A Simple Case of Angels

cover art

Adderson, C. (2014). A simple case of angels. Ontario, House of Anansi. $14.95. ISBN 9781554984305.

Gr 2–5— June Bug has behavior issues. She really can't help it. After all, she is just a puppy. But when her owner, Nicola, hears that June Bug's days with the family may be numbered, she decides that doing a good deed will solve the problem and ensure the dog's place in heaven and in the family. Shady Oaks retirement home is just the opportunity that Nicola, her new friend Lindsay, and June Bug need. But all is not well at the retirement home, and some patients are being kept against their will. Could these special patients be more than they appear? Will June Bug's and Nicola's good deeds be enough to save June Bug and keep her with the family? Young readers will enjoy and appreciate the struggle to "be good." Nicola is a relatable character with qualities that will resonate with girls and boys alike. The portrayed family dynamic is healthy, yet not without normal struggles. One of the most touching themes is the need to protect and respect the elderly and ensure that every person is treated with dignity. A sweet-natured and thoughtful read.—Elizabeth Speer, Cisco College, TX

Additional Reading:

Additional Books by Caroline can be found at http://www.carolineaddersonkids.com/books/

The Angel Tree by Daphne Benedis-Grab  ISBN 978-0545613781

Family Activities:

Visit a nursing home

Learn about therapy dogs

Make Angel wings:  This tutorial uses cardboard and a paper mache technique   http://www.creativelylivingblog.com/2012/12/how-to-make-huge-awesome-angel-wings.html

This tutorial uses paper plates:  http://lessthanperfectlifeofbliss.blogspot.com/2012/12/diy-angel-wings.html?m=0

Fracture

Fracture

 



 

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Miranda, Megan. 2012. Fracture. New York: Walker Books.  ISBN 978-0-8027-2309-3

    

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

 Delaney was dead.  Her heart was not beating and her lips were blue when Dekker pulled her out of the icy water and breathed life back into her.  After awakening from a coma her brain scans show massive damage.  And yet she is fine.  But now she feels death around every corner.  But she is not alone.  Troy also awoke from a coma with the gift.  But is it a gift or a curse?  Can they feel death or cause it?   

 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Megan Miranda's Fracture is a young adult supernatural story.  The supernatural element comes from a tragic accident in which Delaney falls through the thin ice of a lake and is not pulled free for eleven minutes.  Delaney languishes in a coma for six days before she awakens.  The naturally resulting medical brain damaged does not cause any impairment and  Delaney is able to speak, walk, and function normally with one small exception, she can feel death. 

 

Delaney is a fairly well rounded main character.  She is not perfect.  In fact, she is a bit clumsy and curvy and sees herself as brainy and definitely not athletic.  Her imperfections make her likable and enhance the novel.  Her relationship with Dekker and her parents are established enough to make the reader interested in what happens between them, but not developed enough to create a sense of urgency about the outcome of any differences. 

 

Dekker is only mildly developed as a character.  His role is that of best friend/rescuer/love interest.  The best aspect of Dekker is his uncertainty about how to handle almost losing Delaney and where they go from this point.  His guilt is well written and understandable.  And, Dekker is not infallible which he proves with his relationship with Tara. 

 

Delaney's relationship with Troy feels forced.  The fact that they both were in comas and have a connection to death is the only thing that truly keeps them together.  Further, the relationship is not healthy and the fact that Delaney is scared of Troy one moment and attracted to him the next does not help move the storyline or lend any feelings of empathy to the situation.

 

The title of the novel is especially representative of the story.  Delaney falls through a fracture in the ice.  Her life is fractured from the experience as are her relationships with Dekker and her parents.  Her ability to determine reality is slightly fractured as she discovers the nature of her gift.  And unfortunately, the story feels fractured and disjointed at times.

 

4. AWARDS and INFORMATION

• -Starred review from Publishers Weekly
• -Indiebound Winter 2012 Kids' Next List selection
• -a Boston Globe Best Young Adult Books of 2012 pick
• -a 2013 IRA Young Adults’ Choices Reading List selection
• -a Best Children's Books of The Year pick from the Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College of Education

 

 

 

When You Reach Me

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stead, Rebecca. 2009. When You Reach Me. New York: Random House. ISBN 978-0-385-73742-5

2. PLOT SUMMARY
After Miranda's best friend Sal gets punched by a kid for no reason their relationship changes.  Miranda is now without her best friend. To make matters worse she begins to receive strange notes from the future which make her believe that she is the only one that can stop the death of her friend. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
When You Reach Me is the 2010 Newbery Medal Winner.  The novel is fast paced with enough suspense and questions to make it an interesting and entertaining read.  Miranda is a likable character who develops as the narrative progress.  The big kid who punches Sal is Marcus.  He becomes a pivotal plot element that is essential to understanding the space/time element of the story.  The use of three overlapping storylines helps to propell the plot forward.  Miranda's mother appearing on the $20,000 Pyramid, Sal not speaking to Miranda and the friends she makes because of it, and the appearance of a strange homeless man all work together to bring about an unexpected resolution.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, June 1, 2009:"teen readers will circle back to the beginning and say,'Wow ... cool.'" Starred Review, Booklist, June 1, 2009:"[T]he mental gymnastics required of readers are invigorating;"
Starred Review, The Horn Book Magazine, July & August, 2009:
"Closing revelations are startling and satisfying"Starred Review, School Library Journal, July 2009:"This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers."Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, June 22, 2009:"It's easy to imagine readers studying Miranda's story as many times as she's read L'Engle's, and spending hours pondering the provocative questions it raises."

WINNER 2009 Kid's Indie Next List "Inspired Recommendations for Kids from Indie Booksellers"WINNER 2009 New York Times Notable BookWINNER 2009 Kirkus Reviews Best Children�s BooksWINNER 2009 Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of the YearWINNER 2009 School Library Journal Best Book of the YearWINNER 2009 Booklist Children's Editors' Choice WINNER 2009 Horn Book FanfareWINNER 2009 National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) Gold AwardWINNER 2009 Parents' Choice Gold AwardWINNER 2009 Book Links Lasting ConnectionWINNER 2010 Newbery Medal WinnerWINNER 2010 ALA Notable Children's BookWINNER 2010 ALA Best Books for Young Adults Top 10WINNER 2010 NCSS/CBC Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social StudiesWINNER 2010 Cooperative Children's Book Center ChoicesWINNER 2010 NCTE Notable Children's Trade Books in the Language ArtsWINNER 2010 IRA Children's Book Award for Older Readers

5. CONNECTIONS

Other Books about time travel:

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

The Time Travelers (Gideon Trilogy) by Linda Buckley-Archer

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

 

Explore time travel with Nova and PBS- http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/time/

Go see "A Wrinkle in Time" performed at the Dallas Children's Theater in 2013

 

 

Discuss symbolism and the symbols present in the novel.  Have students bring in something that symbolizes them and present it to the group.