Module/Genre 4 Nonfiction Literature

Module/Genre 4 Nonfiction Literature

OUT OF SIGHT: PICTURES OF HIDDEN WORLDS

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Simon, Seymour. 2000. OUT OF SIGHT: PICTURES OF HIDDEN WORLDS. New York, NY: Sea Star Books. ISBN 1587170116

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Seymour Simon has written the perfect informational picture book for intriguing minds of all ages, the photography jumps right off the page and readers will not be let down from one page to the next. Simon has created a world where the naked eye cannot go. With brief text and bold pictures, readers will be fascinated with the representations of their insides: tomograms of lungs, skin magnified at 500x and an endoscope inside the heart are just a few of the areas of the human body that Simon covers. Simon also explains the hidden world of time with a bullet slashing a card; this eye catching piece will have the reader saying, “Wow!”
Simon closes the book with hidden worlds of geography and space and reminding readers that there are many more hidden worlds out there left to explore.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Seymour Simon writes an introduction to the reader stating, “There are worlds that are too small, too distant, too fast. There are worlds that are behind or within other objects. And there are kinds of lights that eyes just cannot see.” This brief note is very important because it broadens the reader’s knowledge into hidden worlds they are about to encounter on the book's pages.
With each page Simon goes beyond educating the reader as to what they are looking at, he goes in detail as to how the image was generated and how it can be manipulated. For example, with the lady bug, Simon uses basic vocabulary to describe the “colorful looking monster,” but he does not underestimate the reader's comprhension, he then specifies that the image is actually a SEM (scanning electron micrograph). From there he further details the different views that can be presented with this tool, and explains that the color in this photo is computer processed to make details more visible. Simon makes SEM knowledge more applicable to young readers when he presents an image of velcro. Readers will be surprised to find out that the worm looking creatures are nothing more that part of their shoes magnified at 140x.
The illustrations in this book are similar to that of a photo essay, with their massive size and minimal text. Blocks of text are utilized to not deter from the striking images. Neon brain scans and a satellite image of the Himalayas will let the reader peak inside a world of the unknown, and the new images will give-way to a different perspective to what they had previously known. Young readers may challenge the idea that they’re brain is not red and blue, or that mountains are not flat, but triangular, and this is exactly what Simon wants the reader to do…Explore!
Simon leaves the reader with some very intriguing questions: “What are the secrets of matter? Does life exist on other planets? Where did life itself come from?” These questions and this book will definitely get readers thinking about the world, beyond what they can see.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist - 10-01-2000
At times the text seems torn between discussing what we are seeing and explaining how the image was made. More emphasis on technique would have made this a stronger, more coherent book, but anyone who comes across it will happily browse through the intriguing and sometimes awesome pictures collected in this handsome volume.
Publishers Weekly- 07-24-2000
The author keeps his text to a minimum, explaining succinctly each image featured and the methods and instruments used to capture them, including compound microscopes, fiber optics, CAT scans, MRIs, thermograms and high-speed photography. Only occasionally does the narrative become overly technical for the targeted audience, as in a description of the magnification of subatomic particles in motion. Even the creepy pictures (a head louse magnified 320 times; and plaque and tartar on the surface of a tooth, magnified some 2,700 times) will attract readers.
School Library Journal - 11-01-2000
The text serves primarily as extended captions to the photos, providing information on the ways the pictures were taken and a basic explanation of what the images represent. The large, bright illustrations are beautifully reproduced and present some fascinating views of the world. The subjects range from the very small, such as the head of a bedbug, to the very large and far away, as photographed by the Hubble Space Telescope. This book would work well with an adult who wants to share the wonders of science with young children.

