Book Description

kira-kira (kee' ra kee' ra): glittering; shining

Glittering. That's how Katie Takeshima's sister, Lynn, makes everything seem. The sky is kira-kira because its color is deep but see-through at the same time. The sea is kira-kira for the same reason. And so are people's eyes. When Katie and her family move from a Japanese community in Iowa to the Deep South of Georgia, it's Lynn who explains to her why people stop them on the street to stare. And it's Lynn who, with her special way of viewing the world, teaches Katie to look beyond tomorrow. But when Lynn becomes desperately ill, and the whole family begins to fall apart, it is up to Katie to find a way to remind them all that there is always something glittering -- kira-kira -- in the future.

Luminous in its persistence of love and hope, Kira-Kira is Cynthia Kadohata's stunning debut in middle-grade fiction. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

!WOW!
WOW! this book was one of the best books i have ever read! Read it and i am sure you will love it! It is about a girl whose best friend is her sister but then her sister gets really sick. ... Read more

Book Description

Sometimes I feel like I have walked into the middle of a movie. Maybe I can make my own movie. The film will be the story of my life. No, not my life, but of this experience. I'll call it what the lady who is the prosecutor called me. MONSTER.

FADE IN: INTERIOR COURT. A guard sits at a desk behind Steve. Kathy O'Brien, Steve's lawyer, is all business as she talks to Steve.

O'BRIEN
Let me make sure you understand what's going on. Both you and this king character are on trial for felony murder. Felony Murder is as serious as it gets. . . . When you're in court, you sit there and pay attetion. You let the jury know that you think the case is a serious as they do. . . .

STEVE
You think we're going to win ?

O'BRIEN (seriously)
It probably depends on what you mean by "win."

Sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon is on trial for murder. A Harlem drugstore owner was shot and killed in his store, and the word is that Steve served as the lookout.

Guilty or innocent, Steve becomes a pawn in the hands of "the system," cluttered with cynical authority figures and unscrupulous inmates, who will turn in anyone to shorten their own sentences. For the first time, Steve is forced to think about who he is as he faces prison, where he may spend all the tomorrows of his life.

As a way of coping with the horrific events that entangle him, Steve, an amateur filmmaker, decides to transcribe his trial into a script, just like in the movies. He writes it all down, scene by scene, the story of how his whole life was turned around in an instant. But despite his efforts, reality is blurred and his vision obscured until he can no longer tell who he is or what is the truth. This compelling novel is Walter Dean Myers's writing at its best.

2000 Coretta Scott King Honor Book, 2000 Michael L. Printz Award, 1999 National Book Award Finalist, 01 Heartland Award for Excellence in YA Lit Finalist, 00-01 Tayshas High School Reading List, and 00-01 Black-Eyed Susan Award Masterlist

2000 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA), Hornbook Fanfare 2000, Michael L. Printz Award 2000, 2000 Coretta Scott King Award Author Honor Book, 2000 Quick Picks for Young Adults (Recomm. Books for Reluctant Young Readers), and 2000 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)

Reviews (341)

Monster
"Monster" is what the prosecutor called 16-year-old Steve Harmon for his supposed role in the fatal shooting of a convenience-store owner. But was Steve really the lookout who gave the "all clear" to the murderer, or was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time? In this innovative novel by Walter Dean Myers, the reader becomes both juror and witness during the trial of Steve's life. To calm his nerves as he sits in the courtroom, aspiring filmmaker Steve chronicles the proceedings in movie script format. Interspersed throughout his screenplay are journal writings that provide insight into Steve's life before the murder and his feelings about being held in prison during the trial. "They take away your shoelaces and your belt so you can't kill yourself no matter how bad it is. I guess making you live is part of the punishment."
Myers, known for the inner-city classic Motown and Didi (first published in 1984), proves with Monster that he has kept up with both the struggles and the lingo of today's teens. Steve is an adolescent caught up in the violent circumstances of an adult world--a situation most teens can relate to on some level. Readers will no doubt be attracted to the novel's handwriting-style typeface, emphasis on dialogue, and fast-paced courtroom action. By weaving together Steve's journal entries and his script, Myers has given the first-person voice a new twist and added yet another worthy volume to his already admirable body of work. (Ages 12 and older) --... --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Monster
Luis G.
I read the book Monster by Walter Dean Myers. The story is about a 16-year-old boy, Steve Harmon, on trial for felony murder. Steve, who wished that experience were only a movie, writes the story in a movie script format. There only needs to be enough evidence to say he was at the scene of the crime and participated in the drug store robbery, regardless of whether or not he pulled the trigger on Mr. Nesbitt, the person killed. If so, he might spend the rest of his life behind bars. Steve is the only dynamic character in the story; when the movie begins, he is a simple 16-year-old boy who had only seen the world through his somewhat happy life. Towards the end he realizes not all people in this life are decent, or anywhere close to decent human being, but rather there is a mix of good and bad living amongst each other. Steve's movie contains flashbacks that sometimes leave the reader wondering of their significance to the story. In them we see a Steve Harmon prior to him being in jail. We see him hanging out with his friends and family. Readers are able to relate with Steve regardless of whether or not they have experience a jail term. Walter Myers does an excellent job of characterization especially in those flashbacks, because Steve seems so much like a real. Because you are able to relate with Steve you begin to feel sympathy for him just because of the awful place he is at. Myers's imagery of the jail is excellent. You realize the brutality and the perverse minds of some inmates, and also the depressed state Steve is in. as a consequence, you begin to feel sorry for him and wish he be found not guilty. This book is on of a kind because you observe the brutal side of jail through the mind of a 16-year-old boy. I think that all teens might want to consider reading this book, and I also think they are the ideal audience.

MONSTER
Monster

This is one of the best books I have ever read, and I don't usually like reading books. I know you have heard that many times before but when you hear it from me you know its true because I absolutely despise reading.
This book is based on a true story: Three men planned a robbery at the local drug store in which the local drug store clerk was shot and killed. Now these three men are on trial and one of them is innocent, can you tell who? One of the characters is Steve. He was one of the three being convicted of murder. Whether or not he was guilty, you'll just have to see for yourself. Evans was another of the three that were on trial for felony murder. And James King is the last main character that is on trial for murdering the store clerk.
This book is good because all of these characters seem realistic. The author describes how appropriately they dressed for their court trials. The way that the author talks about the characters makes me able to picture the characters in my head. " Cut To: Steve Harmon getting dressed in his cell wearing a tie and button up shirt". The author also makes the murder scene real because the police go through the proper procedure that they normally would at a regular murder scene.
The court case also seems true, Mostly because the book is written in play form, with characters being given dialogue and actions. Its almost like its being written by a court reporter.
The way that this book was written was the first thing that jumped out at me because it is so realistic. You can picture the man or woman who is talking. However there were some flaws to the way it was written because the narrative alternates between third person play form and first person diary format making parts of the book hard to understand. I would get lost while I was reading because I would get so into it I wouldn't bother reading the names of the person who was talking.
In conclusion I think that this was an extremely good book. I recommend this book to people who like mystery books because with this book you never know what's going to happen next.

