Module 7-Realistic Fiction
-For
Younger Middle School
Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff
ISBN:
978-0-0614-3187-6
Audience (according to School Library Journal):
Grades 4-6
Graff, L. (2009). Umbrella
summer. New York, NY:
Scholastic, Inc.
Pricing (as of 10/12)
*Amazon: Hardcover: $11.99
Paperback: $5.99
Kindle: $4.74
Book Summary
After her brother dies suddenly,
ten-year old Annie finds herself afraid of anything that might also cause her
to die. She carefully treats every
cut/scrape with antibiotic cream and a Band-Aid, refuses to ride her bike
without layer upon layer of protective gear, no longer builds and runs obstacle
courses with her friend, and generally avoids anything that most young children
would view as “fun.” Her parents are not
dealing with their grief much better.
Annie’s friends Rebecca and Doug try to stick by her throughout this
difficult time, but often become irritated with her phobias. Adult neighbors Mrs. Harper and Mrs. Finch
both take an active part in helping Annie find ways to acknowledge her loss
without becoming debilitated by it. In
the end, every character is changed by the death of Jared and Annie’s recovery
and her return to “normalcy.”
APA Reference
Graff, L. (2009). Umbrella summer. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.
Impressions
Graff continues to write book after
book that takes a frank look at issues affecting her audience. In this offering, she creates the likeable
character of Annie and with great finesse, makes the reader laugh at her
extreme safety measures while also making hearts ache over the death of her
brother and her parents’ inability to connect and help themselves or their
daughter. Rebecca is a typical
girlfriend and has her moody moments; while Doug is a sweet and mischievous
friend who really pushes for Annie to return to the fun-loving pal whose
company he enjoyed. Grandmotherly Mrs.
Finch talks to the girls in plain and simple language and gives advice that
they can live by. Readers of all ages
will close the book with a satisfied sigh (and a few tears) as they see her
wisdom, and will cheer as Annie finds a way to honor her brother, and find
herself again.
Professional Reviews
<<With the same deftness she demonstrated in The Thing About Georgie (rev. 3/0),
Graff immediately engages the reader with the main character. Here’s Annie Richards, about to ride her bike
to the local drug store. Elbow
pads? Check. Kneepads?
Check….Why is Annie so fearful?
The previous year her older brother, Jared, died unexpectedly from a
rare heart condition, and Annie’s at a loss as to how to cope…That healing
comes slowly, helped along by understanding friends and a close-knit community
of complex, concerned (but never cloying) characters. Expect tears, but also expect to cheer for
Annie’s recovery as she gradually learns to honor Jared’s life care for her
own.
Carter,
B. (2009). Umbrella summer. Horn Book Magazine, 85(4), 424-425.
Retrieved from http://www.hbook.com.
<<After
her brother's unexpected death from a rare heart ailment, adventurous Annie
Richards changes into an overly cautious child who diligently tries to prevent
any illness or accident happening to her… Friendship, shared moments, and some
careful listening help Annie close her umbrella
of sadness. As in The Life and Crimes of
Bernetta Wallflower (2008) and The
Thing About Georgie (2007, both HarperCollins), Graff has created a lively,
quirky individual who tells her story with frankness and humor. Annie's three
friends come across as real kids who treat Annie's eccentricities with a
mixture of understanding and occasional anger. A more complex read than Andrea
Beaty's Cicada Summer (Abrams, 2008), Annie's story deals with death with
sensitivity, love, and understanding.
Kosiorek,
K. (2009). Umbrella summer. School Library Journal, 55(6), 126-126.
Retrieved from http://slj.com.
Library Uses
Author Lisa Graff has written a
plethora of middle elementary grade books that tackle real life problems faced
by students. A library lesson featuring
this author and her works would contain titles that would appeal to both boys
and girls. And while the topics may be
weighty, Graff treats each with humor, as well as kindness and wisdom.
-For High School
Compromised by Heidi
Ayarbe
ISBN: 978-0-0617-2851-8
Audience
(according to School Library Journal): Grades 9 and up.
Ayarbe, H.
(2010). Compromised. New York, NY:
Harper Teen.
