THE PERILOUS ROAD by William O. Steele (Scholastic, 1958) LIBR #46

 

GENRE: Historical Fiction

HONORS: Newbery Honor

REVIEW: Chris Brabson does not like Yankees at all and if he could, he would enlist and start fighting.  They have invaded Tennessee, have helped themselves to the supplies he had helped his family store up for winter, and have taken the family's horse.  To make matters worse, his brother has joined up with the Yankees.  Chris attempts to prove himself as a loyal Confederate by trying to ambush the group of soldiers who looted his farm, freeing mules held by the Yankees, and revealing the whereabouts of a Yankee wagon train to someone he thought was a Confederate spy.  Unfortunately, he soon realizes that his brother might be a driver in that wagon train and he worries that he may have just sentenced his own brother to death.  Frantically Chris rushed to warn his brother but he fails in that mission and witnesses a horrible battle that makes him realize that Yankees are people too.  By the end of the story he has grown up and not as judgmental of the other side.

OPINION: This book was solid entry in Civil War historical fiction.  The pace was quick and had action all the way through.  Readers can relate to Chris and his anger at the Yankees who are invading his area and then feel his terror when he thinks he has betrayed his own brother and then witnesses a battle.

IDEAS: This book would tie in well with a study of the Civil War especially with other books where the loyalties of families were divided. 

SMILE by Raina Telgemeier (Scholastic, 2010) LIBR 264 #45

 















GENRE: Biography / Graphic Novel

HONORS: None

REVIEW: When the story opens Raina is learning about the braces she is about to get for her overbite.  That is bad enough but when a fall cause one of her front teeth to fall out and another to get jammed up in her gums causing a lot of damage Raina finds herself with years of oral work ahead.  For awhile Raina's two front teeth are shorter than all the others are and when braces do not work to resolve the issue she has to have both teeth removed and a retainer with fake teeth put in.  Raina goes through years of dental work.  Besides all that, she deals with normal growing up issues with body image, identity, friends, and crushes.  The graphic novel format allows the reader to experience the emotions of Raina and watch her grow up. 

OPINION: This was a very fun and quick read.  Poor Raina had so many issues.  It is bad enough to get braces but then to have to go through surgeries and such major works on top of the other issues she faced.  I really felt for her.  Girls will enjoy being able to laugh with Raina and by seeing how she dealt with her problems and came out on top will see ways to solve their own problems.  Because this story was a biography, it is even more powerful.  Raina is able to look back on that time now, laugh about it, and see how it made her a stronger person.  I felt that the graphic novel format was perfect for the book because it allows the reader to see all the transitions Raina goes through.

IDEAS: So many girls go through similar struggles as Raina with braces, body issues, and friends.  In a bookgroup girls can discuss what Raina went through and how they might deal with the same situations.  This would be a great book to hand to girls just getting braces.