Sibert Honor Book

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow

Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. 2005. Hitler Youth: Growing Up In Hitler’s Shadow. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 0439353793

Overview:

Hitler’s Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow provides a fascinating look at the young people who dedicated themselves to the Hitler Youth organization and enabled the expansion of the Nazi Party in the 1930’s. Accounts from former Hitler Youth members and also from those who opposed the Nazi movement come together to reveal the choices, experiences, and outlook of the young people during Hitler’s rise to power.

Critical Analysis:

Through personal interviews and years of research Bartoletti is able to give readers an accurate understanding of the role of young people during Hitler’s rise to power.  The overall understanding that the reader achieves is well-rounded because of the perspective Bartoletti offers from both the youth that supported Hitler’s reign and the youth that suffered persecution for opposing it. Henry Metelmann stated, “We met together, marched, and played together.” From  direct quotes, such as this, and the medals and prestige the Hitler Youth were given, readers get a sense of where the choice of loyalty to Hitler had come from. On the other hand, Bartoletti writes about Alfons Heck’s teacher who bullied Jewish students and how the students were encouraged to despise them. The style Bartoletti uses in sharing so many voices among the youth of this time creates opportunities for reflection  and critical thinking for readers as they sort through the “whys” and “hows” of this time in history.

The black and white photographs and captions in the book could almost provide readers with an understanding of the Hitler Youth all on their own. The innocence and youth of the children in the photographs will astound readers. Bartoletti includes Hitler’s propaganda pictures, pictures of the everyday life of the Hitler Youth, and news photos that documented the events during Nazi regin. Several personal photographs are also included from several of the voices that are heard in the book. These photographs provide a powerful connection between the reader and the voices of the Hitler Youth.

The book is 176 pages and is 27 cm making one of the larger books on the shelves. It is organized into chapters and readers can easily select sections of the book that spark their interest. Prior to the introduction Bartoletti introduces the young people from the book with their picture and short description of their role during the Nazi rise to power, which quickly takes the large and somewhat intimidating read to a quaint personal account. Finally, Bartoletti dedicates several of her final pages to a timeline, notes about her experience in writing the book, information about the photographs, and cites a vast number of sources giving readers a sense of accuracy within the pages of the book and ultimately more information about growing up in Hitler’s shadow.

Awards and Reviews:

Newberry Honor Book

Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

2005 Parent’s Choice Gold Seal Award

“Bartoletti lets many of the subjects’ words, emotions, and deeds speak for themselves, bringing them together clearly to tell this story nlike anyone else has.” --School Library Journal

“This solid offering deserves wide readership by today’s young people, ans it is certainto promote extensive discussion.” --The Bullitenof the Center for Children’s Books

Connections:

-Visit a local museum such as the Holocaust Museum in Dallas.

-Compare and contrast a Hitler Youth member from the book and a member who opposed the Nazi Party.

-Put together a “Did you know?” display to share new information and id

Novel in Verse-- The Wild Book

The Wild Book

Engle, Margarita. The Wild Book. New York, NY: Harcourt Children’s Books. 2012

ISBN: 9780547581316

Plot Summary:

Many years ago in Cuba, a young farm girl, Fefa, struggles with dyslexia. After being diagnosed with “word-blindness”, she shares the feelings and obstacles she must overcome as she deals with her disability. The difficult Cuban times of kidnappers and bandits are evident in the events that take place, but her biggest worry is not being able to read the ransom notes. Her mother gives Fefa a book with blank pages in which she can begin to explore writing in her own way and at her own pace. Eventually her brother commits to helping her learn to read and write. Her journey from her feelings of inadequacy to feelings of courage is an adventure in itself.

Critical Analysis:

Free verse is the style of poetry presented in The Wild Book. The free verse works well for telling Fefa’s story because it makes it easy to understand. This style of poetry allows for emotion and history to run together seamlessly.

Margarita Engle works hard to convey emotions through the words in the book. Several times she breaks up words into syllables, allowing you to feel Fefa’s struggles to read and write. Multiple times she writes about reading “OUTLOUD” and readers quickly get a sense of the constant frustrations that were experienced within the struggle of dyslexia. Along with the emotions of fear and discouragement, readers will also feel positive emotions as Fefa begins to develop strategies for reading and writing. When Fefa states she is “hungry for words,” readers will feel a deep depth of joy from the emotion that the words bring about.

The story as a whole that is presented through the verses is indicative of early twentieth-century Cuba. The reader gets the sense of the country’s history and is given just enough insight to want to peak their interest into seeking further information. It is also interesting to see the powerful role that poetry played in the lives of the Cuban people. Almost any reader can relate to struggling with something at some point, and Fefa’s journey will give hope and courage to readers to hold on to through tough times.

