Christopher Paul Curtis' debut book combines a fun, interesting story with the horror of racism during the civil rights era. A 1996 Newbery Honor book, The Watsons tells the story of a middle class African-American family from the perspective of Kenny Watson, an intelligent ten year old.

 

Curtis creates a vivid setting of the bitter winter in Flint, Michigan in the early 1960s and the tight family bond that glues the "weird" Watsons together. His story opens with the family crowding together on the couch for warmth as much as comfort, which reinforces the authenticity of the strength of the family unit as well as the setting. After Kenny's parents have had enough of older brother Byron's troublemaking, the family must take a journey south to leave him in Birmingham with his strict grandmother.

 

Once the Watsons arrive in Birmingham, the mood and pace changes as much as the setting. "Birmingham was like an oven. That first night I couldn't sleep at all, me and By had to share a bed and we were both sweating like two pigs." The climax of the story is the infamous bombing of a Birmingham church's Sunday school in which four young girls are killed.

 

Curtis' descriptions of the family vehicle, the "Brown Bomber," and its "TT AB-700, Ultra-Glide" record player take the reader back in time. Curtis' setting proves realistic and believable. Meanwhile his characters are charming. Kenny is funny and smart but naïve. Readers will identify with having siblings like his brother Byron who takes every opportunity to get in trouble and tweak Kenny, but who also stands up for him when necessary. Kenny's parents bickering and the family's embarrassment at dad's silly jokes create a scene with which readers can sympathize.

 

While the climax of the Watsons is the church bombing, there are many subplots within the story, such as the brushes with death otherwise known as the "Wool Pooh," and Kenny's befriending of the awkward new kid in school. The overall theme, however, is the racial tension present during the tumultuous civil rights era. Readers will unwittingly learn about this era while reading this funny, entertaining book.

 

Curtis' book reflects an authenticity in setting and dialect while incorporating his own sense of humor and vision. Kenny's repetition of the words "Ready, Aim, Fire" whenever trouble was bound adds a nice pattern to the story. The banter of the family seems not only realistic, but also familiar. The change of Kenny's mother's accent and speech patterns upon entering her native Birmingham is authentic as well.

 

Christopher Paul Curtis' The Watsons go to Birmingham-1963 is a fine example of historical fiction's ability to tell an interesting story while remaining true to the time and setting and still teaching about an era or historic event or person. Students will likely be so enraptured as to not even realize that they're learning.

 

 

 

Park, Linda Sue. 2001. A single shard. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN: 0-395-97827-0.

 

Linda Sue Park's 2002 Newbery winner, A Single Shard tells a story of loyalty and courage. The story takes place, as the author later states, in Ch'ulp'o, a town famous for its pottery, located across the water from China.

 

Park's protagonist is Tree-ear, an orphan who lives under a bridge and spends his time scavenging for food for himself and his caretaker Crane-man. Tree-ear takes to watching Min, a village potter, at his craft. One day, drawn to rummage through Min's creations, Tree-ear drops a piece. In an effort to pay him for the damaged good, Tree-ear begins to work for Min. After his arrangement is fulfilled, he stays on working for Min because he longs to learn the trade himself. Sent on a journey to another village to show Min's work to the king's emissary, Tree-ear overcomes odds and honors his mentor with an immense act of courage.

 

Through Park's prose the twelfth century Korea setting is brought to life, making the setting well imaginable. Poverty is evidently widespread. Tree-ear and his caretaker are forced to take cover under a bridge in summer and scavenge through the woods and garbage piles for sustenance. Later, as Tree-ear takes a journey, Park's vivid descriptions of the busy city enable the reader to envision Tree-ear, who had scarcely left the confines of his village, entering the bustling, palatial town of Sondgo with its traffic and many buildings.

 

Tree-ear is a likeable character. He is curious but also loyal, respectful, and courageous.  Through his persistence and dedication, he is able to overcome great odds. Perhaps Park's best strategy in the book is showing the characters demeanor, rather than telling about it. For example, in an act of devotion to Crane-man, Tree-ear saves half his lunch for his friend and later ensures that he will be well fed while he is away by securing Crane-mans help for Min, as workers must be fed. She shows his courage in presenting a single shard of Min's pottery to the emissary after thieves break the piece.

 

Vital to the book is the theme that unifies it with today's readers: the coming of age. As Tree-ear takes his arduous journey and is forced to make a nearly impossible decision, he is also taking a metaphorical journey into adulthood. That the readers can identify with Tree-ears situation unites them with the story.

 

Although the book moves slowly until the end, when the author seems to rush to the finish line, Park conveys the traditions of the Korean celadon potters well. She describes Tree-ear's disappointment in learning that the trade is taught from father to son. She demonstrates the patience and precision necessary to the craft by telling of the hours that Min sits painfully constructing a single piece of work.

 

Park's research is evident. She concludes the book with a note explaining characters' namesakes and the history of the celadon trade. She mentions specific titles as well as exhibits used for reference in creating her work. After reading this enthralling book, readers who would otherwise be hesitant to learn about ceramics will likely itch to sink their hands into clay.

 

Gary Paulsen's Nightjohn tells the story of how a young slave girl learned how to read and the price that was paid for her education. This compact historical novel tells the tale of the misery and abuse that African-American slaves were forced to endure in a riveting format.

