Henry Aaron's Dream by Matt Tavares

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


There are a lot of books about Jackie Robinson, but this book has an interesting perspective--it looks at how Robinson's breakthrough to the Major Leagues was a seminal moment in the life of Henry Aaron.

The illustrations are incredibly rich with detail. I have at least two favorites: there is one in which Tavares has Aaron looking at the lineup posted in the dugout with his name in the leadoff spot; another has Aaron sliding in to second base, ahead of the tag being applied by Jackie Robinson. With the first, I recognized some of the players listed for both teams, an element of authenticity that reminds me that with specificity comes credibility. In the latter, I could not help but wonder whether people watching that play in the exhibition game had any idea of what lay in store for Aaron's career. I doubt that any would have believed that he would go on to become baseball's all-time home run leader by the time of his retirement.

Henry Aaron's Dream is much more than a baseball book--it is a marvelous recapturing of attitudes during the Civil Rights movement and a lesson in perseverence. It also reminds us how important it is to have role models and inspirational figures that lend substance to the dreams we pursue. One can only imagine the seismic impact of Barack Obama winning the presidency, the importance of breaking that glass ceiling for African Americans. We are another day closer to no longer referring to people as "the first person of color" to do this, or "the first woman to" do that, and so on. I find it intriguing that, when growing up, I never gave any thought as to Hank Aaron's race. The books always talked about about Robinson and his Dodger teammates (especially Roy Campanella), Larry Doby, Roberto Clemente, and guys like Minnie Minoso and Buck O'Neal. But Aaron's story is integral to understanding race as it impacted baseball, American sports and American culture in general.

This book gives the reader an importance glimpse as to Aaron's development prior to reaching the Show, and I think it is a must-read for baseball enthusiasts, as well as those who are studying African American history. I believe it merits consideration for all ages, although I should note that there are two uses of n-word that could spark trouble if not appropriately addressed. While the use of the word does lend authenticity to the story, it likely spells the end of read-aloud opportunities without changing the word. Some others may believe differently, but I'd suggest a 'courageous coversation' in regards to the implications of the word if it is read aloud.





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A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Set during the early part of the twentieth century, A Northern Light features Mattie Gokey, a bright sixteen-year-old-girl trying to balance her education with caring for her four sisters and father after the death of her mother. Her older brother Lawton has also left the family and Mattie struggles with taking care of the house and feeding everyone, particularly during a difficult Northeast winter.

While incorporating some of the events surrounding the death of Grace Brown—the inspiration for the Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy, as the book’s cover points out—the story remains focused on Mattie’s coming of age and her relationship with her teacher Miss Wilcox. Author Jennifer Donnelly does a tremendous job of illustrating the period, giving a sense of the family’s desperation and determination to succeed in spite of the elements. Mattie represents a glimpse of the challenges faced by young “independent” women, including the difficult decision of whether to continue schooling or to get married to Royal Loomis; the fact that she cannot choose both is a sure sign of the times.

How historically accurate is this book? The sensational case of Chester Gillette has been documented in Adirondack Tragedy: The Chester Gillette Murder Case of 1906 by Joseph W. Brownell and Patricia W. Enos, among other accounts, and proved to be one of the first “trials of the century.” Grace Brown was pregnant as the time of her death, and the letters that were given to Mattie in A Northern Light were based on the actual letters between Grace and Chester. Donnelly has placed Mattie at the Glenmore hotel, where Grace and Chester were staying Grace was found dead.

The book does not center on the tragedy described above. Rather, we see the efforts Mattie makes with her studies and the difficulty her father has in letting her go to work at the hotel. Mattie needed to work in order to earn money for her train ticket to New York, but her father wanted her to continue her role as mother to her sisters. Nothing is clear-cut about her decision to leave her family—Mattie likes Royal Loomis very much, but she knows that if she passes up the opportunity to go to Barnard College, she will never again have another chance.


Though there are times when the story drags a little, the richness of the characters and color of the period do keep us interested in Mattie’s plight. Her sisters, particularly Lou and Beth, are a riot, and the dialogue is snappy and endearing. Donnelly also uses an interesting device in a having a single word serve as the heading for each chapter, representing Mattie’s quest to learn a new word each day. We read along, curious to learn how the word represents that particular chapter.

This novel would appeal to junior high school and early high school students, especially those who enjoyed Little Women. It would be a prime selection for independent reading, though I could see it potentially being used in a local history class in Upstate New York. Donnelly includes notes after the book to clarify which factual elements she chose to use artistic license. For example, she writes that the letters given to Mattie by Grace Brown included all of the correspondence between Grace and Chester, but that in reality, only the letters Grace received from Chester Gillette were recovered at the hotel; her letters to Chester were found in his room when he was arrested for her murder. The historic roots of the story give it a little more credence, helping to establish the period for the young reader. That Mattie and her family are fictional does not take away from the fact that they are still representative of the period. The important thing when considering historic fiction is that the truth doesn’t betray itself. If the reader can detect blatantly false items that disrupt the historic continuity or the continuity of the story, then she will no longer be able to yield to that “suspense of disbelief” that characterizes a good story no matter the medium.



