Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf

Holm, J. L. (2007). Middle school is worse than meatloaf. (Castaldi, E. pictures). Antheneum Books for Young Readers. 128 pages. ISBN 9780689852817

Primary genre: realistic fiction

Other elements: family, friendship, humor

Intended reader age: 8 and up

Synopsis:

Ginny has created a list that will help her achieve the best possible year she can for 7^th grade. What she fails to take into account, however, are the possible set backs that she may encounter along the way, like accidentally ruining the tub with her bubble bath, being allergic to the new face mask, or breaking her arm trying to save her baby brother. Despite these problems, Ginny maintains her hope that the school year will end great because she knows that 8^th grade will bring its own set of problems.

Review:

A page from the book.

I love the way that the author structured this novel; it is not a traditional novel at all. Instead of having Ginny writing out the experiences, readers learn of them by reading notes, papers, diary entries, articles, letters, magazine clippings, newspaper blotters, prescriptions and more. It takes all the little writings that surround our life and shows how these little pieces can come together to tell a whole story.

Despite the different approach to the novel readers still get a feeling for the type of person Ginny is and the family she has. The initial list she makes pops up on subsequent pages with items crossed out or notes added, both by Ginny and at times by her mother. Her personal writings do help to get most of the important information across. The way that she interacts with these materials portrays the humor in the story as well. There is one page that has a purple sweater (a Christmas present) with a note from her stepfather saying “Hope you like it!” and under these items is a receipt for store credit for the item, indicating that it was returned.

One thing I have started to observe in tween literature, are the aspects that will date books. If they reference movies, ways of speaking, or popular products, stuff like that. The only thing that I can think of with this book is the instant messaging conversations Ginny has on her computer. These pages are laid out like a computer screen (we see her folders in the background) but the instant message boxes are similar to what they looked liked when I was younger. I do think some of that has to do with the version Ginny has. On the message box is the note ‘current version’ and ‘latest version’ so it is obvious Ginny is due for an update. My interactions with my cousin (who is now 13) has taught me that tweens are not really aware of updating their software, so I do like that little inclusion.

There was a second novel, Either Grade is Making me Sick, which follows a similar layout and presentation. Otherwise I will keep my eyes open for other novels that use a different approach to telling the story.

The paperback cover.

Wait Till Helen Comes

Hahn, M. D. (1986). Wait till Helen comes. Clarion Books. 184 pages. ISBN 0899194532

Primary genre: horror

Other elements: family, friendship, loss, adventure, mystery, suspense

Intended reader age: 7 and up

Synopsis:

Molly, Michael, and Heather are not getting along as well as their parents had hoped when they married. They become especially unhappy when their parents decide the best course of action is to move them far from all their friends and everything they know. But their mother and Dave, their new stepfather, have decided that this is the best course to bring the entire family together. Heather has always been withdrawn, considering the way in which she lost her mother, but the move sets her farther apart from everyone. She has made a new friend, one who promises to make everything better, who just happens to be a ghost.

Review:

I cannot recall ever reading this book when I was younger. I was absolutely into the whole ‘horror’ genre (huge fan of Goosebumps and then later Fear Street) but I think I just missed all the Hahn books.

I can definitely see where the thrills would come in for kids; there was a great deal of build up to the introduction of Helen. First we learn of the graveyard, then we find the hidden grave, then Heather keeps disappearing and talking to someone, and on. I think much of the horror and thrill of this book comes from the perspective that Molly gives. Everyone around her did not believe in the prospect of ghosts, but she continued in her belief. Hahn did a fantastic job of portraying those feelings that we have all experienced when we get scared.

There were moments where I became a little annoyed with Molly. Just as her family felt, I felt she was a bit too much of a chicken at times. I did like that she fessed up to it. She was honest with herself and admitted that tendency. But, she also stuck with her conviction that this tendency had nothing to do with what was occurring with Heather. 

After reading this I am interested in reading more of Hahn’s books. All the Lovely Bad Ones and The Old Willis Place have always appealed to me just as much as Wait Till Helen Comes has. 

The new, creepier cover

The Word Eater

Amato, M. (2000). The word eater. (Ryniak, C. illus.). Holiday House. 151 pages. ISBN 0823419401

Primary genre: fantasy

Other elements: friendship, family

Intended reader age: 8 and up

Synopsis:

Lerner Chanse is having a hard time adjusting to her new new school. Her one chance to make it into the popular club was ruined and friends are not as easy to come by as she thought. One day, she finds a tiny worm that has the ability to eat words and once it eats the words the thing itself disappears. Now Lerner finds herself in a position to enact changes to make things go the way she wants. But, with this power comes the questions of right and wrong and how far Lerner will go to achieve popularity.

Review:

I think my favorite part in this novel was the chapter headers that were included. The chapters were given an image similar to day-by-day calendar and on each of these days there was a quote from other children’s novels. Each quote was slightly modified so the word ‘worm’ was included, either in the name of the author, the title, or the actual quote. I feel that this gives readers a chance to either interest them in other works outside of this one or at least interest them figuring out which part of the quote was modified.

