Summer of the Swans

Byars, Betsy. 1970. Summer of the Swans.

This 1970 Newbery Award winner is still showing up on school summer reading lists, so as I’ve been scrambling to order enough books for all the local school children, I took the opportunity to place a hold on Summer of the Swans for myself.

Summer of the Swans is the classic story of Sara, a young, angst-filled teenager, who lives with her brain-damaged younger brother, Charlie, her older sister, Wanda, and her Aunt Willie. In the midst of a difficult summer in which Sara struggles with her self-confidence and indeed, her sense of self, she learns, through Charlie’s disappearance, the importance and true measure of love, family, and self.

This is a timeless story; although, because of its age (first published in 1970 with numerous reprintings), it can almost read as historical fiction. Sara’s friend, Mary, does her hair up in “rollers” to attend a party. Charlie is called “retarded.” Aunt Willie, flustered by Charlie’s disappearance, makes an “operator-assisted” call; and there are references to The Jolly Green Giant, Gentle Ben, and Green Acres. When I asked a young colleague if she knew of these television icons of the 60s and 70s, she assumed that they were books. I wondered if the book still has resonance for a generation reared on iTunes and Wii. My daughter, however, affirmed for me that Summer of the Swans (required reading in her school), was a great book. I agree – a gentle, timeless, positive novel.

The Tale of Despereaux

The Tale of Despereaux
DiCamillo, Kate. 2006. The Tale of Despereaux: Being the tale of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread. Ill. by Timothy Basil Ering. New York: Scholastic.
ISBN 0439 692202

I thought I'd post this old review because The Tale of Despereaux is due out soon as a movie. I saw the previews the other night. My daughter and I both thought that, given the wonderful cinematic opportunity that this book offers, the previews did not look promising. The characters appear much too "cute." Perhaps it will be better than we think. I hope so. The book, however, is wonderful...read on.

Plot Summary:
The Tale of Despereaux is a fairy tale with an unlikely hero in Despereaux, the undersized mouse who falls in love with Pea, the beautiful princess. The lives of Pea, Despereaux, the king, a rat, a serving girl, a cook, a jailer, a prisoner, and a host of mice and rats are entwined in this tale of adversity, triumph, and forgiveness.

Critical Analysis:
The Tale of Despereaux: Being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread is a modern fantasy with many of the elements of high fantasy. Kate DiCamillo’s Newbery award-winning title blends anthropomorphism, heroism, the battle between good and evil, and a forgotten age into a delightful tale. The story’s unlikely hero is Despereaux, a diminutive mouse who falls in love with Pea, a human princess. The tale is divided into four books, the first three tell the tales of Despereaux, the serving girl Miggery Sow, and Roscuro the rat; the fourth brings them all together in the struggle between light and dark.

Despereaux’s honesty, humbleness, and earnestness draw the reader in immediately, as does the story’s narrator, who frequently entreats and enlightens the reader. “What will become of her? You must, frightened though you may be, read on and see for yourself. Reader, it is your duty.” When Despereaux’s brother encourages him to nibble on a book from the king’s library, he replies, “I couldn’t possibly……It would ruin the story.” He revels in the stories of “once upon a time,” and fancies himself a knight (although armed with a sewing needle, rather than a sword)"I honor you!" he shouts out to Pea, while scampering away from her angry father's big foot.

The theme of the story is light vs. darkness, both literally and figuratively. The Princess, the castle, and soup (!) are light and goodness; the dungeon and the rats are darkness and evil. Despereaux, fond of music and good books, and prone to fainting spells is on a heroic, almost Quixotic quest, to first save himself and then the princess. He is marked for death by the red thread of the Mouse Council, of which his own father is a member. In the dungeon he encounters a jailer, a prisoner, and the rats. A subplot involves a serving girl, Miggery Sow,who wishes to supplant the princess, and the devious rat, Roscuro.

Despereaux is loyal, courageous, and valiant (fainting spells notwithstanding), but the tale’s true message is that of forgiveness. Despereaux’s small size is not indicative of his big heart. He forgives his father for pronouncing his death, even before his safety has been secured. The princess, too, forgives the rat, Roscuro, the very rat that caused her mother’s death by falling into her soup. They may not all live “happily ever after,” but those who seek it will find some measure of salvation.

The story is funny and enchanting – a quick and thoroughly enjoyable read, but it has a message as well….the power of honesty and forgiveness for redemption. (Delicately and humorously illustrated in black and white sketches by Timothy Basil Ering)


Review Excerpts:
In the August 2003, issue of School Library Journal (Jones, Toth, et al), write "In her observations of the political machinations and follies of rodent and human societies, she reminds adult readers of George Orwell. But the unpredictable twists of plot, the fanciful characterizations, and the sweetness of tone are DiCamillo's own. This expanded fairy tale is entertaining, heartening, and, above all, great fun."

My 11-year old daughter liked the book because she enjoyed "reading the same story from everyone's point of view."

Connections:
For readers enjoying this book, suggest Kate DiCamillo's newest book, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

The Tale of Despereaux is a great read-aloud for school.

The Scholastic website, suggests writing letters of encouragment to Despereaux. This could be a fun activity to do before the ending is revealed.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonplans/unit_despereaux_lesson3.htm

Wall-E

Took the kids to see Wall-E last night. It's rated G, however, I don't think that very young children will really understand it, or enjoy it. As cute as Wall-E is, he cannot compensate for the fact the movie has a very serious message. The movie takes place in the distant future. Earth has been overcome by the excesses of its people who, in turn, have abandoned the planet and taken refuge aboard a spaceship. Generations of passed and Earth's people, waited on and pampered by robots and AI computers, have grown fat, complacent and unable to think for themselves. Back on Earth, only the robot, Wall-E, and a cockroach remain. That is, until the auto bot, Eva, arrives searching for signs of life to signal the possibility of return.

Wall-E, the movie, is touching, timely and entertaining - but I don't think the pre-school set will enjoy anything more than the marketing blitz. Bring on the poorly written, cheaply made books - Wall-E has arrived. Sigh.

The Battle of the Labyrinth

Riordan, Rick. 2008. The battle of the labyrinth. New York: Hyperion.

Although I did not read books 2 and 3, I was able to pick up the story line for the Battle of the Labyrinth easily. Of course, being book 4, the novelty of the modern day Olympian has worn off, but the series still has a loyal following. There are the usual jokes and a few plot twists. In this installment, Percy Jackson, half-blood son of the Greek god, Poseidon, embarks on a quest with his friend Annabeth into Daedalus' labyrinth. Some of the plot lines seem familiar - a master weapon being re-forged (Lord of the Rings), a dark lord being re-formed (Harry Potter series), but this just illustrates the timeless nature of the Greek myths. This is another solid entry in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.

The upcoming movie, "The Lightning Thief," should spur renewed interest in the entire series. Rick Riordan's website http://www.rickriordan.com/ shows that he is committed to promote reading. He knows how to connect with kids.

Wave

Lee, Suzy. 2008. Wave. San Francisco: Chronicle.

The dust jacket says it all, "A sunny day. A curious little girl. A playful wave." This is a delightful, wordless narrative of a young girl's experience at the beach. Like children everywhere, she is alternately brave, fearful, experimental, playful, defiant, and contemplative when facing the ocean's never-ending march to the shore. The wave has its own moods as well - tentative, playful, menacing, calm, peaceful. Seagulls and a remotely watchful adult add interest, but do not detract from the featured cast - a girl and a wave. The illustrations are simply, yet expressively rendered in shades of gray and blue, created in charcoal and acrylics. A perfect book for sharing.