to recommend this to fans of Captain Underpants.”

School Library Journal – “With its appealing mix of action and humor, this clever, entertaining addition to the series should have wide appeal.”

 Booklist – “This tongue-in-check superheroine graphic novel will hit the spot for chapter-book review.” 

WHAT THE KIDS ARE SAYING

“It’s an action-packed book of yellowy wonder.”  - Gracie

“This book was so awesome. I sucked it in. I CONSUMED it.”  - Jack

“Very, very, very, very good.” - Christine

CONNECTIONS

 Related Text

Lunch Lady and the Field Trip Fiasco – Jarrett J. Krosoczka - ISBN-13: 978-0375867309

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute - Jarrett J. Krosoczka - ISBN-13: 978-0375846830

Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians - Jarrett J. Krosoczka - ISBN-13: 978-0375846847

Webpage

Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s personal webpage:

Link: http://www.studiojjk.com/  

Blog

Jarrett J. Krosoczka personal blog spot:

Link: http://thejjkblog.blogspot.com/

Activity 1

Creative Writing and Art

Have readers create their own comic book strips. 

Activity 2

The following activities can be found at:

Link: http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/activities/activities-using-comic-strips 

Tell the story

Cut up the pictures and get students to reorder the story. Make this more difficult and challenging linguistically by giving separate frames to each student in a group and ask them to not show the pictures until they have arrived at an order through describing the pictures.

Remove the last picture of a cartoon and ask students to think of an ending. Artistic students may like to draw the last frame. Vote for the best ending.

Remove the sentences under each frame and either ask lower levels to match them to each frame or ask them to write the sentences that tell the story. Lower levels might need vocabulary prompts on the board.

Genre 6 (Fiction, Fantasy &YA) Speak

SPEAK

By: Laurie Halse Anderson

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anderson, Laurie H. 1999. SPEAK. New York, N.Y. Penguin Group. ISBN: 0-14-240732-1

SUMMARY

Melinda Sordino’s desperate cry for help after an abusive situation at an end-of-summer party leaves her feeling scared and even more alone than ever. Melisa’s old friends refuse to talk to her, and people she hasn’t met dislike her from a distance. 

CRITICAL REVIEW

Author, Laurie Halse Anderson, has created a contemporary fictional novel that touches on disturbing, yet familiar, topics for many young adult readers; such as sexual assault/abuse, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, peer pressure, social status and eating disorders. Rachel got us to the end-of-summer party, a cheerleader party, with beer and seniors and music. She blackmailed her brother Jimmy, to drive us. We were all sleeping over at Rachel's house. Her mother thought Jimmy was taking us roller-skating. It was at a farm a couple of miles from our development. The kegs were in the barn where the speakers were set up. Most people hung at the edge of the light. They looked like models in blue-jeans ads, thin-thin-thin, big lips, big earrings, white smiles. I felt like such a kid.  Anderson’s novel reaches out and slaps the faces of her readers giving them a much needed wake-up call. Her novel makes her readers think about the deeper underlying issues and turmoil that others around them could be facing on an everyday basis. Anderson helps her readers realize that just because someone doesn’t speak, it doesn’t mean they don’t have something important to say. They just might need someone that will listen.

Not only does Anderson’s novel encourage her readers to pay more attention to others around them, but it also encourages them to “speak” up. You never know who is willing to listen. A great example of someone in Melinda Sordino’s life that is willing to listen is her art teacher, Mr. Freeman. Anderson does an excellent job building a trusting relationship between Melinda and her Mr. Freeman. Through descriptive detail Anderson creates the perfect image of a teacher who is in-tune with his students and cares about their well being. Mr. Freeman is the only teacher of Melinda’s who pushes her to express her emotions through her artwork and provides her with positive and effective feedback.

“I look at my homely sketch. It doesn’t need anything. Even through the river in my eyes I can see that. It isn’t perfect and that makes it just right. The last bell rings. Mr. Freeman comes to my table".

