Children's Books discussion

Come join us to discuss the Medal Winner,
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

and/or the Honor books:
Afternoon of the Elves by Janet Taylor Lisle
Shabanu: Daughter Of The Wind by Suzanne Fisher Staples
The Winter Room by Gary Paulsen

Woot! I *know* that I have read most of these before. I am confident that many of you did, too. Maybe even for school! I'm actually looking forward to all of them, so I hope to see some good discussion!

I LOVEEEEED Number the Stars! My siblings both had to read it for school and I "borrowed" it and read it before my mom could help them read it. My mom and I both really enjoyed it. I don't know if it still holds up but I believe it does. I'd rather not reread it and have it not live up to expectations.

I've met Janet Taylor Lisle and read some of her books but I'm not sure I read Afternoon of the Elves.

I did not read Winter Room or Shabanu. I've never heard of Shabanu. None of the libraries I frequented then or now have it available. I may request it.

I will be reading these soon, I hope. It's been a hectic couple of weeks and still will be busy for a couple months, but never fear; I haven't abandoned this project!

Number the Stars was a quick, enjoyable read ( even though it has a heavy setting).
I believe it still holds up today, as it's main theme is about courage under fire, imho, more so than the historic events.
With war going on left and right these days, I believe kids can relate to Annemarie.

QNPoohBear, if you can't find Winter Room or Shabanu, both are available in the Open Library 😉

I just finished Afternoon of the Elves.
Not what I expected (I didn't read the blurb), but an interesting read nevertheless.
As a mother, I find Sara-Kate's faith heartbreaking.
There are some issues in this book (like condoning stealing), that are not so exemplary, but are part of the story, and I don't take offence.

Would recommend this only for kids who are empathically enclined, or a bit more mature, and definatly a book that needs to be discussed after reading.

I just finished Afternoon of the Elves myself. Definitely a book to discuss. And I want to talk about whether we think it was right to separate the mother and daughter.

But I disagree about which children should read the book. I think it's good to use books like this to encourage empathy. I'm confident that the author and the Newbery committee all hoped that this would help young readers think about others' points of view.

As I was reading I was thinking about Zilpha Keatley Snyder, and E.L. Konigsburg (especially Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth). and the very popular Stargirl. I'd recommend this to anyone who has enjoyed any of those. (I know I've read other books but I can't remember more titles.)

Now, historically, it may be a bit harder 'sell' to children. So I'd read it with them. Which I'd be doing anyone because how much there is to discuss, indeed.

I did find a list that has some newer related titles, a whole bunch more that I want to read (for all ages). Read the blogger's introductory paragraphs.

This list is about mental health challenges. Which brings up the second thing I want to know people's thoughts on - am I mistaken to assume the mother is mentally ill? If you agree that she is, do you think that children would pick up on that?

Of the four books this month, The Winter Room is the only one I had never read. The other three books I read within the year after they were published. I just finished Winter Room yesterday. Here is my review:
This is a contemplative, slow-paced story of a family of Minnesota farmers around the mid 20th century. Descendant of Norwegian immigrants, young Eldon describes farm life in the spring, summer, and fall. Then, in his favorite season, winter (because almost all farm work ceases) the family has time to sit in their "winter room" and talk and listen to Uncle David tell his fascinating stories. Some of the stories were true stories; others were folklore, and Eldon's wise Mother said "the stories were not for believing so much as to be believed in." A lovely gem of a story that deserved its Newbery Honor status.

Cheryl wrote: "I just finished Afternoon of the Elves myself. Definitely a book to discuss. And I want to talk about whether we think it was right to separate the mother and daughter.

But I disagree about which ..."
I wouldn't forbid anyone reading this, just to be clear😉

Whether it's right or not to seperate mom and daughter, is difficult to say, because the book doesn't clearly say what is wrong with the mother. What we do know is that she can't take care of her child or herself, and Sara-Kate's clearly needs some help as wel...

I keep thinking that an ideal community would find a way for Sara-Kate and her mom to stay together. Sort of the way, apparently, some villages adopt children in other parts of the world. I hope the relatives welcome the girl, at least, and respect what she's done.

I also can't help but compare the busybodies in this to those in Onion John, an older Newbery that I highly recommend, especially to those who liked this one.

(And no, I never thought that you'd forbid :)

Number the Stars was even better than I remembered or expected it to be. My poor effort at a review:

Short, but intense, informative, and even leavened with a bit of humor. Beautifully written and fully deserving of its Newbery. Still important and special.

I just wish the author's note had explained what the character didn't: "... the Nazis want Sweden to remain free." I feel as if I know a fair bit of WWII history, but not anything about that. Do you?

(Sorry so slow this month. I will be reading the other two books asap but not on schedule. Thank you for your patience.)

