Graphic Novel Book Review on BABYMOUSE BAD BABYSITTER Written by: Holm, Jennifer L. Illustrated by Mathew Holm

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Holm, Jennifer L. 2015. BABYMOUSE BAD BABYSITTER. Ill. Mathew Holm. New York. Random House. ISBN 978-0-307-93162-7.

PLOT SUMMARY

Babymouse wants a new scooter but she has no money. She takes up Babysitting and becomes “BabyPoppins.” With each job she takes on, she faces a mishap and learns along the way how to work with the children she is caring for. She learns to read baby hunger cues and how to entertain toddlers at the cost of broken vases and painted walls. She becomes a recommended babysitter and comes across a timid and shy owl who is reluctant to make friends on the playground. With BabyMouse’s help he comes out of his shell and with time she earns enough money to buy her long-awaited scooter. It was more than what she expected as it was earned and not given. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Babymouse being a fictional character, helps the reader care about her as she faces mishaps and experiences that only make her a better babysitter. The reader follows her journey and experiences successes and failures with feelings of excitement and despair. As the story moves along from a nursery rhyme to her baby sitting adventures we see important details in the illustrations which elaborate on the giant squid attacking the cradle up at the tree top or the baby’s screams echoing across America with the statue of liberty clenching her teeth from the loud noise. The author’s style of writing is unique and truly resonates with the upper elementary audience as it is silly and playful which is entertaining to the audience. The story sets a theme of hard work, persistence and patience while the ending is a happy one of hard work that pays off as Babymouse earns her scooter. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Horn Book Guide, 10/01/15

Horn Book Guide (Fall 2015): “ The story is funny, touching, and Satisfying, and Babymouse’s pinktastic daydream scenes are a trip.” 

Connections: 

This graphic novel lends itself to a money making project that can tie into personal financial literacy. 

Learning about jobs that give you income and learning how to spend and save money by using your skills to do a job is very important and relatable through this book. 

Giving students the opportunity to create a business idea can motivate them to look into using their skills for their own personal growth. 

Other books in this graphic novel series:

Holm, Jennifer L. BABYMOUSE. 20, BABYMOUSE GOES FOR THE GOLD. ISBN 978-1-51812-725-0

Holm, Jennifer L. BABYMOUSE. 18, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABYMOUSE. ISBN 978-1-329-98432-8

Hold, Jennifer L. BABYMOUSE. 17, EXTREME BABYMOUSE. ISBN 978-0-329-96097-1

Graphic Novel Book Review on FRIZZY Written by Ortega, Claribel.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ortega, Claribel A. 2022. FRIZZY. Ill. Rose Bousamra. New York. First Second. ISBN 978-1-250-25962-2.

PLOT SUMMARY

Marlene, a young girl with curly hair, dreads going to the salon every Sunday to straighten her hair. She feels guilty for expressing the way she feels, so she complies with her mother’s Sunday ritual. Marlene’s mother believes she will look more polished and professional which will make it easier for her in life as she grows up. All Marlene wants is to embrace her curls, yet her bullies and society’s beauty standards don’t let her. When she takes a stand against her bullies she is punished for it resulting in a visit to her aunt Ruby’s house. Ruby, who shares in natural curly hair as Marlene, spends time showing her how to care for her hair as well as a conversation on anti-blackness and generational beauty standards that have discouraged young girls from embracing their natural beauty. Marlene shares her feelings with her mother and they both end up embracing their natural curly hair. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Ortega’s character, Marlene, is very relatable to the upper elementary reader who comes face to face with social beauty pressures that heighten feelings and emotions to fit it in. Bousamra’s illustrations contain a steady and warm hues of pink, purple and teal colors throughout the graphic novel with vivid facial expressions and details that keep the reader engaged. The chapter title pages with illustrations prepare the reader for the upcoming chapter and the graphic novel has a consistent style, smooth dialogue and occasional text that speaks outside of a thought bubble for Marlene’s point of view. Each character has their own personality and draws on a different social and emotional area of the story. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Booklist, 09/15/22

