Tag: Book

Jeanne DuPrau, Junior Novel Genius: Citizenship Education

So, I don’t use the term “Genius” very often. Sure, Einstein was a genius and your dog might be a genius because he’s figured out which one of your twin nieces is Judy and which one is Jenny before you have, but in a world saturated with people trying to achieve the ultimate, my concept of genius is reserved for a scant few.

Jeanne DuPrau however, is a genius. With her The City of Ember Series, she not only captures the imaginations of young and adult readers alike, she uses her compassionate voice to galvanize our kinder selves. Here’s how:

 

Book#1: The City of Ember

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I happened upon The City of Ember, DuPrau’s first book, when one of my colleagues decided to do it as a novel study with his students. He meant to simply delve into the genre of Science Fiction with his class. A pilot project of a different genre, if you will. The result was not just his entire class yanking the books off every shelf to continue the series, but I too checked out this entire series from the local library.

This first book starts off with two very strong characters who find themselves partners in a journey to save their people, the Emberites, from total destruction. Young Lina is a fireball of energy and she has her conscience ground on tight. Young Doon has a few lessons to learn along the way, but he surprises everyone with his bravery at key points. The setting of the City of Ember unfolds a fantastic tale of an underground city built to survive destruction. The Emberites are not aware that they exist below the surface, they do not know what the sky or the sun are. Their daily existence is dictated by the timing of the floodlights that line their buildings and streets, lights that have been going on and off on schedule for nearly 200 years…until they start flickering. Can the people of Ember escape before the electricity that powers their daily lives gives out? Or will they be lost forever in an abyss of fatal darkness? This first installment explores themes of courage and perseverance. It explores themes of friendship and loyalty. It explores familial bonds and doing what is right. It explores our human need for survival even if severe risk-taking is the only option. This first book will leave you clamouring for the next three until the final, satisfying finish.

Book#2: The People of Sparks

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The second book in the series, The People of Sparks unveils what happens when different communities are forced to live side-by-side. It teaches readers of all ages the valuable lesson of how anger and violence can decimate relationships and entire societies. It promotes non-violence and peace, no matter how much hardship must be endured to find that peace. It brings forth the human desire for being good and giving good to our fellow human beings. However, it also shows our primal nature for self-preservation in the face of impending danger. Above all, it teaches the reader that there is a fine line between that choice, and making the wrong one can have catastrophic outcomes for all of mankind. Lina and Doon are back, but this time in a different place than their native Ember. This new world is strange and hard, but Lina and Doon, along with a whole lot of other characters are not crushed.

It is in this book, that the reader is made aware of the Great Disaster that nearly demolished all of mankind. Themes of human greed and kindness, wisdom and violence are explored with very compassionate conclusions. In many ways, DuPrau weaves morality and better ways of being into her books. And this is where her genius shines brightest, in her sensitivity to the evil that exists in our world, and her ability to find a way to take a strong stance against it. All this, with a non-violence the likes of Mahatma Gandhi. In this second book, readers are, or maybe just I was, moved to tears at the goodness of humankind. Cue #faithinhumanityrestored.

Book#3: The Prophet of Yonwood

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The Prophet of Yonwood is perhaps my least favourite of the series (if it is possible to have a least favourite in this series). It attempts to explain the existence of the riveting events in the first book, and guide along any predictions for the last and final book that the reader might have.

In this one a very flimsy story is built around a lady named Althea Tower and her “prophecies” as reasons for the way things are in a small town called Yonwood. We meet new characters in this book, because this one in chronological order, precedes The City of Ember and exists hundred of years before those events. Much of the story seems like a filler to explain minute details that I think the reader could have put together for him/herself with the help of a brief preface from DuPrau, in possibly the last book.

We meet the characters of Nickie and Grover, characters very similar to Lina and Doon in The City of Ember and The People of Sparks. These characters seem to slosh about in this book, biding their time until the very end when things are revealed to the reader. They plunge along sans meaning many at times, and they seem to know this as they take on bonds with animals to fill in their time in this book. Stories branch out of the woodwork and take on weak tangents before finding a quick and slightly bewildering path to an end.