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Sold by Patricia McCormick

A brilliant book about the plight of young girls who are sold into prostitution. The format is superb, a series of vignettes provide glimpses into the daily struggles faced by Lakshmi as she thought she was providing for her family back in Nepal. I especially like the fact that McCormick doesn't explain what things really are--she lets the reader experience them as Lakshmi sees them. How wondrous and unnerving and incomprehensible the journey to India (Bombay, perhaps?) must have been for her, having never seen cars and trucks before. McCormick does a terrific job of establishing Lakshmi's youth and innocence in the beginning, and layering the months of experience on her in a way that makes her far more mature than her years by the end of the novel.

This might be a difficult novel to teach in class because of the sensitive subject matter, but I do think it would be quite educational for students (and teachers!). This would probably function best as a book club selection for mature high school readers, especially girls. I think it would be important to draw parallels between the forced prostitution in the novel and the similar circumstances of child trafficking in the U.S. I would also explore the events specific to the culture and climate of Nepal and how all of that influences the decisions that are made. One could also do a comparison between this book and others like Homeless Bird or Breadwinner (or even Memoirs of a Geisha!), examining the role of girls in their families as they reach adolescence.

If nothing else, this is a must-read, and after reading this one and Purple Heart, I'd highly recommend seeking out Patricia McCormick's other novels--I know I will!

Books, books and more books

I have been doing some reviews of books for a class that I am taking on young adult literature. Below is a review on a book I just picked up this week. Check it out, and let me know if you'd like to see more reviews.

Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick (Balzer & Bray, 2009)

This is a well-written look at a young soldier's life in the Iraq war, with language that is accessible for YA readers. In many respects, Matt Duffy, the protagonist, and his compatriot Justin are just kids, dealing with the ups and downs of life in combat. As the book begins, we learn that Matt has been "on the business end" of an RPG and is being evaluated for TBI (traumatic brain injury). The investigation into "the incident" dominates much of the early part of the novel, shedding light on the hierarchy within the military and the pressures faced by all to get the servicemen and women back in the field ASAP. I really like the way how McCormick contrasts the fears and risks for the troops with the teen worries about driving and school tests.

Overall, I think this is a book that could be used in a mature classroom to discuss the implications of war and the effects felt by all participants. McCormick doesn't get into the politics of the war; rather, she focuses on the circumstances present on the ground and the relationships between Matt and the others in his unit as they make their way through Sadr City. Purple Heart would definitely be a book to consider using, especially in a classroom that could handle some crude language and challenging topics.

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Digging Out

As you probably heard, it snowed a little in Chicago last week. Now, having grown up in Las Vegas, the concept of a Snow Day was utterly foreign to me. For Chicago students, especially Chicago Public Schools, there were at least myths that such an event could occur. While I am not in a classroom yet, I used my keen observation powers to notice that students were thrilled to have a snow day. My co-workers exhibited that same emotion. Truth be told, I was happy about the prospects of being able to sleep in--until I realized that I was going to have to start early with the shoveling. At one point I had grand visions of getting lots of homework done, cleaning and reorganizing the basement, and perhaps even being able to spend some time hanging out with my wife and son. Little did I know that I would end up shoveling nearly the whole day, from 8:30 am until 6 pm, with an hour-plus lunch break. I think I would rather have been at work...

The road to teaching has its challenges. I have been sending out applications since I received my certification. Job fairs are lined up, and I recently interviewed to be a sub for CPS. My mantra must be patience and perseverence. My goal was to spend the winter and spring getting hired; layering on a literature class was something I wanted to avoid, knowing the time and work commitment would be immense. Thanks to the visionaries at my university program, however, the lit course I needed to complete the masters is not slated to be available for the forseeable future. I received a call two days before the start of the current term that I could take an adolescent lit course that could stand in for the unavailable course; failure to take the class would be putting my degree in jeopardy, as it, too, won't be offered again for some time. Great. Nothing like having a few books to read every week, and then write reviews and do projects about them. As much as I love reading and sharing my opinions about things, it is clear that time to obtain books and complete said tasks is fleeting, at best, especially as a parent of a very active (and sleep-resistant) toddler. And then, in addition to the snow, I had another monkey wrench thrown into the equation.

Last week, I learned of the passing of my grandfather. While he will be missed, he lived a very long and productive life. At 88, he defied the odds--he lived 25 years after major bypass surgery before his heart finally gave out on him. He had the opportunity to establish meaningful relationships with his great-grandchildren, something very few people can say. The services for him were beautiful, filled with music and celebration. As I said to many, the silver lining was that the funeral served as a de facto family reunion. My dad and his four brothers were together at my grandparents' home for the first time in my memory, and quite possibly for the first time ever. My son, ever the precocious one, took it upon himself to ask my grandmother, "Where's Great Grampa?" My grandmother responded said, "He's gone... He's in heaven...I think." My belief is that her statement was more a reflection of metaphysical uncertainty and less the idea that my grandfather, her husband of well over sixty years, was headed in a different direction.

Add in all the driving required (especially with nearly two feet of snow on the ground), and I find that sleep is as fleeting as time. Yet somehow I must make sure that I get all my books read. Sure. Fat chance on that one. Especially when my toddlet keeps insisting I read Thomas the Train books instead of my required materials for class (even the picture books and fairy tales!). Hopefully, I'll manage, and this will be just another station on my journey to teaching.