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, 11/01/22

Horn Book Magazine starred, 11/01/22

Kirkus Reviews starred, 08/01/22

Publishers Weekly Starred, 08/29/22

Pura Belpre Author Award, 2023

School Library Journal starred, 09/01/22

Booklist (September 15,2022 (Vol. 119, No.2)): “ Frizzy touches upon the impact that fulfill beauty standards can have on children and how they can be perpetuated across generations,  and an educational conversation on the connection between these beauty standards and anti-Blackness is neatly woven into the story.”

Horn Book Magazine (November, December, 2022): “ Ortega’s narrative shows the complex arc of Marlene’s emotional growth– from exuberance to sadness, self-reflection to empowerment– captured with aplomb in Bousamra’s expressive illustrations. 

Kirkus Reviews starred (August, 1, 2022): “ An especially tender scene in which Marlene finally experiences a pain-free wash day speaks volumes about the healing themes present throughout this graphic novel.”

Connections: 

I knew of girls who would straighten their hair every day before school because they were ashamed of their “puffy” “frizzy” hair. This graphic novel is great for those students who try to hide their natural self, so they can see they’re not alone and could possibly have motivation to embrace their natural beauty. 

This graphic novel would be a great one to showcase during National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Showcasing books by Claribel Ortega and other hispanic authors or Pura Belpre Award winning books would be a great display to celebrate during the months of September and October. 

Art extension activity: Providing students with templates of different hair types and allowing them to draw a portrait of themselves will help students show their natural hair and be proud of it. Allowing for others to see the different and unique hair types amongst us. 

Other books by Claribel Ortega: 

Ortega, Claribel. WITCHLINGS. ISBN 978-1-66887-636-7

Ortega, Claribel. THE GOLDEN FROG GAMES (WITCHLINGS 2). ISBN 978-1-33874-580-1

Ortega, Claribel. GHOST SQUAD. ISBN 978-1-71377-059-6

Ortega, Claribel. RIZOS. ISBN 979-83-987-0735-8  (SPANISH VERSION OF FRIZZY)

Graphic Novel Book Review on SISTERS Written by: Telgeimeier, Raina. and Illustrated by Rose Bousamra

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Telgemeier, Raina. 2014. SISTERS. Ill. Rose Bousamra. New York. Graphix. ISBN: 978-1-66882-269-2. 

PLOT SUMMARY

Reina goes on an eventful family trip from California to Colorado alongside her mother, brother, and sister. During their roadtrip, the siblings find their own space as Reina co-pilots for her mother and arrive at their destination at their relatives house. Looking forward to an exciting reunion with their cousins turns out to be less than that and both girls find more common ground than they expect on their journey back home. Their relationship, a rocky one since day one, continues as a shared experience as they realize their parent’s marriage is facing some difficulties, they’re left behind while their mother tries to find car help; fortunately, they spend some much needed bonding time and enjoy each other’s company. Their trip back home is a pleasant one.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The sibling relationship between Amara and Raina is a very relatable one with readers everywhere. The illustrations show detail to help visualize the ups and downs of their relationship as we feel different emotions for their struggles and victories throughout the story. The visual help of the illustrations throughout, especially the sepia colored flashback memories, give the reader insight into their background as a family and for the sisters. The collective effort of sacrifice as a family is also shared between the sisters as they have to sacrifice being left alone when mother had to go look for car help. This forced the sisters to bond and come out victorious in their effort of overcoming their differences and enjoying each other’s presence. Although they may continue their difficult relationship of teasing one another they work hard to find common ground on their trip back home. There is humor and heart-felt emotions from beginning to end and help the reader relate to the relationships, hardships and victories families share throughout their lives. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

