Chains by: Laurie Halse Anderson

1. Bibliographic Data
Anderson, Laurie Halse. Chains . New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2008.

2. Plot Summary
Chains starts out with Isabel and her little Ruth preparing to be freed now that their master had died, Miss Finch. Miss Finch's nephew has other plans and sells them immediately after the funeral to a rich, evil couple, the Locktons, who take them to New York. Isabel is treated very poorly by Mrs. Lockton, while Ruth was treated better because she thought she could manipulate her. Ruth was prone to episodes, and Mrs. Lockton finally experienced one, which ends with Ruth being taken away from Isabel and sold to another family. Isabel finds herself so lost and angry until she meets Curzon. Isabel does not care about the Revolutionary War going on, and all she worries about is being free. Curzon encourages Isabel to spy on her Loyalist masters, and tell what she knows to the Patriots. Isabel is torn between the decision, but knows this is her only way to freedom and finding her sister. Her missions are dangerous and end up tearing her and Curzon apart.

3. Critical Analysis
Laurie Halse Anderson creates and intriguing story that will leave the reader wanting to know what is going to happen next. The story is told through a young, slave girl in the 1700s so children can not really relate to all of the problems Isabel has to deal with, but the story is so entertaining. Children could relate to her bravery, and wonder if they would be as brave as Isabel to gain freedom. The setting of the book is in New England in the thick of the Revolutionary War. The facts and a few characters are real, which Anderson explains at the end of the book. The theme of the story revolves around Isabel's struggle for freedom. The reader will get lost in the story, and not even realize they are learning about a very important war in American history, and the struggle of many slaves during this timer period. Chains is meant for the young adult crowd because of its content and length, but is very highly recommended book.
*Readers can now read Forge which picks up where Chains left off, and tells the story through Curzon.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Cybil Award, 2009
*Scott O'Dell Award, 2009
*Childrens Literature..."Once she throws her lot in with Curzon, the die is cast, and Isabel finds herself fighting colonial apathy and Mrs. Lockton’s cruelty as she strives to help Curzon and the revolutionary spirit of those around her. The sequel to this novel is coming, and if it is half the book this one is, it will be well worth the wait."

5. Connections
*Ask the children what they would have done if they were in Isabel's place. What do they think about the Locktons? Curzon?
*Read or recommend Forge the sequel.
*Discuss the questions and Anderson's answers at the back of the book. Discuss what was fact and what was not.

"Chains." Children's Literature Reviews. ezproxy.twu.edu:2245/cgi-bin/member/search (accessed November 11, 2010).

The Ballad of Lucy Whipple by: Karen Cushman

1. Bibliographic Data
Cushman, Karen. The Ballad of Lucy Whipple . New York: Clarion Books, 1996.

2. Plot Summary
The Ballad of Lucy Whipple is about a girl and her family moving West to California during the Gold Rush. Lucy lost her dad and a younger brother before they left for California, but her mom, brother, and two little sisters make the trip with her. Lucy is really unhappy about moving away from Massachusetts and her grandparents, and hates Lucky Diggins, California and all of its dirt. Throughout the book Lucy dreams about moving, and saves her money to move back East. The only thing that keeps her going is her books. The Whipples go tough a time when they lose Butte, the only boy left in the family. Lucy makes many friends while living in Lucky Diggins, but she doesn't know at the time. After long summers and winters, and a devastating fire Lucy's mom and new husband decide to move to the Sandwich Islands. Lucy makes the choice to stay behind to move back East with another family that is leaving. When it is finally time for her to go, she can't. She realizes she loves this place, and writes to her mom telling her "home is where I am loved and safe and needed. And that's Lucky Diggins". Lucy ends of living happily ever after in Lucky Diggins as the librarian at the new library.

