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1990
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (Houghton Mifflin,
$12.80, sixth-grade level). ISBN: 0395510600. The Medalist A young Danish girl and her family risk their lives to
transport Jewish friends out of Nazi hands and into a safe
haven in Sweden. Every time I think that I've read the final, stellar book
on the Holocaust, someone writes another novel that makes me
re-imagine that horrific time. Lowry doesn't break new
ground here, but she clearly demonstrates for young readers
the tremendous bravery shown by both the Jews and the people
who risked everything to save them. Afternoon of the Elves by Janet Taylor Lisle (Orchard
Books, $12.76, fifth-grade level). ISBN: 0531058379. Honor Book A middle-class girl becomes friends with the extremely
odd girl who lives next door to her. It turns out the girl,
alone, has been taking care of her insane mother. This is a powerful statement about how adaptable some
kids are when faced with trials at a young age. A strong
imagination, if not outright fantasy, is one way to
cope. It's interesting to watch the process of change that the
"normal" girl undergoes in her relationship and conception
of her friend. Lisle marches to the tune of a different drummer, but it
sure is a fascinating beat. Shabanu, Daughter of the Wind by Suzanne Fisher Staples
(Econo-Clad, $12.25, seventh-grade level). ISBN:
083355154X. Honor Book A desert girl in modern-day Pakistan is essentially sold
into a marriage in the male-dominated society. This is an interesting look at Pakistani and Islamic
cultures as well as male domination of those societies.
Teachers who bring this novel into their classroom should
expect a strong reaction from Arabic and Islamic children,
some of who may be offended by the harsh portrayal of
men. This is an especially important point in our post-9/11 world. In any case, Shabanu is a wonderful role model for any
society in that she challenges, with good reason, the
restrictions that have been placed upon her. The Winter Room by Gary Paulsen (Orchard Books, $12.76,
fifth-grade level). ISBN: 0531058395. Honor Book Two brothers join their parents and uncles in the winter
room of their farmhouse in the Midwest and listen to stories
of the old country (Sweden) while living out a harsh
winter. Paulsen gives us a strong endorsement of the oral
storytelling tradition. The tales his characters tell are
interesting, but the novel itself lacks the sparse lyricism
and narrative drive that have marked his other work. Don't get me wrong - Paulsen is a fabulous writer, one of
my top five of all time. Think of this novel as a warm-up
for Harris and Me, one of the funniest books I've
ever read.
Copyright David Ross 2003