When You Reach Me (Rebecca Stead)

Stead, Rebecca. When you reach me. New York: Yearling, 2010. ISBN 0375850864

Summary
Miranda is confused when she gets the first note. Her confusion only grows as increasingly mysterious events begin to unfold in her life. As a latchkey middle schooler in 1979 New York City, Miranda has the street smarts. It will take more than street smarts, however, for Miranda to unfurl the mysterious events involving herself, her friends, and the man who lives on her street corner.

Critical Analysis
This books is a well-written combination of mystery, history, science fiction, and drama. Miranda must find out who is sending the notes while navigating the loss of a best friend, learning the scientific concept of time travel, and helping her mother study for the popular game show The 20,000 Pyramid.

Stead tells a complex story with a relaxed ease that demonstrates a real understanding for the preteen mind. After Miranda receives a second note and begins to become fearful, she shares with the reader that the hardest part: “I was alone” (136). Each character in the novel has been carefully crafted and given human flaws and graces. Beyond Miranda herself, readers will discover students at their own schools in the spoiled, but ultimately lonely Julia  and the intelligent but socially awkward Marcus. Less abstract readers may struggle to pull the many threads of this novel together, but quick minds will delight in guessing the ending to this exciting, fast paced novel, When You Reach Me.

Awards and Excerpts
Newbery Medal Book
ALA Notable Books
Booklist Editors Choice 2009
Horn Book Magazine Starred Review
BookList- “the mental gymnastics required of readers are invigorating; and the characters, children and adults, are honest bits of humanity”
School Library Journal- “unusual, thought-provoking mystery”
Kirkus Reviews- “mind-blowing revelations and cunning details”

Connections
Suggest students enjoy Miranda’s favorite book, A Wrinkle in Time.
    Engle, Madeleine. A wrinkle in time. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2012. ISBN 0374386161

Suggest these books.
    Konigsburg, E. From the mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. New York:Aladdin
         Paperbacks, 2007. ISBN 1416949755
    Paterson, Katherine. Bridge to Terabithia. New York, N.Y: Harper & Row, 1987. ISBN 0064401847
    Pearson, Kit. A handful of time. Toronto: Puffin Canada, 2007. ISBN 0143056387
    Sachar, Louis. Holes. New York: Dell Yearling, 2000. ISBN 0440414806

The Arrival (Shuan Tan)

Tan, Shuan. The Arrival. New York:Arthur A. Levine Books, 2007. ISBN 978-0439895293

Summary
An adventure begins when a man leaves his wife and daughter to create a new, safer life for them in a new land. Alongside the nameless main character, readers will experience the excitement, fear, and uncertainty of discovering new language, food, customs, and way of life. Both mistakes and friends are along his journey of acculturation and the books comes full circle when the immigrant and his family befriend newcomers to their land. Shuan weaves a seamless and vivid story of immigration with the pure magic of art in his wordless masterpiece.

Critical Analysis
The Arrival is a graphic novel appropriate for all audiences. Beautifully detailed drawings need no words for the observant reader to understand the difficulty and sacrifice necessary to adapt to a new, even if wonderful, world. Set in a nonexistent reality, Tan is able to relate the hardships of the main characters homeland and his need to create new opportunities for his family. The new world drawn by Tan exposes the reader to fantastical creatures, foods, and machines and explain the experience of culture shock that many immigrants experience.

The appearance of an aged scrapbook both disguise and add depth to this modern and relevant piece by Tan. His style of drawing is both fun and serious as evidenced by the magical elements and serious sepia tones.  Although many things in the book are unrelatable, such as images of flying ships, the people are very much real. Tan has created extremely relatable human images with expressions that speak volumes and encourage empathy from the reader. In the book, the main character shows his grief at being separated from his family as he gazes at a picture of his wife and daughter. The reader can clearly feel and relate to the characters emotions as is so clearly emanates from the drawing. Although greater understanding may be beyond the youngest of readers, all will appreciate and wonder at the beautiful pictures, making this graphic novel perfect for all ages.