5. CONNECTIONS
*Use this book as introduction to a science unit, and then let children examine other specimens with a microscope.
* Use this book as a game, show the students the different photographs and let them guess at what they think they may be looking at. As time progresses, give the students different clues that are relative to what they are looking at. Start with an easy one! (Lungs page 19.)
* After talking about the use of strobe lights and photography, bring in a strobe light to demonstrate the effects they have, even as you look at an image in person. Then take multiple photos, develop, and discuss!
*Look at the various geography photos and explain relief maps, then let each student develop a key and color their own relief map.
* After reading this book, have students make their own suggestions of things that are too small to see with the naked eye.
*Other titles to pair with this:
Maynard, Christopher. MICRO MONSTERS: LIFE UNDER THE MICROSCOPE. ISBN 0789447568
Kramer, Stephen & Kunkel, Dennis. HIDDEN WORLDS: LOOKING THROUGH A Scientist’s MICROSCOPE. ISBN 0618354050
Bullock, Linda. LOOKING THROUGH A MICROSCOPE. ISBN 0516279122


ACTUAL SIZE

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jenkins, Steve. 2004. ACTUAL SIZE. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0618375945

2. PLOT SUMMARY
At first glance readers may assume that this title is nothing more than another informational picture book about animals, but once opened, readers will be astounded with the massive pictures and facts. Jenkins has composed a book of animals that are either mammoth or miniscule to the readers own proportion. His writing style incorporates the reader and makes them part of the experience. Animals stretch across the pages of white space to bring perspective to their size, and these are not enlargements but the actual size of the animal depicted. Readers will be taken aback when they realize that the size of giant squid’s eye is larger than their own head. Jenkins’s text is short and simple, crafted in away that will not overwhelm readers or distract from his illustrations. Jenkins challenge’s readers to see how you will measure up to these creatures, and people will surely welcome the challenge.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Steve Jenkins has come up with a very interactive nonfiction book that children will jump right into. With an introduction that asking the reader if they have ever shaken the hand of a gorilla, it is a sure bet they will turn the page to learn a bit more. The concept of this book is reader participation, not just about memorizing facts, and this will encourage readers to incorporate themselves in relation to the animals.
Jenkins has mastered the idea of child-friendly illustrations with his use of cut and torn paper collages. Some of the animals in this book may be frightening to young readers if they were presented in actual photographs, especially the foldout of the saltwater crocodile. Jenkins’s paper collages downplay the demure of the dangerous creatures to make the book more inviting to younger audiences. The paper elements also add texture and dimension to the large animals, so that their depictions are somewhat realistic. Jenkins’s made a solid choice with the white background, which really makes his work the forefront of the book.
The text of the book is minimal, set in Futura. This font choice contains no serifs keeping inline with the entire book that has very little detail. Each animal is labeled with its name in boldface, and it is accompanied by a sentence that is sure to grab an inattentive listener. For example, “The Goliath Frog lives in Africa. It’s big enough to catch and eat birds and rats.” Jenkins’s presents the animals information in the format of “little known facts” so that the initial discovery may lead a reader to explore on further.
In the back of the book Jenkins’s includes a glossary that includes all the animals in the book. This section provides a more in-depth look at each creature. Although they are short, they include facts about weight, habitat, and types of prey. Jenkins’s concept of a picture glossary makes sense for younger audiences, who may not remember the exact name of animal they want to learn more about. Using this tool children can flip right to back of the book and point to the animal that intrigues them most. These tid-bits are perfect for intermediate readers assigned to report on an animal, the information presented is concise and understandable the confident reader.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist - 05-15-2004 Starred Review
The resulting juxtapositions will leave children marveling at one species' daintiness, and then shuddering as they mentally sketch in the unseen portions of more formidable beasts. Jenkins' artwork is gorgeous (a gatefold of a frog in midleap is particularly memorable), and, at the end of the book, thumbnail images of the featured animals paired with information about habitat and behavior put the piquant visuals into a broader context. An unusual, unusually effective tool for connecting children to nature's astonishing variety.
Horn Book Magazine - 05-01-2004
The relative sizes are accentuated by the white backdrop and are grounded by the straightforward information that accompanies the creatures--one or two brief sentences followed by the animal's height/length and weight--as they parade across the expansive pages.
Kirkus - 05-01-2004
Four concluding pages provide more information about the featured animals, along with reasonably sized, full-body reiterations of the illustrations. Sadly enough, however, in a book that is so intimately concerned with measurement, only English units are used, seemingly ignoring the fact that the metric system is the universal language of science worldwide. A regrettable flaw in an otherwise outstanding offering.
Publishers Weekly - 04-19-2004
Animals in Action A trio of titles explores the animal kingdom. Actual Size by Steve Jenkins is the Caldecott Honor artist's latest foray into the natural world. Here, his signature cut- and torn-paper collage artwork depicts animals to scale, imitating fur and skin remarkably.
School Library Journal - 06-01-2004
Mixing deceptive simplicity with absolute clarity, this beautiful book is an enticing way to introduce children to the glorious diversity of our natural world, or to illustrate to budding scientists the importance of comparison, measurement, observation, and record keeping. A thoroughly engaging read-aloud and a must-have for any collection

