Book Trailer: Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Created for Assignment B for SLIS 5420

Module 9: The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter

"Sometimes you have to start a thing for all the wrong reasons in order to discover the right ones."

blog.schoollibraryjournal.com

Citation
Potter, E.  (2010).  The kneebone boy.  New York:  Feiwel and Friends.


Summary
Otto, Lucia (that's Lu-chee-ah), and Max Hardscrabble are a little bit strange.  Their father, Casper, is an artist who travels around the world painting portraits of fallen royalty.  Their mother has gone missing, and many suspect she has died.  They spend their days in Little Tunks, England mostly with each other, wishing something interesting would happen.  When they are sent to stay with an aunt who is not home, they decide to go in search of a long-lost aunt-in-law, Haddie Piggit.  It is then their adventure begins. Great Aunt Haddie lives in a curious seaside village in a miniature version of a mysterious old castle, called a castle folly.  There they learn about the legendary creature, the Kneebone Boy, rumored to be half boy and half animal, and decide to find him.  Their quest for this oddity takes them throughout the unique folly, around the grounds, and into the castle itself, where they learn important lessons about themselves and their family.  


My Impressions
The narrator of this book, though a mystery to the reader, is deliciously candid, smart, and charming.  One cannot help but chuckle at the narrator's observations of him- or herself, the Hardscrabble children, and the world around them.  While the Hardscrabble children initially feel very much like the Baudelaire orphans of A Series of Unfortunate Events (Snicket, 1999), their identities and adventures soon become their own.  While it takes a little while for the mystery to evolve, readers are encouraged at each turn of the page as they learn more about the kids and their odd, American Great Aunt Haddie.  It's a little spooky, a little funny, a little bit sleepy, but very much heartwarming and worth the read.  


Review
Kirkus Reviews

"The Hardscrabbles of the English town of Little Tunks--silent Otto, the adventure-seeking Lucia and whip-smart Max--have become accustomed to their shy, rumpled father's absences since their mother's suspicious disappearance. ("'She's dead,' Lucia said. 'She's gone missing,' said Max.") On one such occasion, Mr. Hardscrabble's miscommunication with a London relative leaves the trio perilously alone in the big city. Barely escaping the clutches of an angry tattooed man, they manage to track down their great aunt Haddie Piggit, a youngish, eccentric American with a penchant for Pixy Stix who lives in a child-sized version of the adjacent Kneebone Castle in Snoring-by-the-Sea. Could she be their mother? Does Otto, the oldest at 13, know and not say? Does the legendary, tower-bound Kneebone Boy really have hat ears? Narrated quite personably by one of the Hardscrabbles who refuses to be identified but is obvious, the story is fresh, funny and surprising. The sibling dynamics--alternately testy and touching--are believable, as are the wonderfully odd characters from the hulking taxidermist Saint George to the ethereal Sultan of Juwi. A quirky charmer. (Fiction. 11 & up)"

[Review of the book The kneebone boy by E. Potter].  (2010).  Kirkus Reviews, 78(17) 864.

Suggested Library Uses

• This book should be on any Series of Unfortunate Events read-alike list and would make a great addition to a display of comedic mysteries.  

Find it @ your Library - Albany County Public Library
J Potter, Ellen

Module 4: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

"Happiness is excitement that has found a settling down place, but there is always a little corner that keeps flapping around."

www.goodreads.com

Citation

Konigsburg, E.L.  (1967).  From the mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.  New York:  Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Summary

Claudia Kincaid wanted to feel different.  She felt ignored within her family and bored with being an organized, straight-A student in the suburbs.  She comes up with the perfect plan:  to run away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.  Wanting to be sure her adventure is well-funded, she invites her stingy, but rich, younger brother, Jaime, along.  Just as they settle into the routine of museum living, a mysterious sculpture is put on display.  Thought to be a little-known work by Michelangelo, the piece was purchased for a mere $225 at an auction.  Claudia is determined to solve the mystery, for she is not only dying to know its origins, but she is also convinced the journey will help her find what she was searching for in coming to the museum.  Claudia and Jaime's detective work lead them to Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, the seller of the statue, who helps Claudia understand herself a little better.      

My Impressions

How did I not discover this book as a kid?  Claudia is a smart, resourceful eleven-year-old with whom any girl can relate.  The same goes for her miserly, yet clever younger brother Jamie.  Who doesn't know that boy in elementary school, if not their own family?  Mrs. Frankweiler's voice is clear, witty, and insightful, with many of her comments about the adventure bringing a smile to my face.  The interactions between Claudia and Jaime are instantly relatable to anyone who has ever experienced a sibling relationship.   Konigsburg's few sketchy drawings help to establish the feel of certain scenes, such as the children bathing in the fountain after hours or the long, long row of filing cabinets in Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler's office.  The map of the museum is a fun addition, as it pulls the reader into the museum to follow the children as they move from one room to another.  The mystery of the statue's sculptor, combined with Claudia's journey of self-discovery, create a heartwarming and enjoyable story that is sure to capture the attention of many school-age children.

Review

"Claudia Kincaid was a careful and organised planner. She liked culture, but most of all she liked her creature comforts. So when she decided to run away from her middleclass suburban neighbourhood, she headed for the most elegant place in the world: the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. After careful consideration Claudia choose Jamie, her spendthrift 9-year-old brother, to accompany her on her great adventure. 'They complemented each other perfectly. She was cautious (about everything but money) and poor; he was adventurous (about everything but money) and rich.' The pair become wrapped up in a captivating art mystery and eventually meet the narrator of the book. Konigsburg writes a very quirky narrative and has a great ear for dialogue. The eccentric exchange between brother and sister is captured perfectly throughout the story, the siblings being an odd couple, both with plenty of foibles but incredibly likeable. Claudia is quite precocious and loves to daydream, but manages to maintain a cautious grip on their education and her brother's grammar. She has everything covered from where they sleep (in a 16th-century bed) to where they bathe (in the fountain by the restaurant). Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler narrates the story with occasional side comments to her lawyer, Saxonberg. At times her witty observations seem to interrupt the children's droll dialogue. This book was first published in 1967 and won the Newbery Medal, America's top award for children's literature. Apart from the odd archaic expression, the story still holds its simple and extremely humorous appeal. It is all the more relevant considering its obvious influence on the recent Golden Globe winning film 'The Royal Tenenbaums'. Ages 9 to 12."


