A Step From Heaven - Fiction, Fantasy and YA

Bibliography

Na, An. 2001. A STEP FROM HEAVEN. Asheville: Front Street.
ISBN 1-886910-58-8.

Plot Summary

            An Na’s A STEP FROM HEAVEN is the story of Young Ju and her family who immigrate to the United States, a place they think is heaven, from Korea. Young Ju’s parents want her to act American to the outside world and live up to her traditional Korean upbringing at home; these are complicated roles for her to play and her dual personalities are increasingly difficult to maintain due to her father’s alcoholism and their extreme poverty. After her parents divorce Young Ju matures and adapts to her circumstances, eventually going to college. Her story ends on a hopeful note, her mother works three jobs and buys her family a house of their own and Young Ju has her future ahead of her and can now discover what life holds for her.

Critical Analysis

            An Na’s book A STEP FROM HEAVEN is, at its core, about hope. This feeling of hope is first discovered in the way Young Ju and her family choose to leave the only home they know for what they believe are better circumstances in California. The family struggles to fit in, having trouble learning the new language and customs. During her life journey the reader sees Young Ju exposed to many situations that would weaken the strongest hope. Young Ju is tested by not only her new home, but also by what the changes of moving to California do to her family. However even though it may not always be present, hope remains in their lives. At the end of the novel we see Young Ju, her mother and brother starting over again after their father abandoned them. Here again the reader is shown the idea that hope for a better future can come from the bleakest of circumstances.

An Na paints an authentic portrait of an immigrant family. Through a series of events in a young girl’s life, we see how the family learns to adjust to life in their new home. The book does not shy away from portraying events with realism and harshness. We see and feel the struggle that Young Ju and her family experience to try to understand their new home. The characters are credible and authentic. The reader sees Young Ju evolve from an innocent little girl into a stronger, more world wise young adult. The characters in her family are described with the same level of realism. Young Ju’s mother or Uhmma is depicted as a woman trying her best every day to provide for her family while dealing with an ever increasingly abusive husband. The reader experiences her pain and her determination to retain her dignity and elevate herself. Young Ju’s father or Apa is the opposite character. He makes no effort to control his drinking, does not feel it is wrong to abuse his family and ultimately abandons them. Finally, Young Ju’s brother Joon becomes an apathetic person. He skips school and does not strive to succeed or better himself. Each of these characters deals with immigration and acculturation differently and An Na presents an honest portrayal of this difficult experience. 

          A STEP FROM HEAVEN has a plot structure that brings to mind a series of photographs. Each chapter is like a snapshot in Young Ju’s life. The reader undergoes a sense of what is happening to her at that moment, what she is feeling, and how the other people in her life play a role in that moment in her life. We see these snapshots unfold in two locations, Korea and California. Each setting affects the characters and changes them. In Korea we see a family preparing to depart their homeland and all that is familiar. In California we see a family unprepared for the changes a new life and new country create. How they each chose to respond to their new life defines them.

Review Excerpts and Awards

Children’s Book Award Winner for Young Adult Fiction 2002

National Book Award Finalist for Young People’s Literature 2001

VOYA review 2001: “In this luminous, bittersweet debut novel, a young Korean girl crosses the Pacific and does her best to adapt to life in Mi Gook, the United States, despite the difficulties involved in learning western customs and the English language.”

COOPERATIVE CHILDREN’S BOOK CENTER CHOICES review 2002: “An Na's stunning first novel depicts Young's development by showing the complexities of her world, screened through her mind.”

Connections

·       A good way to help students learn something from this book would be a discussion of personal experiences. Have you ever had to move to a new place? Do you know someone who has moved from another country? Having students talk about their own experiences makes the book much more personal.

·       Similar books include FINDING MY VOICE by Marie G. Lee ISBN 0064472450 and FINDING MY HAT by John Son ISBN 0439435390.

·       An Na has a website that provides Educators with links to lesson plans for A STEP FROM HEAVEN. The author’s website can be found at this URL http://www.anwriting.com/astep_lessons.html.

·       There is a book trailer for A STEP FROM HEAVEN available on You Tube at this URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5HNA398L0Y.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - Fiction, Fantasy and YA

Bibliography

Lin, Grace. 2009. WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON. New York: Little Brown and Co.