5. CONNECTIONS
* Have students choose one animal from Jenkins’s book and have them do an in depth report on it, with the stipulation that they find an unusual characteristic of there particular animal.
* Give each child a map and have them find where these animals are indigenous too, and then discuss the types of climates they live in.
* Get a long roll of paper and measure out 23 feet. Next, look at Jenkins depiction of the Saltwater Crocodile and ask students to re-create the reptile on paper. Students could be assigned to different parts of the reptile’s structure.
* To gain more perspective on the proportion of these animals, collect different household items to compare to the illustrations. Give children a chance to brainstorm ideas about what else may be similar in size. Let students create there own book with an ACTUAL SIZE animal on one page and on the opposite page have them make a list of all the things that are relative to the size of that particular animal.
* Explain to students the illustration process of this book, and then give them various colors of construction paper and let them try mimicking Jenkins’s style, except let them choose a animal, maybe a pet of their own.
*Other titles to pair with this:
Jenkins, Steve. PREHISTORIC ACTUAL SIZE. ISBN 0618535780
Jenkins, Steve. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN SOMETHING WANTS TO EAT YOU? ISBN 0395825148
Page, Robin. & Jenkins, Steve. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A TAIL LIKE THIS? ISBN 0618256288
Jenkins, Steve. Big & Little. ISBN 0395726646


SECRETS OF A CIVIL WAR SUBMARINE: Solving the Mysteries of the H.L. Hunley

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Walker, Sally M. 2005. SECRETS OF A CIVIL WAR SUBMARINE: Solving the Mysteries of the H.L. Hunley. Illustrations and maps on pp.7, 13,15,17,18,19,36,80 by Laura Westlund. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books Inc. ISBN 1575058308


2. PLOT SUMMARY
Walker has written a detailed account of Civil War submarine, the H.L. Hunley. Walker’s writing begins with a brief history of its builders: Horace Lawson Hunley and James McClintock and their arrival in Mobile, Alabama in 1862. Her writings then move to the submarine itself describing its structure and how the effects of buoyancy allow it to: sink, rise, and deliver torpedoes. Walker gives an account of the two fatal disasters that occurred before the Hunley went down for the third and final time. Before the Hunley disappeared it did accomplish the mission of sinking the Housatonic, making it the first submarine to sink an enemy ship. Walker proceeds on with the moment readers are waiting for: discovery of the Hunley. The last chapters of the book really delve into the recovery of the Hunley, the science of making it happen, the treasures within, and the secrets of the lives lost.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book is not typical of an informational title. From the beginning it is apparent that the author and reader will embark on a journey together. Walker approaches this title with her personal view of what she has learned and what has yet to be learned.
The journey of the Hunley starts with her people, and Walker makes the people of Hunley just as important as the Hunley itself, and this is evident from the beginning with the history and facts of Horace Lawson Hunley and James McClintock both who designed the infamous submarine. McClintock was an engineer who built gauges for steam-operated equipment. Horace Hunley was a wealthy plantation owner who worked as a lawyer, customs officer and captain of a blockade runner. Walker further explains Horace Hunley's ambitions for building submarines, marked not by profit but by his belief that Southern States had been right to secede the United States in 1861. Before the H.L.Hunley, Horace and McClintock made two submarines that were unsuccessful: the Pioneer and American Diver. The closing pages of this book offer even more evidence as to how important the people of the Hunley were. Chapters eight and nine offer a personal look at the crew with the forensic archeology and recovering their personal belongings. Archeologist, Doug Owsley worked with others to reconstruct each crew member’s skull, so that each name may have a face.

