Babymouse: Beach Babe

by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm

Holm, Jennifer L., and Matthew Holm. 2006. Beach babe. London: HarperCollins Children's. ISBN 0-375-83231-9.

SUMMARY
After getting through the last day of school, Babymouse learns during supper that the family is summer vacationing for a week at the beach. Bursting with enough energy to fill ten football fields; Babymouse enjoys a week full of sunbathing, snorkeling, sand, and surfing. Of all the lessons she learns however; none are as important as the lesson on family values. Squeak, Babymouse’s little brother, wants nothing more than to enjoy his summer week playing with Babymouse. After several unsuccessful attempts, he runs away, believing no one likes him. A wave of guilt overcomes Babymouse as she realizes the attempts her brother made to do nothing more than just play and spend time with her. Realizing how much she truly loves her little brother, Babymouse sets out to find him. When she does; their summer beach vacation ends with a bang!

The characters in this low fantasy series are personified mice. The main character, Babymouse, is full of life, imagination, and a zeal for adventure. She shows no fear and tackles life head on. She often times escapes into her daydreams where of course, she is the heroine. Her mannerisms and behavior are typical of many kids, who have active imaginations. The same can be said for her younger brother, Squeak, who is portrayed as the all annoying younger brother, who constantly wants to “tag along”. These traits, which are observable in young children, make it possible to identify with the characters. Babymouse’s maturity level develops before our eyes when she realizes the importance of family and how much she loves her little brother.

Just as the main character; the plot is full of adventure and action. The illustrations add to the creativity of the story and helps bring the setting alive. The story’s overall theme reminds us of how vivid a child’s imagination can blossom. It allows us to see how self-centered we can sometimes be and also points out the importance of family.
The authors’ style draws the reader into their world of imagination. They appropriately incorporate the use of action words that not only moves the story along but also work cohesively with the illustrations to create a distinctive framework for the story. Examples of such action words are “Tweeeeet!!!”, “Crash”, “Hurrah!!”, and “Vroom!”.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
N/A

EDITORIAL REVIEWS
Babymouse's family spends summer vacation at the beach. During boring or difficult times, the young mouse uses her imagination to take her to far more interesting and exciting places. Her younger brother wants to play with her, but, like most big sisters, Babymouse wants nothing to do with him. When he runs away, she realizes how important he is to her, and how much fun they can have. The story moves quickly, and readers are sure to notice that whenever Babymouse has trouble with a character, it is illustrated as a cat. The black-and-white cartoons are highlighted with splashes of pink that become darker when the action intensifies. This book will be popular with young graphic novel fans as well as devotees of the genre in general, especially reluctant readers. --School Library Journal

If Ian Falconer's pig Olivia grew a few years and turned into a mouse, she would be Babymouse. In this third hyperkinetic, pink-washed adventure, as frolicsome and breathlessly paced as the previous two, the squiggly whiskered heroine heads for a family summer on the beach. Packed with the energy of 100 kids, she launches a catastrophic surfing career and tries to keep little brother Squeak out of her fur. Adventurous and refusing to stick to gender-stereotyped pursuits, Babymouse is on the lookout for a partner to share her flights of fancy. A slight penchant for selfishness notwithstanding, before the summer is through, she realizes that the perfect playmate has been sitting right under her pink nose all along. Both story and art take full advantage of the lively possibilities of Babymouse turned loose from school (where teachers educate via the "blah blah blah" method) to explore the larger world with an imagination run wild. --Booklist

CONNECTIONS-Reading
1. Holm, Jennifer L., and Matthew Holm. 2009. Babymouse. 12, Burns rubber. New York: Random House.
2. Holm, Jennifer L., and Matthew Holm. 2008. Babymouse. 10, The musical. New York: Random House.
3. Holm, Jennifer L., and Matthew Holm. 2011. Babymouse, 15. New York: Random House Childrens Books.

Speak

by Laurie Halse Anderson

Anderson, Laurie Halse. 1999. Speak. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. ISBN 0-374-37152-0.

SUMMARY
It is the summer before her freshman year and Melinda is invited to an “end of the summer” party. Unaware that attending this party will dramatically change her life, Melinda attends the party with her friend, Rachel. At the party, Melinda meets a senior, Andy Evans, who takes her to a secluded area and rapes her. Melinda calls 911. The police show up not only breaking up the party but also arresting several for underage drinking. Unsure and scared, Melinda leaves the party, walking home alone. Melinda tells no one of the incident, not even her parents. With no one to talk to and friends, who are all blaming her for calling the police; Melinda faces a difficult freshman year.

The story unmistakably depicts a tragic life event with supporting events that are all probable and true to life. The characters, especially the protagonist, whose struggle throughout the story is evident, are genuine characters living and breathing within our schools today. The award winning qualities of the story are magnificently displayed through the author’s style. The author meticulously exposes the strengths and weaknesses of each character, allowing the reader to also feel the depression and loneliness that Melinda feels, the selfishness of her once friend, Rachel (aka Rachelle), the arrogance of Andy Evans, and the enthusiasm of the Mr. Freeman, the art teacher.