Awards & Reviews:

Newberry Honor Awards winning author

Pura Belpre awards winning author

“Readers will hear the stories -- and never forget them.” --Booklist

“A beautiful tale of perseverance.” --Kirkus Review

“A lyrical glimpse of early twentieth-century Cuba.”--Booklist

Connections:

*Paint or draw a visual image created by a favorite poem in the book.

*Think about something you have struggled with. Use one of Engle’s poems as a model to write a free verse poem of your own experience.

*Seek out additional information on Cuban history.

*Decorate your own “Wild Book.”

Poetry by J. Patrick Lewis

A World of Wonders

Lewis, J. Patrick. A World of Wonders: Geographic Travels in Verse and Rhyme. Ill. by Alison Jay. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers. 2002.

ISBN: 0803725795

About the Book:

Lewis will take you on a journey around the world to discover various geographic concepts. First take a look at the voyage of Christopher Columbus in an acrostic poem. Discover the answer to questions about the Red Sea and the Dead Sea. Readers will get to explore major geographic locations and also gain exposure to the people who first explored them.

Critical Analysis:

A World of Wonders targets elementary aged children. Some information will be new to readers, while some readers will enjoy more familiar content because of the unique presentation of information.

The words in the book are written in a clever way, and rather than evoke emotion, they enable readers to remember valuable content and vocabulary. For example, when Lewis writes “lines of latitude have a flatitude,” readers will hold onto the meaning of latitude because of the clever rhyme. Although some words seem a little forced because of the rhyme, it works out in helping children to remember particular concepts. It also adds a spice of humor at times, which seems to lighten the tone for a book about geographic concepts.

The illustrations will hold the attention of young readers, as there are a lot of details to look at on the pages. The tones of the images reflect a map and give the pictures an old-world feel.

Awards & Reviews:

Recently named U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate author

NCTE Award winning author

“[A] witty and fact-filled collection of poems”--Publishers Weekly

Connections:

*Read poems that pertain to concepts you are covering as the introduction to the lesson.

*Identify geographic vocabulary in the book and use the images written in the poems to define the terms with words or a picture.

*Choose an explorer named in the book and do some additional research.

Award Winning Poetry

This is Just to Say

Sidman, Joyce. This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness. Ill. by Pamela Zagarenski. Boston, MA:  Houghton Mifflin Co. 2007.

ISBN 0618616802

About the Book:

After studying the poem “This is Just to Say” by William Carlos William, a sixth grade class begins a poetry project of writing their own poems of apology. The poems deal with humorous topics such as stealing jelly donuts and throwing to hard in a dodge ball game to serious topics such as losing a pet and dealing with family separation. Along with the poems of apology in part one comes part two: the responses of the apology recipients. Some of the responses offer forgiveness, while others do not.

Critical Analysis:

Sidman’s includes a range of poems including poems that rhyme, free verse poems, and haiku. The multiple rhythms of the poems are appealing and will hold the attention of adolescent readers.  The change in rhythm is appropriate not only for the intended audience, but also for the range of topics. For example, the voice and rhythm in the dodge ball apology poem is light-hearted and evokes an emotion of humor and fun. In Jewel’s Next Time poem the tone turns serious as she writes about her father leaving the family. The tone and voice is appropriate throughout the various poems. The inner thoughts of the people in the poems seem reveal typical feelings of the adolescent age. The anthology as a whole is unique because surrounding the poems of apology and forgiveness, is a story of a sixth grade class developing and growing from an opportunity to share their experiences. 

Pamela Zagarenski creates whimsical illustrations throughout the entire anthology of poems. The illustrations complement the tone of the poems. The illustrations are respectful when the poems are serious and only add to the humor when the poems intend to make readers smile. The illustrations capture the attention of readers with clever details such as using snippets of a dictionary entry as clothing for several of the characters.

Awards & Reviews:

Claudia Lewis Poetry Award

Texas Bluebonnet Award

Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book

“Packed with the intensity of everyday pain and sorrow, kids and adults exchange words that convey grief, delight, love and acceptance of themselves and others.”--Kirkus Review

“Captivating.”--Booklist

“Sidman’s ear is keen, capturing many voices. Her skill as a poet accessible to young people is unmatched… This is an important book both for its creativity and for its wisdom.”--School Library Journal

Connections:

*After reading the poems in Sidman’s anthology, write your own poem of apology.

*Discuss voice in the poems and find evidence in the poems that support your understanding.

*Read Forgive Me, I Meant to Do it: False Apology Poems by Gail Carson