Gilly Hopkins is an 11 year old foster child. She has spent almost her entire life being shuttled from one home to another. As you can imagine this makes her angry and combative. Luckily she is bright and it is her intelligence that is her saving grace.
The story opens up with Gilly being sent to another home. This one is run by a Mrs. Trotter. Gilly gives her the same attitude that she gives everyone but Mrs. Trotter is used to foster children and isn't the least bit perturbed. She gives Gilly certain rules and obligations with the expectation that Gilly is to follow them. Gilly isn't happy about it, but eventually falls into line.
At school, Gilly discovers to her annoyance that her new teacher, Miss Harris, is black. Gilly doesn't like black people at all, but recognizes her teacher's intelligence. Miss Harris is the only one who recognizes that Gilly's fully name, Galadriel, is from the Lord of the Rings. Gilly leaves a racist card for her teacher, but despite this, Miss Harris continues to reach out to Gilly.
Back home Gilly is given the chore of escorting her blind neighbor back to his home after he has dinner with them each night. The next door neighbor Mr Randolph, is black. Gilly's dislike of being told what to do is exacerbated by having to escort a black man home. However at his home Gilly discovers a magnificent library of books.
While exploring them Gilly finds a stash of money, and hits on the idea of stealing the money to go to San Francisco to find her mother. With the help of Agnes Stokes, another child in her class, Gilly steals the money but is caught by the police at the bus station.
After she is returned to Mrs. Trotter. Gilly sends a letter to her mother telling her what a horrible life she has in foster care. Eventually, to her intense surprise the letter gets results.
After years of silence, her mother sends a request to the foster care system to have Gilly sent to her grandmother's home in Virginia. Gilly's grandmother didn't even know she existed, but is delighted to have her. Gilly is angry at being uprooted again, especially when her mother joins them at Christmas. Gilly thinks her mother has come to stay, or to at least take Gilly to live with her, but finds out instead her mother has no interest in her, and only came because Gilly's grandmother paid for the ticket.
In the end, Gilly adjusts to life with her grandmother, but keeps in touch with Miss Harris, Mrs. Trotter and the friends she leaves behind in her last foster home.
This is an amazing story about a very angry frustrated girl, who eventually accepts what life has to offer her. She learns many life's lessons along the way, mostly about her self. Sadly, she doesn't get what she wants, but she gets what she needs, and that is more important. Her time with Miss Harris and Mrs. Trotter, bring her to a better understanding about people, and her grandmother's love teaches her to love herself.
This book won several awards, including the Newbery. It also has the distinction of being one of the most banned books in schools and libraries. The language is considered inappropriate, as does some of the subject matter. But it is an excellent book, giving a good view of a foster care child from a foster child's point of view. Pick it up and read it yourself if you aren't sure you want your 10 year old to read it. I think you'll like it.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Number the Stars
"Number the Stars" is a book narrated by Annemarie Johansen. Annemarie Johansen is a ten year old girl living in Copenhagen during World War 2. Her best friend, Ellen Rosen is a Jew. Ellen and her family, as well as all the Jews at that time, were about to be deported by the Nazis. One night, Ellen's mother and father disappear, but Ellen stays with Annemarie. The next day, German soldiers show up at Annemarie's house to question her family regarding the Rosen's disappearance. Annemarie's parents deny knowing where they've gone, and the soldiers eye Ellen, who is dark haired, unlike the rest of the Johansens. Annemarie's father shows the soldiers a baby picture of Annemarie's older sister Lisa, who had died recently. In the picture, Lise is as dark haired as Ellen. After they exam the picture the soldiers leave, and Ellen is safe.
The next day, the Johansen's and Ellen, go to Uncle Hendrick's home. Once there Ellen is reunited with her family. Soon they are smuggled out of Denmark along with many others.
At the end of the war, Annemarie finds the Star of David necklace which Ellen has left in Annemarie's safe keeping. Annemarie puts it on, vowing to wear it until Ellen and her family come back home.
Lois Lowry wrote this book. With each page she gives you a mental picture of what it must have been like to live through a terrifying chapter of world history. In each chapter, you see both the best and worst of humanity, from the soldiers who turn their guns on little children, to those who risked their lives for strangers.