ALA Notable Children’s Books, 2015

Booklist starred, 06/01/14

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, 09/01/14

Horn Book Guide starred, 04/01/15

Horn Book Magazine starred, 11/01/15

Kirkus Reviews starred, 06/01/14

Library Media Connection, 01/01/15

New York Times, 08/24/14

Publishers Weekly starred, 07/01/14

Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) starred, 10/01/14

Booklist starred (June 1, 2014 (Vol. 110, No. 19)): “Telgeimeier keeps the surface  story popping and zippy even through the constant sparring between the awkwardly adolescent Raina and her firecracker younger sister, a relationship that will prove profoundly familiar to many readers.”

Horn Book Guide starred (Spring 2015): “ Telgemeier’s art humorously captures fourteen-year-old Raina’s emotions, drawing readers into the road-trip story, which doesn’t depend on having read the first book.”

Kirkus Reviews starred (June 1,2014): “A wonderfully charming tale of family and sisters that anyone can bond with.”

Connections: 

This graphic novel is perfect for the upper elementary audience and ties perfectly into social emotional lessons for emotional change and relationship skills. 

Creating a book talk around this graphic novel can really help students vocalize their emotions and share feelings regarding siblings and family. 

Drawing a portrait of a favorite memory with a sibling would be a great art extension to reading this graphic novel.

Other books of adolescence, siblings and family:

Telgemeier, Raina. SMILE. ISBN 978-1-71373-518-2

Farina, Katy. BABY-SITTERS. 2, KAREN’S ROLLER SKATES (BABY SITTERS LITTLE SISTER, BOOK 2) ISBN 978-1-72548-741-3

Lloyd, Megan Wagner. SQUISHED. ISBN 978-1-66887-627-5

Graphic Novel Review Written by Craft, Jerry. NEW KID.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Craft, Jerry. 2019. NEW KID. New York. HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 978-0-06-26920-0

PLOT SUMMARY

Jordan, a student of color, moves from school’s from his Washington Heights neighborhood to the Riverdale, a school with a lot of extra curricular activities, a demanding curriculum and not a lot of diversity. He faces what comes with being a new kid and a minority: name-calling and stereotyping. Eventually, he makes friends and befriends those he thought he wouldn’t. Jordan journals his middle school and life experiences and ends his first year at Riverdale on a good note. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Jordan, being a new kid at school is easy to identify with as this a reality for many students. His disbelief in the name-calling and stereotyping at his new school resonate with the reader through the illustrations. The illustrations in this graphic novel are vibrant and accurately reflect the characters’ emotions and help the story move along through each chapter with a clear introduction to each chapter. The black and white journal sketches help the reader see Jordan’s personal thoughts to his life experiences. There is detail in each illustration with accuracy and is described well through the story’s dialogue. Overcoming middle school experiences of being a new student and everything that comes with it are hardships that require patience, hope and in the end he overcomes all his obstacles and comes out victorious. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Booklist starred, 11/15/18

Coretta Scott King Author Award, 2020

Horn Book Magazine, 01/01/19

Kirkus Reviews starred, 11/01/18

New York Times, 03/10/19

Newbery Medal, 2020

Publishers Weekly starred, 11/26/18

School Library Journal starred, 11/01/18

Kirkus Reviews starred (November 1, 2018): “ An engrossing, humorous, and vitally important graphic novel that should be required reading in every middle school in America.” 

Publishers Weekly (November 26, 2018): “ This engaging story offers an authentic secondary cast and captures the high jinks of middle schoolers and the tensions that come with being a person of color in a traditionally white space.”

School Library Journal (November 1, 2018): “ Highly recommended for all middle grade shelves.”

Connections: 

This book lends itself to a discussion about discrimination, feelings and self-awareness. 

The middle school audience can definitely relate to the characters in this graphic novel by navigating relationship skills, self-awareness, social awareness and change. 

