Module 5: Historical Fiction

  

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cline-Ransome, Resa. 2018. FINDING LANGSTON. NewYork: Holiday Publishing Housr Inc. ISBN 9780823439607

2.PLOT DEVELOPMENT

After the death of his mother, Langston and his father leave their beloved home of Alabama to start a new life in Chicago.  Langston life in the new city was not easy.  He felt that he did not fit in and was constantly teased by school bullies who called him "Country boy."  He soon discovers a public library whom welcome everyone, something he did hot have back home.  There he found a hiding place and the love poetry from famous African American poets.

3. CRITICAL DEVELOPMENT

Cline-Ransome historical fictional book illustrates a glimpse of the life of African-American

people who had to endure injustices during the 1940's.  "Finding Langston." is a story that touches the lives of families who have experienced  the death of a loved one.  There are many topics of discussion to address with this book; for example, Langston and his father relocation after the loss of his mother was a very difficult time in their lives.  Not only was leaving their home a difficult decisions, but trying to deal with grief in an unknown city with no place for support.  Dealing with a significant loss can be one the most difficult and traumatic times for any child and finding support through various avenues is valid.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Coretta Scott Award Nominee

"An engaging, quick, and relatable read that skillfully incorporates themes of race, class, post-war American life in the North and South, and a bit of Langston Hughes' poetry.  This is a story that will stay with readers long after they've finished it." --School Library Journal, Starred Review

"Finding Langston is about cultural heritage and personal growth  and , at its heart, about finding home whenever you land."--Shelf Awareness, Starred Review

5. CONNECTON

Other books connected to this book are;

*Cline-Ransome, Leesa. 2020. LEAVING LYMON. ISBN 978082344427

*Cline-Ransome, Leesa. 2020. OVERGROUND RAILROAD. ISBM 9780823438730

_____________________________________________________________________

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brubaker Bradley, Kimberly. 2015. THE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE. Narrated by Jayne Entwhistle et al., Audible. 2015. Audiobook


2. PLOT DEVELOPMENT

Young Ada has never know the felling of being outdoors.  For years she has been forbidding to stay indoors because her mother is ashamed of her daughter's cripple foot.  One day her brother is to be shipped out to London to escape the war and Ada plans to go with him too.  Ada and her brother meet Ms. Smith the lady who would care for them.  Ada soon learns how to do many things on her own that she couldn't do before, like ride a pony, learns to read, watches German spy movies and finds a friend in Ms. Smith.  The dilemma of returning home after the war.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This historical book allows readers to see the point of view of a young girl living through so much drama and pain during WWII.  Moreover, having to make a difficult decision to flee with her younger brother after years of physical and mental abuse by her mother.  After fleeing she is having to learn to accept unconditional love from others.  There are many themes that can be covered and discussed in school classrooms: abuse, living with disability and illness, overcoming challenges, foster care, WWII, challenges of family and the concept of accepting oneself.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2016 Newbery Honor Book

" Ada's voice is brisk and honest; her dawning realization are made all the more poignant their simplicity.... Things come to an explosive head, metaphorically and literally, ignorance and abuse are brought to light, as are the healing powers of care, respect and love.  Set against a backdrop of war and sacrifice, Ada's personal fight for freedom and ultimate triumph are cause for celebration."--The Wall Street Journal

5. CONNECTION

Other books connected to this book are the following:

*Lai Thannha. 2013. INSIDE OUT AND BACK AGAIN. ISBN 10:0061962791

*Bradbaker, Bradley, Kimberly. THE WAR I WON. ISBN 10: 0147516811

______________________________________________________________________________

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cuschman, Karen. 1995. THE MIDWIFE"S APPRENTICE. NewYork: Clarion Books. ISBN 0-395-69229-6

2. PLOT DEVELOPMENT

A small pale girl, with no mother or a place to call home.  Brat was her name and she wandered through the streets hungry and alone hoping for a place to keep her safe.  Everyone teased her as she begged for work and scarcity of help was experienced.  Brat was discovered in a village somewhere in England asleep in a dung heap by a women named Jane the Midwife.  She was homeless and now becomes the Midwife's apprentices.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The author creates a story of a young girl who struggles to find her identity as she is ridiculed, taken for granted as she finds ways to valued her worth.  There are several literary analysis that can be discussed with this book.  For example, students are able to work with a partner or in a group to discuss and identify the plot of the story, characterization, theme, setting, symbolism ans style of the book.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

John Newbery Medal

"WIth simplicity, wit, and humor, Cushman presents another tale of medieval England.  Here readers follow the satisfying, literal and figurative journey of a homeless, nameless child called Brat...Earthly humor, the foibles of humans both high and low, and a fascination mix of superstition and genuinely helpful herbal remedies attached to childbirth make this a truly delighted introduction to a world seldom seen in children's literature.-- School Library Journal, starred review.

" This novel is about a strong, young woman in medieval England who finds her own way home. ... Kids will be caught up in this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she' not ugly or stupid or alone.----Booklist, starred review

5. CONNECTION

Other books connected to this book are:

*Blos, Jane.  1999. GATHERING OF DAYS: A NEW ENGLAND GIRLS JOURNAL 1630-32. ISBN 0689829914

_______________________________________________________________________________

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kelly, Jacqueline. 2009. THE EVOLUTION OF CALPURNIA TATE. NewYork: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 10: 0-8050-8841-5

2. PLOT DEVELOPMENT

"Callie Vee," as she liked to be called, but little did she know that her real name was Calpurnia. Her named stood for something more than just a name, after hearing her granddaddy's talk about it.  Although Callie wasn't too fond of her grandfather due to his cranky personality, she soon build a close relationship with him after hearing he was an avid naturalist.  They spent a lot of time together exploring the world around them.  Growing up in the late 1800's, Calpurnia's mother did not think this lifestyle was suitable for a girl whose duties was to find a suitable husband and tend to home duties.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Kelly's introduces us to a young girl who lived during the late 1800's.  Calpurnia was not lie any other girl, she was different from other girls her time.  She was in fact a very curious young girl who enjoyed exploring and learning new things and hoping to attend a university and become a naturalist and scientist.  Some of the topics of discussion students can talk about are compare and contrast a girl like Calpurnia in the late 1800's to a girl of today with the same dreams.  Students can also discuss choices of attending a university as compared to Calpurnia during her time.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

"The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is the most delighted historical novel for tweens in many many years.... Callie's struggles to find a place in the world where she'll be encouraged in the gawky joys of intellectual curiosity are fresh, funny, and poignant today." ---The New Yorker, "Book Bench" section

" In her debut novel, Jacqueline Kelly brings to vivid life a boisterous small-town family at the dawn of anew century.  And she especially shines in her depiction of the natural world that so intrigues Callie... Readers will want to crank up the A. C. before cracking the cover, though.  That first chapter packs a lot of summer heat." ---The Washington Post

5.CONNECTION

Books connected to this type of story are:

*Kelly, Jacqueline. 2017. THE CURIOUS WORLD OF CALPURNIA TATE. ISBN-13:978125011627

*Kelly, Jacqueline. 2017. COUNTING SHEEP. ISBN 1627798709