This title not only gives the reader a look into history, but several lessons in science. It is in Chapter two where Walker educates the reader about the principle of buoyancy. She explains the basic scientific law, “That two objects cannot be on the same place at the same time.” There are three separate diagrams explaining how buoyancy applies to the Hunley. The principle consists of the following:
Positive Bouyancy-pg16 “If we could place the Hunley in a giant swimming pool, we could observe how much water she displaces. The Hunley floats because she is positively buoyant.”
Negative Bouyancy-pg18 “As the Hunley dives, water enters her ballast tanks. She becomes heavier than the water she displaces. Negatively buoyant, she sinks.”
Neutral Buoyancy-pg19 “The Hunleys weight equals the weight of the water she displaces. She is neutrally buoyant and holds steady in the water.”

The second half of Walker's titl;e gives way to the rising of the Hunley.After long searching for the sunken Hunley, it was on May 3rd 1995 that Clive Cussler, Wes Hall, Randolph Wilbanks, and Henry Pecorelli finally discovered the Hunley. Next would come the rising of the Hunley. This process would be aided by a Klarissa B, a barge with six legs securely planted on the ocean floor to create stability, and 32 nylon slings would be placed underneath the submarine, finally a crane would lift it out of the water. Archeologist, Maria Jacobsen reiterates the importance of math to young readers stating, “Designing the truss and determining how many slings were needed required hundreds of mathematical calculations. Math is very, very powerful tool for calculating what is going to happen when you are lifting heavy yet fragile objects.”

Walker’s title offers a wealth of information that may be overwhelming to a young reader initially, but she uses simple yet informative language so that the reader may digest and retain the information. The author also offers a glossary and a list of websites that may aid the reader in further research and understanding. Like many informational titles Walker has chosen to use chapters making it approachable to readers who can only mange a chapter at a time, they may be more apt to read a title that has starting and stopping points along the way.
The cover of this book utilizes the element of attractive design, with an underwater shot of the H.L Hunley with highlighted bursts of green and yellow. Readers may be disappointed if they are anticipating more photographs like this. The majority of the pages are laden with text and smaller photographs, still readers will take interest in the historical documents and diagrams sprinkled throughout. Highlights of the crew’s personal items found aboard and compelling details will help readers connect with the journey and disaster.
The mysteries of the Hunley are not solved within the concluding pages, but the author leaves the reader with an endearing note that expresses her commitment and personal journey with the book and H.L. Hunley. The element of the unknown may spark some readers into an inforamtional journey of their own.


4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist- 04-15-2005 Starred Review
Walker begins with the history of the Hunley's design and construction as well as its place in Civil War and naval history. She really hits her stride, though, in explaining the complex techniques and loving care used in raising the craft, recovering its contents, and even reconstructing models of the crewmembers' bodies. Back matter includes a detailed author's note, source notes, a bibliography, and recommended Web sites. Thoroughly researched, nicely designed, and well illustrated with clear, color photos, the book will serve as an informative guide to anyone interested in the Hunley or intrigued by archaeology.
School Library Journal - 05-01-2005 Starred Review
This is a finely crafted account of the Hunley from its inception to the modern archaeological quest to exhume her from the water. It is divided into chronological chapters complete with pictures, maps, and primary sources. Half of the book discusses the construction and design of the submarine, in addition to its practice runs and its first and only mission. The archaeological process is well documented in both words and pictures, and the conclusions are interesting and even surprising.
VOYA - 06-01-2005
Walker skillfully combines history, science, and storytelling in clear and accessible writing that will appeal to middle school students as well as older readers. Abundant photographs and illustrations are attractive and informative, and the layout is clean and attention grabbing. Although technical details are occasionally overwhelming, Walker keeps her focus on the people involved in the tale.

