Historical Fiction: I Will Come Back For You

I Will Come Back For You is written and illustrated by Marisabina Russo. It is based on a story the author heard as a girl, but she has changed the ending. The story is told through a grandmother telling her granddaughter about the charms on her bracelet, and the story the charms tell. When the grandmother was a little girl, her Jewish family lived in Italy. When World War II broke out, their family was split up - their father and mother forced to go into hiding, separately, to avoid the concentration camps, but the children have to wait to join their mother, while also waiting for news of their father. 

While the book doesn't go very in-depth with the history aspect, the pictures and text are historically accurate. They provide an accurate idea of what life was like during WWII Italy. People's attitudes are treated equally, showing both those who helped Jewish families and the people working for the government/Nazis. The setting is critical to the story itself - without the setting the narrative events would fall apart. The language is not particularly historical, but this is partly because the plot takes place in the form of a story being told in the present day. The theme of safety for families at risk is just as relevant today, with the large number of refugee families and the antisemitism Jewish people still face today.

This book fits under Social Justice theme 5: Awareness Raising. While the Holocaust is a much talked about topic, I think the perspective of Jewish people living in Italy is one that is often missed. Italy is not often talked about during discussions of WWII - the focus is on Germany, and sometimes Poland. Through this story, children are able to learn about what many families went through, as well as how their stories are kept alive through the generations, with the help of the things they managed to save (like charm bracelets).

In the classroom, students can create their own "charm bracelet story," picking events from their lives or from history, charms to represent those events, and weaving a narrative around the charms and what they represent. Creativity is encouraged through the picking of charms, and students are encouraged to investigate their own history.

Realistic Fiction: "I Don't Want to Talk About It"

Realistic Fiction: Alexander and Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Book's Title: Alexander and Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Author: Judith Viorst

Illustrated: Ray Cruz

Summary

A young boy, Alexander feels Terrible, Horrible, No Good, and very Bad all day. The boy always feel bad and has never been happy because he will move Australia. His family are busy to prepare for moving, but he want to do as usual...the end of book said "even Australia." 

Kind of Realistic Fiction

The book related the possibility of events, character, and plots in the real world. Most picture's books show good messages or happy the end, but the book is an opposed story. The boy seems want to stay same place and as usual every day, which make consider me more. The inside of the book is no color, which is only black illustration. It is clear and shows that the boy stubbornly resistant to change a new situation.

Six Elements of Social Justice Curriculum

The "Self-love and Knowledge" and "Respect for Others" (Picower, B., 2012) included the book because children have experienced to feel uncomfortable to change new situations or environments. The result will help to understand why is happening. Thus, "Issues of Social Injustice" and "Social Movements and Social Change" is important to learn why boy or girl changed her/his attitude. Students and parents cannot assume they are bad. "Awareness Raising" and "Social Action" can help solving that students and teachers can communicate or hear from himself/herself through or after the book. Also, families involve the active and communication, too. Sometime, the result is not reason regarding the emotion. 

Students and families can share the book. In the first time, I read the book and did not understand why boy feel bad and not good. But I consider and discuss about the book, then I will understand more. So, it is good for students and families to discuss about the book. Adult and child are different point of view.

Realistic Fiction: Just Kidding

'Just Kidding'

Written by: Trudy Ludwig

Illustrations by: Adam Gustavson

The book I chose is called "Just Kidding" written by Trudy Ludwig and illustrated by Adam Gustavson.

This realistic fiction book is about a young boy named D.J. who has recently moved to a new school and finds himself being the pit of his 'new friend' Vinces' jokes. The reader is taken through D.J.'s journey, from his perspective, to find support in order to overcome being bullied. Does he overcome this and find friends who treat him with respect and kindness? Or does Vince continue to bully D.J.? You will have to read and find out yourself!

As mentioned before, this book is a realistic fiction book because both the author and illustrator include vivid, realistic settings that the support the events of the story and the characters are credible. The reader is able to see D.J.'s development throughout the book and the overall theme is intrinsic to the story and applicable to readers' lives. In addition, the issue of bullying is believable since it happens often in our society, unfortunately, but we are able to see a culturally grounded and realistic solution in this book. 

Of the Six Elements of Social Justice, the most represented themes portrayed in this book are awareness rising through the students teaching one another about experiences that either involve others or themselves pertaining to bullying and blogging about them, and also social action by taking action against bullying since it affects them and their community. 

This book would be a wonderful addition to the topic of bullying. It can open up a discussion about the different forms of bullying, what to do if you or a friend are being bullied, and how to take action and reach out instead of staying quiet and allowing it to continue. Student's should feel safe enough in the classroom to talk about this topic and also understand that there are solutions to stop bullying if it is indeed happening to them or their friend. 

~ Samantha Kiser ~

Realistic Fiction

Realistic Fiction: The Deaf Musicians by Pete Seeger & Paul Dubois Jacobs. Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

Modern Fantasy

I chose City of Bones written by Cassandra Clare. This is a dystopian series based in New York City where Clary lives and she sees Jace one day after seeing a symbol for a while. After confronting Jace later on, Clary learns about Shadowhunters and their world where they see demons of all types and warlocks. Good book for adolescents and young adults (middle school) to read.
I feel like this is an excellent book for that shows Element Two: Respect for Others. "Students gain respect for the history and characteristics of people different from themselves. By building on the natural empathy of children, teachers encourage students to care about 'unfair' conditions that have affected others." Clary and Jace are very different in their own ways but so similar at the end. There is also Simon who is Clary's best friend who got exposed to the Shadowhunters' world.
The classroom activities would be having them create their own dystopian story and share it with the class if they wish. Can border on realistic fiction if they want to make their surrounding realistic similar to Harry Potter series.

Vlog: Realistic Fiction - The Goodbye Cancer Garden