Wonder (Module 6)

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Palacio, R. J. 2012. Wonder. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9780375869020.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Born with severe craniofacial difference, Auggie begins fifth grade at a public school for the first time ever. He encounters bullying, makes friends, and earns the respect of his peers. He learns what life is really all about while teaching others as well.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Palacio has created a very successful and sensitive treatment of a difficult topic. She uses different points of views to draw the reader in and round out the story. With each character that narrates, even for a short time, the reader gets to see Auggie from a new view and understand more completely not only what his life is like but what life is like for those who love him. It helps give a more holistic view of the story and the characters.

Entering middle school is a difficult time for most students, so a middle school is the ideal setting for this story. It allows for a unique group of characters that are on the cusp of changing and growing in big and small ways. The characters ring true like Julian that has all the adults thinking he's great while he's far from it, Summer who simply wants to be nice, and Jack who almost loses his friendship with Auggie while trying to look cool.

The adults bring in both great direction in the younger characters' lives and create problems as well. Auggie has wonderful parents that want the best for him, a principal that is trying to help him adjust while not being over controlling, and a teacher that wants the students to learn about life as much as the curriculum. However, there are also adults who don't want him around the school and feel he is pulling down the school. Adults sometimes who act worse than the kids.

Simple illustrations for each character help give a feel for them while not showing everything. Each drawing has only one eye and then an inspirational quote underneath. The simple drawings also emphasize the importance of the face in this story about craniofacial differences.

The precepts from Mr. Browne's class really encapsulate the theme of kindness and compassion in this book. They help younger readers interpret what they are reading as the novel progresses and helps readers think through how they should interact with others without sounding trite or cheesy. The invitation to create their own precepts at the end allows students to internalize what they have read.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

• Texas Bluebonnet Book, 2012-13
• Publisher's Weekly Starred: “Few first novels pack more of a punch: it's a rare story with the power to open eyes-and hearts-to what it's like to be singled out for a difference you can't control, when all you want is to be just another face in the crowd.”
• Booklist Starred: “Palacio makes it feel not only effortless but downright graceful, and by the stand-up-and-cheer conclusion, readers will be doing just that, and feeling as if they are part of this troubled but ultimately warm-hearted community.”
• Kirkus Starred: “A memorable story of kindness, courage and wonder.”

5. CONNECTIONS

• R J Palacio's website has the trailer, book reviews, FAQs, annotations, author, and for teachers tabs. The annotations tab is filled with tidbits about the book readers would find interesting and the FAQs give insight into how Palacio created this book. The teacher tab has multiple discussion questions. It is a great place to go to start a study on this book.
• NPR has an interview with R J Palacio that gives background into the author's inspiration for the novel. Use it to do and author study, a preview before reading the book, or to stimulate discussion.
• Choose Kind website has been created for students to interact with the book. They can sign a kindness pledge, print out stickers, e-cards, and certificates. There are also educator resources available.

Ask Me No Questions (Module 6)

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Budhos, Marina. 2007. Ask Me No Questions. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9781416903512.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Illegal immigrants from Bangladesh that have been living in New York for years, the Hossain's decide to try to flee to Canada for asylum after 9/11. The father of the feamily is arrested at the border and detained by US immigration. The two daughters, Nadira and Aisha, try to help, but Aisha, who is always put together, starts to fall apart. Nadira has to figure out how to save her father before they are all deported and the life that they have put together falls apart.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The first chapter draws the reader in as Budhos starts in the middle of the tension of the Hossain family fleeing to Canada for asylum. As the story goes on, the reader finds out more of the back story while continuing on with the conflict in the present. The facts that there are no answers to any of the questions, no one that can seemingly help, and the young girls are on their own build the tension and confusion needed for the story.

The culture of immigrants who are walking the line of holding their own culture while adjusting to their new country is well described. The Hossain family has adjusted and allowed their daughters to be American in many ways while still requiring them to hold onto some of their Bangladeshi culture. For example, they allow their daughters to wear American style clothing, but they still expect them to respect their elders and maintain their religion. Very few non-English words are included in the book, but those that are Budhos either explains in the text or the meaning can be easily inferred. The cultural cues mainly come from how they characters interact with each other and the American culture.

