A Time of Miracles by Anne-Laure Bondoux (Batchelder Award Winner)

Originally published in 2009 in France by Bayard Editions Jeunesse
Translated into to English in 2010 by Y. Maudet
Published in the United States in 2010 by Delacorte Press, a division of Random House, Inc.
Historical Fiction

I chose to read and blog about Bondoux's book A Time for Miracles for three reasons. First, it is a Batchelder Award winning novel. Second, it was written by a French author, and I had the opportunity to take three groups of high school students to France while I was a teaching in Tennessee; I assumed it would be easier to read a French novel because I have traveled extensively in France and might be familiar with some of the locations mentioned in the book. This did, in fact, turn out to be true. And third, I chose this novel because of the title and cover; I thought the story would have a positive message and would be uplifting.

What I didn't know was that I would be in for a big surprise; the book was not at all what I expected.

Mont St. Michel, France
Blaise Fortune's Birthplace
Gloria and Blaise's Destination
A Symbol of Hope and Freedom

It wasn't positive and uplifting. As a matter of fact, it was about the ravages of war and the plight of refugees fleeing their country for their lives. However, I loved this book and couldn't put it down. I found the book riveting. I look forward to reading it again and sharing it with my students. The story takes place from the Republic of Georgia to France (and everywhere in between), from 1985, or 1984 to be precise, until 2005.

From reading the back dust cover jacket, the reader is told little about what the story will actually be about. It simply reads:

"Hush, hush! I never lie, Mr. Blaise.
I may embellish things a little
from time to time, that's all." 

Gloria strokes my hair. 

"There's nothing wrong
with making up stories to
make life more bearable."

Embellishment! That's an understatement! Not until the end of the novel, does the reader truly understand the significance of those words and their true meaning. Don't worry! I won't tell you the ending! You have to read it for yourself if you like historical fiction.

The first lines of Chapter 1 read "MY name is Blaise Fortune and I am a citizen of the French Republic. It's the pure and simple truth." Or is it? Blaise begins to tell his story. . . .

The story is about a woman named Gloria and a boy named Blaise Fortune (a.k.a. Koumail) and their five-year journey to freedom from the war-torn Republic of Georgia to Mont St. Michel, France. Blaise loves to hear Gloria tell the story of how they first came to be together. One day while picking peaches in her father's orchard, a train derails nearby, and Gloria finds a woman in the wreckage who is dying. She pleads with Gloria to take her baby, and Gloria ends up raising Blaise as her own.

Map of the Republic of Georgia
This is not the map provided in the book.
The map in the book is more detailed.

Seven years later, the Soviet Union collapses, and Gloria decides they must flee the war-torn Republic of Georgia and travel to France. She wants to take Blaise (Koumail) to Mont St. Michel, France, where he was born, to a place where they will be safe and free. For me, Mont St. Michel becomes a symbol of hope and freedom, and because I have been there three times, it became even more meaningful.

Blaise is seven years old when their journey begins. Two maps are included at the beginning of the book showing the details of their long journey. The maps show where they stay and the people they meet along the way. The maps are very helpful, especially for people who are not familiar with this part of the world. I found it helpful to study the maps once again after reading the novel.

The book describes in detail the ravages of war and the plight of refugees who are fleeing for their lives. Not only is the story about their journey to France incredible but the ending is totally unexpected. After all, "There's nothing wrong with making up stories to make life more bearable."

If you enjoy reading historical fiction, I highly recommend this book. Below you will find a short video about Mont St. Michel, Gloria and Blaise's destination from the war-torn Republic of Georgia. Mont St. Michel was one of my favorite places I visited when I was visiting this country. If you ever have an opportunity to visit France, don't miss visiting Mont St. Michel!

 

Anne-Laure Bondoux's Official Website (Can Translate into English)
Mont St. Michel
Image Source
Map Source
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The One And Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (Illustrated by Patricia Castelao)

Published in 2012 by HarperCollins Children's Books

Katherine Applegate's The One And Only Ivan is a fictional book based on the true story of Ivan, a silverback gorilla who lived in the Atlanta Zoo from 1994 until his recent death on August 20, 2012 at the age of 50. Sadly, Ivan died the same year Applegate's book was published. The book tells the story of Ivan's lonely life before being transferred to the zoo. Applegate uses great poetic license in telling her story, changing many of the details in order to give Ivan a voice of his own. The book's intended audience is children ages 8-12.