"Mr. Freeman: “Time’s up, Melinda. Are you ready?”

"I hand over the picture. He takes it in his hands and studies it. I sniff again and wipe my eyes on my arm. The bruises are vivid, but they will fade."

"Mr. Freeman: “No crying in my studio. It ruins the supplies. Salt, you know, saline. Etches like acid.” He sits on the stool next to me and hands back my tree. “You get an A+. You worked hard at this.” He hands me the box of tissues. “You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”

"The tears dissolve the last block of ice in my throat. I feel the frozen stillness melt down through the inside of me, dripping shards of ice that vanish in a puddle of sunlight on the stained floor. Words float up."

"Me: “Let me tell you about it.”

Many of Anderson’s readers may not have thought about talking to a teacher about their issues until after reading her novel. Anderson has provided her readers with another option other than their parents or friends who, in many cases, are willing to listen and provide guidance through a tough situation.

Another excellent example in the novel of why it is important to "speak" out is because breaking your silence may free others.

"Someone touches my arm gently."Melinda?" It's Ivy. " Can you take the late bus? I want to show you something." We walk together. She leads me to the bathroom, the one where she washed my shirt, which, by the way, still has traces of her marker, even after the bleach. She pointed to the stall, "Take a look.

GUYS TO STAY AWAY FROM

Andy Evens
He's a creep.
He's a bastard.
Stay away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He should be locked up.
He thinks he's all that.
Call the cops.....

There's more. Different pens, different handwriting, conversations between some writers, arrows to longer paragraphs. It's better than taking out a billboard.

I feel like I can fly.    

The novel's characters are believable, realistic and current. Melinda’s internal journey and emotional growth throughout the novel are characteristic of the struggles that many young adult readers identify with on an everyday basis, the loss of friends, the fear of being alone, and the pressures of fitting in.

It is my first morning of high school. I have seven new notebooks, a skirt I hate, and a stomachache.

The school bus wheezes to my corner. The door opens and I step up. I am the first pickup of the day. The driver pulls away from the curb while I stand in the aisle. Where to sit? I’ve never been a backseat wastecase. If I sit in the middle, a stranger could sit next to me. If I sit in the front, it will make me look like a little kid, but I figure it’s the best chance I have to make eye contact with one of my friends, if any of them have decided to talk to me yet....

As they walk down the aisle, people who were my middle-school lab partners or gym buddies glare at me. I close my eyes. This is what I’ve been dreading. As we leave the last stop, I am the only person sitting alone....

Older students are allowed to roam until the bell, but ninth-graders are herded into the auditorium. We fall into clans: Jocks, Country Clubbers, Idiot Savants, Cheerleaders, Human Waste, Eurotrash, Future Fascists of America, Big Hair Chix, the Marthas, Suffering Artists, Thespians, Goths, Shredders. I am clanless...

I am Outcast.

Many of Anderson’s readers are able to identify with Melinda’s character feeling sympathetic toward her emotional distress and maybe even feeling that there is someone else in this world with the same problems they have. Melinda’s character also struggles with romantic and family relationships, which is characteristic of her young adult audience.

“Me: Do you lecture all your friends like this?”

"David: Only the ones I like.”

"We both chew on this for a minute. The bell rings. I keep looking in my locker for a book that I already know isn’t there. David checks his watch a hundred times. We hear Principal Principal bellow, “Let’s move it, people!”

"David: “Maybe I’ll call you.”

"Me: “Maybe I won’t answer.” Chew, chew. Blowbubblepop. “Maybe I will.”

"Is he asking me out? I don’t think so. But he kind of is. I guess I’ll answer if he calls. But if he touches me I’ll explode, so a date is out of the question. No touching.”