The author’s style brings authenticity to the story through the creation of the character’s dialogue and the language of the story, both of which accurately and appropriately reflect the way children at that age think and talk even today. The book’s setting focuses primarily on school, allowing the author to tie into the plot issues pertaining to acceptance by peers, bullying, young adult relationships, young adult relationships with parents, gender, culture, and how a parent being unemployed can affect a family. The author also incorporates the home environment setting, displaying how Melinda interacts with her parents and furthermore, how her parents interact with each other. By merging both settings, the author allows the reader a much deeper understanding of how the actions and characters are affected.

The story’s theme; as controversial as many parents may argue it to be, definitely has a personal resonance for the child reader. The theme and issues, which emerge are all meaningful and significant to a child reader. As serious as the act of rape is, the author’s styles allows the theme to naturally flow into the story from the perspective of the protagonist. The author creates the tone and mood of the book as one of seriousness by inviting the reader into Melinda’s thoughts and her emotions.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Top-10 Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Quick Pick for Young Adults
Edgar Allan Poe Award finalist
IRA Young Adult Choice
Junior Library Guild Selection
Michael L. Printz Honor Book (American Library Association)
National Book Award Finalist
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
New York Times Bestseller List
SCBWI Golden Kite Award
YALSA Popular Paperback for Young Adults
Booklist Editors’ Choice
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon Book
Fanfare, The Horn Book’s Honor List
Los Angeles Times Award finalist
Publishers Weekly Bestseller
Booklist Top 10 First Novels (1999)
Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year (1999)

EDITORIAL REVIEWS
“The book's overall gritty realism and Melinda's hard-won metamorphosis will leave readers touched and inspired.’” --Publishers Weekly

“Melinda's sarcastic wit, honesty, and courage make her a memorable character whose ultimate triumph will inspire and empower readers.” --Starred Review, Booklist

“An uncannily funny book even as it plumbs the darkness, Speak will hold readers from first word to last.” --Starred Review, The Horn Book

CONNECTIONS-Activities
1. Write an essay on a time in your life when you stood up for what was right.
2. Research sexual harassment and write an essay.
3. Draw a picture of how you feel after you have finished reading Speak.

by Rebecca Stead

Stead, Rebecca. 2009. When you reach me. New York: Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN 0-385-73742-4.

SUMMARY
The year is 1979, Miranda, who is a 6th grader, lives with her mother in an apartment in Upper West Side New York City. Although there is a homeless man living on the corner of Miranda’s street, who rants the words “book bag pocket shoe” and her mother has been chosen to appear on the game show, $20,000 Pyramid, life for Miranda is quite normal. That is however, until her best friend Sal is punched in the stomach and Miranda begins receiving odd notes. As if things could not get any weirder, Miranda not only learns the identity of the boy, who punched Sal, she also learns that he is not the bad person; she had perceived him to initially be. Throughout the story, Miranda learns the meaning of friendship and becomes a witness to the one of life’s many mysteries.

The author’s skills and ingenuity are definitely reflected throughout this literary award winner. Incorporating features from various genres, When You Reach Me, is not only your science fiction/mystery story; it is also a work of historical fiction. The child’s place in New York City during 1979 is clearly depicted by the exposure of how children during this time were more independent. There are multiple age appropriate and significant themes, which are subtly incorporated into the story to include independence and friendship. All the characters, especially Miranda’s, are characters we can all identify with in one form or another. Miranda’s thoughts and perspective demonstrate her strengths and weaknesses, which in turn, engages and moves the reader through the story’s events.

The author magnificently creates a story, which can stand the test of time. The dialogue is not specific to the slang or colloquialisms of the time however; it is as realistic as it is age-appropriate. Although the story’s plot does contain references specific to the time and place identified and also contains the element of imagination; it still holds true to the genre of contemporary realism. The author’s style creates the tone and mood of the book through the story’s events such as the mysterious appearances of the notes, the disappearance of Jimmy’s $2 bills, and the rose left on Annemarie’s doormat. The best part of the plot is that although I would surely agree that it is unmistakably imaginative, including many unexpected twists and turns, the author superbly prepares the reader for the cause and effect of the story’s events. The reader is not left at the conclusion of the story unsure as to what just happened but rather, exhaling with a satisfied feeling of delight.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Winner of the 2010 Newbery Medal
Winner of the 2010 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction & Poetry
2009 Parents’ Choice Gold Award Winner

EDITORIAL REVIEWS
"[W]hen all the sidewalk characters from Miranda's Manhattan world converge amid mind-blowing revelations and cunning details, teen readers will circle back to the beginning and say,'Wow ... cool.'" --Starred Review, Kirkus

"[T]he mental gymnastics required of readers are invigorating; and the characters, children, and adults are honest bits of humanity no matter in what place or time their souls rest." --Starred Review, Booklist

"Closing revelations are startling and satisfying but quietly made, their reverberations giving plenty of impetus for the reader to go back to the beginning and catch what was missed." --Starred Review, The Horn Book Magazine

"This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers." --Starred Review, School Library Journal

CONNECTIONS-Activities

1. Have a discussion focused on friendship:
a. Why does Sal stop talking to Miranda?
b. Why does Miranda stop disliking Julia?
c. Why does Miranda become Alice’s bathroom partner?
2. Have a discussion focused on stealing:
a. Collin takes bread from Jimmy’s restaurant.
b. The laughing man steals Jimmy’s bank full of $2 bills.
c. Miranda’s mom takes office supplies from work.

CONNECTIONS-Reading
1. L'Engle, Madeleine. 1962. A wrinkle in time. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.