The One And Only Ivan is told from Ivan's point-of-view and reveals what it is like for him and the other animals who reside at "the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade" (6). At times the story is sad, happy, and even humorous. Ivan used to be the main attraction at the mall, but the shows are not bringing in the money they once did. Stella, Ivan's best friend, is an elephant with a chronic foot infection, and other animals become Ivan's friends.

Mack who works at the mall and is the boss, decides to bring in a baby elephant named Ruby to revitalize the show and increase profits. Julia, the daughter of the "weary" man who cleans the glass each night after the mall closes ends up helping have Ivan move to a real zoo after Stella, Ivan's long-time friend dies. Protesters become involved, and Ivan is eventually transferred to a zoo. The book is about his journey. Although Ivan has difficulty adjusting to his new habitat, he is better off in his new environment.

Castelao's illustrations are simple black and white drawings that add depth and bring life to the story. At the beginning of the book, Applegate provides a glossary that defines terms such as chest beat, Not-Tag, and me-ball that Ivan uses throughout the story. Without this glossary, readers would not have understood the meaning of these terms. It was appropriate, in this case, to put the glossary in the front of the book rather than in the back. Rather than dividing the book into chapters, Applegate chose to scatter simple headings throughout the book that relate to what is taking place in the story at a particular time: imagination, the loneliest gorilla in the world, stella, and my place. Each section is short and moves the plot along quickly.

This book would be a good book to teach children how to be political activists if that is what we want to do. Although I enjoyed reading the book, I would not choose to use it in my classroom. Once again, I found this book and the story about Ivan to be depressing. I have conflicting feelings about this book and found it difficult to blog about.

The One And Only Ivan Website
Atlanta Zoo Celebrates Ivan's Life
Image Source
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The White Rose: Munich 1942-1943 by Inge Scholl

Originally written in 1947 for use in schools in Germany, ages 13-18
 Published in 1970, 1983 by Wesleyan University Press
Most Recent Publication 2011, Wesleyan University Press
Nonfiction / Informational Text

Inge Scholl's book The White Rose: Munich 1942-1943 was originally written in German and later translated into English by Arthur R. Schultz. Inge Scholl was the surviving sister of Hans and Sophie Scholl, two German students who attended the University of Munich during World War II. She had to tell their story.

Hans and Sophie Scholl were members of the "White Rose" movement, a group of students and others who opposed Hitler's dictatorship and openly protested the regime by distributing anti-Nazi literature on their college campus. They were later arrested, along with Christoph Probst, tried, and executed on February 22, 1943. In her book Tell Them We Remember, Susan Bachrach defines the "White Rose" movement and explains its purpose and intent:

Hans Scholl

Of the Germans who opposed Hitler's dictatorship, only one group openly protested the Nazi genocide against Jews. The "White Rose" movement was founded in June 1942 by Hans Scholl, a 24-year-old medical student at the University of Munich, his 22-year-old sister Sophie, and 24-year-old Christoph Probst. Although the exact origin of the name "White Rose" is unknown, it clearly stands for purity and innocence in the face of evil. Hans, Sophie, and Christoph were outraged that educated Germans went along with Nazi policies. They distributed anti-Nazi leaflets and painted slogans like "freedom!" and "Down with Hitler!" on walls of the university. In February 1943, Hans and Sophie Scholl were caught distributing leaflets and arrested. Together with their friend Christoph, they were executed four days later. Hans's last words were "Long live freedom" (68)!

Christoph Probst, Sophie Scholl, Han Scholl

Hans, Sophie, and Christoph were beheaded for speaking out against the Nazi regime. Inge Scholl's book tells their story and documents their arrest, trial, and execution. The Introduction to the book explains the legacy of the "White Rose" movement, and then the author provides biographical information about Hans and Sophie Scholl, Christoph Probst, and other leading members of the movement, including Kurt Huber, a professor of psychology and philosophy in Munich, who was also executed five months later.

