Historical Fiction and Biography Reviews

The WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM- 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

Curtis, Christopher Paul. 1995. THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM- 1963. New York: Dell Laurel-Leaf. ISBN: 044022800X.

In the novel, THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM- 1963 author Christopher Paul Curtis introduces readers to the WATSONS who are an African American family living in Flint, Michigan in the 1960's. The author created a humorous, yet powerful story that will touch young adults and adults alike. The story is told by ten year old Kenny, the middle child in the Watson family.

The Watson family is much like any other average family living in the 1960's and that is what makes the story special. It is easy to identify with the members of the family and what they go through on a day to day basis. Their lives resemble the lives of many Americans in the 1960's and in some ways even with families today.  What person can't relate to quarrels with siblings, tight monetary budgets, and childhood bullies? The Watson family is composed of two parents, two male children, and the youngest child who is a girl. Kenny is the middle child and has an older brother named Byron and a younger sister named Joetta. The family resides in Flint, Michigan where it is very cold in the winter. The author did an excellent job of creating the setting through his writing. The reader can almost feel the bitter cold in Flint as Curtis writes, ("It was so cold that if you were stupid enough to go outside your eyes would automatically blink a thousand times all by themselves, probably so the juice inside wouldn't freeze up. It was so cold that if you spit, the slob would be an ice cube before it hit the ground.") Throughout the story Curtis put great effort into describing the daily activities the family participated in and locations that the story took place. Through his detailed writing the author allows readers to vividly picture the settings, characters, and events that make up the story.

Kenny's older brother Byron was thirteen and in Kenny's opinion ("an official juvenile delinquent"). Much of the story revolves around the family's everyday life- family, school, friends. Eventually, Byron's antics (fighting, lighting fires, charging food to their account at the grocery story, etc.) became too much for the parents to handle. They decided that the best thing for Byron would be to go and live with Grandma Sands in Alabama. Apparently, this was the ultimate punishment because the children had always been told stories of how strict she was ("The thought of living with her was so terrible that your brain would throw it out as soon as it came in."). Byron was definitely in for a change. Soon, the family started their car trip to Alabama to deposit Byron at Grandma Sands.

The story took place in a time where great change and unrest in Alabama was occurring. African Americans in the South were participating in what became known as the civil rights movement. While the family was visiting Grandma Sands in Alabama a terrible event occurred. Someone set off a bomb in a local church, most likely to scare those involved with civil rights. This event greatly disturbed Kenny and sent him into a period of fear, despair, and depression because he just couldn't come to terms with the fact that someone could do something so horrible. The family returned to Flint, but Kenny would often disappear for hours at a time. Eventually, after a heartwarming show of affection on Byron's part Kenny started to recover emotionally from the horrible event. The author has a real talent for integrating serious subject matter into a very humorous book. He did it with a style and grace that showed a great investment of time and research into what life was like for African Americans in the 1960's.

Ribald humor, sly sibling digs, and a totally believable child's view of the world will make this book an instant hit. (School Library Journal)

THE WATSON'S GO TO BIRMINGHAM- 1963 is a book that I will never forget and plan to recommend often in the future. In my opinion, love in the Watson family and self- realization were powerful themes throughout the story. This is the reason that I believe it is a powerful and relevant story in today's world. The story is one that all young people should read because it accurately depicts what life was like then for African Americans, both the good and bad aspects of it.








                                          
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

Park, Linda Sue. 2001. A SINGLE SHARD. New York: Clarion. ISBN: 0395978270.

In the novel A SINGLE SHARD, author Linda Sue Parks creates a story of enduring friendship and success gained against all odds. Park's thorough research of 12th century Korea is evident throughout the story. Careful research combined with a heartwarming story makes this a book that all young adults will enjoy.

The story takes place in 12th century Korea in Ch'ulp'o, which is a small potter's village famed for the celadon ware created by local potters. A young orphaned boy named Tree-ear lives under a bridge with his trusted older friend named Crane-man. The two friends had become family after living together for several years. They looked out for each other and foraged for food together. Tree-ear is fascinated by a local potter named Min who makes celadon ware that was very popular at the time. It was his dream to learn how to make the beautiful celadon that he admired. Tree-ear eventually went to work for the potter. He works for the potter for a long time and fears that he will never do anything but collect clay for the celadon and wood for the kiln. Tree-ear's life changes forever when the king's emissary comes to the village to commission work of one of the potters. Soon the boy whose life had seen limited possibilities for future success was given the job of transporting Min's delicate celadon ware to the palace to present it to the king's emissary. Min and his wife desperately needed the commission, so Tree-ear's job was extremely important. The emissary did grant a commission after seeing a broken shard of the celadon ware which had been broken during the journey. Tree-ear returned to his village to give Min the good news only to find out that his trusted friend Crane-man had died while Tree-ear was on the journey. Min and his wife invited Tree-ear to live with them as their son and learn the art of making celadon ware. Tree-ear's life of living under the bridge as an urchin was at last over forever.