Anderson has taken into consideration the language and word choices of her targeted audience. Passages throughout her novel include slang words and phrases that are in some cases tactless but are words that many young adult readers would use to express emotion or frustration in everyday conversation. Even though inappropriate, this type of language is accepted by Anderson's audience because the language adds to the emotion and frustration that Melinda is feeling throughout the novel. " Mom obviously knows I didn't do squat, but she doesn't say anything in the car. We don't leave until way after dark because she has so much work to do. Sales have sucked-she didn't get anywhere near the goal she set."    

Symbolism flows wildly through Anderson's novel. Anderson's readers will quickly notice the similarities between Melinda's art assignment of presenting a tree in an artistic form and her emotional distress. Readers will observe the symbolism from the beginning of the book when her emotions are all distorted and fuzzy to the end of the novel when Melinda frees herself of her scary and disturbing secret of abuse.

"Mr. Freeman: You are getting better at this, but it's not good enough. This looks like a tree, but it is an average, ordinary, everyday, boring tree. Breathe life into it. Make it bend- trees are flexible, so they don't snap. Scar it, give it a twisted branch-perfect trees don't exist. Nothing is perfect. Flaws are interesting. Be the tree."

"My tree is definitely breathing; little shallow breaths like it just shot up through the ground this morning. This one is not perfectly symmetrical. The bark is rough. I try to make it look as if initials have been carved in it a long time ago. One of the lower branches is sick. If this tree really lives someplace, that branch better drop soon, so it doesn't kill the whole thing. Roots knob out of the ground and the crown reaches for the sun, tall and healthy. The new growth is the best part"  

The settings in this contemporary novel are recognizable and familiar to Anderson's readers making the novel believable and realistic. Anderson presents her readers with a novel that is appropriate for any time period or place because it doesn't focus on a specific time period. Anderson describes Melinda's school and home environments so that they are familiar to her readers, also contributing to the believability of the novel. Anderson's novel is being told from Melinda's point of view, which is appropriate for this novel. The tone of Anderson's novel is serious, mysterious, and invigorating at times.

If you are looking for a contemporary fiction classic that can be passed from hand to hand and change countless lives, Speak is the novel for you. I would recommend that every young adult reader gives Anderson's novel a chance the "speak" to them.  If readers are interested in Laurie Halse Anderson speaking about Speak, the platinum edition offers a question and answer section at the conclusion of the novel.    

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

The Horn Book - starred review  "An uncannily funny book even as it plumbs the darkness, Speak will hold readers from first word to last."

Booklist - starred review  "Melinda's sarcastic wit, honesty, and courage make her a memorable character whose ultimate triumph will inspire and empower readers."

Kirkus Reviews - pointer review  "The plot is gripping and the characters are powerfully drawn...its raw and unvarnished look...will be hard for readers to forget."

CONNECTIONS

Related Text:

Wintergirls - Laurie Halse Anderson ISBN-10: 067001110X
Catalyst  - Laurie Halse Anderson ISBN-13: 978-0142400012
Hate List - Jennifer Brown ISBN-13: 978-0316041454
After - Amy Efaw ISBN-13: 978-0142415900
If I Stay - Gayle Forman ISBN-13: 978-0142415436

Webpage:
Laurie Halse Anderson's personal webpage
Link: http://madwomanintheforest.com/   

Study Guide for Speak:
Link: http://thebestnotes.com/booknotes/Speak_Halse_Anderson/Speak_Study_Guide01.html  

Lesson Plan for Speak:
Link: http://www.viterbo.edu/perspgs/faculty/GSmith/LessonPlanforSpeak.htm   

Genre 6 - (Fiction, Fantasy, & YA) When You Reach Me

When You Reach Me
By: Rebecca Stead

Alternative early stage sketches of the novel
When You Reach Me.



BIBLIOGRAPHY

Stead, Rebecca. 2009. WHEN YOU REACH ME. New York, N.Y. A Yearling Book. ISBN: 978-0-375-85086-8

SUMMARY

Thirteen year old Miranda’s life quickly changes after her best friend Sal is punched in the stomach, making him decides he doesn’t want to be friends with Miranda anymore. Miranda begins to receive mysterious messages from a person who predicts the future. Miranda struggles to believe the letters, but each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final message, making her feel as if she is too late.    

