The House of the Scorpion, by Nancy Farmer

Bibliographic Data
Farmer, Nancy. 2002. The House of the Scorpion. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0-689-85222-3

Summary
Matt is a clone of the powerful El Patron. Although most clones’ brains are purposely damaged at birth, Matt has escaped that fate, but is treated like an animal by most humans. When El Patron dies, Matt escapes death by fleeing the country but is immediately imprisoned in an orphanage. Once again, he escapes his captors, and this time, he returns to his home to take his place as El Patron.

Critical Analysis
From the moment Farmer’s novel opens in a cloning lab, the reader understands that this is a fantasy set in the future. These are not experimental clones, they are human clones, and the one that has just been born is special. Instead of having his intelligence removed, he is spared because he is a Matteo Alacran. We learn more about this new world in later chapters. Matt is a resident of Opium, a country created from Mexico to act as a buffer between the United States and Aztlan. It is a country run by the drug lord El Patron, also known as Matteo Alacran, the donor of Matt’s DNA. Other, smaller changes have also taken place, such as new weapons, and types of transportation.

The disconnect between our world and this world of the future is evident in the way that Matt is viewed. We see him as a human, recognizing his intelligence, musical ability, and feelings. His humanity is ignored by most characters, and he is viewed as no better than any other animal; physically a younger version of El Patron, but mentally and emotionally, a beast. Only Celia, Maria and Tam Lin understand that Matt is more than what everyone else believes. Even Matt begins to believe in the futility of his existence, until Tam Lin reminds him that he has the power to choose the man he becomes:
“El Patron has his good side and his bad side… When he was young, he made a choice, like a tree does when it decides to grow one way or the other. He grew large and green until he shadowed over the whole forest, but most of his branches are twisted.”

Matt is not the only clone in this story. El Patron has used clones for a hundred years as organ donors and servants in his home and fields. These clones are given a drug at birth that removes their intelligence, essentially making them robotic and easily programmed – or so we think. Matt’s interaction with his teacher lets us know that while the “eejits” certainly have limited intelligence, they still have feelings, such as fear and confusion.

While at first glance, Opium seems an improbable land, one begins to wonder. For many years, we’ve heard stories about how the dangerous the area just beyond our border is. The US is very concerned about drugs and people entering the country illegally – would our government agree to look the other way if they could be assured the problem would stop? Strides continue to be made in cloning – is it possible we would go this far? Farmer creates a world that is just possible enough to help us suspend disbelief.

Reviews
From Publishers Weekly:
“Farmer's (A Girl Named Disaster; The Ear, the Eye and the Arm) novel may be futuristic, but it hits close to home, raising questions of what it means to be human, what is the value of life, and what are the responsibilities of a society. ” – Copyright 2002, Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal:
“Fans of Farmer's work will seek out this title. Some readers may be put off by its length, but those who dive in will find it worth the effort.” – Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA. Copyright 2002, Reed Business Information, Inc.

Connections
The "eejits" have limited intelligence and emotion. Is it acceptable to create and then use them as servants? Why or why not?

*****

Reviews found at the Carrollton Public Library website, http://cityofcarrollton.com/library/

Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen

Bibliographic Data
Hiaasen, Carl. 2002. Hoot. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-375-82181-3

Summary
Middle-schooler Roy Eberhardt is miserable over his recent move from Montana to Florida, until a mysterious boy catches his attention. Between standing up to the local bully, making friends with the toughest girl in school, figuring out who the mystery boy is, and helping to save the home of some adorable burrowing owls, Roy discovers that Florida isn’t so bad after all.

Critical Analysis
From the first page, this is a funny, fast moving novel that will appeal to both boys and girls in a variety of ages. For the most part, Roy is a realistically drawn character, not popular, but not completely an outcast (though he feels that way at times). He has an "everyman" persona that most students will be able to relate to. His friends are also multifaceted, not merely the athletic girl or the skateboarding dunce.

The only parts that don’t quite ring true are those that involve the class bully, Dana, and the mysterious boy, Mullet Fingers. No teacher or bus driver ever sees Dana’s harassment of Roy, even when the actions take place in full view. Roy, for that matter, doesn’t seem very concerned, and take every opportunity to torment Dana. While Dana serves as sort of a comic relief, Mullet Fingers’ role is quite different. He is obviously homeless, yet this word is never used, and negativity is not implied. Instead, his life is seen as an adventure, and rarely does he experience the hardships that would certainly befall a boy in his situation. Roy misses scenic Montana, but Mullet Fingers helps him appreciate the natural beauty of Florida. He is a fantastical figure that has a higher calling.

