Orlev, Uri The Song of the Whales
Houghton Mifflin/Clarion/Graphia/Kingfisher 2010 108p 16.00
978-0-547-25752-5 ms Realistic Fiction E-BN
Mikha'el discovers that his paternal grandfather Raphael has a like soul. Happy in this new and blooming connection, he is able to join his grandfather in the old man’s dreams and share in many adventures and escapes. Beautifully and sensitively written, the lovely relationship between grandchild and grandfather is a lovely thing expressed in simple evocative language.
Uri Orlev’s young protagonist Michael has never been able to relate to children of his own age. He has been much more comfortable in the company of older adults in his New York City neighborhood. When his self-absorbed parents decide to immigrate to Israel, he is removed from his personal comfort zone and transplanted to a new world. Now known as Mikha'el, he discovers that his paternal grandfather Raphael has a similar soul. Happy with this new and blooming connection, he is able to join his grandfather in the old man’s dreams and share in many adventures and escapes. Mikha'el is always surprised when he awakens and discovers that the adventures are not real. As Raphael ages and becomes more infirm, he hints through the dream sequences that he will not always be there and his visions begin to prepare the boy for his final ending. Raphael bequeaths his special gift to the boy as his final benediction. Beautifully and sensitively written, the lovely relationship between grandchild and grandfather is a lovely thing expressed in simple evocative language. The writing is thoughtful, yet not overladen with sentimentality and will appeal to the reader on many different levels.
Highly recommended for middle school libraries. Ogintz, Susan
Showing posts with label grandparents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grandparents. Show all posts
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Whitney, Tim. Thanksgiving At the Inn.
Whitney, Tim. Thanksgiving At the Inn.
Bancroft 2009 226p 19.95 978-1-890862-64-0 jr/sr
Heath’s father suffers with alcoholism and literary rejection. To make matters worse he is suspended from school at the same time that his estranged grandfather dies. The resulting story is both heart warming and heart rendering. Heath Wellington III is between a rock and a hard place when he gets suspended from school for supposedly cheating. His father (called Junior) has suffered repeatedly from alcoholism and literary rejection since his wife left him. It is definitely not a happy family situation. His father has been estranged from his father for years because of stubbornness and pride. This presents a conflict when the grandfather dies and Heath and his father must return to the family home to settle the estate.
The grandfather (Senior) was an unusual person. He made lots of money in his lifetime, but he decided that helping others was more important than making money. When he sold his business he turned the family home into the Sleeping Inn and collected people who needed to make something of themselves. In order for Junior to inherit his father’s estate, he would have to move into the inn and run it successfully for three months keeping the residents happy and content with his management. It is a story of conflict, humor, morals to be learn, and life-changing events for Heath.
This is a well written book in which the characters are well developed. It is easy for the readers to picture: Mustang Sally who is a over muscled, over tattoo grease monkey who writes children’s books, Winstead who is a wise Jamaican and former preacher and jailbird, Mrs. Farrell who is a elderly woman giving away her late husband’s ill earned fortune to needy people, and Carter who is a TV news junkie and Harvard graduate. The interactions between residents and Heath and his father allow the reader to connect with the characters and become involved with their everyday life. It is a timeless heartwarming story that is full of life’s lessons often overlooked in today’s fast paced world. MD,LM,HW
Bancroft 2009 226p 19.95 978-1-890862-64-0 jr/sr
Heath’s father suffers with alcoholism and literary rejection. To make matters worse he is suspended from school at the same time that his estranged grandfather dies. The resulting story is both heart warming and heart rendering. Heath Wellington III is between a rock and a hard place when he gets suspended from school for supposedly cheating. His father (called Junior) has suffered repeatedly from alcoholism and literary rejection since his wife left him. It is definitely not a happy family situation. His father has been estranged from his father for years because of stubbornness and pride. This presents a conflict when the grandfather dies and Heath and his father must return to the family home to settle the estate.
The grandfather (Senior) was an unusual person. He made lots of money in his lifetime, but he decided that helping others was more important than making money. When he sold his business he turned the family home into the Sleeping Inn and collected people who needed to make something of themselves. In order for Junior to inherit his father’s estate, he would have to move into the inn and run it successfully for three months keeping the residents happy and content with his management. It is a story of conflict, humor, morals to be learn, and life-changing events for Heath.
This is a well written book in which the characters are well developed. It is easy for the readers to picture: Mustang Sally who is a over muscled, over tattoo grease monkey who writes children’s books, Winstead who is a wise Jamaican and former preacher and jailbird, Mrs. Farrell who is a elderly woman giving away her late husband’s ill earned fortune to needy people, and Carter who is a TV news junkie and Harvard graduate. The interactions between residents and Heath and his father allow the reader to connect with the characters and become involved with their everyday life. It is a timeless heartwarming story that is full of life’s lessons often overlooked in today’s fast paced world. MD,LM,HW
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Dumbfounded by Matt Rothschild
Rothschild, Matt. Dumbfounded.
