Module 15: The Things They Carried

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Summary: Tim O'Brien captures what life was like for a group of men out in Vietnam during the Vietnam war. The story goes in and out of present day for the narrator. He is reminded of certain things that happen, how he felt at the time, and the events that would trigger his memory for happier times. The men each have a specific item that reminds them of home and comfort. Whether it was a Bible or photographs, each man was able to recall a better time than the one they woke up to every morning. Through the experience, the men form a bond to each other that will last a life time for some. Filled with violence, bloodshed, heartache, and fear, the novel journeys down the winding road of the suffocating jungle of Vietnam as these men try to finish their mission and find their way back to a place to get them home. 

APA: O'Brien, T. (1990). The Things They Carried. New York, NY: Houghton.

Review: "'They carried all the emotional baggage of men who might die. Grief, terror, love, longing--these were intangibles, but the intangibles had their own mass and specific gravity, they had tangible weight. They carried shameful memories. They carried the common secret of cowardice.... Men killed, and died, because they were embarrassed not to.'
A finalist for both the 1990 Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award, The Things They Carried marks a subtle but definitive line of demarcation between Tim O'Brien's earlier works about Vietnam, the memoir If I Die in a Combat Zone and the fictional Going After Cacciato, and this sly, almost hallucinatory book that is neither memoir nor novel nor collection of short stories but rather an artful combination of all three. Vietnam is still O'Brien's theme, but in this book he seems less interested in the war itself than in the myriad different perspectives from which he depicts it. Whereas Going After Cacciato played with reality, The Things They Carried plays with truth. The narrator of most of these stories is "Tim"; yet O'Brien freely admits that many of the events he chronicles in this collection never really happened. He never killed a man as "Tim" does in "The Man I Killed," and unlike Tim in "Ambush," he has no daughter named Kathleen. But just because a thing never happened doesn't make it any less true. In "On the Rainy River," the character Tim O'Brien responds to his draft notice by driving north, to the Canadian border where he spends six days in a deserted lodge in the company of an old man named Elroy while he wrestles with the choice between dodging the draft or going to war. The real Tim O'Brien never drove north, never found himself in a fishing boat 20 yards off the Canadian shore with a decision to make. The real Tim O'Brien quietly boarded the bus to Sioux Falls and was inducted into the United States Army. But the truth of "On the Rainy River" lies not in facts but in the genuineness of the experience it depicts: both Tims went to a war they didn't believe in; both considered themselves cowards for doing so. Every story in The Things They Carried speaks another truth that Tim O'Brien learned in Vietnam; it is this blurred line between truth and reality, fact and fiction, that makes his book unforgettable. --Alix Wilber --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title."

Citation: N.A. (1990). "The Things They Carried" Booklist. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/The-Things-They-Carried-Tim-OBrien/pid=1614719.

Library Use: During Banned Book Week, this book brings in a lot of interest for young men. Quite a few of them are considering joining the military, and where there have been many medical and technological advancements since this book was written, there is still a lot of things that happen in the novel that can explain to young men and women what war does to people. This is a real life setting with, although O'Brien will not fully admit, real life situations. The pictures he paints are real and gruesome. This book can show students a reality of war, and by using it in a library as a center, they can recreate one of the vivid memories on paper or create a plot/timeline for the story.

Module 14: Make Lemonade

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Summary: Told in a series of 66 chapters written in free verse, young LaVaughn is determined to make money to help pay for college expense. She has her heart set on being the first in her family to go to college. When she answers a babysitting ad, she meets Jolly. Jolly is a seventeen-year-old mother of two who has dropped out of school to help support her two kids. LaVaughn and Jolly spend time together, and LaVaughn tries her best to convince Jolly to return to school in order to better provide for her young family. LaVaughn learns valuable life lessons about being a young, single mother. The book offers inspiration to those reading it in the sense that there is a way to succeed if you put your mind to it and dedicate your time to your goal. 

APA: Wolff, V. E. (2006). Make Lemonade. New York, NY: Square Fish.