In her well-documented book, Scholl includes copies of the six leaflets that were distributed by the

students on campus, as well as other documents revealing what happened to her brother, her sister, and their friend:

The Indictment of Hans and Sophie Scholl and Christoph Probst

The Sentence of Hans and Sophie Scholl and Christoph Probst

The Sentence of Alexander Schmorell, Kurt Huber, the university professor, Wilhelm Grad, and Others

A Letter from Else Gebel

"Death Sentences," from Munchner Neueste Nachrichten

"Just Punishment of Traitors," from Volkischer Beobachter

Letter from Bishop Berggrave (excerpt)

Although the movement began with a sense of excitement, it soon became evident there would be no freedom to speak out against the Nazis, and the "White Rose" movement was crushed. Not all Germans supported Hitler, but most remained bystanders. The story of the "White Rose" movement is powerful; these young people should be remembered and admired for the stand they took against evil and for freedom. One of Hans and Sophie's favorite songs went:

Christoph Probst

Close the eye and ear a while
Against the tumult of the time;
You'll not still it or find peace
Until your heart is pure.

As you watch and wait
To catch the Eternal in the Everyday,
You freely choose to take your role
In History's great play.

The hour will come when you are called.
Be then prepared, be ready;
If the fire dies down, leap in;
Again it blazes, steady (14).

Scholl writes in her book, "Suddenly there occurred throughout Germany a wave of arrests that wiped out these last remnants of a genuine youth movement which had started at the beginning of the century with big expectations and great spirit" (14). This book would be an excellent nonfiction text for students on the high school level to read. I highly recommend this book for high school students and adults and believe we should never forget what they did for their country and for the cause of freedom:

Hans Scholl, born September 22, 1918, medical student, executed February 22, 1943
Sophie Scholl, born May 9, 1921, biology and philosophy student, executed February 22, 1943
Christoph Probst, born November 6, 1919, medical student, executed February 22, 1943
Kurt Huber, born October 24, 1893, professor of psychology and philosophy, executed July 13, 1943
And the list goes on. . . .

Let us not be naive; there is evil in the world. Read this book, and learn about the brave, young men and women of the "White Rose" movement who were not afraid to acknowledge this truth.

The White Rose Movement: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Learn More About Inge Scholl
Images for Inge Scholl
Source of Images
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Roland Freisler (Judge Who Sentenced Hans and Sophie Scholl to Death)

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why by Amy Shields

Published in 2011 by National Geographic Children's Books
Nonfiction / Informational Text

Anyone who has young children or works with young children will often hear the following question almost to the point of exhaustion: "Why?" Amy Shields's book National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why is an excellent source that can provide age-appropriate answers to questions that parents often have a difficult time answering. The book is filled with more than 300 beautiful photos and images produced by Getty Images, a division of the National Geographic Society.

The book is divided into four sections: (1) Amazing Me, (2) How Things Work, (3) Animals All Around, and (4) Wonders of the World. In the first section, Shields provides answers to questions such as Why am I special? Why are people different colors? Why do some people have twins? and Why doesn't it hurt to get my hair cut? Shields answers these questions by providing facts along with text that is interesting and easy to read. She also includes "recipes" or "experiments" that children can conduct with their parents and/or teachers. For example, in the section "Amazing Me," Shields includes a "Recipe For A Family Experiment" in which children compare their own physical features with other members of their family. After examining their own physical features, children come to understand that although they share many similarities and differences with other family members, there is only ONE of them! The message is positive and uplifting.

The second section of the book is about "How Things Work." In this section, questions such as Why does water turn to ice? Why does popcorn pop? Why does an elevator go up and down? Why can I see myself in a mirror? and Why do planes fly and boats float? are answered. This section will definitely satisfy curious little minds. It also includes experiments such as the "Milk Magic Experiment" and the "Bubble-Icious Experiment." Some of the fondest memories I have playing with my own children when they were young involved playing with bubbles, but what happens to bubbles when they are placed in the freezer?

The third section, "Animals All Around," answers questions such as Why do dogs make good pets? Why do cats hunt and purr? Why do worms come out when it rains? Why don't spiders stick to their webs? Why do bees make honey? Why do some animals hang upside down? and Why do cows make milk? This section was my favorite, and will quickly become a favorite for anyone who loves and is curious about animals. This section also includes a "Who's Talking Experiment."

