Almost Astronauts by Tonya Lee Stone

Almost Astronauts review by Sarah Bartholomew

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Stone, Tonya Lee. Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2009.

ISBN 9780763636111

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Almost Astronauts documents the Women’s Rights Movement within Space Science and Aviation. It follows the fight women fought in order to be seen as candidates for advanced pilot jobs and space travel and addresses the prejudice and sexism they had to face since the end of World War II. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The design of this book is appealing as it uses large images and subheadings to break up the text within each chapter. The title is a bit misleading, as only a small section of the book discusses the 13 women who went through the primary testing for astronauts. Women’s Rights in aviation and space travel were the main focus of the text and the title should better reflect that topic. Stone did a great job of supporting the ideas and opinions on the matters with primary sources. The images included in Almost Astronauts really help to give the reader strong visuals of what was going on at the time; particularly regarding the training and testing that astronauts went through at the time. While reading about the progress The United States has made regarding gender equality was interesting, the reader is left wondering what exactly happened to the Mercury 13 women. There is minimal information and a quick snippet of closure to their story. 

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2010 ROBERT F. SIBERT MEDAL WINNER

From The Horn Book: “Stone presents the full story of early-sixties public discourse about women’s capabilities and clearly shows the personal, political, and physical risks taken by the women in pursuit of their dream.”

From Publishers Weekly: “Readers with an interest in history and in women's struggle for equality will undoubtedly be moved.”

From School Library Journal: “This passionately written account of a classic but little-known challenge to established gender prejudices also introduces readers to a select group of courageous, independent women.”

5. CONNECTIONS

Gather other works by Tanya Lee Stone

Courage Has No Color, The True Story of the Triple Nickles: America's First Black Paratroopers ISBN 9780763665487

Abraham Lincoln: A Photographic Story of a Life ISBN 9780756608347

            Girl Rising: Changing the World One Girl at a Time ISBN 9780553511499

Gather other stories about Jerrie Cobb

Nolen, Stephanie. Promised the Moon: The Untold Story of the First Women in the Space Race. ISBN 9781568583198

Cobb, Jerrie.Woman Into Space: the Jerrie Cobb Story. ISBN 9781258431037

Gather other stories about women’s fight for equality 

Cagle, Carrie. 20th Century American Women's History for Kids: The Major Events that Shaped the Past and Present. ISBN 9781648767593

Bazzit, Jenifer. 50 Fearless Women Who Made American History: An American History Book for Kids. ISBN 9781646111039

Skeers, Linda. Women Who Dared: 52 Stories of Fearless Daredevils, Adventurers, and Rebels. ISBN 9781492653271

The Great Fire by Jim Murphy

The Great Fire review by Sarah Bartholomew

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Murphy, Jim. The Great Fire. New York, NY: Scholastic,1995.

ISBN 0590472674

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Chicago was forever changed by The Great Fire of 1871. This book chronicles the mistakes that were made that allowed for the fire to cause as much damage to the city as it did. Through primary sources, Murphy details how this event played out, forever changing the lives of Chicagoans. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The layout of Murphy’s The Great Fire imbeds photographs of Chicago, political cartoons, and maps of the city. These help to provide an understanding of what life in Chicago during the mid-late 19th century was like. Murphy was sure to include any details that would help set the scene for the reader. Most helpful in understanding the impact of the fire were the maps of Chicago at the end of each chapter showing just how far the fire had spread by that point in the story. This helped the reader visualize just how quickly the fire had spread. At times the writing was a bit scattered and not fluid, but this worked to the author’s advantage as it added to the chaos of the story. Murphy concluded the book by noting some of the long-term social and economic effects this unfortunate event had on Chicago. 

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

1996 NEWBERY HONOR

From Publishers Weekly: “Strategically quoting the written accounts of witnesses-who include a 12-year-old girl and a newspaper editor-Murphy both charts the 31-hour spread of the fire and conveys the atmosphere in the streets. This volume, beautifully printed in sepia tones, contains historic photos, engravings, and newspaper clippings on nearly every page.”

From Kirkus Review: “[Murphy] puts the incident in perspective, giving it stunning immediacy for contemporary readers.”

5. CONNECTIONS

Gather other works by Jim Murphy 

An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 ISBN 978-0395776087

Blizzard ISBN 9780590673099

           The Box of Stuff: Leon's Story ISBN ‎9781734771503

           A Young Patriot: The American Revolution as Experienced by One Boy ISBN 9780395900192

Gather other stories from Chicago 

Maguire, Kathleen. Chicago Then and Now ISBN ‎9781910904053

Chicago Tribune Staff. Chicago Flashback: The People and Events That Shaped a City’s History. ISBN 9781572842359

Gather other works about natural disasters

Guiberson, Brenda. Disasters: Natural and Man-Made Catastrophes Through the Centuries. ISBN ‎9781250050663

              Lester, Paul.The True Story of the Galveston Flood as Told by the Survivors. ISBN 9781581032710

Tarshis, Lauren. I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake, 1906. ISBN 9780545206990

The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming

The Family Romanov review by Sarah Bartholomew

 1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Fleming, Candace.The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion & the Fall of Imperial Russia. New York, NY: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2014.

