Mirror Book

Title: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Author: Judith Viorst
Illustrated by: Ray Cruz

Summary: If you ever thought you have had a bad day, just wait till you hear about Alexander's. From a visit to the dentist office to getting gum stuck in your hair, this bad day may just go unrivaled.

Opinion: This was one of my favorites growing up and I never really knew why until now. Having a bdad day could be one of the most relatable experiences there is. And it is clear that the only medicine for having a bad day is to hear about someone who is having a worst day then you. All of the events throughout the story have happened to most kids, but for Alexander, all of these tragedies happened in one day.

Viorst manages to capture a child's temperament masterfully, making Alexander look more like a victim to the ruthless universe as opposed to just a whiny child. When reading this, I felt truly sad for Alexander and wanted to hop inside the story, just so I can give him a hug. This book is a great pick-me-up when you are feeling down and is lovely from cover to cover.

I would recommend this book to anyone that looks like they are a bit sad, or are just complaining in general. My mom still to this day reminds me of Alexander when I am having a rough go at it. Hopefully after reading this book, you will too.

Multicultural Window Book

 Title: The Wall
Author: Peter Sis


Summary: Sis tells his story of his childhood growing up in Eastern Europe throughout communism. The tale shows the harsh realities of communism compared to the imaginative potential of democracy.

Opinion: As a history buff, I could not help but take interest in this story. On the borders of each page, photographs, journal enteries and news clippings are displayed to match the actions taking throughout the story. This lent a credibility to the story that made it seem much more than just a children's book. Growing up, Sis spoke of his communistic pride. This highlighted the successes of the propaganda scheme developed by the soviets. He carried this sentiment until he grew a little older and learned that there was much more to offer on the other side of the curtain.
The illustrations were absolutely remarkable. The cold harsh realities of communism were displayed solely in black and red, whereas the beauty of the west were shown through bright vivid illustrations with the full array of the color wheel. For this reason, it is understandable that Sis received the Caldecott award for this story.
As a future teacher, there is not one doubt in my mind that I will be using this when given the opportunity to teach contemporary history. There is so many historical talking points throughout the work, I find my leg bouncing up and down at my chair just itching for discussion. This book is a masterpiece. Plain and simple.

Just for fun... if you have a spare hour and a half... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxNM7j_ppHI

If You Give A Moose A Muffin

Title: If You Give A Moose A Muffin
Written By: Laura Numeroff
Illustrated By: Felicia Bond

Summary: If you give a Moose a muffin, he will ask for some jam, and so commences a sequence of events that keeps readers turning pages. A very demanding Moose will keep asking for more and more as you read this classic tale.

Opinion: I hate to admit it, but I am going to, here it goes... this was the first time I had ever read/heard about this story. One of my high school buddies always called one of our teachers Moose, because he would give us ridiculous demands. Never did I understand the humor until now. This book is simply hilarious. The Moose, no matter what he receives, will ever be satisfied (Sound like anyone you know...). The story is very simple and easy to follow but it is manic enough to have kept my interest throughout.

I could not help but notice a great opportunity to teach cause and effect with this book. Every page had a antecedent where the Moose demanded a response. The illustrations complemented the authors deadpan style and were really well done.

It is no wonder why this tale is a classic. It's quick, funny, and easy to read. It also has a great message. Always keep blueberry muffins and jam in stock, because you never know who might drop by. This book has led to several variants including, If You Give A Pig A Pancake.

NOT A BOX

Title: Not A Box
Author: Antoinette Portis

Summary: A small bunny proves that there is no limit when it comes to imagination. The story shows that a simple box can be anything from a race car to a rocket ship.

Opinion: Not A Box is one of the most original picture books that I have read in a while. The illustrations throughout the book are basic in premise (the same black box appears on every page). But here enlies the beauty. A simple boring box can be changed into anything one can imagine. The use of red shows the rabbit's creations through imagination. These illustrations are quite crude and could easily be replicated by children, making them delightful.
I remember growing up, my next door neighbor and I built a box fort that was quite the envy to the rest of the cul-de-sac. It had levels and seemingly endless potential as it could shift from a space shuttle to a castle with a blink of an eye. This book transported me back to those days.
I am seriously in love with this book. It is so awesome and so original. It is incredible that such a basic premise has not been done before. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Enjoy!

