THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Giaman, Neil. 2008. THE GRAVEYARD BOOK. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 9780060530938



PLOT SUMMARY

On a dark night, “the man Jack”, enters a house and kills a family only to discover that the baby is gone. The sole survivor of the attack--an 18-month-old boy--escapes his crib and his house, and toddles to a nearby graveyard. There he is taken in, named, and cared for by a ghostly community. The boy Nobody, or ‘Bod’ as he is known, is given the freedom of the graveyard and taught important ghosting skills such as how to fade, haunt and visit people’s dreams. He has adventures with a friend who appears and also gets captured by ghouls.Whenever the boy strays from his usual play among the headstones, he finds new dangers, learns his limitations and strengths, and acquires the skills he needs to survive within the confines of the graveyard and in wider world beyond.


CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman has created a charming allegory of childhood. Although the book opens with a scary scene--a family is stabbed to death --the story quickly moves into more child-friendly storytelling. It is a fun, fast-paced action-adventure story with a terrifying villain and a gentle, serious young hero. The plot follows Bod's progress, as he changes from baby to teen, learning life’s lessons from the graveyard inhabitants. His quest to find out who he truly is brings readers along on a well-paced journey that is both exciting and dangerous.

The fantastic elements of the plot are so convincing because Gaiman describes his characters the way Bod sees them: as normal, everyday people who happen to be ghosts, ghouls, werewolves and vampires. Even though he has grown up among aged ghosts and crumbling graves, Bod is a very believable character who portrays many of the same traits as children everywhere. The reader develops an attachment to Bod and wants to see him succeed.

Gaiman is an excellent storyteller, carefully balancing the intrigue of a triple murder with the fresh innocence of a child like any other, learning about the world with wide eyes and a million questions. He has found the perfect voice for this sinister story, intelligently handling the complex issues without losing sight of his inventive narrative. True to his writing style, he customizes the details of the setting, making them an integral part of the story and uses vivid description that allows the readers to fully immerse themselves in the fantasy world that he creates.
The timeless themes of good and evil and growing up are present throughout the book; and, while they are not presented in the traditional manner, they are still quite relevant and applicable to readers of all ages and interests.


AWARDS

ALA Notable Children's Books - Middle Readers Category: 2009
Booklist Editors' Choice - Books for Youth - Older Readers Category: 2008
Carnegie Medal
Hugo Awards: Best Novel
Indies' Choice Book Awards: Young Adult Fiction
Kentucky Bluegrass Award: Grades 6-8
Locus Young Adult Book Award
Newbery Medal
Oprah's Kids' Reading Lists - New Releases: 10-to-12 Years
USBBY Outstanding International Books - Grades 6-8: 2009
Wisconsin Library Association Children's Book Awards: Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults: 2009

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist Reviews *Starred Review*: “ This is an utterly captivating tale that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of ghostly characters. There is plenty of darkness, but the novel's ultimate message is strong and life affirming. “

School Library Journal: “Gaiman has created a rich, surprising, and sometimes disturbing tale of dreams, ghouls, murderers, trickery, and family.”

Kirkus Reviews: “Wistful, witty, wise….”


CONNECTIONS

Gaiman cites his inspiration for The Graveyard Book from Kipling’s The Jungle Book. Read it with students and discuss some obvious parallels between Bod’s story and The Jungle Book.

*Introduce to students to other read-alike books, starting with A Series from Unfortunate Events.
Snicket, Lemony. The bad beginning. ISBN: 9780807261781

* Read more spooky stories:
Almond, David. Skellig. ISBN: 9780385326537
Schwartz, Alvin. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark : Collected from Folklore ISBN: 9780060835194

RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE by Shannon Hale

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hale, Shannon, and Dean Hale. Illus. Nathan Hale. 2008. Rapunzel’s Revenge. Bloomsbury: London. ISBN : 9780747587439.


PLOT SUMMARY

Rapunzel doesn’t know there is something wrong with her life, until her curiousity grows and she manages to finally scale the high wall that surrounds her opulent home. When she finds that the world outside is a dark place oppressed by her 'mother'’s greed for power and uncovers the real secret of her own birth, she is locked away in a tall magic tree tower. As Rapunzel herself says in the narration, “This is where the ‘once upon a time’ part ends.” In her years of captivity, she learns a lot about self-reliance and the numerous uses of her very long hair. With the will to escape, she eventually frees herself and vows to bring down her mother’s cruel empire while making friends and enemies all the way.


CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In this new take of the old classic fairytale Shannon and Deal Hale bring Rapunzel to the Wild West in a graphic novel that depicts a strong, powerful heroine with a bit of a temper but brave and loyal heart, and who doesn’t wait for the prince to escape her. She refuses to use her 'feminine wiles' to distract enemies, but rather uses her brains and physical strength to do so. The non-stop action adventure interweaves another fairytale character – Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk. His fast-talking humor makes him very likable. This book will appeal to both boys and girls with the female protagonist and the equally spunky male sidekick.

The setting of Rapunzel’s Revenge around the wild and western landscape itself is so original that it is not difficult for us to forget we might have met these characters before. Mixing fantastical elements with the Wild West environment gives the book a bit of a more modern feel, accentuated with Rapunzel’s denim and boots outfit, the lively dialog and the contemporary language throughout the pages. The plot is logical, fast-paced and creative and keeps the reader’s attention with witty banter and jokes galore. The themes of friendship and good versus evil reflects universal truths that transcendent time and place.

Readers who are not familiar with graphic novels, will easily read this one and instantly like it. Each panel is intricately drawn out so that the story jumps off the page.The text is spaced out and easy to follow. The different boxes for narrative and dialogue are efortlessly identifiable. The book is rich with enough detail and subtext to keep even the most advance readers busy, while the interplay of text and images can help reluctant readers on the other end of the spectrum. Illustrator Nathan Hale does a great job reflecting the dialogue and action with his illustrations. This full-color graphic novel is definitely appealing to the eyes and all-over a delightful read.


AWARDS
ALA Notable Children's Books - Middle Readers Category: 2009
Amelia Bloomer Lists - Middle Graders Fiction: 2010
Surrey Schools' Book of the Year Award (British Columbia)
YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens: 2009
YALSA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults: Twists on the Tale (2010)



REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist : “Hale's art matches the story well, yielding expressive characters and lending a wonderful sense of place to the fantasy landscape. Rich with humor and excitement, this is an alternate version of a classic that will become a fast favorite of young readers.”
Kirkus Reviews: “ A beloved fairy tale gets a glossy graphic-novel makeover, reworked in a fanciful Old West setting.”
School Library Journal: “This is the tale as you've never seen it before..… The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive. Knowing that there are more graphic novels to come from this writing team brings readers their own happily-ever-after."

CONNECTIONS
* Fractured tales provide engaging and humorous retellings of traditional tales.They are a perfect vehicle for launching compare-contrast studies of characters, setting, and plot. The Rapunzel stories make excellent lesson choices for limited English or non-proficient students.

* Students can compare and contrast this graphic novel to the original Rapunzel and find clues or allusions to the Jack and the Bean Stalk stories by The Brothers Grimm. They can learn about literary devices such as identifying and exploring themes, making inferences, and analyzing the graphic representations in the graphic novel.
* For a creative writing exercise, students could reinvent another fairy tale or legend, create a dialogue and perform it or illustrate it.

GOING BOVINE by Libba Bray

BIBLIOGRAPHY Bray, Libba. 2009. Going Bovine. Unabridged ed. New York, NY: Random House/Listening Library. ISBN 9780739385593


PLOT SUMMARY

Sixteen-year-old Cameron doesn't care much about anything, has few friends, and, isn’t very likable. But when he finds himself in a hospital, terminally ill, he plans to escape to seek a cure--and then the journey begins. As his doctors search desperately for a cure, Cameron spends his time trying to save the world (and himself) by trying desperately to locate a mysterious Dr. X. Mad cow disease, string theory, a punk angel, an enchanted garden gnome who claims to be a Norse god, and a Mexican-American hypochondriac dwarf, combined with Bray's storytelling genius produce one of the funniest and most surprisingly touching books.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Told in Cameron’s perspective, this witty, sprawling story is narrated in authentic voice by smart, cynical teenage boy, outsider at school who ponders life's bigger issues, shrewdly observe American culture, and think a lot about girls. He sets off on a complicated quest to find out what matters most. Incredibly apathetic at the beginning, Cameron’s character changes later and his internal journey and emotional growth provoke rooting for him.
Going Bovine brings complex, sophisticated themes that question contemporary values, especially musings on the meaning of life. The events in the books are basically realistic but include somewhat bizarre, fantastical elements. Full of surprising plot twists reveal as the teenage protagonist searches for meaning and hope for romance while facing some tough personal problems.