The master piece
This book is amazing.This book is about a kid on the streets that is accused of robbery and murder .The book can be compared to the movie "juice" .

Book Review
Monster is mainly about a 16 year old boy named Steve. Steve is a very timid kid fighting for his innocence. This book takes place in a Manhattan Detention Center. Steves problem is that he is being falsely accused for commiting murder. Now he has to go on trial and see what happends.

This book "Monster" is basically all dialogue and no actions. There are alot of characters in this book and it is hard to keep track of them since it's written like a movie. This book has alot of realism since it was based on a true story. There really isnt alot of suspense in this novel. "Monster" drags out alot and i wouldnt recommend this book to anyone.

To the peron who wrote this book, I think he should have sold this "script" to a movie maker. This book was a waste of time to read. Thank You. ... Read more

Book Description

Enter the hilarious world of 10-year-old Kenny and his family, the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. There's Momma, Dad, little sister Joetta, and brother Byron, who's 13 and an "official juvenile delinquent." When Momma and Dad decide it's time for a visit to Grandma, Dad comes home with the amazing Ultra-Glide, and the Watsons set out on a trip like no other. They're heading South. They're going to Birmingham, Alabama, toward one of the darkest moments in America's history.
... Read more

Reviews (400)

heba heba heba heba
The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963

The Watsons Go To Birmingham-1963 is a magnificent book. I really recommend you reading it. It is filled with fun things and Historical Fiction at the end.

The setting is where the story takes place. It begins in Flint, Michigan. It was very cold and Byron and Buphead teased Kenny a lot. On the road trip, Kenny's mom had planned everything out like where to stay. At the rest stops, Kenny and Byron said that rest stop's restrooms stunk and were really dirty. When they finally got to Birmingham, everyone complained how hot it was. Then there were racial problems. This is how I remembered the setting.

Kenny is very smart but is also very funny. In Chapter 2, he reads a book to Byron's class up side down. Some times Byron tortures Kenny. In Chapter 1, Byron and his friend Buphead threw Kenny around in the snow. Kenny sometimes doesn't believe what Byron says and then does like in Chapter 13. He doesn't believe in the Wool Pooh and then does when he thinks he sees the Wool Pooh. That's how I relate to Kenny Watson.

In the beginning, Byron gets his lips stuck to the car mirror. Then his dad buys the Ultra-Glide and they go on a three-day trip to Birmingham, Alabama. After Kenny seeing the Wool Pooh and to white men bombing Joey's church, the finally go back to Flint.

As I said in the beginning, The Watsons Go To Birmingham-1963 is a very good book. I recommend it to children of all ages.
By Plunky Universe

The Watsons go to Birmingham-1963 book review
The Watsons go to Birmingham-1963, by Christopher Paul Curtis, is a great book. It takes place during the Civil rights movement. It is about a Family that lives in Flint, Michigan. The family is made up of Daniel (dad),Wilona (mom), Byron,Kenny, and Joetta, also known as Joey. I think the characters in this story are really interesting. Kenny is smart. He reads stuff to higher grades than he is in. He is also one of the least popular kids in his school. And, he has a lazy eye. Kenny's big brother Byron is a trouble maker. He is known as the god of the school children at Clark elementary. Joetta, Kenny's little sister, likes to protect Byron from her mom. She also believes all the tall tales he makes up. The whole family seems so realistic. Christopher Paul Curtis does something cool with Byron in the book. Byron changes from a trouble-maker to a nice person. He changes because of a true historical event that happened in this story.In the beginning of the story is parents get so mad because of the bad stuff he did. They decide to drive to their grandma Sands house in Birmingham, Alabama. That is how they end up going to Birmingham.

Christopher Paul Curtis has a cool bad guy for the story. When they are in Birmingham, Kenny goes some where he shouldn't go and meets the bad guy of the story,The Wool Pooh. He says that it has a gray body, no face, square feet, square shoulders, and square fingers. Kenny sees the Wool Pooh twice in the story. When he is swimming where he shouldn't and after the historical event. Kenny thinks that it means death.

I think there are some bad things about the book. Christopher Paul Curtis skips the part when they are going back to Flint. There are some other things he doesn't tell about. For example,He doesn't tell when Kenny tells his Mom, Dad, and Byron that Joey is back at Grandma Sands house I give this story four stars. It is a great book to read. One of the morales of this story is how important family is. That is why Byron became changed from a trouble-maker to a nice person. So all in all I think you should definitely read this book. And if you want to find out what the historical event is, read the book.

Dy-No-Mite!
This book had me lauging one minute, and crying the next. Curtis takes his reader on an adventure with the Watson family, whom coincidentally has family members with which we can all proably relate with in one way or another. I would highly reccommend this book to my fourth grade peers.

if you like history books
I read The Watson's go to Birmingham -1963.
The author is Christopher Paul Curtis.
I loved this book . It has 5 characters.
The character that I liked is Byron. Hi's a bully,
But he cares for his brother and sister. Kenny is
a great boy. He likes to hang out with his
brother. Joetta is a four year old girl. She likes to
go to Sunday school at church. Dad is a cool
He likes to decorate the brown bomber(the car). Mom is a women that likes stuff her way.
Whenever they travel she has everything
Ordered in her note book .I Enjoyed this book because it's fun and awesome and I loved it.

Review
I read the book The Watsons go to Birmingham - 1963 and found it very interesting and funny. The story is about a boy named Kenneth Watson who has an older brother, Byron, a younger sister, Joetta, a mom, and a dad. They all live in Flint, Michigan. Byron is constantly getting into trouble, so mom and dad decide that he should spend the summer with his grandmother in Birmingham. The whole family has to go on the trip because they can't leave anybody at home. While they are in Birmingham, the church is attacked by white people who throw a stick of dynamite into it. Kenny goes into the church after this and thinks he sees Joetta's shoe, and he thinks that the Whool Pooh, an imaginary evil twin of Winnie the pooh, is trying to kidnap her, so he leaves. When he finds out that Joetta wasn't in the church, he feels guilty because even if she had been in the church he wouldn't have helped her escape the Whool Pooh. After this, they decide to leave Birmingham. When they get back home, Kenneth hides behind the couch in their house and hopes to not feel guilty about not rescuing Joetta. Byron finally (...). I like this book and would recommend it to readers of any age. It is funny and entertaining. For example, one funny part is when Byron tries to kiss his reflection is the car mirror and gets his lips stuck to it. In conclusion, I think the book is amusing though it is sad and is a good book for anyone to read. ... Read more

Book Description

Approx. 4.5 hours
3 cassettes

When Esperanza and Mama are forced to flee to the bountiful region of Aguascalientes, Mexico, to a Mexican farm labor camp in California, they must adjust to a life without fancy dresses adn servants they were accustomed to on Rancho de las Rosas.Now they must confront the challenges of hard work, acceptance by their own people, and economic difficulties brought on by the Great Depression.When Mama falls ill and a strike for better working conditions threatens to uproot their new life, Esperana must relinquish her hold on the past learn to embrace a future ripe with the riches of family and community. ... Read more