Other books by Jerry Craft: 

Craft, Jerry. CLASS ACT. ISBN 978-0-06-288551-7

Craft, Jerry. SCHOOL TRIP. ISBN 978-0-06-288554-8

Historical Fiction Book Review Written by Cline-Ransome, Lesa. FINDING LANGSTON.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cline-Ransome, Lesa. 2020. FINDING LANGSTON. New York. Holiday House. ISBN 978-0-8234-4582-0

PLOT SUMMARY

Langston, an 11-year old boy relocated from his home in Alabama to Chicago upon his mother’s passing. His father, a terrible cook and quiet man, is set to continue the rest of their life in a new home with his new job at the plant with more opportunities and a chance at starting over. Langston, coming from Alabama suffers from bullying at school being called “country boy” from a group of three boys who may have these same roots and conceal it through their actions towards him. Refusing to tell his father of the constant teasing, Langston comes across the George Cleveland Hall Branch of the Chicago Public library and immerses himself in the poetic writings of Langston Hughes, his namesake. He conceals his love for reading from his father for a while and upon discovering letters kept safe from his mother’s writing he learns the meaning to his name and finds comfort in knowing his mother’s writing is what would keep him close to her guiding him after her passing.  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Langston’s father, described as a serious, hard-working father, quiet and working hard to provide through his relocation and job at the plant is relatable to the family dynamic especially working through his emotions after experiencing the loss of his wife and mother to his only son. Through the father and son relationship we see how his father thinks books are a waste of time and that libraries are only for white people. Langston discovers the library that would change his life as he learns it is for colored people; also his description for the high ceilings as if God was shining down gives a great visual image for his way of looking at it. The dirt roads of Alabama to the rundown apartment they settle in Chicago’s the black ghetto and the details in the separation of colored people and white people on the train give vivid recreation of time which contribute to the authenticity of the 1940’s in which this historical fiction story takes place. 

In his conversations with his neighbor, we see mentions of the Harlem Renaissance, which is relatable to Langston’s knowledge of the biography for Langston Hughes, which contributes to the historical accuracy of the times. He relates to his namesake as his writing is about being a colored person who misses home, which his mother related to. The style of the author’s writing gives this story the continuous flow of moving from Langston’s life in Alabama with experiencing an indoor toilet and admiring indoor plumbing for the first time to a more progressive town with a library available to colored people. The characters are getting through life adjusting to their situation. They try to honor their believed mother and wife through not losing faith, yet feeling it was buried when she was, to overcome her loss through the relation of her favorite writer to share with her son’s namesake, giving him the strength to continue on. 

Throughout the story we see speech relevant to the times such as the use of the word “negros” and in the author’s note there is many historical mentiones of african-american culture and history including the NAACP, the Chicago Urban League and the Black Jewel of the Midwst, the Hall Branch. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)/AWARDS

ALA Notable Children’s Books, 2019

Boolist starred, 04/15/18

Coretta Scott King Author Honor, 2019

Horn Book Magazine starred, 09/01/18

Kirkus Reviews starred, 05/01/18

School Library Journal starred, 08/01/18

Horn Book Guide starred, (Spring 2019): “ Written in short chapters, this crisply paced book is full of historical details to the Great Migration and African American literary culture, and should resonate with any child who’s experienced grief or loneliness.”

Kirkus Reviews starred (May 1, 2018): “ A great migration novella with a vivid, believable protagonist….Cline-Ransome creates a poignant, bittersweet story of a young black boy who comes to accept his new home while gaining newfound knowledge of the African-American literary tradition.”

School Library Journal starred, (August 1, 2018): “ This is a story that will stay with readers long after they’ve finished it.”

CONNECTIONS (Upper elementary audience)

This historical fiction story was an emotional yet enlightening one for me. Tears were shed as I related his life losing his mother to my own mother’s loss of her mother at a young age. 

