Tan, Shaun. 2006. The Arrival. Ill. by Shaun Tan. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books. ISBN 0439895294

This wordless graphic novel tells the story of an immigrant who leaves his wife and child and goes to a new land to build a better life for his family. He meets many other immigrants and hears their stories as well, creating a collection of stories about leaving the past behind and starting over.

The pictures in this graphic novel are amazing. The sepia tones evoke the feeling of turn-of-the-century photographs, while the symbolism in the illustrations are powerful and make the immigrant experience of the protagonist more universal because it is less specific in place and time. The story is told through pictures that often seems like stop-motion photography in succession on the page, and portray powerfully the confusion and loneliness that immigrants face as they try to build a life in a place with a new culture, new language, and new customs (my favorite is the scene where the protagonist finds a job pasting up posters, but pastes them all upside down because the writing is unfamiliar). This setting of the novel feels like New York, but a more fantastical, chaotic, confusing New York, with buildings that jut sideways, circular streets that lead nowhere, and buildings shaped like teapots, teepees, and plates. The immigrant (and the reader!) find the animals strange, the maps impossible to navigate, and the way of doing things much different from his homeland. But his hope for a better future pushes him forward, and with the help of other immigrants (who each have their own story of why they had to leave their homeland) he begins to carve a place for himself in his new homeland, eventually sending for his family to join him. The reunion of the family (whom the reader can't help but love!) provides for a satisfying ending, but even more satisfying is the final scene of the protagonist's daughter helping a new immigrant navigate through this strange, new world.

While this novel is accessible to everyone, and would be a beautiful resource for any classroom whose students are studying turn-of-the-century immigration, it is particularly relevant and current during the heated debate about immigration that is raging in this country, especially in border states like Texas and Arizona.

AWARDS AND REVIEWS:

"The cover of The Arrival, made to look like old, worn leather, establishes a family photo album motif that Tan faithfully carries through the entire book. Inside, borderless sepia panels are arranged in careful grids. Creases and unidentifiable splotches elegantly blemish many of the pages. Tan completely eschews motion lines, sound effects and any other comics storytelling devices that would not be found in photographs. Even the spaces between the panels suggest a photo album: instead of the pencil-thin gutters found in most graphic novels, he uses generous half-inch strips of yellowed paper. The effect is mesmerizing. Reading The Arrival feels like paging through a family treasure newly discovered up in the attic."--The New York Times

"Stunning, powerful, gripping, moving-Tan's book is meticulously thought out and perfectly wrought, making use of both high-brow surrealism and extensive research into photographic records of immigrant stories. The story alternately displays Tan's heartfelt understanding of the dislocated existence of immigrants and his robustly imagined fantasy setting." --VOYA

"Frightening this new land may be, but there are friends everywhere, from the other immigrants who help the protagonist and tell their own tales of escape from oppression, war and fear to the whimsical beastie who attaches itself to him as his pet. Small panels move the story along; full- and double-page spreads provide dazzling panoramas. It's an unashamed paean to the immigrant's spirit, tenacity and guts, perfectly crafted for maximum effect." --Kirkus Reviews

CONNECTIONS:

Another graphic novel that deals with some of the same social issues is American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang.

Students could use this book as a jumping off point for their own family history, to discover stories of immigration or emigration.

For writing, students could take a few pages and work on writing their own captions for the pictures inside this "photo album". This would allow students to try to capture the emotion of the pictures and give their own interpretations of the symbols and strangeness that permeate through this story.

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

Rosoff, Meg. 2004. How I Live Now. New York: Random House. ISBN 0385746776

When Daisy's father marries and starts a new family with her "wicked" stepmother, Daisy is sent to England to live with her aunt and her cousins. While her aunt is rarely home, Daisy finds happiness for the first time in her life. She finds love in a sexual relationship with her first cousin, Edmond, and she finds friendship and understanding from her other cousins. But her happiness is short-lived when war breaks out and in order to survive and to protect those she loves, she has to grow up quickly.

