For Liberty: The Story of the Boston Massacre

Decker, Timothy. For Liberty: The Story of the Boston Massacre.

Asheville, North Carolina: Front Street Press, 2009. ISBN: 9781590786086.

Author/Illustrator Website: www.timothydecker.com

Media: pen and ink

Awards and Honors: 2009 Cybil Nominated title for Non Fiction (MG/YA)

Use of Onomatopoeia:

"Bells pealed throughout the city."

"They could hear the growing din as the talked."

"The throng of colonists grew as did the roar of their cries."

"The bells continued to ring as if signaling the new tragedy."

Use of Sophisticated Language:

"Quarter no fiendish soldiers in your homes. Welcome no ill bred thieves to your hearth. Protect your liberties in this doleful and dark time."

"...soldiers quartered in a populous town, will always occasion two mobs where they prevent one. They are wretched conservators of the peace."

Use of Rhythm/Repetition:

"The mob swelled.

The reasonable men went home.

The bellicose remained."

"Surely the mob would not assault a trained soldier.

Surely his men would not fire for fear of shooting their officer.

Certainly a show of force would dissolve the anger."

Curricular Connection: 5th Grade History/ Social Studies, California State Board of Education Standards, 5.5: Students explain the causes of the American Revolution: 1. Understand how political, religious, and economic ideas and interests brought about the Revolution (e.g., resistance to imperial policy, the Stamp Act, the Townshend Acts, taxes on tea, Coercive Acts).

Annotation: A stark, graphic novel style account of the Boston Massacre, one most significant events in the lead up to the Revolutionary War.

Personal Reaction: The Boston Massacre was a serious event with sweeping repercussions for the city of Boston, the colonies and England. Decker honors the gravity of this confusing evening that made the history books by keeping his graphic novel style drawings simple and spare. Readers come to understand that this massacre actually began after a great deal of pent up emotion and anger over taxes on the colonists side and colonist abuse of the British soldiers on the British side. Students gain insight into the mindset of young Private White who cries “fire,” in a moment of stress and aggravation. The consequences of this moment are a rebellion, the death of five men and a trial watched by all. This book offers and excellent opportunity to teach students about the American legal system. None other than John Adams defends the British soldiers responsible for firing on an angry mob of colonists, not because he sided with the British, but because he believed in the right to a fair trial and counsel. For Liberty is a nice, contemporary styled book to introduce the study of the American Revolution. It also works nicely as a supplemental source for a biography study of John Adams.

Abe’s Honest Words

Rappaport, Doreen. Abe’s Honest Words. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-42310408-7

Author Website: http://www.doreenrappaport.com/

Illustrator Website: http://www.kadirnelson.com/

Media: Oil Paint

Use of Sophisticated Language:

"It is for us the living, rather

that we here highly resolve

that these dead

shall not have died in vain--

that this nation, under God,

shall have a new birth of freedom--

and that government of the people,

by the people,

for the people,

shall not perish from the earth."

Curricular Connection: California History / Social Science, Grade 8, California Standards: 8.9: Students analyze the early and steady attempts to abolish slavery and to realize the ideals of the Declaration of Independence, 8.10: Students analyze the multiple causes, key events, and complex consequences of the Civil War.

Annotation: Abe's Honest Words tells the story of Abraham Lincoln, from his childhood in Kentucky to his role as Commander in Chief of the United States, to his untimely death. Artwork and portions of Lincoln’s speeches accompany the narrative.

Personal Reaction: Rappaport's text is interspersed with historical facts that combine with Nelson's beautiful artwork and make Lincoln a more human character. We see Lincoln age; see him run for office and lose, try and fail. We see him persevere and make his toughest decision that changed the direction of the entire country forever: the freeing of slaves. Rapport opts to include Lincoln's original words on the pages, sharing that Lincoln was eloquent, as well as honest.