However, this book is not all a waste of its 289 pages. It brings about the questions surrounding faith and how one comes to develop a sense of right and wrong. It is very profound in its exploration of this multi-faceted conundrum, and DuPrau manages to do this in a manner that does not patronize. The main character, Nickie, is plagued with her notions of what faith is and what is right and wrong in relation to what she believes and what other people tell her. Nickie trundles through the book and arrives a much-changed character at the end of the book where we see she has grown herself a strong foundation of morality and her own faith.

The question of the existence of God is put on the table, and even though much of this entire series has a strong Science-Fiction element to it, it is equally acknowledging and respectful of religion and faith. And this is one of the many things that makes DuPrau a must-read author. She offers always, both sides to the coin, not a biased version of just one perspective. In doing so, she positions her books in a very powerful position to help growing minds too, to see both sides to each coin.

Book#4: The Diamond of Darkhold

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The Diamond of Darkhold is the final book in the series, and what a joy it is indeed! It brings full circle with absolute brilliance, the journey of not just Lina and Doon, but the entirety of humankind. The very final secrets are revealed, and humankind seems to find herself back to the very threshold of the powerful beginning when things were simpler and war and disease did not devastate.

The courage of Lina and Doon make a comeback in this book, but DuPrau has become braver and she has reckoned that so has her audience, and as a result she plunges her readers into terrifying depths with this last installment.

Selflessness and the desire to contribute in a meaningful way are two ideas that are thoroughly championed throughout this book. So is the very important concept of forgiveness. Lina and Doon risk their lives to help their people lead a better life, and in doing so provide hope for the future. In this book too, DuPrau gets more creative and technical in her understanding of various scientific elements, specifically Electricity. She champions solar energy and clean living, other lessons that I believe are crucial to growing minds everywhere.

All in all, DuPrau offers hope amidst a destroyed civilization, always with the caveat to be good to each other and not live greedily. As she paints the pictures of evil and destruction and hardship, she places in all her readers the knowledge that our existence (with our inventions and lifestyles) are but mere grains of sand that can be wiped out in the event of major catastrophes. Extremely fragile. DuPrau attempts to instill a humility in a society too plagued with the self and airs of entitlement.

Conclusion

Throughout the series, you will laugh with, and cheer on the main characters, Lina and Doon. You will grow to revere Doon’s father and Mrs. Murdock and develop a sibling-affection for little Poppy. You will even feel a fondness of Maddy, the at-first gruff, but finally gentle-hearted roamer. Jeanne DuPrau’s books seek to explore the human psyche and the forces of evil and good that bubble just below our surfaces. She experiments with different scenarios to determine which force will rise to the forefront at any given moment. And she does this without the  jargon associated with many psychologists, both past and present. DuPrau allows us glimpses of our world’s outcomes depending on the decisions we make.

Until now, the only series that has really thrilled me has been Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. However, in many ways, this gem of a series by Jeanne DuPrau has the potential to go even further in being, not just stellar literature for young children (and adults) everywhere, but purposeful reading that can seek to bring positive change to our world. This entire series is a MUST-READ for students at the Junior Level (Grades 4-6), so teachers, take note! It helps with their Citizenship Development, making them into more responsible leaders for our future. I vow to teach this to my junior students someday, but until then, these four books will be making their way to the shelves of my personal library.

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Helaine Becker: ‘Ode to Underwear’ Star

So, I organized an author visit at school today. It was the perfect Spring day for a very lively author with a lot of funnies up her sleeve. And Helaine Becker delivered. Born in the United States and now calling Canada her home, this eccentric and easy-to-get-along-with author gave both teachers and students something to chew on. Ms. Becker delivered a very thoughtful and interactive presentation on the merits of the writing process and how the following elements are fundamental to any good writing. Teachers everywhere, take note!