I really, really wanted to like this book. And there were parts of the book that I did like: the narrator's stream of consciousness voice, the often poetic descriptions of the relationships that are formed in the book, and the sweet friendship that forms between Daisy and her younger cousin Piper. Daisy's journey from a self-absorbed teen to a responsible adult is believable and gripping, and she, as a character is engaging--funny and insightful by turns. The supporting characters (both the adults and the adolescents) are often believable, quirky, and endearing. But this book left me confused, quite frankly. I'm still wondering, Was this a book about war or a story of romance? Not that a book can't be both, but this one didn't achieve that for me. Although I liked the stream of consciousness effect overall, occasionally the run-on sentences drove me batty. There was much of this book that seemed real--the narcissism of teenagers, the British landscape--but there was so much of it that was vague (particularly about the government and the war) that I had a hard time suspending my disbelief.

REVIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

2005 Printz Award Winner

"Daisy's voice is uneven, being at times teenage vapid, while elsewhere sporting a vocabulary rich with 50-cent words, phrases, and references. In addition, Rosoff barely scratches the surface of the material at hand. At times, this is both intentional and effective (the enemy is never named) but for the most part the dearth of explanation creates insurmountable questions around the basic mechanisms of the plot. There is no explanation of how a small force could take out all communications (including cell phones) and proceed to overrun and to control an entire country. Perhaps even stranger, the ramifications of psychic abilities and underage sexual relationships between first cousins is never addressed." --School Library Journal

"This is a very relatable contemporary story, told in honest, raw first-person and filled with humor, love, pathos, and carnage. War, as it will, changes these young people irrevocably, not necessarily for the worse. They and readers know that no one will ever be the same. The story of Daisy and her three exceptional cousins, one of whom becomes her first lover, offers a keen perspective on human courage and resilience. An epilogue, set six years after the conclusion, while war still lingers, ends Daisy's story on a bittersweet, hopeful note." --Kirkus Reviews

CONNECTIONS:

This book would pair nicely with other "End of the World" novels like Alas, Babylon. Many of these feature nuclear destruction so it would be interesting to compare and contrast the fears of different time periods as shown through these novels.

This novel would be an excellent one to use as a guide for writing that falls outside of "five-paragraph-essay" type writing. Students could benefit by looking at the stream of consciousness style the author uses in the strong and compelling voice of Daisy.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Gaiman, Neil. 2008. The Graveyard Book. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 0060530928

This book has one of the most interesting and creative concepts I've seen in a long time: a living boy who is raised in a graveyard by the spirits of the dead. The story opens with the murder of the toddler's family ("There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife.") and the toddler's escape to the graveyard up the hill, where he is adopted by a long-deceased couple. With mysterious guardians and other-world adventures, Bod's (short for Nobody) childhood unfolds itself in a tale that is both exciting and charming. As Bod makes friends among the living and the dead, he learns that the man who murdered his parents is still looking for him. Bod is determined to bring his parents' killer to justice. But can he do that without joining his graveyard family as truly dead? This creative story works so well because of its firm footing in classic literature (loosely parallel with The Jungle Book) and also because of the gentle humor of the story ("It takes a graveyard to raise a child," note the graveyard inhabitants when they first discover Bod.) In the world of the living Bod deals with typical teen concerns like bullying, but in the graveyard his own safety is the supreme concern. The characters (especially the graveyard characters) are extraordinarily engaging--from Bod's temporary guardian who turns out to be a werewolf, to the witch buried outside the consecrated ground who has her own emotional issues to work out. My only complaint was that the ending seemed unsatisfactory for such a delightful book: I am hungering for a sequel!

AWARDS & REVIEWS:

Newbery Award Winner, 2009

Hugo Award Winner, 2009

"The Graveyard Book, by turns exciting and witty, sinister and tender, shows Gaiman at the top of his form…The story's language and humor are sophisticated, but Gaiman respects his readers and trusts them to understand…In this novel of wonder, Neil Gaiman follows in the footsteps of long-ago storytellers, weaving a tale of unforgettable enchantment." --The New York Times

"Gaiman, famous for his creepy and often scary tales, Coraline and The Wolves in the Wall, has created in his new novel something that is neither creepy nor scary, despite its chilling first chapter and spectral cast of characters. This is a story about the power of family—whatever form it takes—and the potential of a child who is raised with love and a sense of duty." --Children's Literature

CONNECTIONS:

This book would make an excellent bridge into Rudyard Kipling's classic The Jungle Book, and would allow for a compare/contrast between the main characters, the plot events, etc.

Gaiman's other books include: The Wolves in the Wall, and Coraline for those who enjoyed this novel.

For older readers, this could be paired with a book like Spoon River Anthology, which are poems of headstones and epitaphs of one town's deceased.