Review: "Grade 7-12-Narrator Heather Simms brings to life 14-year-old LaVaughn, a powerful character in the novel by Virginia Euwer Wolff (Holt, 1993). Living in the projects but determined to be the first person in her family to go on to college, LaVaughn takes a job babysitting for Jolly, the teenage mother of two-year-old Jeremy and baby Jilly, whose life is the epitome of disorganization. With warmth, humor, and a voice blending street smarts and innocent naivete, Simms' melodious words draw listeners into the world of unwed parenthood, the struggle for a better life, and the deepening friendship between LaVaughn and Jolly. Written in the first person, the 66 short chapters of this powerful coming-of-age story portray life in all its gritty and sometimes heartbreaking reality, while at the same time conveying a message of inspiration and hope captured in the saying "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Wolff's writing leaves listeners with no option but to root enthusiastically for both LaVaughn and Jolly, and to rush to the shelves for the sequel, True Believer (Atheneum, 2001). This stunning work belongs in every public and high school library."

Citation: Lombardo, C., & Mandell, P. (2002). Make Lemonade (Sound recording). School Library Journal, 48(6), 73. 

Library Use: This book would be a great addition to any library to teach free verse. The librarian could set up a poetry and free verse section before STAAR to help students practice reading and understanding free verse. Since many students have issues with this particular TEK, in collaboration with a teacher, the librarian can create a center where students can create a foldable to help them better understand what they read.

Module 13: Trouble for Cecile

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Summary: Young Cecile is so excited for her summer. Her best friend, Marie-Grace, and her will be volunteering at a shelter, and her brother Armand has finally come home from France. She is sure that it is going to be an adventurous summer; that is until New Orleans is struck by Yellow Fever. The fear begins to mount when the Fever plagues her home. While it may not have been the summer she wanted, Cecile will still have an unforgettable one.

APA: Patrick, D.L. (2011). Trouble for Cecile. New York, NY: American Girl.

Review: "Meet Cecile introduces a dynamic and intelligent young character to the "American Girl" series canon. Cecile Rey, a free African-American girl, lives in New Orleans in 1853. Cecile's family is wealthy and the young girl is used to luxuries including taking singing lessons and eating pralines. Cecile cannot wait until Mardi Gras, when she will attend a fancy ball. She meets a new friend, Marie-Grace, who has recently moved back to New Orleans with her widowed father. The two girls study opera with Mademoiselle Oceane. One day Cecile learns exciting news; her brother Armand, who lives in Paris, will return home in a few months. Cecile cannot wait to see her brother again—and when he arrives she is surprised to see how grown up he appears. Mardi Gras turns out to be an exciting event, and Cecile has the chance to attend two balls. In this unique series, readers can experience the events from the joint perspectives of two best friends. This unusual storytelling feature allows readers to step back in time through two identities, gaining a wider understanding of historical events. "

Citation: Henshon, S. E. (2011). "Meet Cecile" Childrens's Literature. Retrieved from http://www.clcd.com/features/mai_patrick_denise_lewis.php.

Library Use: This book offers insight into the lives of young girls during real life events. This historical fiction follows a young girl in a budding New Orleans. Young readers can read about the life of Cecile and her living through the Yellow Fever Epidemic. They can then interactively immerse themselves in the study of how the plague spread through an iPad center that will allow them to create a timeline of events.

Module 12: Rosa

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Summary:  This book tells the story of Rosa Parks and her stand against injustice. She is considered a civil rights activist because she refused to give up her seat on the bus so that a white man could sit. This short story explains what Mrs. Parks was thinking about throughout the day, and what she felt when she was asked move. She was tired from a long day at work, and she was even more tired from being mistreated by people because of the color of her skin.

APA: Giovanni, N.. (2005). Rosa. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company.

Review: "Gr. 3-5. Far from the cliche of Rosa Parks as the tired little seamstress, this beautiful picture-book biography shows her as a strong woman, happy at home and at work, and politically aware ("not tired from work, but tired of . . . eating at separate lunch counters and learning at separate schools"). Her refusal to give up her seat on a bus inspires her friend Jo Ann Robinson, president of the Women's Political Council, and the 25 council members to make posters calling for the bus boycott, and they organize a mass meeting where the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. speaks for them. Paired very effectively with Giovanni's passionate, direct words, Collier's large watercolor-and-collage illustrations depict Parks as an inspiring force that radiates golden light, and also as part of a dynamic activist community. In the unforgettable close-up that was used for the cover, Parks sits quietly waiting for the police as a white bus driver demands that she give up her seat. In contrast, the final picture opens out to four pages showing women, men, and children marching for equal rights at the bus boycott and in the years of struggle yet to come. The history comes clear in the astonishing combination of the personal and the political."

