Staying Nine and Silver For General Washington

This month I couldn't decide which book to review, so I am doing two. Both are aimed at the same age range, but one is geared more towards a girl, while the other a boy would enjoy reading. 

While taking juvenile literature classes in grad school, I was vehemently told to stick to new books only. My professor explained that young children and tweens cannot identify with children from even a decade ago and, with the exception of classics, (which are usually read by older tweens and teens) I would be doing them a disservice by introducing them to older books. 

However, I feel that relevancy plays a huge part in this. If the book covers certain feelings, circumstances and truths that will not fade with time, it will not only stay relevant for today, but can also be a treasured volume to read. 

  

Conrad, Pam. Staying Nine. Illustrated by Michael Wimmer. HarperCollins, 1990 ISBN 0064403777


The reason this book is so appealing, is because it deals with a subject every child and tween experiences: that in-between stage, when one is no longer a baby, but not yet an adult. I distinctly remember these emotions. 

In one particular example, I remember stomping around the house, and my grandmother admonished me to "walk more like a young lady." At that moment, I felt an almost overwhelming desire to not become a "lady". I didn't want to grow up. I didn't want to stop being a kid who could climb trees and stomp around the house. However, it was also at that moment that I realized the hand of time could be stopped by no one. 

Heather, the young protagonist in this Chapter Book (suitable for readers who are not yet ready for a Novel, but too old for Easy Readers) does not want to grow up. She decides to try and stay nine by having an unbirthday party and wearing the same clothes as last year for the school picture, among other things. This causes conflict with friends at school who do not understand her need, but is offset by a supporting mother. (These moments, both humorous and somber, are enhanced beautifully with Wimmer's detailed pencil sketches.)

One fear of Heather's is that growing up will take the fun out of life. No more make believe, no more climbing up the door frames, and no more fun. However, in probably the best moment of the story, a 23 year old friend takes off her shoes and stealthily climbs up the door frame -- thus proving that you can choose to stay young in the ways that matter most to you. 

Meadowcroft, Enid LaMonte. Silver for General Washington: A Story of Valley Forge. Scholastic, 1974. ASIN: B000PC5CYM


I wanted to mention this title because, like the above title, I have a memory associated with it. To refute the idea that, unless a book is a classic, tweens and teens will not read older books, I remember my brother and I both reading Silver for General Washington more than a decade after it was first published. 

The only reason I read it was because my older brother said that he had loved it. I balked at first (it looked like a boring war book, and the cover art harkened back to the 70's -- SO old!) but since my brother insisted it was good, I decided to give it a go. 

It didn't take long before I was swept into the world of two cousins living at the time of the revolution. Their patriotism and decision to risk taking a a dangerous journey to retrieve their family's stash of silver, for the sole purpose of giving it to General Washington (in order to help with the war effort), was instantly appealing to me. 

Would I have taken such an adventure? Why did it mean so much to them? What must it have been like, to live during the time of the revolution?

The excitement of the story kept my interest, even though the protagonists were boys. In fact, by the end of the book, I longed to take such a journey on my own. My brother had been right: it was a good book!

Olive's Ocean

Henkes, Kevin. Olive's Ocean. Scholastic, 2003. ISBN: 0-439-70194-5

This book has flow. From beginning to end it feels seamless. The short, two to five page chapters are not abrupt or disjointed, and the heart of the story is carried throughout.

I often enjoy the Newberry Honor Books even more than the Newberry Award winners, and this story is no exception.

Olive was a young girl who was shy and often teased in school. She had no friends and spent many hours writing, and dreaming of becoming an author. Olive was tragically killed in an accident while riding her bicycle.

Martha barely knew Olive. Martha barely knows herself. She is simply trying to survive in junior high, with the discovery of her attraction to boys and the propensity for embarrassing situations that make the world feel as if it is about to end. Martha really only thinks about herself...that is, until Olive's mother hands Martha a note that Olive wrote about her, before she died.

This coming-of-age story follows a summer family vacation to the ocean where Martha learns about death, living, boys, and how one can have the best moment of their lives and worst moment all in the same day. It is not overly dramatic, nor does it shy away from difficult themes or topics.

I found myself laughing with, pitying, and growing alongside Martha. Told through the lens of a tween, Henkes reminds all of us what it was like to be 12.

NOTE: For a similar and just-as-marvelous story of growing and grieving, read Perch, Mrs. Sackets, and Crow's Nest by Karen Pavilicin (Alma Little, 2007. ISBN: 9781934617007).