ISBN 9780375867828

2. PLOT SUMMARY

This novel follows Tsar Nicolas II’s reign as emperor of Russia. Family Romanov covers beyond life in the palace; documenting the turmoil that the country endured and eventually rebelled against during the early 20th century. It follows the fall of the monarchy and the beginnings of The Soviet Union. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book should be read with parental guidance. The majority of this book is kid-friendly, however, there are sections that discuss sexual promiscuity, substance abuse, and graphically describe violent events that may be disturbing for youth below a certain maturity level. The Family Romanov is a wonderfully written piece, detailing the lives of the Romanov family and the lives of their subjects. Fleming supported the story with several quotes, diary entries, and other primary sources to give the reader a better idea of what royals, peasants, and factory workers thought of Russia at the time. These sources help to emphasize just how oblivious the royal family was to the class division in Russia. The style of the book allows for it to be read like a work of fiction. The book would have been more intriguing had the author supplemented the text with pictures of the people and family at the time. There were several pictures included in the book. However, they were all bunched together in the middle and end of the book. This work would be much more appealing if the pictures were embedded in the text. 

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2015 ROBERT F. SIBERT INFORMATIONAL BOOK MEDAL WINNER

2015 ORBIS PICTUS AWARD WINNER

From School Library Journal: “The narrative alternates between a straightforward recounting of the Romanovs' lives and primary source narratives of peasants' lives. The contrast is compelling and enhances understanding of how the divide between the extremely rich and the very poor can lead directly to violent and dramatic political change.”

From The Washington Post: “delivers another engaging and insightful work of history, giving young readers a clear sense of the complicated world in which the Romanov family lived and died”

From Kirkus Reviews: “Fleming crafts an exciting narrative from this complicated history and its intriguing personalities. It is full of rich details about the Romanovs, insights into figures such as Vladimir Lenin, and firsthand accounts from ordinary Russians affected by the tumultuous events. A variety of photographs adds a solid visual dimension, while the meticulous research supports but never upstages the tale.”

5. CONNECTIONS

Gather other works by Candace Fleming

Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart ISBN 9780593177846

The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh ISBN ‎9780525646549

        The Curse of the Mummy: Uncovering Tutankhamun's Tomb ISBN 9781338596618

Gather other stories about the fall of Imperial Russia

We Are America by Walter Dean M

We Are America review by Sarah Bartholomew

 1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Myers, Walter Dean. We Are America. New York, NY: Harper Collins, 2011.

ISBN 9780060523084

2. PLOT SUMMARY

We Are America takes readers on a journey through American History. The book starts with the Indigenous people that inhabited the land now known as the United States. It continued on through the colonization of the land, the eventual revolution that led to the establishment of The United States as a free and independent nation, the development of the nation as people from around the world immigrated to the states seeking freedom and liberty, and further freedom was sought during the Civil War, and advancements were made during the Industrial Revolution. The United States of America is not a country without faults, but the freedom and democracy it offers is a promise of a better life. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book does a wonderful job of highlighting all that is good about The United States while still acknowledging some of the darker parts of the country’s history. Unfortunately, most of the references to America’s faults were merely depicted in the illustrations and were not openly addressed. They referenced slavery and the Japanese internment camps but failed to talk about the racial prejudice shown to Indigenous people, Black, Asians, Irish, and Eastern Europeans. To accurately discuss America, the good and the bad must be talked about. This book romanticized the idea of America. The poems from differing viewpoints from the different parts of American history were a great artistic choice. It helped to better create the idea of America as a “melting pot.” There was no rhyme or clear rhythm. However, it was evident that the words selected were done to evoke strong emotions of patriotism and pride. 

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

From Publishers Weekly: “homage to the entire United States in a soul-searching, free-verse poem examining the people, ideals, and promise of America”

From Kirkus Reviews: “A mural rendered in pastels spans both pages. Homage is paid to young people; Native Americans; immigrants from Europe, Africa, and Asia; laborers, protesters, soldiers, and performers.”

From New York Times: “An inclusive, unblinkered variation of patriotism.”