Pricing:
*Amazon: Hardcover: $13.25
Paperback: $8.99
Kindle: $4.74
Book Summary
Fifteen-year-old Maya finds herself
placed in state foster care after her con man father is put in prison. Mother dead, grieving her father, and
overwhelmed by the harsh realities of the foster care system, Maya sets out to
find an aunt whom she has never met and who may not even exist. When Nicole, an irritating teen who has spent
nearly all her life in foster care, and Klondike, a young runaway suffering
from Tourette’s Syndrome, become her unwanted companions, Maya is forced to
consider their needs as well as her own.
Survival on the road is difficult and the three discover that each has
something to offer while on a gritty journey to a better life.
APA Reference
Ayarbe, H. (2010). Compromised. New York, NY: Harper Teen.
Impressions
This is a
“no holds barred” look at the harsh realities of both the foster care system
and life on the streets as a runaway. Tenderhearted
readers may struggle with the images of dead bodies, rape, food eaten from
garbage cans, and the foul language used by many of the characters. But those same readers will find themselves
yearning for something to go right for Maya, Nicole, and Klondike when just
about nothing ever does. Teens who
believe that their lives are miserable may find themselves being thankful for
all that they have when they consider that life in foster care or under a
bridge is very real for some. While this
reviewer believes that the profanity is somewhat overused, it is true to the
tone and experiences of the characters.
The book is moving and the mental pictures created by Ayarbe will stay
with readers for a long time.
Professional Reviews
<< The
daughter of a con man, Maya's been on the a run all her life, but when her
dad's bad deals finally catch up to them, she loses the only family she's ever
had and ends up in the Nevada foster-care system. Passionate about science, the
15-year-old seeks to develop a hypothesis and follow the scientific method to
get her father out of prison. Realizing this plan's futility, she goes back to
the only other thing she really knows how to do: run. Maya formulates a new
hypothesis that will hopefully lead her to an aunt in Idaho whom she's never
met and some type of normalcy. One variable that she doesn't anticipate,
however, is the addition of two other runaways who are also looking for
something more. Gritty and realistic in action and language, this novel brings
to light the plight of displaced teens. Maya is a strong character who tries to
be true to herself while playing the caregiver role she always seems to fall
into-first to her dad and now to her fellow runaways. The three form a strong
bond that rings true even though the setting will likely be unfamiliar to many
readers. While sympathy is evoked for the characters, emotions are not
overplayed. The quick pace and flesh-and-blood main characters will appeal to
avid and reluctant readers alike.
Bowling,
G. (2010). Compromised. School Library Journal, 56(7), 81-81. Retrieved
from http://www.slj.com.
<<When Maya's con-man father gets sent to federal prison,
the scientifically minded 15-year-old decides to run away rather than face
foster care. Nicole, a suicidal girl she meets at a group home, joins Maya as
she travels from Nevada to Idaho to find an aunt she cannot even remember. As
they sleep in abandoned buildings, face bullies, and scrounge for food, Maya
searches for clues to her aunt's whereabouts from letters she wrote to her dead
mother. Readers will quickly understand the difficulty of Maya's life on the
streets, from the rats that crawl on her at night to failed attempts at
shoplifting and seeing a friend get sick and die. There are warm moments, too,
such as when she and her friends pretend to roast marsh mallows under a starry
sky, or when she finally admits that irritating-bur-loyal Nicole has become her
"favorite person." Ayarbe's (Freeze Frame) characters sometimes
strain credibility--sweet Klondike, who has Tourette syndrome, never feels
entirely authentic, for example. But the touching moments between Maya and
Nicole will keep readers with them through their long journey. Ages 12-up.
(May)
Compromised.
(2010). Publishers Weekly, 257(18), 53-53. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com.
Library Uses
During a discussion on first
amendment rights, book banning, etc., librarians should feature books that are
frequently banned and present the arguments that opponents have had to those
books. When issues of profanity are
discussed, Compromised would make a good example of using cursing in a way that
is true to the character and that aids in conveying the sense of realism
necessary in some books. ELA teachers
could use titles similar to Compromised to stimulate debate in their
classrooms. History teachers could
encourage debate on the possible limits/boundaries of free speech. The librarian should have resources and
bibliographies available to support teachers in these activities.
Double Helix by Nancy Werlin
