The Girl Who Drank the Moon (Kelly Barnhill)

Title:  The Girl Who Drank the Moon

Author: Kelly Barnhill

Target Ages:  9-14

Genre:  Fantasy Middle Grade Fiction

Publisher Summary: 

Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the Forest, Xan, is kind. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon. Xan rescues the children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey.

One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. As Luna’s thirteenth birthday approaches, her magic begins to emerge--with dangerous consequences. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Deadly birds with uncertain intentions flock nearby. A volcano, quiet for centuries, rumbles just beneath the earth’s surface. And the woman with the Tiger’s heart is on the prowl . . .

Awards:   Newbery Award, Multiple Best Book Lists

Evaluation:

From the first few lines, I was hooked!  The story begins with a woman telling her daughter about a witch who lives in the forest.  Every year the witch demands a sacrifice of the youngest child in the protectorate.  During this brief conversation, she drops other hints about the setting and plot. The next two chapters are through others’ perspectives—an elder and a boy in the village in one and the witch in the next. Each section intrigued me further.  I could not wait to read the next chapter. 

There are several well-developed characters readers will love: Xan—a maternal and helpful witch, Luna—an enmagicked girl, Glerk—a kindly swamp monster, Fyrian—a feisty dragon, Antain—a brave man of integrity, and Ethyne—a clever and kind girl. Luna will be especially captivate readers with her mischievous and curious nature. 

The multiple parallel storylines and periodic flashbacks create a multifaceted view of the plot and characters.  Eventually, the plot converges into a coherent and satisfying ending.  

Mythical characters and magic blend together with real world characters to create a fantasy world adventure with contemporary relevance.  The importance of forgiveness, love, sacrifice, devotion, and hope are emphasized.  One of the most memorable and powerful scenes is when two of the characters forgive another despite a lack of repentance on the part of the evildoer. 

Though I do not have a problem with fantasy literature taking liberties on the facts because, after all, it is fantasy, there is one part that bothered me.  In the confines of the story, the beginning of all life is the bog. The swamp monster is an immortal and wise being.  He quotes proverb-like lines from “the poet.”  All that is fine with me in the context of the narrative.  It crossed the line for me on a spiritual level though when it rewrote a section of the Book of John to reflect the truth of the story’s fiction.  Create your own version of truth all you want, but don’t delude a sacred book.

I highly recommend The Girl Who Drank the Moon.  Readers of all ages will find it thrilling and thought-provoking. 

Activities and Extension Ideas for Lesson Plans:

Reader’s Guide

Visit Always in the Middle for more Middle Grade Recommendations.

Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32 (B.C.R. Fegan)

Title:  Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32

Author: B.C.R. Fegan

Illustrator:  Lenny Wen

Target Ages: 4-8

Genre:  Concept Picture Book

Amazon Summary: 

The magical Hotel of Hoo is a mysterious place with some very unusual occupants. As our guests explore the strange hotel, they are invited to experience everything it has to offer with just one warning… don’t ever look behind door 32.

First Lines:

Welcome to the magical

Hotel of Hoo.

Where I’ll be your host,

Mr. Nicholas Noo.

Evaluation:

Along with the protagonists, readers take a fantastic tour of the hotel. The rooms have different types of guest from the mythical (zombies, goblins, mermaids) to the realistic (knights, clowns, monkeys) to the silly (tea-loving monsters, miniature giants, grey-haired villains). Some rooms are places for guests (golden bathroom, museum, library, dinning hall) while others are unconventional places (a maze, a dark room, a treasure room). Characters and rooms are scary in a silly, child-like way. 

The narrative encourages children to practice counting to 32 as they take a tour of the hotel.  During the tour, they are often reminded not to look behind door 32.  As they get closer and closer, anticipation is built.  With so many “scary” characters, what might be in room 32? (Fortunately, it is a humorous twist.)

It seems like 32 rooms would be tedious to count down to.  However, in this magical place and with the entertaining rhyming verse, time flies by.

Don’t Look Behind Door 32 works well for classroom reading and learning as well as bedtime story or as a Halloween tale.