Contemporary setting takes us on this winding, almost dizzying trip through the country that resembles reality and yet is nothing like it. Based loosely on Don Quixote and both comedic and tragic, this is another novel that leaves the reader thinking about what really happened: how much of Cameron’s trip is simply a delusion caused by his disease and how much really happened.This road-trip story, crafted by Libba Bray is creative, funny, and poignant at the same time. Her writing style is a combination of depth and accessibility and features witty dialogue, wacky situations, and terrific characters. It demands a creative narration and makes it a good choice for listening as an audiobook.

The audiobook is a pleasurable experience in a whole different way. It is presented by the professional actor Erik Davies. His style of reading -- the way he sounds, the rhythm, the flow, the tone, and how he interprets the characters — matches the mood and resonance of the book. Davis gives Cameron a steady, almost-nonchalant voice as his journeys take him to unusual places. He relishes masterly the characters Cameron meets. Hearing how the actor envisions the book characters is very interesting: all of them receive unique voices and accents. His best is the talking gnome Balder, who is really hilarious. The amusing and creative manner of presenting the book makes this production a standout.

Going Bovine hurtles through time and space with self-effacing humor, consistent and distinct language for each character and clear point of view that presents real people and real problems.


AWARDS
Booklist Editors' Choice - Books for Youth - Older Readers Category: 2009
Michael L. Printz Award 2010
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults: 2010


REVIEW EXCERPT
Booklist *Starred Review*: “ In a giant departure from her Gemma Doyle historical fiction trilogy, Bray's latest offering is an unforgettable, nearly indefinable fantasy adventure, as immense and sprawling as Cervantes' Don Quixote, on which it's based.”

Library Journal: “Bray has not written a teen problem novel about mad cow disease. She swims in deeper water, defending the importance of friendship, family, and life purpose in the face of mediocrity”.

Publishers Weekly: “Bray's surreal humor may surprise fans of her historical fantasies about Gemma Doyle, as she trains her satirical eye on modern education, American materialism and religious cults (the smoothie-drinking members of the Church of Everlasting Satisfaction and Snack 'N' Bowl).”


CONNECTIONS
• Introduce to students the classic Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes, which is referenced throughout the book. Compare similarities and differences.

• Offer to read other books with protagonist high school “losers”:
Portman, Frank. King Dork. ISBN 0385732910

• Read more funny road-trip novels:
Behrens, Andy. All the way . ISBN 0525477616

THE GAME OF SILENCE by Louise Erdrich

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Erdrich, Louise. 2005. THE GAME OF SILENCE. Unabridged ed. New York, NY: Harper Children’s Audio. ISBN 0060758392.

PLOT SUMMARY
Omakayas, or Little Frog, is a nine-year-old Ojibwe girl living on the shores of Lake Superior in 1850. Her family is camped in their summer birchbark house when a raggedy, starving group of Ojibwe approach the island in waterlogged canoes, bearing the news that their entire tribe is soon to be removed into the lands held by their feared Lakota and Dakota enemies. As the strongest men of Omakayas' clan set forth to find out their fate, the family waits though summer and fall to learn the nature of their future.
The book is a sequel to The Birchbark House and describes another year in the life of Omakayas.


CRITICAL ANALYSIS
With The Game of Silence Louis Erdrich brings a taste of Native American fiction at its best. The dramatic and impressive story presents the responsibilities and challenges that the Ojibwe tribes faced to survive, and the consequences for them when the chimookomanag, or the white people came to their lands, changing their life. Their everyday ordinary tasks are described in loving detail, enabling readers to gain a fuller picture of a time, a place, and a way of life. All facts about the Ojibwe people are accurate and well researched by the author, making the historical aspect of this novel appeal to the audience.

The writer’s interesting, creative, yet believable, fictional plot line makes the reading a page turner that really draws in the readers and connects them to the characters. The story is told from Omakayas’s viewpoint, in a vigorous narrative that is complemented by the use of dialect and specific Ojibwe terms. Eldrich’s rich, evocative prose and vibrant imagination creates characters that are very likable and easy to relate to. A major theme is the unveiling of Omakaya's gifts and the acceptance of her maturing identity, which creates timeless parallels to the agitations of the modern day children.

The Game of Silence is a good choice to listen to as an audio book. Anna Field’s excellent performance brought the voice and personality of Omakayas and the other characters to life. She clearly voiced all of the dialogue in a convincing Native American manner of speaking, using different intonations for the different characters both male and female. Her performance, along with Erdrich's well-written narration and dialogue, transports the listener/reader straight into the everyday life of Ojibwe tribe in mid-1800’s. The descriptions, vocabulary, and all traditional words interspersed among the text, perfectly set the tone for this story. Listening to the audio while reading along in the book would be a perfect literature experience.