After Tupac and D Foster

Title: After Tupac and D Foster
Author: Jacqueline Woodson

Summary: The story of Neeka, an 11 year-old African American girl whose life is permanantly altered by a friend, D Foster, who enters her life and leaves shortly after. The two who have had very different childhoods, Neeka is from a strong community in Queens while D has been bouncing from foster homes her whole life, end up finding commonality in many things, including their love for rapper Tupac Shakur.

Opinion: “Reality is wrong. Dreams are for real.”     “For every dark night, there's a brighter day", Tupac, was and still is considered to be one of the greatest urban lyricist of recent generations. However, like many great artists, his life was tragically ended short. Being a large fan of Hip-Hop, I could not help but absolutly love this story. It not only went through the struggles, trials, and tribulations of adolescents, but also the struggle trials and tribulations of Black progress in the 90's. Woodson does a masterful job in relating the fictional tale with actual events happening in the United States, making the story relatable to anyone growing up in the mid-90's (Me :-) ). 
Tupac Shakur was one of those figures who divided America into two mutually uncomprehending groups -- those who loved him and found personal meaning in his work, and those who dismissed him as just another posing thug who reaped what he sowed. This division is the premise of Woodson's work. It is clear that back then and still today, there is a division in the perspective of black culture. While people within the culture state the difficulty of social movement due to oppressive forces found throughout society, the other feels that Black culture is complacent due to their own culture, a culture that lowly prioritizes education and hard work. 
I loved this book and made me open my eyes about black culture. After reading, I could not help but feel mixed emotions wondering if more can be done to promote this groups growth.

The Giver

Title: The Giver
Author: Lois Lowry

Summary: This controversial 1993 Newberry winner depicts the story of a quaint, sheltered, village that has very traditional ideals. These ideals come into debate when the main character Jonas is asked to learn the history of the village and even venture into the outside world.

Opinion: After reading The Giver (for my third time) I could not help but notice that my stomach was all twisted up. I, a person who takes a particular interest to history, cannot help but notice some similar parables to modern day history. One is the assignment of jobs, not necessarily based on ones qualifications, but rather on the societies need reminds me of several communistic societies of past. Also just the idea of a world with no history leaves many interpretation. History is learned in order to learn and repeat successes or stray away from failures. But if people of control were to hide this knowledge, one would never know how to make progress and mistakes would continue (this reminds me of the holocaust denial of Germany up until recently). The story also mirrored history with the use of Eugenics. The controversial process of Eugenics has been used in the past (Sparta) in order to create a healthier society.
The story has incredible symbolism with its black and white vs. color. This use helps create a sense of both safety and danger throughout the story. When I read this I could not help but notice the similarity to a movie directed by M. Night Shyamalan entitled The Village http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB55bv4B8LQ
For those of you who haven't seen the movie, don't. It is quite terrible. But the comparison can be made, (especially once the awful twist of the movie is revealed.)
In all, this was an incredible book and a terrific display of a good science fiction novel. I would recommend it to anyone that may be interested in a somewhat controversial, dark, and twisted tale. 

Rapunzel

Title: Rapunzel
By: Paul Zelinsky

Summary: This classic fairytale redone, depicts the story of a beautiful girl who is locked away in a tower by an evil witch. She is forced to remain there until a young prince comes by and vows to free her.