  1. Good punctuation, so your audience can understand with clarity what it is you are saying.
  2. Good writing techniques, such as rhyme and alliteration to create interest in the content and keep the work flowing well.
  3. Good use of rich vocabulary. Helaine stressed that a rich vocabulary comes from a lot of reading. Reading anything, anytime and anywhere. Cue “I told you so” from book-lovers everywhere…
  4. Good descriptive words to allow your audience to paint a vivid image of the world you are creating for them. “Lovely weather, eh?” vs. “Have you checked out this colourful Spring day with blossoming buds and delicious cool air all around?”
  5. Revise. Revise. Revise. Any author or blogger, or writer of any sort knows this to be the trick of the trade. You can’t publish something you hammered out in seconds and haven’t proofread. It just isn’t done.

Author of over 70 different genres of books (adventure books, humour books, quiz books, science books, fact books) spanning various reading levels (picture books, chapter books, junior novels), Ms. Becker is an award-winning writer and for good reason! Her books are dazzlers! Which is why NOT buying her books was not an option. Below, 3 of Becker’s titles that are a must-have if you’re a primary teacher (Grades K-3).

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This book is particularly classy because it is a treasure trove of poetry that young kids can have fun reading and performing. Replete with humour, rhythm and well-imagined characters, this is a good choice when introducing your students to the genre of poetry. Best for: Grades 1-4
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What a fantastic Canadian version of this timeless Christmas rhyme! You’ll find a mention of all things Canadian: Mounties, Beavers, Loons, and yes, even the Toronto Maple Leafs! Best for: Grades K-2
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This is my favourite title from the selection! In a hilarious bid to make you appreciate your underwear, Becker does the unthinkable, she exposes the tush-covering fabric! Best for: Grades K-2

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Bone & Bread by Saleema Nawaz

Rating: 3.5/5

BONE & BREAD is Saleema Nawaz’s debut novel, and given that it was also on the shortlist (like my previous post) for CBC’s Canada Reads 2016, she has done quite a good job. This book was particularly poignant because it speaks to readers from various backgrounds. Beena, the main character, comes from a mixed marriage in Montreal, and deals with questions around her identity. She has to sift through her coloured (pardon the pun) past to make sense of her future; a future that is riddled with constant big changes. I do think Nawaz could have told this story in three-quarters or less, of the pages she took to write it, a total of 445, but the story is a seamless read from start to finish. It moves along with a heightened sense of getting to the point where Beena can find peace. When the book opens, Beena has lost her sister,  and now she must wade through the dust and memory of her past to be able to see her reflection more clearly and understand who she is.

Nawaz is able to convey intense emotions through her writing style. She uses short and crisp sentences to transmit Beena’s incredible regret over things done and not done before her sister’s death. Nawaz has carefully crafted a character speared with self-doubt and confusion, but a character bound by love and duty. Through the delicate relationship between Beena and her sister, Sadhana, Nawaz skillfully weaves in the harsh reality of depression manifesting as anorexia and bulimia. Nawaz shows an educated understanding of this strand of mental illness and I am grateful that she uses her talent to bring awareness to such an important issue. As an artist, I do believe one is in a privileged position to educate the world on various societal and individual elements that plague us. This book also does kind justice in handling Beena’s teen pregnancy and her ability to raise her son while caring for her sister who suffers from depression. It shows her courage to finally free herself from her sister’s hold and move away to live her own life, but also her familial loyalty to always come back to her sister, in Sadhana’s times of need. While many may perceive Beena as a static character who remains passive, her role is incredibly reactionary in a world where everything just seems to happen to her. And this is not too far removed from the reactionary reality that many of us live, with a constant lack of control over our lives. The plot charts Beena’s growth from a girl stewing in self-loathing to a woman who can reach out to forgive and make peace with the ghosts of her past. Nawaz wields her talent with vivid imagery, adeptly crafted similes and poignant phrases that deserve to be branded on T-shirts! Poignant phrases from which I will end with my favourite:

“And the work of getting closer, of loving harder, is the work of a whole life.”