Awards and Excerpts
ALA Notable Books
Kirkus Starred Review
YALSA Great Graphic Novels For Teens 2007
BookList- “unique work that not only fulfills but also expands the potential of its form”
School Library Journal- “[sophisticated readers] will linger over the details in the beautiful sepia pictures and will likely pick up the book to pore over it again and again”
The New York Times- “mesmerizing”
The Washington Post- “pulsing with detail”

Connections
Make connections to the main character by having students write and/or draw about their experiences being the new kid somewhere.
Suggest students read other books by Tan.
    Tan, Shaun. Lost and found. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2011.ISBN 0545229243
    Tan, Shaun. Tales from outer suburbia. New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2009.ISBN
         9780545055871

Suggest these works by other popular author/illustrators.
    Allsburg, Chris. The mysteries of Harris Burdick. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1984. ISBN
         0395353939
    Allsburg, Chris. The stranger. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1986. ISBN 0395423317
    Allsburg, Chris. The wreck of the Zephyr. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1983. ISBN 0395330750
    Selznick, Brian. The invention of Hugo Cabret : a novel in words and pictures. New York:
         Scholastic Press, 2007.ISBN 0439813786
    Selznick, Brian. Wonderstruck : a novel in words and pictures. New York:Scholastic, 2011. ISBN
         0545027896
    Yang, Gene. American born Chinese. New York: First Second, 2006. ISBN1596431520

Use novels discussing assimilation to follow up The Arrival.
    Alvarez, Julia. How the García girls lost their accents. Chapel Hill, N.C: Algonquin Books of
         Chapel Hill, 2010. ISBN 156512975X
    Alvarez, Julia. Return to sender. New York: Yearling, 2010.ISBN 0375851232

A Step From Heaven (An Na)

Na, An. A step from heaven. Asheville, NC: Front Street, 2001. ISBN     9780142500279

Summary
Growing up is no easy task. Young Ju’s story is no different. Born in Korea and transplanted at four to America, she learns what sacrifices her family has made for her to experience the land of opportunity- a land that is “a step from heaven”. Through beautiful and sometimes painful glimpses into Young Ju’s life the reader watches as she grows into herself amongst the challenges of poverty, abuse, and acculturation.

Critical Analysis
A Step from Heaven is a realistic portrayal of emigration from ones home country to America. Young Ju’s family progresses through individual stages of excitement, loss, and renewed hope when they travel to America. The reader stays closely attuned to the ever curious, intelligent Young Ju as she matures from a young preschooler in Korea to a high school graduate in America.

Difficult, but important topics are addressed in this coming of age story, including the alcoholism and physical abuse of a father. Young Ju grapples with these issues as well as the balancing of being a good Korean daughter ad a typical American girl. In the end, readers will find relief when Young Ju finds herself by understanding and appreciating both her past and her future.

Awards and Review Excerpts
Michael L. Printz Award
New Your Times Book Review Notable Book
2001 National Book Award Nominee
BookList- “the coming-of-age drama will grab teens and make them think”
Publisher’s Weekly- “at times wrenching, at times triumphant and consistently absorbing”
School Library Journal- “A beautifully written, affecting work”

Connections
Discuss and celebrate cultural heritage with students after reading this book.
Invite adults from the community to share their own immigration stories.
Discuss signs of abuse and actions to take in abusive situations.
Recommend these books to readers who enjoyed A Step From Heaven.
    Alexie, Sherman. The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. New York: Little, Brown and
         Company, 2009. ISBN 0316013692
    Anderson, Laurie. Speak. New York: Speak, 2009. ISBN 0142414735
    Ryan, Pam. Esperanza rising. New York: Scholastic Press, 2000.ISBN  043912042X
    Tan, Shuan. The Arrival. New York:Arthur A. Levine Books, 2007. ISBN 978-0439895293   
    Wolff, Virginia. True believer. New York: Simon Pulse, 2002. ISBN 9780689852886