NIGHT
OF THE HOWLING DOGS BY GRAHAM SALISBURY
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Salisbury, G. (2007). Night of the howling dogs (First ed.).
New York: Random House.
ISBN 9780385731225
PLOT SUMMARY
Night of the Howling Dogs, is based on
the true events of a Boy Scout troop’s camping trip turned deadly. While camping along the shore at Halape
(Ha-la-pay) Volcanoes National Park, in Hawaii, the boys and their leaders are hit by an earthquake and a
tsunami. The story begins with the boys
excitingly gathering their gear. Dylan
is upset to find out that Louie, a tough
Hawaiian kid, with a chip on his shoulder, who once threatened Dylan, is coming along on the trip. As the new senior patrol leader, Dylan
decides to ignore Louie and make the best of the trip. The troop sets out on the grueling 12 mile
hike from a cliff on Mauna Loa, 2,000 feet above sea level to a secluded
coconut grove by the ocean. Finally, after several hours the boys reach their destination,
a lush tropical island isolated from civilization. The boys swim, get stung by wasps, tell ghost stories, and
are frightened by a shark. One night
they meet Masa, a paniolo, who tells them a legend of Pele, a small white dog
sent to warn people of the danger of the volcano. Then on the morning of the third day, their tranquil
world falls apart. First, the earthquake brings down the cliff in a hail of
boulders, and then the wall of water bears down on them like a mountain. The unsuspecting
troop is scattered, injured and afraid.
Dylan and Louie must team up to save the troop and get everyone out
alive.
CRITICAL
ANALYSIS
Salisbury
skillfully weaves together the story, narrated by Dylan, detailing the joys of friendship,
the adventure of scouting, and the fear of facing a natural disaster.
His vivid storytelling left an impression on my mind of the beauty of Hawaii,
as well as the dangerous hot lava, jagged rocks, rising water and the tough
terrain the boys encountered on their trip. He brilliantly introduces
foreshadowing into his story by including the Hawaiian culture and legends of
the howling dog Pele.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Like any good
survival story, this will make readers ponder what they would do when survival
is on the line. A sure-fire literary thriller. (Kirkus Reviews, July 1st, 2007)
"Salisbury weaves Hawaiian legend into the modern-day narrative to create haunting, unusual novels that will practically book talk itself." —Carolyn Phelan Starred Review, Booklist, August 1, 2007
“This vivid adventure soon strips
away every vestige of normality leaving characters dependent on their wits.”—Book List Starred 8/07
CONNECTIONS
A great resource to discuss the important events in Hawaiin
history.
AWARDS
NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
2008, Geography/People/Places
ALL
THE WAY HOME BY PATRICIA RILEY GIFF
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Giff, P. R.
(2001). All the Way Home. New York, New York: Delacorte Press.
ISBN
0385322097
PLOT SUMMARY
All the Way Home by Patricia Giff, is a
heartwarming story of a young girl who lives in Brooklyn and a young boy who
lives in the Midwest on a farm. Although,
they live miles apart, they have one thing in common, the town of Windy
Hill. As a child, Mariel contracted polio
and was hospitalized in Windy Hill, where Brick Tiernan lives. She was soon adopted by her nurse Loretta
and moved to Brooklyn, right next to the Dodgers Stadium. Brick loves the Dodgers and listens to the
games on his radio while working on his family’s apple orchard. Tragedy strikes Brick’s family when a fire
destroys the orchard and he is sent to Brooklyn to live with Loretta and Mariel. Together they find a way to return to Windy
Hill, save the apple harvest, and learn the truth about Mariel’s mother.
CRITICAL
ANALYSIS
Patricia Giff’s writing is simple and keeps the
reader interested. Although, this book
is historical fiction it does share real events of the era. Readers are introduced to Polio with little
information on how it was contracted.
This omission leaves the reader wanting more information of how it was
transmitted, how children looked, and how they lived with a debilitating
condition during the Great Depression.
This book actually had me asking all these questions and enticed an
informative conversation with my mother who was born in the 1940’s.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Giff's
writing is filled with wonderful details that appeal to all of the senses.
Readers experience the treacherous fire just as realistically as they cheer
when Mariel catches a fly ball. A compelling story of two unforgettable
youngsters, their strength, and their friendship. (Barbara Auerbach, School Library Journal)
In her tightly woven, inspirational story, every character
counts: Brick and Mariel's determination to beat the odds is mirrored in
Loretta's hope that her beloved Dodgers will win the pennant. The characters
unashamedly care about each other, long for home, and treasure family love.