Activities and Extension Ideas for Lesson Plans:

• Predicting Skills:  In the first read, ask children to predict what is in Room 32.  In later readings, ask children to anticipate what is coming next.
• Math:  Practice counting to 32. 
• Story Extension:  Either draw or write about what is in room 33. Or write/discuss alternate endings to what could be in room 32.  
• Writing Numbers:  Younger children can practice writing out the numbers in shaving cream or other substance.  Older children can write them out on paper.  
• Writing:  With such a colorful cast of characters, children can write about their favorite one.  Younger children can fill in a simple sentence like:  “My favorite character is ______ because ________.”
• Figurative Language:  Introduce the terms oxymoron and irony.  Discuss the examples in the story, like miniature giants (oxymoron) and wingless dragons and grumpy clowns (irony). 
• Literature:  Read about some of the mythical characters like mermaids, fairies, and goblins.
• Art: Create a diorama room to add to the hotel.  Or provide a hotel template like HERE or HERE.  Students can draw their own creative rooms.

Percy Jackson's Greek Gods (Rick Riordan)

Title:  Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods

Author:  Rick Riordan

Illustrator:  John Rocco

Target Ages:  10 and up

Genre:  Mythological Collection

Publisher Summary:

“A publisher in New York asked me to write down what I know about the Greek gods, and I was like, Can we do this anonymously? Because I don't need the Olympians mad at me again. But if it helps you to know your Greek gods, and survive an encounter with them if they ever show up in your face, then I guess writing all this down will be my good deed for the week.

So begins Percy Jackson's Greek Gods, in which the son of Poseidon adds his own magic--and sarcastic asides--to the classics. He explains how the world was created, then gives readers his personal take on a who's who of ancients, from Apollo to Zeus. Percy does not hold back. ‘If you like horror shows, blood baths, lying, stealing, backstabbing, and cannibalism, then read on, because it definitely was a Golden Age for all that.’”

First Lines:

“I hope I’m getting extra credit for this. 

A publisher in New York asked me to write down what I know about the Greek gods, and I was like, ‘Can we do this anonymously? Because I don’t need the Olympians mad at me again.’

But if it helps you to know your Greek gods, and survive an encounter with them if they ever show up in your face, then I guess writing all this down will be my good deed for the week.”

Evaluation:

I listened to this book with my teen son. The narrator, Jesse Berstein, does a fantastic job with tone and voice. He embodies the character of Percy Jackson perfectly, but also changes his voice to distinguish the other characters. If you can get the audio recording, I highly recommend it.

The point of view is an interesting mix of literary elements.  Percy Jackson is a fictional character from the modern era that has encountered each of the gods in his own life.  While the focus of the storytelling is on ancient world myths, he makes remarks from his personal experience as well. 

Another element related to point of view is how the author has crafted through his storyteller frequent juxtapositions of the ancient and modern world.  As he lists or describes a situation using ancient concepts, he often shifts to connect them to the modern world.  For instance, after Persephone goes missing, they brainstorm ways to help find her like “offering a reward, putting [her] face on milk cartons, and stapling missing posters around town” (81). This technique brings out the character of Percy Jackson, both as a modern protagonist as well as a humorous personality.  Also, it is a way to make the ancient world stories more concrete and relevant for 21st century readers.  Educators and parents can use the contrasts as a springboard to evaluate the specific juxtapositions or to teach the general concept of juxtaposition.

The story telling is highly engaging. It is broken down into chapters on different gods and goddesses. Then, there are several narratives related to each one within the chapter. Many stories will be familiar to young readers, but there are some nice gems that will be new to most.  The stories are ideal for building knowledge of mythology and ancient Greek culture.

Many figurative elements are used. Irony is plentiful—especially verbal.  There are puns, like “Poseidon gets salty.”  Idioms are used, such as “out of his league” and “broke the ice.”  There are similes, metaphors, hyperbole, and understatement examples sprinkled in. 

My only concern is age-appropriateness. There are frequent references to adultery, murder, and, even, rape. As we know, those were activities often attributed to the Greek gods. The behaviors are not glorified though. Nothing is described graphically. Adults will know what is happening, but younger children will not likely grasp the significance. For those with younger readers, you may want to review the book in advance to make sure you are comfortable with the material.

Overall, Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods is a thrilling book to read or to listen to. My son and I enjoyed it so much that we are now listening to Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes.

Activities and Extension Ideas for Lesson Plans:

• Religion: Discuss how the students'/family's ideas about god and the supernatural compare with those of the Greeks.  You may want to ask questions like:  How would you describe the motives and actions of the gods?  How are they similar to humans?  How are they similar to supernatural beings?  Why do you think the Greeks chose to see their gods as more human than god-like?  
• Mythology:  Pick 2 or more myths to compare and to contrast.  What do these myths say about the Greeks' views on life? Their fears? Their values? Their views on human nature?
•  Characterization & Irony:  Discuss ironies in characterization.  For instance, Aphrodite is the goddess of love, but she is known for being hateful and causing strife while Ares is the god of war, but he is depicted as being wimpy.  Why do you think the Greeks chose to paint their god in such contrasting lights?
• Figurative Language: Discuss examples of similes, metaphors, juxtaposition, irony, and so forth.
• Voice:  How does the author develop and illustrate the "voice" of Percy Jackson as well as the other characters?  (See some of the notes in the evaluation to get a discussion started.)

