Mrs. Kirkpatrick's Bookshelf

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson Jamieson, Victoria. 2015. ROLLER GIRL. New York: Dial Books. ISBN 9780545934978 2. PLOT SUMMARY When Astrid’s mom decides to take her and her best friend, Nicole to a roller derby bout, the two girls expect to be less than entertained. However, Astrid is inspired by the derby girls creativity and toughness. So much so, that she signs up to attend the roller derby summer camp and fully expects Nicole to jump on board. However, Nicole is more interested in dance, and decides to attend a ballet camp. As Astrid works to become a true roller derby girl, she must navigate growing apart from her best friend. When the big bout comes, Astrid realizes that she is tough enough to handle just about anything. 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS Roller Girl is a story of female strength and empowerment, but it is also about honesty, hard work, and navigating adolescence and growing apart from friends. Astrid speaks with candor and honesty which is refreshing in a female ch...

Babymouse #1: Queen of the World! by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm Holm, Jennifer L. 2005. BABYMOUSE #1: QUEEN OF THE WORLD!. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780375832291 2. PLOT SUMMARY Babymouse loves to imagine that she lives in a world of fame and fortune! Unfortunately, however, she is not. Babymouse knows that getting an invite to Felicia Furrypaws’ sleepover will bring her the popularity, fame, and fortune she has always desired! She imagines all kinds of antics, including competing in a variety of (mostly imaginative) competitions. When the time comes for the slumber party, expecting glamour and exclusivity, Babymouse finds that it is actually a gossipy bore. She decides hanging out and watching scary movies with her best pal Wilson is what she would rather do. Babymouse is a graphic novel that readers will love! 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS Babymouse is a quirky little mouse who is a strong female role model for young girls. Babymouse doesn’t fit into one box; she will appea...

Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo DiCamillo, Kate. 2013. FLORA & ULYSSES. New York: Candlewick Press. ISBN 978-0763660406 2. PLOT SUMMARY When Flora’s neighbor accidentally runs over a squirrel with her Ulysses vacuum cleaner, Flora resusicates and saves the little squirrel’s life. The squirrel, who Flora names Ulysses (after the vacuum that almost took his life) develops super powers which include flying and the ability to write beautiful poetry. Flora, a self-proclaimed “natural born cynic”, is struggling to pick up the pieces left behind after her parents divorce. She lives at home with her romance novel writing, self absorbed mother, who has a hatred for squirrels. When Flora discovers her mother wants to kill Ulysses, she finds herself feeling unloved and abandoned. Ulysses pens a heartfelt poem depicting the emotions Flora and her mother are feeling, but before it can be read, Flora’s mother kidnaps Ulysses. Ulysses is able to escape, but Flora puts together a team ...

Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan Ryan, Pam Muñoz. 2015. ECHO. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 9781338133028. 2. PLOT SUMMARY As Otto is hiding in a forbidden forest during a game of hide and seek, he begins to read a fairytale about a witch, a prophecy, and three sisters. When he becomes lost in the woods, he meets the three sisters from the fairytale he had just read. They bestow upon him an enchanted harmonica and tell him that if he passes it on, and it one day saves someone’s life, they will be free. Years later, the story follows the harmonica to Friedrich, a boy who works at a harmony factory and dreams of becoming a conductor of an orchestra. Friedrich lives in Nazi Germany, and is considered racially impure due to the large birthmark on his face. When word gets out that his father invited a Jewish musician to their home, Friedrich must risk everything to save his family. Next, the story follows two young piano playing orphans, Mike and his brother Frankie, in Philadelphia. When a wealthy...

Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm Holm, Jennifer L. 2006. PENNY FROM HEAVEN. New York: Yearling Books. ISBN 9780375836893 2. PLOT SUMMARY Penny from Heaven is a story about an eleven year old girl and her family, set in the early 1950’s. Penny lives with her mother, Ellie, and grandparents, Me-Me and Pop-Pop. Penny experiences the trials and tribulations of big families- secrets, conflicts, and an abundance of opinions on what you should and shouldn’t do. Penny has lots of adventures with her cousin and best friend Frankie, but when tragedy strikes and Penny is in an accident, Penny learns the truth about her family and the hardships experienced by her father as an italian immigrant. 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS Penny Falucci experiences the challenges of navigating life with a big family, and many readers will be able to relate. Jennifer L. Holm writes with a warmth that makes you feel as though you are a part of the Falucci family. Discrimination of Italians post WWII is often overl...

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery Montgomery, Lucy Maud. 1908. ANNE OF GREEN GABLES. Boston, MA: L.C. Page & Co. ISBN 9780553213133 2. PLOT SUMMARY Set on Canada’s idyllic Prince Edward Island, siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert are shocked when the orphan boy they were set to receive turns out to be a girl. 11 year old Anne Shirley is a fiery, talkative, highly imaginative girl who holds her own. Matthew Cuthbert immediately takes a liking to Anne, and convinces Marilla to let her stay rather than return her to the orphanage. This is Anne’s coming of age story, as she learns to navigate her new home, school, and friendships. 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS L.M. Montgomery creates a dynamic character in Anne. She not only represents an “anything you can do, I can do better” attitude because she is a girl when the Cuthberts’ sent for a boy, but her huge imagination and long ramblings make her extremely likeable and relatable to children. Montgomery paints an idyllic setting at Gr...