Budhos has written an important novel laying out how illegal immigrants are so often hidden people, yet right in front of our eyes, and how those from the Middle East became painfully visible in light of 9/11. The novel also gives insight into some of the problems with immigration system in US. In the midst of all of this, the themes of the importance of family and standing up for what is right are artfully woven into the fabric of this novel.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

• Booklist Starred: "Readers will feel the heartbreak, prejudice, kindness, and fear."
• Library Media Connection starred: "This book is a well-written and needed counterpoint in the body of September 11th literature."
• Kirkus Reviews: "A perceptive peek into the lives of foreigners on the fringe."

5. CONNECTIONS

• Marina Budhos' website gives insight to who she is as an author, the books she has written, and a blog for young readers (among other things). It is a great place to start working on an author study. Further information can be found in an author interview on Cynthia Leitich Smith's webpage and the publisher's author page as well.
• There is a Middle East Literature lesson plan on Read Write Think. It modifies literature circles to use a cultural response perspective in collaborative groups. It would be a lesson to use with a class before or after reading Budhos' book.
• Other books about middle eastern teens:

Abdel-fattah, Randa. Does my head look big in this? ISBN: 9780439922333.

Al-Maria, Sophia. The Girl Who Fell to Earth: A Memoir. ISBN: 9780061999758

Abirached, Zeina. A Game for Swallows: To Die, To Leave, To Return. ISBN: 9781575059419.

In Our Mothers' House (Module 6)

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Polacco, Patricia. 2009. In Our Mother's House. New York: Philomel. ISBN: 9780399250767.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Three adopted children enjoy their lives with their two mothers. The moms wear dresses for the first time for their mother-daughter tea, the neighborhood helps them build a tree house in the backyard, and the family helps organize a neighborhood carnival. Even though they face a neighbor who treats them horribly, the rest of the neighbors gather around them to show they care.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Although the perfection of this family life seems a bit over the top, Polacco does a good job of sharing how all types of families can be happy and full of love. She also does a great job of foreshadowing the hate of the neighbor through the neighbor not being responsive to the family when they come to her door at Halloween. Later, the family is fully attacked by her at the neighborhood carnival. This foreshadowing helps build the tension and makes the attack more believable than if the neighbor hadn't been introduced earlier in the book.

The artwork is full of joy and fun. Each page is full of soft color, life, and movement. The page where the family go over to the hateful neighbor's to trick-or-treat is great as it depicts the joy of the children and mothers, the cuteness of all their costumes, and hints at the attack that will come later as the neighbor feels shields herself with the door from the family. Readers will also want to spend much time staring at the carnival page with all its busyness and details to look at all the games.

Themes of the importance of family and love permeate this picture book. The beauty of the neighborhood outweighs the ugliness of one neighbor, yet the sting of the attack rings true. Polacco has done an excellent job of showing that caring and compassion can go so much further than hate.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

• Booklist: “This portrait of a loving family celebrates differences.”
• School Library Journal: “A lovely book that can help youngsters better understand their world.”
• Library Media Connection starred: “This is a strong and memorable story of a peaceful, devoted family unit.”

5. CONNECTIONS

• Through Patricia Polacco's website, readers can send their own e-postcards with artwork from the book. The page on this book also features some of the artwork with the words blocked out. These can be used to analyze the art itself, have students guess what might be happening in the artwork before reading, and fill in what they remember about the book after reading. The website also has information on Polacco's books and biographical information. The fun stuff tab has puzzles, color-ins, and bookmarks activities. There are also broad discussion questions with some kids' answers published on the site on everything from kindness to overcoming fears.
• Have students talk about what makes up a family. Tolerance.org has a great lesson on what makes a family. It includes clips from a documentary for grades K-8 called That's a Family. It also includes data from the 2010 US Census.
• Other picture books that address different kinds of families:

Skutch, Robert. Who's in a Family? ISBN: 9781883672669.

Parr, Todd. The Family Book. ISBN: 9780316070409.

Lewis, Rose A. Every Year on Your Birthday. ISBN: 0316525529.

Downey, Roma. Love is a Family. ISBN: 9780439444231.