1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Avi. 2002. CRISPIN: THE CROSS OF LEAD. New York: Hyperion Book. ISBN 0786816589

2. PLOT
Set in the 13th century, this story is about a boy who has just lost his mother and has no other family to speak of. He is a poor servant boy that has nothing, not even a name. After accidentally coming upon the steward in a meeting, the boy finds himself being blamed for unspeakable crimes he did not commit. He is being tracked down and has been declared a wolf's head, which means is not human and may be killed my anyone. Before fleeing his town, he finds out that he does have a name and it is Crispin. Eventually, Crispin comes upon an abandoned town where he meets a jester. The jester makes him his servant and the two set off to go from town to town performing. After some time the two begin to bond. Eventually, Bear and Crispin learn the truth about why there are people after Crispin. As the secret son of Lord Furnival, he could make a claim to the land and take it away from the recently widowed Lady Furnival. Bear and Crispin work together to escape.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
As I was reading this book, I felt as though I had been plunged both to another place and another time. This novel helped me to understand what it was like to be a servant during these times. By giving this time period the face of a poor servant boy, I was able to make a connection because by the end of the story I really cared for him. There were parts in the story that were hard to understand because of the language, but the author helped with this by adding a glossary at the end. This really made a difference in how much I understood the story. This is such a different time period than what I have lived that without this glossary and the author's note I would probably have been very lost at parts. The plot was slow to start, but soon the action began and I could not put it down until it was over. This book made me want to find more historical novels and non-fiction from this time period.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
From Publishers Weekly: "Avi's plot is engineered for maximum thrills, with twists, turns and treachery aplenty, but it's the compellingly drawn relationship between Crispin and Bear that provides the heart of this story."
From School Library Journal: "a meticulously crafted story, full of adventure, mystery, and action."

5. CONNECTIONS
Continue reading about Bear and Crispin's journeys in:
Avi. CRISPIN: AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD. ISBN 078685152X

Other books about the Middle Ages:
Schlitz, Laura Amy. GOOD MASTERS! SWEET LADIES! VOICES FROM A MEDIEVAL VILLAGE. ISBN 0763643327

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Peck, Richard. 2003. THE RIVER BETWEEN US. New York: Puffin Books. ISBN 0142403105

2. PLOT
This is a story of the Civil War from the perspective of the sisters, mothers, and lovers that are left behind. As it starts, Tilly lives with her mother, sister, and her twin brother Noah. There is speak of a war beginning and they can see in Noah's eyes that he is wanting to go. One day a boat comes to town carrying a mysterious lady, Delphine, and her companion. Tilly's mother offers her their place to board. Noah seems to have an attraction for Delphine and this seems to keep him away from the war for some time. Finally though, Noah decided that he must join the forces and go into battle. The thought of her son being away is too much for Mama, and she tells Tilly to go find her boy and not to return until he is with her. Once there, Delphine and Tilly see that these soldiers are not being cared for the way they should. They stay and help nurse all the sick soldiers until the day of battle. Although Noah comes back to them again, he is missing his arm and is in a bad way. They finally get him well enough to take home only to find out that Mama has gone into the river thinking her son is dead. Tilly, Noah, Delphine, and Dr. Hutchings create a bond through all of this hardship that lasts for a lifetime.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This story about the civil war took a different approach and told the story from the sister's perspective. This really made the story interesting to me. Being a woman, I felt as though I was able to connect with the main character and made me see the differences in the way that women from that era and my era live their lives. The author explained that he decided to focus on one battle and therefore decided to make the story set in a town that is near there. My eyes were truly opened when it was shown how the soldiers were treated during this war. I was absolutely appalled and would like to learn more about how women helped with this.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
From School Library Journal: "In this thoroughly researched novel, Peck masterfully describes the female Civil War experience"
From Booklist: "a riveting story that shows racism everywhere and young people facing war"

5. CONNECTIONS
Other books about the Civil War:
McPherson, James A. FIELDS OF FURY: THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR. ISBN 0689848331
Murphy, Jim. THE BOYS' WAR: CONFEDERATE AND UNION SOLDIERS TALK ABOUT THE CIVIL WAR. ISBN 0395664128