They are winners, as is Loretta's favorite baseball team.( Ellen Mandel, Booklist)
CONNECTIONS
Students could research polio, and its effects on the
body. Another great connection to
history is President Franklin Roosevelt, his life with the disease, overcoming
his condition and becoming the first president with a disability. With his strength and determination he became
an inspirational figure for disabled people around the world.
PENNY FROM HEAVEN BY
JENNIFER L. HOLM
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Holm, J. L.
(2006). Penny from Heaven (First ed.). New York, New York: Random
House.
ISBN
0375936874
PLOT SUMMARY
Jennifer Holm has taken her personal family history and crafted an
excellent work of historical fiction in Penny
From Heaven. The book follows Penny, and her family throughout the
summer of 1953. Penny, nicknamed for a Bing Crosby song, is 11 years old and like
many other girls her age, she loves Dodgers baseball, butter pecan ice cream, her
dog Scarlett, and her family. She lives
with her mother, grandmother, and grandfather in New Jersey. Her father died when she was young and she
has always wanted to know what happened to him. Although, her father is gone, she remains
close to his large Italian family. She dislikes mean girls from school, not being
allowed to go to the swimming pool, due to her mom’s fear of Polio, her
grandmother Me-me’s cooking, and especially her mother's new boyfriend. Penny enjoys working in her Uncle's store and
playing with her cousin over the summer, but this all comes to an abrupt end
after a serious injury. Throughout the novel, Penny learns more about her
family, her father’s death, and ultimately becomes hopeful towards a new
future.
CRITICAL
ANALYSIS
Holm brilliantly uses the first person
narrative to let the reader make a personal connection with Penny. Her kind, smart, funny and thoughtful
character shows throughout the book. Holm’s
mention of the family’s fear to speak Italian in public, allows the reader to
sympathize with the family and get a glimpse of hatred and loathing some people
felt against Italian’s during that era.
Another historical element similar in books based
in the 1940’s -1950’s was the real fear of contracting Polio. Due to the uncertainty of how polio was
transmitted Penny’s mother was deathly afraid that she would contract polio
while swimming in the pool. The pride
and love for the Dodgers shows readers the pastime many children and families enjoyed.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Holm
impressively wraps pathos with comedy in this coming-of-age story, populated by
a cast of vivid characters (a burping, farting grandpa; an eccentric uncle who
lives in his car--"not exactly normal for people in New Jersey").
Concluding with a photo-illustrated endnote explaining Holm's inspirations in
family history, this languidly paced novel will appeal most to readers who
appreciate gentle, episodic tales with a nostalgic flavor. ( Jennifer
Mattson,Booklist)
CONNECTIONS
Students
could research polio, and its effects on the body. Students can also research
Italy, Italian food, their customs and traditions.
AWARDS
John Newberry Medal Honor Book 2007
Rebecca Caudill Young Reader’s Book Award nominee in 2009
The New York Times children book best seller in 2007
ELIJAH
OF BUXTON BY CHRISTOPHER PAUL CURTIS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Curtis, C. P.
(2007). Elijah of Buxton(First ed.). New York, New York: Scholastic
Press.
ISBN
9780439023443
PLOT SUMMARY
In 1849 Eleven-year-old
Elijah Freeman, is the first freeborn child in Buxton, Canada, a settlement
established for former slaves just over the Michigan border. Elijah can
"chunk rocks" with such accuracy that he catches fish by taking aim
and hitting them on the head with stones. As Elijah is returning home with ten
fish, he runs into the Preacher, a former slave, who tricks him out of the
fish. Elijah becomes suspicious and
uncertain of the Pastor but he continues to associate with him. When the carnival comes to town, the children
of Buxton are forbidden to go, due to its appalling reputation. In an attempt to help the Buxton community,
Elijah defies his parents and heads to the circus with the Preacher. With the support of Elijah, Mr. Leroy
entrusts the Preacher with money he’s been saving to free his family from slavery,
and sends him to a village in Michigan to retrieve his family. Tricked again by the Preacher, Elijah sets
out to America to find him, and discovers the horrors of slavery and the
reasons his family fled.
CRITICAL
ANALYSIS
Curtis
tells his story in the first person narrative allowing the reader to experience
Elijah’s personal insecurities, suspicions of the Preacher and his realization
of the dishonest nature of people. Curtis’
brilliant use of language and text exposes the reader to the hard life of
slavery and the right of all men to be free.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Many readers drawn to the book by humor will find
themselves at times on the edges of their seats in suspense and, at other
moments, moved to tears. A fine, original novel from a gifted storyteller.
Phelan, Carolyn (Booklist)
CONNECTIONS
Students can research slavery in the early 1800’s and its
abolishment.
AWARDS
John Newberry Medal 2008
Coretta Scott King Award for Authors 2008
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