The final section of the book "Wonders of the World" answers questions such as Why do we see a rainbow? Why is snow white? Why is the sky blue? Why does the wind blow? and Why can't we touch the stars? Two experiments are included in this section: the Make-a-Rainbow Experiment and the Seed-to-Sprout Experiment.

Shields's book closes with a parent tips section, a glossary, and an additional resources section. On the Why Not? page children identify things that are wrong in the picture. In the parent tips section, parents are encouraged to discuss various topics with their children such as observation, math, measuring temperature, nutrition, communication, memory, and crafts, just to name a few. This book has something for everyone! I highly recommend it for young children. Very young children (ages 4-5) will enjoy the pictures as the book is being read to them, and older children can read the book to learn about the world around them. The National Geographic illustrations are absolutely beautiful. Other books in this series include the National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Space and the National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs. Other topics are addressed as well; there is even one about robots. Check this one out!

National Geographic Kids
Other Amy Shields Books
Image Source
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A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant (Illustrated by Melissa Sweet) A Schneider Book Award Winner

Published in 2013 by Alfred A. Knopf
Picturebook: Schneider Book Award Winner for 2014 (Ages 0-10)

Jen Bryant's A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin is based on the true story of Horace Pippin (1888-1946), an African-American, who was shot in the shoulder while serving in the trenches during World War II. This debilitating injury left him with little mobility in his right arm, preventing him from pursuing his passion: painting.

Original Pippin Painting

The painting "Saying Prayers" inspired
Bryant to learn more about Horace
Pippin's work and write this book. 

In one of the most inspirational stories I've read this semester, Horace Pippin overcomes his disability and goes on to become a famous painter through hard work and sheer determination. This book is about his life, his work, and his art. Today his art work can be seen in museums around the country, such as The Art Institute of Chicago; The Philadelphia Museum of Art; Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania; Chester County Historical Society in West Chester, Pennsylvania; and The Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, New York. Other cities, such as Baltimore, New York City, Minneapolis, Wichita, and Charleston, also display his work.

Bryant writes in the historical note at the end of her book:

"When someone asked the self-taught artist about his

Original Pippin Painting

work method, he replied, 'I paint it . . . exactly the way I see it. . . . A curious and observant man, Pippin found his subjects almost everywhere. He produced roughly 140 works of art based on childhood memories, family stories, historical reports, movies, current events, and biblical Scriptures, as well as his own West Chester, Pennsylvania, neighborhood. Pippin's masterful use of color, form, and composition (how the elements of a picture are arranged) is considered his greatest artistic strength." He is also considered a folk artist, a primitive painter, and an American master. Most of his works are done in brilliant colors with just "a splash of red," thus the title of the book.

Original Pippin Painting

Bryant's book is unusual in that the author and illustrator worked together tirelessly researching the artist and his work by traveling all over Pennsylvania visiting museums and art galleries. They were passionate about this project, and their passion is clearly demonstrated by the quality of both the text and the illustrations.  The illustrations were rendered in watercolor, gouache, and collage, inspired by Pippin's deep, rich colors. Sweet writes in her illustrator's note:

When it came time to illustrate the art supplies [Horace] won in the contest, I knew the actual ones were long gone. But I was so struck by that moment--it brought back all the excitement I felt as a child with a new box of crayons, a ream of construction paper, or a tin of colored pencils lined up in consecutive hues. I re-created the brushes and pencils, which I carved from basswood and painted to look as realistic as the ones Horace might have received. I learned, too, that once he got those art supplies, Pippin used them to make small oval paintings on muslin of Bible scenes. I've imagined one of the those paintings on the title page.

One of the things I love about Pippin's art is how he limned his subject matter, making it all the more brilliant. But it was not only Pippin's paintings that inspired me--it was his words. Lettering Pippin's quotes within the illustrations gave me a way to illuminate his simple and heartfelt approach to making art.

I am grateful for the chance to look long and hard at Pippin's life and work. And I'm sure I will never use the color red in quite the same way again (end of book).