Parks did an excellent job of creating the setting. Most readers will more than likely never have had the opportunity to travel to Korea, but through the vivid descriptions by the author readers will be able to envision the locations in their minds. Her descriptions and attention to detail made the story easier to understand and relate to, but at the same time it never seemed that there were too many details or that the information was forced. It just flowed smoothly through the storyline. Readers will also be able to identify with the characters in the story. Each of the characters was fully developed and easy to relate to. The friendship between Tree-ear and Crane-man was one of love and caring that transcends time. The themes of love, friendship, and overcoming difficult situations are all still relevant today and this is why the book will appeal to young readers.

This book not only gives readers insight into an unfamiliar time and place, but it is also a great story. (School Library Journal)

When I first looked at the front cover and description of A SINGLE SHARD in the library I didn't think that I would enjoy the book. In the past, I would not have selected a book of its nature to read. This all changed when I got home and started to read the book. Once I started reading it I didn't put it down until I was finished. The book kept me engaged from the first page forward. I instantly cared for Tree-ear and wanted him to succeed. The environment and lifestyles of the characters were fascinating to me. In fact, at the conclusion of the book I wanted to read more about Tree-ear and what his life was like when he lived with the potter and learned to make the celadon ware. This is a book that I will recommend to older students in the future. The book is too advanced for my second grade students, but I have friends that teach older students and I plan to share this wonderful book with them.



                                             
NIGHTJOHN by Gary Paulsen

Paulsen, Gary. 1993. NIGHTJOHN. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN: 0385308388.

The novel NIGHTJOHN by Gary Paulsen is a powerful book that all young adults should read. Paulsen obviously spent a great deal of time researching the time period and the end result is nothing short of perfection. This moving story brings to life the horror of slavery through the eyes of a young slave girl named Sarny.

The events in the book are based on a true story which makes reading the book both interesting and emotionally difficult at the same time. Paulsen accurately depicts the conditions that many slaves lived in on farms, plantations, etc. during the period when slavery was prevalent. Sarny was a young slave girl whose biological mother had been sold. Sarny was raised by another woman named Delie who took care of all of the young slave children. This is just an example of the horrendous acts committed among slave owners. Imagine growing up knowing that you will never probably know your mother because she was sold away to an unknown owner and location.

Sarny's life was changed forever when a new slave named John was bought by the master. John knew how to read and write and soon began to secretly teach Sarny. Reading and writing was forbidden to slaves. Previously John had escaped to the North and freedom, but he eventually came back to the South to teach slaves to read and write. He felt that knowledge would eventually set them free. Unfortunately, he was captured and returned to slavery and became the property of Clel Waller. The master became aware that Sarny could write and whipped the mammy for it. Nightjohn told the master that he had taught Sarny to read and the master punished him by cutting off two of his toes. Readers will be shocked by this type of violence, but it is important for them to read it. Far too many middle school and high school students know too little about the harsh realities of slavery. Most textbook don't devote enough space to the subject. Reading it in this book will cause them to realize what it was like to be a slave and the horrible lives that they were forced to lead.

Although, Sarny is a slave and her speech patterns are different ("But it ain't so that I'm dumb. I'm just quiet and they be thinking because I don't make noise and go to twattering all the time that I be dumb.") than current ones, students will still be able to relate to her. She is a young girl growing up in a world that she has no control over. She is full of questions about life, much like contemporary children. She just lives a very different life from them. All of the characters in the story are well developed and either loved (Sarny and Nightjohn) or despised (Clel Waller). Each of them will bring various strong emotions to the reader and give them a greater understanding of what it meant to be a slave. Reading this story will be so much more powerful for students than just reading a few paragraphs in a textbook. NIGHTJOHN will give them a frame of reference for the terrible conditions that slaves lived in. Yet, despite all of this the characters still had spirit. Nightjohn was willing to risk freedom and his life just to have the opportunity to help others learn to read and write. Young Sarny became determined to learn to read and write, despite the risk of being caught and punished. Readers will be inspired by the bravery both Sarny and Nightjohn showed in the story.