Children's Literature
The book discusses the problems that then arose: ownership, safe recovery, excavation, and conservation. Maps, diagrams, photos of the Civil War participants, and photos of the actual ship and artifacts aboard are compelling. A satisfying account of the humans on board—there were skeletal remains plus teeth which provided a beginning—shows how researchers work with historians to verify the identities while forensic experts use this information to recreate possible appearances in clay. An intriguing look at a wide variety of scientific fields and scientists at work, a sidelight through Civil War history, and the mysteries of the ocean floor are all hooks to interest readers in this well-conceived book.

5. CONNECTIONS
*Have students research the civil war and have them find other pertinent events that occurred, and then make a class timeline with all of their findings.
*Use this title to start a discussion on other famous shipwrecks that have occurred through history.
*Other titles to pair with this:
Clary, Margie Willis. MAKE IT THREE: THE STORY OF THE CSS H.L.HUNLEY SUBMARINE. ISBN 0878441581
Walker, Sally M. SHIPWRECK SEARCH: DISCOVERY OF THE H.L. HUNLEY. ISBN 0822564491
Boehm Jerome, Kate. Farnsworth, Bill. Sofo, Frank. CIVIL WAR SUB: THE MYSTERY OF THE HUNLEY. ISBN 0448425971
Hawk, Fran. THE STORY OF THE H.L. HUNLEY AND QUEENIE’S COIN EDITION 1. ISBN 1585362182

Module/Genre 3 Poetry

Module/Genre 3 Poetry

PLEASE BURY ME IN THE LIBRARY

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lewis, Patrick J. 2005. PLEASE BURY ME IN THE LIBRARY. Ill. By Kyle M. Stone. Orlando, FA: Gulliver Books Harcourt, Inc. ISBN1415593515

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Patrick Lewis has compiled a book within a book with 16 poems that portray the
likings of conversations, haikus, and of course books. Short and rapid poems move the reader quickly through this richly illustrated book. Some of the poems contain rhyming stanzas that children are familiar with; others are a bit more obscure to show the reader that all poetry doesn’t have to rhyme.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Illustrator, Kyle Stone, depicts a cover scene that just makes you want to pick up this book. The face of the book depicts three little mice reading by candlelight in a library, and the illustrator does not let down on the inside pages. Stone’s work is completed with acrylics and mixed media, which was surprising because the colors are so deep that they give the look of layered oil on canvas. Stone’s work also has depth and dimension, created by bursts of light color and elements of texture. Lewis and Stone were in definite collaboration with the poem, “What if Books Had Different Names.” Stone writes of familiar children’s books and characters with a twist, as shown in present Furious George, Mary Had a Little Clam, and Green Eggs and
Spam. Stone’s illustrations show opposite with a little lamb prepared to eat his green eggs and Spam.
Some of the works in this book would be excellent for introducing children to poetry because of their length and subject matter. A stepping stone into this book can be found with the piece: “Eating Alphabet Soup.” From there, readers could move on to “A Classic” to try and describe what the message of the poem is. Beginners would also do well with “Necessary Gardens.” This piece would make a good introduction to Acrostic poems. Other poems in this book may be a bit too hard for poetry newcomers to grasp, for example the piece: “Reading in the Dark.” Although short, it tends to be a bit more complex and poetic with lines: “Mouse holes, and underground maps. You Know, I hoot to Lantern-Eye. Books are loaded traps.”


4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist - 02-15-2005
Despite the picture-book format, it will take children older than the preschool crowd to appreciate the wordplay, which on occasion is quite sophisticated (Lewis credits Lear, Carroll, and X. J Kennedy as his inspirations). The acrylic and mixed-media artwork adds whimsy to the words
Kirkus - 04-01-2005 Starred Review
In 16 poems, all but two appearing here for the first time, the Midwest's cleverest living comic poet enjoins readers, "Please bury me in the library / With a dozen long-stemmed proses." He suggests altering classic titles ("Green Eggs and Spam"), offers reading-related haiku, a library acrostic-and even literary criticism, from "A great book is a homing device / For navigating paradise" to "A bad book owes to many trees / A forest of apologies."
Publishers Weekly - 03-14-2005
Despite its clever title, Lewis (Arithme-Tickle) and Stone's combination of sentimental rhymes and at times ghoulish whimsy creates a volume of poetry about reading that may leave bookworms with a bit of indigestion.
School Library Journal - 06-01-2005
The brief selections encompass various forms, from an eight-word acrostic to haiku to rhyming quatrains and couplets. The tone is generally light, with the last few entries turning more to wonder and metaphor ("A good book is a kind/Of person with a mind/Of her own..."). Usually printed one per spread, the poems are accompanied by richly dark artwork. The thickly applied acrylic paint and mixed-media illustrations are sometimes reminiscent of the work of David Shannon, with a comically grotesque air, and add comprehension to the verses.

