Module 13: The Plain Janes

Module 13: (November 15-21)

Castellucci, C. (2007). The Plain Janes. New York, NY: DC Comics.

Summary: The story starts with a bang—literally—as the large city where Jane lives has a section of it blown up by a terrorist. After the attack, Jane’s parents move her to the “safe” suburbs, but formerly shallow Jane is utterly changed by the event, and finds herself an outcast. She eventually befriends three other girls with various versions and spellings of the name “Jane,” and the foursome create a secret group that goes around the town creating “art” in the forgotten places of the city to make the town pay attention to often humanitarian, environmental, or philosophical issues.

My Impressions: I was really shocked by how much I enjoyed this graphic novel! I didn’t know what the plot was when I started it, but I was almost immediately sucked into the story and the main character’s life as I began to read. I loved the messages of identity and beauty, as well as the questions raised about what could be called “art,” and the idea that we can’t let our fear of what “might happen” keep us from living. I just discovered there is a sequel to this graphic novel, and I will definitely be reading it to find out what happens to the Plain Janes!

Reviews: “Castellucci gives each girl a distinct personality, and spirited, compassionate Main Jane is especially captivating. Rugg's drawings aren't in superhero or manga style, but resemble the more spare, clean style of alternative comics creators such as Dan Clowes and Craig Thompson. A thoughtful look at the pressures to conform and the importance of self-expression, this is also a highly accessible read. Regular comics readers will enjoy it, but fans of soul-searching, realistic young adult fiction should know about it as well.—Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY. School Library Journal. http://www.amazon.com/Plain-Janes-Minx-Cecil-Castellucci/dp/1401211151/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1290929817&sr=1-1

“The premise is intriguing, relevant, and disturbing, even as the resolution leaves more questions. When is an art attack sabotage, graffiti, or vandalism? How can people reinvent their lives despite fear? DC's new Minx line promises eclectic, real-world stories that honor girls' intelligence and assertiveness, and this title delivers.”—Library Journal. http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2548/merge_shared/details/RecordDetails.asp?item_uid=65157782&viewItemIndex=0&navPage=1&FullText=&BipAlertQueryString=&BipAlertDisplayQText=

Library Use: I think this graphic novel would be great for a book talk on socially aware graphic novels. The talk might also include the graphic novels Maus, Persepolis, and Pyongyang, all to show that despite the misconceptions by the masses, graphic novels are at times both highly sophisticated in content and illustrations, and are certainly more than just “comic books.” This type of book talk might be ideal for not only skeptical teens, but also parents, teachers, and perhaps even some librarians who are unfamiliar with the genre.

Image retrieved from: http://www.amazon.com/Plain-Janes-Minx-Cecil-Castellucci/dp/1401211151/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1290838224&sr=1-1

Module 12: Nevermore: A Photobiography of Edgar Allan Poe

Module 12: (November 8-14)

Lange, K. E. (2009). Nevermore: A Photobiography of Edgar Allan Poe. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic.

Summary: This “photobiography” illustrates the life and career of Edgar Allan Poe from his tragic youth and his ill-fated marriages and relationships, to his career highs and lows, as well as his increasing descent into madness and addiction, all through photos, illustrations, and letters from his life.

My Impressions: I didn’t really know what to expect when I started reading this book, but I ended up thoroughly enjoying myself! Based on my limited reading of Poe, I could have guessed that he had a dark, tragic background, and this book confirms that. Besides that, I was interested to learn that he was also an addict, alcoholic, and suffered from mental illnesses (it seems like all of the best authors and poets usually have at least one of these problems!). The photos, letters, and illustrations really help, rather than detract from the text as well. I wanted to go out and read some of Poe’s works after this!