The feelings and emotions aspect of social emotional learning can be a great benefit to students experiencing the loss of a parent. The change that is brought with losing a loved one and having to continue your life without them can be difficult for anyone and so this book is very relatable to anyone going through this. 

The historical details of segregation, colored people not being allowed to libraries and the establishment of the George Cleveland Hall Branch are important pieces of information worthy of learning. This book prompts students to look into History of the 20th Century in Chicago as well as the Harlem Renaissance. 

This story, told through the realistic and relatable boy Langston, makes it enjoyable to learn history while also experiencing realistic issues such as bullying, change, and feelings and emotions. 

Other historical fiction books:

Cline-Ransome, Lesa. LEAVING LYMON.  (FINDING LANGSTON, BOOK 2) ISBN 978-0-8234-4942-2

Cline-Ransome, Lesa. BEING CLEM. (FINDING LANGSTON, BOOK 3) ISBN 978-0-8234-5241-5

Historical Fiction Book Review. Written by Cushman, Karen. RODZINA.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cushman, Karen. 2003. RODZINA. New York. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 978-1-51815-253-8. 

PLOT SUMMARY

Rodzina, a polish american girl becomes an orphan after losing her mother, father and two siblings. She is left to fend for herself on the streets alongside other orphans. She then is sent on the orphan train towards the west and as an angry, lonely orphan decides to not become friends and wishes to be left alone. Because of her stature and age, she is told to help and care for the younger orphans. The train makes many stops along the way and she becomes fearful of being sold off as a slave or worse, a bride to a man against her will. She escapes a family with a plan to make her a replacement wife, she makes her way back to Miss Doctor, who kept her safe the entire train ride and ends up with the family she’s been wanting. Miss Doctor takes Rodzina in as they decide they would both miss one another,so she was no longer an orphan and no longer lonely. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The universal theme of sadness, loneliness, fear of the unknown is felt throughout the entire book and is relatable to anyone who has unfortunately been in a situation as Rodzina. She longs for a family to call her own and is hopeful when she befriends Miss Doctor who takes her in at the end after a rough start with both being strong-minded individuals. Rodzina who was roaming the streets, at times sleeping on the cold ground gives the reader a vivid image of the misfortune an orphan endured in the 1880’s in the United States. The orphan train described in detail as cold and noisy stops at different states where the people are described according to their location such as Indians dressed with skirts and moccasins on their feet in Nevada to the women with beautiful hair and well-kept clothing, whom she assumed to be mail order brides, as she hid in the back of a train car heading towards Virginia City.  

The flyers at the train stops are realistic to the time period as they read with information about wife-seeking ads, teeth restoring with prices of 5.00 for dentures, Wanted: Homes for Children posters as well. The story is filled with unlucky events for a 12 year old orphan and includes memories of her Polish family throughout as she travels with few belongings to cherish. She speaks words in Polish, which are clearly defined in the pronunciation guide at the end of the book, also an author's note with more detailed information on orphan trains and the decrease in that because of the great depression and the introduction of foster homes amongst other historical information. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)/AWARDS

Booklist Starred, 03/01/03

Horn Book Magazine, 05/01/03

Kirkus Reviews, 03/15/03

Library Media Connection starred, 02/01/04

School LIbrary Journal starred, 04/01/03

Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA), 04/01/03

Booklist starred, (March 1, 2003 (Vol. 99, No. 13)): “ A naturals for American history or social studies classes, thi is especially interesting as a women’s history title, with Rodzina portrayed as an unromantic protagonist, big, angry and tough.”

Horn Book Magazine ( May/June, 2003): “Cushman is too practiced a storyteller to tie everything up too neatly, however, and there’s enough unpredictability to naively unsettle expectations– a funny case of mistaken gender, Rodzina and Lacey’s unexpectedly divergent paths.”

Kirkus Reviews (March 15, 2003): “ The story is undemanding and engaging, rolling along with the journey, subtly letting readers into Rodzina’s memories of the home she once had and of her immigrant parents and her Polish heritage.”