Opinion: Upon a thorough read and deep reflection on the story, I cannot believe how ridiculous fairy tales can be. First off, the parents of Rupenzel make a deal with the witch to just give her away on her birth, just to satisfy Rupunzel's mom's pregnant cravings. I hear that those cravings can be outrageous, but I doubt any good parent would just give away their kid for some good food. (I know my mom wouldn't... or at least I hope so :-).) Second, the idea for a man's perfect woman to be some girl who is locked away at all times appears to fit the old saying, "keep your women barefoot and pregnant". Sad to say that this story seems to reaffirm that model.
With that being said, the illustrations are marvelous. They have such a realistic feel it appears that you are looking at photographs. The prose is also phenomenal making it an easy read for children. It is clear that Zelinsky took one of Grimm's classic tales and adapted it to make it his own.

and Tango Makes Three

And Tango Makes Three 
Authors: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
 Illustrator: Henry Cole

Summary: Roy and Silo are to male penguins that do everything in their power to hatch a rock into their very own egg. Once they discover that this is impossible, Mr. Gramzay (the keeper penguin) gives them a very egg of their own to look after.

Opinion: I am immediately going to throw out a disclaimer stating that I am very supportive of gay marriage. It has always seemed silly to me that two people in love cannot be together because of some societal norm. With that being said, I absolutely loved this story! It was very cute and innocent and touched the issue of homosexuality in a non-threatening manner. Using penguins instead of people, I feel children may be more supportive (how many parents have advocated against gay penguins) on the issue.  Richardson and Parnell did a wonderful job creating a family dynamic that was full of warm, loving-emotion. 
The illustrations were adorable. Cole was able to master the use of emotion through the animals expressions, a skill that is so often overlooked. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone that is open minded on the issue and willing to give children an exposure to the idea of alternative lifestyles.

The Stupids Die

Title: The Stupids Die
Written by: Harry Allard
Illustrations by: James Marshall

Summary: The story depicts the Stupid family, which you may guess, is not the typical family. In this volume of the series, the Stupids face tackle the issue of death. Once the lights are turned off in the home, the Stupids face emptiness. The only logical explanation for the Stupids is that they are all dead. However, once the lights return the Stupids believe that they are in heaven.

Opinion: While the book can be considered controversial due to the name of the family and to what appears to be the overall pointlessness to the story, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The zaniness is comparable to the Amelia Bedelia  series and seems to be all in good fun. The story is outrageous enough to keep students turning pages (eating dinner with your feet is considered "good" manners) and the pictures are filled with enough humor to encourage children to really explore the illustrations in depth.
The literary elements of the story were used in line to help create the humor. The seemingly normal nuclear family, in the normal suburban home were perfectly played to create such mayhem. (The story wouldn't have been as funny if it was some irregular setting or irregular characters). While most of my classmates disliked The Stupids, I am all for them. Never dull or didactic, they will have you rolling on the floor with laughter! DUH!

The Higher Power of Lucky

Title: The Higher Power of Lucky
Author: Susan Patron
Illustrator: Matt Phelan


Summary: The Higher Power of Lucky is about a 10 year-old girl named Lucky's search for meaning of the higher power. Lucky's search is fueled by the death of her mother and her seemingly unstable relationship with her stepmother Brigitte.

My Opinion: Great use of literary elements in novels come seemingly so few and far between. Who would have thought that a novel written for children would posses marvelous use of all the elements. Lucky took me on a tear-jerking (Boys don't cry... or so I thought) journey that made myself wonder, why? Upon further review, it is the reality that was caused by the literary elements. For example, Lucky's character was one of the most dynamic I have seen in a long time. The reader followed the path of a grieving child's acceptance of her mother's death and her new life. (It is incredible that such a touch difficult process could be so tastefully done in such a short amount of writing). Lucky was believable from her mannerisms, her physical description, and the various relationships she possessed throughout the story.
The setting was also fantastic. The desert sand and the small town gave an eerie feeling of isolation. A feeling of an impossible escape, which ironically was one of Lucky's ultimate goals. It was strange to see the contrast however between Lucky's relationship with the desert and what we would expect. Lucky felt comfortable with the desert because it was her home. Her sandy skin blended right in and felt that she could live there forever. Which made me just realize maybe that is why she wanted to escape into the desert. So no one could find her. So she could share her feelings of harshness and isolation with her surroundings.
I loved this story right down to the core. I would recommend it to people of all ages. It was the best book that I have had the pleasure to read in a long time.