Historical Connections:

Ancient Greece
Trojan War

Poetry: Dragons Dragons and Other Creatures that Never Were (by Eric Carle)

Yesterday, I saw Dragons Dragons and Other Creatures that Never Were in a classroom library.  I was immediately drawn to it because it is from Eric Carle, one of my favorite children’s book illustrators and writers.  I picked up the book at the public library on my way home.  This selection is an anthology of poems complied by Carle.  Some poets represented are traditionally adult literature writers of the past, such as William Blake and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, while others are modern children’s literature authors, like Gerald McDermott and Paul Fleishman.  Here is one of my favorite poems: 

“Pegasus” (by Eleanor Farjeon)

He could not be captured,

He could not be bought,

His running was rhythm,

His standing was thought;

With one eye on sorrow

And one eye on mirth,

He galloped in heaven

With gamboled on earth

And only the poet

With wings to his brain

Can mount him and ride him

Without any rein,

The stallion of heaven,

The steed of the skies,

The horse of the singer

Who sing as flies.

Fans and children will delight in his recreation of mythical characters using his unique pictorial style.  Myth lovers will enjoy the subjects which are from a wide arrange of ancient cultures, such as Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Indian, Native American, European, and Asian.  Some of the mythical creatures depicted are minotaur, phoenix, Anansi the spider, yeti, Basilisk, hippogriff, griffin, and many more.  A glossary is provided that provides a short paragraph description on each one. The poems are primarily a light-hearted look at these creatures—both the fierce:

“Kracken” (X.J. Kennedy)

Neath icelocked waves the Kracken lies

In wait for passing ships,

To gobble them as you or I

Might munch potato chips.

And the benevolent:

“Mermaid/Undersea” (by Marchette Chute)

Beneath the waters

Green and cool

The mermaids keep

A swimming school.

The oysters trot;

The lobsters prance;

The dolphins come

To join the dance.

But all the jellyfish

Who are rather small,

Can’t seem to learn

The steps at all.

This anthology is a wonderful collection to share with children.  Most of the selections are short and fun, ideal for young readers/listeners.  I recommend Dragons Dragons and Other Creatures that Never Were for ages 5 and up. 

Teaching Opportunities: 

• Art:  using the description in the poem, draw or paint what you think the character looks like before viewing the illustrations
• Point of View:  examine the different uses of point of view in the poems—some are from the perspective of the creature (first person), others are characters interacting with it (third person), while many are from a voice observing/imagining it  (third-person)
• Sound Devices:  identify rhyme, alliteration, and other sound devices together
• Figurative Language:  locate and discuss similes, metaphors, and personification
• Myths:  read myths about the creatures and discuss their significance in ancient cultures
• History:  connect the  mythical creatures in the poems to the ancient cultures being studied

This posted is connected with the Poetry Friday link up at Gathering Books.

The Three Billy Goats Fluff (by Rachael Mortimer)

Summary of The Three Billy Goats Fluff (by Rachael Mortimer):

Trip-Trap  Trip-Trap

How was he supposed to sleep?

Mr. Troll buried his head in his pillow and groaned.

The advertisement called it a “Troll Paradise,” but it has turned out to be a “Troll Misery” with all the noise overhead.  On the mountain near Mr. Toll’s bridge live the three Billy Goats Fluff.  They love the lush grass from the field on the other side of the bridge.   It makes their fleece extra fluffy, which their mother uses it for her knitting business.   Mr. Troll decides to put a stop to the goats' daily trips back and forth across the bridge.  As the first one attempts to cross, Mr. Troll jumps out and says:  

I’m a Troll with a very sore head.  

Stop trip-tapping over my bed!

When I’m tired and feeling blue,

there’s nothing quite like a little goat stew!   

The frightened little Billy Goat runs back to his mother.  As the second goat attempts to cross, he hears a similar complaint.  Their wise mother understands what it feels like to go without sleep, so she comes up with a plan—one where everyone is a winner!  

