Reading Through History: Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown by Maud Hart Lovelace (1943)

Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown is the last of the "younger" books of the series, and it very much represents Betsy's transition from girlhood to adolescence. Several plot points demonstrate the obvious maturity of the girls' interests, concerns, and interactions.

For the first time, in this book, Betsy's circle of friends expands beyond Tacy and Tib, and also takes in Winona. The three girls spend a significant portion of  the story trying to con Winona into using her comp theater tickets to take them to see a stage production of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Though it has a happy resolution for everyone, this storyline shares much in common with the "mean girl" plotlines popular in middle grade fiction today, which often occur in stories about the middle school years.

Change is also represented by the advent of the "horseless carriage." Mr. and Mrs. Poppy, wealthy owners of  the local opera house, buy a car and Tib is lucky enough to be their first passenger. This new technology shows how the times are changing as Betsy approaches her teens, and it also introduces the influence of Mrs. Poppy, which will help Betsy's family locate a long-lost uncle and encourage Julia in her musical endeavors.

Another element of this book that really stands out is the change in Betsy's relationship to books. A Carnegie Library opens in Deep Valley, and for the first time, Betsy has access to great books and not just to dime novels. Her parents comment on the benefit of this, and Betsy immediately demonstrates a deepened commitment to her own writing. 

Though all of the series has been wonderful up to now, this book is more engaging than the earlier stories. As Betsy's life begins to take shape, her new challenges have higher stakes and more interesting outcomes. If one were trying to hook a late elementary school reader on this series, it would be wise to start with this book, as it most closely resembles contemporary middle grade fiction, and it is most likely to spark the investment in Betsy as a character that is necessary to enjoy the others of the series.

Book Review: The Diamond in the Window by Jane Langton (1962)

The Diamond in the Window is the first book in Jane Langton’s Hall Family Chronicles. Main characters Edward and Eleanor become intrigued when they learn that two children named Ned and Nora disappeared from their home’s attic bedroom years ago, and they decide to sleep there themselves and investigate. In a series of dreams, they follow Ned and Nora on a treasure hunt, occasionally spotting them, but finding it impossible to catch up. As the dreams become more intense, they realize that if they are not careful, they might meet the same end as the disappeared children, but that they also might be the only people who can save them.

The Fledgling, which is the fourth book of this series, and the first one I read, impressed me so greatly that I really expected this first book to be amazing. I was surprised, therefore, when I had trouble sticking with it. Though the mystery of the missing kids is intriguing, the way the story is told didn’t really build off of that interest. The characters seemed aware of the increasing high stakes as the story went on, but I never felt a sense of urgency, or of fear. The dreams are vivid and well-described, but somehow the structure of the story was too linear and predictable to keep me invested in the fate of the missing kids.

Another thing that surprised me in this book is the lack of explanations for themes that recur in later books. Reading the later books first led me to assume that the family’s transcendentalist ideals, and Prince Krishna’s magical abilities, would both be introduced and explained in this book. Interestingly, these two themes are treated matter-of-factly, with no more or less explanation than in any of the other books. This was perhaps another reason I had trouble connecting. I didn’t fully understand the rules of the author’s universe.

The Diamond in the Window is similar in many ways to Edward Eager’s Knight’s Castle, in which a group of children have magical adventures in the world of their toys while they sleep at night. This series as a whole also shares common themes with the Willow Falls series by Wendy Mass.

Reading Through History: Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill by Maud Hart Lovelace (1942)

Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill is the third book of the Betsy-Tacy series, in which the three main characters, Betsy, Tacy, and Tib turn ten years old. Feeling quite grownup, the girls make their way over the big hill for the first time, exploring the interesting people and cultural experiences to be found there. In addition to making friends with a Syrian girl and defending her from racist bullies, they also fall in love with the King of Spain, perform in an Entertainment at school, and get into a huge quarrel with big sisters Julia and Katie.

It’s hard to remember as I read that these books are as old as they are. They read very much like contemporary middle grade historical fiction, and this story in particular addresses very contemporary issues. This book takes on topics like immigration, diversity, and racism and presents very progressive viewpoints on each one. There is a big emphasis on American nationalism, but there is also a deep appreciation for the roots of the girls’ Syrian neighbors, and for the customs that followed them from their home country. Though the three girls are fascinated with kings and queens, other characters in the story express different political opinions that subtly express some of the unrest that was driving immigrants from their homelands in the early 1900s.