Crown see Random, 2008, 301p, $23.95, 978-0-307-40542-5
In Matt Rothschild’s memoir, Dumbfounded, we are confronted with a challenge to decipher. Is this book autobiographical? Is it purely fiction? Does it lie somewhere in between? Truthfully, it is so entertaining that we jump from page to page, hardly believing the stories that Matt tells us about the poor little rich boy, raised by wealthy Jewish grandparents. Yet, we come aboard and are drawn into each chapter as Matt describes the comedic horrors of growing up in New York’s East Side. It’s an oxymoron! Indeed, Matt is loved. He survives. He grows up with the right values. His grandparents are real people, demonstrating the tolerance and friendship necessary to create longevity in their marriage. Matt sees this and it becomes part of him. On the other hand, Matt describes his family as dysfunctional. Yes, his own mother has rejected him. And, yes, he questions his bizarre upbringing in each and every chapter of the memoir. We laugh, we feel and we believe. Rothschild’s characters are so very real. First, there is his best friend Elaine, again an oxymoron, as Elaine hopped into her limousine with a bag of toys from FAO Schwarz, leaving Matt at the door to take the rap for shoplifting. There is Mike, the captain of the lacrosse team who poured super glue into the teacher’s shoes, leaving Matt to take the blame and to be expelled. Second, there is a neglectful mother who only reached out to Matt for her own selfish reasons. She was bereft of personality as to intentionally exclude Matt from his grandmother’s funeral, despite that fact that his grandmother was his life. Finally, there is Matt’s grandmother, an abrasive, sarcastic, opinionated fighter of everything normal in life. From her we learn that it takes all kinds to raise a child to become a happy, productive adult. At times, the humor is subtle; other times, it is blatant.
This book is for the more sophisticated reader making it a good selection for a high school library or a public library. MS
Crown see Random, 2008, 301p, $23.95, 978-0-307-40542-5
In Matt Rothschild’s memoir, Dumbfounded, we are confronted with a challenge to decipher. Is this book autobiographical? Is it purely fiction? Does it lie somewhere in between? Truthfully, it is so entertaining that we jump from page to page, hardly believing the stories that Matt tells us about the poor little rich boy, raised by wealthy Jewish grandparents. Yet, we come aboard and are drawn into each chapter as Matt describes the comedic horrors of growing up in New York’s East Side. It’s an oxymoron! Indeed, Matt is loved. He survives. He grows up with the right values. His grandparents are real people, demonstrating the tolerance and friendship necessary to create longevity in their marriage. Matt sees this and it becomes part of him. On the other hand, Matt describes his family as dysfunctional. Yes, his own mother has rejected him. And, yes, he questions his bizarre upbringing in each and every chapter of the memoir. We laugh, we feel and we believe. Rothschild’s characters are so very real. First, there is his best friend Elaine, again an oxymoron, as Elaine hopped into her limousine with a bag of toys from FAO Schwarz, leaving Matt at the door to take the rap for shoplifting. There is Mike, the captain of the lacrosse team who poured super glue into the teacher’s shoes, leaving Matt to take the blame and to be expelled. Second, there is a neglectful mother who only reached out to Matt for her own selfish reasons. She was bereft of personality as to intentionally exclude Matt from his grandmother’s funeral, despite that fact that his grandmother was his life. Finally, there is Matt’s grandmother, an abrasive, sarcastic, opinionated fighter of everything normal in life. From her we learn that it takes all kinds to raise a child to become a happy, productive adult. At times, the humor is subtle; other times, it is blatant.
This book is for the more sophisticated reader making it a good selection for a high school library or a public library. MS
Friday, September 12, 2008
The Not-Just-Anybody Family. by Betsy Byars
Byars, Betsy. The Not-Just-Anybody Family.
Holiday House, 2008, $6.95, 176p, 0-8234-2145-7
Realistic fiction
Originally published in 1986, this paperback reprint is a revival for the award winning author and the Blossom Family Book series.
“With a young brother in the hospital, a grandfather in jail, and their mother traveling with a rodeo, Maggie and Vern try to settle family problems.”
The original plot has not changed, but the new publisher includes ten discussion questions presented by a retired school librarian. These discussion questions will assist readers and teachers with conversation and ways to help students realize the key components in the title. A short interview is presented to readers and some of the interview questions relate to the plot and characters within the Blossom books. A sneak peek at book #2: The Blossoms Meet the Vulture Lady provides readers with a glance at what is forthcoming and to get them interested in the second installment of the Blossom Family.
Unlike the originally published title, this title excludes scattered drawings. CFM
Holiday House, 2008, $6.95, 176p, 0-8234-2145-7
Realistic fiction
Originally published in 1986, this paperback reprint is a revival for the award winning author and the Blossom Family Book series.
“With a young brother in the hospital, a grandfather in jail, and their mother traveling with a rodeo, Maggie and Vern try to settle family problems.”
The original plot has not changed, but the new publisher includes ten discussion questions presented by a retired school librarian. These discussion questions will assist readers and teachers with conversation and ways to help students realize the key components in the title. A short interview is presented to readers and some of the interview questions relate to the plot and characters within the Blossom books. A sneak peek at book #2: The Blossoms Meet the Vulture Lady provides readers with a glance at what is forthcoming and to get them interested in the second installment of the Blossom Family.
Unlike the originally published title, this title excludes scattered drawings. CFM
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