Reviews (121)

A Story of Hope
Esperanza Rising is the story of a young girl who started out very rich, and though she lost everything she owned, such as her beautiful dresses, servants, and her family's estate, ended up even richer. It is ten years after the Mexican Revoloution, and Esperanza Ortega enjoys a life of luxury in El Rancho de la Rosa. When a horrible tradgedy strikes, Esperanza and her mother must flee to California and leave her grandmother, Abuelita, behind. Appalled at the living conditions and "dirty peasents" that she is forced to be in contact with, Esperanza becomes miserable in the labor camp. But when her mother contracts Valley Fever and becomes very ill, Esperanza needs to start working to earn money to keep her in the hospital and pay the medical bills. Esperanza eventually learns to adjust with the major lifestyle change, and learns a lot about maturity and compassion. No wonder Esperanza means "hope" in Spanish. Based on the life of Esperanza Ortega, Pam Munoz Ryan's (author) grandmother, I highly reccomend this book to anyone who likes a fast-paced, sometimes humorous and sometimes sad, novel.

A Pleasant Surprise
First of all, I would like to say that to read this book would not be my first choice. In fact, a book called Esperanza Rising with a picture of a girl floating in the air is probably not any middle-schooler's first choice of a book. But, fortunatly, I have a really cool reading teacher that knows that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover.

Esperanza Rising is a story about an 12-year-old girl who lives in Mexico. She is fairly rich, and she lives on a big ranch with her parents.

Then, her perfect life falls apart. Her father dies, her powerful uncle threatens her, and her house is burned down. Esperanza is forced to flee to the United States with her mother in poverty to work in a labor camp. It is the very life she has never known.

This book tells Esperanza's story (A true one!) and how she must adjust to her new life. It is no wonder that in Spanish, Esperanza means, "Hope".

Mexicano Tear-Jerker
This book is the true to life story of Esperanza Ortega by Pam Munoz Ryan. She is a very rich and happy girl until her dad is killed by bandits the day before her birthday. THen her uncle burns down their house because without her father, they're virtually nothing. Then he asks her mother to marry him. She pretends that she will but in the middle of the night before the wedding they pack their stuff and head for California with their servants. They have a very hard life their and her mother almost dies. They turn out ok though. Esperanza and the servant boy fall in love and eventually get married ( this part isn't in the story, but it's in the authors note after the book) Anyways every rich AND poor person should read his book it's great.
Bye

Esperanza rising
I like this book a lot because it has a lot of emotion like when her father died her mom got sick ect.,and most of all
it's a really realistic book/story because what happens to esperanza could happen for real.it's not a fairy tale.It is not fiction.That's why i like this book.At first you're not going to like Esperanza's charecter,but as her charecter changes you're going to like her more.

ESPERANZA RISING
THIS BOOK IS CALLED ESPERANZA RISING.THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK IS PAM MUNOZ RYAN.ESPERANZA IS GIRL SHE IS THIRTEEN YEARS OLD.ESPERANZA WAS BORN IN AGUASCALIENTES MEXICO.ESPERANZA LIVES IN EL RANCHO DE LAS ROSAS IN A BIG RANCH.ESPERANZA IS SPOLIED LITTLE GIRL WHATEVER SHE WANTS SHE GETS.ESPERANZA MOMS NAME IS RAMONA FORTANLY SHE HAS HER DAD TO. HORTENSA ALFONSO AND MIGGUEL ARE THE SERVANTS THAT WORK IN ESPERANZAS HOUSE.MIGUEL IS HTE SON OF THE HORTESNA AND ALFONSO.MIGUEL IS 16 YEARS OLD. TIO LUIS AND MARCOS ARE STEP BROTHERS OF ESPERANZAS DAD.ESPERANZAS DAD DIED A DAY BEFORE HER BIRTHDAY.RAMONA AND ESPERANZA WERE VERY HURT ESPERANZA DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD BIRTHDAY.AFTER HER FATHER DIED A WEEK OR 2RANCH WAS ON FIRE.LUIS IS STEP BRO OF ESPERANZAS DAD.LUIS ASKED RAMONA THE ONLY WAY SHE WON'T SUFFER OF HUNGER WOULD BE IF SHE MARRYS HIM.RAMONA HAD SAID YES BUT SHE HAD PLANED TO LIVE TO THE UNITED STATES.THEY WANTED TO GO TO THE UNITED STATES TO WORK AND TO BE AWAY FROM LUIS. ... Read more

Book Description

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is inarguably one of the most popular children's books of all time. Now, here is the Spanish board book version of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, filling an important niche for the youngest of Spanish-speaking children. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

So cool!
In case you aren't familiar with this book, it is about a caterpillar who eats and eats and eats. The board book version has holes in the pages so the reader can see what he has eaten. It is so cute! The illustrations are adorable and the kids love it! We are a bilingual family so my boys have the Spansih version. It's super and very durable!

A wonderful way to introduce Spanish into the classroom or y
This is a wonderful Spanish translation of a classic. This story flows whether you are reading in English or Spanish. Children are so familiar with this story that they embrace the Spanish easily. This translation is a must have in the multi-lingual classroom. ... Read more

Book Description

It’s 1936 Flint, Michigan. Times may be hard, and 10-year-old Bud may be a motherless boy, but Bud’s got a few things going for him: 1. He has his own suitcase full of special things; 2. He’s the author of “Bud Caldwell’s Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself”; 3. His momma never told him who his father was, but she left a clue: posters of Herman E. Calloway and his band of renown, the Dusky Devastators of the Depression. Bud is sure those posters will lead him to his father. Once he decides to hit the road, nothing can stop him, not hunger, not fear, not would-be vampires, not even Herman E. Calloway himself.
... Read more

Reviews (288)

Bud, Not Buddy
This book is about a ten-year-old orphan named Bud who is searching for his father, who he has never seen. Living on his own during the Great Depression, he meets his old friend Bugs. They decide to ride the rails west on a Hooverville train. Bugs makes it, but unfortunately Bud doesn't. This one event will change Bud's life, because Bud decides to walk to the next town and search for his father. After meeting new faces, Bud finds his believed-to-be-father, Herman E. Calloway, a musician. Although Mr.Calloway is not very friendly, Bud is invited to stay with him. In this book you learn how important communication is between people. Bud, Not Buddy won the Newbery Honor and the Coretta Scott King Award. I would recommend this book for forth to sixth graders because some events are hard to understand. I think this book has terrific facts on how people lived during the Great Depression. Something I particularily enjoyed about this book is how much the author described things. She used the five senses, especially the sense of smell. It was like the item was right in front of you. Is Mr. Calloway Bud's real father? Read this book to find out. Just remember to expect the unexpected. A great read for 5th and 6th graders.