Politics aside, this book is also notable for being the first Betsy-Tacy book with a true plot. While the first two books were more episodic, this one has several threads running through it that culminate in one satisfying conclusion. This book also introduces a bit more tension into the girls’ relationship with Julia and Katie, which adds some conflict and drama to the story without sacrificing the overall gentle wholesomeness of the series. It’s also so refreshing to read a story in which the only romance is an imagined courtship between young girls and a young king. This book assumes an innocence on the part of ten-year-old girls that is developmentally appropriate and hugely encouraging.

I love the way these books grow up along with their main characters. I believe this is part of why they are perennially popular - readers can follow Betsy to adulthood, and then pass the books on to their children to begin the cycle all over again. I’m looking forward to seeing what new and interesting things twelve-year-old Betsy, Tacy, and Tib will do in Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown.

Book Review: Anastasia's Chosen Career by Lois Lowry (1987)

In school, Anastasia has been given an assignment to interview someone who works in her chosen career field, and to write an essay. Anastasia has decided to become a bookstore owner, so in addition to getting her father to set up an appointment for her with one of his bookseller friends, she also enrolls in a modeling class to learn poise and self-confidence. From these two experiences, Anastasia gains several things: a new (female) friend named Henry, a chance to see her old friend Robert Giannini, an appreciation for much of the thanklessness of running an independent bookstore, and an understanding that she will never be a real model (and that this is perfectly okay with her.)

Lois Lowry has created such a wonderfully three-dimensional character in Anastasia that at this point, I truly believe I would enjoy seeing her go through any experience. Anastasia’s thought processes about things like choosing a career are funny and honest, and they manage to be easily relatable and completely original at the same time. I also like that Anastasia’s parents are involved in her life but give her the freedom to travel by bus to Boston on her own.

Anastasia’s Chosen Career strikes me as one of the easier books in the series to promote to today’s readers. This is mainly because of its connections to TV shows about modeling and makeovers. Though Anastasia’s modeling experience is mostly for fun, there is another girl in her class who is very serious about it and whose experience reminds me a lot of what happens to girls on America’s Next Top Model, especially when it comes to some of their dramatic haircuts.

Another issue in the book that is even more significant today than it was when it was first published is the struggles of independent book stores. Lowry does a nice job of raising some of the problems faced by small book stores, and through Anastasia’s comments and questions, she provides a great opportunity for kids to reflect on the ways bookstores are being replaced by larger companies.

Book Review: The Fragile Flag by Jane Langton (1984)

The Fragile Flag is the fifth book in the Hall Family Chronicles series, following the 1981 Newbery Honor Book, The Fledgling. The President of the United States has decided to reinvent the American flag as a flashier, tackier emblem of his new vision for the United States, which involves, among other things, launching a peace missile into space to protect the country from nuclear destruction by other nations. He has challenged schoolchildren across the country to write letters describing what the American flag means to them; one winner from each state will then be invited to be the official White House flag bearer. Georgie Hall, whose entire family is disturbed by the peace missile, falls ill and misses the deadline for mailing her letter. Deciding its contents - her plea against the missile - are too important for the president not to read, she sets off for the White House on foot. At first, Georgie is accompanied only by a flag from the attic, which occasionally provides her with visions of the future, and just a few companions. As she marches from Massachusetts to Washington, however, more groups join in, and the march gains media attention. The president becomes increasingly alarmed by the size of the group and finds himself faced with the uncomfortable possibility of arguing about nuclear weapons with countless children.

This book is very much a story of the Cold War, but though it deals specifically with nuclear weapons, its message can appeal to a much broader audience. At its heart, this is a story about kids banding together to accomplish something none of them could do on their own. The most enjoyable part of the story, for me, is watching the way the kids organize themselves, each one taking on the role best suited to his or her skills and personality. The descriptions of the conditions as the kids walk through heat and rain, and sleep in fields and church halls, make the reader feel as though he or she is right there with them on the march. Especially wonderful are characters like Georgie’s best friend, Frieda, who leads the troops with a clipboard and megaphone and baby Carrington, who rides the length of the march in his little stroller. The story is farfetched, and even the author’s note suggests it might not be wise to try such a feat in real life, but the message that good people coming together can create change is no less powerful for the fact that such a thing might not actually happen.