Where has The Winter Room been all my life?

Reads more like a memoir than a story. Very short, doesn't waste time on explicated character growth or dramatic plots. Mostly setting and anecdotes, beautifully written and fascinating. And so specific.

For example, Thank you, Gary, for reminding me of "choppers." I knew there was a good reason my hands are so cold in the winters, even though I've moved much further south than northern WI (near to where this is set). It's because no gloves, however modern, can hold a candle to medium weight gloves with sturdy leather mittens over them. Gonna find me some choppers now. Apologies to the cows.

Which is what this book is 'about' most of all. How some have to die so others can live. No bloodlust, no waste, but thankfulness. In my opinion. The element that blurbs and teachers seem to hang onto is important, sure, but it's the climax of a book that is so much more than just that.

Blurbs don't prepare one for the read. It's like those who wrote the blurbs didn't understand the book. Or at least didn't appreciate it enough to talk about it appreciatively. An understanding of the climax depends on careful reading of everything that comes before - not the details of plot of course but of the atmosphere, of the details way of life. The climax is not that of plot. The brothers learn something, but not because of anything that they actually do or experience.

Anyway. Then there's other bits. Like at the beginning of the fourth chapter, "Winter," when the brothers fight about whether there are divisions between day & night, autumn & winter, etc. First of all, it's an interesting question for young readers to think about. Second, it's a quick reminder that it's silly to fight about opinions, about other points of view.

Just a lovely little book. I wish I'd read it when I was younger so I could have shared it with my sons when they were young.

Finally done with Shabanu: Daughter Of The Wind.

Important book, teaching us about the desert people of Pakistan, near the Afghanistan border. But young me would have despised it. Not just because the awful things that happen to women and girls, but by the fact that in between episodes of intensity it was boring. In my opinion, it's better for teens, even though Shabanu is pre-pubescent when it begins and it only covers about a year.

Shabanu: Daughter Of The Wind is definitely for young adults/adults. There's too much for parents to object to to begin with. I also don't see younger readers being interested because they lack understanding of the globe and world cultures.

That being said, I did enjoy the story but it was a tough read. I didn't think it was boring. I enjoyed the details of daily life in the Cholistan desert. I had no idea this place even existed, let alone the people. It was a tough read for me because of the topic of child marriage and curbing girls' freedoms. I relate strongly to Shabanu's desire for independence, to be left alone with her animals. It broke my heart to see her lose that freedom, even if it means a better life for her parents. Surely they should take into consideration how this marriage would affect their daughters' overall well being?

I got a strong Little House on the Prairie vibe from the story with all the details about desert life, farming and the dynamic between the two sisters. Phulan is a Mary Ingalls type. She's too good, too accepting of her fate to appeal to modern western readers.

The plot device about the wealthy landowner rings true though and I suspect it was a lot like that in southern Italy when my great-grandparents met in the early 1900s. I think the wealthy landowners stayed in the north but they sent vigilantes to cause trouble and I wouldn't be surprised if they showed up and tried to claim a nice peasant girl as their own. It happens in every culture where men have all the power.

I can't help but wondering if the author is looking at this way of life from a western perspective? Of course we want Shabanu to have the opportunities and freedoms we have. She does seem amenable to marrying Murad because he's familiar, she knows what to expect from that way of life and she can still see her family but the overall story is anti- child marriage. I love Sharma the most and her daughter Fatima but are they realistic or are they plot devices to support western ideals? I don't know. The cousin who is only a few years older than Phulan, maybe 16 or so, has three children already!

This topic is very hard for me to read about. I'm not sure I'd recommend this book to modern teens outside of an educational assignment and not now with the current climate of book banning for every little thing. The only thing the censors would like is Phulan!

I really wish this book had an author's note and discussion questions. It needs it. I did check out Wikipedia's entry on the Cholistan desert and the nomadic people but it still needs some kind of updated author's note, especially considering the situation in Afghanistan.

Sold is the current popular book about desperately poor people in Asia.

Homeless Bird also deals with child marriage in India and subsequent widowhood and homelessness for girls who fail to produce sons.

content:
animal mating
mention of warfare in past and present
mention of killing animals for celebration
menstruation/puberty/breasts
beating children
lying/hiding/secrets from parents
sexual harassment/hints at prostitution and some people overlooking the shame because it brings in money
guns
miscarriage
child marriage/arranged marriage
mention/questions of potential abusive marriages
and probably lots more I forgot. This one isn't for the faint of heart.

QNPoohBear wrote: "Shabanu: Daughter Of The Wind is definitely for young adults/adults. ... This one isn't for the faint of heart...."

Yes, a lot for the book banners to object to, but those of them that are Christian can say "Read this and learn how glad you should be to live in America where girls get educated and are Christian and don't get forced to marry too young."