 

Sarny, a 12-year old slave girl narrates the story in a genuine voice. Sarny, in simple sentences, tells the story of how she learned to read. Paulsen sets the story in an indiscriminate Southern city on the Waller plantation. Paulsen depicts the slave quarters as a dark, dirty, and gloomy place, where light is not even allowed. The master's house, on the other hand, is white and gleaming. The sun shines bright on the plantation, making the day's work even more grueling. After describing the setting of the plantation and the barbaric living conditions, where slaves were fed from a trough, Sarny introduces Nightjohn, an escaped slave from the north who returns to slavery to teach others to read.

 

In exchange for a bit of tobacco Nightjohn teaches Sarny the alphabet, a few letters at a time. Over time, Sarny begins to read simple words. One day while "making words," Sarny, fascinated by her knowledge, is oblivious to the master's presence. Reading was a crime for slaves because, as Nightjohn said, "Cause to know things, for us to know things is bad for them." Punishment for reading or teaching reading consisted of dismemberment and thus, Sarny must stand by as first her adopted "mammy" is punished. Next, Nightjohn, who steps forward to take responsibility, loses a toe from each foot. Undeterred, Nightjohn continues his struggle to educate the slaves.

 

In this harrowing, but historically accurate story, Nightjohn becomes both a savior for Sarny, in giving her hope, and a pariah when his lessons are discovered and Sarny must watch him endure punishment for her lessons.

 

Although Paulsen is white, the voices in the story have a feeling of authenticity. The details of the story are well researched. Sarny's mother was sold when she was four because she was a good breeder, which is historically accurate. Sarny is likeable, as is Nightjohn her mentor. The reader can cheer Sarny on as she learns to read and they can identify with the excitement of such an accomplishment. Likewise, they will see Nightjohn as a brave soul who risks literally life and limb for something he believes in. Further they will wince in pain in reading about his suffering.

 

The theme of the book is loosely that of freedom and standing up for what one believes in, no matter what the cost. In Nightjohn, Sarny gets her freedom by learning how to read and Nightjohn risks everything to give others this ability. The theme of the book is not only relevant to the time period of which Paulsen describes, but to modern times too. It reflects the attitudes and morals of the time and while it appropriately shocks today's readers with the extensive violence and inhumanity that was prevalent.

 

Paulsen does not sugarcoat the events of his story. In fact, some critics have questioned the need for such graphic violence in Nightjohn. Paulsen begins the book in stating that the while the characters were made up, the events in the book are true.  Frances Bradburn, in Wilson Library Journal states, "Many adults and adolescents alike will question the need for the novel's extensive, graphic violence" (1993). However hard the truth is to read, Gary Paulsen brings it to life vividly in this short, captivating book.

 

Bradburn, Frances. 1993. "A review of Nightjohn." Wilson Library Journal 67 (Jan no 5): 87-88.

 

Leonardo da Vinci is brought to life as a real person in Diane Stanley's 1996 picture book biography. Stanley's text and illustrations combine to introduce readers to lesser-known facts about da Vinci and she does so without de-humanizing her subject.

 

While many biographers tend to glorify their subjects, Stanley's biography on Leonardo da Vinci gives a balanced view of the artist and inventor. While his accomplishments, achievements, and his advancements in art and science take up the bulk of the material in the book, Stanley does not hesitate to infer that da Vinci might have been arrogant and that he did not always finish what he started. However, she allows her readers to make these inferences through her examples, allowing the actions and words of her subject to speak for themselves. For example, Stanley tells of a commission that Leonardo was granted in the same room as his rival, Michaelangelo Buonarroti. After becoming discouraged when his painting did not work as planned, da Vinci became discouraged and gave up altogether.

 

While da Vinci is best known to many readers because of his art, Stanley not only delves into detailed, but clear descriptions of da Vinci's artistic techniques, but also into his personal journals, which gives the reader and idea of just how intelligent, albeit peculiar of a man da Vinci really was. He was way ahead of his time with many of his ideas and inventions. Stanley even suggests that were it not for his fixation with imitating the flapping motion of birds, da Vinci may have been the first man to fly. Further, she inserts facts that children will be captivated by, such as da Vinci's habit of writing in a backward script, not simply for privacy, but because he was left-handed!

 

The book is written in a clear sequence, beginning with da Vinci's birth and childhood, and spanning his years. Chapters are not divided, nor is there a table of contents. However, a pronunciation guide and extensive bibliography, as well as recommended books for young readers provide support for the text. The author draws her information from a wide range of sources, including a catalog of a da Vinci exhibit as well as books detailing his personal notebooks. She is careful to differentiate between verifiable facts and speculation. For example, when discussing da Vinci's early life, she states, "Leonardo probably lived with his mother at first." She continues to make distinctions of facts versus unfounded information throughout the book with phrases such as "there is a story that..." and "it is said that...." 

 

Perhaps most impressive about Stanley's book are the mixed media illustrations, which depict what the text is describing. Stanley's own illustrations imitate period art depicting da Vinci and his contemporaries in subdued tones, while da Vinci's own notebook sketches and masterpieces are incorporated throughout the book in miniature. Stanley's attention to detail is evident and supports the text well. In her illustration of da Vinci writing in his notebook, readers will be pleased to see that he is in fact writing with his left hand.

Diane Stanley's Leonardo da Vinci is a fine example of a good children's biography that will both educate readers while entertaining them. Readers will be clamoring to learn more about this intelligent, intriguing man.