CONNECTIONS

This historical fiction story for the middle school audience is easy to read and can tie into lessons on diverse families, women’s studies and for a social emotional lesson on overcoming adversity. 

The author’s note at the end of the book includes a lot of information in greater detail on the orphan trains and how they ended during the great depression which can prompt readers to research the United States in the 188o’s, Orphan trains, Polish Americans, Survival fiction, and History of the 19th century. 

Other books on orphan trains and orphans historical fiction:

MacColl, Michaela. RORY’S PROMISE. ISBN 978-1-62091-623-0

Muldoon, Kathleen M. JOIN HANDS AND SING AN ORPHAN TRAIN STORY (COVER-TO-COVER: CHAPTER 2 BOOKS-ORPHAN TRAIN STORIES) ISBN 978-0-7891-58959-8

Avi. CRISPIN: THE CROSS OF LEAD. ISBN 978-07868-0828-1

Historical Fiction Scott O'Dell Award Winning Book Review. Erdrich, Louise. CHICKADEE.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Erdrich, Louise. 2012. CHICKADEE. New York. Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0-06-057791.

PLOT SUMMARY

The inseparable twins, Makoons and Chickadee, are loved by their family. One day as the family is working on making maple sugar a mean man insults Chickadee for his size to which his brother did not like. He takes matters into his own hands and plays a devious trick on the man in his sleep. With a target on his back, the man’s two big and strong son’s capture Chickadee in his sleep and kidnap him. The devastated family sets out to find him. He questions himself wondering if he will become their servant but manages to break free from their possession. Chickadee found guidance by his namesake and help from other animals, leading him to find his Uncle, working the Oxen carts, who kept him safe and helped him return home. Upon arriving home, the family is overcome with joy to their answered prayers of reuniting with their beloved Chickadee, especially his twin brother. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The story is set in the Northern Part of Minnesota in the year 1866. They go out to hunt their food and near-death experiences can cause them to go without. The characters are believable and explicitly described wearing clothes made of deer hide with fringe and moccasins and spoke the language of Obijbwemowin, appropriate for their Ojibwa lifestyle. Their lifestyle is mentioned throughout with brief explanations and the glossary and pronunciation guide at the end of the book help clarify the words and their meanings. A map with the events the family experienced gives a great addition to the setting of the story as well as accuracy to the historical elements of the story in their journey from their native lifestyle to life on the plains. The theme of family life is present throughout the story as well as survival which every character experiences in their quest to find Chickadee. The Native American lifestyle is filled with adventure and in this book their family evolves with multigenerational members sharing their wisdom and giving their namesakes importance to guiding them in their journeys. The theme of courage and to believe in oneself, a timeless and universal theme, is present throughout the historical fiction novel. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)/AWARDS

Booklist, 08/01/12

Horn Book Magazine, 09/01/12

Horn Book Magazine, 04/01/13

Kirkus Reviews starred, 07/01/12

School Library Journal starred, 09/01/12

Booklist, (August 2012 (Vol. 108, No.22)): “The focus is on the way-of-life details as much as the adventure and on the daily, logistical drama of how the family moves from all that they have known to the Great Plains.”

Horn Book Magazine (September/October, 2012): “ Readers will absorb the history lesson almost by osmosis; their full attention will be riveted on the story, whether it’s Chickadee escaping his (ultimately buffoonish) captors or riding with his uncle Quill in an oxcart train bough for Saint Paul or surviving a viscous mosquito attack or calmly picking baby snakes off the sleeping, phobic Quill.”

School Library Journal (November 1, 2013): “ Erdrich eloquently imparts Ojibwe stories, history and knowledge, and, as in the previous books, her own illustrations add charm to the stories.”

CONNECTIONS

This historical fiction story is a great read for the upper elementary audience. There is not too much information and the separation of the twins shows how powerful the bond is between them and their family as well. 