A Place Called Home
Bud, Not Buddy tells the story of 10 year old Bud Caldwell, a young boy growing up in Michigan during the 1930's. Bud's mother died when he was only 6 years old, and since he never knew his father, Bud was forced to live in a home for orphans between his brief stays in various foster homes. Bud carries a battered suitcase which contains all the things that are near and dear to his heart; a special blanket and pictures of his mother. Although it seems as if Bud has very little, he has a drive to find his father, using the clues he feels that his mother left for him. After a bad experience at a foster care placement, Bud runs away using the rules he authored "Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself" to guide him. Will the clues really lead to his father? Will Bud finally find a place to call home?

While this plot seems pretty intense, Curtis has truly captured the voice of a 10 year-old boy. The book is filled with laugh out loud humorous scenes that make it a really enjoyable read. Curtis carefully slips in a great deal of historical events through Bud's experiences without disrupting the overall flow of the book. Bud's voice is one that will draw children into the story and this is truly a book that young readers will enjoy. Check out Bud, Not Buddy for a splash of history, a heap of humor and an overall good book.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

A good short story.
I liked this book becuase it was a wonderful story about history(the Great deppresion) and a boy trying to find out who he was. Or rather, who his father was. he ends up traveling with a band and finding more than he bargained for.

Exciting Blend of Mystery, History, and More!
"Bud Not Buddy" is the story of a young boy in the Great Depression whose mother has died, leaving him with what he believes to be a clue to his unknown father's identity: a flyer for a band featuring bass player Herman Calloway. When Bud exhausts other options to finding a happy home, he listens to his mother's advice ("When one door closes, another one opens") and heads to Grand Rapids to find his father. Bud's naive nature and vivid imagination lead to many humorous moments and observations along the way. Readers find themselves constantly guessing about Herman Calloway's relationship to Bud and trying to put the artfully-inserted clues together. While Bud is surprised when he finds out the truth, he ends up learning a great deal about his mother, his past, human nature, and what it really means to belong. The book is an excellent introduction to the Great Depression, while at the same time interesting readers with a likeable character and excellent mystery.

My fav book
bud, not buddy is my favorite book. this book had me laughing and crying. i read it in like, the fourth grade and its still my fav book. i suggest this book to ne1! ... Read more

Book Description

Within Cole Matthews lie anger, rage and hate. Cole has been stealing and fighting for years. This time he caught Alex Driscal in the, parking lot and smashed his head against the sidewalk. Now, Alex may have permanent brain damage'and Cole is in the Biggest trouble of his life.

Cole is offered Circle Justice: a system based on Native American traditions that attempts to provide healing for the criminal offender, the victim and the, community. With prison as his only alternative, Cole plays along. He says he wants to repent, but in his heart Cole blames his alcoholic mom his, abusive dad, wimpy Alex -- everyone but himself -- for his situation.

Cole receives a one-year banishment to a remote Alaskan island. There, he is mauled by Mysterious white bear of Native American legend. Hideously injured, Cole waits for his death His thoughts shift from from Anger to humility. To survive, he must stop blaming others and take responsibility for his life. Rescuers arrive to save Cole's but it is the attack of the Spirit Bear that may save his soul.

Ben Mikaelsen paints a vivid picture of a juvenile offender, examining the roots without absolving solving him of responsibility for his actions, and questioning a society in which angry people make victims of their peers and communities. Touching Spirit Bear is a poignant testimonial to the power of a pain that can destroy, or lead to healing

Reviews (67)

Touching Spirit Bear
Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen is a compelling story of a teenager's struggle with anger. He is beaten by his father, ignored by his mother, and struggles to understand how he fits into "family". His anger gets the best of him. He beats a classmate so severely that he has brain damage. This time his father can not buy him out of trouble.
Cole's only hope of avoiding a prison sentence is to enter into an alternative program known as Circle Justice. Banished to an isolated island off the coast of Alaska, Cole secretly vows that he will escape and return to civilization, and beat the system. He didn't plan on the mysterious, legendary white bear. Mauled almost to death, Cole awaits his fate and begins a life long journey of controlling his anger from with in. He learns humility and respect for those he once took his anger out on.
Ben Mikaelsen once again writes for the young reader, speaking to them from life experiences. Touching Spirit Bear calls to those readers who are struggling to find acceptance and respect among their peers.

"Touching Spirit Bear"
Cole has a really big anger problem. He is a Juvenile Delinquent and his anger has taken him way too far. After beating up his fellow 9th grade student, Peter Driscol, he was sent too many detention centers. Cole is about to be sentenced to a 'real' prison when his Native American friend comes to his rescue. Cole has two choices, to be sent to a prison or be sent banished to an isolated Alaskan island for a year. Cole has heard the horrible stories about the things that can happen in prison and he decides to try the circle justice thing that his Native American friend had told him about. Cole experiences good and bad changes while being banished that just might change him for the rest of his life. I rate this book a 5/5 stars. The reason is, because think that this book has great description and it could 'hook' anybody. This book is a great book and I recommend it for anybody.

Wow! This book is really amazing!
Touching Spirit Bear is one of the best books I have ever read. It all starts out with a juvenile delinquent who brakes into a store. He was bragging about it in school and a guy named Peter tells on him. After school Peter is badly beaten, he was punched many times and had his head smashed into the concrete. This causes Peter to have brain damage. Then Peter's parents sued Cole for the damage.
Cole isn't a very good kid. He seems to think that everything is below him and he is the dominant person of all the creatures on the earth. Cole really doesn't want to go to jail for the bad things that he has done so he decides to go to the Circle of Trust. The Circle of Trust is a program where instead of going to jail it's a chance for the people to sit and talk about what the person's punishment should be. Cole's and Peter's family went to the Circle of Trust meeting. They decided that Cole's punishment is to go to an island for one year without contact to anyone to find what he really is. He went to the island and as soon as the people who took him out on the island were gone he set the house they had built on fire. His plan was to swim back to the mainland and of on with his life with no one knowing. He soon finds out that it's not that easy and looses all of his energy. He then makes a spear. All of a sudden out of nowhere a huge white bear appears and Cole charges at him, the bear then started to beat Cole up. After the attack Cole lays there with a broken arm, broken hip, and shredded stomach. About a week later people came to bring him supplies, finding Cole lying there almost dead. After a while in the hospital they let Cole go. He wanted to go back to the island because he still didn't want to go to jail. He has to sell all of his belongings to pay for it. Also he has to build his own cabin this time.
If you want to find out what else happens to Cole you have to read the book! I would recommend thins book to anyone. I think the author did a very good job on this book. It doesn't matter if you're a girl or a guy you would both love this book.

Touching Spirit Bear
The book that I am reviewing is Touching Spirit Bear and it is about a fifteen year old cole gaets beaten by his father.Just as cole's father was beaten by his father. Now cole himself is turning violent. He robbed a tool store and he got away with it for a couple of days. until peter his classmate told on him so cole beat him and peter was hospitaized. So cole's parents send him to angermangment classes that didn't help so he gets sent to an island in alaska. They give cole a little hut and supples to survive for a month. He goes walking around the island and he see's the spirit bear and think's that he can beat up the bearlike he did peter the bear broke his arm and leg. Then a few days later the two guys come back and find him on the beach and immedalty take him to a hospital and after he recovered they sent him back to the island for another month and survived.