From School Library Journal: “diverse assembly of famous figures depicted in concluding montages”

5. CONNECTIONS

Gather other works by Walter Dean Myers

Harlem Summer ISBN ‎9780439368438

Jazz ISBN 9780823421732

            Here in Harlem ISBN 9780823422128

Gather other Children’s Books about America 

Maestro, Betsy. Coming to America. ISBN 9780590441513

Dare, Cholena Rose. America the Beautiful. ISBN ‎9781680529296

Lewison, Wendy Cheyette. F is for Flag. ISBN 9780448428383

Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer

Mirror Mirror review by Sarah Bartholomew 

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Singer, Marilyn. Mirror Mirror. New York, NY: Penguin Group, 2010.

ISBN 9780525479017

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Mirror Mirror is a collection of reverso poems based on classic fairy tales. With each poem, the reader is able to gain further insight regarding the well-known story as the reverso poem often represents another character's viewpoint, cautions from the narrator's point of view, or merely the main characters’ evolving viewpoint of their situation. From princesses to bears, to ducklings, and more, the readers are able to read short, poetic retellings of stories that have been told for centuries. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Since every poem in Mirror Mirror is a reverso, the word choice was incredibly thought out. These reverso lines are all based on popular fairy tales; some providing two sides to the story, while others merely show a change in the main character’s mindset. Some of the poems do rhyme but not all of them. There is a clear rhythm to each poem though. The breaks between lines were each done so that the reverso of the initial poem made just as much sense. The use of imagery can be found in most of these poems, as the author sought to bring these fairy tales to life. The language is similar to that often found in retellings of classic fairy tales; minus the cliches “once upon a time” and “happily ever after.” The illustrations in this book of poems have dual images to match the reverso poems which allows for the overall experience to be much more vivid and fun. 

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

From Kirkus Review: “A mesmerizing and seamless celebration of language, imagery, and perspective." 

From Publishers Weekly: "Masse’s clever compositions play with symmetry, bringing this smart concept to its fullest effect." 

From School Library Journal: “remarkably clever and versatile book that would work in any poetry or fairy-tale unit. A must-have for any library”

5. CONNECTIONS

Gather other works by Marilyn Singer

Follow Follow ISBN ‎9780803737693

Echo Echo ISBN 9780803739925

Gather other Fairytale Poem Collections

Gill, Nikita. Fierce Fairytales. ISBN 9780316420747

Mieder, Wolfgang. Disenchantments: An Anthology of Modern Fairy Tale Poetry. ISBN 9780874514407

The Surrender Tree by Margarita Engle

The Surrender Tree review by Sarah Bartholomew

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Engle, Margarita. The Surrender Tree. New York, NY: Henry Holt, 2008.

ISBN 9780805086744

2. PLOT SUMMARY

The setting is 19th century Cuba and revolves around Cuba’s decades of rebellion against Spain in hopes of independence. Since Rosa is able to heal the sick and the wounded, she provides physical support to the rebellion. Her incredible ability to heal others eventually turns her into a legend and a sort of symbol of hope for the rebels. She builds hospitals and trains others on how to use plants, herbs, and flowers to cure illnesses. This results in the loyalists hunting her. Rosa continues to hide and stay strong, constantly hoping and looking towards a better future. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Engle’s poems are written from the perspective of five different people and their experiences in 19th century Cuba. Most are rebels fighting for Cuban independence, but the perspective of a Spanish loyalist is also given. Each poem reads like a journal entry with personal thoughts and feelings the character has about the events occurring around them. These short poems from differing characters help to bring the revolution to life. The reader is able to feel as though they are in the middle of all the action; a front-row seat so to speak. The lack of rhyme and rhythm to the poems helps to better set a serious tone and better present the emotion of the character who is speaking/writing. The word choice is very deliberate as it helps to create a vivid image of the environment and the living conditions of Cuba at this time. 

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2009 NEWBERY HONOR

2009 PURA BELPRE MEDAL

2009 CLAUDIA LEWIS AWARD

From School Library Journal: “Hauntingly beautiful, revealing pieces of Cuba's troubled past through the poetry of hidden moments.”

From Kirkus Review: “Young readers will come away inspired by these portraits of courageous ordinary people.” 

5. CONNECTIONS

Gather other works by Margarita Engle

Light for All ISBN 9781534457270

Your Heart My Sky ISBN 9781534464964

            A Song of Fritos ISBN 9781534444898

           All the Way to Havana ISBN 9781627796422

Gather other stories about/from Cuba

Rodriguez, Patty and Stein, Ariana Vamanos a Havana. ISBN 9781947971424

Behar, Ruth. Letter from Cuba. ISBN ‎978-0525516491

Gather other stories about people who escaped slavery

Cline-Ransome, Lesa. Before She Was Harriett. ISBN 9780823444298

Lester, Julius. From Slave Ship to Freedom Road. ISBN 9780140566697

Levine, Ellen. Henry’s Freedom Box. ISBN 9780439777339