Readers who enjoy Erdrich’s character-driven style will not be disappointed from this lyrical,relaxed paced and yet moving and stylistically complex novel.

AWARDS
ALA Notable Children's Books - Middle Readers Category: 2006
Booklist Editors' Choice - Books for Youth - Middle Readers Category: 2005
New York Times Notable Books - Children's Books: 2005
Parents' Choice Awards - Fiction: 2005
Scott O'Dell Historical Fiction Award

REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Librarly Journal: “Omakayas's tale, begun in The Birchbark House, continues in this book. Older and more insightful, Omakayas begins to understand the elements of life more fully as she accepts her gift of telling dreams. Changes are coming to the Ojibwa people and she struggles to deal with all that she is experiencing and her dreams foretell.”

Publishers Weekly: "… this meticulously researched novel offers an even balance of joyful and sorrowful moments while conveying a perspective of America's past that is rarely found in history books."

Kirkus Reviews: ”Omakayas's relationships with her prickly brother Pinch, the white child she calls Break-Apart Girl and Two Strike, who scorns women's work, allow for emotional resonance. She learns not only from the hands of her grandmother, mother and Old Tallow, but by her own sharp observation and practice. Eager readers beguiled by her sturdy and engaging person will scarcely notice that they have absorbed great draughts of Ojibwe culture, habits and language. It's hard not to weep when white settlers drive the Ojibwe west, and hard not to hope for what comes next for this radiant nine-year-old.”

CONNECTIONS
*Follow the story of Omakayas:
THE BIRCHBARK HOUSE (book #1). ISBN 0060297875
THE PORCUINE YEAR (book#3). ISBN 0060297875

*Expose children to other selected books about Native American people:
Hamm, Diane Johnston. Daughter of Suqua . ISBN: 9780807514771
O'Dell, Scott . Island of the Blue Dolphins. ISBN: 9780395536803
Bruchac, Joseph. The journal of Jesse Smoke : a Cherokee boy. ISBN: 9780439121972
Bunting, Eve. Cheyenne again. ISBN: 9780395703649
Bruchac, Joseph. Children of the longhouse . ISBN: 9780140385045

HATTIE BIG SKY by Kirby Larson

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Larson, Kirby. 2006. Hattie Big Sky. New York, NY: Delacorte Press. ISBN 9780385733137

PLOT SUMMARY
Hatie Brooks is a sixteen-year-old orphan. Her parents died when she was very young, and since then she has been shuffled around from one relative to another. She has never felt honestly wanted; she has never had a real home. When an uncle she has never met leaves her a homestead in Montana, Hattie decides that his claim is her chance for a home of her own. In order to prove the claim, she must learn a new set of skills to survive. Hattie has to deal with a frigid winter, a threat of no crops, and her own inexperience and loneliness. At the end, when a disaster strikes, Hattie will unveil the true meaning of home and the full scope of friendship; she will dicover that the possibilities are always around her.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Inspired by the author's great-grandmother, who did homestead by herself in eastern Montana, this absorbing story introduces us to the questing, indomitable Hattie, one of the strongest pioneer girl characters. Through these pages, we witness her evolution from the child who calls herself "Hattie Here-and-There" to the young woman who says “there were bigger things in life than proving up on a claim. I was proving up on my life”. She grows to a person who does what needs to be done, and learns the true life values. Hattie’s struggle for survival is shown in vivid details and readers could relate to her grit, determination and humor.

The historical aspects of the plot are very believable, without being overwhelming. Set in 1917 during World War I, the novel not only portrays the challenges of pioneer life as experienced by a young woman, but also accurately represents the background of the war, and associated with it privations and pressures. Even in the wilderness of Montana, the war against the Germans causes a wave of anti-German sentiment and adds tension. The book deals openly and frankly with the universal themes of loyalty, prejudice, patriotism and human morals. The authentic first-person narrative, full of hope and anxiety, as well as Hattie’s letters and newspaper articles, convey additional themes about struggle and survival and finding your place in the world, so relevant in today’s world.

Larson’s capturing writing style will keep the reader interested until the very last page. Full of both triumph and heartache and beautifully written, the story combines sufficient action, historical accuracy and compelling description to attract even reluctant readers. Hattie Big Sky is a fantastic story about courage and friendship.