Though the novel is humorous, it deals with the serious subject that progress has on our environment. Roy and his friends aren’t old enough to vote, and don’t have money to support special interest groups. Instead, they do research to ensure they are well-informed, they spread the word, and they take action for the things they believe in. Children can feel very helpless at times, such as in the case of Roy, whose family has moved many times, and never by his choice. This novel is inspiring, in that it teaches children that they do have choices -- in how they react to what a bully does, how they protect their surroundings, and how they choose to make the best of a situation.

Reviews
From School Library Journal:
“Packed with quirky characters and improbable plot twists, Hiaasen's first novel for young readers is entertaining but ultimately not very memorable. Fans of the author's adult novels will find trademark elements-including environmental destruction, corrupt politicians, humorous situations, and a Florida setting-all viewed through the eyes of a middle-school student. ” – Miranda Doyle, San Francisco Public Library. Copyright 2002, Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Connections
The Walden Media Hoot website has activities and information for students and teachers at: http://www.walden.com/walden/teach/hoot/index.php One interesting activity is “To Build or Not To Build,” which asks students to research the feasibility of building a Mother Paula’s All-American Pancake House in their own town, then report on findings in a letter to the company’s president. This activity touches on science, social studies and language arts objectives.

*****
Reviews found at the Carrollton Public Library website, http://cityofcarrollton.com/library/

A Step from Heaven, by An Na

Bibliographic Data
Na, An. 2001. A step from heaven. Asheville, NC: Front Street. ISBN 1-886910-58-8

Summary
Young Ju is four years old when her family immigrates from Korea. Though she has been led to believe that America is heaven, she learns that it is not as easy or as wonderful as she had imagined. The novel follows Young Ju through her many trials on the way to adulthood.

Critical Analysis
The novel opens when Young Ju is four years old, still in Korea. The story is told from a first person limited perspective, so sometimes the reader must work to figure out what the young girl’s observations mean. The reader’s uncertainty mirrors Young Ju’s confusion as she moves to a new country and tries to figure out her surroundings. Just as she has a hard time understanding her teacher and the other students in her class, so do we:

“Ah ri cas, ca mo ve he,” the witch teacher says. She claps her hands and touches her cloud hair. All the other Mi Gook girls and boys come over fast like they are scared they will be eaten if they are not good children. They sit in a circle around me.

“Tees es Yung,” the witch teacher says.

“Wah ko um, Yung,” they say.

(p. 31)

Young Ju soon learns her teacher is kind after all, and she is determined that one day, she will know all the “Mi Gook words.” (p. 34)

As Young Ju grows older, the events in her life become clearer, both to her and the reader. Time moves steadily but quickly, with each new chapter advancing time about a year. Young Ju understands and becomes more comfortable in the US, but her family life deteriorates. Her father becomes increasingly unstable, with bouts of violence. As Young Ju matures, she starts to see her father in a new light, and while she begins to understand that she is not the cause of his temper, that realization doesn’t prevent her from being on the receiving end. There is suffering in Young Ju’s life, but Na has imbued her heroine with a composure and sense of hope that allows her to endure. This also helps the reader experience her pain with sympathy, but without fear.

In the end, Young Ju comes full circle. She is once again leaving a beloved home for a place of hope, this time college. We know that she is bound to face adversity again, but we also know that she will persevere and triumph again. While most students will not have experience with the hardships that Young Ju has to endure, everyone has hurdles to overcome. Her story can inspire them to succeed despite these hurdles.

Reviews
From School Publishers Weekly:
“The journey Na chronicles, in Young's graceful and resonant voice, is an acculturation process that is at times wrenching, at times triumphant and consistently absorbing. Told almost like a memoir, the narrative unfolds through jewel-like moments carefully strung together.” - Copyright 2001, Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From BookList:
“…the coming-of-age drama will grab teens and make them think of their own conflicts between home and outside. As in the best writing, the particulars make the story universal.” - Hazel Rochman2001, Copyright American Library Association.