Touching Spirit Bear
Touching Spirit Bear is a spectacular book. The book was about a boy, Cole Mathews, who has a very hard time controlling his anger. Cole Mathews steals possessions from stores a lot. One day Peter Driscal, a kid from Cole's school, found out that he had broken into the store that the police were trying to find a suspect for and reported it. When Cole found out who told on him, he chased Peter down after school and beat him very harshly. It was so bad that Peter now has problems thinking and has mental problems. When Cole got arrested, he went to court and the judge gave him a chose. The chose was either he could go to jail or Justice Circle and wouldn't have to serve as much time. Like any other kid would he decided to go to Justice Circle. The Justice Circle had some meetings and finally Garvey convinced them to send him to an island for one year so that he could think things out by himself. As he is left at the island he decided he would try to swim island to island and try to get to the United States again. After he was a ways out and starting to cramp up he turned around. At the island he now had no shelter since he burned it down before he left. After a nap he decided to go get some food. He then saw the Spirit Bear and Cole tried to kill it. Yet the bear ripped him to shreds. In fact Cole couldn't move. So when the guy that brings him his supplies saw what had happened he took him back to a hospital. Finally, after he recovered, the Justice Circle had some more meetings. They had to meet with each other to see if they should allow Cole Mathews to return to the island. If you want to see if Cole Mathews gets another shot at the island or if you want to see if Cole can change his life around. Read Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelson. ... Read more

Book Description

This resource is directly related to its literature equivalent and filled with a variety of cross-curricular lessons to do before, during, and after reading the book. This reproducible book includes sample plans, author information, vocabulary building ideas, cross-curriculum activities, sectional activities and quizzes, unit tests, and ideas for culminating and extending the novel. ... Read more

Reviews (338)

Pretty good but a little old fashioned and slow
I am an Elementary education major and had to view the video and compare it to the book for a lesson plan. I thought it accurately depicted a lot of things but was incorrect in a lot of other ways. It did bring the characters to life but left out some key scenes. Rontu in the movie was not one of the wild dogs from the island but was left by the Aleuts whereas in the book he was described as one of the wild dogs. Other than that I found it a bit slow and old fashioned. Overall I thought it was good and would use it with a class to view critically and to compare to the book.

Island of the Blue Dolphin
You Know what a good book is? Island of the Blue Dolphins. Scott O'Dell does a wonderful job telling this girls story of survival, physically and emotionally. This young girl's tribe is forced to leave their island after the Alutes came and killed most of the men in their tribe. The day they are set to leave, this girls little brother is not on the boat and the boat is already pulling away from the cove. So she jumps off and swims to the island to stay with her brother. Soon after she is abandoned, her brother is killed by a pack of wild dogs. Now she is all alone on the Island of the Blue Dolphins.
Scott O'Dell does a wonderful job with this book. This young girl is truly pushed to the limits. Seeing as she is living on her own for years. Her character is such an inspiration. She over came many obstacles to survive. She definitely faces conflict when her brother dies. This was probably her biggest obstacle.
I personally enjoyed this book. I found it truly inspiring. I have never read any of Scott O'Dell's books before. I believe that his other books will be just as good as this one. This story has such a good story line to it. It kind of reminded me of Cast Away. The main characters both had to survive by them self's for a while before getting rescued.

Goes beyond the typical survival book
"Island of The Blue Dolphins" is a classic in every sense in my opinion. After most of her people are killed by some Russians called the Aleuts, Karana has to live on The Island of The Blue Dolphins. While there, she has to learn how to survive alone by making shelter, her own food, etc. She also has to find a way to fend herself of the wild dogs should they turn to attack her, while also watching the seas to make sure the Aleuts don't come back. Will she be on the island alone forever? Will she be rescued by a ship? Karana has to find a way to survive long enough to find out.

"Island of The Blue Dolphins" is one of the best books I've ever read. Unlike many stories of survival, the author, Scott O'Dell doesn't ever sympathize much with what Karana has been through. In the end, it makes the book even better that he didn't reflect too much on Karana's losses. Once you get to a certain point in the story, it will grip you into reading it and not let go until the book is over. There's a lot of things about the book that you probably won't ever forget once you read it. It's pretty much a great and unforgettable book about survival and it couldn't have been written any better if you ask me.

I recommend anybody who likes great books that are about survival to get "Island of The Blue Dolphins." It's so good that it goes beyond the typical survival book, and you'll know what I mean when you finish reading it. It has elements of many other kinds of stories, and it's very compelling. It's a 5 star book without a doubt.

Pretty Darn Dull!
My daughter had to read this book this year in the 4th grade. She was so bored by it, that I had to read it aloud to her so that she could pass the weekly chapter quizes. About the only interesting or exciting events were Karana's experiences with the wild dogs. Her trip away from the island in the canoe went on for about 10 pages, and all it was about was the canoe leaking. If these are the types of books that are supposed to motivate kids to become interested in reading, I'm afraid we are going to alot of non-reading adults. UGH!

Not Quite Perfect
I read Island of the Blue Dolphins for a required reading book. The book is really good and exciting most of the time, but the end is really bad. It literally ends right in the middle of the book. Nothing is explained and it really doesn't make sense. That is why I give this book 3 stars. ... Read more

Book Description

Ada Ruth's mama must go away to Chicago to work, leaving Ada Ruthand Grandma behind. It's war time, and women are needed to fill the men's jobs. As winter sets in, Ada Ruth and her grandma keep up their daily routine, missingMama all the time. They find strength in each other, and a stray kitten evenarrives one day to keep them company, but nothing can fill the hole Mama left.Every day they wait, watching for the letter that says Mama will be coming onhome soon.Set during World War II, Coming On Home Soon has a timeless quality that willappeal to all who wait and hope. ... Read more

Product Description

A hundred years ago, Dies Drear and two slaves her was hiding in his house, an Underground Railroad station in Ohio, had been murdered. The house, huge and isolated, was fascinating, Thomas thought, but he wasn't sure that he was glad Papa had bought it-funny things kept happening, frightening things...The secret of the house is revealed in an exciting final sequence that maintains beautifully the mysterious and dramatic story of a black family caught in an atmosphere of fear and danger. Written with distinction, and imaginative and imposing book. (Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books) ... Read more

Reviews (73)

creeepy book!!
This book is about a family who a move into a house that everybody thinks is haunted. A long time ago it was a house on the Underground Railroad that housed slaves. Two slaves were caught and killed but the third slave escaped. Mr. Pluto is the caretaker and everybody thinks he is very creepy. Thomas soon hears about a rumor that Dies Drear's treasure is somewhere in the house but the Darrow family are after it too.
I would give the book four stars because it is very interesting and the book is easy to read. It is interesting because it talks about mystery. The plot was okay since the beginning kind of dragged on and on but it gets better later on. The story is easy to read. Overall, this was a great book.

