Module
5 Book Reviews: Historical Fiction
Alyssa Payne, LSSL 5360
The
Royal Diaries: Mary, Queen of Scots: Queen Without a Country by
Kathryn Lasky
Bibliographic Data
Lasky, K. (2002). Mary,
Queen of Scots: Queen without a country. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 0-439-19404-0
Summary
Critical Analysis
Lasky’s writing style is easy
to follow and makes the reader feel as Mary is not untouchable or foreign, but
more like a relatable friend with whom one can easily identify. Mary seems like any other twelve-year-old,
just with unique circumstances and struggles, like living in France for safety
and refuge. Lasky successfully
incorporates language from the time period, such as catarrh and pavane, in which
the book takes place. Though being betrothed
to a future king and living in a country completely separate from one’s family
is not the typical struggle of an everyday teen, Mary’s plight is relatable in
the sense she struggles with things typical of children her age (feelings of
inadequacy, homesickness, nervousness in regards to love and relationships,
etc.). Queen Without a Country successfully
captures the time period and setting with the intricate details included,
especially what life was like in the French Court. It is well-researched and includes an entire
section of historical notes, pictures of key figures, a Royal family tree, and historical
photos at the end to solidify and support the text.
Awards and Review Excerpts
“Mary,
Queen of Scots remains a beloved figure to history buffs; this enjoyable and
approachable account should serve as a springboard for further inquiry for
today’s readers.”—Kirkus Reviews, April 15, 2002
Connections
Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the
House of Tudor by Kathryn Lasky
Anastasia: The Last Grand
Duchess by Carolyn Meyer
Marie Antoinette: Princess of
Versailles by Kathryn Lasky
Victoria: May Blossom of
Britannia by Anna Kirwan
Isabel: Jewel of Castilla by
Carolyn Meyer
One
Crazy Summer by
Rita Williams-Garcia
Bibliographic
Data
Williams-Garcia,
R. (2010). One crazy summer. New York, NY: Amistad, an imprint of
HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 978-0-06-076088-5
Summary
One
Crazy Summer follows
the story of sisters Fern, Venetta, and Delphine in the summer of 1968 as they
travel cross-country from Brooklyn, New York to Oakland, California to spend
time with their mother who abandoned them seven years prior. To their chagrin, their mother is not the least
bit excited to receive them upon their arrival and pretty much ignores them the
whole summer. The sisters are shipped off
daily to partake in a day camp run by the Black Panther Party. During their summer stay, the girls gain a
first-hand knowledge of the racial divide in the country, the tumultuous waters
of Oakland, California, and the Civil Rights Movement through their mother’s involvement
with the Black Panthers.
Critical
Analysis
There’s
a reason One Crazy Summer has received such praise and multiple awards
and honors. Never before had any
children’s book been written about the Black Panthers. Williams-Garcia spread her wings and braved
the topic. She does so in a way that captures
the reader’s attention from page one.
The book excellently captures the tumultuous climate in the United
States in regards to the racial divide, especially since the story takes place
shortly after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. It also brings attention to the Civil Rights
Movement and the lengths African-Americans would go to to fight for their
rights. This difficult material is
tackled in such a way that makes it completely engaging for readers of all ages. Delphine is charming as the narrator of the
story and easily relatable. The author incorporates
the language, setting, struggles, clothing, etc. of the time seamlessly into
her writing. Her voice is easily recognizable
and adds style to the story. The sisters’
experience and events of the book not only reflect the morals of the time, but
they are timeless, universal themes still relevant to the world today.