I found this book to be of such high quality that I immediately decided to read it to my high school

students. After their reaction, I made a commitment to buy a copy of the book for my personal library and recommend it to everyone I know. I plan to use the book in all of my classes, but I will especially use it for my English Language Learners and my students with learning disabilities. After reading it to my classes, one of my students asked if he could use the book for his response journal.

Original Pippin Painting

Although this book is recommended for students ages 5-8, I believe it could be used with older students with a little creativity and imagination.

Learn More About Horace Pippin (Video)

Jen Bryant's Books

More Horace Paintings (Source of Images)

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Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Published in 2012 by Random House
Realistic Fiction

R.J. Palacio's Wonder is a heartwarming story about a ten-year-old boy named August (a.k.a. Auggie) who was born with a severe facial deformity. He knows he is different and has struggled with this knowledge his entire life. Although the book's tone is serious and at times can be heartbreaking, the humorous elements in the story make it enjoyable. The book begins with August expressing his inner feelings and deepest desires:

I know I'm not an ordinary ten-year-old kid. I mean, sure, I do ordinary things. I eat ice cream. I ride my bike. I play ball. I have an XBox. Stuff like that makes me ordinary. I guess. And I feel ordinary. Inside. But I know ordinary kids don't make other ordinary kids run away screaming in the playgrounds. I know ordinary kids don't get stared at wherever they go (3).

August goes on to say that if he found a magic lamp and could have just one wish, he would wish that he had a normal face that no one ever noticed at all. He wishes he could walk down the street without people seeing him and then "doing that look-away thing." Then he confesses, "But I'm kind of used to how I look by now. I know how to pretend I don't see the faces people make. We've all gotten pretty good at that sort of thing: me, Mom, Dad, and Via." However, Via, his sister, is not really that good at it. She gets annoyed at people when they stare or act rude and is very protective of her brother. One of the most heartwarming parts of this story is the obvious love that the members of Auggie's family have for one another despite Auggie's disability.

Up until now, Auggie has had so many surgeries that he has been unable to attend school. His mother

has had to home school him, but she finally decides he needs to go to school. She realizes the family cannot shelter and protect Auggie his entire life. Dad disagrees at first, and then he changes his mind, only to have mom change hers. Clearly the parents are concerned about Auggie and are struggling over what is best for him. Finally, they decide he MUST go to school.

From the humorous story of Auggie's birth to this first days in the fifth grade at Beecher Prep, to his relationships with his friends Jack Will, Julian, Charlotte, Summer, Miles, and others, to the challenges he faces in the classroom and in the lunchroom at school, to learning Mr. Browne's precepts for life in English class, to adjusting to doing homework at night, readers are drawn into Auggie's world and the world of upper elementary school-age children.

The book is divided into parts written from Auggie's perspective and the perspective of his sister and

other friends in the story: Part 2 is from Via's perspective, Part 3 is from Summer's perspective, Part 4 is from Jack's perspective, Part 5 is from Justin's perspective, Part 6 is from Auggie's perspective, and Part 7 is from Miranda's perspective. The book is realistic in its portrayal of children from this age group. Middle school can be a tough time for kids to adjust because kids can be very mean to each other at times. Auggie having to deal with Julian's rude comments is an indication of what kids at this age have to deal with, and with Auggie's deformity, the situation is even more serious. However, Auggie rises to the occasion, and each character undergoes a transformation in the story as the school year progresses and life lessons are learned.

The most enjoyable parts of this book for me were the touching things Auggie said and the special insights he would share along the way. For example, in Auggie's English class, the students were required to write about a "PRECEPT" for each month. For the month of October, the precept was "Your Deeds Are Your Monuments." This is how Auggie responded, and his response shows wisdom beyond his age:

This precept means that we should be remembered for the things we do. The things we do are the most important things of all. They are more important than what we say or what we look like. They things we do outlast our mortality. The things we do are like monuments that people build to honor heroes after they've died. They're like the pyramids that the Egyptians built to honor the pharaohs. Only instead of being made out of stone, they're made out of the memories people have of you. That's why your deeds are like your monuments. Built with memories instead of with stone (65).

In the Appendix of the book, readers can find a complete list of Mr. Browne's precepts for each month of the year. In the end, Auggie adjusts well to school, and his reaction when his name is called and he receives the Henry Ward Beecher Medal reveals what he truly believes: that he is just an ordinary kid:

I wasn't even sure why I was getting this medal, really.

