Knights of the Lunch Table: The Dodgeball Chronicles

Cammuso, F. (2008). Knights of the lunch table: The dodgeball chronicles. New York: Graphix.

Book Summary

Another sort of retelling, The Dodgeball Chronicles are a modern day Arthurian tale. Cammuso’s graphic novel tells the story of Artie, a new kid at a new school. Artie is a typical young boy, except for the fact that he is terrible at dodgeball. Well, he was a typical boy until he opened a locker that hadn’t been opened in years, and by opening that locker, he gains access to a mysterious locker that knows just what he needs. Other Arthurian characters appear as well, such as Merlyn, the helpful and wise teacher, Percy, Artie’s new friend, and Gwen, a strong young girl who comes to Artie’s aide.

Impressions

This is a great graphic novel for elementary school readers. While the reader should have some knowledge about King Arthur and his story, it’s not necessary for readers to know all the details of the old stories. Cammuso is obviously having fun with his modern tale, especially since Artie’s “Excalibur” is an old locker and instead of jousting, there is an epic dodgeball match. Cammuso uses the names of the legend’s heros and villians but alters them to be more applicable to a modern audience.

While it is a graphic novel, there is still a fleshed out story, enhanced by the illustrations. The coloring is bright and vivid; Cammuso also adds details to his backgrounds, like the locker smiling and the renegade spider hiding in a corner.

Professional Review

Arthurian legend gets an update for young readers in this outstanding graphic novel. During his first day at Camelot Middle School, Artie King opens a locker that no one has ever been able to open; gets a pop quiz from his science teacher, Mr. Merlyn; and offends both Principal Dagger and bully Joe Roman. Joe is the leader of the Horde, a gang that happens to be the local dodgeball (a game played here with the fervor of Texas football) champions. With his future at Camelot riding on a challenge match, Arthur calls on new friends Wayne and Percy, and gets a little assistance from that mysterious locker. References to other versions of Arthurian legend are sprinkled throughout (such as mentions of Camelot alumni Terry White and Tommy Mallory), but the funny, fast-paced tale of young Arthurs quest to defeat the bullies stands well on its own. The appealing illustrations are full of color, action, and life. Point new fans to one of the many retellings of the deeds of the Round Table while they wait for the second volume in the series.

Gallego, B. (2008, July 1). School Library Journal. 

Library Uses

Many libraries have graphic novel collections for younger readers. Some also do programming centered around graphic novels. This would be a great example to use in any sort of program focused on graphics, ie., a create-your-own graphic novel program or an illustration program. It would also be a good book to add on any sort of readers’ advisory list that includes modern retellings of old tales.

Odd Boy Out

Brown, D. (2004). Odd boy out: Young Albert Einstein. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Book Summary:

Odd Boy Out focuses on the childhood of Albert Einstein. While we all know him as a genius, Don Brown uses his book to relate Albert to other young people. He fought with his sister, he threw tantrums, he didn’t like to go to school or his parent’s parties.  Although he’s disinterested in many of his school subjects, he loves geometry and is fascinated by music and math. He focuses on his passions and go where they take him. As he grows older, he attends a college in Switzerland and then gets married. When his son is born, Albert spends his time walking his son’s baby carriage around the city of Zurich. It is during these nights under the stars that Albert puts together his views of space, time, and energy that has since changed our world.

Impressions

This was a unique take on Albert Einstein. Because it was focused on his youth, it helps to make the genius more relatable to young readers.  Brown manages to give the reader what feels like an intimate glimpse into Albert Einstein’s psyche. As he describes Einstein’s inner thoughts as a youth, Brown shows the reader that just because you don’t follow what is expected of you, doesn’t mean you can’t do great things. The drawings are simple and primarily focus around Albert. Brown also includes some geometric shapes and stars in the sky. With this, he shows Albert’s internal thoughts through his images.

Professional Review

 “This well-crafted picture-book biography focuses on Einstein's hard-to-classify brilliance, which led to awesome scientific discoveries, but all too often left him a misunderstood outsider. Brown describes his subject's loving, cultured parents who were frequently nonplussed by their son's behavior and temper. He found himself the "odd boy" at school, and as the only Jewish student, was sometimes taunted by other children. He puzzled his instructors as well; though clearly gifted in science, math, and music, he was an indifferent student in most subjects. Brown's pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations, rendered in a palette of dusky mauve and earthy brown, portray a doubtful, somewhat unhappy-looking child, except for a picture in which he gazes fondly at a compass, a gift that astonishes him as he ponders its mysteries. In many scenes he is marginalized on the sidelines, set apart by color and shading. One dramatic spread features an adult Einstein pushing his child in a carriage, looking small against a backdrop that highlights some of the scientific puzzles that so engaged him. Through eloquent narrative and illustration, Brown offers a thoughtful introduction to an enigmatic man. This book will pique the interest of readers with little or no knowledge of Einstein."