The story raises the interesting concept of right and wrong for readers. But, it did become a bit too (almost) preachy with pointing out the exact right way to do things. I think much of this had to do with how the author wrote the characters. They came off as younger than they should have been. When Lerner was thinking over what would happen if people found the worm, her thoughts all centered on how the government would give her a job, and that just came as a bit too far reaching for me. It was also odd how the author made it the worm that found the solution, not the kids involved. 

I was interested in the concept that was the basic story: eating words erased the things. But, it was only the physical things that were removed and not the other words. People were able to write about the missing things, but they could not remake them. They could have the components that made up the things, but if they tried to make the actual thing it disappeared. The premise did remind me of an adult book I read, Elle Minnow Pea. In that story, however, the people had to learn not use letters once they fell from the sign. It also reminded me of The Chocolate Touch, the idea of being careful what you wish for.

Book Promotion: The Kingdom Keepers

Here is my second book promotion exercise. In this one I created an Animoto video of a book that I really enjoy: The Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson. I had a great time with this exercise. It was fun to find images that represented the story, wording it just right, and using the Animoto video and music to make it all come together.

Movie Review: Oz the Great and Powerful

Roth, J. (Producer). Raimi, S. (Director). (2013). Oz the great and powerful. [Motion picture]. United States: Roth Films. 130 minutes

Primary genre: Fantasy

Other elements: friendship, loss, politics, adventure

Rated: PG

Synopsis:

Oscar (Oz) Diggs, a magician in a small-time traveling circus, is certain that there are opportunities out there for him become a great man. When a storm hits the Kansas location he is finishing up at he is caught in a tornado that transports him to another world entirely, the Land of Oz. His appearance and name set off a series of events that leave him mistaken for the great magician this world has been waiting for. Political unrest plagues this world and it will be up to Oz to decide which side is telling the truth and to help them set things to right. 

Review:

To my understanding, Frank L. Baum never wrote a prequel for his Oz series. I am a SciFi reader and with any series in that genre there is a great chance there will be a prequel story so I have just come to expect it for the most part. I always enjoy getting a look at the back-story, finding out what made certain characters turn out the way they did.

Oz the Great and Powerful does give me that look at the characters I grew up reading about and watching on TV. I tried to stay away from reviews before I went to see the movie. I always like to go in with an open mind and just (hopefully) enjoy the experience. I did just happen to come across one descriptor of the story line that gave me an indication of the way the story was going to progress. At first I was confused as to why they made Oz a womanizer, but once I was in the theater watching the progression it became very clear. His actions are never shown past kissing, which allows this movie to stay in the PG range. But, there are references to past and present interactions, which keeps it interesting for older viewers who are able to make that connection.

I thought it was great that they used the same actors from his real life to populate the Land of Oz. These were the people that Oz had failed in the real world and now he was given the chance to redeem himself and prove that he was the great man he talked about being.

I am not certain of the interest younger generations have in the Wizard of Oz movie that inspired this prequel. But, this was definitely created with younger generations interests in mind. They poke fun at the singing that occurred in the first one, increased the amount of action and destruction, and present characters that have a modern feel to them. But there are also elements in the movie that can only be caught by those who have watched the original film that inspired this one. 

My Life as a Book

Tashjian, J. (2010). My life as a book. (Tashjian, J. illus.). Christy Ottaviano Books. 244 pages. ISBN 9780805089035

Primary genre: realistic fiction

Other elements: family, friendship, humor, adventure

Intended reader age: 9 and up

Synopsis:

Derek Fallon does not like to read and he especially does not like that teachers, librarians, and his parents keep trying to force him to read things that do not interest him. Summer is just a few days away and he already has begun planning all kinds of adventures. But all of those plans are put on hold when his teacher assigns a reading list, his friend goes on vacation, and his parents enroll him in Learning Camp. It is the discovery of a family secret, one that has been hidden from him for 10 years, that changes Derek’s opinion of this summer. He is determined to learn everything he can about this secret no matter what.

Review:

I definitely enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I was initially annoyed and very surprised with the actions of the main character. (Apparently one of his favorite ways to annoy his parents involves climbing on the roof to hit the satellite dish so the signal goes out!) But I think I went in reading it as too much of an adult. When I actually put aside those thoughts and just read to immerse myself I enjoyed it a great deal. Derek is a kid who knows where the line is and exactly how far he can push it.

I liked the illustrations and how the author used them. They follow a style similar to Wimpy Kid with very basic, stick figures through out. One of the tactics Derek’s teacher employed to interest him in reading was assigning him to illustrate the words he did not know from his reading. So through the book, the illustrations in the margins are words that Derek illustrates for his assignment. The author choose words that young readers might struggle with like monumental, canister, fidget, etc. This is great for all types of readers including visual learners and even reluctant readers are likely to enjoy this story. The protagonist hates reading (he refers to his reading tutor as ‘a nice woman named SATAN!’) and he doesn’t really get a lot of ‘reading’ done through the story. The definition of reading that the adults hold in the story is reading from traditional forms of literature. Derek will read, he particularly enjoys comics like Calvin and Hobbs, but the adults in his life do not see that as actual reading. I think this is something many young readers encounter. Their idea of reading (be it comics, magazines, or online) are not viewed as appropriate by adults and they are steered towards things that do not interest them.

There is another book in the series, My Life as a Stuntboy, and a third, My Life as a Cartoonist, is scheduled for release at the end of April.

The new cover for the paperback release.