Connections
This novel ends with a touching epilogue about Uhmma’s hands. Ask students to write a short essay describing a person, using a feature or activity as the thread that ties the characteristics together.

Ask students to write about a time that they or someone they know had to overcome adversity.

*****

Reviews found at the Carrollton Public Library website, http://cityofcarrollton.com/library/

Cleopatra, by Diane Stanley & Peter Vennema

Bibliographic Data
Stanley, Diane and Peter Vennema. 1994. Cleopatra. New York: William Morrow and Company. ISBN 0-688-10414-2

Summary
Cleopatra is the story of her tumultuous twenty-one years as Queen of Egypt, as well her famous romantic relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.

Critical Analysis
The authors note at the beginning of the book that this information is more than 2000 years old, and that sometimes sources are hard to come by. Some records have been lost, and many others are likely to have been destroyed. In addition, some accounts are thought to be unreliable, such as accounts about Cleopatra written by her enemies. The most widely used source, Plutarch, is not without debate, including the fact that he lived 100 years after Cleopatra.

Though at first glance this is a picture book, it is not for younger students. The recommended ages are grades 3-6, but I would place that figure higher – perhaps grades 6-8. There are a lot of facts, unusual names, and relationships to follow, making it a more challenging read.

Though there is an abundance of information, the story of Cleopatra is well told. Stanley and Vennema take care to focus on Cleopatra’s great intelligence, charisma, and ambition, describing these as the true characteristics that attracted Caesar and Antony. They also take great care in describing her important relationships, and relevant background information, such as the assassination of Caesar and Octavian’s rise to power. Though these supplements seem to veer from the story, readers will see that they are in fact important to the era.

Stanley’s illustrations are magnificent. Created in jewel tones and drawn in great detail, the scenes and characters seem relevant and vibrant. It’s especially important for students to understand another era in a visual way, and this book makes it very clear.

Reviews
From BookList:
“An intriguing portrait.” – Carolyn Phelan, September 15, 1994, Copyright American Library Association.

Connections
This book is an interesting, quick read for young teenagers wishing to learn more about who Cleopatra. A related activity might be asking students their reaction to situations that the citizens of Rome and Alexandria did not like, such as placing a statue of Cleopatra in the temple, implying she was a goddess.


*****
Review found at the Carrollton Public Library website, http://cityofcarrollton.com/library/

Catherine, Called Birdy, by Karen Cushman

Bibliographic Data
Cushman, Karen. 1994. Catherine, Called Birdy. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-06-440584-2

Summary
Catherine, a fourteen year old in the late 13th century, keeps a journal that details her day-to-day life, including her dreams and fears. Her main concerns are how to avoid her father, her needlework, and most of all, marriage.

Critical Analysis
Cushman’s novel offers readers a glimpse into what a fourteen year old in the middle ages might feel, say and do on a daily basis. This particular girl is quite modern in her thinking, because she is not interested in marriage, needlework, or most of the other things she is supposed to do. Catherine does love to play and explore, spend time with friends,

A recurring theme in this novel is that of freedom, or more specifically, the lack of freedom. Though Catherine has an enviable position as the daughter of a knight, they are not so wealthy that she can escape housework, or sharing her bedroom with a servant and houseguests. The most difficult freedom to give up, however, is choosing a mate. Her greedy father has decided that she must marry soon, and he begins to invite suitors to their house, not for her approval, but for theirs. This theme is echoed in Catherine’s nickname, Birdy, as well as the many caged birds she keeps in her bedroom, or the cocks she sets free in the market. Catherine chafes against the rules she must live by, and everyone can see it. Her mother asks her, “Why not cease your fearful pounding against the bars of your cage and be content?”(p. 53)

Catherine also contemplates the world around her, and her place within it. She thinks about what she will do to earn a living and dreams of traveling to exotic lands. She frequently questions the teachings of her church, especially when she meets a group of Jewish people. She is looking forward to seeing the wicked people with horns and tails, and is surprised to find they are like anyone else. Catherine’s close friendship with Perkin, the goat herder, is also noteworthy. Though she is high above Perkin on the social scale, she feels only great admiration for him. People she is supposed to respect, on the other hand, often turn out to be unworthy. Her father abuses Catherine physically and emotionally, and his greed drives him to offer her in an early marriage to whoever will offer the highest payment, no matter what her feelings on the subject or the groom.