1. BIBLIOGRPAHY
Lowry, Lois. 1989. NUMBER THE STARS. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0440227534

2. PLOT
This is the story of two best friends growing up together in Denmark during World War II. At the beginning of the novel the girls are running through the streets together without a care in the world, until they are stopped by the guards in the street and remember that things are not as they used to be. Annemarie's best friend Ellen is Jewish. One night, they are told that the soldiers are coming to take all of the Jewish people away and they must hide Ellen and her family. The girls must bravely pretend that they are sisters. Annemarie becomes a hero to her friend's family and the other Jewish families that they are helping to escape. As they are about to sneak the families across the sea to Sweden, Annemarie discovers that an important package that was suppose to be on the boat with them has fallen on the ground. In a race against time and in danger of being caught, she must deliver this package to ensure the safe escape of the Jewish families.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
I was truly moved by this story. Children would easily be able to connect with the character in this story. The scene at the beginning of the book really shows that the children that endured these things were normal children at the beginning of the war. This story shows children that they are capable of bravery and making change just as much as adults are. This book was such an easy read with suspense, laughter, and was very emotional. I found the author's note to be one of the most interesting parts of the story. I had never known that these handkerchiefs were used. I really enjoyed how Lois Lowry pointed out exactly which things were taken from history and what was supplemented for the story.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
From Publishers Weekly: "tells of a 10-year-old girl who undertakes a dangerous mission to save her best friend"
From School Library Journal: "Readers are taken to the very heart of Annemarie's experience, and, through her eyes, come to understand the true meaning of bravery"

5. CONNECTIONS
Other books about the Holocaust:
Zusak, Marcus. THE BOOK THIEF. ISBN 0375842209
Bitton-Jackson, Livia. I HAVE LIVED A THOUSAND YEARS: GROWING UP IN THE HOLOCAUST. ISBN 0689823959

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Simon, Seymour. 1998. WOLVES. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 0064461769

2. PLOT
In this book, Simon educates us about the wolf, an animal that many fear and don't understand. He tells us that the wolf is very much like our domestic dogs and have many of the same traits. From this book, we learn that wolves are very loyal to their pack, just as dogs are loyal to the people they live with. They play, hunt, and sleep in their pack. Simon goes on to tell many more interesting facts about the wolf.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The real photographs presented in this book add a lot to the information that is provided. Many of the things that Simon describes in the book, you can see the wolves doing in the pictures. This helps to show that what he is saying is accurate. However, the lack of a bibliography is disappointing. I would to have known where he got his information and have resources to look up any additional information. As I am not an avid non-fiction reader, this book was written in a way that was able to keep my attention and made me want to learn more about the subject. If one was using this book for research, they may find it difficult to locate specific information. The book is not broken up into sections or topics and does not have an index.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT
From School Library Journal: "Simon dispels the traditionally negative images of the wolf in this...attractive and simple introduction."

5. CONNECTIONS
Other Books About Wolves:
- Johnson, Sylvia A. WOLF PACK: TRACKING WOLVES IN THE WILD. ISBN 0822595265
- Evert, Laura. WOLVES (OUR WORLD). ISBN 1559717483

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Krull, Kathleen. 2003. HARVESTING HOPE: THE STORY OF CESAR CHAVEZ. New York: Harcourt Books. ISBN 0152014373

2. PLOT
This book tells the story of Cesar Chavez. As a boy, he lives on a farm with his family that they own. During the summer, they spend most nights celebrating with family. As times get tougher for the family, they are forced to leave the farm and move to California to find work. The work they find there on farms is nothing like the work they did on their own farm. The treatment of farm workers is cruel and unfair. Chavez decides that someone has to fight for their rights and that person is him. He organizes a strike that successfully leads to the National Farm Workers Association being recognized and the first contract being signed. Chavez spends the rest of his life making sure that farm workers are treated equally.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This picture book biography is a very powerful recount of Cesar Chavez's life. The pictures in the book really add to the emotion of the story. Although, I would be interested to know where the images came from. Were they the creative imagination of the illustrator or were they real images that were recreated? Krull writes this biography in a way that is very appealing and interesting to read. There was no bibliography saying where the information from the story came from, which I would have like to have seen to do more research.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
From School Library Journal: "historic 1965 strike against grape growers and the subsequent march for "La Causa" are vividly recounted"
From Booklist: "Krull's language demonstrates a poetic sensibility"

5. CONNECTIONS
Other Books About Cesar Chavez:
- Soto, Gary. CESAR CHAVEZ: A HERO FOR EVERYONE. ISBN 0689859228
- Davis, Lucile. CESAR CHAVEZ: A PHOTO-ILLUSTRATED BIOGRAPHY. ISBN 0736884254

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Nelson, Kadir. 2008. WE ARE THE SHIP: THE STROY OF NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL. New York: Hyperion. ISBN 0786808322

2. PLOT
This captivating book tells the story of the Negro League. Nelson writes the book from the perspective of all the players who played in the Negro League. You really get the feel of how much they enjoyed playing the game despite all the hardships they endured. Many times they would spend hours on the bus riding to their next game to find that no one would give them a hotel room and have to go and sleep on the bus. The league made it through the Great Depression and World War II. The Negro League finally came to an end when there was a new commissioner and the Major League owners began drafting African Americans again.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Nelson does a fantastic job of making this story come alive. The pictures are amazing and make you feel as though you are standing right along side the ball players. The book is organized wonderfully. Each chapter discussing different aspects of the league. The index in the back also helps for those who are looking at this book for research and need to know something specific. The author's note does a great job at explaining his drive behind doing this book and also clarifies that some of the pictures were not 100% accurate. Nelson has also included his resources for the information for further research.