Although this book is told from a girl's point of view, it is a good book for both boys and girls. There are plenty of heroic men as well as women in the story. Children of adults of both sexes will enjoy it.
Because of the efforts of the Danish Resistance, out of the country's 8000 Jews, only 450 were deported. Of those 450, only a total of 51 died because the Danes convinced the Nazi's to keep their countrymen in a camp nearby where their condition was closely monitored.
Because of the efforts of nearly an entire country, most Jewish Danes were able to return to their homes after the war, to reunite with loved ones.
"Number the Stars" is a fictional book, but is a fictional book based on facts. If your children enjoy history, this might be a book for them.
The next day, the Johansen's and Ellen, go to Uncle Hendrick's home. Once there Ellen is reunited with her family. Soon they are smuggled out of Denmark along with many others.
At the end of the war, Annemarie finds the Star of David necklace which Ellen has left in Annemarie's safe keeping. Annemarie puts it on, vowing to wear it until Ellen and her family come back home.
Lois Lowry wrote this book. With each page she gives you a mental picture of what it must have been like to live through a terrifying chapter of world history. In each chapter, you see both the best and worst of humanity, from the soldiers who turn their guns on little children, to those who risked their lives for strangers.
Although this book is told from a girl's point of view, it is a good book for both boys and girls. There are plenty of heroic men as well as women in the story. Children of adults of both sexes will enjoy it.
Because of the efforts of the Danish Resistance, out of the country's 8000 Jews, only 450 were deported. Of those 450, only a total of 51 died because the Danes convinced the Nazi's to keep their countrymen in a camp nearby where their condition was closely monitored.
Because of the efforts of nearly an entire country, most Jewish Danes were able to return to their homes after the war, to reunite with loved ones.
"Number the Stars" is a fictional book, but is a fictional book based on facts. If your children enjoy history, this might be a book for them.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
About the B'nai Bagels
Mark Setzer loves baseball, but there's no one to coach a team sponsored by his local temple until his mother takes over. Although Mrs. Setzer knows very little about baseball or coaching, she knows a great deal about bossing. One of the first people she bosses is Mark's older brother, enlisting <some would say blackmailing> him into being the assistant coach.
Mark's problem is that he feels he doesn't play well enough for the team. His best friend, Hersch used to practice with him, but Hersch has moved to the "richer" part of town now. Although they try to keep in touch, Hersch is making new friends, including the kid that he and Mark used to make fun of. In desperation, Mark goes to the projects, where his teammates live, hoping to practice with them. Not only do his new friends help him get through his unhappiness with school, preparations for his bar mitzvah, and his crazy family, they also help him get over his insecurity with the game. But when Mark makes an uncomfortable discovery he worries that his new friends, his family and his team mates will turn their backs on him unless he keeps quiet. His decision ultimately shows Mark that being a man is means sometimes you make hard choices.
This is a great book for boys around 10 to 12. The book is told through Mark's first person experience, and shows his struggles with all the pre adolescent angst that most kids suffer through. Learning how to balance family, friends and self doubt is a tough thing for any child but Mark gets through the bumps with his integrity intact, and that's what I appreciated most about this story.
If you have a son <or daughter!> you'd like to encourage to read, I definitely recommend "About the B'nai Bagels." And if you are a parent who ever coached or assistant coached any sporting events for your kids, you might want to give it a read too. You'll enjoy it as well!
Mark's problem is that he feels he doesn't play well enough for the team. His best friend, Hersch used to practice with him, but Hersch has moved to the "richer" part of town now. Although they try to keep in touch, Hersch is making new friends, including the kid that he and Mark used to make fun of. In desperation, Mark goes to the projects, where his teammates live, hoping to practice with them. Not only do his new friends help him get through his unhappiness with school, preparations for his bar mitzvah, and his crazy family, they also help him get over his insecurity with the game. But when Mark makes an uncomfortable discovery he worries that his new friends, his family and his team mates will turn their backs on him unless he keeps quiet. His decision ultimately shows Mark that being a man is means sometimes you make hard choices.
This is a great book for boys around 10 to 12. The book is told through Mark's first person experience, and shows his struggles with all the pre adolescent angst that most kids suffer through. Learning how to balance family, friends and self doubt is a tough thing for any child but Mark gets through the bumps with his integrity intact, and that's what I appreciated most about this story.