Reviews: “The drama of Poe's tortured life unfolds in accessible prose. Textual information is interspersed with photos, artistic interpretations, and revealing quotations presented in script…. This volume offers a fairly complete and thoroughly readable description of Poe's life and his importance to literature. His writing is shown to have grown from his troubled, largely dark, lifetime experiences and the constant longing for connection and love. In addition to his creative writing, Lange discusses popular psychological interpretations of Poe's work and credits him with creating new literary genres such as the detective story and the horror story. The book's brevity and format render it a good addition for reports and background for an author study.”—Renee Steinberg, formerly at Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ. School Library Journal. http://www.libraryjournal.com/slj/printissue/currentissue/857197-427/grades_5_amp_up.html.csp

“Illustrated with many period photographs as well as pictures of Poe-related places and artifacts, the book has varied, spacious page layouts in which shades of turquoise add color to some of the illustrations and backgrounds. The jacket art, which features a photo of Poe’s face, overlaid with lines of manuscript, peering outward with haunted eyes, will draw both fans of Poe and a new audience. A chronology and lists of quote sources, books, articles, Internet sites, and historical sites conclude this handsome introduction to an American original.”—Carolyn Phelan. Booklist. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/142630398X/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

Library Use: You could use this in a “horror” display (we usually put one up in October for Halloween at my library), or you might also do a display for poets, or an entire display on Poe if there were enough materials, which might include the movies based on his stories, as well as the audio versions. Now that I know we have this book at my library I will recommend it for the photos alone for any students doing projects on Poe!

Image retrieved from: http://www.amazon.com/Nevermore-Photobiography-Edgar-Allan-Photobiographies/dp/142630398X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1290838198&sr=1-1

Module 11: What the World Eats

Module 11 (November 1-7)

D’Alusio, F. (2008). What the World Eats. Berkeley, CA: Tricycle Press.

Summary: The authors of this book wanted to chronicle the food eaten in a week for various families in over 21 different countries, including the United States, Mongolia, Greenland, Bhutan, and Chad. With each family’s section, there is a portrait of all the food that family will eat for the entire week, and the comparisons are startling. Also included are quick facts about each country profiled, as well as a recipe from each family.

My Impressions: This book is all at once incredibly fascinating, incredibly beautiful, and incredibly sad. How lucky we are in the United States and other more “Westernized” nations is undeniable as you flip through this book, and the heartbreaking circumstances of many of the families in this book is at times hard to look at. It is simply amazing how hard some of these families must work each day just to provide food and water for their families. This book gives us things to think about, and hopefully encourages us to do whatever we can to help those around the world in need.

Reviews: “Intended to inform middle-schoolers of the wide variety of food traditions as well as discrepancies in access to adequate nutrition, this collection of photos, essays and statistics will require thoughtful concentration….The plentiful photos are fascinating, offering both intimate glimpses of family life and panoramic views of other lands. Whether used for research or received as a gift from socially conscious adults, this version offers children plenty to chew over—but it’ll take them some time to truly digest.”—Kirkus Book Reviews. http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/childrens-books/faith-daluisio/what-the-world-eats/

“The main narrative presents friendly, multigenerational portraits of each family, with meals and food preparation an avenue toward understanding their hopes and struggles. A wealth of supporting information—lush color photographs, family recipes, maps, sidebars, etc.—surrounds the text (superb design accomplishes this job harmoniously) and implies questions about global food supplies…. Engrossing and certain to stimulate.”—Publisher’s Weekly. http://www.amazon.com/What-World-Eats-Faith-DAluisio/dp/1582462461/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1290928756&sr=1-1

Library Use: During the discussion boards, one of my classmates mentioned that they used this book as part of a large display at their library that included large poster-sized versions of some of these family portraits, as well as facts about the nations in the books. I thought this was a fantastic idea! If there was a space, it might also be interesting to recreate the amount of food eaten by one of the American families as part of the display, for more of a tangible comparison.

Image retrieved from: http://www.amazon.com/What-World-Eats-WHAT-WORLD/dp/B001TKYWQI/ref=sr_1_28?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1290838147&sr=1-28