House of Dies Drear
This is an excellent book for many readers. Personally, I don't read a great deal, but when I came across this book for a particular class, I was amazed at how quickly I was getting through it. This book was exciting and constantly kept me thinking of what would happen next. There was constant suspense with the haunted house and mysterious openings in the walls. The devilish caretaker also added to the drama in this story. I would encourage others to take the time and enjoy this interesting book.

Dies Drear
I had very high expectations for this book because of all the good comments I heard about it. After I read it, I was VERY disappointed.It was dull and very slow. I had no fun reading it at all. I do not reccomend this book to anyone who enjoys fast-paced and exciting books. It was supposed to be a horror story but turned out to be the opposite.

Jessie From Richview Middle School
This story is about a boy named Thomas and his family, the Smalls, who move int a new house called Dies Drear. This house was used for slaves who wanted to return to savery or escape from it. Many things happen to them where they point to an old that is mysterious, but for a good reason, as the bad guy. Strange things happen to them while they are there, and it panics them because they are worried that something might happen to their family. Mr. Small, Thomas's father, and Thomas try to find their way through this big secret that they know is being kept from them. Finally they capture the old mysterious man and they find out that he isn't the bad guy at all, he was just trying to protect Dies Drear, because he didn't know whether he could trust the Small's or if they were on the other guy's side. He kept the secret of what the winding tunnels under the house held. Together the old man and the Smalls scare off the bad guys, at least for a little while. The old man now knows and trust that the Smalls will kept the treasure of the tunnels safe, so he doesn't have to protect them any more. That is how the story ends.
I like this book because it has a lot a mysery and history to it, and I thought it was really unique. I am not a book-reader, but I can tell you that this book isn't just for people who like to read books it is definitely for every type of book reader. I hope you decide to read this book, because it is a really great book in my opinion.

Taylor From Richview Middle School
This story is about a young boy named Thomas and his family moving to a new house in Ohio. The house that they moved into was known as the House of Dies Drear. Dies Drear was a guy who was in charge of the underground railrad. The underground railroad was used so that slaves could flee to the north and escape slavery. Lets move on to the main plot of the story. The main plot is that the Darrows[ a family] keeps trying to break into the the cave that came with the property of the house. This cave held valubles thst Drear use to own. There was also a guy named Mr. Pluto that lived in the cave so that they could keep up the keep of the cave and to protect it so that no one would steel anything out of it. So once they found out that the Darrows kept trying to steel things they thought of a prank to pull on them. I dont want to give to much a way so t you guys will have to read the book to find out what they do to them. Throughout the book old Mr. Pluto was getting ill so at the end of the story Mr. Pluto gives the belongings to Mr .Small Thomas's dad to look after. I actually really enjoyed this book, and sorry to say but i dont like to read. The book had adventure,mystery, and a little touch of history because of the slavs and all, but other wise I thought the book kept you gussing almost the whole time so that made it a really good. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

An "amazing" book!
This is an excellent children's book. I use it every year in my classroom because my students can identify so well with Grace. There are so many language arts activities that can be used with it. Grace is an unforgettable character. She knows what she wants and is undaunted by would-be obstacles in her path. With the help of loving family members she can do anything she sets her mind to!

The Beauty of Childhood Superbly Done
A child's imagination is one of the purest forms of expression. Author Hoffman has captured that innocence in this superb tale. Grace, like so many youngsters, spends much of her day in the pleasures of "acting out" the characters that populate the pages of the books she reads. She feels that she can do and be anything that she desires. The theme of pursuing one's dreams is the type of message to which all can relate.

As one turns the pages of this beautifully illustrated book, one can enjoy the little girl's imaginary adventures. When Grace learns of the part in "Peter Pan," the reader is able to identify with this as a part of school life. The illustrator has also balanced the classroom with children of varied ethnic and racial backgrounds. This is a plus in the age of being "politically correct."

The language of the book is reflective with the age of the intended reading audience. With a little adult help, the average primary child will "read" this one with great relish.

The resolve of the adults in the family to encourage Grace in pursuit of her dreams is refreshing. Most of us let barriers prevent us from doing the same.

This is one great children's book!

Amazing Grace
Synopsis: Grace is a little girl who loves stories of all kinds, but especially adventure stories and fairy tales. Grace enjoys acting out the most exciting part in each story, no matter if that part is Hiawatha or Anansi the Spider. When she can, she makes her friends and family a part of her story-plays, but Grace can act out all the parts in a story on her own too. When Grace’s class is scheduled to perform Peter Pan, Grace knows immediately that she wants to fly in the part of Peter Pan. Her hopes are soon dampened, however, by classmates who tell her she’s not “right” for the role of Peter Pan. With encouragement from her Ma, and help from her Nana who takes Grace to see a ballerina from Trinidad, Grace realizes that she can be anything she wants to be. The result is a very amazing Peter Pan.

Evaluation: Amazing Grace is a lovely picture book story that stars a feisty heroine. The watercolor illustrations of Caroline Binch are as vibrant and real as Grace herself, and they reinforce the plot by depicting aspects of Grace’s life with Ma and Nana, and how Grace enthusiastically acts out the characters she loves. The illustrations are particularly effective in communicating the movement and color that characterize the world of Grace’s imagination. Young readers will relate well to both Grace and to her story. Grace is the kind of person that many of us â€"kids and adults alike-- long to be: a fun, take-charge kind of girl who sees life as an exciting adventure. Grace’s story, though simple enough to be told in a picture book, incorporates some traditional plot elements, including a problem for the heroine to overcome and a resolution to that problem. Amazing Grace would be a good addition to Kindergarten through 2nd grade reading curriculum for several reasons. It brings multi-culturalism into the classroom through its dynamic main character. It tells a positive message story about a girl who follows her dreams, without being preachy. And, it includes eye-catching illustrations that bring the heroine and her story to life.

Inspiring Tale with Superb Illustrations
This inspiring tale celebrates the innocence of youth, presents lessons of equality, and encourages children to pursue their dreams. Illustrator Caroline Binch provides stunning watercolor drawings that compliment the text. Recommended for children ages 4-8, this book will be enjoyed by children and adults.

As the mom of a very creative child, I appreciate the realism offered via every illustration. The watercolor drawings by illustrator Caroline Binch captivate the reader, child or adult. The detail is remarkable, adding immense compliment to the story. I appreciate the realistic expressions on each character. After the initial read, I gazed back at each illustration. In addition to facial detail, the props within the pictures are realistic. It is no surprise that this book is a Reading Rainbow Book.

On the page in which Grace is acting Anansi the Spider, we see her on a schoolyard type of bar. She is looking forward, her eyes exhibit a serious glare, her feet dangle with confidence, and her arms are postured in a stern manner. This child has a mismatched outfit, her right tennis shoe is untied, and she is using pantyhose for the webs. This illustration supports the text, "...and wove a wicked web as Anansi the Spider." But more importantly this - and other - illustrations show true childlike creativity unfolding. This is a mere example of the multiple high quality drawings.