3. Critical Analysis
Karen Cushman does an excellent job of describing the hard times during the Gold Rush in California, but keeps it interesting through Lucy Whipple's story. The story is humorous and sad at times, but is a good read for a child. Lucy Whipple is easy to identify with for children because she goes through the same things a child would go through today, like doing chores or finding new friends. The description of the setting is accurate in explaining the long winters and summers that plagued the miners during this time. The theme of the book touches on dealing with loss, moving, getting along with your parents, and making new friends, all of these being issues a child could deal with today. Cushman's style of writing is present through out the book, and the reader is exposed to how people spoke then, like the terms ma and pa, which kids don't hear often today.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*John and Patricia Beatty Award, 1997
*ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Awards, 1997
*Lots of interesting characters and descriptions of the hard life facing the miners and others whose livelihoods are part of the gold fever make for an amusing and informative look at California and the struggles of one girl to find herself and a place to call home."

5. Connections
*Lucy often discusses some of her favorite books, ask the children what some of their favorite books are. Have them write down the books they would like to take with them if they had to move away to a place with no library.
*Ask the children questions about the time period, and use the small history lesson at the back of the book to explain to them what the time were really like.
*Have the children draw a picture of what they envision Lucky Diggins to look like.

"The Ballad of Lucy Whipple." Childrens Literature . ezproxy.twu.edu:2245/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~dHoznf:2 (accessed November 11, 2010).

Al Capone Does My Shirts by: Gennifer Choldenko

1. Bibliographic Data
Choldenko, Gennifer. Al Capone does my shirts . New York: G.p. Putnam's Sons, 2004.

2.Plot Summary
Al Capone Does My Shirts is about a young boy, Moose, and his family moving to Alcatraz, so they can afford to send his sister to a special school. The story is set during the thirties when popular cons are living on Alcatraz, like Al Capone. Moose is angry at first that he had move away from his home and friends, but he quickly finds himself with a new group of friends who all live on the island. Piper the warden's daughter is always up to trouble, and bringing Moose in to the middle of it, like charging kids at school to have Capone do their laundry. Meanwhile, his family is dealing with his sister, who we now know has autism, and getting her in to this promising school in San Fransisco. After twice getting turned down, Moose takes matters in to his own hands. He knew if he could get a message to Al Capone that he could help him out, and talk to the headmaster at the school. Moose writes Capone a letter explaining everything, and one afternoon he comes home to find out his sister has been accepted. Moose's parents just think life is so unexpected sometimes, but Moose thinks differently, especially when he finds the wrinkled note in his freshly laundered shirt saying "DONE".

3. Critical Analysis
Gennifer Choldenko's portrayal of Alcatraz during the thirties is accurate and information, but is entertaining as well as the reader embarks on the complicated relationship between Moose and his sister, Natalie. The children in this store are all fictional, but they all portray what children were like during this time period. Moose, for example, loves baseball and would play everyday, and this was when baseball was considered the American past time. The description of the children's clothes that they pay to have laundered by Al Capone are also a reflection of the time period. The setting of the story is set on Alcatraz island when they had the most famous cons living there. The plot of the story could be realistic because Choldenko writes a few pages at the end of the story explaining how worker's families did live on the island, and come in to close contact with the prisoners. The prisoners really did do the families laundry. The book captures Choldenko's creative voice, but the reader also gets to read how people spoke during the thirties through the dialogue of the families in the story. Al Capone Does My Shirts is an entertaining, and emotional at times, story that children can relate to while learning about the history of Alcatraz and its inhabitants.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Carnegie Medal, 2004
*John Newbery Medal, 2005
*Young Adult Book Award, 2006
*Childrens Literature..."This is an incredibly readable book; its chapters are short, its plot driving, its characters well-rounded and intriguing, and the setting fascinating."

5.Connections
*Have the kids discuss what they think life would be like on Alcatraz island.
*Let the children choose another book by Gennifer Choldenko, like Notes from a Liar and her Dog
*Ask the kids if they have ever had to move away from a friend, or had a friend move away from them, and how they felt.

"Al Capone Does my Shirts." Childrens Literature. ezproxy.twu.edu:2245/cgi-bin/member/search (accessed November 11, 2010).