CRITICAL REVIEW

Absorbing, smart and mesmerizing are a few words that have been used to describe Rebecca Stead's, John Newberry Award winning book, When You  Reach Me. Stead includes a quote at the beginning of her novel by Albert Einstein that states, “The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious.” Such an appropriate quote. It sums up Stead’s entire novel. Stead has created a mysterious and intriguing story, full of drama and is hard for her readers to walk away from. Stead grabs the attention of her readers from the beginning of the story, when Miranda’s mother receives a postcard from the television game show “The $20,000 Pyramid”, all the way to the end of the story when Miranda finally realizes who the naked guy running down the street is and who the man sleeping under the mail box on the corner was.    

Stead has creatively titled the chapters in her book with titles that relate to “The $20,000 Pyramid” game show that Miranda’s mother is going to try to win. Stead has ingeniously woven these titles into her story so that they are related to situation or to an event that is going on in Miranda’s life. Once Stead’s readers realize that she has chosen these titles deliberately, it adds to the mystery of the chapter about to be read. Readers will find themselves thinking about things that bounce, things that you wish for, things that are sweet and things that heal before they have read the chapter. Each chapter leaves one wanting more.  

Title: Things You Push Away

 “Mom says each of us has a veil between ourselves and the rest of the world, like a bride wears on her wedding day, except this kind of veil is invisible. We walk around happily with these invisible veils hanging down over our faces. The world is kind of blurry, and we like it that way. But sometimes our veils are PUSHED away for a few moments, like there’s a wind blowing it from our faces.”  

Title: Things That Burn

“Knock, knock!” Annemarie’s dad came in with these tiny sausages on a plate. “I’m on deadline,” he said to me. “When I’m on deadline, I cook. Do you like mustard? Try the dipping sauce. I’ll be right back with some apple cider.” He was back in thirty seconds with a glass of cider for me, but he handed Annemarie what looked like plain water. She didn’t seem to notice. Annemarie’s rug was spongy and soft, almost like another bed, and I lay down on it. Mustard always makes my lips BURN, but I didn’t care. It was worth it.”  

Stead has created characters that have personalities and behaviors that are just as important to the story as the structure and events that take place in the story. Miranda and Sal are both believable characters who are experiencing the ups and downs of maturation and trying to figure out where they belong in a group. Stead’s readers may be able to identify with Miranda and Sal because many of her readers could be struggling with these same issues in their personal lives. Miranda is a latch-key-kid who walks home with Sal almost every day. Miranda’s mother, who Miranda says has “glossy read hair that bounces around”, works a full time job and has a list of rules for life in New York City. She is a perfect example of single working class mother.

Mom’s Rules for Life in New York City
 
1. Always have your key out before you reach the front door.
2. If a stranger is hanging out in front of the building, don’t even go in-just keep walking around the block until he’s gone.
3. Look ahead. If there’s someone acting strange down the block, looking drunk or dangerous, cross to the other side of the street, but don’t be obvious about it. Make it look like you were planning to cross the street all along.
4. Never show your money on the street.

Richard is Miranda’s mother’s boyfriend who helps her practice every night for “The $20,000 Pyramid” game show. Marcus is the boy who punched Sal in the stomach and turns out to be more than just a boy who hangs out by the garage, which Miranda and Sal walk past every day. Annemarie is a girl that Miranda befriended when Sal stopped talking to her after he was punched by Marcus. Not one character has a small role in Stead's novel. Julia and Alice, who are the least mentioned characters, contribute greatly to Stead’s novel.  Julia, who was best friends with Annemarie before Miranda came along, and Alice, who is a girl in Miranda’s class who waits too long to go to the restroom, are important contributors to this mysterious story.  Stead’s characters have been carefully planned and add depth to Stead’s novel.