ISBN 978-0-316-11427-1.

Plot Summary:

 Minli, the heroine of Grace Lin’s WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON, is a young girl who wants desperately to change her family’s fortune so her parents will be happier, her village will prosper and Fruitless Mountain and the Jade River will come back to life. Minli ardently believes in the fantastic tales her father tells her every night, especially the tale of the Old Man of the Moon; who, if you can find him, will answer one question that may change your future. After buying a magical goldfish who gives her directions to the Old Man, being joined by a dragon without the ability to fly, and enduring many trials and rewards, Minli reaches the end of her quest. During her journey, and at the meeting with the Old Man, Minli realizes the most important lesson of all; she does not need to change her family’s fortune for they have all they could need in their love for each other. 

Critical Analysis

            Grace Lin’s novel WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON has all the elements of a good fantasy, starting with the heroine Minli. She is patient, honest, hardworking and determined. She comes from hard circumstances and wants to improve her families life. She embarks on a quest to make life better for her family and her character evolves as the journey continues. She begins her quest by believing good fortune means riches, and ends her journey by realizing that having a loving home and parents who care for you is worth more than any amount of gold. This theme of love being more important than wealth or power is traditional in fantasy.

          Lin’s novel is set in an Asian country, most probably China, but it is never specifically mentioned. This is an area of the world known for its tales of fantasy and folklore and Lin uses that to great effect. The fantasy elements employed by Lin are common to Asia, primarily the use of the dragon. One, Jade dragon, creates the need for Minli’s quest, another aspect of fantasy fiction. Another dragon (called Dragon) is her companion on this quest because he too is looking for the answer to a personal dilemma, why he cannot fly. Since they have similar goals they combine forces to find The Old Man of the Mountain. The Old Man is yet another common component of Asian fantasy. There are many figures like him, immortal, wise, beings who know the future and live in a remote, hard to reach locations. The hero and his or her companions must be worthy to reach him and to seek his wisdom.

Lin describes each new place in great detail. For example, Minli and her parents live in a dilapidated village and work long hours in the rice fields. They partake of a meager bowl of rice for dinner with nothing to spare. Lin’s descriptions of the locales and daily life create sharp images of what life is like in a poor rural village. In contrast to Lin’s portrayals of Minli’s village, her descriptions of the City of Bright Moonlight are colorful and filled with varying detail. She creates a sprawling city filled with markets, a royal palace and peasant houses allowing the reader to experiences the activity, the sights and sounds of the city.

          The plot line of Lin’s novel follows a traditional quest framework with the heroine embarking on a journey, meeting many strange and interesting characters along the way and eventually proving her worthiness to complete the quest thorough determination and intelligence. However, this novel also adds an extra element. There are fairy tales within fairy tales in this book. At strategic moments throughout the novel, a character will tell a story. These short folktales relate to the larger narrative and serve to highlight plot points for the reader.

          There are two distinct types of illustrations in Lin’s book. Single color images such as two coins, a goldfish or a cityscape, appear above every chapter heading and provide the reader with a hint of what will happen in the ensuing chapter. Also, there are full page color drawings that resemble traditional Asian art. They are found sporadically throughout the novel and serve to illustrate key points in the plot. 

Review Excerpts and Awards

Newberry Honor Book 2010

Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature Winner 2010

Josette Frank Award Winner 2010

BOOKLIST Starred review 2009: “With beautiful language, Lin creates a strong, memorable heroine and a mystical land. Stories, drawn from a rich history of Chinese folktales, weave throughout her narrative, deepening the sense of both the characters and the setting and smoothly furthering the plot.”

KIRKUS review 2009: “With her "lively and impulsive spirit," Minli emerges a stalwart female role model who learns the importance of family, friendship and faith during her amazing journey. Richly hued illustrations reinforce the Chinese folk theme.”

Connections

·       A discussion about the one question each reader would ask the Old Man of the Moon.

·       An assignment to write a mini fairy tale based on a character in the book.

·       Grace Lin’s website offers a book trailer and video interview with the author in the area entitled OVERVIEW. There is also an activity guide for WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON, in the area entitled ACTIVITIES that is free to download. The website can be found at this URL  http://gracelin.com/content.php?page=wherethemountainmeetsthemoon&display=activities.