The Game of Silence by Louise Erdrich

Erdrich, Louise. 2005. The Game of Silence. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 0060297891

(I hadn't read the first novel in this series, and so there is always that awkward first part of the book where the characters are presented as old friends, except I didn't have any emotional attachment to them yet. However, in terms of the story itself, it wasn't necessary to read the first one to understand the plot.)

This novel opens with the young girl Omakayas watching refugees from another tribe arriving to beg her tribe for assistance. They are bedraggled, hungry, and desperate for a place of safety. Omakayas learns important lessons about kindness from her tribe's reaction to these newcomers, but the tribe learns important information from the refugees, as well. The white settlers are pushing the Ojibwan peoples farther and farther west into land that is already occupied by other tribes who are resentful of newcomers. The tension that the Omakayas' family feels is beautifully symbolized by the game of silence that the children play so that the adults can discuss serious issues. Omakayas' everyday routines of collecting rice at the rice camp, tanning moose hides, and learning to bead are lovingly detailed, giving a true sense of historical accuracy to Omakayas' story.

Omakayas in many ways is a typical adolescent feeling jealousy and anger while also learning about kindness and her own destiny. But in other important ways, Omakayas is clearly a Native American with Native American ideas and ways of looking at the world. She has dreams that are symbolic and prophetic, she views the older people in her family with deep respect, and she wants the way of life that she has always known to continue unchanged. This book is both a beautiful coming of age story and a powerful historical novel.

AWARDS AND REVIEWS:

"Against the backdrop of Ojibwa cultural traditions, Omakayas also conveys the universal experiences of childhood--a love of the outdoors, a reluctance to do chores, devotion to a pet--as well as her ability to cope with the seemingly unbearable losses of the winter. The author hints at Omakayas's unusual background and her calling as a healer, as well as the imminent dangers of the "chimookoman" or white people, setting the stage for future episodes. Into her lyrical narrative, Erdrich weaves numerous Ojibwa words, effectively placing them in context to convey their meanings. Readers will want to follow this family for many seasons to come." --Publisher's Weekly

"The first book won enormous praise, including a National Book Award nomination, but this novel is even better. The themes are not only more profound, but the episodic structure of the previous novel is also much exceeded by the interweaving plot threads of young love, sibling rivalry, and frustration with gender roles. The threat that the federal government poses to the community is more than just a framing device; it penetrates all the other concerns of the novel, drawing them tightly together. This novel combines all the emotion and joy of The Birchbark House with an impressive deftness of structure." --VOYA

CONNECTIONS:

I think young readers might enjoy playing the game of silence that is so pivotal to this story, and then reflect on their experience through writing (poetry, maybe?).

The Birchbark House by the same author is the first in this series for those who want to read them in order.

This could be paired with another novel that scrupulously details the everyday details of this time period, but from the settlers' perspective like The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Crispin: At the Edge of the World by Avi

Avi. 2006. Crispin: At the Edge of the World. New York: Hyperion. ISBN 078685152

While the first book ends with Crispin renouncing his birthright to save his friend Bear, this second offering begins with Crispin and Bear traveling free at last. Unfortunately, the secret brotherhood to which Bear belonged mistakenly believes that he has informed on them, and begins to search for Crispin and Bear to avenge themselves. When Bear is injured, Crispin has to make new friends in unlikely places to save his friend. Danger continues to follow Bear, Crispin, and their new friend, Troth, across the ocean into the war-torn land of France. Throughout the novel, Crispin faces his own ignorance, makes difficult decisions, and learns lessons of loyalty, forgiveness, and survival.

This novel serves up a thoughtful exploration of growing up and also a pleasing piece of historical fiction. Avi captures the superstition and fear of the devil that would be typical in this time period perfectly in Crispin's initial negative reaction to Aude, a midwife who worships the old gods, but helps heal Bear. Those who are interested in the historical background of the novel will appreciate the author's note that gives an overview of the period of the novel.

AWARDS & REVIEWS:

"Avi takes the reader on another exciting adventure into the world of Old England. The charm of the scenery and the loveable characters make this book a must read. Do not hold back on cheering on Bear and Crispin as they struggle to survive in a world that they do not seem to belong to. What an awesome storyteller Avi has become, and may he honor us with more of Crispin's quests." --Children's Literature

"This second book in a planned trilogy explores even more thoughtfully the themes of religion, war, the motives of men, and the meaning of family. This is an extraordinary work of lyrical simplicity, nearly flawless in its execution, and a haunting tale of love and loss. Readers will devour this story and eagerly anticipate the conclusion of Crispin's adventures." --School Library Journal

CONNECTIONS:

Of course, readers should read Crispin: The Cross of Lead before reading this book in order to understand the strength of the relationship between Crispin and Bear.