No, that's not true. I knew why.

It's like people you see sometimes, and you can't imagine what it would be like to be that person, whether it's somebody in a wheelchair or somebody who can't talk. Only, I know that I'm that person to other people, maybe to every single person in that whole auditorium.

To me, though, I'm just me. An ordinary kid.

But hey, if they want to give me a medal for being me, that's okay. I'll take it. I didn't destroy a Death Star or anything like that, but I did just get through the fifth grade. And that's not easy, even if you're not me. 

Most people could not relate to the extent of Auggie's disability and what he has had to endure, but everyone can relate to feeling out of place at times, especially in school. This book has a great message for young people: It's what a person is on the inside that counts most.

Meet R.J. Palacio

Source of Images for Wonder

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Wonder Book Trailers

A True Story! Pig on the Titanic by Gary Crew (Pictures by Bruce Whatley)

Published in 2005 by Harper Collins Publishers

Gary Crew's A True Story! Pig on the Titanic is based on a true story; the author's note places the book in its historical context:

At 11:40 P.M. on the night of April 14, 1912, the American-owned White Star Liner Titanic hit an iceberg off the coast of Newfoundland. The Titanic sank two hours and forty minutes later. Of the 2,228 people aboard, 1,523 lost their lives in the frozen sea: 158 of these were women and children. The sinking of the Titanic is one of the worst maritime disasters of all time.

While there are always tales of great individual courage in any disaster, the sinking of the Titanic seems to have more than its fair share. There are accounts of passengers giving up their places in lifeboats so that others could live, of women refusing to leave their husbands when the ship went down, but perhaps one of the most memorable acts of human compassion was performed by Edith Rosenbaum--and her wonderful music box pig, Maxixe. . . .

While preparing for my picturebook presentation, I came across this book and just had to read it and blog about it! It is a true story about a little music box pig named Maxixe that saved one woman's life; her name is Edith Rosenbaum. When the Titanic hit an iceberg that fateful night, at first Edith refused to get into a lifeboat, but when Maxixe was thrown into one of the boats by a sailor, she had to go after it, for the little music box had been given to her by her mother. Although the pig was damaged when it fell into the boat, Edith managed to wind up its tail and play music so it would calm and entertain the children until they were rescued. Edith survived that dreadful night, went on to become a famous fashion designer, and lived a long happy life, and Maxixe went on to become a hero. Edith Rosenbaum died on April 4, 1975, almost 63 years to the day of the sinking of the Titanic.

This book would be excellent to share with young children because it is true and uplifting. Many of them could relate to how important the little pig was to Edith because many of them most likely have small animals at home that they treasure. The illustrations for A True Story! Pig on the Titanic were created by Bruce Whatley, and although they look rather dated, they probably are representative of the pictures that might have been drawn in the early 20th century. They show Edith Rosenbaum boarding the Titanic with Maxixe, several scenes when she was on board the ship with the pig in her arms, and the various levels of the ship where Edith took her music box. The picture of the Titanic before it strikes the iceberg is darkly reminiscent of other illustrations depicting what the ship might have looked like before it sank on that cold, dark night. It is a dark, bluish black color, and the lights from the ship can be seen under a night sky filled with stars. The image even looks cold.

The story continues as chaos breaks out on board the ship. When Maxixe is thrown into a lifeboat, this "accident" saves Edith's life. When Edith realizes how frightened the children are, she winds up Maxixe's tail, and the music plays, calming the children's fears until they are rescued. All night long, the children pass the pig from one to another, wind up Maxixe's tail, and play the music. I encourage you to read this delightful story; I highly recommend this book for young children.

The photographs below are not in Crew's book but could be shown to students after reading the book so they will understand that this book is, in fact, based on a true story. I have provided a link below for easy access.

Edith Rosenbaum and Maxixe

A lifeboat full of Titanic survivors

Maxixe on display in New York

Music Box Internal Workings

 

The History Blog: Maxixe's Song Plays Again!

Source for Book Cover and Photographs

Listen to the Actual Recording of the Pig on the Titanic

Meet Miss Edith Louis Rosenbaum (Edith Russell)

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