Module 8

Module 8:

Impossible

Summary:

Impossible is about a 17 year old named Lucy who is raped at her prom and ultimately becomes pregnant. The entire story is based on the song “Scarborough Fair” in which Lucy finds out that she comes from a long line of cursed women. Lucy must break the curse before the birth of her daughter by performing three seemingly impossible tasks or she will go insane like all of her ancestors before her.

Citation:

Werlin, N. (2008). Impossible. New York: Dial Books.

Impressions:

This was a very unique book and I enjoyed reading it but a few of the elements of this book were a bit unbelievable. It’s great that Lucy was supported by not only her foster parents but also her best friend turned boyfriend. It was all a little too tidy though. Life is not that easy and you can’t always have your cake and eat it too. 

Review:

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 9 Up—Werlin combines magic, romance, and a family curse in this 21st-century fairy tale based on the ballad "Scarborough Fair." On the night of her prom, Lucy, 17, is raped by her date and becomes pregnant. She decides to keep the child, and she is supported by her foster parents and Zach, her childhood friend whose love for Lucy changes from platonic to romantic as the story progresses. The teen discovers the curse on the women in her family when she reads her birth mother's diary. Lucy is destined for madness at 18 unless she can perform the three impossible tasks described in the song and break the curse of the Elfin Knight. She is determined to rid herself and her unborn child of the curse, and her family and Zach help her as she works to solve the riddles. This unique story flows smoothly and evenly, and the well-drawn characters and subtle hints of magic early on allow readers to enter willingly into the world of fantasy. As in The Rules of Survival (Dial, 2006), Werlin addresses tough topics. Rape, teen pregnancy, and family madness set the story in motion, but the strength of Lucy's character and the love of her family and friends allow her to deal with such difficult matters and take on the impossible. Teens, especially young women, will enjoy this romantic fairy tale with modern trappings.—Jennifer D. Montgomery, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green (Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Impossible-Nancy-Werlin/dp/0142414913/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1291956756&sr=1-1)

Suggestions:

I love the musical element of this novel. I think it would be great to include this book in a lesson about music in books and the unit could also include other simply books. Some other examples could be Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater or the recently book turned movie Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.

Doll People

Summary:

Doll People is the first in a series of books about a Victorian dollhouse and the inhabiting family that has been passed down for generations. The Doll family get new neighbors after 100 years in the Palmer house and a new dollhouse family appear called the Funcrafts. The families ultimately join forces to find the Doll family’s precious Auntie Sarah who disappeared 45 years old.

Citation:

Martin, A. and Godwin, L. (2000). Doll people. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

Review:

From Publishers Weekly

Passed down from one generation to the next, the Doll family has lived in the same dollhouse, located in the same room of the Palmer family's house, for 100 years. While the world outside has changed, their own lives have not with two significant exceptions. First, Auntie Sarah Doll suddenly and mysteriously disappeared 45 years ago, when the Doll family belonged to Kate Palmer's grandmother. More recently, the modern, plastic Funcraft family has moved into Kate's little sister's room. Following the time-honored traditions of such well-loved works as Rumer Godden's The Doll's House, The Mennyms by Sylvia Waugh and Pam Conrad's and Richard Egielski's The Tub People, Martin and Godwin inventively spin out their own variation on the perennially popular theme of toys who secretly come to life. By focusing on Annabelle's and Tiffany Funcraft's risky mission to find Auntie Sarah, the authors provide plenty of action and suspense, yet it is their skillfully crafted details about the dolls' personalities and daily routines that prove most memorable. Selznick's pencil illustrations cleverly capture the spark of life inhabiting the dolls' seemingly inanimate bodies. The contemporary draftsmanship frees the art from nostalgia even while the layout which presents the illustrations as standalone compositions as well as imaginatively integrated borders and vignettes reinforces the old-fashioned mood of the doll theme. Doll lovers may well approach their imaginative play with renewed enthusiasm and a sense of wonder after reading this fun-filled adventure. Ages 7-10. (Aug. 2000) Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Doll-People-Ann-M-Martin/dp/0786812400/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1291956892&sr=1-1)

Suggestions:

This a great book for elementary students to read just for fun. It is similar to today’s Toy Story movie series. As children we often wonder if our toys come to life when we aren’t looking and so this is a great book about such a question.