This book could pair with an activity in the classroom: a medieval fair! Students could research historically accurate activities of a medieval fair and put it on for other classes or for their families.

This book could also be paired with Catherine, Called Birdy or The Midwife's Apprentice, both by Karen Cushman.

The language of this book would lend itself really beautifully to reader's theater. Students could get in small groups and write their own and then perform them for the class.

Jip: His Story by Katherine Paterson

Paterson, Katherine. 1998. Jip: His Story. New York: Penguin. ISBN 0140386742

Jip has lived and worked at the poor farm for as long as he can remember, having been dropped off the back of a wagon when he was only two years old. But although Jip is mostly content with his life, he wonders what kind of family doesn't return for their little boy when they realize that he's fallen out of the wagon. Jip's life begins to broaden beyond the farm when he builds a cage for Put, the insane man with occasional violent fits, who is to live at the poor farm, locked-up for safekeeping. Jip makes friends with Put, and begins to attend school. But his past soon catches up with him in ways that will change his world, and his sense of identity, forever.

Paterson's dialogue is always realistic, but in Jip: His Story, Paterson seems to be exceptionally deft. She writes the colloquial speech of Jip, Put, his schoolteacher, and her Quaker friend with a sure touch. The historical element of this story is fascinating, but not overly intrusive to the plot of the story itself. The main character of Jip is compassionate, hard-working, and understanding. Parents will appreciate the lessons of loyalty, acceptance, and kindness, while juvenile readers will appreciate the plot surprises and the exciting resolution to Jip's story.

AWARDS & REVIEWS:

Like Paterson's Newbery-winning Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved, this historically accurate story is full of revelations and surprises . . . While Jip's concerns provide insight into 19th-century society, his yearnings for freedom and knowledge are timeless. The taut, extremely readable narrative and its tender depictions of friendship and loyalty provide first-rate entertainment." --Publisher's Weekly

"Anything by Katherine Paterson is a pleasure to read." --Children's Literature

"Jip is a compassionate hero to be cried over, feared for, and cheered on. What could be better to read aloud or booktalk?" --VOYA

CONNECTIONS:

This book would be a great companion book to other fiction or non-fiction books about the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman, etc. Some titles: Underground Railroad Sampler, Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad, or Harriet Tubman: A Woman of Courage.

Readers who enjoy this book, may want to read Lyddie by Katherine Paterson, because the title character in Lyddie appears in this book as his inspirational teacher.

Lincoln: A Photobiography

Freedman, Russell. 1989. Lincoln: A Photobiography. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 0395518482

This well-written and well-organized biography of Abraham Lincoln is full of fascinating photographs, important quotes from the president and his contemporaries, as well as a clear delineation between the true Lincoln and the "legendary" Lincoln. The text is clearly written, and for once I really understood why the Civil War took so long for the North to win, when they had more people, more weapons, more factories, more everything. The book is organized chronologically, following Lincoln through his childhood, early years as a lawyer, his failures as an aspiring politician and his journey to the White House. Of course, the majority of the book focuses on his time as president and commander-in-chief. This book shows what an extraordinary leader Lincoln was, but it also shows that in many ways, that he was also an ordinary man with concerns as a father, husband and friend.

AWARDS & REVIEWS:

1988 Newbery Medal Winner
Jefferson Cup Award Winner

"Few, if any, of the many books written for children about Lincoln can compare with Freedman's contribution. More than 80 photographs and prints illustrate the crisp and informative text. The pictures have been well-placed to coordinate with the text; captions have been written with care as well. While many of the photographs are well-known, many less familiar pictures are also included." --School Library Journal

CONNECTIONS:

Other biographies by Russell Freedman include: Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery, The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane, Out of Darkness: The Story of Louis Braille, and so many others!

There's also a biography of Russell Freedman that students could read (Russell Freedman by Susan P. Bloom) if they are interested in what motivates his choices of who he writes about and why.

This biography would also be a great companion piece to portions of The Civil War: A Film by Ken Burns.