If you have a son <or daughter!> you'd like to encourage to read, I definitely recommend "About the B'nai Bagels." And if you are a parent who ever coached or assistant coached any sporting events for your kids, you might want to give it a read too. You'll enjoy it as well!
Friday, January 6, 2012
The Fire Cat
"The Fire Ca"t is the story about Pickles, a stray who winds up in the Fire Department.
Pickle's life doesn't start out very auspiciously Pickles lives in a barrel. He is a stray cat who spends his time picking on the little cats in his neighborhood. One day he chases a smaller cat up a tree. The smaller cat makes his getaway but Pickles is stuck.
A lady named Mrs. Goodkind, who watches over the cats calls the fire department. They send out a truck to bring Pickles down.
The firefighter asks Mrs. Goodkind if this is her cat and she says no. She goes on to explain that Pickles is not the kind of cat who is happy in a home. She believes he wants to do big things. Joe the firefighter takes Pickles back to the fire station where he is introduced to the chief.
The chief allows him to stay provided Pickles earns his keep.
Pickles becomes an integral part of the company helping out in all sorts of ways, up to and including helping to hold the hose during fires, but he still can't help but chase littler kittens.
One day though, a kitten needs help. That's when Pickles shows that a cat with big paws, can indeed do big things!
This book was written by Esther Averill in 1960. She was from Connecticut originally but went to Paris. While there she worked as a photojournalist, and started a publishing company that published children's books. She returned from Paris in 1941, and continued working as a publisher and writer. She liked writing about cats for the most part, writing a series of books about a cat named Jenny.
In 1960 she wrote "The Fire Cat" and around 1965 my mother first read it to me. When my own crew came along I read it to them. And they are still entertained by the big cat with big paws. In fact my youngest cat Maude would have been named Pickles if she had been a boy, because she has paws like a catcher's mitt!
"The Fire Cat" is a chapter book, so it is easy to pick up and put down when you are just beginning to read. The illustrations are not fancy, but they are charming, done in a simple primary colors.
If your youngsters are cat lovers they will definitely enjoy this book. If they love fire stations they will enjoy it as well, although at this point the pictures are "vintage" <I use that word instead of antique since the book is the same age I am!>.
Pick up "The Fire Cat" today!
Pickle's life doesn't start out very auspiciously Pickles lives in a barrel. He is a stray cat who spends his time picking on the little cats in his neighborhood. One day he chases a smaller cat up a tree. The smaller cat makes his getaway but Pickles is stuck.
A lady named Mrs. Goodkind, who watches over the cats calls the fire department. They send out a truck to bring Pickles down.
The firefighter asks Mrs. Goodkind if this is her cat and she says no. She goes on to explain that Pickles is not the kind of cat who is happy in a home. She believes he wants to do big things. Joe the firefighter takes Pickles back to the fire station where he is introduced to the chief.
The chief allows him to stay provided Pickles earns his keep.
Pickles becomes an integral part of the company helping out in all sorts of ways, up to and including helping to hold the hose during fires, but he still can't help but chase littler kittens.
One day though, a kitten needs help. That's when Pickles shows that a cat with big paws, can indeed do big things!
This book was written by Esther Averill in 1960. She was from Connecticut originally but went to Paris. While there she worked as a photojournalist, and started a publishing company that published children's books. She returned from Paris in 1941, and continued working as a publisher and writer. She liked writing about cats for the most part, writing a series of books about a cat named Jenny.
In 1960 she wrote "The Fire Cat" and around 1965 my mother first read it to me. When my own crew came along I read it to them. And they are still entertained by the big cat with big paws. In fact my youngest cat Maude would have been named Pickles if she had been a boy, because she has paws like a catcher's mitt!
"The Fire Cat" is a chapter book, so it is easy to pick up and put down when you are just beginning to read. The illustrations are not fancy, but they are charming, done in a simple primary colors.
If your youngsters are cat lovers they will definitely enjoy this book. If they love fire stations they will enjoy it as well, although at this point the pictures are "vintage" <I use that word instead of antique since the book is the same age I am!>.
Pick up "The Fire Cat" today!
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