Catherine’s struggle for freedom and finding her fate lead her to the conclusion, where she has an epiphany. She finally understands the words of the wise old Jewish woman who had told her that in the hereafter, God would not question why she did not do the things that others had done, but why she had not lived her own life. She chooses to accept her fate of an arranged marriage, but vows, “I cannot escape my life, but can only use my determination and courage to make it the best I can.” (p. 203) This revelation is followed by an ending that is a bit too neat given the events of the previous year, but forgivable.

Reviews
From School Library Journal:
“The 14-year-old daughter of a rustic knight records the events of her days in the year 1290, writing perceptive, scathing, and often raucously funny observations about her family, friends, and would-be suitors. A delightful, rebellious heroine, determined not to marry the man of her father's choice.” - Copyright 1997, Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From BookList:
“The diary format helps portray the tedium of life in the Middle Ages, the never-ending sewing, cooking, and other chores; the dirt and the illness; and, worse, the lowly role of women in medieval life. But this diary style also inhibits the ability of the characters to come alive. Birdy's is the only real voice. Fortunately, it's a sprightly voice, complete with its own brand of cursing ("God's thumbs!"), that moves the action. Kids can read this on their own or as a supplement to studies of the Middle Ages.” – Ilene Cooper, April 15, 1994, Copyright American Library Association.


Connections
Students can use Cushman’s novel to study the elements of characterization and setting. The following questions can be used in class discussions or for writing prompts.
· Which characters are well-developed, and which are not? Why do you think this is? Do any of the characters change?
· Setting is important to this novel. How is your life like Catherine’s? How is it different?

Though this book would probably appeal mostly to “tween” girls, the main character is independent, curious, and mischievous, which transcends gender.

The author adds a brief section at the end of the book that includes information about the period in which the book was set, as well recommendations for several books about or set in the middle ages.

*****
Reviews found at the Carrollton Public Library website, http://cityofcarrollton.com/library/

The Art of Keeping Cool, by Janet Taylor Lisle

Bibliographic Data
Lisle, Janet Taylor. 2000. The Art of Keeping Cool. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-689-83787-9

Summary
Thirteen year old Robert moves to Rhode Island with his mother and sister when his father goes to fight in World War I. He and his cousin forge a friendship with each other, as well as with the mysterious German man who lives in the woods.

Critical Analysis
Lisle’s novel about young boys in the midst of WWII is hard to put down. Though we know how the war ends, what we don’t know is how the boys’ lives will be affected. Will Robert’s father come home? Is Abel Hoffman really a spy? Why does Robert’s father not keep in touch with his parents?

The author chooses to skip over minor details about daily life in the 1940’s, so while the setting is in another era, the reader isn’t confronted with this fact in any way other than the theme of war. This is less jarring to the reader, and along with the first person narrative, helps him feel as if the action could be happening right now. Though there are several facts sprinkled throughout the novel, it never feels as if the author is trying to force feed information. Instead, we are just as interested as the main character.

Abel Hoffman, a German painter who has escaped persecution and certain death in his homeland, is living quietly in the woods. The townspeople and local military, fueled by their fears, cannot help but suspect him of spying, and so once again, Abel is victimized. His story unfolds gradually, just as it might in real life, as Robert meets Abel in town, or hears about him from his cousin. By the end of the novel, we know more about Able, though not all, and we are touched by his tragic story. It is a reminder that one of the many horrors of that war was the deliberate loss of so many creative souls.

Reviews
From School Library Journal:
“… this is a heartfelt story about family dynamics and the harmful power of prejudice and hatred.”- Cyrisse Jaffee, formerly Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly:
“As apt at writing historical fiction as she is at penning fantasy, Lisle weaves together an intriguing web of family secrets and wartime fears while encapsulating the wave of patriotism sweeping the nation in the 1940s. The intimate first-person narrative brings universal themes of prejudice and loss to a personal level as the boys and their artist friend discover the destructive power of war on the home front.” Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Connections
This is an engaging book that will help readers understand more about the feelings of Americans during WWII, and a great introduction to discussions about prejudices that stem from fear, especially in light of current events.

*****
Reviews found at the Carrollton Public Library website, http://cityofcarrollton.com/library/