My Friend Rabbit

 Title: My Friend Rabbit
Author: Eric Rohmann

Summary: When Mouse lets his best friend Rabiit borrow his brand-new toy airplane, hilarity ensues. Rabbit throws the plane into a tree and needs the help of the rest of the animal kingdom in order to help get the plane down.

Rabbit probably needs to be a bit more careful!

My Opinion: This great story of friendship uses the power of illustration to help teach most of the the story. The paintings in the story are both fun and lively and help tell a story beyond the story. While text may say one thing, character expressions are showing another. With text being written on less then half of the pages, it is clear that this story is written for a younger audience. With that determined, the book spreads a wonderful message about the importance of sticking beside your friends, even if it might be easier not to. It also discusses the idea that results may not always mirror intentions. Both are deep lessons that if kids can grasp at an early age, they will be much better off.

The Man Who Walked Between The Towers

Title: The Man Who Walked Between The Towers
Author: Mordicai Gerstein

Summary: The Man Who Walked Between The Towers is a retelling of an actual event that took place in 1974. Phillipe Pettite, tightrope walker extraordinaire, looked up into the skyline of New York and decided it would be his ultimate dream to perform on a wire suspended between the roofs of the World Trade Center. Pettite with the help of his friends accomplished the dream with the help of some friends and was arrested immediately after the performance. He was sentenced to perform for children in New York's Central Park.

My Opinion: When the towers first appeared in the book, I got that feeling. You know that gut wrenching feeling you get when you are reminded of 9/11. I immediately flipped to the inside cover of the book and was astonished that it had been written after the attack. But I quickly dove back in because of how beautiful the illustrations were. I felt a sense of pride seeing the building sky over the rest of the skyline once again. The story was so outrageously great, that I thought it was fictional until after I read the inside cover once I completed the book. It carried out the normal life of a childrens' book until the last two pages when it snapped from the story of Phillipe Pettite, to showing that the towers were no more. It did not explain why they were gone, just simply that they were. But it also stated how there memory will live on. I feel that this book is an incredibly great resource. Social Studies teachers from grades K-12 could use this book to stir up a civil conversation of what happened that day. The paintings and writing were really tasteful and I urge people of all ages to give this book a read. If not to learn something, to remember.

Focus Question: How does knowing about literary elements impact understanding of a story?

When a story really seems to jump off the page and come alive, one might ask themselves, "Why?". Upon a more through examination, it is clear that good use of the literary elements is the key to sucking any reader into a story. Characters that are dynamic, take the readers on a journey as they change and grow by encountering various pitfalls, trifles, and tribulations. They help bring the opportunity to see raw human potential and shed light to wide array of human emotions. Other literary elements, such as point of view, also help set the mood of a piece. For example, first person narratives give the reader an opportunity to witness the inner-monologue of the leading protagonist. Where-as a third person story gives the opportunity to take the perspective of multiple individuals. Time is another great literary element that is used to spice up stories. It often helps set theme or mood (a slower moving story can often focus in on core human emotions, where as a fast moving story keeps the reader on the edge of their seat). A sense of time can also contribute to the overall realism to the work. (I hate it when books skip around in time, its way too confusing and just seems sloppy and unbelievable). The last literary element that I will discuss (certainly not all of them) is the setting. A great setting can truly transport the reader to the destination. Giving readers an eerie dream-like awareness of the place where the events are happening provides for a sense of realness that cannot be matched by television. The setting, if strong enough, can also become a character in and of itself (see earlier blog on Gary Paulsen's Hatchet).
Consider these elements as a set of tools. When reading for deeper understanding, it is important to analyze each element. Truly dive in and ponder things such as character motivations, the sense of time in the story, how the perspective is impacting what you are reading, and if the setting has successfully transported you. Only then will you be able to see the layer behind the surface, deeper understanding.

Hey, Al

Title: Hey Al
Story by: Arthur Yorinks
Pictures by: Richard Egielski

Summary: Hey, Al is about a custodian named Al and his dog named Eddie. While Al seemed to enjoy their simple life, Eddie demanded much more. One day while Al was in the bathroom, a large bird flew by and began to speak to Al. He offered Al and Eddie to come to a place of true beauty. While Al was reluctant, Eddie was persistent till they both agreed to visit the island. Everything was great for the two until Al realized they were both turning to birds. The two fled the island to return to their simple life. 