In just 92 pages of fairly large print and simple phrases, Paulsen exposes the horrors of slavery, along with pointing out the lengths some have taken to acquire skills that most people take for granted. (School Library Journal)

NIGHTJOHN should be required reading in school. Paulsen brought the subject of slavery to life in this book and much can be learned from it. It is important to read about our history to ensure that the parts of it like slavery never occur again. Historical fiction is an avenue to get students hooked on learning more about history. I can guarantee that any student who reads NIGHTJOHN will want to learn more about slavery. After I read the book my only complaint was that I wish it had been longer. I wasn't ready for the story to end. NIGHTJOHN really moved me and I was surprised because I took several Old South/Civil War courses as an undergraduate student. But, even after all of that nothing in those courses ever quite touched me the way that this book did.



                                      
LEONARDO DA VINCI by Diane Stanley

Stanley, Diane. 1996. LEONARDO DA VINCI. New York: William Morrow. ISBN: 0688104371.

In this biography, author Diane Stanley introduces readers to the famous artist Leonardo Da Vinci. The high quality of writing and vivid illustrations will engage readers. This is a book that will encourage further study of the artist and instill in students an interest in biographies.

The book LEONARDO DA VINCI includes a bibliography of work consulted in writing the biography. This will be helpful to students who would like to learn more about the artist. It also includes a pronunciation guide to assist readers while they are reading the book. Recommended titles for younger children are also listed under the bibliography. Stanley researched her subject well and that is reflected in her writing. The book is full of information, but is not overly detailed. Readers will never feel overwhelmed with facts. Her style of writing, which is very clear, will keep readers engaged and wanting to learn more. The book is an example of a complete biography because it spans Da Vinci's life from birth until his death. This will give readers an in depth look at his life and a greater understanding of the man and

The book contains wonderful full page illustrations that complement the text. Stanley researched the artwork for the book while on vacation in Italy. The illustrations will be helpful to readers who are unfamiliar with the time period that Da Vinci lived in. There are even drawings from Da Vinci's notebooks included on the text pages. In a way including these drawings makes Da Vinci seem more real and not just some artist from long ago. Included in the illustrations are some of Da Vinci's famous work such as The Last Supper and Mona Lisa and scenes of him working on famous pieces. Readers will also enjoy the illustrations of some of the many inventions that Da Vinci worked on such as the underwater diving apparatus and a flying machine. Many readers may have been previously unaware that Leonardo Da Vinci was considered a great intellectual who invented many concepts and objects that we use in an advanced form today. In fact, learning about these inventions alone makes the biography worth reading. ("Among Leonardo's many inventions were an underwater diving apparatus, an automatic paper feeder for a printing press, a machine to make metal screws, one of the world's first air cooling systems, a door that closed automatically, a posthole digger, ski-like shoes for walking on water, an automatic roasting pit, a clock that measured minutes as well as hours, and a spring powered car.") The previous inventions were just a few of many of the useful things that Da Vinci invented. This may surprise even some adults. Stanley also included quotes from the personal notebooks written by Da Vinci. This really brings the artist to life.

Stanley gives readers a fascinating portrait of the Italian genius. The text is readable and interesting; the author is careful to distinguish between facts and surmises and uses quotes from Leonardo's own writings to demonstrate his attitudes. (School Library Journal)

Author Diane Stanley created an excellent biography of Leonardo Da Vinci. Children and adults alike will enjoy reading this book because it is filled with such interesting information about the artist. Stanley is a well regarded author and her books have been on numerous recommended book lists. This enables me to feel confident in the accuracy of her biography of Leonardo Da Vinci. It is a book well worth reading. I found it fascinating and actually learned a great deal from it. Previously, I wasn't as well informed as to the extent of his inventions. Not only is the book informative and educational, it is also enjoyable to read. That is a quality which more authors of biographies for children and young adults need to perfect.




                                                              
References

Codell, Cindy Darling. 1995. Review of THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM- 1963, by Christopher Paul Curtis. School Library Journal 41 (October): 152.

Gosner, Pam. 1996. Review of LEONARDO DA VINCI, by Diane Stanley. School Library Journal 42 (September): 221.

Rogers, Susan. 1993. Review of NIGHTJOHN, by Gary Paulsen. School Library Journal 39 (March): 223.

Scotto, Barbara. 2001. Review of A SINGLE SHARD, by Linda Sue Park. School Library Journal 47 (May): 158.