I enjoyed this book on Lincoln and think it would make a great introduction for students studying the Civil War. Rapport’s work would pair well with Mr. Lincoln's High Tech War, which discusses the technology approved for use by Lincoln; it's fascinating to read about how forward-thinking Lincoln was for his time.

Artemis Fowl: the Graphic Novel

Colfer, Eoin and Donkin, Andrew. Artemis Fowl: the graphic novel. Illustrated by Giovanni Rigano and Paolo Lamanna. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2007. ISBN: 978-078684882-9

Author Websites: http://www.eoincolfer.com/ (Eoin Colfer), http://www.andrewdonkin.com/ (Andrew Donkin)

Illustrator Websites: http://riganogiovanni.blogspot.com/2008/11/artemis-fowl-graphic-novel-cybils-q.html (art by Giovanni Rigano), http://paololamanna.blogspot.com/ (color by Paolo Lamanna)

Media: Pen, Indian Ink, Colored Ink

Use of Onomatopoeia: (p. 64) “Excuse me while I titter.” (p. 77) “bubbling cramps.” (p. 87) “Thwokk!” (p. 89) “Fboom!” (p. 94) “Bam Bam Bam!”

Use of Allusion: (p. 108) “fairies has cleaned their house or made them shoes.”

Use of Alliteration: (p. 69) “geck gack or ur grend gedds it!” (p. 80) “fairy flatulence”

Use of Sophisticated Language: (p. 80) “The same gaseous anomaly has also rendered Butler unconscious for a time.”

Special Notation: Graphic Novel

Annotation: Boy genius and criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl stars in a graphic novel retelling of the first book in the Artemis Fowl series. Artemis uses insider knowledge about fairies to help his ailing mother.

Personal Reaction: I held off on reading the graphic novel version of Artemis Fowl out of fear that it would spoil one of my favorite books and characters. No need to have worried . . . the graphic novel of Artemis Fowl is based on Colfer’s original storyline, but it is so succinct and dependent on the graphics that it feels like a new story. Although Artemis’ character is highly familiar in the graphic novel, other characters are less recognizable. It doesn’t matter, the graphic novel stands on its own as a fresh, funny, clever story with the same ever-appealing main character at the heart of it. There is plenty of humor: (p. 71) “Nice to see you Julius.” “That’s Commander Root to you.” “Commander now. I heard that. Clerical error was it?” Artemis is as smart as ever and still talks to himself, (p. 63), “Best sinister face. Evil, highly intelligent and determined. Don’t forget determined,” he mutters as he preps for a meeting. Artemis Fowl: the Graphic Novel is entertaining and clever and makes for a fun read after the original series or on its own.

The Revolutionary John Adams

Harness, Cheryl. The Revolutionary John Adams. Washington, D.C: National Geographic, 2003. ISBN: 0-7922-6970-5

Awards: Beacon of Freedom Award, Nominee, 2006.

Author Website: None

Media: Rich watercolors on paper.

Use of Simile: (p.31) “news that plunked like a round black stone into the world of John and Abigail Adams.”

Use of Metaphor: (p.5) “stomach full of butterflies.” (p.26) “dug deep into his bag of political skills.” (p.29) “Two old lions, France and England.”

Use of Alliteration: (p.16) “soldiers froze and failed.” (p.24) “diamond-decked Marie Antoinette.” (p.32) “stump-stubbled Pennsylvania Avenue.”

Use of Onomatopoeia: (p.6) “John Adams fizzed with total and complete happiness.” (p.8) “People began to grumble.” (p.11) “plunk . . .plunk . . .plunked boxes of tea into Boston Harbor.”

Use of Sophisticated Language: (p. 26) “coaxed out of Holland official recognition and loans, lifeblood for his nation.”

Curricular Connection: California History / Social Science, Grade 5, California Standards: 5.6: Students understand the course and consequences of the American Revolution. 5.7: Students describe the people and events associated with the development of the U.S. Constitution and analyze the Constitution’s significance as the foundation of the American republic.