5. CONNECTIONS
* Read the poem on page 4, “What if Books Had Different Names?” and have children make illustrations of these new creatures. Compile all the drawings and add the poem on the opposite pages, to the correlating drawings.
* Have students analyze the poem, “A Classic” on page 14, and ask students what they think the author is trying to convey. Once they understand the concept, have them name a book that they themselves and their parents enjoy.
* Read “Summer Reading at the Beach,” on page 24, and challenge students to add another stanza, including their own favorite summer activities.
*Other titles:
Prelutsky, Jack. READ A RHYME WRITE A RHYME. ISBN 0375822860
Lewis, J. Patrick. DOODLE DANDIES. ISBN 0689848897

IT’S RAINING LAUGHTER

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Grimes, Nikki. 1997. Its RAINING LAUGHTER. Photography by Myles C. Pinkney. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN0803720041

2. PLOT SUMMARY
It’s Raining Laughter is compiled of twelve poems that capture the emotions of children in their daily lives. Most of the poems are written in one to two stanzas while others cover multiple pages with lines spread throughout. For the most part, the poems are straightforward but on a level that will challenge the reader to think of times when they encountered similar emotions. Critical thinking exercises may be required of the two poems, “Where’d You Get Them Names?” and “Listen,” which deal with more complex messages. The variety offered in this book will welcome and test readers at the same time

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The illustrations in this book have been taken over by the photography of Miles C. Pinkney. His work gives this book realness because of the random upstaged shots of the children. Readers will delight in seeing the subjects smile, giggle, play and ponder. Pinkney uses an array of picture sizes and techniques to compliment each poem. For example, the piece “Wallet Size” Pinkney uses a close up shot of a young boy with a warm smile conveying the poem’s message of acceptance. In another poem “Listen” Pinkney captures children eating fruit in several pictures to reflect lines four and five of the poem, (Each day is like fruit resting ripe in my hand). Along with the young faces that cover the pages are color blocks to highlight the text. The only issue I see with the photography is that all of the images are composed of African-American children, and the lack of diversity may or may not may lead to a more narrow audience.

Grime’s collection of poems are written in a straight-forward manner to draw in readers. For example, in “Remember” the descriptive details will make the reader feel as though they too are standing nervously on stage. “At the Library” grasps readers from the beginning, opening with: I flip the pages of a book and slip inside, where crystal seas await and pirates hide. This piece also demonstrates enchanting elements of her writing as she writes about a paradise where birds can talk, children fly, and trees prefer to walk.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal
Twelve joyous poems about growing up are filled with music, laughter, and love. Simple childhood pleasures such as running, playing, reading, and remembering are touched on with insight and humor. Full-color photographs of African-American children at work and play are placed on pastel-shaded pages that convey all the exuberance and delight of the selections. A harmonious blend of words and pictures.
Children's Literature
Nikki Grimes' joyful poems are paired with photos by Myles C. Pinkney to create an uplifting reading experience for children. Whether the children are shown learning to play the piano, running, or giggling, the enthusiasm is contagious. You'll be smiling before you reach the last page.