4.REVIEW EXCERPTS
From School Library Journal: "A lost piece of American history comes to life in Kadir Nelson's elegant and eloquent history of the Negro Leagues and its gifted baseball players."
From Booklist: "reads like an old-timer regaling his grandchildren with tales of baseball greats Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and others who forged the path toward breaking the race barrier before Jackie Robinson made his historic debut."

5. CONNECTIONS
Other Books About the Negro League:
- Lanctot, Neil. NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL: THE RISE AND RUIN OF A BLACK INSTITUTION. ISBN 0812220277
- Withers, Ernest C. NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL. ISBN 0810955857

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sones, Sonya. 2004. ONE OF THOSE HIDEOUS BOOKS WHERE THE MOTHER DIES. New York: Simon Pulse. ISBN 1416907882

2. PLOT

This is an emotional story about a teenage girl that must move from Boston to LA. Her mother has died and she must go to live with her celebrety of a father that she has never met before. Ruby is none to pleased to have just lost her mother and to now be losing the only home she has ever known, her best friend, and her boyfriend. When she arrives, she is determined to enjoy nothing about LA. She does however find solice in her father's assistant, Max. Ruby begins to open up at school and makes some friends and then slowly her anger for her father starts to disappear. Max reveals to Ruby that it was actually her mother that kept her away from her father. Her aunt had helped him keep up with Ruby and how she was doing. She then finds out that Max is actually her father's boyfriend and they start to grow as a family.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This verse novel really captured the emotions of a teenage girl grieving. Each poem gives the reader insight into the emotions of Ruby. It felt as though I was listening to her inner most thoughts. The structure of verse novel really added a lot to the story. If the story had been written as a reglar novel, I do not think there would have been the emotional connection between Ruby and the reader. The individual verses were very insightful on their own. Each one could stand alone and still be just as insightful.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT

Review from School Library Journal: "This is not just another one of those gimmicky novels written in poetry. It's solid and well written, and Sones has a lot to say about the importance of carefully assessing people and situations and about opening the door to one's own happiness."

5. CONNECTIONS

Other books that deal with death and grief:

- Morey, Walt. GENTLE BEN. ISBN 0142405515
- Forman, Gayle. IF I STAY. ISBN 0525421033

- Hoban, Julia. WILLOW. ISBN 0803733569

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Grimes, Nikki. 2001. POCKETFUL OF POEMS. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0395938686

2. PLOT

This book is a collection of poems from the perscpective of an urban, Harlem girl. The poems go through the seasons and describe different words that she encounters in her neighborhood during each of the seasons. Its as though she is seeing the words and putting them in her pocket with each of the poems.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This collection of poems really captures the voice of a Harlem city girl. The poems describe the Harlem neighborhood through the seasons in a very interesting way. The girl has words in her pocket that represent the season from her point of view. She takes the words out and describes them with a haiku. I think this is a a great way to interpret the seasons.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT

Review from School Library Journal: "the poems depict sensory impressions and precisely observed moments"

5. CONNECTIONS

Other Poetry Books by Nikke Grimes:

- Grimes, Nikki. MEET DANITRA BROWN. ISBN 0688154719

- Grimes, Nikki. WHEN GORILLA GOES WALKING. ISBN 0439317703

- Grimes, Nikki. WHEN DADDY PRAYS. ISBN 0802851525

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lewis, J. Patrick. 2009. THE UNDERWEAR SALESMAN. New York: Ginee Seo Books. ISBN 0689853254

2. PLOT

This zaney book is a humorous look at the different careers that students have the choice at going into. Each poem cleverly describes a different career choice.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

These poems have a great rhythme to them that is very enjoyable for children to listen to. This collection of poems is a different way to look at careers that children have the choice to go into. Each poem is then put on a page with illustrations that bring them to life. The fun loving poems are light-hearted and interesting.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

Review from Booklist: "Puns are everywhere in this playful, rhyming survey of jobs, and the collage illustrations extend the verbal fun with wry, literal images"

Review from Publishers Weekly: "Lewis deserves applause for his sophisticated wordplay and his willingness to push readers in terms of poetic conceits"

5. CONNECTIONS

This book would pair wonderfully with a Social Studies unit having to do with the jobs that people do. This is something that we cover in our class every year, but we usually only talk about the basic jobs. This book would really open up a discission about the things you can grow up to be. The students could then think about what they want to be and write a poem about that job. This would make a great class book with all of the students poems collected and illustrated.