Special Notation: Non-fiction

Annotation: Harness traces the life of President John Adams from his humble beginnings on a farm to the White House. This biography offers details of Adams’ work as a revolutionary, politician, lawyer, statesman and leader.

Personal Reaction: This biography is steeped in facts, but it is also a very personal story of a man’s life. The author traces John Adams’ life from his birth on a farm in New England to his death on a farm not far away. In between, the reader learns about the role of Adams in revolting against England, building the government of new nation, working side by side with Washington, Jefferson and Franklin, serving as Vice-President and President, as well as working as a statesman abroad. The numerous quotes from Adams, familial details and excerpts from personal letters to his beloved wife Abigail allow for an insight into Adams life that makes this biography more memorable than others. Harness use sweeping watercolor paintings of people and maps to bring Adams’ time to life. In just 40 pages, Harness not only tells Adams’ story, but the history of our emerging and young nation. The personal perspective and illustrations provide an accessible history lesson for students in grades five to seven.

George vs. George: the American Revolution as Seen From Both Sides

Schanzer, Rosalyn. George vs. George: the American Revolution as seen from both sides. Washington, DC: National Geographic, 2004. ISBN: 0-7922-7349-4

Awards: ALA Notable Book for Children, 2005. NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Recommended Book, 2005.

Author / Illustrator Website: http://www.rosalynschanzer.com/

Media: Watercolor on paper.

Use of Alliteration: (p. 13) “gentlemen in fancy white wigs wearing all the latest fashions.” (p. 13) “from Borneo to the Bay of Botega.” (p. 14) “wealthy widow.” (p. 18) “drowning in debt.”

Use of Sophisticated Language: (p. 34) “Washington despaired over the inexperience of his volunteers, the constant desertions, and a paralyzing lack of food and military supplies.”

Use of Metaphor: (p. 11) “fabric binding America to Great Britain was about to unravel”

Curricular Connection: California History / Social Science, Grade 5, California Standard: 5.6: Students understand the course and consequences of the American Revolution.

Special Notation: Non-fiction, Lesson Plan (available at http://picturebooksforbigkids.blogspot.com/2011/08/5th-grade-language-arts-lesson-plan_03.html).

Annotation: George vs. George provides detailed coverage of the American Revolution from the perspectives of George Washington and George III, King of England. Details about the underlying causes of the war and the lives of both Georges contribute to a fascinating book.

Personal Reaction: Watercolor illustrations of George Washington and George III on the introductory page of this book set the tone for this rare, balanced presentation of the facts surrounding the American Revolution. Author Schanzer presents each George in an oval portrait glaring at each other. Washington is frowning and giving King George the evil eye and King George simply looks repulsed by Washington. From page one, I knew this book was going to give me both George’s stories and the chance to decide for myself what I thought of this period of history. Providing students with the opportunity to decide what they think about history is like giving the gift of higher order thinking. Schanzer doesn’t just offer a simplified version of these two men’s perspectives, either. George vs. George is packed with information about George Washington, his family, various other key figures of the time, details about King George, his family, England’s recent history and quotations from both men and their contemporaries that give readers a comprehensive sense of this period in history. The book offers a wealth of background material on the circumstances and environment in both the colonies and England before, during and after the war. Schanzer’s cheerful voice kept me interested as I read through this dense 60-page dual perspective story. I truly gained a sense of both sides of this historic story and appreciated that this author did not favor the U.S. perspective by glossing over details such as the fact that most Native Americans fought on the British side in hopes of protecting their land from colonists. Also, this book is definitely a picture book for older readers as indicated by the complex information about the structure of government, battle logistics, political posturing and mature verbiage. For example, on page 30, Schanzer writes, “Rebel newspapers reported that bloodthirsty redcoats burned houses, drove naked women into the streets and butchered old men and infants. The King was told that rebel savages broke the rules of war by ambushing his army. Then they scalped fallen British infantry and cut off their ears.”