Road Trip - PA Readers' Choice

Paulsen, Gary and Jim. Road Trip. New York: Wendy Lamb Books, 2013.

So…I swore that I would never read a Gary Paulsen book.  In front of students, I made that pledge.  The promise was made not because I have any reason not to like a Paulsen book.  How could I know? Our kids, boys especially, LOVE his work.  So much so that they only ever want to read his books. Ever,  in 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, 10th grade, 11th grade…I don’t ever have to sell him as an author. Instead, I read all kinds of adventure, outdoor, survival books in an effort to stretch them beyond Paulsen. 

Imagine my surprise, as I prepared my annual PA Readers’ Choice Awards book talk for grade 7 when there he was right on that list- Gary Paulsen’s Road Trip.  I had to read it.  Indeed, I had to confess reading to some of those older boys.  They caught me. And I had to admit, I loved it! They took it pretty easy on me, only instructing me what Gary Paulsen to read next.

On a classic road trip to rescue a dog, Ben and his dad don’t start out having a very good time.  First of all, Ben doesn’t relish being pulled out of bed at the crack of dawn on summer break with no warning.  Further, he doesn’t quite trust his father’s ability to plan a good trip.  As they get rolling his dad tells him that he has quit his job in order to flip houses. Oh, and by the way, they probably don’t have the money to send him to hockey camp. All this information before his dad’s truck even breaks down. I told the kids today that they end up on a bus; they gather an interesting cast of characters; and…a race might happen between a bus and a police cruiser.  Like them, you’ll have to read the book to find out what happens. You should definitely read some Gary Paulsen.

Breathing Room - PA Readers' Choice

Hayles, Marsha. Breathing Room. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2012

This sensitive PA Readers’ Choice novel tells the story of Evvy who at age 13 is dropped off at the Loon Lake Sanitarium by her father for the treatment of her tuberculosis.  The attitudes and approaches to treatment of 1940 are brought to vivid life by Hayles.

Taken to a room that she will share with three other girls by the harsh Nurse Marshall, she soon learns that for a while she has forfeited the right to sit up in bed, to sleep in a warm comfortable room with the windows closed, to have visits or even mail from her parents and her brother Abe.  The treatment will seem harsh to a modern student, but they will also be delighted by the relationships that Evvy builds with her roommates, a more compassionate night nurse, and a doctor willing to bend the rules in the name of healing.

Interesting side stories abound in this work.  Hayles explores the relationship of Evvy to her parents; she worries that her mom doesn’t understand her, maybe doesn’t even love her. Her little brother Abe, who doesn’t love letter writing, works to engage and entertain his sister through the mail anyhow. Evvy is Jewish in a world where the Jewish are treated very badly, and nods to the war are present.  She rooms with a girl who is essentially an orphan, and she has to break down her hostile walls to forge any kind of friendship.  I told the kids, that while certainly sadness exists in this work, the hopeful moments certainly outweigh the sorrow.  Ultimately, Evvy’s story is one of triumph. A story that is highlighted in a lovely way with period line drawings.

When I was pondering how to sell this historical work, I considered trying to connect it to The Fault in Our Stars because, well, you know, they already love it.  I had to be honest about the lack of a love story, but talked about the thematic connections of enduring illness.  Oddly enough in one of the classes today, one of the 7th graders made the connection to Hazel for me – a cool moment to be sure!  Many of the kids had also watched The Waltons with their moms and had seen the episodes where Olivia suffered from TB.  We also had an interesting student generated discussion about how the treatment of TB would differ today.  

Stolen Into Slavery... PA Reader's Choice

Fradin, Judith and Dennis. Stolen Into Slavery: The True Story of Solomon Northup, Free Black Man.

 Washington D. C.: National Geographic, 2012.

I have had to take a break from reading some of the newer stuff to prepare for a book talk.  I like to highlight some of the Pennsylvania Readers’ Choice Award nominees in my first talk with the seventh graders. I generally read the National Geographic nonfictions very quickly, so it surprised me that I hadn’t picked up this title more quickly. This biography did not disappoint! I like when nonfiction reads like fiction, and this narrative is beautifully told.

I have not yet seen Twelve Years a Slave, so I was not familiar with the story of Solomon Northup.  Born a free man in New York State, he was captured and sold into slavery. He was separated from his wife and three small children, and for 12 years served a series of masters in the Deep South.  Always, I am uncomfortable reading the details of how slaves were treated in our early United States history.  However, these authors shared the reality of the life of a slave in a way that is appropriate for the junior high readers to whom I am selling it. And while an understanding of these struggles is certainly important to these students, I will be happy to highlight all of the people in Northup’s journey who risk their lives and reputations to find a way to help free him.  

Students can learn from Northup’s determination to gain his freedom as well as the patience he must continually show along the way.  Some of our kids have to fight quite a few battles of their own.  Any positive role model is a great thing. They can also learn from the folks who help him.  Kids cannot be reminded too many times to help those around them who maybe need protection from a bully or a leg up.  I look forward to talking it next week!

Ties to the common core and classroom activities can be found here.