Stead’s novel creates curiosity for her readers. Her novel promotes critical thinking and creates opportunities for readers to think about sequences of events; asking themselves is time travel possible or can you go back into time and change history. Marcus sure thinks it is. “Some people think it’s possible you know,” Marcus mumbled. “What?” He pointed at the book. “Time travel. Some people think it’s possible.” Stead’s character Miranda’s favorite book is A Wrinkle in Time, which is the book that Marcus is referring to in the quote above. In A Wrinkle in Time Meg Murry is transported on an adventure through time and space to rescue her father, a gifted scientist, from the evil forces that hold him prisoner on another planet. Stead’s novel When You Reach Me has a theme similar to A Wrinkle in Time as it relates to time travel, science fiction, and nostalgia throughout.

Stead's descriptive words and elaborate details help readers realizing what it was like to be a child during the late 1970’s. “ In sixth grade, kids with any money, even just a little, go out for lunch unless something is going on and they won’t let us, like the first week of school, when there was a man running down Broadway stark naked and we all had to eat in the school cafeteria while the police tried to catch him. Most kids go to the pizza place, or to McDonald’s, or, every once in a while, to the sandwich place, which has a real name but which we call Jimmy’s because there was never anyone working there except one guy called Jimmy. Pizza is the best deal—a dollar fifty will buy two slices, a can of soda, and a cherry Blow Pop from the candy bucket next to the register” Stead’s paragraph about the lunch hour at school for Miranda is a great paragraph for readers to analyze. Adult readers may be able to say, “Hey, I remember leaving campus for lunch” but younger readers today may say, “I wish I could walk to McDonalds or the pizza place for lunch.” In the70’s off campus lunches were acceptable, whereas today, it is frowned upon.   

Stead has created an exceptional and mysterious novel for her readers promoting wonder and creative thinking. Stead’s short chapters provide her readers with an easy read and encouraging her readers to continue for just one more chapter.  Stead’s novel contributes greatly to the fiction genre.

If you're looking for a good read that keeps you guessing up until the very end, this is the book for you.  This is definitely a novel that I would recommend to everyone who is interested in time travel, mystery or science fiction.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Kirkus Reviews- Starred Review - "[W]hen all the sidewalk characters from Miranda's Manhattan world converge amid mind-blowing revelations and cunning details, teen readers will circle back to the beginning and say, 'Wow ... cool.'"

Booklist- Starred Review - "[T]he mental gymnastics required of readers are invigorating; and the characters, children, and adults are honest bits of humanity no matter in what place or time their souls rest."

The Horn Book Magazine - "Closing revelations are startling and satisfying but quietly made, their reverberations giving plenty of impetus for the reader to go back to the beginning and catch what was missed."

 School Library Journal – Starred Review
"This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers."

Publishers Weekly – Starred Review- "It's easy to imagine readers studying Miranda's story as many times as she's read L'Engle's, and spending hours pondering the provocative questions it raises."

CONNECTIONS

Related Text

First Light - Rebecca Stead- ISBN-13: 978-0440422228
A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle - ISBN-13: 978-0312367541 
A Wind in the Door- Madeleine L'Engle- ISBN-13: 978-0312368548
An Acceptable Time- Madeleine L'Engle - ISBN-13: 978-0312368586

Rebecca Stead’s Personal Blog

Link: http://rebeccastead.blogspot.com/

Rebecca Stead’s Personal Website

Link: http://www.rebeccasteadbooks.com/

Activity 1

~Creative Writing~

Have children right about subjects related to time travel.

Topic: What would you do or go see if you could travel back in time.

Topic: Would you rather travel back to the past or forward into the future.

Activity 2

~Art Activity~

Have children draw a picture of what they think they would see if they where to travel into the past or the future.