Taniguchi, M. (2004, October 1). School Library Journal.

 Library Uses

This story could be the introduction to a STEM program (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). This book helps show that the beginnings of all these fields start with asking yourself questions about the universe. Albert Einstein showed the importance of pondering and thinking and where that could take you. Using this book during a program that focuses on STEM may help children have a more positive approach to science.

The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins

Kerley, B. (2001). The dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins. New York: Scholastic Press

Book Summary:

The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins tells the lesser known story of Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, who was a major contributor to the field of paleontology. Although dinosaur bones had been discovered years before, when Waterhouse Hawkins lived, people didn’t know what they might look like. Using his knowledge of animal bones and how those were connected, Waterhouse created models of these ancient creatures. As an artist, he was able to show the whole world what these creatures may have looked like. Although not a scientist, he helped bring dinosaurs into the every day world through his art. While he was a major success in England, where his models were on display in the Crystal Palace, the book also tells about the failure in America, where despite his hard work to create a display of dinosaurs in Central Park, he was foiled by a corrupt politician who had his work destroyed.

As scientists discovered more bones and more clues concerning dinosaurs, it was discovered that Hawkins’ dinosaurs had some flaws. However, his dinosaurs introduced the ancient creatures to the world, and helped fuel the excitement to discover and learn more about ancient Earth.  

Impressions:

This was a thrilling story of a man who was passionate about teaching the world about dinosaurs. It was fascinating to hear how dinosaurs were introduced to the everyday people of the world, especially now that we are almost inundated with information on dinosaurs. They are in TV shows and books, and enthrall almost every child who encounters them. I think this book would appeal to any child with an interested in dinosaurs because the author manages to depict Hawkins’ passion for the creatures. Children to share that passion can relate to his excitement to share his dinosaurs with the world.

Professional Review:

“A picture-book presentation about the efforts of Hawkins to erect the first life-sized models of dinosaurs on both sides of the Atlantic. A Victorian artist and sculptor, he was well respected in England, and his reputation insured his being invited to construct replicas of creatures no one had ever seen and to unveil them at the newly constructed Crystal Palace. Kerley's spirited text and Selznick's dramatic paintings bring Hawkins's efforts into clear focus, including his frustrating experience in New York City when Boss Tweed set vandals loose in his workshop. Both author and illustrator provide copious notes of biographical material delineating Hawkins's works, and Selznick's trips to Philadelphia to view a rare scrapbook that is the model for this book's design and to London to see the original Crystal Palace models. Painstakingly researched, written and illustrated with careful attention to detail, this book presents the fervor and spirit of a dedicated, little-known individual whose conceptions-however erroneous by today's discoveries-astounded the minds and stirred the imaginations of scientists then involved in the actual birth of paleontology. A distinguished book in every way.”

Manning, P. (2001, October 1). [Review of the book The dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins]. Library Journal.

Library Uses:

There are so many ways this book could be used. As many libraries are looking towards incorporating MakerSpaces into their buildings, this book would be a great tool to introduce sculpture and modeling to young patrons. Waterhouse Hawkins would sketch his dinosaurs, then build small models before he moved onto his large, brick statues. Using this book as a catalyst to sculpture, you could do a program on beginning sculpture, with sketches and small clay models.

The Wednesday Wars

Schmidt, G. D. (2007). The Wednesday wars. New York: Clarion Books. 

Book Summary

The Wednesday Wars is a historical, realistic fiction novel set in Long Island during the Vietnam War. Holling Hoodhood, our main character, has a distant father, a soon-to-be hippie sister, a quiet mother, and a teacher who hates him. His teacher hates him so much that she starts making him read Shakespeare.

Schmidt’s novel is a beautiful story of a year in the life of a young boy, as he learns and matures to better understand the world around him. Schmidt uses Holling’s required reading of Shakespeare to expound on what Holling is dealing with in his life. Holling’s problems range from owing his class cream puffs, to being forced to wear yellow tights in a play, to dealing with an unloving father who always puts business before family.

Impressions                                                                                                        

I have a soft spot for books that include Shakespeare. And loveable main characters. So this book is at the top of my favorites now. Holling Hoodhood manages to be a deep but believable boy. There’s also a well-developed cast of characters, particularly Holling’s friends, family, and his teacher, Mrs. Baker.