AWARDS
ALA Notable Children's Books - Older Readers Category: 2007
Booklist Editors' Choice - Books for Youth - Older Readers Category: 2006
Montana Book Award
School Library Journal Best Books: 2006
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults: 2007


REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal: “Larson creates a masterful picture of the homesteading experience and the people who persevered.”

Booklist: “Writing in figurative language that draws on nature and domestic detail to infuse her story with the sounds, smells, and sights of the prairie, she creates a richly textured novel full of memorable characters.

Horn Book : “Set in Montana during World War I, Larson's novel tells a gripping story of frontier life through the eyes of an unlikely homesteader--a sixteen-year-old orphan girl. Pressures to be a "loyal" American complicate her situation after she befriends a German couple. Evocative yet straightforward language ably depicts Hattie's joys and struggles.”

CONNECTIONS
* Introduce other historical fiction novels, discussing teens who discover their self-reliance:

Van Leeuwen, Jean. Cabin on Trouble Creek . ISBN: 9780803725485

MacColl, Michaela.Prisoners in the Palace : How Victoria Became Queen With the Help of her Maid, a Reporter, and a Scoundrel. ISBN: 9780811873000

Finn, Mary.Anila's Journey. ISBN: 9780763639167

THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE by Karen Cushman

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Cushman, Karen. 1995. THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE. New York, NY: Harper Trophy. ISBN 9780064406307.

PLOT SUMMARY:
Brat is “unwashed, unnourished, unloved and unlovely” young girl with no home, no family; nothing. She doesn’t know other name than Brat; she doesn’t know her actual age. She has no past and no future until she meets the village’s midwife and becomes her apprentice. While her hunger drives her to work for the sometimes cruel midwife, the girl-who renames herself Alyce- begins to discover more about herself and her own abilities, and gains the courage to want something from life: "A full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world.”


CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Karen Cushman has created a lively, gritty story with an unforgettable female heroine in this compact, dense novel.
Setting the story in pre-1500's England, Cushman has done her research to give an authentic picture of life in a medieval village. The book gives a realistic portrayal of the culture of the country, as seen through the eyes of the protagonist. Accurate, historical details are vividly described without calling too much attention. Cushman’s medieval village is dirty, smelly, and completely realistic, as opposite of the romanticized images of castles and princesses. The dialogue used captures very well the speech patterns used during medieval times.Even more impressive is the fact that her protagonist (in spite of the book’s shortness) is fully-fleshed and believable: Alyce is a plucky, gawky, and endearing heroine, and her story is utterly compelling. We see her transformation from a girl who runs from failure, to a self acknowledged person who learns that she is worthy of other people's respect, care and love.

Children today will recognize and empathize with Alyce's predicaments: feeling unwanted, being different, moving into unfamiliar territory. While they won’t face trials as extreme as the girl’s in the novel, they still must develop self-confidence and determine what their own dreams are. The main theme of the book is Alyce's survival and maturity. Cushman doesn't sugarcoat her struggles: life was hard for such children during those times. Alyce, while imperfect, is shown as a character that grows and begins to build her own identity. The story definitely reflects the morals and attitudes existing at the time. Younger children may be challenged to read this historical fiction novel, but those who enjoy fast-paced, witty, atmospheric, and descriptive stories may enjoy the book.

Cushman successfully manages to bridge the gap between illusion and reality, combining specificity of historical detail with adventure and mystery - a hearty concoction of literary appeal for any young reader.


AWARDS:
ALA Notable Children's Books: 1996
Booklist Editors' Choice - Books for Youth - Older Readers Category: 1995
Newbery Medal
Parents' Choice Awards - Story Books: 1995
School Library Journal Best Books: 1995
YALSA 100 Best Books (1950-2000)
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults: 1996
Young Reader's Choice Award (Pacific Northwest): Senior

REVIEW EXCERPTS:
Kirkus Reviews: “How Brat comes to terms with her failure and returns to Jane's home as a true apprentice is a gripping story about a time, place, and society that 20th-century readers can hardly fathom. Fortunately, Cushman does the fathoming for them, rendering in Brat a character as fully fleshed and real.... in language that is simple, poetic, and funny”.
Publishers Weekly: “The force of the ambience produces more than enough momentum to propel the reader from start to finish in a single happy sitting. “
School Library Journal: “Characters are sketched briefly but with telling, witty detail, and the very scents and sounds of the land and people's occupations fill each page as Alyce comes of age and heart. Earthy humor, the foibles of humans both high and low, and a fascinating mix of superstition and genuinely helpful herbal remedies attached to childbirth make this a truly delightful introduction to a world seldom seen in children's literature.”