Time Machine
Warp Zone (Hole)
Abraham Lincoln
Flying Cars
Dinosaurs
Future Gadgets 

Genre 5 (Historical Fiction) Penny from Heaven

Penny from Heaven

By: Jennifer L. Holm

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Holm, Jennifer L.2006. PENNY FROM HEAVEN. New York, NY. Yearling Books. ISBN- 978-0-375-83689-3

SUMMARY

Eleven year old Penny feels her family is off their rocker. Penny dreams of butter pecan ice cream, swimming, and listening to the Brooklyn Dodgers on the radio with her friends over her summer, but her mother is afraid she’ll catch polio at the pool. To make matters worse, Penny’s uncle lives in his 1940 Plymouth Roadking and her grandmother has been an emotional wreck since Penny’s father died. After an unfortunate event and an extended stay in the hospital, Penny finds out the truth about her father’s death and discovers her strange family isn’t really that strange.     

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Inspired by Newbery Honor winner Jennifer Holm’s own Italian American family, Penny from Heaven is an outstanding novel that provides its readers with insight on diversity among families. Holm has created a story with characters to which many of her readers are able to relate. Characters mentioned throughout her novel seem real and believable making it easy for her readers to say, “Hey, I have an odd uncle,” “My mother is also overprotective of me” or “My grandfather also burps so loud the neighbors can hear it.” Holm’s sarcastic and amusing humor gives Penny’s character a youthful vibe staying true to the targeted age range of her readers. Penny and her mother have a conversation that illustrates Penny’s humor and sarcastic wit perfectly. “Are we going out for dinner?” I ask. “We don’t go to restaurants very often and, believe me, it’s a real treat when we do.”  “Actual,” she say, “I’m going out. Me-me’s made hamburger-olive loaf for you.” I groan. Me-me’s hamburger-olive loaf is so bad, it should be in jail.” Holm focuses on the natural curiosity and defiance of young children in her novel also including the peer pressures of everyday life among children. “Don’t get into trouble,” Me-Me calls over her shoulder as they walk to the car. The minute the car disappeared around the corner, Frankie grabs my hand and say’s, “Let’s go!” “Go where?” I ask. He screws up his face. “The pool! Where else?” “But Me-me said I can’t go.” Frankie has a devilish gleam in his eyes. “Just think of all that nice cool water going to waste.” I hesitate. “I don’t know.” “Come on,” Frankie says. “We go now and get back before Me-me and Pop-pop return, see?” I look at him uncertainly. “What if my mother finds out? He winks at me. “She will never know.” Many of Holm’s readers may be able to relate to Penny’s misbehavior and be empathetic of her feeling “trapped” or “babied” by her mother, making the story much more believable and meaningful. Holm also takes into consideration the fact that young readers tend to question their own mortality and are aware of death. Even though death is a sensitive subject for many, Holm has incorporated Penny’s views towards what Heaven is like in a non-religious way that is appropriate for her story. I think about Heaven a lot. Not because of the usual reasons, though. I’m only eleven, and I don’t plan on dying until I’m at least a hundred. It’s just that I’m named after that Bing Crosby song “Pennies from Heaven,” and when you’re named after something, you can’t help but think about it.   

Holm’s novel also focuses on family tradition which helps her readers understand the different values and perspectives that families deem to be important. “It’s Sunday, and that means dinner at Nonny’s house. On Saturdays I have dinner at home, which is usually a dry pot roast and burned potatoes because Me-me leaves it in too long. I don’t know when this started, me going over to my father’s family on Sundays; it’s been this way forever…My Italian family starts their dinner in the afternoon, so I go over after lunch….They put the lemons in the decanters of homemade Chianti. An Italian opera playing on the record player… All the uncles are here.”  The contrast of tradition among Penny’s mother’s family who isn’t Italian and her father’s family who is Italian gives readers an excellent example of diverse characteristics among families.