The backdrop of the Vietnam war adds an underlying tone of tension. Mrs. Baker’s husband is in the war, as are many of the other teacher’s spouses and/or children.  Throughout all the scrapes and problems Holling faces, like tough eighth grade cross-country runners and overfed rats, there’s still world events hanging over everyone. Walter Cronkite reports on these events: the war, the death of Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy. It helps lend a meaningful air to the rest of the story.

Professional Review

This entertaining and nuanced novel limns Holling Hoodhood's seventh-grade year in his Long Island community, beginning in the fall of 1967. His classmates, half of whom are Jewish, the other half Catholic, leave early on Wednesdays to attend religious training. As the sole Presbyterian, he finds himself stranded with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, whom he's sure has it in for him. She starts off creating mindless chores for him but then induces him to read Shakespeare, lots of Shakespeare. Chapters titled by month initially seem overlong, relating such diverse elements as two terrifying escaped rats, cream puffs from a local bakery, his dad being a cheapskate/cutthroat architect, and Holling's tentative and sweet relationship with classmate Meryl Lee. The scary Doug Swieteck, and his even more frightening brother, and the Vietnam War are recurring menaces. A subplot involves a classmate who, as a recent Vietnamese refugee, is learning English and suffers taunts and prejudice. Cross-country tryouts, rescuing his older runaway sister, and opening day at Yankee Stadium are highlights. There are laugh-out-loud moments that leaven the many poignant ones as Schmidt explores many important themes, not the least of which is what makes a person a hero. The tone may seem cloying at first and the plot occasionally goes over-the-top, but readers who stick with the story will be rewarded. They will appreciate Holling's gentle, caring ways and will be sad to have the book end."

Shoemaker, J. (2007, July 1). School Library Journal.

Library Uses

The Wednesday Wars is definitely a great book for booktalks and book clubs. It would also be a good read around Veteran’s day. While the book is about much more than the war, it does give a good sense to young readers what it would be like to grow up during that time period.

The Book of Blood and Shadow

Wasserman, R. (2012).  The book of blood and shadow. New York: Ember.

Book Summary

The main character of this book, Nora, is a Latin nerd. She’s studying an old Latin text with her friends Chris and Max at a local college. But when Chris is brutally murdered, grasping part of the text in his hand, Nora realizes this text has more meaning that expected. With Max missing, Nora and Chris’s girlfriend Adriane set out for Prague to solve the mystery of this text. There are mysterious religious groups with an interest in solving the mystery in this text. The mystery becomes more and more twisted as the girls learn more and a new character enters their sphere, the mysterious Eli. There’s double-crossing and evil ninja-like monks and lots of blood as the mystery gets solved.

Impression

This was not my favorite book. The characters were a little too flat for my taste. However, the mystery plot is complex and would appeal to people who like a style similar to The Da Vinci Code.  As a teen mystery, it would appeal to many teens with the romantic relationships playing a pivotal role in the mystery. Nora is surrounded by boys who hide things from her while still professing their love for her.

I’m not sure there are many teens who would have a similar interest in Latin like Nora. This aspect of the story may have been more appropriate in a book for adults. However, the drama, like I said, is often more focused on the emotional drama between the teens rather than the death surrounding the.

Professional Review

“Since the death of her brother, high school senior Nora has retreated into her Latin studies to hide from her dysfunctional family. With her older friend Chris and his roommate Max, she works on a complex project at the local college. The late 16th-century texts they translate discuss the Lumen Dei, an ancient device that would purportedly give humans the insight and power of God and could possibly bring about the end of the world. Nora finds Max off-putting at first, but the two eventually begin a romantic relationship. When Chris is murdered and the Latin manuscripts are stolen, Max, the main suspect, disappears. Nora is determined to clear his name and get to the bottom of why someone wanted the stolen documents enough to kill for them. She and Chris's girlfriend head to Prague, where they hope to find Max and some answers. Some readers may be less interested in the subplot that unfolds in the Latin letters that Nora translates, but fans of Da Vinci Code-style thrillers will likely be drawn to this richly imagined novel.”

Bass, H. (2012, February 1). School Library Journal.

Library Use

As a book for teens, this may be good for a book club. The group could discuss the plausibility of the mystery and the impact of death on the main characters. It would also be a good book to use for a program on codes. There are codes in the letters that Nora and her friends are translating. A program could use these codes to discuss code writing and breaking.