My opinion: Another caldecott winner, Hey Al's illustrations are phenomenal. (Eddie the dog is really cute!). The story takes readers on a fantastic journey to a magical place. The reader is able to physically witness the transformation of the two friends in near disturbing fashion. The book leaves the readers some nice messages such as, the grass is always greener on the other side, and paradise lost is sometimes heaven found. I absolutely loved this book. When i began to read it I swore it was new to me but once the Al and Eddie began to change, I had a flashback to reading the story as a young child. I would recommend this book to all ages, as the lesson is a valuable one that we often forget.

Where The Wild Things Are

Title: Where The Wild Things Are
Written and Illustrated by Maurice Sendak
Ages: 5-9

Summary: A troubled boy named Max begins to stir up mischief in his home. When Max's mischief begins to go to far, he get sent to bed without supper. Max begins to imagine a wonderful world where wild things rule. After some clever trickery, Max is determined to be the king of all the wild things. Max and the Wild Things have loads of fun playing together. Until Max begins to miss home and he determines that he should return home. When he comes back his dinner is waiting for him.

My opinion: A great book with some seriously dark connotations, Sendak does a fantastic job of capturing a young child's imagination. As you read, you feel the wide depth of emotions that Max experiences. A Caldecott winner, the illustrations are marvelous. This was one of my favorite books as a kid and rightfully so. I would recommend this story to people of all ages. It is a fantastic adventure and really empowers one to use their imagination to escape in times of frustration.

It was also made into a movie...

Where the wild things are Trailer

Gary Paulsen

Gary Paulsen is known as one of the most prolific adolescent novelist in the past 50 years. Paulsen, born May 17, 1939, ran away from his Northern Minnesota home when he was only 14 years old. Paulsen is heralded for his work output (has written over 175 books and 200 articles) and his ability to captivate reluctant readers. Paulsen was involved in a series of interesting jobs including, carnival worker, ranch hand, construction worker, farmer, engineer, truck driver and sailor. Paulsen also completed the world's largest dog sled race, the Iditarod, not once but twice. Paulsen draws on his previous experience to produce a more realistic feel to his novels.
 Personally, I feel Paulsen's biggest strength as an author is his ability to combine elementary language with riveting plot lines. The story is captivating enough to have them gain interest but the language is simple enough so it doesn't discourage them from quitting. It is unbelievable to me how successful he is at attacking adult issues. In Paulsen's Hatchet, the protagonist faces witnessing a death of a person, brutal animal attacks, and even attempts suicide. Yet it is all done in an extremely tasteful manner. Paulsen is also impressive in getting kids to relate to his stories, even though kids have never experienced such extraordinary circumstances and most have never even experienced a similar setting. It is also hard not to be impressed by the man's workload. With over 375 publications under his belt, Paulsen has 3 more books due before winter. Keep on trucking Gary! Keep on trucking...

Together

ARF! ARF!

Title: Together
Author & Illustrator: Jane Simmons
Ages 4-7

Summary: This story depicts the story of two dogs that are best friends Mousse and Nut. Mousse and Nut have a great time together until their two different sizes begins to cause problems when they are playing together. The story reaches a sad moment when Mousse and Nut decided it would be best if they stopped being friends. Both Mousse and Nut realize that living without a friend isn't all that it is cracked out to be. The two apologizes and return to being friends and learn a touching lesson about friendship.