·       An Educator’s Guide to Grace Lin’s book can be found at this URL http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/_assets/guides/EG_9780316114271.pdf.

 

Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians - Fiction, Fantasy and YA

Bibliography

Krosoczka, Jarrett J. 2009. LUNCH LADY AND THE LEAGUE OF LIBRARIANS. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 978-0-375-94684-4.

Plot Summary

            LUNCH LADY AND THE LEAGUE OF LIBRARIANS is the second book in Jarrett Krosoczka’s LUNCH LADY series of graphic novels featuring an elementary school cafeteria worker, her assistant Betty, and a group of kids known as the Breakfast Bunch who are secret crime fighters. In this volume a new video game system is being released, the X-Station 5000, which does not sit well with the League of Librarians, an evil organization composed of the elementary school, public and high school librarians who see the new video games as corrupting the children and preventing them from enrolling in the schools Read-A-Thon. The night the new X-Stations are delivered the League of Librarians arrives with their deadly weapons, Book Beasts, animals they have summoned from popular children’s books like BLACK BEAUTY and THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, that proceed to destroy all the X-Stations until the timely arrive of the Lunch Lady and Betty. The Lunch Lady takes over the Read-A-Thon, since the librarian is now in jail, and she combines the reading with the video games; her rule being “Read while you wait to play.”

Critical Analysis

            Krosoczka’s Lunch Lady and Betty represent the typical idea of superhero and sidekick. They have normal everyday jobs, but behind the scenes they work to fight crime. They have a hideout in the school, the boiler room, and a wide array of gadgets. The Breakfast Bunch are also portrayed in a sidekick role, and are also characters that appeal to younger readers. They have average childhood interests; and even have trouble with bullies at school; beyond that The Breakfast Bunch are superhero crime fighters. Younger readers will see average children who through intelligence and cunning can be extraordinary.

          The plot follows a traditional superhero storyline as well with the villains concocting an evil plan and the heroes working together to defeat them and stand up for what is right. There are two distinct settings in which the plot unfolds, the school and the docks where the battle to stop the destruction of the video game systems takes place.          

          Krosoczka makes a successful effort to be evocative of the superhero comic book in the style of this graphic novel as well. The villains have quirky names like Rhonda Page and Jane Shelver, representing the types of characters they are, in this case librarians. Also, typical phrases of exclamation are used. For example, the Lunch Lady shouts “Great Tuna!” when she discovers the League has obtained deadly weapons. Phrases like this are common in this genre of writing. The Lunch Lady’s phrases reflect her job, they all revolve around food.

          The illustrations are very cartoon like and drawn in four colors, black, white, gray and yellow. The yellow serves to highlight and enhance both the illustrations in general and key features within them. For example, the Book Beasts are all in yellow as are the Breakfast Bunch’s costumes.

          A universal theme is present here, good triumphing over evil. The Lunch Lady and her sidekicks prevent the League of Librarians from taking over the world and destroying the video games. Also, by allowing the students to play the new video game system as a reward for participating in the Read-A-Thon, children realize that reading is a positive activity, but they can have other interests as well.

Review Excerpts

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review 2009: “With its appealing mix of action and humor, this clever, entertaining addition to the series should have wide appeal.”

COOPERATIVE CHILDREN’S BOOK CENTER CHOICES review 2010: “Jarrett Krosoczka’s new graphic novel series, rendered in black, white, and yellow, inspires laughter in everything from its wild premise to clever details that extend the pleasure in countless ways.”

Connections

·       A fun activity for children would be to have them create a superhero out of someone they see in their daily lives. Have the children extend their imagination by creating costumes, a hideout, gadgets and sidekicks.

·       The RANDOM HOUSE website offers a Teacher’s Guide, video excerpt of the book and other information related to LUNCH LADY AND THE LEAGUE OF LIBRARIANS. The website can be found at this URL http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375846847.

·       Jarrett J Krosoczka has written several graphic novels in the Lunch Lady series including LUNCH LADY AND THE FIELD TRIP FIASCO ISBN 0375867309 and LUNCH LADY AND THE AUTHOR VISIT VENDETTA ISBN 0375860940.

·       The website http://www.lunchladycomics.com/ offers various Resources, Activities and Videos for Teachers, book trailers and descriptions of each volume in the LUNCH LADY series along with additional interactive material.