-Beena (BONE & BREAD by Saleema Nawaz)

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Birdie by Tracey Lindberg

Rating: 4.8/5

This book was one of 5 shortlisted for the CBC Canada Reads for 2016. In my frantic ambition to read the titles before I attended the event, I purchased this title by Tracey Lindberg. It was the second book I read from the list, and even though it isn’t a lengthy book, it stalled me. For a  good 5 weeks. The first 100 pages open with a very unfamiliar narrative structure. Lindberg is writing from her native Cree traditions and incorporating a lot of that stylistically and structurally into her narrative.

The story starts off with Birdie, our protagonist, on a vision quest, and a lot of the descriptions are easily construed as confusing until about mid-way through the book. The timeline ricochets back and forth and the reader is left exhausted trying to rally her/his concept of plot progression. Still, tarry awhile dear reader, this book is a rewarding read, because once you have crossed that 100-page mark, it flows faster and with fierceness. You will find yourself hungering for the end of the book. You will glide along with Birdie and experience her agony as she gracefully narrates her harrowing journey of sexual abuse, homelessness and abandonment. Lindberg adeptly explores the concept of being lost and making a concerted effort to rally one’s strength and find oneself again. The vision quest is an excellent motif that leads the reader, and Birdie, through this journey of self-and-other discovery.

I adore this book because it gives a voice to our Indigenous relatives that is easily lost amidst a sea of other voices vying for our attention. This book is written with great attention to detail and the use of Cree words and phrases, even if the reader does not understand them thoroughly, is an enriching addition to our understanding of this rich and diverse culture. I was moved by the calm narration of often horrifying events experienced by Birdie, and several other female characters. There is no lace or fluff to this book, no attempt to dramatize events to leave readers raving and make a bestseller list somewhere. No, Lindberg is true to the modesty of her culture. She is true to the peace and kindness that emanates from her kind, and this is why this book needs to be read and celebrated. Along Birdie’s journey, you meet 3 strong women who comprise her family. These women are picked for their oddities, and like Birdie for their strength, and meshed together to create a beautiful mélange of love, compassion, kindness, courage, tenacity and above all, grace.

Should you choose to read this book, and I would recommend that you do, be prepared for the time it takes (it is a very hard read when you start), but also prepare yourself for the rewarding feeling of peace and kinship with our Indigenous female relatives you will feel when you are done.

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The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Rating: 4.2/5

So, I’ll be honest here, had I seen this title in a stack of books, I wouldn’t have picked it out. No, I am more into realism; the kind of writing that makes you ponder deeply and consider the questions and truths inherent
in the mundane activities of our day-to-day existences. However, this book was on a reading list for a book club I had recently wanted to join, so I thought, why not try it? After all,you can’t really judge a book by it’s cover, right? 😉

This book is written from a dog’s perspective; a perspective that I found myself drawn toward. Now, I acknowledge animals as beings worthy of love, care and respect, and I am aware of the science behind a lot of them being quite clever. However, Stein has written this book with a poignant sensitivity that left me emotional. I found myself cheering for Enzo’s (the dog’s) character throughout the 336 pages. I saw the world that we humans inhabit through the eyes of a non-human who strangely enough, imbibed human-like qualities without seeming at all far-fetched or pretentious. Stein takes a beautiful story of an ambitious race car driver and his family and infuses elements of tragedy, mystery, forgiveness, compassion, tenacity, wisdom and triumph, all while staying true to his characters. Stein has obviously done his research quite well, to the point where he has seamlessly been able to allow the reader to relate to Enzo with his heightened dog-senses-and-sensibilities. The metaphors and race-car analogies have been carefully adapted to both acknowledge the reader’s ability to grasp complex information, without sounding too uppity, and at the same time, successfully educating the reader.

A must-read if you’re looking for a light book that is sure to cheer you up.

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