The Fragile Flag is very different in tone from The Fledgling, and from the books that follow it, The Time Bike (2000) and The Mysterious Circus (2005). Though I have enjoyed the other Hall family books so far, this one was probably the most enjoyable to read, and the one I would be most likely to read a second time. Like most of the other books in the series, The Fragile Flag is out of print, and it’s becoming harder to find in libraries, but I think it’s a really interesting way to introduce young readers to some of the issues of the Cold War and a great read-alike for Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt. Definitely worth a thorough reading if you can find a copy.

Tips for Evaluating Middle Grade and YA Books

I read a lot of middle grade. I also read some contemporary YA. Today, I'm sharing some of the criteria I use when I review books at this level. Below are 8 tips for evaluating middle grade and young adult books.

• Don't judge a book by its cover.
  This is a cliche, of course, but it's a good place to start. Book covers can and do change from edition to edition. They reflect one illustrator's interpretation of an author's work, and sometimes the current design trends in the publishing field. Though books with similar content sometimes have similar covers, there are also many situations where the cover of a book does not live up to the wonderful story it advertises. At least read a little bit about a book before you completely dismiss it. Sometimes stories with hideous covers turn out to be real gems - and if  they're lucky, they get better covers when the paperback editions come out! 
• Look for plot holes.
  Plot is a key component in books for older readers, and especially in middle grade stories.  As you read, pay attention to the way events unfold. Is the story plotted in a logical way? Do things happen in a sequence that makes sense and slowly builds up to a satisfying conclusion? Are things tied up plausibly? Are there loose ends? Truly well-plotted stories often make you forget that you're even reading a story in the first place because everything flows so smoothly and naturally.  
• Consider genre conventions. 
  Some genres come with their own expectations. Mystery novels generally include a series of red herrings, followed by the eventual unveiling of  the truth. Fantasy novels require world-building and an establishment of rules within that world before they can proceed to tell a believable story. Historical fiction is bound by history, and anachronisms must be avoided. When you read, consider what readers expect from the story's genre and decide whether the book meets or fails to meet those expectations.   
• Scrutinize the setting. 
  Whether it evokes a certain mood, creates certain weather conditions, or provides a character access to certain people, places, or objects, the setting of a story often enhances its overall success. Watch for the specific details an author uses to transport readers into his or her world. Do these details make it easy to imagine the setting? Has the author provided enough information about the setting to contribute something significant to the story? Conversely, does the setting overshadow other more important aspects of the book? The importance of setting varies from story to story, but it's a point worth considering in your reviews.
• Look beyond likability.  
  Too often I read book reviews where the reviewer's opinion is completely wrapped up in whether he or she liked the main character. The likability of a story's main character is actually not an indicator of the quality of a book. There are books with intentionally deplorable main characters. There are books with unreliable narrators, who may or may not be likable depending on the lies they tell. Some narrators (e.g. Holden Caulfield) annoy certain readers and elicit hero worship from others. It should not be a question of whether you would like to hang out with a particular character, but whether he or she is interesting to read about. Truly well-developed characters will all have some flaws, and, in moving through their stories, they will make mistakes. This journey toward overcoming these flaws and mistakes is what makes a good story. Instead of simply dismissing a book because the character doesn't appeal to your taste, think about a book's other qualities before giving it a bad review.  
• Tune into your inner child/teen.
  Some children's books - particularly the award winners and classics  - easily appeal to adults. Others (Junie B. Jones, for example) might annoy adults and appeal much more to kids. Since kids are the intended audience for middle grade books, and teens the intended audience for young adult, it's important to look at things from those points of view. Maybe you don't love a book now, but how would you have felt about it at sixteen? Maybe your adult sensibilities make a particular plot point annoying to you now, but thinking back, it might seem like just the kind of thing you would have done yourself as a kid. When in doubt, talk with the kids in your life about how they see the books they read. Understanding where they're coming from will help you better evaluate the books published for them.  
• Call out cliches and stereotypes. Keep an eye out for tired and overused phrases, images, and stereotypes in books. Don't hesitate to point out instances of insensitivity to particular religions, races, or backgrounds, and be mindful of trite descriptions and contrived endings. Relying on cliches is a sign of lazy writing; the best children's books avoid cliches and look at familiar things in new ways.
• Separate your personal and professional opinions.  
  Reviewers, like librarians, should try to be as objective as possible when evaluating books. If we are doing our best to put the right book in the hands of the right reader, then our personal feelings are far less important than our overall objective opinion of a book's quality. Some parents don't allow their children to read books containing violence, or sexual content. This does not mean that a book containing those themes is inherently poorly written. It just means that book is not for that particular family. It is possible to find the content of a book objectionable, boring, or otherwise dissatisfying and still recognize that the book represents quality literature. Whatever my personal reaction to a work, my professional instinct is always to find the people who will appreciate it and recommend it to them.