The Journal of Wong Ming-Chung: A Chinese Miner by Laurence Yep Yep, Laurence. 2000. THE JOURNAL OF WONG MING-CHUNG: A CHINESE MINER. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 9780590386074 2. PLOT SUMMARY Wong Ming-Chung, otherwise known as Runt, begins his journal in October of 1851, when his Uncle Stone leaves to find riches and fortune in California during the Gold Rush. Runt’s family, like many others in China, are struggling to make ends meet. They hope that they will soon be Guests of the Golden Mountain- families that have money sent to them from family members who become gold miners in California- and their Uncle Stone makes this a reality. Uncle Stone wanted Runt’s older brother, Blessing, to join him in the mines, and Runt is terrified to learn that his family will be sending him instead of his brother. Runt’s journey to California is full of hardships from the moment he sets off, and the glimmering dream of easy money is soon proved to be a misconception. 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS Laurenc...

Williams-Garcia, Rita. 2010. ONE CRAZY SUMMER. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 9780060760908 2. PLOT SUMMARY In 1968, Delphine and her younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern, are abruptly sent by their father to spend the summer with their estranged mother, Cecile, in Oakland, California. Their mother can’t be bothered with them and sends them to The People’s Center each day to be in the care of members of the Black Panther party. The girls receive a racial education under the care of the Black Panther Party. 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS Rita Williams-Garcia fills a void in the children’s literature genre of historical fiction with One Crazy Summer, which sheds a positive light on The Black Panthers. Williams-Garcia highlights the good that The Black Panthers do for the community, including taking care of poverty stricken children and providing them breakfast and a place to be themselves. The book is set in 1968, which the author reminds readers of through little details at a time, such as Delphi...

Move! by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page 1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Jenkins, Steve & Page, Robin. 2006. MOVE!. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 978-1328895738 2. SUMMARY Discover the different ways animals move in this engaging nonfiction text. 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS Steve Jenkins and Robin Page have created a nonfiction book that will grab even the youngest readers attention. The short, simple sentences that describe how each animal moves gets the point across without any extra “fluff”. The organization of the book, which describes one way the animal moves and then a second way which leads into the next animal (a jacana walks, and also dives, a whale dives, and also swims, etc) flows easily and makes sense for its intended audience. The cut paper illustrations are eye catching against a white background. They are simple, yet realistic enough for a child to recognize the animal in the real world. The last page summarizes how each animal discussed moves, and leaves rea...

The Right Word: Roget And His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant Ill. by Melissa Sweet 1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Bryant, Jen. 2014. THE RIGHT WORD: ROGET AND HIS THESAURUS. Ill. by Melissa Sweet. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books. ISBN 978-0802853851 2. SUMMARY All of us have used a thesaurus, but how exactly did the thesaurus come to be? This fascinating picture book biography is all about the life of Peter Mark Roget, the man who created the “treasure house” of words. 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS While most people probably find the thesaurus to be mundane reading, Jen Bryant tells the surprisingly fascinating story of how it came to be. Through Bryant’s portrayal, readers can sense that Roget is a curious, incredibly smart child. She describes how he would write his own books, but instead of writing stories, he would write lists, and categorize them. Bryant’s style of telling Roget’s story encourages readers to be lifelong learners. Melissa Sweet’s beautiful mixed media illustrations and child...

What To Do About Alice? By Barbara Kerley ill. By Edwin Fotheringham 1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Kerley, Barbara. 2008. WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE?. Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 978-0439922319 2. SUMMARY This picture book biography tells about the life and antics of Alice Roosevelt, daughter of Theodore Roosevelt. She is wild, charming, and wants nothing more than to explore the world, all while driving her father crazy. 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS Barbara Kerley paints Alice Roosevelt as a girl who can’t be tamed using quotes and stories about Alice’s life in and outside of The White House. In the back of the book, Kerley goes into more depth in her notes about Alice that reveal a slightly darker and more troubled side of her. However, Kerley does a great job of making Alice relatable and comical for children. The stories Kerley includes about Alice are cohesive but provide a broad look throughout the span of Alice’s life, not only her childhood. The direct quotes...

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Gerhard, Ana. 2010. LISTEN TO THE BIRDS: AN INTRODUCTION TO CLASSICAL MUSIC. Ill. by Cecilia Varela. Montreal: The Secret Mountain. ISBN 978-2923163895 2. SUMMARY Ana Gerhard walks you through classical music inspired by birds and their songs. She starts off by giving a brief history of how birds have inspired composers for hundreds of years, and discusses the science behind the birds’ song. Ana then walks the reader through 20 songs inspired by different species of birds, providing readers with a short blurb about the bird itself, and how the composer made the connection of the bird to their musical composition. There is also a listening guide to each song, a brief history of each composer, a glossary of musical terms, and a timeline of composers and their periods. 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS Ana Gerhard provides a comprehensive beginner’s guide into classical music while sprinkling in a bit of science and history in this unique and innovative book. The conn...