5. CONNECTIONS
*Read the poem “Remember,” and afterwards have children brainstorm about very important moments in their lives, then have them write a poem to try and capture the way the felt.
*Use the poems “Sideways” and “Four Eyes” to open up a discussion on bullying and differences. Discuss how differences are not always bad, but make us unique.
* Use the poem “Listen” to discuss peer pressure, ask the children: “What is it that the author is telling you not to try?”
Other titles to pair with for a poetry unit:
Fletcher, J. Ralph. WRITING KIND OF DAY. ISBN 1590783530
Fletcher, J. Ralph. WRITERS NOTEBOOK: UNLOCKING THE WRITER WITHIN YOU. ISBN 1590783530


STOP PRETENDING WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MY BIG SISTER WENT CRAZY


1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sones, Sonya. 1999. STOP PRETENDING WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MY BIG SISTER WENT CRAZY. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 0060283866

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Sonya Sones has written a novel in narrative poems, based on a true-life experience she had at age thirteen. Sones fills the book with poems about her feelings as she goes through a tumultuous time with her family. Christmas Eve was not spent unwrapping gifts. Instead it was the night of the breakdown, when Sones eldest sister was admitted to the Psych ward. Many of the poems frequently flash back to when the sisters were younger and life was normal. Her writing reflects guilt as she wonders how this could have happened, or how just days prior there was no sign of the girl who now breaks into tirades as they play Monopoly in the hospital visiting room. Sones words depict anger, resentment, sorrow, and eventually love.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The author writes a note in the concluding pages, explaining more about her personal situation, and how her sister now leads a productive normal life. She stresses the importance of the subject matter in this book hoping that it will help more people bring their own situations to light. Sones’s inspiration for this book came from Myra Cohn Livingston, an instructor at UCLA, who had instructed the class to write a poem using falling rhythms, and with that came, the piece “Hospitalized.” With more encouragement from Livingston, Sones’s eventually compiled this book. The reader is left with professional resources if they are ever in a situation needing help.
The poems in this book are written much like chapters in a regular novel, except shorter and a lot more powerful. Readers will find themselves breezing through the rapid stanzas only to be stopped by the awe of the words. The poem “In Art Class” starts with: I am drawing my sister with saucers for eyes. The saucers are spinning out sparks. The piece then progresses with the eyes of each family member, closing with the author saying, “I’m drawing myself without any eyes at all.” Although brief, the pain of each family member still makes an impact with the reader.
Sones’s language in “Stop Pretending” comes to life, as you can visualize a tormented young girl yelling, “Don’t you tell me you don't know me. Stop this crazy act and show me that you haven’t changed.” This book is more than just an example of a novel written in poems, it is the key to a doorway where people are not comfortable going.


4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal
An unpretentious, accessible book that could provide entry points for a discussion about mental illness-its stigma, its realities, and its affect on family members. Based on the journals Sones wrote at the age of 13 when her 19-year-old sister was hospitalized due to manic depression, the simply crafted but deeply felt poems reflect her thoughts, fears, hopes, and dreams during that troubling time.
Kirkus Reviews
The form, a story-in-poems, fits the story remarkably well, spotlighting the musings of the 13-year-old narrator, and pinpointing the emotions powerfully.
KLIATT
The poetry is compelling. It is so heartfelt: the pain and confusion of a young teenager when her family life dissolves into chaos because of mental illness.
Children's Literature
This is one of the most beautiful and most disturbing books aimed at young people that I have ever read. Beautiful not just in its use of free verse, but in the use of language and images that brings even mundane subjects to life.
For anyone who has actually had this experience, the book can only be read in short doses; for anyone who hasn't, it's a fantastic view of a world we would probably not want to be a part of.

5. CONNECTIONS
* Use this book as an ice breaker to talk about mental illness or address what it must be like for families who have members dealing with other problems.
*Break children into small groups and have them discuss what it would be like to have a sibling in this same situation.
* Ask students to choose one organization listed in the back of the book and have them research it more in depth. One task could be for them to find various coping mechanisms to deal with stress.
* Have an open discussion about other situations that have an effect on the entire family. Prompts that could be used are eating disorders or drug and alcohol abuse.
Other titles:
Rosenberg, Liz. 17. ISBN 081264915X
Horrocks, Anita. ALMOST EDEN. ISBN 0887767427
Fischer, Jackie Moyer. AN EGG ON THREE STICKS. ISBN 0312317751
Hautman, Pete. INVISIBLE. ISBN 0689869037