Citation: Rochman, H. (2005). "Starred Review: Rosa" Booklist. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/Rosa-Nikki-Giovanni/pid=1566882.

Library Use: This particular book is a great asset for the Black History Month display. It shows the character of people at this time to make changes. It serves as a platform for change. Students could then take this concept and research the movement further. It is an excellent jumping off point for the beginning of equality.

Module 11: Tito Puente Mambo King, Rey del Mambo

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Summary:  This bilingual book details the life of Tito Puente. It starts with him banging on his parents pots and pans making music. It goes on to the rest of his life. His move out of Spanish Harlem to create what he loved most. He even won a Grammy for his music. His life is beautifully depicted by Rafael Lopez.

APA: Brown, M. (2013). Tito Puente Mambo King, Rey del Mambo. New York, NY: Rayo.

Review: "“¡Tum Tica! ¡Tum Tica! The dancers twirled, the lights swirled, and the mambo went on and on.” Like so many of Brown’s biographies, such as Waiting for the Biblioburro (2011) and Side by Side/Lado a lado: The Story of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez/La historia de Dolores Huerta y César Chávez (2009), Tito’s story introduces readers to a vibrant Latino figure. As a baby, Puente made music with pots and pans, and he later grew up to fulfill his dreams as a musician and beloved bandleader. Award-winning illustrator López brings Tito’s story to life in vibrant acrylic salsa reds and oranges, which are splashed behind every shake of Tito’s hips and wink of his eyes. The swirling, whirling compositions add to the text’s rhythmic beat. To continue the rumba after Tito’s story has ended, the last page of the book offers a simple melody to play on its own or alongside the book. An author’s note (in both English and Spanish) sheds more light on Puente’s life. Grades K-3."

Citation: Zapata, A. . "Tito Puente, Mambo King el Rey del Mambo." Booklist. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/Tito-Puente-Mambo-King-Rey-del-Mambo-Monica-Brown/pid=5733875.

Library Use: This is a great book to add to a library to show students what hard work and driving towards your goals could lead to. His life is a great depiction of starting and sticking with a love of music.

Module 10: Barefoot: Escape on the Underground Railroad

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Summary: Barefoot, an escaping slave, must rely on the elements to help him find his way out of harm. He is on his way north to be free. In this stunning illustrated book, Barefoot goes through the adventure to become a free man.

APA: Edwards, P. D. (1998). Barefoot: escape on the Underground Railroad. New York, NY: Katherine Tegen Books.

Review: "The story of one slave's escape to freedom via the Underground Railroad, as seen from the perspective of the watchful creatures of the night who speed him on his way. The ``Barefoot'' refers to the slave who has taken flight through dark woods, ``fearful of what lay before him [and] terrified of what lay behind.'' Heron, squirrel, mouse, deer, and frog see and hear the slave, and close behind, the Heavy Boots who pursue him. The creaking frog leads the Barefoot to fresh water, a hungry field mouse shows him which berries to eat. Finally he comes to a ``stop'' on the Underground Railroad--a cabin he recognizes by the quilt that is hanging out front. Readers will need some suspension of disbelief to determine whether the night creatures are ``helping'': Mosquitoes bite only the Heavy Boots, the deer leads the pursuers far away, lightning bugs show the Barefoot the quilt when the moon goes under a cloud. Nevertheless, Edwards and Cole (Some Smug Slug, p. 528, etc.) create a moving story that conveys the terror that drove slaves to flee plantations, risking their lives for freedom."

Citation: N.A. "Barefoot." Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/pamela-duncan-edwards/barefoot/.

Library Use: The book would be a great addition to a library, especially during February's Black History Month. It is a strong showcase of the danger that slaves went through to find safety.

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.