A great extension to this book could be to research History of the 19th century related to the Great Plains, North American Indians and Ojibwa Indians. 

This book also opens with a hand drawn map of the journey and events the family experienced, so researching the area during this 19th century time and comparing it to a most recent map can show a good compare and contrast activity for the reader. 

More Books by Louise Erdrich:

Erdrich, Louise. THE PORCUPINE YEAR.(BIRCHBARK HOUSE, BOOK 3) ISBN 978-0-06-029787-9

Erdrich, Louise. MAKOONS (BIRCHBARK HOUSE, BOOK 5) ISBN 978-0-06-057793-3

Erdrich, Louise. THE GAME OF SILENCE (BIRCHBARK HOUSE, BOOK 2) ISBN 978-0-06-441029-8

Historical Fiction Book Review. Yelchin, Eugene. BREAKING STALIN's NOSE.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Yelchin, Eugene. 2011. BREAKING STALIN’S NOSE. New York. Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 978-0-8050-9216-5.

PLOT SUMMARY

Sasha Zaichick, a 10- year-old boy who grew up under Stalin rule and raised by his widowed father, shares one apartment with 48 other people. His father served the communist party as a state security and Sasha aspired to be like him by joining the young pioneers. One night, his father is arrested and he is left all alone. At school the next day, he accidentally breaks the nose off of the school’s Stalin statue and in fear of not becoming a young pioneer he debates whether to say the truth or suffer the consequences of those who destroy state property. Upon learning the reason for his mother’s death and realizing his father is not coming back, he is recruited to serve the communist party but is left with hard choices to make as he was a target at school and his views on meeting Stalin completely changed. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The characters in the historical fiction story are very realistic and relatable to our times. The setting is vividly explained, giving the reader great detail to be able to visualize it from the crowded apartment to the lonely city he walks through and the school where he is left to make difficult moral decisions. The graphite on paper used in the illustrations helps the reader better understand their living situation, school, and the respect they had for Stalin. The theme of father son relationship is present and upfront and personal as we see Sasha look up to his hero only to find out disheartening truths, yet chooses to see his father over becoming a young pioneer. The author’s note at the end gives the story authenticity as he gives his own experience of state security and how it was a terrifying experience and historical facts to the Stalin regime. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)/AWARDS

ALA Notable CHildren’s Books, 2012

Booklist, 07/01/12

Horn Book Magazine, 04/01/12

Horn Book Magazine starred, 09/01/11

Kirkus Reviews, 08/01/11

Library Media Connection, 01/01/12

Newbery Honor, 2012

Publishers Weekly, 08/01/11

School Library Journal, 11/01/12

“Horn Book Guide starred (Spring 2012): “ Although the story takes place over just two days, it is well paced, peeling off the layers of Sasha’s naivety. Appropriately menacing illustrations add a sinister tone.”

Kirkus Reviews (August 1, 2011): “A story just as relevant in our world, “where innocent people face persecution and death for making a choice about what they believe to be right,” as that of Yelchin’s childhood.”

Publisher’s Weekly (August 1,2011): “Picture book author/illustrator Yelchin makes an impressive middle-grade debut with this compact novel about a devoted young Communist in Stalin-era Russia, illustrated with dramatically lit spot art.”

CONNECTIONS

This historical picture book is perfect for middle school students. This book gives a great opportunity for students to research further into communism and soviet union history. This may be new information to the reader and looking further into this using, for example, the history channel webpage would definitely help them find facts on history. 

Looking up maps of European regions at the time may be very helpful, so students are aware of what part of the world they are looking into. 

Other Historical Fiction Books:

Kiely, Maria. WHICH WAY IS HOME? ISBN 978-0-525-54680-4

Curtis, Christopher Paul. BUD, NOT BUDDY. ISBN 978-0-440-41328-8

Taylor, Mildred D. ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY. ISBN 978-0-14-038451-2