Holm has done an excellent job not overwhelming her readers with historical details that take away from her reader’s literary experience. Holm has woven significant historical information into the story making it seem natural and vital to the plot of the story. She included historical information in her novel related to polio, which was a disease that people of the 1950’s time period had to be cautious of; the Dodgers losing the World Series multiple times in the 1950’s and then winning the World Series in 1957; and the story of Penny’s father being taken away from his family over a radio that had been given to him by her uncle Dominic. “It all started with radio,” she says in a dull voice. “What radio?” She doesn’t answer. Finally she says, “Your father loved going to ball games. But after you were born, he didn’t want to spend a minute away from you, so Dominic went out and bought this fancy brand new radio so your father could listen to the game. One night your folks were sitting down to dinner, the doorbell rang, and some FBI agents came and took your father away. Took them both away, I should say.” “Both?” “When the FBI came to see Dominic about the radio, he said that your father had it, so they dragged both of them in for questioning.” “Italians weren’t allowed to have this kind of radio. See, after Pearl Harbor, the whole country went crazy. All of a sudden everyone was suspicious of foreigners. They passed this law: If you were Italian and didn’t have your citizenship, you couldn’t travel to certain places, or have radios with a shortwave band, or flashlights, or cameras, or I don’t know what else.”At the conclusion of Holm’s novel she includes an Author’s Notes section where she explains the reasoning behind her novel and from where the characters' stories were derived. Holm mentioned in her notes the story of Penny’s father being a hidden; part of American history during World War II when President Franklin D. Roosevelt was in office. Holm’s notes at the conclusion of the novel help her readers clarify specific historical or family information that she has included in her novel. Holm also includes a Photo Album section at the conclusion of the novel that helps readers understand Holm’s genealogical information, contributing to her readers' knowledge of the characters in the novel.  

Holm has created the ideal image of the 1950’s life style for her readers. She has done an excellent job re-creating the 1950’s time period and making it relevant for today’s readers. Her novel's characters have careers that are iconic of the 1950’s. Mr. Mulligan is the door to door milkman; Penny’s Uncle Ralphie owns a butcher shop and her Uncle Nunzio owns a clothing factory. Holm’s novel includes settings that are outside of “Smoke Shops” and “Sweetie Shops” Holm includes in her writing the names and radio programs that are iconic of the 1950’s, such as the Fibber McGee and Molly radio program, which is Penny’s grandfather’s favorite program; Scarlet O’Hara, who is Penny’s dog; Bing Crosby, who sings a song that Penny got her name from; and makes reference to a woman walking into the butcher shop that looked like Elizabeth Taylor. Including these historical names and economic settings into her writing helps her readers make connections with past economic situations and compare icons of 1950’s to today.    

The cover of the novel, by Michael Frost and Stephanie Moss, shows the image of the back of a young girl with curly dark brown hair who has a yellow bow tied in the back of her hair. The girl is facing in the direction of a baby blue background with pennies falling down around her as if they are falling from heaven. The cover of the novel draws the attention of readers by including the Newbery Honor Book award emblem on the cover and creates a sense of wonder about who is the girl on the cover.        

Holm has created a story, inspired by her own family and including significant historical information about the 1950’s era, for her readers. This novel isn’t filled with action packed excitement or historical characters. It is a “comfortable” read about the importance of tradition and family that all age groups can enjoy.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Booklist- “Holm impressively wraps pathos with comedy in the coming-of-age story populated by a cast of vivid characters.”

School Library Journal- “Penny and her world are clearly drawn and eminently believable, made up of seamless interwoven details from everyday life.”

San Francisco Chronicles- “Holm’s deft storytelling is at once rosy, rounded and realistic.” 

CONNECTIONS

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Web Page

Readers can find more information about Jennifer Holm on her website. She includes a biography, homework help, a list of her books, and contact information for her readers. This is a great way for readers to become more familiar with the author and her work.

Jennifer Holm’s personal website: http://www.jenniferholm.com/ 

Activity

Activity 1: Family Tree Sculpture
Activity 2: Story Scrapbook
Activity 3: Family Migration Map

Detailed information about the ABOVE activities can be found at: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5611232/genealogy_crafts_for_kids.html?cat=25