After initial read of Amazing Grace, My daughter told me that she thought it was really sad that the classmates questioned Graces ability to be Peter Pan. This led to open discussion with regard to gender and race prejudice. Thankfully my daughter doesn't exhibit prejudice thoughts, but this story allowed her to realize that some children are subjected to prejudicial judgment of others.

When I asked My daughter what she liked about this book, she told me that she likes Grace. She expanded on this by telling me that Grace has a lot of fun, has a Mom and Grandma that love her, and that Grace does what she wants to do. In addition she told me, "The pictures are beautiful Mom!"

There are multiple messages in this story. Overall my reasoning for adoring Amazing Grace is that the tale is good and the illustrations are superb. But the true measure of success is based on the reaction that my child has. It is books like this that lend toward my 7-year-old maintaining adoration for the written word.

You Can Do Anything
This story is about a girl that pretends to play the parts of all kinds of different people and one day thiers a play and she wants to play the part of Peter Pan and some kids tell er she can't then she goes home. Later on they her parents tell her she can do anything she wants as long as she puts her mind to it, and she did. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

The Land is Mildred D. Taylor's wonderful prequel to her NewberyMedal winner, Roll of Thunder,Hear My Cry. In the stories Taylor has to tell, life is not fair, hardwork doesn't always pay off, and the good guy doesn't always win. That's becausethis extraordinary author tells the stories of her African American family inthe Deep South during and after the Civil War, a time of ugly, painful racism.

Paul-Edward Logan, the son of a white, plantation-owner father and a slavemother, is our narrator, bound and determined to buy his own land and shape hisown future at whatever cost. Caught between black and white worlds and notfitting into either one is devastating for him, but his powerful, engaging talesof the love of family, the strength of friendship, and growing up will inspireanyone to dare to persevere despite terrible odds. Taylor's books are not onlyessential in understanding what led up to the Civil Rights movement inAmerica--they are also breathtaking page-turners, full of suspense, humor, love,and hope. The Land certainly stands alone, but the other award-winningtales of the Logan family--Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry; Let theCircle Be Unbroken; and The Road to Memphis--are excellent as well.Heartily recommended. (Ages 12 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (22)

READ THIS BOOK
When I discovered, through the note provided by Mildred Taylor, that The Land was more than five years in the making, I literally swooned in admiration of the freshness of the story. Any book which takes half a decade to research and write evolves with a certain degree of vulnerability. How can any author sustain such an endeavor, especially in the face of her readership, so familiar with her own impossibly hard acts to follow, and emerge holding such a live treasure as The Land, in the end?
The Land is a prequel, in that it tells the stories of the Logan family that chronologically came before those of her beloved, already known, characters. What sets this novel apart from typical prequel status, in my mind, is the electricity between its pages. The Land is filled with its own magical energy. Paul-Edward's many adventures, his beliefs in himself and his family (as well as his view of all the other people living on his father, Edward's, land) his complex relationships with his white father, his African-Indian mother, his white brother (Robert), and his African-American friend (Mitchell) are exclusively important. They are exclusive in that they are whole, in and of themselves, and a reader can appreciate their strengths without prior knowledge of Taylor's previous work. They are important in that they can and should be told, breathe, and stand on their own. I feel that comparing them might fail them, to a certain degree. That said, the stories of the life of Paul-Edward are certainly crucial... beyond their status as prequel. The private pain and pride of Paul-Edward that we come to know, as we follow his evolution into the young landowner we reluctantly must depart at book's end, all the great sorrows and victories that spill before him in his quest to, in his mother's apt words, have "something for himself"-his own land-while caring for Caroline, her brother, and Mitchell are wondrous, well told, at times lyrically rich.
There is nothing, in The Land, of the staleness that can threaten to tinge any writer's work when she is forced to write a prequel, by her readership, critics, or heart. Perhaps the staleness comes when a writer is not certain of the very something she must be precise about, as she attempts to trace steps prior to the heart of her matter (previous, related book(s)). I have come to believe that a great many prequels and sequels are created not in order to answer an author's own calling, but to answer the call of the readership. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Still, in Taylor's writing of The Land as a whole thing, contained in one book, which tells a before so well, as well, is wholly felt, the mold of the prequel is broken. The Land is exceptionally revealing for those who have known and loved the Logans. The Land is also its own, gorgeous, story.
I believe the heart of Mildred Taylor's matter is, actually, those family stories she finally tells, through fiction twinned with the breath of heritage, in The Land. The novel has clarity and life and a protagonist we love, and a singular life-almost as if The Land contained the most essential things the writer (the niece, the daughter, the landowner) needed to write; almost as if all those stories she'd already made were leading us to this great center.

Taylor Never Fails
Paul-Edward Logan has a unique life situation in the late 1800s. Born on a southern plantation following the Civil War, his mother is black and Native American, yet his father is a white man. As a child, he is treated with almost the same care given to his white half-brothers, yet as he grows up he begins to learn the harshness and injustice of his world. But Paul is determined to make something of himself. He wants his own land, he wants his own destiny, and he wants things that many others of his race wouldn't even dream of.

I was shocked with just how much I was impressed with this book! Throughout my life I have loved the powerful stories told in Taylor's "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" trilogy, yet often authors kind of fizzle after a couple of amazing books. But not here!

I think one of the best things about Paul-Edward's story is how once again Taylor draws on family stories. Anyone who has read "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" will recall that Paul-Edward is the grandfather of the Logan children, and will find it even more fascinating to read his own story. Which brings me to another point-the fact that Taylor not only draws on family stories, but brings them so vividly and credibly to life makes her writing all the better.

And the writing was indeed good. Paul's first-person narrative sounds intelligent and interesting, while still managing to sound realistic and fresh. He is a character full of pride and determination that makes him truly admirable. But the book never feels preachy, and the pride and strength that Taylor fashions into her stories never feels fake.

"The Land" is a book that is at once a story of hope and a realistic portrait of the ugly racism that plagued our society at the time. Just as in her other books, the author deals with racism in a balanced, up front, and intelligent manner.

I was so impressed with this latest from Mildred Taylor! The character-driven story is the perfect balance of timeless values and a compelling historical backdrop.

a good book
The book The Land was a great book a bout a boy named Paul Logan who was just trying to get by. he was th son of a white man and a black women. Paul was born with lighter skin so sometimes he could get away with things, but at other times they just treated him as if he were another one of the black people. Paul gets into a little bit of trouble along with his friend Mitchell. The boys end up becoming very close and helping each other out of achieving the goal of getting "the land." if you want to find out what happens, i recommend you read the book.

The Land
The Land by Mildred D. Taylor is a WONDERFUL book. It is the best book I have ever read. It is about a man, Paul Logan, and his life from childhood to adulthood. Paul has a hard life because he his half black and half white, meaning his dad white and his mom black. To make matters worse, it is right after the civil war. Paul has to learn that not all white men are going to treat him and be as fair to him as his white dad and brothers. This book has adventure, action, and suspense. It tells a GREAT story. I recommend this book to everybody!!!

