Hope Was Here (Book Talk 5)

After Hope and her Aunt Addie get swindled by a restaurant owner, they leave Brooklyn in search of greener pastures in Mulhouney, Wisconsin. Mulhouney is a small town centered around the dairy industry. The first thing Hope notices when she gets to town is the  huge advertisements and numerous milk trucks in the streets. The local diner, Stairway to Heaven, hires Hope as a waitress and Addie as a cook/manager.

The owner, G.T. Stoop, has leaukemia and hastily decides to run for mayor. His opponent, Eli Millstone, has been mayor for two consecutive terms and is hungry for a third. Eli attacks G.T. openly that his sickness makes him a poor choice for mayor. G.T. points out that the dairy company is behind on their taxes and is funding Eli's campaign to further their own political agenda. Eli's campaign pulls dirty tricks to win but eventually loses.


My personal favorite part of the story was when G.T. proposed to Addie. Hope's mom left Hope with Addy because she felt she was an unfit parent. When G.T. marries Addie, he asks Hope if he can become the father she never had. It was a beautiful ending.   

The setting very much determines the speed of the story. When Hope is working at the restaurant, it is very fast paced and exciting. Two rings of a bell signal her that food is at the window. She is constantly dolling out coffee and working hard to keep the customers happy.

"You know what I like most about waitressing?  When I'm doing it, I'm not thinking that much about myself.  I'm thinking about other people.  I'm learning again and again what it takes to make a difference in other people's lives."(Page 144)

I am also very fond of the jargon used. By reading the story you start to understand the language that waitresses and cooks share. It adds a whole new level of analogies and ways to express emotions. In the classroom, I would use this book to show young teens the value of good and honest work. Every character is striving to be better: Hope wants to be the best waitress, Addie is always perfecting a recipe, and G.T. will stop at nothing to stop the corruption in his town.

Check out this LINK more about the author. It also includes lesson plans for discussion groups.

By the way, it was the Newberry Honor for 2001.

Rapunzel Book (Book Talk 4)

Rapunzel, by Paul O. Zelinsky, gave me the feeling that I was looking at a beautiful painting every time I turned the page. There is no wonder that this is a Caldecott winner for 1997. The story is a typical take on the popular fairy tale but with more depth. I think the character development for the book was lacking. By the end, we don't know if Rapunzel had dreams or even a brain. She could just be a pretty face.

The story starts with a couple who has trouble conceiving. When the wife finally becomes pregnant, she craves the herb Rapunzel from the evil sorceress's garden. She craves it so much, in fact, that she fears she may die without it. Her dutiful husband sneaks into the garden but gets caught. The sorceress bargains that she will let him take the Rapunzel if he gives her their first born. Afraid for his wife's life, the husband agrees.


They name the daughter, Rapunzel. The sorceress takes Rapunzel and locks her away in a tower. The only way to get in through a window at the very top. Rapunzel throws down her hair and the sorceress climbs up. One day a prince walking through the forest hears Rapunzel's’ singing and instantly falls in love with her. He climbs up her hair and asks her to marry him then and there. They have a private wedding and he visits every time the sorceress leaves. Rapunzel becomes pregnant and when the sorcerer finds out, she banishes her and cuts off her hair. That evening the sorceress tricks the prince and he falls to the ground and becomes blind. He searches for Rapunzel for over a year and finally hears her singing voice. Rapunzel's tears of joy give the prince back his sight and she introduces him to his sons. They all go back to the kingdom and live happily ever after. 

I have to admit that this book made me giggle inappropriately. The way that the Sorceress finds out Rapunzel has been seeing a man is because Rapunzel becomes miraculously pregnant. Which makes me think, "What was going on in that tower?" Also, the prince marries Rapunzel in secret shortly after meeting her. He doesn't try to take her out of the tower. It's like he wants her to be stuck in one place so he can visit her but maintain his own freedom. This is my personal opinion though. 

 This would be useful in the classroom as a comparative tool. Students could choose a fairytale and compare different versions of it. They could even write their own version of Rapunzel.

American Born Chinese (Book Talk 2)

                                                                    This graphic novel STOMPS on stereotypes about Asian culture!

Three stories start and ultimately converge in this award winning, Young adult Graphic Novel. First is the story of the Monkey King and his struggle to become an accepted deity. Next, Jin Wang must deal with stereotypes and pressures of being a Chinese American. He starts trying to become more and more white to fit in with his peers. Lastly is the story of Danny, a average white american whose Chinese cousin comes to visit every year. His cousin, Chim Kee, embodies all the stereotypes of being a F.O.B. (Fresh off the Boat) proudly. He is super smart, has a thick accent, and eats "clispy flied cat gizzards wiff noodle" for lunch. At the end of the story, we find that Jin Wang was transformed into Danny because of his yearning to become white. His cousin, Chim Kee, is the Monkey King sent back to show Jin Wang the error of his ways. Both, Danny and the Monkey King must learn to accept themselves for who they are. This is the ultimate theme within the story and it is an hilarious journey. No wonder this novel is the Winner of the Printz award and finalist for the National Book Association.

Original Sketch for Chim Kee

This novel would be an interesting starting point for high school students to discuss negative stereotypes of any race. Knowledge is key. It is important for students to call out these stereotypes for the inaccurate portraits of culture that they portray. I believe that each culture should be valued for its wonderful contribution to society.

Included are two of my favorite pages from the novel. Enjoy! (I know I did)