Opinion: First off, I must confess... I have a soft spot for dogs. I wouldn't even say it is a soft "spot" as it consumes my whole body. With that being said, Jane Simmons does a wonderful job in her story Together Mousse and Nut have a very relatable relationship that is sure to touch the hearts of all children (and adults) that have the pleasure of reading this table. The Illustrations are truly remarkable. The blending of colors in the background creates breathtaking landscapes and the emotion of the dogs matches the story perfectly. The text is extremely readable for early readers and still is able to convey a great message to young children, everyone should be embraced for their differences. I would recommend this story to all young children that have big hearts and are ready to learn a warm lesson. (Being a dog lover doesn't hurt too! :-)

Winnie The Witch

Title: Winnie The Witch
Written by: Valerie Thomas
Illustrated by: Korky Paul
Ages: 4-8

Summary: Winnie The Witch lives with her black cat Wilbur in an all black house. The two seemingly coexist well, until Wilbur closes his bright green eyes, resulting in her being completely camouflaged. Winnie repeatedly runs into Wilbur until she gets the idea to make Wilbur bright green. This works well until Wilbur runs out into the lawn and once again his camouflage causes an accident. As a result, Winnie changes Wilbur into the colors of the rainbow. Wilbur however becomes embarrassed by the new look and Winnie soon feels a great deal of guilt. Winnie finally realizes a compromise when she waves her magic want and colors the inside of her house to normal colors and returns Wilbur back to his original black state.

Opinion: This rerelease of 1987 classic is both imaginative and humorous as it takes the reader on a wild ride. Korky Paul's use of color is a terrific display on how to use illustrations to match the text. The use of water colors and ink pens present a terrific contrast of the worlds of black and white and color.  The vocabulary is readable enough yet still challenging to have early readers to push themselves and enhance their vocabulary. I personally thought the book was hilarious and fun This is the first book of a long series and it is clear why this became an instant classic. I would maybe try and bring this into the curriculum in either a unit about colors or possibly a science unit dealt with camouflage. I would recommend this book to all youthful children and am extremely eager to continue reading other books in this series.

Cake Girl

Title: Cake Girl
Author & Illustrator: David Lucas
Ages: 1st to 3rd Grade

Summary: This fun loving tale is about a lonely witch that creates a girl made entirely out of cake for her upcoming birthday party. Cake girl is forced to work around the house and as a result becomes really depressed. The sympathetic witch, who desires a good friend more than anything else,  discovers that making someone your servant is not the best way to find a friend. The witch apologizes for her wrong doings by creating cake girl into a real girl and entertaining her with her magic. The two end up becoming great friends and seem to have many fond moments ahead of them.

Opinion: David Lucas did a terrific job using his imagery to spike the imagination of the readers. The book, drawn with oil pastels, has a really "neat" messiness to it and uses borders throughout the story to create a picture-in-picture effect. The writing of the book has a fairly basic vocabulary making it very readable, yet possesses some length to the story giving young readers much practice. I especially enjoy the story's message it delivers about friendship and caring. I would use this story in a classroom when presenting ideas about community or perhaps to deliver a message about bullying. A truly great read.

Tulip At The Bat

Title: Tulip At The Bat
Written by J. Patrick Lewis
Illustrated by Amiko Hirao
Grades: 2-4

Summary: This quick rhyming tale takes the reader to an imaginative ball park where The Boston Beasts are facing the hometown New York Pets. The players and fans are members of the animal kingdom possessing wacky skill-sets that suit their physical characteristics. The game, which the home crowd expects to be a high scoring affair, ends up being a classic pitchers duel. The hometown are victorious in the end with Tulip, the tutu wearing Hippo, batting in two runs with a game winning bunt.

Oppinion: While Amiko Hirao shines brillaintly throughout the story with her vivid immagination and beautiful illustrations, her efforts seemed diminished by Lewis' writing. The story was written in broken prose and seemed to dig too far into the baseball reference encyclopedia (I seriously doubt many children know that a baseball is also nicknamed a "pill"). The story also seemed to lack a sense of excitement throughout (it was after all a 0-0 game until the last inning)  until the last few pages. The rhyming at time seemed to be a stretch, i.e. knee and gallery, and the story seems to lack a general message.
I feel that this book would appeal to a very select audience of children. But as a sports buff myself, I cannot do anything but admire at the beautiful illustrations. I just wish that Lewis had delivered with some more quality writing.