The BEST Book
I loved this book. I could hardly put it down. Paul-Edward is a half black, half white slave whose owner is his father. He gets tired of his homelife and runs away. He meets Mitchell, a childhood friend, and they travel together. They work at a logging house and then find land that they would love to live on. I won't tell you the rest, because it would RUIN it!! This book has a whole lot of flashback and foreshadowing. I loved this book and encourage you all to read it!! ... Read more

Book Description

Cajas de cartón is the first title in the literary series Nuestra visión: U.S. Latino Literature, which features original works by Latino authors living and working in the United States. This work is the Spanish version of the author's award-winning collection of stories, The Circuit. Jiménez' 12 independent but intertwined short stories chronicle the experiences of a Mexican-American family of migrant farm laborers, as narrated by one of the children, Panchito. Unlike many readers for this level, which anthologize standard works, this book presents authentic, outstanding literature and themes that are highly relevant to native Spanish speakers in the U.S.

Reviews (11)

A must read for all ages
Francisco Jimenez brilliantly captures the voice of the young Panchito and the struggles and triumphs of his migrant family. The issue of Mexican immigration has become become hotly bebated, causing us to sometimes lose sight of the human vioce of those about which we so passionately talk. Jimenez's stories transform our understanding of Mexican sojourners, moving us from an abstract understanding of Mexican immigrantion to a more humane frame of mind. In essence, these twelve short-stories enable us to bear witness so that we may make a compassionate connection with those people who are represented by Jimenez's stories. What is more, the style with which Jimenez writes makes this book enjoyable for all ages. The Circuit should propel Jimenez into an arena with the great Chicano authors of our time.

A Story of Democratic Justice Though the Eyes of a Child
Author - Jimenez, Francisco. The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child.

Publisher - University of New Mexico Press, 1997

Short Summary - A small book with huge heart, broken and mended over and over again, Jimenez voices the common "stories of many migrant children of yesterday and today", but not before asking "their forgiveness for taking the liberty to write about them." Many of the experiences shared bite like a bitter wind at the reader's heart. In his stories, tangible truths about what it is to live life in America rise out of the mists of these many invisible lives. Surviving some of the loneliest childhood moments, the boy teaches even more about life than he learns. Transformation of the spirit, like the delicate beauty of a butterfly's colors, belongs equally to all people. The poorest migrant boy who has nothing shows one who has everything how anything of value can only be kept by giving it away. When the boy, Francisco, learns to say, "It's yours," in English, the reader believes in miracles, and that miracles speak in all languages to all classes and races. 134 pages

Brief Evaluation - While green may not be a popular color for readers of this book, the stories receive the "green light" for readers to move forward, through the pages and beyond. Rates highly for poignancy and for shedding light on the on-going debates about the democracy and the development of social justice in the United States. Recommendations using VOYA evaluation codes: 5 for Quality/ 3 for popularity. A superior book for readers from late elementary into adulthood.

Read Aloud - pages 112-134, a deeply moving introduction to study of the Declaration of Independence
Literary Principle - Irony

Titles of similar interest For other interesting reading experiences, see:
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan; Crossing Over: a Mexican Family on the Migrant Trail by Ruben Martinez; Baseball in April, and Other Stories by Gary Soto; Lost Garden by Laurence Yep; A Girl From Yamhill by Beverly Cleary; Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes and Louis Slobodkin; Istanbul Boy: the Autobiography of Aziz Nesin, Part I, translated by Joseph S Jacobson; The Beet Fields: Memories of a Sixteenth Summer by Gary Paulsen; For advanced readers, try The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck or, something a little shorter, In Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck. Others books by Francisco Jimenez are Breaking Through, La Mariposa, and The Christmas Gift/El Regalo de Navidad.

(...)

The Pope vs The Circuit
If you want to forget your troubles and focus on someone else's, then read this book "The Circuit" by Francisco Jimenez. If you are looking for a book which is entertaining, enlightening, informative, inspirational, or even slightly interesting, look elsewhere. I would give this book a two out of ten for interest, five out of ten for content, and ten out of ten for realism, and I can safely say I will not read this book again.

The story is about Francisco Jimenez, whose parents sneak across the border with him into California in the hopes of a better life. While his parents work at various farms around the country, Francisco struggles with life as a poor illiterate Latino child growing up in America. Hardly the plot for much excitement or adventure. I honestly believe a biography about the Pope written by an eighty year old blind priest would be more interesting.

This book was alright in context, but it completely lacked sense of exploration or depth. I would say this book is best for a young child, someone still amused by Powderpuff girls and Pokemon, but not someone looking for an entertaining, enlightening, informative, or inspirational autobiography. If I am going to read a book about someone else's life, I would hope it would be something I can relate to, which is exciting, insightful, and most importantly, being interesting enough to be worthy of my time. This book however, was not.

(...)

vivid without being polemic
A collection of interrelated stories based on the author's experience as an illegal immigrant from Mexico in the late 1940s, working with his family as a migrant laborer. Exposes hardships without being didactic. Ambiguous. Makes me feel what it would be like to be poor in a country where I didn't speak the language. A nice companion to books like Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry or Out of the Dust. Ages 10+

Unparalleled Compassion
Francisco Jimenez doesn't preach, he doesn't tell, he doesn't demand that you change your views about the migrant population in the US; he does tell a story of a migrant family with more tenderness than I have read anywhere. He doesn't rely on dramatic anecdotes to relay his point, but rather allows the realistic simplicity of the stories to speak for themselves. Doing so makes the stories all the more meaninful, as the reader never feels like he is being told exagerated accounts of a migrant child's life. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Gentle and Lovingly Written
The pictures are lovely and the story is simple, yet eloquent. My own daughter was born whilst I was living oversees. I like to choose books that have a universal (mind expanding) appeal, or that tell a unique story from a far away land, or teach us about tradition. I would recommend this to anyone with small children that want to forego the tradtional fairy tale night time reads.

What a beautiful book!
I can't get over how beautiful this book is. I can't wait to share it with my Vietnamese students and those who are war refugees. I would like to see if they can relate to the story.

Simple, Yet Great Story!
This story is easy for young children to understand and is good enough for them to ask for repeat readings, again and again. It contains a few factors that make for a great childrens book. It's relatively short, the illustrations are exceptional, it's easy to understand and it's a compelling story.

Follow the life of Ba, a young Veitnamese girl, who collects a lotus seed from the imperial garden of her emperor to serve as a momento of a time in her childhood. She takes the seed with her through her tumultous life, as she grows, and moves to a new country, and to a new life. The seed seems to serve as a symbol of her past and her endurance.

Wonderfully sentimental.
An exceptional story with outstanding illustration. A girl wanting something to remember the Emperor by takes a seed from a lotus pod from the Imperial Garden. Throughout all of the trials and changes in her life she cherishes that seed until one day it is taken and planted by her grandson. Finally it grows to be beautiful and strong, "It is the flower of life and hope, no matter how ugly the mud or how long the seed lies dormant, the bloom will be beautiful. It is the flower of my country." A superb book that looks at families and Vietnamese culture. (explained further in author's note) ... Read more