Quinn, S.  (2003).  [Review of the book From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E.L. Konigsburg.  The magazine of children's books Ireland, 6.  Retrieved from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. 

Suggested Library Uses

• Host a mystery at the library for children in grades 4-6.  Set the scene and develop clues that can be solved using library resources, much like Claudia and Jamie attempted to do.  Staff or volunteers can dress up as Mrs. Basil E. Frankenweiler-like characters to interview.  A preliminary library orientation may be necessary, but would be a great opportunity to show kids around the library.
• Visit a local museum with an after-school group.  In addition to planning a scavenger hunt, children can write a story about what they would do if they lived at the museum.  There are a variety of picture books and chapter books that can supplement the visit.  For suggestions, read "Beyond Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler," by Angela Leeper.  See the citation below.
• Leeper, A.  (2009).  Beyond Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler:  Books about museums.  Book     Links, 18(5), 26-30.  Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklinks/index.cfm.

Find it @ Your Library - Albany County Public Library

J K836FR

Notes

Winner, Newbery Medal, 1968

Educators Top 100 Children's Books, 2007 (NEA)

Module 3: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brain Selznick

"I like to imagine that the world is one big machine.  You know, machines never have any extra parts.  They have the exact number and types of parts they need.  So I figure if the entire world is a big machine, I have to be here for some reason, too."

www.goodreads.com

Citations

Selznick, B.  (2007).  The invention of Hugo Cabret.  London:  Scholastic Ltd.

Summary

Part novel, part picture book, part graphic novel, part film on paper, this book tells the story of Hugo Cabret, a twelve-year-old boy who lives inside the walls of a Paris train station in the year 1931.  Believing a wind-up toy (also called an automaton) holds a connection to a father, Hugo longs to bring it back to life.  As he balances winding the train station's clocks and fixing the toy, he meets an angry old toymaker, an intriguing young girl, and a mysterious older boy with an eyepatch, and his secret mystery is suddenly in danger.  The story explores a little-known world of amazingly lifelike mechanical figurines, silent films, and the magic and dreams contained therein.  Winner of the 2008 Caldecott Medal.

My Impressions

I was initially interested by the format of the book, mixing full-page pencil drawings with novel-like narration.  I was immediately drawn into the story by the opening sequence of images and subsequent text.  Hugo is a loveable child with a mesmerizing story.  This book reminded me what I loved about books when I was a kid:  characters that you felt like you knew, or wanted to be friends with; faraway places and the exposure to new and  fascinating things, like automata and silent films.  There's magic in between the covers of this book, and I hope that kids give this 500-page book a chance after seeing how thick it is.

Review
"Gr 4-9 -- With characteristic intelligence, exquisite images, and a breathtaking design, Selznick shatters conventions related to the art of bookmaking in this magical mystery set in 1930s Paris.  He employs wordless sequential pictures and distinct pages of text to let the cinematic story unfold, and the artwork, rendered in pencil and bordered in black, contains elements of a flipbook, a graphic novel, and film.  It opens with a small square depicting a full moon centered on a black spread.  As readers flip the pages, the image grows and the moon recedes.  A boy on the run slips through the grate to take refuge inside the walls of a train station-home for this orphaned, apprentice clock keeper.  As Hugo seeks to accomplish his mission, his life intersects with a cantankerous toyshop owner and a feisty girl who won't be ignored.  Each character possesses secrets and something of great value to the other.  With deft foreshadowing,  sensitively wrought characters, and heart-pounding suspense, the author engineers the elements of his complex plot:  speeding trains, clocks, footsteps, dreams, and movies-especially those by Georges Melies, the French pioneer of science-fiction cinema.  Movie stills are cleverly interspersed.  Selznick's art ranges from evocative, shadowy spreads of Parisian streets to penetrating character closeups.  Leaving much to ponder about loss, time, family, and the creative impulse, the book closes with a waning moon, a diminishing square, and informative credits.  This is a masterful narrative that readers can literally manipulate."

Lukehart, W.  (2007).  [Review of The invention of Hugo Cabret by B. Selznick].  School Library Journal.  53(3), 218.  Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com.


Suggested Library Uses
The back of the book features websites for more information about automata and Georges Melies, the filmmaker in the novel, as well as credits for images and citations for the real films mentioned in the book.  

• Host an informative session about the history of automata.  Have some machines available for demonstration, or at least video clips of automata.  Wooden kits are available for purchase, but can be pricey.  The children's toy, K'nex will also serve the purpose.  A trip to a local museum that has automata, if applicable, is also a good idea.
• Host a silent film night.  Discuss Georges Melies' contribution to silent film.  Reading the book Before Hollywood: From Shadow Play to the Silver Screen by Paul Clee can teach about early films. Show a silent film (not necessarily by Melies, though this or one mentioned in the book would be a bonus!).  If children in the audience become antsy, invite some to come forward and provide the dialogue. 

Find it @ Your Library - Albany County Public Library

J SE489I

Notes

Winner of the Caldecott Medal, 2008

Top Ten, YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2008

National Book Award Finalist, 2007

Nominee, Wyoming's Indian Paintbrush Award (Grades 4-6), 2008-2009