Module 9: The Dollhouse Murders

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Summary: Amy finds a beautiful dollhouse in her aunt's attic. She loves playing with the dolls, until she starts to hear noises and notices the dolls move around. Her and her sister, Louann, and their friend, Ellen, do their best to try to figure out what the dolls are trying to tell them. They seem to be acting out something, but could it be how the people died? The book begins to answer that question of the 30 year murder mystery.

APA: Wright, B. R. (1983). The dollhouse murders. New York, NY: Holiday House.

Review: "Wright's taut, suspenseful novel proves a solid choice to kick off the Live Oak Mysteries audio series. The attic is always a great place to look for nuggets of one's family history, but when 12-year-old Amy explores her great-grandparents' attic, she uncovers clues to a chilling family secret. As Amy and her Aunt Claire sift through clothes, trinkets and other memorabilia, Amy comes across Aunt Claire's long-forgotten dollhouse, a finely crafted replica of the house they are in. Aunt Claire seems unusually distressed about the dollhouse and Amy is determined to find out why. The real fun begins when Amy learns that the dolls in the dollhouse move of their own will--and that they seem to be trying to tell her something. After a little sleuthing at the local library, Amy learns that her great-grandparents were murdered years ago and that Aunt Claire's fianc (who died in a car accident that same night) was the prime suspect in the unsolved case. Before long, Amy unravels the mystery, helping Aunt Claire to resolve her feelings about the past. A subplot about Amy's relationships with her parents, younger sister and best friend adds depth and warmth to this crisply paced tale. Stewart handles the narration with aplomb, using her voice to give listeners a hint of each character's personality. Her portrayal of Aunt Claire, who delivers a few chillingly snappish retorts to Amy, is particularly strong. Ages 8-up. (Mar.)"

Citation: N.A. "The dollhouse murders." Publishers Weekly. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-87499-523-7.

Library Use: This book is a great addition to the mystery section. This can teach students to search for clue and make inferences as to what is going to happen. They can then test out their inferences as the book unfolds.

Module 8: Howl's Moving Castle

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Summary: A young girl, Sophie, was the eldest of three daughters which is really bad luck for her. The fates have left her with the taks of failing miserably if she ever decides that she wants to leave home. The Witch of the Waste has an interest in her, and she is turned into a little old woman. She must track down the Wizard Howl's castle. She must complete several tasks like make a deal with a fire demon and ultimately deal with the witch. She learns a lot about herself, and Wizard Howl, in her quest.

APA: Jones, D. W. (2012). Howl's moving castle. New York, NY: HarperCollins, Inc.

Review: "Sophie Hatter reads a great deal and soon realizes that as the eldest of three daughters she is doomed to an uninteresting future. She resigns herself to making a living as a hatter and helping her younger sisters prepare to make their fortunes. But adventure seeks her out in the shop where she sits alone, dreaming over her hats. The wicked Witch of the Waste, angered by ``competition'' in the area, turns her into a old woman, so she seeks refuge inside the strange moving castle of the wizard Howl. Howl, advertised by his apprentice as an eater of souls, lives a mad, frantic life trying to escape the curse the witch has placed on him, find the perfect girl of his dreams and end the contract he and his fire demon have entered. Sophie, against her best instincts and at first unaware of her own powers, falls in love. So goes this intricate, humorous and puzzling tale of fantasy and adventure which should both challenge and involve readers. Jones has created an engaging set of characters and found a new use for many of the appurtenances of fairy talesseven league boots and invisible cloaks, among others. At times, the action becomes so complex that readers may have to go back to see what actually happened, and at the end so many loose ends have to be tied up at once that it's dizzying. Yet Jones' inventiveness never fails, and her conclusion is infinitely satisfying. Sara Miller, White Plains Public Library, N.Y. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted"

Citation: N.A. "Howl's moving castle." School Library Journal Review. 2010.

Library Use: This book is a great addition for students to see the different styles of fantasy writing that there are. This is also a great book to show the comparison of a book to a movie.