Awards
and Review Excerpts
Coretta
Scott King Award Winner
Newbery
Honor Book
Scott
O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction
“The depiction
of the time is well done, and while the girls are caught up in the difficulties
of adults, their resilience is celebrated and energetically told with writing
that snaps off the page.”--Kirkus Starred Review, January 15, 2010
Connections
P.S. Be Eleven by
Rita Williams-Garcia
Gone Crazy in Alabama by
Rita Williams-Garcia
Brown Girl Dreaming by
Deckle Edge
The
Dragon’s Child: A Story of Angel Island by Laurence Yep
Bibliographic
Data
Yep, L.,
& Yep, K. (2008). The dragon’s child: A story of Angel Island. New
York, NY: HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins
Publishers. ISBN
978-0-06-027692-8
Summary
The
Dragon’s Child
is the story of a father and son as they immigrate to America from China in 1922. Gim Lew, the son, narrates the story. It follows the struggles and triumphs they
face along the way and delves into the intricacies of their father-son relationship. Gim Lew stutters and is left-handed. He faces his father’s criticism for these and
other things. He worries he will
disappoint his father by not passing his immigration test, all while processing
the momentous change of moving to an entirely new country. The story is based off of the author’s father’s
experience of his actual immigration to America, as collected from interviews
and immigration documents.
Critical
Analysis
The
Dragon’s Child
is a poignant snapshot of the what it’s like for someone who immigrates to
America. Though the setting is in the
1920s, the same struggles and difficulties often plague people who try to
immigrate here today, which makes this book extremely important and
valuable. It shows how complex,
overwhelming, and often heartbreaking the immigration experience can be. This book allows the reader to experience the
ups-and-downs through a child’s eyes, which makes it all the more
relatable. Its themes are still
extremely relevant today. This book is
as authentic as historical fiction can get, as it is based off of the author’s
father’s personal story, which was documented in a 500 page collection of
word-for-word interviews from when he immigrated to America. This book also features author’s notes on the
history, historical pictures, a bibliography, online resources for further reference,
glossary text on the bottom of pages, and more to further solidify its
relevance and authenticity.
Awards
and Review Excerpts
“Yep's
use of the boy's perspective enables the reader to experience a spectrum of
emotions (curiosity, homesickness, fear) in tandem with learning historical
facts—a trick that lends the book both authenticity and charm.”—Publisher’s
Weekly, April 21, 2008
Connections
The Lost Garden by
Laurence Yep
My Name is America: The Journal of
Wong Ming-Chung, A Chinese Miner by Laurence Yep
Inside Out & Back Again by
Thanhha Lai
Turtle
in Paradise by
Jennifer L. Holm
Bibliographic
Data
Holm,
J.L. (2010). Turtle in paradise. New York, NY: Random House Children’s
Books, a division of Random House, Inc.
ISBN 978-0-375-83688-6
Summary
Turtle
in Paradise is
the coming-of-age story of an eleven-year-old girl, Turtle, as she moves from
the Bahamas to Key West, Florida to live with relatives in 1935. Turtle’s mother sends her away to appease the wishes
of her boyfriend, Archie. The story
takes place after the Great Depression, where life was hard and resources were
scarce, thus the reason Turtle is sent away.
Turtle must learn to cope with her new life in Florida, though she is
different from the locals there in many ways.
Soon, she befriends a boy named Pork Chop, and the two become compadres. While searching the beach for fictional
treasure one day, the two accidentally stumble upon a real treasure worth $20,000,
a fortune for that time. The two know their
lives will soon change for the better because of their discovery.
Critical
Analysis
The pop
culture references and language used in Turtle in Paradise reflect the
time period well. The slang terms and
nicknames reflect Turtle’s family’s culture.
The situation of Turtle being sent away to live with relatives while her
mother tried to make a living was not uncommon in the era after the Great
Depression. Families had to do what was
necessary to survive. The author’s voice
and style are clearly established from the beginning and make the characters
easily relatable. Since the story is
based on actual events in the author’s grandmother’s life, it is as accurate
and authentic as possible. This book also
features author’s notes on the history, historical pictures, a bibliography,
online resources for further reference, and more to further solidify its
relevance and authenticity.
Awards
and Review Excerpts
Starred Review, Booklist,
April 15, 2010:
“Turtle
is just the right mixture of knowingness and hope; the plot is a hilarious
blend of family dramas seasoned with a dollop of adventure.”
Connections
My Nana and Me by
Irene Smalls
Elijah of Buxton by
Christopher Paul Curtis
Touch Blue by
Cynthia Lord
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