CONNECTIONS:
*Introduce children to other books featuring ordinary medieval people with strong personalities:
Alder, Elizabeth. The king's shadow. ISBN: 9780440220114
Avi. Crispin: the cross of lead. ISBN:9780786808281
DeAngeli, Marguerite. The Door in the Wall. ISBN: 038507283X
Cadnum, Michael. The Book of the Lion. ISBN: 9780142300343

* Create a discussions of the middle ages and young girls in medieval England using other books by Karen Cushman…
CATHRINE, CALLED BIRDY. ISBN 0395681863.
MATILDA BONE. ISBN 0440418224.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE? HOW ALICE ROOSEVELT BROKE THE RULES, CHARMED THE WORLD, AND DROVE HER FATHER TEDDY CRAZY! by Barbara Kerley

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Kerley, Barbara.What To Do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy! . Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York, Scholastic. ISBN 0545123259

PLOT SUMMARY
“Theodore Roosevelt had a small problem….Her name was Alice.” So begins a simplified yet personal picture book biography of Alice Lee Roosevelt – Teddy Roosevelt’s oldest daughter. This book presents a spirited young woman, determined not to conform to the expectations of the society. While she loved reading the books in her father’s library, she also loved to run through the parks in Washington pretending to be a horse. She roamed over the capital city at all hours of the day and night. She welcomed visitors to the White House draped by her pet snake, Emily Spinach, “named for its color and its resemblance to a very thin aunt.” She played cards, bet on the horses, and danced the hula on a visit to Hawaii. After Alice married, she participated in political advising and continued to eat “up the world” in her own way.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

What to do About Alice? portrays true events in the First Daughter's life. Kerley describes Alice’s impetuous childhood, the frustrations her father felt trying to get her to behave, and how she scandalized many in the society at the time who felt she was too forward, doing things no young lady should be doing. While primarily focusing on her childhood and teen years, an Author's Note at the end describes elements of her mature years and her lifelong interest in politics.

This biography is presented with a simple plot, creating an easy to read story. Barbara Kerley trimmes her book with excellent word choices and perfectly selected dialogue. Quotation marks used throughout the book imply that the writer researched well the facts and bring a sense of authenticity. The text is informative, yet fast-paced and keeps the tone light and playful.

The eye-catching design of the book compliments the content.Beautiful classic looking pictures are as colorful as Alice herself and add gaily to the engaging spirit of the text. The illustrator, Edwin Fotheringham, in his debut picture book, creates artwork that conveys the energy and spunk of Theodore Roosevelt’s first daughter. His dynamic, animated style and his whimsical illustrations with lots of Alice blues and vibrant reds popping on every page resemble Alice’s personality.

Kerley’s accessible, expressive style engages young readers while exposing them to some of the lesser known aspects of history. With both humorous and touching moments, What to do About Alice? is a great choice for read alouds.


REVIEW EXCERPTS

Booklist, starred review: "Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was.... Kerley's text has the same rambunctious spirit as its subject, grabbing readers from the first line.... The large format gives Fotheringham, in his debut, plenty of room for spectacular art."
School Library Review, starred review: "Kerley's text gallops along with a vitality to match her subject's antics, as the girl greets White House visitors accompanied by her pet snake, refuses to let leg braces cramp her style, dives fully clothed into a ship's swimming pool, and also earns her place in history as one of her father's trusted advisers.... Fascinating."
Publishers Weekly, starred review: “It's hard to imagine a picture book biography that could better suit its subject than this high-energy volume serves young Alice Roosevelt."


AWARDS
Sibert Honor Book
Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book
Irma Black Award Honor Book
Parents Choice Award
Washington State Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award
California Collections
Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
ALA Notable Book
Capitol Choices
New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
Nominated for Young Reader awards in Texas, Illinois, Utah and Tennessee

CONNECTIONS
- The author’s website offers a wonderful teacher’s guide for the book. Creative suggestions range from asking children to imagine what living in the White House would be like, to having them chart Alice’s Asian journey on a map while learning about the various points of interest.
http://www.barbarakerley.com/TRAlice.html
- Use the book as an introduction to history lessons about presidents. Pair with titles about Teddy Roosevelt such as:
Brown, Don.Teedie: The story of young Teddy Roosevelt. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 9780618179992.
Keating, Frank.Theodore. Ill. by Mike Wimmer. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. ISBN: 9780689865329.
St. George, Judith.You’re on your way, Teddy Roosevelt. Ill. by Matt Faulkner. Penguin Group. ISBN: 9780399238888.