The Big Elephant In The Room

Title: The Big Elephant In The Room
Written & Illustrated by Lane Smith
Ages 6-11

Summary: As the title suggests, there is clearly an issue that needs to be addressed between friends. Hilarity ensues when the characters delve into a series of embarrassing incidents that may or may not be "The Big Elephant In The Room". Incidents range from breaking a computer to burping in the cafeteria. The big reveal at the end of the story results when readers discover that The Big Elephant In The Room is literally that, a big elephant named stanley, who happens to be present in the room.

Opinion: Teamed up with Disney Publishing, Lane Smith delivers a hilarious tale that had me (a fully grown man with maybe the sense of humor of a child) rolling on the floor with laughter. The illustrations show a terrific use of watercolor giving the book a truly zany feel. Smith uses a great variation of both font type and size that not only keeps kids captivated with the story, but also helps the reader put emphasis into their voice when reading out-loud. I feel I would use this story, even in the higher grade levels, to help teach this idea of emphasis or possibly dialogue. I would recommend this story to anyone as it is one of the best children's books I have seen in ages.

Hatchet Continued...

When writing my first post, I found a certain giddy just from memories that Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen, that apparently were seared into my brain from reading as a child. I figured it would probably be a good idea to reread the novel, and compare my old feelings with how I feel about the book currently.

Summary: 13 year old Brian Robeson, is flying over the Canadian north woods on his way to see his father for the first time after his parents divorce when all of a sudden, the pilot has a heart attack. Brian is forced to grab the controls and crash land the plane into a lake. Brian, surviving the crash with minor injuries, is left alone, stranded and futile.  Brian soon understands that the chance for a rescue party finding him is close to non-existent, and he will have to become one with the wilderness in order to survive.

My Opinion: WOW! When I first started reading, I had planned to just read for an hour and then plan to look at it later but before i knew it, I was on the last page dealing with a lot of mixed emotions. But before I delve into the greatness of the story in depth, I have a few tiny critiques of the story. First, There was a point about two thirds into the book where time jumped about two months. Paulsen does a sub-par job of describing what happened during this time and really only mentions two events that occurred over the time span. While I understand the need for the jump, it seems somewhat misplaced to have a seemingly effortless transition of two months, in a novel that breaks down the struggle of survival to a minute by minute basis. The second issue that popped into my head was the lack of Brian's inner dialogue. Almost all of emotion of the book was displayed when Brian was thinking (or speaking aloud) to himself. While Paulsen did do a good job when he used the inner dialogue, they seemed few and far between. The last critique of the book I have is the tense of the book. Hatchet is written in third-person. This created a sense that you the reader were with Brian the whole time during his endeavor. I feel if it was written in first-person, a deeper feeling of isolation would exist.

With my knit-picking out of the way, my reread of this book reaffirmed the reason why this was my favorite story as a child. Paulsen leads the reader on a path of discovery and adventure, while keeping the reader in the same setting for the entire novel. To confront feelings of starvation, danger, and loss, the reader taps into a side of the brain that is to little addressed. The character path of Brian is truly beautiful as you watch him grow from a boy to a man in little time at all. Not to mention the lessons of bravery, responsibility, and trust in oneself, are values that I still hold high today. The novel confronted large issues of divorce and suicide, putting them into perspective when compared to the grand scheme of the world. 

I cannot tell you how much of a thrill it was to read this story. From beginning to end I was flying at the seat of my pants even though I already knew the outcome. I urge all of you that haven't read it to please give it a whirl. It is unfair to say that it is a great children's novel, when it is just a great novel. Plain and simple.

Hatchet

Growing up in a household with two hyper-aggressive older brothers, a very primal instinct surfaced at a youthful age. Survival. I believe that is why Gary Paulsen's Hatchet seemed to strike such a powerful impression. The story which describes the trials and tribulations of Brian, a young man who gets put into the extraordinary situation of having to survive in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but a hatchet, through no fault of his own. This classic tale depicts the all too familiar told struggle between man vs. nature. But where the story stands alone is how Brian learns that in order to survive he must not fight nature, but become one with it. Upon that realization, Brian soon discovers that he is capable of incredible feats that he would never believe he could achieve before this ordeal. I would highly recommend this story to any higher level readers at the upper elementary levels that are seeking the thrill of a lifetime.