My Favorite Short Stories

 I have always enjoyed short stories - both reading and writing them - so this is a topic I like a lot. I used to have a "Short Story Spotlight" feature on my old blog, which I stopped only because of how difficult it was to find short stories for kids. Still, I have my favorites, both for kids and adults, and I thought I'd share a list of them today. (Wherever possible, I have provided a link to the full text of the story.)

• Good Country People
  by Flannery O'Connor
  This is probably my favorite short story of all time. Its main character is a woman named Hulga who uses a prosthetic leg. Hulga becomes friends with a Bible salesman named Manley Pointer, who charms her out of her usual cynical worldview and then turns the tables on her in a most unexpected way. Anything Flannery O'Connor has written - including her letters - is worth reading at least twice, but this story in particular really sticks with me.
  
• The Girls in their Summer Dresses
  by Irwin Shaw
  On a Sunday morning in New York, Michael and his wife Frances go for a walk, during which they discuss Michael's consistently wandering eye, which is always sizing up beautiful women. I read this for the first time in high school and have reread it several times since. I like the interesting dynamic between the characters, but more than that I just enjoy the feeling of Sunday morning in New York which the author perfectly captures in his descriptions. 
• A Father's Story
  by Andre Dubus
  There is nothing like reading this story for the first time. It's one of those pieces of writing that is so perfect, I just marvel at the way the words are put together. It's the story of a father whose closest friend is a priest, and who harbors a secret that puts him at odds with his religion's teachings about right and wrong. (The secret involves protecting his daughter; hence, the title.)
  
• Will
  by Adam Rex
  This is a children's short story from the Guys Read: Funny Business collection. Set in a school for kids with superpowers, it explores what happens when a supervillain breaks into the school looking to destroy its nemesis. The story is laugh-out-loud funny, appealing to boys and girls, and a great read-aloud, especially for grades 5 to 8. It is my number one go-to story for reading on class visits, and I hope to see it get lots of attention when the 2015 summer reading program focuses on superheroes.
  
• Winter Dreams 
  by F. Scott Fitzgerald
  Though this short story shares much in common with The Great Gatsby and with Fitzgerald's other works, this story stands out for me much more than the others. A golf caddy at a country club falls in love with a beautiful woman who does not return his affections. The writing is very accessible, especially given the age of the story, and it's a good one to use to introduce teens to the short story form.
  
• The Lottery
  by Shirley Jackson
  This chilling account of one town's brutal yearly tradition is best read with little or no introductory comment. This one is commonly taught in high schools and colleges, but anyone who has not read it absolutely must. It's unforgettable and thought-provoking. I also think it would be so interesting to pair with The Hunger Games.
• All Summer in a Day 
  by Ray Bradbury
  I only read this story once, when I was taking a Teaching of Reading course in college. The story was included in a basal reader we looked at in class, and I believe we read the story as a class to practice a particular teaching technique. Though the lesson intended by the professor has long since been lost, the story sticks with me. The setting is an elementary school classroom on planet Venus, where the sun is only visible every 7 years. A little girl from Earth is looking forward to seeing the sun, as she can still remember it from her childhood. Sadly, through an act of harsh bullying, her fellow students deprive her of the experience. This may not be intended for children, but it is appropriate for them to read, and a nice way to prompt critical thinking about acts of bullying.