Evaluation

I love a creative fractured fairy tale.   The traditional tale The Three Billy Goats Gruff has been written from multiple perspectives in over 20 versions, but the story usually implies, directly or indirectly, that someone is a victim (usually, the goats) and someone is the villain (typically, the troll).  The Three Billy Goats Fluff takes a more unbiased approach.  No one is a villain.   Instead, a little empathy and kindness allow the two sides to live in peace.  Author Rachael Mortimer has created a charming retelling.  The playful goats are adorable.  Nevertheless, my favorite character is Mr. Troll.  His snappy, rhythmic replies to the goats are amusing.   Liz Pichon, the illustrator, uses vivid colors to draw the reader in.  She shifts smoothly between more elaborate pictures (primarily related to Mother Goat) and minimal ones.  Interestingly, Mr. Toll is depicted against a white background or under the bridge until the ending.  Then, he has more color and details in his world.  Each page is a wonder and delight.   I recommend this book for ages 3-11. 

Teaching Opportunities:

• Problem Solving:  discuss how Mother Goat solved the problem so that both sides “won;” use story as a starting point to talk about how to problem solve common issues between siblings, friends, or classmates
• Letter Writing:  Mother Goat wrote a note to Mr. Toll; review the parts of a friendly letter and write one to a character in this story or another one
• Character Building:  list the positive character qualities displayed; find special proverbs or sayings that remind children to act kindly even when the other person is not
• Sound Devices:  identify the rhyming words in the text and practice brainstorming other rhyming words to go with them
• Comparison:  read a traditional version of this fairy tale; make a chart or Venn diagramming comparing the two versions
• Science:  learn about the importance of sleep for your body and how it can affect your body and mind when you are sleep deprived
• Graphing:  examine the steps to Mr. Troll’s bedtime routine; then, list them on a bar graph and allow the students to raise their hands to acknowledge which steps they follow each night in their own bedtime routine (in other words, every who has a bedtime snack will raise their hands, count, and color in graph; everyone who reads a story before bed will raise their hands, count, and color in graph, and so forth)
• Math:  take out counting bears or similar manipulatives to practice identifying big, middle, and little
• Characterization:  examine each of the goats and identify character qualities from the illustrations

Tiger Tales, the publisher, also has a FREE teacher's guide at their website HERE.  


This post is linked up with Read Aloud Thursday at Hope is a Word.  

Middle Grade Fantasy: A Tale of Two Castles

Summary of A Tale of Two Castles: 

Elodie, a 12-year old farm girl, journeys alone to Two Castles the capital of the kingdom to secure an apprenticeship.   She longs to be a mansion (actor/storyteller), but her parents want her to be a basket weaver.  On her way to the capital, she finds out that free apprenticeships are no longer available.  Alone and penniless, Elodie attempts to win over the master mansioner.  Despite her talent, she is turned down for her lack of money to pay for it.  Fortunately, a lone dragon befriends her and offers her an apprenticeship where she learns how to induct and to deduct in order to find things, read people, and solve mysteries.  Elodie is quickly swept up in solving a mystery involving a mannerly ogre, a sweet princess, a selfish king, a dashing thief, a kindly couple, and many other remarkable characters.  Her mother warns her to watch for the sepulcher, or one who seems good but is evil.  Will she find out who it is in time?  Will she finally be able to follow her dream to be a mansion?

Evaluation:

I was drawn to A Tale of Two Castles because it is written by Gail Carson Levine, author of Ella Enchanted.   Two Castles is an enchanting realm with ogres, dragons, and mystical cats, but much of the rest is reminiscent of the medieval times.  The protagonist Elodie defies traditional gender roles.  She is brave, hard-working, and determined as well as compassionate, intuitive, and generous.  While she is slightly concerned about fashion, she is far more interested in action and adventure.  Most importantly, she is on a quest to fulfill her destiny.  Elodie plays a pivot role in solving the mystery of the kingdom and in saving the lives of others.   Along the way, she learns how to use her natural gifts and her talents to do what is necessary, but she does not give up on her dreams.  Eventually, she redefines what her ambitions are as she grows as a person and in her relationships. The mythical creatures in A Tale of Two Castles are more human than beastly.  They are benign and reflective— challenging some of the common stereotypes about them.  They each help Elodie grow into maturity.  The plot is full of mystery and suspense—moving at a steady pace.  Like many middle readers, it is broken up into short chapters.  Each ends with a revelation or further layer to the mystery, prompting the reader to continue.  The novel is light and entertaining.   It does tackle the motif of prejudices and labels, but it never gets too serious or provocative. This novel is ideal for readers ages 8-12.  Parents and educators may use the novel to discuss friendship, family, trust, self-identity, dreams, stereotypes/prejuidices, fantasy, and perseverance.

Check out other middle grade books on Marvelous Middle Grade Monday.